Xbox One Console Thread

[Wiper]

While I (impatiently) await the arrival of my Bone, I've been putting together a list of games I'll want to pick up for it; and, while I've tried to keep abreast of the machine's exclusives, it's likely I'll have missed (or forgotten) some. So I'm hoping that people in here can help me plug any gaps I might have missed.

Please bear in mind that I do have a PS4 and a PC (and a Wii U, though I doubt that's relevant here) so any multiplatform titles I'm already aware of; that I'm only interested in racing games if they are are pure arcade (as in Outrun/Daytona level) or sci-fiey (F-Zero, Wipeout, Powerdrome, Rollcage etc.); and that the following games are already on the list or purchased:

Halo: Master Chief Collection

Halo 5

Rare Replay

Sunset Overdrive

(also, as I'm a sucker for games involving rollercoasters, I'll be trying the demo of Screamride to see if I'll get any fun out of it)

So yeah, aside from that lot, what are the good exclusives I should be keeping an eye out for?

[Jg15]

We always say it here but you can't not buy Forza Horizon 2, its bags of fun even if you are not into racing games.

[MattyP]

We always say it here but you can't not buy Forza Horizon 2, its bags of fun even if you are not into racing games.

Definitely this game is so much fun. My favourite racing game of this gen by far. Storm island DLC is great too (think of Motorstorm like antics). Then there are the online roadtrips which are just insane fun.

Its the definitive modern arcade racer IMHO. The handling etc can be tweaked to make it more sim like as you wish. Which satisfies the sim and arcade fans alike.

[mdn2]

We always say it here but you can't not buy Forza Horizon 2, its bags of fun even if you are not into racing games.

Unless like me, you really don't like racing games. I've tried to get some enjoyment out of it but always get bored within 10 minutes. My boyfriend loves it though. And it is very pretty.

[jonamok]

Unless like me, you really don't like racing games. I've tried to get some enjoyment out of it but always get bored within 10 minutes. My boyfriend loves it though. And it is very pretty.

But how does the game look?

[Jg15]

Very pretty.

I would recommend trying the Fast and Furious version of Horizon 2. Its cheap (was free for a time) and gives you a feel for what the game is like as it features a fair portion of the retail game map. Its also an easy 1000G.

[MattyP]

Very pretty.

I would recommend trying the Fast and Furious version of Horizon 2. Its cheap (was free for a time) and gives you a feel for what the game is like as it features a fair portion of the retail game map. Its also an easy 1000G.

There is also a demo of FH2 to try too...

[Yoshimax]

Here's what the new game hubs look like for those not on the NXOE yet:

[MattyP]

Here's what the new game hubs look like for those not on the NXOE yet:

Looking good. Really looking forward to the dash update lots of updates that just make everything much more structured and accessible.

The community feed is a nice idea and like the fact that developers can post and you will be updated when you follow a game. Very much in line with facebook I guess. If people are used to that model and it isn't broken makes sense to use it.

Roll on next Thursday.

[Wiper]

Well, a bit of conflicting advice upthread, and I'm not too hopeful about Horizon (as a rule I don't generally like games that can be 'toned down' into an arcadey control system, as the game itself tends to still feel and be structured like a more traditional racer), but:

There is also a demo of FH2 to try too...

I will at least try the demo. Hey, maybe it'll turn out to be another MSR! Though unless it's secretly filled with non-pure-racing events, a realtime clock, amazing fake radio stations and loving versions of Tokyo and London and is also released on my birthday while I'm a teenager, I fear it's not going to quite be able to live up to that.

[Dudley]

There is also a demo of FH2 to try too...

True but the demo is so paper thin I don't think it tells you anything about the game beyond the driving model.

Playing F+F gives you some different cars and at least some measure of what it's like to explore.

I will at least try the demo. Hey, maybe it'll turn out to be another MSR! Though unless it's secretly filled with non-pure-racing events, a realtime clock, amazing fake radio stations and loving versions of Tokyo and London and is also released on my birthday while I'm a teenager, I fear it's not going to quite be able to live up to that.

Yes, well it's got it's own internal one, yes (and a couple that are technically real), no but there's some lovely towns and villages about and sure why not in that order.

[Wiper]

Ah, but are those fake radio stations loaded up with fake* music though?

Very pleased to hear about the day/night cycle (though I much prefer a 24-hour one tied to internal clocks than an accelerated in-game one), though. Night racing through a streetlit urban area - or a barely-lit St James' Park - then going back to see it in the day, ranks as one of the great gaming pleasures.

*as in, not actually existing outside of the game but presented as though they are

[MattyP]

Well, a bit of conflicting advice upthread, and I'm not too hopeful about Horizon (as a rule I don't generally like games that can be 'toned down' into an arcadey control system, as the game itself tends to still feel and be structured like a more traditional racer), but:

I will at least try the demo. Hey, maybe it'll turn out to be another MSR! Though unless it's secretly filled with non-pure-racing events, a realtime clock, amazing fake radio stations and loving versions of Tokyo and London and is also released on my birthday while I'm a teenager, I fear it's not going to quite be able to live up to that.

Huge MSR/PGR fan here and this scratches that itch perfectly. . Have to agree though the demo may put you off a bit...

[Wiper]

I'll bear that in mind (and also consider the F+F spinoff as a cheap trial if unsure).

[Don Wiskerando]

The F&F spinoff convinced me to buy the full game and I'm not normally a racing fan (I did love MSR and PGR).

This was the final 30 seconds of a 10 minute race across the map against a plane.

http://gameclipscontent-d3003.xboxlive.com/asset-25d7555d-1500-80c3-cded-f1e4d8990647/GameClip-Original.MP4?sv=2014-02-14&sr=c&sig=mk4dl1xRB1LYEzDqibueRjjpSG2H9ylK8aMDPRzH7ic%3D&st=2015-11-04T12%3A16%3A10Z&se=2015-11-04T13%3A21%3A10Z&sp=r&__gda__=1446643270_f8ef654caabae9e7c72925ca5378f1fc

[Jg15]

Also there aren't many games that task you with racing a fighter plane to the finish line

[CarloOos]

I'll echo that FH2 is probably the most fun and varied racer I've played, it sits somewhere between Midtown Madness 3 and the Project Gotham series in terms of tone. Mildly anarchic freedom of the former, handling of the latter.

It comfortably delivers the goods at both being daft and solid racing.

[Wiper]

I'll echo that FH2 is probably the most fun and varied racer I've played, it sits somewhere between Midtown Madness 3 and the Project Gotham series in terms of tone. Mildly anarchic freedom of the former, handling of the latter.

It comfortably delivers the goods at both being daft and solid racing.

Ooooh. If you'd said Midtown Madness 1 and Metropolis Street Racer rather than their inferior sequels then it'd be a guaranteed purchase, but as it is that's still high praise. I'll give it a good try, for sure.

[nakamura]

Horizon is my favourite modern racing franchise. Lots of fun, amazing visuals and brilliant handling.

The first one is my favourite though. Hope it is BC.

[Superunknown]

Ah, but are those fake radio stations loaded up with fake* music though?

Very pleased to hear about the day/night cycle (though I much prefer a 24-hour one tied to internal clocks than an accelerated in-game one), though. Night racing through a streetlit urban area - or a barely-lit St James' Park - then going back to see it in the day, ranks as one of the great gaming pleasures.

*as in, not actually existing outside of the game but presented as though they are

Fake radio stations presenting real music.

Time of day and weather is forced by the game for individual races, but when just driving around you can visit any area and the time of day and weather will change on the accelerated cycle.

[Shimmyhill]

I got the demo of FH2 and it seemed ok, didnt make it an insta purchase but I am utterly jaded by Drivelclub that I bought on launch...

Whats this fast and furious thing people are saying about, I found some DLC for £7.99 - is that it?

[MDY]

Yeah, it was free for the first few weeks but you have to buy it now..

http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/forza-horizon-2/fast-and-furious

But its not DLC.. It's a standalone install.. Storm Island is the DLC expansion for the whole game..

[Boozy The Clown]

It's a standalone bigger than the demo but smaller than the main game version that features about 10 cars that featured in the F & F movies. It has Ludacris barking at you to do stuff and can be finished in about an hour if you horse it.

It's a promo tool for Fast 7/ Horizon 2. It's decent as a taster to the game but also fairly light on content.

An easy 1000 achievement points if you're into that, a glorious Nissan GTR & Toyota Supra to take Drifting around Nice A couple of showcase events lifted from the game and a guy giving it Yo Bromie in your ear.

[Minion]

Sorry if this is answered elsewhere in this mega thread but I was just searching for spotify on the store and it's not there so what is the best way to listen to tunes whilst playing say Forza Horizon 2?

[Shimmyhill]

Cheers, for £8 I may take a punt..

Can you get the actual store up on a computer, just the store with prices for digital games - I seem to have fund at least 3 versions of the store with some selling mixes of disc and digital games and then two others I assume are different as one had FH2 for £29.99 digital but the other £49.99 digital!?!?!?!!?!?!

[Wiper]

Fake radio stations presenting real music.

Time of day and weather is forced by the game for individual races, but when just driving around you can visit any area and the time of day and weather will change on the accelerated cycle.

Boo and boo, though I'm not at all surprised by the first. I can't think of any games that have featured made up hit singles since MSR A bit of a disappointment with the 'per race' time of day thing, though, I always liked revisiting races at different times of day just to see how the feel of them changed.

[Superunknown]

It's still great. Don't over-think it. It's got challenges like "Outrun the sun" where you drive a red F40 along winding coastal roads to get to the destination before sunset.

[Len]

So as I just mentioned in the elite controller thread MS got more stock in and have just ordered my xbone elite console.

Very much looking forward to it. Best get my Live back to gold status and come join the fun. Do we have a list of gamertags I can add if that's cool, mines below (LenH)? Would really be up for some Halo 5 co-op next week if any others are?

[Guest]

Who's broken sun then? He added me on Live today and he's got most of you lot in his friends list.

[cavalcade]

It's still great. Don't over-think it.

It's Wiper. Overthinking it until all the joy has been sucked out of the experience is his modus operandi.