Conker’s Bad Fur Day was a cult classic on the Nintendo 64, notable for pushing its M for Mature rating to the limit. The game was vulgar and similar internet site violent, but also quite good, with a fun story and addicting multiplayer modes. Since then, Conker has largely been relegated to obscurity, getting a graphical update on the original Xbox and being featured in episodic format for the canceled Project Spark . Similarly to Banjo-Kazooie , Microsoft has seemingly refused to take proper advantage of Conker and the popularity of the IP, but hopefully that changes with a proper Conker’s Bad Fur Day sequel on Xbox Serie
On the other end of that are games that dropped the morality system entirely, one example being Fallout 4. Ditching the Karma system wasn’t a popular decision, but it did make players consider why they did what they did, rather than just making binary choices to fit the mold of a hero or villain. That’s not an easy thing to accomplish, and unrooting players from a mechanic they’ve used for the better part of a decade is commendable, even if there’s a notable shift in how well that change works. Morality in the game is by no means perfect, there were pointless decisions in Fallout 4 , and players were forced to play the hero in most situations, but it did make the smaller-scale decisions worthy of reflect
One of the most demonstrable shifts in the way morality systems work now is in the Mass Effect series. While Andromeda’s facial animations and other aspects faced major criticisms when it released, most of which were deserved, it ditched the paragon and renegade system found in the first three entries of the series. The newer system, which gave players the option to respond in four different manners rather than just two, was still flawed, but it marked a departure from the standard good versus evil archtypes, attempting to give players more characterization, even if it didn’t necessarily succ
While virtually nothing official is known about a next-gen Fable , there have been plenty of rumors dating all the way back to 2018. In fact, many expected a new Fable to be announced and teased at E3 2019, but it failed to appear at the show. But that has not stopped a continued rumor that Xbox has the game under development at UK studio Playground Games, the developers behind the Forza Horizon ser
A third title was created as recent as 2017, but that title pulled away from the massive battles of the first and the tactical gameplay of the second, resulting in no fans being satisfied. As far as most are concerned, the last true Dawn of War title was the second game, with its last expansion releasing in 2011. Few RTS titles could combine epic spectacle with casual RTS gameplay the way Relic did with Dawn of War .
Often, Xbox brands itself with Halo, Forza, and Gears of War, as those are the most recognizable IP that Xbox has in its repertoire. But having a next-gen Fable could go a long way in letting Xbox present itself in a more multifaceted way. A sweeping, open-world fantasy world with Fable ‘s signature cartoony style could help Xbox reach fans of games like Nintendo’s Breath of the Wi
Despite the lacking features the developers promised, Fable managed to carve its own fanbase thanks to its unique sense of style and humor. Combat was engaging, letting players choose between a mage, fighter, or ranged playstyle. If this series got a second chance and had the ability to implement all of its promised features, it would be one of the most highly praised RPGs of this decade.
One of the joys of playing Breath of the Wild is its sense of freedom. Like any open-world game, there are always limitations, but the magic comes when a developer can give a sense of freedom while successfully hiding the limits of its virtual world. Breath of the Wild excels at this. Fable should not copy Breath of the Wild’s open world as Fable has its own beloved gameplay and style, but a next-gen Fable would do well to make the revolutionary step forward that made Breath of the Wild so endearing and engaging for the Legend of Zelda franch
It is hard to talk about Driver: San Franciso without mentioning how hard it is to obtain. This incredible driving game from Ubisoft can only be obtained through sketchy grey-market websites or through pirating a copy.
Killer Instinct was a launch title for the Xbox One that launched to somewhat mixed reviews, but since became a fan favorite. Now boasting a greatly-expanded roster of fighters and more features than at launch, the Killer Instinct revival is a solid fighting game for fans of the genre. It would be great to see the Killer Instinct franchise continue on Microsoft’s next-generation console, especially since it’s been a whopping seven years since the Xbox One version launc
What was possible for open-world RPGs in 2004 versus what can be achieved now is drastically different. There are some exceptions, Morrowind managed to bring a well-realized open world to the Xbox, but Fable, visually, was a far superior game, obviously leading to restrictions in other areas. The core elements of RPGs have remained the same, but morality systems are an exception. For the past few decades, what gamers want out of a morality system has shifted dramatically, and with it, the way that gamers think about a narrative as a wh