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Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Back to the futureStephen AshbyEditorSteve’s New Year’s resolution is to get through some of his game backlog, instead of spending his entire life playing Assassin’s Creed Origins. COD: WWII and Wolfenstein II are up first… in theory.What gets you more excited – replaying your favourite games from the past, or looking forward to the titles you’ll be picking up in the next year? If you’re anything like me it’s probably a bit of both, which is why we’ve put this special issue together. If you want to revisit some of the best games from the original Xbox or the 360, look no further than our Backwards Compatibility feature on p56. Of course, if you prefer the high-resolution, HDR future to the beautifully blocky past, you can always flick to p24 to read about…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018THE OXM TEAMDaniella Lucas Deputy editor Dani was so adamant about avoiding Star Wars spoilers this month that any time someone mentioned it she shouted “NOPE!” and left the room. Adam Bryant Staff writer The team have accepted Adam as one of their own; he did himself plenty of favours by wearing a Skyrim Christmas jumper. +15 Respect! Warren Brown Senior art editor It was Warren’s birthday this month. ‘Unfortunately’ the team didn’t discuss who was buying him a cake, so he ended up with four. Disaster! Russell Lewin Production editor Steev lieks messnig wtih Ruslsel by slippng msiteaks into teh txt evrey now nad agen jsut to sea weather he noitces. He probabaly wno’t spot thees onse.…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Waking from a slumberThe familiar sound of clashing steel rings in our ears like a melodious bell, and along with it Soulcalibur returns this year – and boy are we excited. It’s been too long since we’ve seen a proper release and we’re interested to see how the franchise has evolved since its last mainline release. Other franchises like Street Fighter and Tekken have been favourably received with their recent entries, and Soulcalibur’s staple focus on weapons-based combat serves to differentiate it from its rivals. And from what we’ve seen so far we don’t think we’ll be disappointed. It’ll also be intriguing to see how, or even if, Project Soul will address the positive shift on the…3 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Unholy bond with thy XboxWitchfire to grace us with its presenceWe don’t usually get over-excited with proof of concept trailers (that’s a lie, we totally do). But the latest one from The Astronauts, the developers behind The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter , comes a new dark fantasy first-person shooter, Witchfire , and it has us feeling all tingly inside. Details are very light on the ground and we don’t expect to hear anything more for some time but from what we’ve seen so far our interest has most certainly been piqued.It starts off in familiar territory for those that managed to play The Astronauts’ previous title, lulling us into a false sense of security. The (we presume) protagonist walks through an eerie forest and an overgrown gothic cemetery, and approaches a strange figure in…3 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Shadow hunterWe finally have official confirmation of the new Tomb Raider title, and it appears that the game may well be out before the end of 2018. In a post on the official Tomb Raider Twitter account, Square Enix confirmed that the next game in the series was in development. The publisher also announced a new approach that will see the game’s release follow fairly soon after the reveal – similar to Bethesda’s approach to Fallout 4 ’s release in 2015. The full statement is as follows: “Square Enix is excited to share some big news with you next year. Honestly, we wish we could share it with you right now, but we’re taking a new approach this time. A…2 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018BARREL WATCHAlan Wake It appears that this outdoorsy type has decided to take a roll in the woods. Sadly, the peaceful excursion has been disturbed by a thug with a torch. Assassin’s Creed Rogue Ah, the joy of the open seas! Surely the true calling of any barrel is to diligently transport goods from port to port. It’s every plank’s dream. Red Dead Redemption Here we see an example of a barrel risking its rivets to help a cowboy in need. The selfless casket stoically sits there, as bullets zip past. A hero! Call Of Duty 2 It appears that a private barrel party has been crashed by a bunch of uninvited guests. The cheek of these people really is quite unbelievable. Sid Meier’s Pirates! Blocky, bright, and probably holding gunpowder?…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018OXM PANELStephen AshbyEditorKeeps showing us his ‘theory board’. It’s just a wall with lines of red string all pointing toward Master Chief.Daniella LucasDeputy editorIs quite happy to rip the entire fabric of the Halo franchise apart in order to teach Bungie a lesson.Adam BryantStaff writerBelieves he’s seen things we wouldn’t believe. Something about attack ships, Orion, and glittering C-beams.Warren BrownSenior art editorHas been running around the office forcing us to see how beautiful Anthem is. Our eyes are getting sore.…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018HOT TOPIC“Everything I’ve seen for Anthem looks amazing. It’s like Destiny on steroids. I can’t wait to see more and maybe even a release date.” Jared Lovell “Dragon Age 4, because it’s been a while since the last Dragon Age game, and I’m still on edge with the end of the Trespasser DLC.” Anastasia Solaki “Vanquish 2! I know it’s not viable, but what a blast the first one was!” Bianca Lewis “A Justice League game by Rocksteady. They did a great job with the Arkham series. I have faith they’d pull this off.” Gary Bradshaw “A Ryse: Son Of Rome sequel. Xbox should really invest in this franchise. It would be a significant addition to their exclusives.” Kangwa M Mukuka “Just give me Knights Of The Old Republic 3 already!…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018The Hunter“As it turns out, Sekhmet is a giant cat goddess with a glowing chest”I decided to keep things as literal as possible for my first hunting challenge. In future I might hunt for achievements, bosses, or meaning in my life. This time, though, I’m heading to ancient Egypt to shoot animals in Assassin’s Creed Origins.I start small. Warming up my predator bow with some antelopes means I can upgrade my quiver to hold more airborne death-sticks, so I head to the watering hole. Unfortunately it’s all a bit simple – the horny bastards (not like that) are just sitting around, totally unaware that I’m 20 metres away with an arrow trained on their heads. When Senu, my eagle, swoops down and casually kills one that I missed, I realise I’m…4 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018The Traveller“Every time I glance at the landscape it blows me away” I adored the Lord Of The Rings movies (not The Hobbit ones though, they sucked). They were such a great imagining of that world full of beautiful, imposing mountains that I wanted to visit for my own adventures. Luckily you can actually do that thanks to a little country called New Zealand. You may have heard of it. It seems to be made of nothing but stunning landscapes everywhere you look. It’s also on the opposite side of the world to me and restrictively expensive to travel there, so my dreams of following Frodo’s steps through Middle-earth while admiring the sights have been prematurely dashed. Or have they?! It might not…3 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Crackdown 3“The black hole gun fires a singularity, sucks in nearby enemies, then explodes”PUBLISHER MICROSOFT STUDIOS DEVELOPER SUMO DIGITAL/RUFFIAN GAMES/REAGENT GAMES/CLOUDIGNE FORMAT XBOX ONE2018 is Crackdown’s time to shine. In development longer than most planetary systems, this third instalment has had plenty of time to mature before unleashing itself on the world. But the wait’s almost over.You know the broad strokes: huge urban environment made of impressively destructible scenery, with high tech future-cop types raining down their deadly arsenals on ne’er-do-wells, creating great plumes of smoke, flame and limbs at awkward angles that would have Michael Bay quivering with delight.You might also know about Microsoft’s Azure engine and its groundbreaking use of cloud data centres to power, in this case an entire city’s worth of real-time destruction. Unfortunately, the scale of…3 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Anthem“All eyes are fixed on this science fiction stunner, given the overwhelming expectation”PUBLISHER EA DEVELOPER BIOWARE FORMAT XBOX ONEThe games industry is no stranger to controversy, but last year seemed particularly ripe with it. There were controversies surrounding microtransactions, most notably the multiplayer progression model in EA’s Star Wars Battlefront II. The immense reaction from the gaming community prompted an immediate response from the publisher where they suspended the mechanic in its entirety, to be reinstated once a better method was established.Prior to that there was the huge outcry, both before and immediately following the release of BioWare’s much-anticipated Mass Effect: Andromeda due to its animations, most of which were deemed completely unacceptable for such a big title. Again, the response saw a patch with small fixes to improve the…3 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Crackdown 3“The black hole gun fires a singularity, sucks in nearby enemies, then explodes” PUBLISHER MICROSOFT STUDIOS DEVELOPER SUMO DIGITAL/RUFFIAN GAMES/REAGENT GAMES/CLOUDIGNE FORMAT XBOX ONE 2018 is Crackdown’s time to shine. In development longer than most planetary systems, this third instalment has had plenty of time to mature before unleashing itself on the world. But the wait’s almost over. You know the broad strokes: huge urban environment made of impressively destructible scenery, with high tech future-cop types raining down their deadly arsenals on ne’er-do-wells, creating great plumes of smoke, flame and limbs at awkward angles that would have Michael Bay quivering with delight. You might also know about Microsoft’s Azure engine and its groundbreaking use of cloud data centres to power, in this case an entire city’s worth of real-time destruction.…3 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Beyond Good And Evil 2“It’s intended as an easy entry point for anyone unfamiliar with the series” PUBLISHER UBISOFT DEVELOPER UBISOFT MONTPELLIER FORMAT XBOX ONE You know what brings a tear to our eye? Seeing a game reemerge from the ether after years of silence and whisperings of its demise. It’s been over a decade since Beyond Good And Evil 2 went public, and between that E3 2008 bomb drop and E3 2017 the subsequent information could have been aggregated on a single-cell organism’s handkerchief. But then – excuse our puffy eyes – it reappeared, back from the brink of vaporware obscurity. Here’s what we know about Michel Ancel and co’s sequel: it’s a very different game to the original, and serves as a prequel to the 2003 action-adventure classic. Set several generations before…3 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Far Cry 5“It makes your motivation crystal clear: restore order, return to familiarity” PUBLISHER UBISOFT DEVELOPER UBISOFT MONTREAL FORMAT XBOX ONE Imagine being Ubisoft Montreal right now. Years ago you envisioned a game set in backwoods America, where an extremist group has risen to power, using rhetoric and violence to control the population, and in which the player must overthrow these politically intolerant cultists and their charismatic leader. Now imagine watching the news headlines every night, just a few months before release. Crikey. However much Far Cry 5’s marketing team might be sweating, from the recipient gamer’s perspective it’s an exciting prospect. As with previous incarnations of the series the antagonist is a believable person, someone who doesn’t accept they’re the bad guy but whose views and behaviour prove universally abhorrent to…2 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Metro Exodus“A natural extension of the themes that have characterised the series thus far” PUBLISHER DEEP SILVER DEVELOPER 4A GAMES FORMAT XBOX ONE, XBOX ONE X Despite the entire games industry and its wife striving for apocalyptic open-world perfection over the last decade – just look at PUBG, DayZ, Fallout 4, Dead Rising et al – 4A’s Metro games have always felt distinct from the pack. Maybe it’s that they take inspiration and name from Dmitry Glukhovsky’s Metro novels, which use sci-fi as a prism through which to explore the damage of communism and the rise of fascism in Russia, and depict a uniquely Eastern European view of the end times. Perhaps it’s been 4A’s dedication to visual fidelity, and the frequent stopin-your-tracks-and-gawp moments that pepper 2010’s Metro 2033 and 2013’s…3 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018OobletsPUBLISHER DOUBLE FINE DEVELOPER GLUMBERLAND FORMAT XBOX ONEWhat if Stardew-like farming was even cuter? That’s the question that Ooblets is trying to answer by introducing a whole heap of adorably stupid-looking monsters that you can grow from your humble garden plot. We don’t quite know how sending a leggy radish into battle is going to work out yet, but everything we’ve seen of this little indie project has filled us with joy.It’s also set to be highly customisable – you’ll be able to change your clothes and hair, decorate your house and even give your Ooblet friends little outfits. There’s also a huge town to explore full of people to help and clubs to join. Who knows who you might meet?!…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018FePUBLISHER PUBLISHER DEVELOPER ZOINK FORMAT XBOX ONEIf you think of karaoke and throw in some plants and platforming then you’ll have a rough idea of what is at the heart of Fe. Hailing from Swedish newcomer Zoink, you play as a little fox dragon creature that sings to all the creatures in a beautiful painted forest to get them to help him. Different cries work with different beasts, with each one helping you do a range of things, from clearing obstacles or creating temporary platforms to help you get around the place.The game’s atmosphere is reminiscent of the likes of Journey and Shadow Of The Colossus. The world itself looks a lot like the one you find in Ori And The Blind Forest and even has a similar colour palette…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Sea Of Thieves“Take note: huge galleons can be plundered and sunk by much smaller vessels” PUBLISHER MICROSOFT STUDIOS DEVELOPER RARE FORMAT XBOX ONE, XBOX ONE X We learned some very important things from Rare’s latest update on Sea Of Thieves. For example: when you board another pirate’s ship and drink all their grog, then subsequently stagger your way off in escape, your vomit looks different underwater than it does on land. Or, if that wasn’t revelatory enough for you: playing the accordion while being ejected out of a cannon is a) possible and b) well, do you really need a b)? The strife aquatic For those more interested in the fire and fury of being a pirate than the frivolous nincompoopery above, it’s also worth noting that huge galleons can be plundered…2 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018State Of Decay 2“State Of Decay 2’s NPCs are built with personalities defined by over 1,000 traits” PUBLISHER MICROSOFT STUDIOS DEVELOPER UNDEAD LABS FORMAT XBOX ONE, XBOX ONE X As we’ve learned from zombie fiction, the undead apocalypse is no place to make friends. Sure, they may have a can of beans, or access to drinking water, or a winning smile. But is that huge black wound across their torso really a razor nick, as they say? And were they really sneaking into your ammo stores in the dead of night “just to make sure it was all still there”? These are the kind of questions that’ll keep you awake at night in State Of Decay 2. Because although teaming up with other survivors is always a horrible idea that brings with it…2 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018BiomutantPUBLISHER THQ NORDIC DEVELOPER EXPERIMENT 101 FORMAT XBOX ONE Action games are making a comeback thanks to the appetite for them left in the wake of Dark Souls, but this is far from the moody slash-‘em-up that so many are trying to copy. Set in lush rainforest areas full of wildlife, you play as a mutated fox-racoon-thing with some makeshift tech and impressive fighting skills. You also get to experiment with shapeshifting powers to create your ultimate furry/scaly loadout. In the world of Biomutant you can touch certain substances and take on different properties that could help you overcome various obstacles. Grow claws, or maybe even sprout some wings if you fancy it. As well as mutations you can mod yourself with tech upgrades so you’ll get to mess around…1 min
See Also
Page 5693 – Christianity TodayXbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018FePUBLISHER PUBLISHER DEVELOPER ZOINK FORMAT XBOX ONE If you think of karaoke and throw in some plants and platforming then you’ll have a rough idea of what is at the heart of Fe. Hailing from Swedish newcomer Zoink, you play as a little fox dragon creature that sings to all the creatures in a beautiful painted forest to get them to help him. Different cries work with different beasts, with each one helping you do a range of things, from clearing obstacles or creating temporary platforms to help you get around the place. The game’s atmosphere is reminiscent of the likes of Journey and Shadow Of The Colossus. The world itself looks a lot like the one you find in Ori And The Blind Forest and even has a similar…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018AgonyPUBLISHER PLAYWAY DEVELOPER MADMIND STUDIO FORMAT XBOX ONEWell, what can we say? It’s possible we’ve reached a new bar for the grimmest game we’ve ever had to preview. Don’t get us wrong, we love a good survival horror, but this one is hard to stomach. This small team of nine aim to create the most terrifying version of hell ever depicted in gaming, and from the looks of things, they’ve succeeded. If you can imagine Clive Barker and HR Giger having a little get-together to make a game, then that’s a pretty good idea of what to expect.In Agony you’ll play a tormented soul sent to hell without memories. Using a special ability that allows you to possess other people and demons, you’ll sneak around and solve puzzles to survive…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018RoundupGreedfallPUB FOCUS HOME INTERACTIVE DEV SPIDERSETA 2018When a new island is discovered off the coast of a fantasy continent being consumed by disease, all the factions travel there and begin settlements. As cousin to the governor, you must travel to each settlement and negotiate with them to avoid conflict. The game will include a Story Mode with easier battles for those that just want to experience the narrative, and a more standard mode with tougher fights.Call Of CthulhuPUB FOCUS HOME INTERACTIVE DEV CYANIDEETA 2018Based on the HP Lovecraft-created pen-and-paper RPG, this investigation-led title will put you in the shoes of Edward Pierce, a private investigator. As you progress, speaking to NPCs and investigating areas, it becomes clear that this case is far from ordinary. The game has a built-in dice…2 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 20182019 AND BEYONDStar Wars Battlefront II may have been a disappointment, but Titanfall creators Respawn are still hard at work on their untitled Star Wars third-person action game // CD Projekt Red is still working on Cyberpunk 2077 and we’re still waiting for news on when it will actually appear. We’d also take an announcement of The Witcher 4, if they fancied making that instead // There’s still no release date for Psychonauts 2, but we’ve seen more of the game in a near-finished state, so it’s definitely on its way // Visceral might be no more, but the developer’s untitled Star Wars game is still happening, developed by EA Vancouver and using Visceral’s assets as a basis for development // The highly-anticipated System Shock 3 is in the works, and Warren…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018THE BEST OF BACKWARDS COM ATIBILITYThe past year has been absolutely smashing for Xbox thanks to the launch of the Xbox One X and some cracking games such as Assassin’s Creed Origins and Wolfenstein II . But we wanted to celebrate the console’s history to see how far games have come over the last 15 years. Thankfully you don’t need to own an Xbox 360 or an original Xbox to be able to experience classic games of yore thanks to Xbox One’s backwards compatibility feature. Just pop in the disc of an old game and away you go!It’s our favourite feature of the Xbox One – no longer do our old games sit forlornly on the side, they get just as much playtime as our new ones, making the console the perfect place to amass…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018OwlboyPUBLISHER D-PAD STUDIO DEVELOPER D-PAD STUDIO FORMAT XBOX ONE Although this adorable 2D flying platform adventure game has been enjoyed by lucky PC owners for over a year, it stole our hearts from the first moment we laid eyes on it. And now we finally get to see a release on the Xbox One in all it’s pixellated glory. You play as Otus the, well, Owlboy, who after the attack on his village by Sky Pirates, is thrust into an unexpected adventure to save the day. Otus will gain allies throughout his journey whose abilities he can utilise. Owlboy is clearly inspired by the games of old, with beautiful pixel art and heaps of charm. You’ll be doing yourself a favour when you pick it up.…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018NINJA GAIDEN BLACKDEVELOPER TEAM NINJAPUBLISHER TECMORELEASE DATE MAY 2004FORMAT XBOXTouted as one of the hardest games ever when it was released, this gory action title sees you as ninja Ryu Hayabusa, slicing through hundreds of tough enemies in your efforts to lift a curse. Featuring decapitations and plenty of blood, it was considered horribly violent at the time and courted a fair bit of controversy. As a result, it was censored in several countries. This notoriety made it a must-have – like watching an 18-rated film when you’re far too young (sorry mum), there was a real thrill in playing it in all it’s claret-soaked glory.It was also a brutally hard and slick action game long before Dark Souls came along, albeit with a more simplistic set-up consisting of fairly linear stages…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIMEDEVELOPER UBISOFTPUBLISHER UBISOFTRELEASE DATE FEBRUARY 2004FORMAT XBOXThis influential parkour’em-up introduced the gaming world to freerunning and went on to influence the likes of Assassin’s Creed and Mirror’s Edge. It’s still considered one of the best examples of 3D action gaming thanks to its innovative time-rewinding mechanic and perfect controls.After being tricked into releasing the titular Sands of Time, all of the Prince’s citizens turn into horrible creatures, and it’s up to the historical hero to correct his mistake and gather it all again. Thankfully there isn’t a dustpan and brush in sight – instead, you have a magical dagger that allows you to rewind time if you make an error and freeze enemies for simple stabbing.This classic adventure’s time-bending mechanics have never been bettered, making it well worth revisiting. Plus,…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018RUMOUR ROULETTEDespite returning to its roots in 2017, it looks like Call Of Duty will go back to the future (and/or present) with Black Ops 4 this year // The two-year break seemed to work for Assassin’s Creed so expect another long gap // We’ve had Twitter tease, so we know Lara will be back soon, probably in Shadow Of The Tomb Raider. Read more on page 12 // We haven’t seen much of the mixed-reality HoloLens headset recently, so don’t expect it to appear in stores this year // Io Interactive is still working on DLC for Season 1, but Hitman Season 2 will surely be announced in the next few months – we can’t wait to see where ol’ Baldy goes next // FromSoftware has teased its new title…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018FABLE: ANNIVERSARYDEVELOPER LIONHEAD STUDIOSPUBLISHER MICROSOFT GAME STUDIOSRELEASE DATE FEBRUARY 2014FORMAT XBOX 360Fable will always hold a special place in our hearts and this remake is vastly superior to the original on the graphics and performance front. The welcome addition of an improved save system, allowing you to save at any point, makes it the best way to return to this strange, wonderful RPG.You play as a young boy who, after the destruction of his village and the supposed murder of his family by bandits, is whisked away by the wizard Maze to join the Heroes’ Guild.The game is notable for a feature whereby your appearance changes depending on the good or evil actions you perform. You’ll either begin to look more heroic, with a halo and butterflies circling you, or more…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018RED DEAD REDEMPTIONDEVELOPER ROCKSTARPUBLISHER ROCKSTARRELEASE DATE MAY 2010FORMAT XBOX 360Of course this deserves to be on our list, its saddlebags are packed with memorable moments and interesting characters. It did a spectacular job of wrapping us up in the life of cowboys, criminals and the Wild West. Before long we were strapping on stirrups, hocking into spittoons, and greeting everyone with a tip of the hat. It was a great time, although the cleaners weren’t too happy with mopping up after the shootouts.In Red Dead Redemption you play as ex-outlaw John Marston on a mission to save his wife and son, who’ve been taken hostage by the government. You’re tasked with taking out the remaining members of Marston’s former gang in order to get your family back. Marston is certainly a little…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018PHYSCHONAUTSDEVELOPER DOUBLE FINE PRODUCTIONS PUBLISHER MAJESCO ENTERTAINMENT RELEASE DATE FEBRUARY 2006 FORMAT XBOX This quirky little platformer might not have sold well when it was first released, but it was critically acclaimed and has become a cult classic over time. You play as Raz, a boy who runs away from the circus to join a summer camp where his psychic powers might actually be appreciated and where he can train to become a psychic spy – a Psychonaut. Unfortunately while he’s there he discovers a sinister plot that only he can uncover and deal with. There’s a real-world camp to explore as well as levels inside people’s heads that feature different styles depending on whose mind you’re in. It was praised for its odd characters and intriguing sense of humour…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018MASS EFFECT 2DEVELOPER BIOWAREPUBLISHER EARELEASE DATE JANUARY 2010FORMAT XBOX 360Considered by many to be not only the pinnacle of the series but one of the best games of all time, Mass Effect 2 explores the grittier side of science fiction.The story takes place two years after the events of the first game. In that time, entire human colonies have been disappearing all over the galaxy at the hands of an alien species known as the Collectors, who are believed to be under the command of the Reapers. Determined to stop them at any cost, Commander Sheppard joins a shady organisation called Cerberus. Equipped with a shiny new starship you zip around the galaxy recruiting some of the most complex and interesting characters the series has to offer.There are plenty of standout moments…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018LEFT 4 DEADDEVELOPER VALVEPUBLISHER VALVERELEASE DATE NOVEMBER 2008FORMAT XBOX 360Zombies have always been a bit of a staple of the videogame landscape, but there was a brief period when they weren’t quite so overdone as they are these days. Cast your mind back to 2008. It was a time before The Walking Dead came to television and the living dead had taken over every kind of media – the year that saw a new cult classic shooter launch on Xbox 360. The set-up for Left 4 Dead is pretty simple – there’s been a virus outbreak that’s caused almost everyone to turn into zombies and it’s up to you and three of your friends to band together and survive by shooting your way through different areas, relying on teamwork to progress.It also…2 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Back to the futureStephen Ashby Editor Steve’s New Year’s resolution is to get through some of his game backlog, instead of spending his entire life playing Assassin’s Creed Origins. COD: WWII and Wolfenstein II are up first… in theory. What gets you more excited – replaying your favourite games from the past, or looking forward to the titles you’ll be picking up in the next year? If you’re anything like me it’s probably a bit of both, which is why we’ve put this special issue together. If you want to revisit some of the best games from the original Xbox or the 360, look no further than our Backwards Compatibility feature on p56. Of course, if you prefer the high-resolution, HDR future to the beautifully blocky past, you can always flick to p24…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018insiderIt’s a brand new year, which means that we’re all one year closer to death. Hooray! Luckily, in the meantime there are lots of new games on the way, such as the freshly announced Soulcalibur VI (p08), which looks like it’ll be a return to form for this weapons-based fighter. Elsewhere we also saw the announcement of Witchfire (p10) – an FPS with a fantasy setting being made by the studio The Astronauts, which was founded by some of the staff behind Bulletstorm – so you know it’s going to be good. This month also sees the confirmation that a new Tomb Raider (p12) is finally on the way. It had leaked previously under the name ‘Shadow Of The Tomb Raider’ and while there currently isn’t any information on the…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Waking from a slumberThe familiar sound of clashing steel rings in our ears like a melodious bell, and along with it Soulcalibur returns this year – and boy are we excited. It’s been too long since we’ve seen a proper release and we’re interested to see how the franchise has evolved since its last mainline release. Other franchises like Street Fighter and Tekken have been favourably received with their recent entries, and Soulcalibur’s staple focus on weapons-based combat serves to differentiate it from its rivals. And from what we’ve seen so far we don’t think we’ll be disappointed.It’ll also be intriguing to see how, or even if, Project Soul will address the positive shift on the representation of women in videogames in recent years. The series is known for its… shall we say…3 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018PLAY/EJECTOMFG A terrifying trailer announces a new four player co-op game called GTFO, from new studio 10 Chambers Collective. Shmow-zow! Bandai Namco have announced Adventure Time: Pirates Of The Enchiridion. That’s more pirates for 2018 to be excited about. Mathematical! Triple I-deal New publishing label Private Division, from Take-Two, is funding smaller developers and even allowing them to retain the rights to their intellectual property. Ubisoft Delays Three games from Ubisoft have been delayed: Far Cry 5, The Crew 2, and an unannounced title. We were really excited for An Unannounced Title. Dark times We fear that Star Wars Battlefront II’s story DLC missed the mark, and that led to anger, then hate, then suffering... War games Don’t know about you but we’re pretty scared now that the Thargoids from…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Shadow hunterWe finally have official confirmation of the new Tomb Raider title, and it appears that the game may well be out before the end of 2018. In a post on the official Tomb Raider Twitter account, Square Enix confirmed that the next game in the series was in development. The publisher also announced a new approach that will see the game’s release follow fairly soon after the reveal – similar to Bethesda’s approach to Fallout 4 ’s release in 2015.The full statement is as follows: “Square Enix is excited to share some big news with you next year. Honestly, we wish we could share it with you right now, but we’re taking a new approach this time. A new Tomb Raider game is coming. Driven by our goal of putting…2 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018The games we’re desperate to see revealed this yearNow that we’re getting stuck into 2018, our thoughts are of the year ahead. Before we know it E3 will be right on our doorstep, begging to tell us all about the new and exciting games that are heading to Xbox One. So, in preparation of being pestered by this electronic entertainment menace, we decided to have a team OXM sit-down to discuss which delights we want to see announced at the biggest gaming event of the year.Stephen: I was surprised that we didn’t see a Halo 6-shaped reveal at last year’s E3. I had my hopes set on a big announcement to end the show. If they don’t do it this year, then I’m really not sure what they’re going to do instead. Surely they’ll announce something… they have…4 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018HOT TOPIC“Everything I’ve seen for Anthem looks amazing. It’s like Destiny on steroids. I can’t wait to see more and maybe even a release date.”Jared Lovell“Dragon Age 4, because it’s been a while since the last Dragon Age game, and I’m still on edge with the end of the Trespasser DLC.”Anastasia Solaki“Vanquish 2! I know it’s not viable, but what a blast the first one was!”Bianca Lewis“A Justice League game by Rocksteady. They did a great job with the Arkham series. I have faith they’d pull this off.”Gary Bradshaw“A Ryse: Son Of Rome sequel. Xbox should really invest in this franchise. It would be a significant addition to their exclusives.”Kangwa M Mukuka“Just give me Knights Of The Old Republic 3 already! Even a remake of the first game would be acceptable.”Matthew…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Map makerIt’s been a while since we’ve covered this beautiful looking tactics game from Chucklefish. It has a simple set up: you take turns as one army against another, moving your units to fight enemy units with loads of different modifiers affecting the flow of battle. What makes it special is its old-school pixelated vibe that reminds us of the excellent Tactics Advance, and the fact that you can create your own campaigns and share them with others.Chucklefish recently showed off how you can edit the map to look the way you want and easily create event triggers if a unit walks over a certain area. With such a powerful tool in the hands of creative types, and an endless supply of new campaigns to try, the game is bound to…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018The Traveller“Every time I glance at the landscape it blows me away”I adored the Lord Of The Rings movies (not The Hobbit ones though, they sucked). They were such a great imagining of that world full of beautiful, imposing mountains that I wanted to visit for my own adventures. Luckily you can actually do that thanks to a little country called New Zealand. You may have heard of it. It seems to be made of nothing but stunning landscapes everywhere you look. It’s also on the opposite side of the world to me and restrictively expensive to travel there, so my dreams of following Frodo’s steps through Middle-earth while admiring the sights have been prematurely dashed. Or have they?!It might not quite be New Zealand, but Shadow Of War portrays a…3 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Metal Gear SURVIVETo say that fans were confused by the announcement of a new Metal Gear game that took place in an alternative universe and featured zombie-like creatures is something of an understatement. With the series’ visionary designer Hideo Kojima out of the picture, the news that Konami was taking a beloved franchise and making a survival game made many fans… well, let’s just say ‘unhappy’ and let you fill in the expletive-filled gaps, okay?With just a few weeks until launch, though, we’re finally starting to get a clearer picture of what the game will actually be. And, while it is still a confusing side-step for the series, you have to admit that it’s not the most outrageous story that Metal Gear has ever told.“The story begins from the fall of Mother…8 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Beyond Good And Evil 2“It’s intended as an easy entry point for anyone unfamiliar with the series”PUBLISHER UBISOFT DEVELOPER UBISOFT MONTPELLIER FORMAT XBOX ONEYou know what brings a tear to our eye? Seeing a game reemerge from the ether after years of silence and whisperings of its demise. It’s been over a decade since Beyond Good And Evil 2 went public, and between that E3 2008 bomb drop and E3 2017 the subsequent information could have been aggregated on a single-cell organism’s handkerchief. But then – excuse our puffy eyes – it reappeared, back from the brink of vaporware obscurity.Here’s what we know about Michel Ancel and co’s sequel: it’s a very different game to the original, and serves as a prequel to the 2003 action-adventure classic. Set several generations before the established timeline,…3 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Metro Exodus“A natural extension of the themes that have characterised the series thus far”PUBLISHER DEEP SILVER DEVELOPER 4A GAMES FORMAT XBOX ONE, XBOX ONE XDespite the entire games industry and its wife striving for apocalyptic open-world perfection over the last decade – just look at PUBG, DayZ, Fallout 4, Dead Rising et al – 4A’s Metro games have always felt distinct from the pack. Maybe it’s that they take inspiration and name from Dmitry Glukhovsky’s Metro novels, which use sci-fi as a prism through which to explore the damage of communism and the rise of fascism in Russia, and depict a uniquely Eastern European view of the end times. Perhaps it’s been 4A’s dedication to visual fidelity, and the frequent stopin-your-tracks-and-gawp moments that pepper 2010’s Metro 2033 and 2013’s Metro: Last…3 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Anthem“All eyes are fixed on this science fiction stunner, given the overwhelming expectation” PUBLISHER EA DEVELOPER BIOWARE FORMAT XBOX ONE The games industry is no stranger to controversy, but last year seemed particularly ripe with it. There were controversies surrounding microtransactions, most notably the multiplayer progression model in EA’s Star Wars Battlefront II. The immense reaction from the gaming community prompted an immediate response from the publisher where they suspended the mechanic in its entirety, to be reinstated once a better method was established. Prior to that there was the huge outcry, both before and immediately following the release of BioWare’s much-anticipated Mass Effect: Andromeda due to its animations, most of which were deemed completely unacceptable for such a big title. Again, the response saw a patch with small fixes…3 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Red Dead Redemption 2“We still have hopes of being able to control the six characters teased elsewhere”PUBLISHER ROCKSTAR DEVELOPER ROCKSTAR FORMAT XBOX ONEWe found ourselves at the local saloon drowning our sorrows when we discovered Red Dead Redemption 2 was delayed, but if we’re being totally honest, we saw it coming. Once we’d sobered up, we realised our excitement hadn’t evaporated. In fact, we’re ready for another round in this wondrous Wild West world.Although the recent trailer seems to focus on the antics of Arthur Morgan, there are few details on the wider story will be. We still have hopes of being able to control the six characters teased elsewhere; it’ll be a technical challenge to achieve, but if anyone can do it, Rockstar can. Fingers crossed that we’ll be treated to another…2 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018State Of Decay 2“State Of Decay 2’s NPCs are built with personalities defined by over 1,000 traits”PUBLISHER MICROSOFT STUDIOS DEVELOPER UNDEAD LABS FORMAT XBOX ONE, XBOX ONE XAs we’ve learned from zombie fiction, the undead apocalypse is no place to make friends. Sure, they may have a can of beans, or access to drinking water, or a winning smile. But is that huge black wound across their torso really a razor nick, as they say? And were they really sneaking into your ammo stores in the dead of night “just to make sure it was all still there”? These are the kind of questions that’ll keep you awake at night in State Of Decay 2.Because although teaming up with other survivors is always a horrible idea that brings with it a shambling horde…2 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018BiomutantPUBLISHER THQ NORDIC DEVELOPER EXPERIMENT 101 FORMAT XBOX ONEAction games are making a comeback thanks to the appetite for them left in the wake of Dark Souls, but this is far from the moody slash-‘em-up that so many are trying to copy. Set in lush rainforest areas full of wildlife, you play as a mutated fox-racoon-thing with some makeshift tech and impressive fighting skills. You also get to experiment with shapeshifting powers to create your ultimate furry/scaly loadout.In the world of Biomutant you can touch certain substances and take on different properties that could help you overcome various obstacles. Grow claws, or maybe even sprout some wings if you fancy it. As well as mutations you can mod yourself with tech upgrades so you’ll get to mess around with a…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Strange BrigadePUBLISHER REBELLION DEVELOPER REBELLION FORMAT XBOX ONEIt’s not very often you get to travel across the British Empire in a fantastical version of the 1930s while vanquishing mythological menaces. This third-person cooperative adventure, played with 1-4 players, is wrapped up in all manner of silliness and charm.The intrepid explorers you control are a four-person special operations team working for the British government. Wielding a range of different weapons and abilities it’s your job to fend off hoards of evil nasties to protect the world at large. There’ll also be puzzles to solve and treasure to plunder as you progress through the levels. Get some practice in with Left 4 Dead on Backwards Compatibility.…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Darksiders IIIPUBLISHER THQ NORDIC DEVELOPER GUNFIRE GAMES FORMAT XBOX ONEWe almost felt like an actual apocalypse was going to descend when Vigil Games and THQ closed their doors back in 2012 – as a result, the fate of the Darksiders series remained uncertain. But Horsem*n, or more precisely Horsepeople, are pretty hard to kill. And with a new team, consisting of mostly ex-Vigil Games staff, Darksiders III is coming.Set during the 100 years that War was imprisoned for supposedly bringing on the apocalypse a little too early, you’ll play as Fury, a mage and the third of the Four Horsepeople. You’re tasked by the ominous Charred Council to take out each of the Seven Deadly Sins who are causing a bit of stir back on Earth. With your trusty whip and…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018OobletsPUBLISHER DOUBLE FINE DEVELOPER GLUMBERLAND FORMAT XBOX ONE What if Stardew-like farming was even cuter? That’s the question that Ooblets is trying to answer by introducing a whole heap of adorably stupid-looking monsters that you can grow from your humble garden plot. We don’t quite know how sending a leggy radish into battle is going to work out yet, but everything we’ve seen of this little indie project has filled us with joy. It’s also set to be highly customisable – you’ll be able to change your clothes and hair, decorate your house and even give your Ooblet friends little outfits. There’s also a huge town to explore full of people to help and clubs to join. Who knows who you might meet?!…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018AshenPUBLISHER MICROSOFT STUDIO, ANNAPURNA INTERACTIVE DEVELOPER AURORA44 FORMAT XBOX ONEThe combination of its beautiful, darkened world, its open-world design and gameplay that feels like a slightly less punishing version of Dark Souls drew us right into Ashen after our hands-on last year, and we can’t wait for its release in a few months time.After playing the game, we spoke to game director Derek Bradley to find out more about the passive multiplayer that sees you teaming up with other players wordlessly. “If you want to play with someone you can just stick near them,” he explained. “If you don’t, you just kind of run apart. Eventually you’ll find somebody else that you do connect with, and you do want to play with.”…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018OwlboyPUBLISHER D-PAD STUDIO DEVELOPER D-PAD STUDIO FORMAT XBOX ONEAlthough this adorable 2D flying platform adventure game has been enjoyed by lucky PC owners for over a year, it stole our hearts from the first moment we laid eyes on it. And now we finally get to see a release on the Xbox One in all it’s pixellated glory.You play as Otus the, well, Owlboy, who after the attack on his village by Sky Pirates, is thrust into an unexpected adventure to save the day. Otus will gain allies throughout his journey whose abilities he can utilise.Owlboy is clearly inspired by the games of old, with beautiful pixel art and heaps of charm. You’ll be doing yourself a favour when you pick it up.…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Darksiders IIIPUBLISHER THQ NORDIC DEVELOPER GUNFIRE GAMES FORMAT XBOX ONE We almost felt like an actual apocalypse was going to descend when Vigil Games and THQ closed their doors back in 2012 – as a result, the fate of the Darksiders series remained uncertain. But Horsem*n, or more precisely Horsepeople, are pretty hard to kill. And with a new team, consisting of mostly ex-Vigil Games staff, Darksiders III is coming. Set during the 100 years that War was imprisoned for supposedly bringing on the apocalypse a little too early, you’ll play as Fury, a mage and the third of the Four Horsepeople. You’re tasked by the ominous Charred Council to take out each of the Seven Deadly Sins who are causing a bit of stir back on Earth. With your trusty…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018A Way OutPUBLISHER EA DEVELOPER HAZELIGHT STUDIOS FORMAT XBOX ONE With cries of despair about the supposed death of linear story-based games, and EA being first in the firing line, this criminal buddy break-out will hopefully soothe some people’s worries. Director Josef Fares, the mind behind Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons, brings us his new co-op only action-adventure prison escape title this March. And to everyone’s delight, story is paramount. There may be different methods to achieving your goal, but the narrative path will remain the same. “I’ve done six feature [films] before making these two games, and they’re nothing compared to making a game,” said Fares during our recent studio visit. “This is way harder!” Still, despite the challenges, Hazelight’s co-op adventure is shaping up nicely. Multiplayer will be easier…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018AshenPUBLISHER MICROSOFT STUDIO, ANNAPURNA INTERACTIVE DEVELOPER AURORA44 FORMAT XBOX ONE The combination of its beautiful, darkened world, its open-world design and gameplay that feels like a slightly less punishing version of Dark Souls drew us right into Ashen after our hands-on last year, and we can’t wait for its release in a few months time. After playing the game, we spoke to game director Derek Bradley to find out more about the passive multiplayer that sees you teaming up with other players wordlessly. “If you want to play with someone you can just stick near them,” he explained. “If you don’t, you just kind of run apart. Eventually you’ll find somebody else that you do connect with, and you do want to play with.”…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Warhammer: Vermintide 2PUBLISHER FATSHARK DEVELOPER FATSHARK FORMAT XBOX ONE Rats. Rats as far as the eye can see. We’re not talking about little nibbly bastards, either – these are huge, humanoid rats that want to eat your face right off. Your job? Chop them up and save the world from the infestation. Featuring four-player co-op play and a choice of five heroes (with 15 career paths), this multiplayer rodent romp is shaping up to be Left 4 Dead for a new generation. This time, the Skaven (that’s those man-size rats to you and me) have teamed up with the twisted Chaos army to wreak havoc on the world, and you have to stop them. Each character’s unique abilities will mean choosing the best team will be key; the new Chaos foes will…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018AgonyPUBLISHER PLAYWAY DEVELOPER MADMIND STUDIO FORMAT XBOX ONE Well, what can we say? It’s possible we’ve reached a new bar for the grimmest game we’ve ever had to preview. Don’t get us wrong, we love a good survival horror, but this one is hard to stomach. This small team of nine aim to create the most terrifying version of hell ever depicted in gaming, and from the looks of things, they’ve succeeded. If you can imagine Clive Barker and HR Giger having a little get-together to make a game, then that’s a pretty good idea of what to expect. In Agony you’ll play a tormented soul sent to hell without memories. Using a special ability that allows you to possess other people and demons, you’ll sneak around and solve puzzles…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Past CurePUBLISHER PHANTOM 8 DEVELOPER PHANTOM8 FORMAT XBOX ONE What do Inception, John Wick, Metal Gear Solid and Silent Hill have in common? They’re the influences on the first game from indie studio Phantom 8. Described as a cinematic action thriller, you control Ian, an ex-elite soldier, who was subjected to experiment, leaving him with unique abilities, but also amnesia. You know what? We need more heroes called Ian. There aren’t enough heroic Ians in this world. With the help of his brother Markus and a double agent called Sophia, they search for the men who changed him. The game switches between two distinct worlds: the real world and the dream world. So although it’s grounded in reality, this allows the developers to indulge in fantasy without it feeling out of…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018RED FACTION IIDEVELOPER VOLITIONPUBLISHER THQRELEASE DATE JUNE 2003FORMAT XBOXIt may not have grabbed as many headlines as the original Red Faction, but this first-person-shooter makes for an excellent history lesson as it’s a great example of the genre at the time. Set five years after the first game, you’re tasked with taking on an army of enhanced soldiers and making sure they don’t fall into the wrong hands. Of course things are never that straightforward so it all goes a bit wrong and you and your squad need to scramble to fix it.It’s fair to say that this one has definitely aged a bit more… noticeably than the others in this list, but it’s got a cube-like retro charm to it. It also didn’t include online multiplayer, but does have it locally…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018BURNOUT PARADISEDEVELOPER CRITERION GAMESPUBLISHER EARELEASE DATE JANUARY 2008FORMAT XBOX 360Burning down the highway taking down cars and pulling off triple barrel-rolls with a bunch of your mates in an abandoned airfield while listening to the ‘Flower Duet’ from Lakmé by Léo Delibes is the perfect snapshot of Burnout Paradise.The set up is simple: you arrive in Paradise City with just your driver’s licence, a beat-up car and the open road stretching out ahead of you. You immediately have free reign of the city to take part in high-speed races, cause huge car crashes, perform stunts and just have a great time with or without friends. With every road being a time challenge and each intersection a racing event there’s endless amounts of fun to be had.Sadly, this was the last Burnout…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Hajime Tabata Fantasy FixerAs well as being a huge main game, there are also four FFXV-related mobile gamesOver a year has passed since the long-awaited Final Fantasy XV finally made it out into the wild, but it wasn’t an easy journey to reach that point. After ten years in development, a change of hands and even an upgrade – from a spin-off to a full Final Fantasy title – it felt like the team had finally won their boss battle with a development behemoth and made it out of the other side.Since then the game has gone on to achieve great success with its fantastic tale of four young men navigating a difficult path together to save the world, in the face of terrible odds and difficult decisions. It also didn’t stop after…5 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018THE OXM TEAMDaniella LucasDeputy editorDani was so adamant about avoiding Star Wars spoilers this month that any time someone mentioned it she shouted “NOPE!” and left the room.Adam BryantStaff writerThe team have accepted Adam as one of their own; he did himself plenty of favours by wearing a Skyrim Christmas jumper. +15 Respect!Warren BrownSenior art editorIt was Warren’s birthday this month. ‘Unfortunately’ the team didn’t discuss who was buying him a cake, so he ended up with four. Disaster!Russell LewinProduction editorSteev lieks messnig wtih Ruslsel by slippng msiteaks into teh txt evrey now nad agen jsut to sea weather he noitces. He probabaly wno’t spot thees onse.…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018insiderIt’s a brand new year, which means that we’re all one year closer to death. Hooray! Luckily, in the meantime there are lots of new games on the way, such as the freshly announced Soulcalibur VI (p08), which looks like it’ll be a return to form for this weapons-based fighter. Elsewhere we also saw the announcement of Witchfire (p10) – an FPS with a fantasy setting being made by the studio The Astronauts, which was founded by some of the staff behind Bulletstorm – so you know it’s going to be good. This month also sees the confirmation that a new Tomb Raider (p12) is finally on the way. It had leaked previously under the name ‘Shadow Of The Tomb Raider’ and while there currently isn’t any information on the…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Unholy bond with thy XboxWe don’t usually get over-excited with proof of concept trailers (that’s a lie, we totally do). But the latest one from The Astronauts, the developers behind The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter , comes a new dark fantasy first-person shooter, Witchfire , and it has us feeling all tingly inside. Details are very light on the ground and we don’t expect to hear anything more for some time but from what we’ve seen so far our interest has most certainly been piqued. It starts off in familiar territory for those that managed to play The Astronauts’ previous title, lulling us into a false sense of security. The (we presume) protagonist walks through an eerie forest and an overgrown gothic cemetery, and approaches a strange figure…3 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018PLAY/EJECTOMFGA terrifying trailer announces a new four player co-op game called GTFO, from new studio 10 Chambers Collective.Shmow-zow!Bandai Namco have announced Adventure Time: Pirates Of The Enchiridion. That’s more pirates for 2018 to be excited about. Mathematical!Triple I-dealNew publishing label Private Division, from Take-Two, is funding smaller developers and even allowing them to retain the rights to their intellectual property.Ubisoft DelaysThree games from Ubisoft have been delayed: Far Cry 5,The Crew 2, and an unannounced title. We were really excited for An Unannounced Title.Dark timesWe fear that Star Wars Battlefront II’s story DLC missed the mark, and that led to anger, then hate, then suffering...War gamesDon’t know about you but we’re pretty scared now that the Thargoids from Elite: Dangerous have started attacking spaceports.…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018BARREL WATCHAlan WakeIt appears that this outdoorsy type has decided to take a roll in the woods. Sadly, the peaceful excursion has been disturbed by a thug with a torch.Assassin’s Creed RogueAh, the joy of the open seas! Surely the true calling of any barrel is to diligently transport goods from port to port. It’s every plank’s dream.Red Dead RedemptionHere we see an example of a barrel risking its rivets to help a cowboy in need. The selfless casket stoically sits there, as bullets zip past. A hero!Call Of Duty 2It appears that a private barrel party has been crashed by a bunch of uninvited guests. The cheek of these people really is quite unbelievable.Sid Meier’s Pirates!Blocky, bright, and probably holding gunpowder? These are the pinnacle of old-school barrel craft. Inspirational…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018The games we’re desperate to see revealed this yearNow that we’re getting stuck into 2018, our thoughts are of the year ahead. Before we know it E3 will be right on our doorstep, begging to tell us all about the new and exciting games that are heading to Xbox One. So, in preparation of being pestered by this electronic entertainment menace, we decided to have a team OXM sit-down to discuss which delights we want to see announced at the biggest gaming event of the year. Stephen: I was surprised that we didn’t see a Halo 6-shaped reveal at last year’s E3. I had my hopes set on a big announcement to end the show. If they don’t do it this year, then I’m really not sure what they’re going to do instead. Surely they’ll announce something… they…4 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018OXM PANELStephen Ashby Editor Keeps showing us his ‘theory board’. It’s just a wall with lines of red string all pointing toward Master Chief. Daniella Lucas Deputy editor Is quite happy to rip the entire fabric of the Halo franchise apart in order to teach Bungie a lesson. Adam Bryant Staff writer Believes he’s seen things we wouldn’t believe. Something about attack ships, Orion, and glittering C-beams. Warren Brown Senior art editor Has been running around the office forcing us to see how beautiful Anthem is. Our eyes are getting sore.…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Map makerIt’s been a while since we’ve covered this beautiful looking tactics game from Chucklefish. It has a simple set up: you take turns as one army against another, moving your units to fight enemy units with loads of different modifiers affecting the flow of battle. What makes it special is its old-school pixelated vibe that reminds us of the excellent Tactics Advance, and the fact that you can create your own campaigns and share them with others. Chucklefish recently showed off how you can edit the map to look the way you want and easily create event triggers if a unit walks over a certain area. With such a powerful tool in the hands of creative types, and an endless supply of new campaigns to try, the game is bound…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018The Hunter“As it turns out, Sekhmet is a giant cat goddess with a glowing chest” I decided to keep things as literal as possible for my first hunting challenge. In future I might hunt for achievements, bosses, or meaning in my life. This time, though, I’m heading to ancient Egypt to shoot animals in Assassin’s Creed Origins. I start small. Warming up my predator bow with some antelopes means I can upgrade my quiver to hold more airborne death-sticks, so I head to the watering hole. Unfortunately it’s all a bit simple – the horny bastards (not like that) are just sitting around, totally unaware that I’m 20 metres away with an arrow trained on their heads. When Senu, my eagle, swoops down and casually kills one that I missed, I…4 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Metal Gear SURVIVETo say that fans were confused by the announcement of a new Metal Gear game that took place in an alternative universe and featured zombie-like creatures is something of an understatement. With the series’ visionary designer Hideo Kojima out of the picture, the news that Konami was taking a beloved franchise and making a survival game made many fans… well, let’s just say ‘unhappy’ and let you fill in the expletive-filled gaps, okay? With just a few weeks until launch, though, we’re finally starting to get a clearer picture of what the game will actually be. And, while it is still a confusing side-step for the series, you have to admit that it’s not the most outrageous story that Metal Gear has ever told. “The story begins from the fall…8 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Far Cry 5“It makes your motivation crystal clear: restore order, return to familiarity”PUBLISHER UBISOFT DEVELOPER UBISOFT MONTREAL FORMAT XBOX ONEImagine being Ubisoft Montreal right now. Years ago you envisioned a game set in backwoods America, where an extremist group has risen to power, using rhetoric and violence to control the population, and in which the player must overthrow these politically intolerant cultists and their charismatic leader. Now imagine watching the news headlines every night, just a few months before release. Crikey.However much Far Cry 5’s marketing team might be sweating, from the recipient gamer’s perspective it’s an exciting prospect. As with previous incarnations of the series the antagonist is a believable person, someone who doesn’t accept they’re the bad guy but whose views and behaviour prove universally abhorrent to players. The difference…2 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Ori And The Will Of The Wisps“Expectations are naturally much higher for the sequel set in new, beautiful lands”PUBLISHER MICROSOFT STUDIOS DEVELOPER MOON STUDIOS FORMAT XBOX ONE, XBOX ONE XIt’s fair to say Ori And The Blind Forest blindsided everyone. Austrian developer Moon Studios has been around since 2010, but was still an unknown quantity when Ori released in 2015. The art style looked lovely in pre-release glimpses, but there wasn’t any guessing how inventive and emotional it would prove.Expectations are naturally much higher for Ori And The Will Of The Wisps, a sequel set in new – but equally beautiful – lands that once again places you in the spectral booties of White Guardian Spirit Ori. Blind Forest veterans will remember that Ori is responsible for watching the forest, alongside Sacred Spirit Tree Sein. Before…2 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Sea Of Thieves“Take note: huge galleons can be plundered and sunk by much smaller vessels”PUBLISHER MICROSOFT STUDIOS DEVELOPER RARE FORMAT XBOX ONE, XBOX ONE XWe learned some very important things from Rare’s latest update on Sea Of Thieves. For example: when you board another pirate’s ship and drink all their grog, then subsequently stagger your way off in escape, your vomit looks different underwater than it does on land. Or, if that wasn’t revelatory enough for you: playing the accordion while being ejected out of a cannon is a) possible and b) well, do you really need a b)?The strife aquaticFor those more interested in the fire and fury of being a pirate than the frivolous nincompoopery above, it’s also worth noting that huge galleons can be plundered and sunk by much…2 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Ori And The Will Of The Wisps“Expectations are naturally much higher for the sequel set in new, beautiful lands” PUBLISHER MICROSOFT STUDIOS DEVELOPER MOON STUDIOS FORMAT XBOX ONE, XBOX ONE X It’s fair to say Ori And The Blind Forest blindsided everyone. Austrian developer Moon Studios has been around since 2010, but was still an unknown quantity when Ori released in 2015. The art style looked lovely in pre-release glimpses, but there wasn’t any guessing how inventive and emotional it would prove. Expectations are naturally much higher for Ori And The Will Of The Wisps, a sequel set in new – but equally beautiful – lands that once again places you in the spectral booties of White Guardian Spirit Ori. Blind Forest veterans will remember that Ori is responsible for watching the forest, alongside Sacred Spirit…2 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Red Dead Redemption 2“We still have hopes of being able to control the six characters teased elsewhere” PUBLISHER ROCKSTAR DEVELOPER ROCKSTAR FORMAT XBOX ONE We found ourselves at the local saloon drowning our sorrows when we discovered Red Dead Redemption 2 was delayed, but if we’re being totally honest, we saw it coming. Once we’d sobered up, we realised our excitement hadn’t evaporated. In fact, we’re ready for another round in this wondrous Wild West world. Although the recent trailer seems to focus on the antics of Arthur Morgan, there are few details on the wider story will be. We still have hopes of being able to control the six characters teased elsewhere; it’ll be a technical challenge to achieve, but if anyone can do it, Rockstar can. Fingers crossed that we’ll be…2 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018A Way OutPUBLISHER EA DEVELOPER HAZELIGHT STUDIOS FORMAT XBOX ONEWith cries of despair about the supposed death of linear story-based games, and EA being first in the firing line, this criminal buddy break-out will hopefully soothe some people’s worries. Director Josef Fares, the mind behind Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons, brings us his new co-op only action-adventure prison escape title this March. And to everyone’s delight, story is paramount. There may be different methods to achieving your goal, but the narrative path will remain the same.“I’ve done six feature [films] before making these two games, and they’re nothing compared to making a game,” said Fares during our recent studio visit. “This is way harder!” Still, despite the challenges, Hazelight’s co-op adventure is shaping up nicely. Multiplayer will be easier thanks to…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Kingdom Hearts 3PUBLISHER SQUARE ENIX DEVELOPER SQUARE ENIX FORMAT XBOX ONEAfter a flurry of new screenshots and gameplay showing off the combat systems in more detail appeared earlier this year, Square has been tight-lipped about the next entry in its Disney and Final Fantasy crossover series.A recent rumour hinted at a release date in November 2018, but as this came from a placeholder date from a US retailer, we suspect this is really just wishful thinking from fans that have been desperate for news since the sequel was confirmed in 2013. What we do know is that the Toy Story world we saw will be one of several new areas, and will feature a new storyline that takes place between Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3. Big Hero 6’s San Fransokyo…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Warhammer: Vermintide 2PUBLISHER FATSHARK DEVELOPER FATSHARK FORMAT XBOX ONERats. Rats as far as the eye can see. We’re not talking about little nibbly bastards, either – these are huge, humanoid rats that want to eat your face right off. Your job? Chop them up and save the world from the infestation.Featuring four-player co-op play and a choice of five heroes (with 15 career paths), this multiplayer rodent romp is shaping up to be Left 4 Dead for a new generation. This time, the Skaven (that’s those man-size rats to you and me) have teamed up with the twisted Chaos army to wreak havoc on the world, and you have to stop them. Each character’s unique abilities will mean choosing the best team will be key; the new Chaos foes will offer unique…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Strange BrigadePUBLISHER REBELLION DEVELOPER REBELLION FORMAT XBOX ONE It’s not very often you get to travel across the British Empire in a fantastical version of the 1930s while vanquishing mythological menaces. This third-person cooperative adventure, played with 1-4 players, is wrapped up in all manner of silliness and charm. The intrepid explorers you control are a four-person special operations team working for the British government. Wielding a range of different weapons and abilities it’s your job to fend off hoards of evil nasties to protect the world at large. There’ll also be puzzles to solve and treasure to plunder as you progress through the levels. Get some practice in with Left 4 Dead on Backwards Compatibility.…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Past CurePUBLISHER PHANTOM 8 DEVELOPER PHANTOM8 FORMAT XBOX ONEWhat do Inception, John Wick, Metal Gear Solid and Silent Hill have in common? They’re the influences on the first game from indie studio Phantom 8. Described as a cinematic action thriller, you control Ian, an ex-elite soldier, who was subjected to experiment, leaving him with unique abilities, but also amnesia. You know what? We need more heroes called Ian. There aren’t enough heroic Ians in this world. With the help of his brother Markus and a double agent called Sophia, they search for the men who changed him.The game switches between two distinct worlds: the real world and the dream world. So although it’s grounded in reality, this allows the developers to indulge in fantasy without it feeling out of place. This…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018Kingdom Hearts 3PUBLISHER SQUARE ENIX DEVELOPER SQUARE ENIX FORMAT XBOX ONE After a flurry of new screenshots and gameplay showing off the combat systems in more detail appeared earlier this year, Square has been tight-lipped about the next entry in its Disney and Final Fantasy crossover series. A recent rumour hinted at a release date in November 2018, but as this came from a placeholder date from a US retailer, we suspect this is really just wishful thinking from fans that have been desperate for news since the sequel was confirmed in 2013. What we do know is that the Toy Story world we saw will be one of several new areas, and will feature a new storyline that takes place between Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3. Big Hero 6’s…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018RUMOUR ROULETTEDespite returning to its roots in 2017, it looks like Call Of Duty will go back to the future (and/or present) with Black Ops 4 this year // The two-year break seemed to work for Assassin’s Creed so expect another long gap // We’ve had Twitter tease, so we know Lara will be back soon, probably in Shadow Of The Tomb Raider. Read more on page 12 // We haven’t seen much of the mixed-reality HoloLens headset recently, so don’t expect it to appear in stores this year // Io Interactive is still working on DLC for Season 1, but Hitman Season 2 will surely be announced in the next few months – we can’t wait to see where ol’ Baldy goes next // FromSoftware has teased its new title…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLICDEVELOPER BIOWAREPUBLISHER LUCASARTSRELEASE DATE SEPTEMBER 2003FORMAT XBOXThere’s no doubt about it: KOTOR is one of the best-loved Star Wars games in existence. It’s also a fantastic RPG from the developers who would go on to make both Dragon Age and Mass Effect. This is a true Xbox classic. Set 4,000 years before the formation of the Galactic Empire, you have to face the machinations of Darth Malek by travelling to different planets across the galaxy in order to stop him. It features an alignment system that saw you lean more to the light or dark side of the Force depending on the choices you make in the story, and this in turn affects the Force powers you can use when engaged in battle.It also still holds up today thanks to…2 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018PHYSCHONAUTSDEVELOPER DOUBLE FINE PRODUCTIONSPUBLISHER MAJESCO ENTERTAINMENTRELEASE DATE FEBRUARY 2006FORMAT XBOXThis quirky little platformer might not have sold well when it was first released, but it was critically acclaimed and has become a cult classic over time. You play as Raz, a boy who runs away from the circus to join a summer camp where his psychic powers might actually be appreciated and where he can train to become a psychic spy – a Psychonaut. Unfortunately while he’s there he discovers a sinister plot that only he can uncover and deal with.There’s a real-world camp to explore as well as levels inside people’s heads that feature different styles depending on whose mind you’re in. It was praised for its odd characters and intriguing sense of humour that saw you encountering things…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018RoundupGreedfall PUB FOCUS HOME INTERACTIVE DEV SPIDERS ETA 2018 When a new island is discovered off the coast of a fantasy continent being consumed by disease, all the factions travel there and begin settlements. As cousin to the governor, you must travel to each settlement and negotiate with them to avoid conflict. The game will include a Story Mode with easier battles for those that just want to experience the narrative, and a more standard mode with tougher fights. Call Of Cthulhu PUB FOCUS HOME INTERACTIVE DEV CYANIDE ETA 2018 Based on the HP Lovecraft-created pen-and-paper RPG, this investigation-led title will put you in the shoes of Edward Pierce, a private investigator. As you progress, speaking to NPCs and investigating areas, it becomes clear that this case is far from…2 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 20182019 AND BEYONDStar Wars Battlefront II may have been a disappointment, but Titanfall creators Respawn are still hard at work on their untitled Star Wars third-person action game // CD Projekt Red is still working on Cyberpunk 2077 and we’re still waiting for news on when it will actually appear. We’d also take an announcement of The Witcher 4, if they fancied making that instead // There’s still no release date for Psychonauts 2, but we’ve seen more of the game in a near-finished state, so it’s definitely on its way // Visceral might be no more, but the developer’s untitled Star Wars game is still happening, developed by EA Vancouver and using Visceral’s assets as a basis for development // The highly-anticipated System Shock 3 is in the works, and Warren…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018HALD: REACHDEVELOPER BUNGIEPUBLISHER MICROSOFT GAME STUDIOSRELEASE DATE SEPTEMBER 2010FORMAT XBOX 360Would it surprise you to know that every single Halo game has seen either a release or a remaster on the Xbox One apart from one? That’s right, the loneliest of soldiers in this harsh battlefield was left behind, despite being considered one of the best in the franchise. But it’s not out of pity that it’s on our list – oh no, we adore Halo: Reach and you should too.This was the last Halo game that Bungie developed before handing the reins over to 343 Industries. It also takes on a more sombre tone than the series is used to. Set as a prequel to Halo: Combat Evolved, you play as Noble Six, a Spartan III and the newest member…2 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018THE BEST OF BACKWARDS COM ATIBILITYThe past year has been absolutely smashing for Xbox thanks to the launch of the Xbox One X and some cracking games such as Assassin’s Creed Origins and Wolfenstein II . But we wanted to celebrate the console’s history to see how far games have come over the last 15 years. Thankfully you don’t need to own an Xbox 360 or an original Xbox to be able to experience classic games of yore thanks to Xbox One’s backwards compatibility feature. Just pop in the disc of an old game and away you go! It’s our favourite feature of the Xbox One – no longer do our old games sit forlornly on the side, they get just as much playtime as our new ones,…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLICDEVELOPER BIOWARE PUBLISHER LUCASARTS RELEASE DATE SEPTEMBER 2003 FORMAT XBOX There’s no doubt about it: KOTOR is one of the best-loved Star Wars games in existence. It’s also a fantastic RPG from the developers who would go on to make both Dragon Age and Mass Effect. This is a true Xbox classic. Set 4,000 years before the formation of the Galactic Empire, you have to face the machinations of Darth Malek by travelling to different planets across the galaxy in order to stop him. It features an alignment system that saw you lean more to the light or dark side of the Force depending on the choices you make in the story, and this in turn affects the Force powers you can use when engaged in battle. It also still…2 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018NINJA GAIDEN BLACKDEVELOPER TEAM NINJA PUBLISHER TECMO RELEASE DATE MAY 2004 FORMAT XBOX Touted as one of the hardest games ever when it was released, this gory action title sees you as ninja Ryu Hayabusa, slicing through hundreds of tough enemies in your efforts to lift a curse. Featuring decapitations and plenty of blood, it was considered horribly violent at the time and courted a fair bit of controversy. As a result, it was censored in several countries. This notoriety made it a must-have – like watching an 18-rated film when you’re far too young (sorry mum), there was a real thrill in playing it in all it’s claret-soaked glory. It was also a brutally hard and slick action game long before Dark Souls came along, albeit with a more simplistic set-up…1 min
Xbox: The Official Magazine|February 2018PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIMEDEVELOPER UBISOFT PUBLISHER UBISOFT RELEASE DATE FEBRUARY 2004 FORMAT XBOX This influential parkour’em-up introduced the gaming world to freerunning and went on to influence the likes of Assassin’s Creed and Mirror’s Edge. It’s still considered one of the best examples of 3D action gaming thanks to its innovative time-rewinding mechanic and perfect controls. After being tricked into releasing the titular Sands of Time, all of the Prince’s citizens turn into horrible creatures, and it’s up to the historical hero to correct his mistake and gather it all again. Thankfully there isn’t a dustpan and brush in sight – instead, you have a magical dagger that allows you to rewind time if you make an error and freeze enemies for simple stabbing. This classic adventure’s time-bending mechanics have never been bettered,…1 min
