This looks fine, but it’s hard for me to feel excited about it at all. I wish Microsoft’s exclusives were more interesting; I think Gears and Halo have both run their course but given the very small selection of big exclusive franchises for Xbox it seems like Microsoft is going to keep putting them out.
With you on this. And with 'Halo', with 'Gears'...to me, the recent entries, while well-made, have just seemed kind-of flat? Of course, money makes sequels makes money makes sequels and on and on...it just seems more apparent for new entries in franchises which, as you observe, have run their course. I wish the best for anyone picking this up, but from this QL at least, the game seems a bit charmless? I'd love to be proven wrong, but...yeah.
Like 'Halo', 'Gears' felt done by the end of '3' (though in the case of the former, I did enjoy '3: ODST' and 'Reach'.) And watching this...I dunno, this game's just not inspiring me all that much.
Jeff noting the general emptiness of the open-world - and seeing it here - is surprising, too (especially since it's: a) a big change from what one expect from a 'Gears' game, and b) coming out post-'Horizon: Zero Dawn' and its massive, roaming constructs.) Couldn't the player(s) encounter some of Sera's wildlife? Perhaps see some earlier evolutionary steps for the more-subterranean mutations the Locust or Swarm use?
My brother and I will probably Game Pass/co-op this at some point, I guess.
This brings to mind one of those dime-a-dozen post-apocalyptic sci-fi MMOs from the mid-to-late 2000's meets 'Destiny 2' meets 'The Division 2'. Even if I'm being unfair in that statement and the game gets better later on, it still might not be for me...
...but I'd be remiss if I didn't comment to honour King Ben and the saves he brings in the latter half of this QL. Long may his reign continue.
Edit: And good tries from Sers Brad and Vinny at the end there!
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