Gamezine9, 20-10-2021: Xbox's 20th Anniversary & The Return of G4, gm918229

 Xbox's 20th Anniversary Controller

Video Credit: Microsoft

While the Xbox One had troubles at launch (thanks to some marketing decisions), its controller was a definite improvement. Textured grips, textured rims on the analog sticks, a traditional D-pad and smooth triggers, it’s very pleasant to hold, which is coming from someone who regularly uses the controller. It’s also my go-to controller for PC, for similar reasons. It’s the perfect controller for any type of gamer, so how much more perfect can it get?
In anticipation of the Xbox brand’s 20th anniversary since the original console, Microsoft revealed a special edition of the Xbox Series controller, with a matching headset. The controller’s front is translucent, allowing us to see its inner workings and features a small 20 with the Xbox symbol. By connecting the controller to your Xbox Series S/X, you can unlock a new dynamic background based on the anniversary. The headset matches the controller in its coloring and it’ll be wired. Both will become available on November 15th each costing $69.99.
Since I played on the Xbox One during my college days, I always liked the controller and became my default controller, without touching any other controller by other companies. What else can be said? Microsoft made the greatest controller in the gaming world, a normal controller for the normal gamer (without bells and whistles). If I could, I would get the controller, but alas, I can at least celebrate in my own unique way. Happy Birthday, Xbox!

GTA's 3D Era Returning Reborn

Video Credit: Rockstar

Rockstar released three Grand Theft Auto games from 2001 to 2004: GTA III, GTA: Vice City and GTA: San Andreas. In GTA III, a mute criminal named Claude rises through the criminal ranks of Liberty City, looking for revenge. In GTA: Vice City, Tommy Vercetti builds a criminal empire in the titular Vice City, while looking for those responsible for an ambushed drug deal. In GTA: San Andreas, CJ returns to Grove Street to attend his mother’s funeral, but is dragged back into the gang war between the Families and Ballas. These games defined Grand Theft Auto as the greatest franchise in video gaming, so much they got copycats and, due to its violent nature, a few lawsuits. And now, they’re finally getting the reworked treatment.
After many rumors and cease-and-desist letters towards modders, Rockstar finally unveiled Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition and it’s heading this year to PC (via Rockstar Games Launcher), PS4/5, Xbox One/Series S/X and surprisingly for the first time, the Nintendo Switch. Versions for Android and iOS are coming in the first half of 2022, but pricing and more release date info hasn’t been shared. Also what kind of technical improvements we should expect, Rockstar just said that each game has gotten “across-the-board upgrades including graphical improvements and modern gameplay enhancements”, choosing to take the faithful approach to its remasters, leaving “the classic look and feel of the originals” how they were presented on PS2. But it’ll take more than words to hype us up for the remasters, especially if Rockstar is only doing it to further develop GTA VI. Rockstar will also remove existing versions of the three games from all digital storefronts next week, so hurry up if you wanna enjoy the classics as they are!
While we were expecting Rockstar to do something like this (since Take-Two is sending cease-and-desist letters towards modders to stop tinkering with the games to make their own remasters), it’s even more surprising that not one, but three GTA games will head to the Nintendo Switch, since those games are pretty controversial by themselves. I certainly have never played Vice City or GTA III since they came out, because I was too young. I used to have the disc of GTA: San Andreas, but I never got to find a good PC to play it before I lost it. Now I’ll have a chance to play the three games in a modern format… next year perhaps.

Nintendo's Joy-Con Problem is Unavoidable

Video Credit: Nintendo

Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console that can simultaneously double as a home and portable console. You can play anywhere and with anyone (through NS Online)! But in case you can’t afford and/or only want the portable experience, Nintendo Switch Lite has that covered! Its success speaks for itself: as of 2021, 89.04 million units were sold worldwide, while its most popular game, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (a port of Wii U’s game), sold 37.08 million copies. But while it is the most popular console in Nintnedo’s arsenal (it sells constantly to the point there’s barely a discount!), there’s one persistent issue with the Joy-Cons. Everybody knows it.
The Joy-Con’s biggest issue is its joystick drift: it moves without user input, causing a character to move and it mostly occurs when dust or other small particles come in contact with the internal sensors of the analog stick. This is easy to fix, usually by applying compressed air or contact cleaner under the rubber skirt of the joystick. Nintendo is going through action-class lawsuits for this, since it knows about the issue, but has yet to respond. Nintendo is starting to make improvements to the Joy-Cons quietly: the OLED model, while using the same Joy-Cons, has some “invisible” improvements. In a long interview on Nintendo’s website, developers Ko Shiota and Toru Yamashita noted that the company has continuously worked to improve the Joy-Con’s durability, though the issue is still unavoidable. While the Joy-Cons may last longer, time will tell how long until the drift takes place. At least there are enough tutorials online to solve the drift if Nintendo still can’t do much.
This is the only thing stopping me from considering getting the Switch. I may not play much, but the Xbox controller is built better. Even Valve is gonna make sure the sticks on the Steam Deck are solid. Yet Nintendo can only do so much to slow down the drifting. The Switch has great exclusives and some decent third-party games (which are pushing the system to its limits), but what’s the point if the stick won’t even work properly? It means I’ll wait even longer until the fix is permanent, once I get the Steam Deck.

Sora Joins Smash Ultimate At Last!

Video Credit: GameSpot

In a world far, far away, the Heartless rise to menace it. A boy named Sora receives the Keyblade, a weapon that can hurt the Heartless, going on a journey to find his missing friends. Joined by Donald and Goofy, the three explore the wide world, meeting other Disney characters and defeating more Heartless. The ultimate goal is to stop whoever tries to unlock the door to Kingdom Hearts, the source of power, knowledge and all hearts. Many trials await Sora, in which he must pass to keep helping and protecting the people he cherishes. Then he gets an invitation to a fighting tournament.
During Tuesday’s livestream, the final character for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was revealed: Sora from Kingdom Hearts! Many have requested he be included, while others thought it wouldn’t happen unless a deal with Disney could be reached. But they managed it! You can see for yourself in the clip what Sora is capable of. His Final Smash move wasn’t revealed, but it is named Sealing the Keyhole. Many music tracks will be included with Sora, plus a bonus track that can be unlocked with save data of Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory on the Switch. But that’s not all, because Square-Enix will also bring the Kingdom Hearts games on the Switch… as cloud-based games, which sucks for us without strong Wi-Fi. But it’s a good celebration since Sora is the very last fighter to join Smash Ultimate, despite all odds!
It’s a great addition for Smash Ultimate and very great that the Kingdom Hearts games will join the Switch. But it’s a caveat: your Wi-Fi has to be strong enough to play the games, to avoid lag and you don’t actually own the games. The games will remain available for as long as Square-Enix pays those servers. It’s unfeasible for anyone with weak Wi-Fi and for the entire world. Square-Enix should really think about bringing the games at least digitally, since they’d pay the servers more than just remaster the games.

The Rebirth of G4

Video Credit: G4 TV

G4 was a TV channel geared towards gamers and the culture itself. Its programming was full of series aimed at young adults and even included programs like Star Trek, Star Trek: Next Generation, the Marvel Anime (four anime based on Marvel’s X-Men, Iron Man, Wolverine and Blade) and Knight Rider. Oh, and it hosted Unbeatable Banzuke (the only Japanese game show I watched, through Animax) and Ninja Warrior. Sadly, the channel ceased airing in 2014 and was shut down on New Year’s Eve, since it couldn’t keep up with YouTube and Twitch. But it’s not game over!
The channel will return with everything you loved. This includes Attack of the Show with Kevin Pereira, Xplay (formerly X-Play) with Adam Sessler, alongside new programming like an unnamed game show in partnership with WWE. The channel even acquired the US streaming rights to Sasuke, known as Ninja Warrior, for old-school fans and newcomers to enjoy. While the channel will only be available on US cable, Adam Sessler confirmed that the channel’s original content will also be live on Twitch, to make it “readily available to as many people possible worldwide”. Which is great news for people who want to experience G4 in all its glory, without having to get cable.
Although I never heard of G4, since I was too young to get into gaming, it certainly sounded like a TV channel for gamers. Even if it was killed off due to the rise of YouTube and Twitch. It’s great that not only G4 is coming back, but its content will be available to more people outside America. Maybe I’ll check its content once a while. Because if we want news, you’ll find it here on Gamezine!

Favorite Game: Transformers Devastation

In New York, Megatron discovers an ancient Cybertronian ship, which he intends to use for his nefarious scheme. With the humans evacuated, the Autobots Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Wheeljack, Sideswipe and Grimlock must stop the Decepticons from claiming the ship for themselves. The ship not only contains powerful tools, but it contains a record of Cybertron’s culture which was lost in the Great War. Will history be reclaimed?
This hack-and-slash game allows you to play as one of five Autobots at a time, fighting through hordes of Decepticons or chasing one down. Players can chain combinations of light and heavy attacks, along with the ability to transform, dodge, parry, block and counter. The music is great too, composed by Vince DiCola (The Transformers: The Movie) and Kenny Meriedeth (Angry Birds Transformers, alongside DiCola). Sadly, we can’t experience it digitally anymore, as it was removed from the storefronts in 2017 following the expiration of Activision and Hasbro’s partnership. But it can still be enjoyed by tracking down the discs for Xbox 360/One or Playstation 3/4.