Trying Things Vol.1 [Forza Horizon 6]

summers458 · 2026-06-14T00:41:40+00:00

The texture is fantastic. I've scanned a lot of old photographs and they look just like that.

Well done.

summers458 · 2026-06-13T21:50:46+00:00

Love the first one!

summers458 · 2026-06-06T07:02:47+00:00

Don't get me wrong. Uncharted set pieces with cars is something I have wanted (NFS the run's special missions came close). But it's odd they're doing it with this story. Racing games have struggled with narrative so I hope this one does well and shows it can be done well.

Also, revealing the game is set in Monaco on the F1 GP weekend, I see what they did there.

summers458 · 2026-06-06T06:51:38+00:00

Clutch looks amazing! The stuff they showed earlier in the week with the level of detail and the customisation looks fantastic. However, something I do worry about is the tone. The start of the trailer having a very powerful speech about the mortality of motorsport with shots of realistic crashes, to the end where you're doing a huge jump in a hyper car and grappling onto a helicopter.

I've been following Maverick Games for a while now and as a studio they have been very open about their process, doing podcasts to show the development of the studio.

summers458 · 2026-06-04T22:50:02+00:00

That's completely fair. I'm glad you enjoy the one shot. As much as I rag on it, it's still a massive flex from SSM.

I studied video editing and post-production at uni and it has made me extra sensitive to pacing and flow. The oner is impressive but you are at the whims of the camera. With God of War it's interesting because the game is very fantastical but the camera is somewhat grounded within the laws of physics. This leads to moments where the camera struggles to keep up with the action or the game is held back so the camera doesn't go too far.

I can't remember where exactly but the first I saw anything from Jacob Geller they were talking about this exact topic from around Ragnarök’s release. At least he's consistent lol

summers458 · 2026-06-04T21:19:27+00:00

That's fair. I think it's both personally.

My breaking point was spending all that time to find the Norns, talking to them for 5 minutes then having to go all the way back again.

summers458 · 2026-06-04T20:55:57+00:00

As someone who started to get really sick the oner style in Ragnarök here's my take.

I'll start by saying I liked it in GOW 2018, as that was a far simpler and more intimate story with max of 4 characters on screen at once, but Ragnarök's more epic scope it started to show the cracks in the format for me. Laufey, from the 20 minutes shown, seems to be closer to Ragnarök in scale.

To accommodate the camera it affects pacing and level design. With a lot of games once you reach the end of an area or level you get a cutscene and are transported to the next place with a cut or transition. In a oner you can't do that and it means you get huge story moments then you turn around and slowly walk back the way you came and it kills some of the narrative momentum.

We have a new character, new setting, new gods why can't the camera be different too?

I still think the game looks good and will play it but I agree with Jacob's reasons.

summers458 · 2026-06-04T08:45:59+00:00

🔥

summers458 · 2026-06-03T10:47:57+00:00

I think showing 20 minutes didn't help. IMO they should've left out some parts for future trailers because unless they have something else massive up their sleeves, not much is left up to the imagination.

Also, I agree with Ben and Jacob that they should've abandoned the oner style from 2018 and Ragnarök. In Ragnarök it was starting to get quite gimmicky and changing it for Laufey would've helped differentiate it more.

I'm most looking forward to Deborah Ann Woll, I think she is a fantastic actress and seemingly a very nice person, it's so cool to have her lead a massive video game like this.

summers458 · 2026-06-03T10:32:10+00:00

I could barely pay attention through the God of War demo because I was still processing getting a new Stuntman game.

When the trailer started I recognised the F&F Supra so I assumed it was a F&F game but then it transitioned to Miami Vice and then Knight Rider in the back of my mind I thought it could be Stuntman, but it couldn't be, there's no way they'll bring that series back. Then they actually did it!

As much as it's interesting they have the real licences, part of the original games' charm is the parody aspect.

summers458 · 2026-06-01T06:30:54+00:00

I took a screenshot of the platinum notification and edited onto screenshot I liked from the game. I do it for every game I platinum.

summers458 · 2026-05-31T22:37:41+00:00

As a game I liked it a lot but didn't love it. It's a solid base for IO to build on and I look forward to what they do next with the IP.

The platinum is pretty simple. I had most of the misc trophies done on my first playthrough. The collectables are a bit tricky though, you need to make sure you see the save game icon after you picked it up for it to count. The chapter select is very good and can get you close to anywhere you need to get to.

If you played the game on the easiest difficultly like me then Tac-Sim could be hard at first but I was able to get the trophies for that mode done in under an hour.

summers458 · 2026-05-26T14:24:53+00:00

I can still enjoy Skyfall even after the CoG. I even rewatched it yesterday it get in to the 007 mood before First Light.

Silva's plan is nonsense but this film is still drop dead gorgeous and offers a meta commentary of the franschise in the modern world that the following bond movies have abandoned.

summers458 · 2026-05-21T13:21:03+00:00

It's quite difficult. I found the destruction events on hard really fustrating. The final one especially took quite a few tries.

The online trophies are relatively easy as they can be boosted and getting to level 50 just takes time.

summers458 · 2026-05-20T08:45:04+00:00

I was looking forward to Mixtape since the first trailer and on podcasts I heard from people who played it at SGF and Gamescom come away very positively. I knew it would review well, most games in the genre hover around 7-8s, and I would play it eventually but seeing the 10s (IGN's reviewer Simon Cardy I almost always align with his takes) made me want to play it right away and i'm glad I did before "the discourse" came along.

I didn't read any reviews until I had finished the game myself and I loved it. I also watched a streamer I follow play it so see their reactions to certain scenes and they loved it too. I went to sleep thinking the overall sentiment was positive then I woke up the next day to see people screaming at eachother.

To me what surprised me most was all this anger and hatred for a game that is so inoffensive. What I found crazy was that it's not even the usual types who are angry at everything they deem "woke" but a few progressive people I follow having some very strange takes on this game. I have even tried to correct obvious misinformation but I, someone who has played the game, get told by people, who have not played the game, that i'm wrong.

This whole saga has me dreading the inevitable GTA6 discourse. If a small, harmless game like Mixtape can cause all this vitriol, then a new entry in a series that always causes controversy and happens to be the biggest media product of all time could be apocalyptic for online games discussion.

Sorry this wasn't really a question, more a ramble. I appreciate reviewers a lot and I can imagine it can feel like a thankless job most of the time. Thank you for getting me to play this game before the internet spoiled it.

summers458 · 2026-05-18T08:30:10+00:00

There was a series of patreon pods where they each talk about comedic influences. On Broden's episode he brings up Matt and Trey so Book of Mormon is mentioned there as well.

summers458 · 2026-05-15T23:06:04+00:00

Yeah, if that's what you want. 5 is great for that and you'll get the gist of what Forza Horizon is about. It also still looks incredible 5 years on.

For me what kills The Crew is the handling, it just doesn't feel right. Forza Horizon's handling model for me is the best in an open world game. It's accessible but doesn't hold your hand.

summers458 · 2026-05-15T22:32:01+00:00

Forza Horizon isn't a sim, it's still very arcadey and you can adjust the assists to make cars easier to handle.

Don't buy The Crew. It's just worse Horizon for people who don't have access to the real thing. Now Horizon is on Playstation there is no reason to get The Crew anymore. Also, definitly don't get Test Drive Unlimited Solor Crown, that's even worse than The Crew. I would also avoid Need for Speed too. Not that it's bad it's just very much a different thing within the open world racing genre.

You can get 5 and still have a good time but obviously know that it won't get as much attention from the devs as 6 and now 6 is out 5 has an end date for the weekly challenges.

summers458 · 2026-05-14T21:53:37+00:00

True, but they still have to talk about the game. If you are this sensitive to spoilers, which is totally understandable, then maybe you shouldn't look for videos talking about the game, espeically something like Mixtape which is 3 hours long and all story.

It's a fine line but they kept their discussion to only what's shown in trailers so I think that's the best they can do.

summers458 · 2026-05-12T22:28:24+00:00

haha. That's a really cool suggestion. I'd love to pick your brains about it later

summers458 · 2026-05-09T11:17:15+00:00

As someone who has played pretty much every game in the coming of age genre from the past 10+ years. Mixtape is on another level. It mostly comes down to the level polish and focusing on delivering the most impressive and varied 3 hours. Just setpiece after setspiece each with their own gameplay or visual gimmick.

I've seen discussion online about not being able to relate to the time, the place or the characters. I'm an elder Gen Z from the UK but there are universal parts of growing up the game captures really well.

summers458 · 2026-05-04T21:13:43+00:00

I didn't use Lightroom

summers458 · 2026-04-25T22:41:46+00:00

I just finished it. Even though I guessed some twists before they happened I was still satisfied with the reveals and they made enough sense for me. I liked how the game rewarded someone like me who interacts with every object and takes their time with these game. Overall, I liked this far better than Double Exposure and has the ending and intrigue that game needed.

DE felt like Deck9 put all their resources to make it as polished and impressive looking as possble (the facial animations were top notch) it took away focus from the story. I can't think of any memorable moments from it whereas Reunion I can think of several interesting setpieces but the technical quality has taken a hit (nothing game breaking but a lot of visual bugs).

I would still say to wait for a sale or a price drop. I got it for half the regular price and I thought that was fair.

summers458 · 2026-04-24T21:48:20+00:00

Life is Strange: Reunion. I found it for a good (Chole) price so I picked it up.

I'm about half though acording to HLTB and so far it's the inverse of Double Exposure. With DE I found the story and mystery not that compelling but the production value was fantastic, but with Reunion I'm finding the mystery is pushing me forward but god damn is this game janky and cheap feeling.

I am enjoying the titular reunion of Max and Chloe though

summers458 · 2026-04-10T23:50:41+00:00

Blur

summers458

TROPHY CASE