This What I’m Waiting For is set to add a few new games to the Waiting For list, but there’s only one removal. With Watch Dogs: Legion yet to release, and LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga still remaining in the shadows, there’s not much I can do to remove them from the list. New Horizons, though…
Yes, the latest Animal Crossing has been a great new addition to the series, bringing a lot more in terms of customisability than ever before. All items that previously could only be housed inside can now be placed anywhere on the island. New things are always coming to the game, giving a lot to experience. While 170 hours since launch might seem small, it has quickly become my second most played game – closely fighting Farming Simulator 17 for that spot.
It has also overtaken the previous game of New Leaf to be my most played in the series, though some of that has to be from the always accessible nature of being digital only. More than that, though, is the connection that comes with having built and continuing to build the island that you want. New Leaf might have made you mayor, but you were still stuck with how the island looked and only a select number of furnishings in which to personalise it with – and no chance to get them lined up how you wanted.
With New Horizons, everything is under my control, and as I find new furniture in stores or balloons or even recipes, I’m thinking of whether they would fit the island I’m designing. While the games I’m adding to my list might not give me absolute freedom to do what I want, I am confident they will give some good opportunities to explore the scenarios they set out to deliver.
The first of those is Star Wars Squadrons. Shown off during EA Play in June, I had intended to create an article about it then. I felt I couldn’t do it justice, though. I might have enjoyed the space combat within the Battlefront games, and enjoyed a bit of Rogue Squadron on occasion, but Squadrons is more like games that are even further back in the timeline.
The X-Wing series of the ‘90s provided a depth of simulation combat that hadn’t really been seen during that time, with the third game of X-Wing vs TIE Fighter being one of the most historically significant combat simulators ever made – according to the Steam page. Such a thing I would guess as true, as I’ve heard such a claim from other places when the topic of best space combat comes up.
And now we have Squadrons, that looks to revive the series by being a spiritual successor. From what has already been shown of it, the same sort of depth to the combat remains, with the experience said to be tailored to how the player wants it. Whether that be a simple simulator or a technical trial, everyone will be going through the story that takes place just after the Battle of Endor, as the New Republic hunts down the remaining Imperial forces.
That story will prepare players for controlling all the available ships that can be taken into battle, with differences already being noted between the same classes on both sides. Not major, but enough that the feeling of immersion remains. Once players feel capable enough, they can then take on others with the online modes – which can also be played completely against bots. Something that’s very welcome for me.
With an early October release (that month is looking pretty busy for me, this year) it won’t be long until we get within the cockpits of our fighters for some skirmishes. The second game is something from a massively popular franchise that proves just what the next generation is capable of. GTA V. I’m kidding, clearly, but I hope that this is more than just a simple port or remastering.
It’s a foolish hope to hold on to, but as others have also thought, separating GTA Online into its own thing only makes sense if there’s a lot being added to it. Next-gen stuff that’s only available for the soon to release consoles. Not to spend too much time on this one, but I would love for GTA V to be rebuilt to take advantage of all the new additions to the RAGE engine, giving it a complete overhaul.
But this wouldn’t be truly complete without other additions. Again, a long shot, but it would be absolutely beautiful if Northern San Andreas were to be added to the game. Next-gen San Fierro and Las Venturas, complete with new story missions and new characters to get to know.
As for the true second game being added to the Waiting For list, it’s another racer. One revealed in May at the Xbox conference for third party games. DiRT 5 is one I’ve been looking at since it was announced, and to check that the series would be for me, I dove back into the past (and Game Pass) to give the previous game a try. I enjoyed the few hours I spent with it competing in rally cross events, so I’m sure the new one will suit me fine.
DiRT 5 is set to bring new refinements to the series with realistic weather effects and seasons. From what I have seen of these in action, they do look to affect the track in the ways you’d expect, with some spectacular lightning storms to be within the game. Those visuals, no matter what the season or weather, do look great in general. Though a racing game isn’t about looking at the sights. It’s about the tracks you’ll be throwing the vehicles around, and how those vehicles feel on those tracks.
Each of the vehicles on offer within the demo Youtubers were able to get their hands on (FailRace gives a great look at everything within) look to handle as you would expect, with the grip being loose on dirt tracks while remaining firm on solid ground.
The tracks shown off offered challenges to overcome in finding the best way to tackle individual sections, and along with the career mode that might just offer a personal connection to it in the form of a rival who players compete with throughout, this might just be one of the best off-road racers on this current generation and will be a great game to start the next one off.
Images Taken From:
Star Wars: Squadrons Microsoft Store Page
GTA V Microsoft Store Page
DiRT 5 Microsoft Store Page
