How many times have we all looked at our shelf of games and thought to ourselves, “yep, I’ve played all of those?” I get the sneaky suspicion that it doesn’t happen all that often. Game deals come and when they leave they’ve already captured our wallets in their whirlwind. In this edition of Ask The en I take your questions on my holiday gaming plans and Microsoft’s ReCore. We’ve also got more questions about the Xbox One S. That’s the console upgrade that Microsoft introduced in August and we reviewed shortly after.
If you’ve got questions, send them to theteam@the-en.com I’ll answer them right here for you. You know, as long as they aren’t in any way related to how long it took me to beat Platinum Games’ Avatar: The Legend of Korra. Seriously, that game was a nightmare. I take submissions on Twitter and Facebook too.
How Do You Feel About ReCore?
Q. Little unsure about purchasing ReCore ever since the reviews came out. Have you played? How do you feel about it?
I wish I had a ReCore review for you already. Unfortunately, Microsoft didn’t provide me with a review copy. That’s ok though. I paid for one.
I’m not far enough in the game to rule on all of its mechanics. What I can say is that I like how Joule moves and I’m interested in what happened to Far Eden. The mechanics themselves are pretty interesting too, specifically the puzzles and combat. There’s a lot of necessary collecting cores and locking in on foes. I don’t mind that either.
I also don’t mind the game’s loading times, but I’m playing on Windows 10 and not Xbox One, which I’m sure is part of the reason for that. I’ll have more soon, I promise.
What’s Something That I Should Care About When Choosing a Gaming PC for Xbox Title?
Q. I want to build a Windows PC so that I can play Xbox exclusives there. What hardware do you recommend?
Get the most RAM you possibly can. Also, I’d invest in a chassis that allows you to add more than one hard drive. I believe that an Intel Core i5 will suit your needs just fine. You have to get a decent graphics card. I’m playing ReCore on a loaned Lenovo Y setup with a curved 27-inch display, 8GB of RAM, an Intel Core i5, a NVIDIA 1070 graphics card without issue.
Your best bet is to look in the Windows Store and find the Quantum Break or ReCore system requirements. Use those recommended settings to build your dream machine.
Do You Game with a Headset?
Q. You play a lot of The Division. Are you using a headset or Apple EarPods connected to your controller?
Neither my good friend. My Xbox One controller hated the EarPods for some reason, so I couldn’t use those. Instead, I’m using some TurtleBeach Ear Force XO Fours. They sound great, but they are hurting my head. Right now, I’m hoping to track down something wireless and lightweight. I’ll update when you when I find something that fits the bill.
Why Did You Buy an Xbox One S?
Q. I saw on Facebook that you purchased an Xbox One S. Why did you do that? It’s the same console.
I did it because I needed more storage space and the site needed an Xbox One S review. Add in the fact that it’s something I can easily write off on my taxes and it was a win for everyone. I’m not necessarily recommending that everyone upgrade. If you have an Xbox One already, definitely save the money so that you can stack more games. If you’ve got a 4K display with HDR, go for it.
Updated Holiday Games List
Q. We’re closing in on the holiday season. How about an update on what games you’re planning to get?
Good idea. With the summer on its way out, I’ve officially made my first purchases of the season. I’ve got NBA 2K17 and ReCore to contend with. I already purchased Planet Coaster ahead of its November release, but that was so I could participate in the game’s beta release. It’s only available on PCs through Steam.
I’m still in a holding pattern on exclusives. Forza Horizon 3 isn’t something I can see myself playing for hours on end. There’s no need to pretend otherwise. Gears of War has never been my thing. I don’t see that changing much with Gears of War 4. Halo Wars 2 will probably be my next major purchase from Microsoft.
As for non-Microsoft games, that’s where the action is. Ubisoft is big with me this year. Steep is going to be a Day One purchase. Watch Dogs 2 is another first day buy. I’m on the fence about Battlefield 1, Call of Duty Infinite Warfare, and Mafia 3. I don’t have enough experience with either franchises to declare them instant purchases.
More answers for your questions soon, I promise. Take care of yourselves and each other. (It’s not often I get to drop a Jerry Springer Show reference in an Ask The en either. I’ll take my wins where I can get them.)
