The major addition comes in the form of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, which received critical acclaim on its release. Masterminded by video game legend Hideo Kojima, it returns the series to his routes as you play as wounded veteran Snake in Soviet-controlled Afganistan. Combining great stealth mechanics with a compelling, cutscene-driven story, it offers a great single-player experience. After that’s over, however, gamers can head online for entertaining base-building modes.
Resident Evil and Halo Wars
The other titles of note are Resident Evil HD and Halo Wars: Definitive Edition. For the unfamiliar, Halo Wars is a top-down real-time strategy game. Players manage resources and their forces as they combat the Covenant. The Definite Edition brings it to modern consoles in 1080p, 60 fps. Resident Evil is a series most gamers will be familiar with, but not necessarily with the first installment. It was originally released on PS1 and Xbox in 1992 before the HD remaster brought it to PS4 and Xbox One. As well as improved, yet thematically similar graphics, it introduces 5.1 surround sound, 1080p resolution, and a 16:9 aspect ratio. The controls were also greatly enhanced, removing one of the main criticisms of the original title. Lesser known titles joining the Xbox Game Pass catalog include:
Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty – A ground-up remake of the iconic platformer, Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee. The World of Van Helsing: Death Trap – A mix of action RPG and tower defense set in a gothic, monster-filled universe. Mega Man 9 (Xbox 360): A later iteration of the classic 2D platform shooter, where players defeat difficult bosses in retro style. Sky Force Anniversary: A vertical scrolling, plane-based shooter that requires great precision and has great progression. Includes local co-op and nine levels.
All of these additions are good in their own right, adding more value to that $9.99 a month subscription fee. The games will become available on November the first, with more expected in time for the holiday season.
