LIVE OCTOBER 2016
S P E C I A L G U I D E TO T H E
XBOX ONE S
The Ultimate Games and 4K Entertainment System
WELCOME
Welcome to our special look at the Xbox One S. Yes a new Xbox One with the S on it sees a smaller, more modern looking console with more power on the graphics front, HDR gaming and of course that magical 4K video. The unit also comes with a new controller that supports Bluetooth and a textured grip so long sessions are easier on the hands. Gone are the days of “my consoles’ better then yours!” … no, today gamers are more like to own more then one gaming system, even if it’s a computer or mobile device. Gamers are simply that - gamers. It’s not just about the hardware, but the enjoyment of being immersed in a game. But a good system can greatly enhance your enjoyment of gaming and the Xbox One S has a bunch a great exclusives that you will enjoy, including games like Forza Horizon 3, reviewed as the most beautiful game on Xbox by The Guardian, with its high resolution graphics, HDR and speed, it’s an amazing experience. Gears of War 4 has gotten great reviews and if you’re on Metacritic you’ll see it’s scored extremely highly by sits like IGN. Of course there’s Halo 5: Guardians which upscales beautifully to 4K. We hope you enjoy our guide to the Xbox One S, and with Christmas just around the corner we can’t think of a better family gift that will keep the whole family having fun over the summer holidays! Rob Jenkins Publisher
Published by
XBOX ON
Sleeker, Slimmer, Sh Introducing the new Xbox One S. Play the greatest games lineup, including Xbox 360 classics, on a 40% smaller console. Experience richer, more luminous colors in games and video with High Dynamic Range. Stream 4K video on Netflix and watch UHD Blu-ray... movies in stunning 4K Ultra HD. Then get the enhanced comfort and feel of the new Xbox Wireless Controller, featuring textured grip and Bluetooth... technology. With all the biggest blockbusters this year, everything you loved about Xbox 360 is even better on Xbox One. Now $399 for the 500GB Xbox One S. *4K streaming with select apps, see xbox.com. Some apps require app provider-specific subscriptions and/or other requirements. See xbox. com/live. HDR functionality available with supported games and TVs. Xbox One Backward Compatibility feature works with select Xbox 360 games, see http://www.xbox.com/backcompat. Xbox Live and broadband internet required for initial download of game to console.
“Xbox One Backward Compatibility feature works with select Xbox 360 games, see www.xbox.com/backcompat.�
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WHY 4K AN
SHOULD GET Y Take a walk into any store selling TVs and it you’ll see the selling point “4K” is all over the place. But what’s so good about 4K? Well for starters if you have a TV with 4K you’ve got four times the resolution of a traditional HD display. That means even sharper, clearer pictures. So while your current TV that is HD may have a resolution of 1920 vertical columns by 1080 horizontal, a 4K screen has 3840 by 2160 which is almost the same as cinema screens running “Cinema 4K” Watching 3D content that has been filmed using 4K cameras means that when the picture is split in two, then you wear the glasses to bring the movie into one screen, the resolution drops due to the splitting. But when content is made with 4K your resolution is much higher and so you still get HD images that are sharp and clear to watch. The new Xbox One S also has HDR which gives you a higher dynamic range when playing or watching. Simply put, the Xbox One S will have better details in dark areas and also in the very bright areas. Colours will
be more true-to-life so all your viewing/playing experience will be much better. What about content? Well, glad you asked. 4K content is coming fast. Content streaming companies like Netflix will have 4K content coming to Australia real soon. So to with Amazon, who will soon have an app you can use to watch 4K content and subscribe to shows like the new Grand Tour featuring Clarkson, Hammond and May, which is filmed in 4K with HDR! In short the new system is future proof - better image quality, higher resolutions to match the new 4K (or Ultra HD) TVs that many of us will be buying or have already bought. Oh and it’s very affordable for a console with all this power… doing a quick scan of current 4K players, you would be paying (at the time of this article - October 2016) around $500, so an Xbox One S with a 4K player, games system and controller at the pricing we’ve seen is a very good buy!
ND HDR
YOU EXCITED!
4K television display with comparison of resolutions.
EXPERIENCE THE NEW XBOX ONE S WITH FIVE
HALO GAMES. Own the Xbox One S Halo Collection Bundle (1TB), featuring 4K Ultra HD video, High Dynamic Range, Halo 5: Guardians, and a full game download of Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Experience the Master Chief’s epic journey over five Halo games on the sleeker, more streamlined Xbox console and controller. Play and store more games, including Xbox 360 classics, with the 1TB hard drive. Then stream video and watch UHD Blu-ray... movies in stunning 4K Ultra HD with High Dynamic Range. With all the biggest blockbusters this year, everything you loved about Xbox 360 is even better on Xbox One. * Available at participating retailers, while supplies last. Game download codes inside. Download from Xbox Live; ISP fees apply. Significant storage required. 4K streaming with select apps, see Xbox.com. HDR functionality available with supported games and TVs. Xbox One Backward Compatibility feature works with select Xbox 360 games, see http://www.xbox.com/backcompat. Xbox Live and broadband internet required for initial download of game to console. Gears of War 4 and Halo Wars 2 coming soon.
LET THE SLAY RI It’s the holiday season in Willamette, Colorado and a mysterious outbreak has overrun the Willamette Memorial Megaplex Mall and surrounding town with dangerous and deadly predators.
Amidst the chaos, photojournalist Frank West returns 16 years after the events of Dead Rising. An ordinary guy that finds himself in extraordinary situations, Frank seeks to uncover the truth behind a government conspiracy responsible for the outbreak. But a clandestine military operation, a former student gone rogue, and a cunning new breed of zombie are all after the same evidence. Frank will have to get to the truth first… or die trying. All of the classic hallmarks of the ground breaking zombie series return in Dead Rising 4, including a huge array of weapons and vehicles players can combine to combat the horde ranging from the practical – to the practically insane. Players will also enjoy ambitious new features including Exo Suits and Exo Weapons and a new approach to multiplayer which allows you to play together with 4 friends. With intense action and an unmatched level of weapon and character customization, Dead Rising 4 delivers a heart-pounding experience as you explore, scavenge and fight to survive in an open world sandbox on the brink of the next zombie apocalypse.
IDE BEGIN
Features: • Open world sandbox: Explore and scavenge the Willamette Memorial Megaplex for weapons to combat the zombie apocalypse and venture out to the town to find clues on the outbreak and additional weapons. • Anything and everything is a weapon: Create your own tools of zombie destruction by creating hundreds of potential weapon combinations ranging from the practical – to the practically insane. • Two all-new classes of zombies: Players will encounter the Fresh: newly zombified victims that will turn in front of your eyes and exhibit superior speed and ferocity. And the Evo: zombies with superior strength and mobility that mimic the behavior of predatory hunting animals. • Exo Suit – Ranging from the overthe-top to the completely bizarre, players can arm themselves with a super-powered suit of armor with super strength and incredible fire power to take on the zombie horde. Exo Weapons allow the player to rip down part of the world and use it as a weapon – from giant pipes to parking meters. • Multiplayer – Seamless 4-player coop provides the most immersive multiplayer experience to date. Join friends to complete missions and conquer zombie infested Willamette Memorial Megaplex or quick match and join a game in progress with players around the world.
LEAVE YOUR LIM Product Overview: THIS IS YOUR HORIZON You’re in charge of the Horizon Festival. Customize everything, hire and fire your friends, and explore Australia in over 350 of the world’s greatest cars. Make your Horizon the ultimate celebration of cars, music, and freedom of the open road. How you get there is up to you.
MITS
Features: Explore Australia in Over 350 Cars • Explore the Horizon Festival’s largest and most diverse world ever. Drive through the vast desert and rocky canyons of the Outback to lush, wild rainforests, and to the sandy beaches and gleaming skyscrapers of Australia’s Gold Coast.
• Personalize Everything from choosing your driver character, creating custom paint jobs and vanity license plates, adding new body kits – even selecting your own car horn sound. • Drive to the Music You Love. Choose from eight diverse radio stations, or create a custom station from your own music collection with Groove Music.
• Choose from over 350 of the world’s greatest cars recreated with ForzaVista... detail including full cockpit views, working lights and wipers, and new vehicle types bringing all-new driving experiences never before seen in Forza.
Start an Online Driving Adventure
• Discover Thrilling New Driving Gameplay. Danger Sign Jumps, Convoys, and Drift Zones are just some of the exciting new driving challenges that await you.
• Create Your Bucket List and challenge friends to beat you at your own game.
• Star in Thrilling Showcase events that pit you and your car against a fleet of powerboats, even a giant zeppelin! You’re in Charge • Hire and Fire Friends. You’re the boss. Hire your friends’ Drivatars to help you gain fans and expand your festival, and form Convoys with them to explore the world even when they’re not online. If they’re not winning you fans, fire them! • Create and Share Gameplay. Horizon Blueprint gives you the power to modify every aspect of race events, championships, and Bucket List challenges – and instantly share your custom events with friends.
• Online 4-Player Co-op allows you and your friends to experience the variety, competition, and rewards of a Horizon campaign together for the first time.
• Rule Leaderboards by beating your rivals in every race event, Speed Camera, Danger Sign, Drift Zone, and Bucket List you find; everything you do is a chance to one-up your friends. • Play the Auction House to find the rare cars and incredible works of art by the most talented creators in the Forza Community. Legal: Features may vary between Xbox One and Windows 10 versions of game. Xbox One game disc for use only with Xbox One systems. Xbox Live Gold membership (sold separately) required for online multiplayer on Xbox One. Cross-device play only in Xbox Live-supported countries, see xbox.com/live/countries. Some music features may not be available in some countries. See forzamotorsport.net.
FORZA HORIZO BY DANIEL CARRERAS - VG CHARTZ Forza Horizon 3 is easily one of the best open world racers I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing. Conceptually, isn’t too dissimilar to previous Forza Horizon titles; you’re attending an event (the Horizon festival) with a wide range of races to take part in and plenty else to see and do. The twist on the traditional formula comes with the fact that you’re now the festival’s manager, meaning that you get to pick where it opens and which locations get extensions once your fanbase reaches max capacity.
Want to drive across sandy dunes in an Enzo Ferrari? Be my guest.
On the surface, it’s a minor detail, but one that has far reaching consequences throughout the course of the game. It means that every single race and event that you take part in can be customised. Want to do a street race in a buggie? Sure thing.
What they loved:
The customisability doesn’t stop at the events you’re presented with - you can even create and share your own. The player created content that I participated in was concise and fun, and felt little different to courses the development team had crafted. I can see myself coming back to the game from time to time just to see what the community has come up with.
Stunning graphics Varied driving styles Great selection of music Strong events
ON 3 REVIEW
Full review here:
www.vgchartz.com/article/265901/forza-horizon-3-xbox-one/
NEVER FIGH A new saga begins for one of the most acclaimed video game franchises in history. After narrowly escaping an attack on their village, JD Fenix and his friends, Kait and Del, must rescue the ones they love and discover the source of a monstrous new enemy.
• Fight to your strengths by playing one of five classes, each with upgradeable critical abilities and skills needed to survive.
REFINED GAMEPLAY:
• New and returning multiplayer game types reward social, competitive and professional players alike, all at 60FPS on dedicated servers.
• Pummel your enemies from cover by using new close-cover combat moves like yank, vault kick and a bloody new combat-knife execution. • Dangerous new weapons, like the Buzzkill and Dropshot, can shoot around and over cover, raining destruction from all angles. • Brace against deadly wind flares that bludgeon players, shake up the battlefield, and demand new combat tactics in this tale of Man vs. Monster. • Chainsaw your way through the character-driven campaign with a friend over Xbox Live or locally via split screen co-op. Player 2 can select either Kait or Del.
HORDE 3.0: • Team up cooperatively with four others and battle wave after wave of increasingly difficult enemies by strategically building weapons or deploying fortifications anywhere on the map.
FAST AND EXPLOSIVE VERSUS MULTIPLAYER:
• A new visible ranking system drives skill-based matchmaking and lets you stand out for your abilities • Fine tune your skills in Co-op Versus, where your match-made team of five players squares off against enemy AI teams with selectable levels of difficulty.
NEXT GENERATION FEATURES: • Buy the game once and play anywhere on both Xbox One and PC with Windows 10.* • Windows Cross Play lets PC gamers play campaign, Horde and Coop Versus modes with their Xbox One friends over Xbox Live. • Shared progression lets you start a game on your PC, save it to the cloud, and finish it on your Xbox One! *Online multiplayer features require Xbox Live Gold membership (sold separately).
Xbox 360 Gears of War Collection
For a limited time, Gears of War 4 includes the entire Xbox 360 Gears of War collection for use on Xbox One!* *Includes Xbox 360 titles Gears of War, Gears of War 2, Gears of War 3 and Gears of War: Judgment. 32GB of hard drive space required. Each title works as part of the Xbox One Backward Compatibility program. Xbox One, broadband internet (ISP fees apply) and Xbox Live membership required. Not available in all markets. See www.GearsofWar.com for the latest information.
HT ALONE
GEARS OF WA BY EVAN NORRIS - VG CHARTZ Ten years ago, Microsoft published Gears of War to critical and commercial acclaim. It provided the Xbox 360, less than 12 months old at the time, with its first “killer app.” It sold a million copies in two weeks and unseated Halo 2 as the most popular game on Xbox Live. Now, a decade later, the fifth installment in the series, Gears of War 4, has done a similar service for the Xbox 360’s successor, the Xbox One. After almost three years on the market, Xbox One finally has its “killer app.” This was hardly a fait accompli in the months leading up to launch. The Gears series had gone three years without a new installment. Microsoft had recently purchased the intellectual property and assigned it
to an unproven studio in The Coalition. A lot of things could have gone wrong. Yet, amazingly, almost everything went right. Gears of War 4 is a worthy successor to one of the best video game trilogies of all time. It honors the series’ history and characters while adding new mechanics and scenarios that make the experience refreshing and newly rewarding.
What they loved: Gorgeous graphics New weapons and cover mechanics 60 FPS multiplayer!! Versus co-op
AR 4 REVIEW
Full review here:
www.vgchartz.com/article/265991/gears-of-war-4-xone/
XBOX ONE S GET IT AT GAMETRADERS
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