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Forza Horizon 4 review – still incredible in 2021 and beyond

August 19, 2021 by Max

In many ways, Forza Horizon 4 has been the culmination of my favorite aspects of the racing genre. I’ve never dove off into the sea of hardcore sims, but at this point in my life I’ve poured over a 1000 hours into a mixture of simcade and arcade racers.

What started with the early era of Gran Turismo on the PS1 soon gave way to various Need for Speed entries, Project Gotham Racing, early Forza games, and a smattering of games in between.

To say the genre clicks with me would be an understatement, and above all, the ability to jump right in and play has always spoken to me. I’d call the Forza Horizon series a sort of open world spiritual successor to the PGR series, but what Playground Games ultimately does better than anyone else is provide the means for immediate driving fun.

Forza Horizon 4 is accessibility done right – an experience that appeals equally to fans of the genre and those completely new.

PS4 essentials: can the PS4 run at 120 fps?

June 26, 2021 by Max

Each year it seems like there are a set of must have features across gaming. In 2021, that means high refresh rates, 8K support, and a slew of new ways to increase general fluidity.

If you’re someone looking to hop on the 120 fps bandwagon with your PS4, you’ll unfortunately have to wait until you lock down a PS5 or Xbox Series X.

No PS4 models support 120 fps both due to power and required spec of HDMI. It goes without saying that the PS4 also can’t handle 144 fps.

High refresh rates have only just now broken into the console space thanks to the bleeding edge tech found in the Xbox Series X and PS5.

Xbox essentials: does Xbox Series X come with a USB-C cable?

November 8, 2021June 23, 2021 by Max

There’s nothing quite like unboxing a next-gen system. The anticipation of the old mixed with finally letting go of an aging console feels just right.

For me, the experience of unboxing and setting up the Xbox Series X was effortless when compared to prior consoles. The console literally pops up right in front of you as you open the box, and everything is tidily tucked away.

Read more on Xbox: How the Xbox Series X|S shine a light on performance

Within a few minutes I was off to gobble up all of the bandwidth I could thanks to Game Pass.

You’ll find that Microsoft provides everything you need to get up and go but, thanks to changes in cable standards, you might be confused as what is and isn’t provided. More specifically, the use of USB-C might be different than what you’re used to around the house.

Does the Xbox Series X include a USB-C cable?

Unfortunately, the console does not come with a USB-C cable despite relying on it to play without batteries. You will find a pair of AA batteries included in the packaging, but the only cables provided are the power and HDMI cords.

PS4 essentials: can you download disc games on PS4?

June 19, 2021 by Max

I still remember the brilliance of downloading Halo 3 DLC with no need for brick and mortar stores. The immediacy and convenience made playing that much more palatable and exciting.

Since then, consoles like the PS4 have completely changed the availability of digital games. No longer a novelty, digital downloads have transformed the way we play.

But for those using a mix of discs and digital on the PS4 it can be confusing as to the two work together.

Can disc games on the PS4 be downloaded? Do you need to buy a game twice?

The short of it is that you can’t download disc games. You’ll need to have the disc inserted into the PS4 every time you want to play.

Alternatively, you could sell the disc version of the game and buy a digital license on the PlayStation store.

Display essentials: do monitors affect fps?

June 16, 2021June 14, 2021 by Max

Despite TV manufacturers catering to gamers, monitors largely remain a much better option in terms of faster response times. New TVs offer features like Auto Low Latency Mode and Variable Refresh Rate, but monitors have offered much better latency for over a decade.

Cross-play: what it is and why it’s important

While not important to all players, lower latency and higher fps means more fluid gameplay and a greater level of control. For those playing first-person shooters and fighting games, a better response time can mean a competitive advantage over those playing on laggy displays or lower specced machines.

Just how do monitors affect fps?

Technically, monitors only affect fps indirectly. They’re responsible for the visible frame rate that a player will see, and it’s the reason why those with powerful machines opt for 144Hz displays.

No matter the in game fps, a 60Hz display will only ever output 60 fps.

PS4 essentials: can you connect PS4 to a hotspot?

June 13, 2021 by Max

Between travel and spotty home internet, mobile hotspots are incredibly convenient for those that need to hop online in a pinch. They allow your phone to serve as a wireless router and function very similarly to one that an ISP would provide.

Learn all you need to know about using 5GHz on the PS4

Can you connect a mobile hotspot to consoles like the PS4?

Thankfully, yes. Using your hotspot with the PS4 will be like any other use case. The only difference is that its usefulness will depend on what exactly you’re doing on the PS4.

You can also use a mobile hotspot to play online on the PS5.

PS5 essentials: do PS4 gift cards work on PS5?

June 10, 2021June 10, 2021 by Max

There’s some who say that the PS5 isn’t worth it and, while it may be true in some ways, I’ve found the system to be plenty worth it in one big way.

Playing on the PS5 has brought a whole new meaning to games like Destiny 2 and Fallout 4.

Between Game Boost and next-gen upgrades there’s no shortage of new experiences to enjoy.

And if you’re like me, it probably makes you want to browse and spend on the system’s digital storefront.

Which brings us to the confusion of moving to next-gen – can PS4 gift cards be used on the PS5?

Yes, PS4 gift cards will absolutely work. They will work whether you’re looking to buy a PS5 exclusive or bolster your PS4 library for those backwards compatibility enhancements.

PS4 essentials: can you play Japanese games in English?

June 7, 2021 by Max

Whatever the reason may be, many English speaking players find themselves playing Japanese versions of games. Importing, travel, and second hand purchases online mean that it’s never been easier to do so.

Some titles on the PS4 also aren’t localized to the West.

Despite buying Japanese games, most can’t speak or understand the language. This can be a bit of an issue for those looking broaden their horizons.

Can Japanese PS4 games be played in English?

The short answer is that it depends. English voice and dialogue support is handled on a per game basis. But it’s also relatively easy to find out whether or not a Japanese game supports English (or any language for that matter).

PS4 essentials: does every game require installation?

June 6, 2021 by Max

The PS4 did things a little differently than prior generations. Where systems like the PS2 allowed for plug and play functionality, the PS4 ended up functioning more like a PC.

For those out of the loop, things like installing games can seem a little backwards. Up until the latest generations, the beauty of playing on console was how fast players were able to start playing.

Do all games require installation?

Unfortunately, yes. Before playing any game on the PS4 (disc or digital) you will need to install it to the systems hard drive. Although annoying, this helps with overall load times while playing games.

PS4 essentials: does it overheat?

June 5, 2021 by Max

The first time I heard my PS4 fans kick into overdrive it was more than a little troubling (not to mention annoying). Those familiar with laptops and other fan cooled electronics know that, most of the time, things are kept to a quiet whir.

Can the normal PS4 run at 60 fps?

But sometimes, especially for those with older PS4’s, it can seem like your console is taking off from a runway. The noise can be so loud that you may even question whether the PS4 can overheat to the point of damage.

The short of it?

PlayStation 4 consoles do have the potential to overheat, but you probably won’t have to worry about such a scenario in most cases (and with certain precautions taken). Thousands of hours of testing and most likely millions spent (research and development) by Sony’s have taken the console to its limits before ever shipping to consumers.