The uneven charm of Starfield

Almost immediately, Starfield felt fragmented to me. Navigating the UI was a chore, and every move I made inevitably required awkward loading screens. Most of all, the entire experience felt obscured. Starfield is overstuffed with things to do, but most of the time it feels like you’re going against the grain. For me, the biggest appeal of Skyrim was the effortless flow of its open world. Anything I did felt in line with everything else in the game.

And that’s what was most jarring about Starfield – it lacked direction or even a sense that what I was doing was right (it can still feel this way). There are an endless amount of great quests, things to build, places to make sense of, and general paths of exploration. Bethesda clearly swung wide with this game, and at many points during my time with the game so far I was overwhelmed by possibility. But it also feels very uneven and, above all, feels like a whole that’s very systems driven. Right down to its exploration, each of these major aspects can feel very siloed off.

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Need for Speed Unbound: not the worst (Xbox Game Pass)

There’s nothing better than a racer that nails physics, presentation, and that itch to push further. I’ve mainly gotten that out of the Forza Horizon series in recent years, but have played a ton of Forza Motorsport and Gran Turismo in the past. Of course you’ve also got your older series like Test Drive, Burnout, and one off titles that died way too soon like Driveclub. And that’s the kicker – it’s damn sad to see the genre flatten out as time goes on.

So when Need for Speed Unbound recently hit Xbox Game Pass I had to at least try it out. It kind of approaches the aspects I look for in a racing game but never really gets there (at least in the first few hours). But it’s scarce for new arcade racers and you can’t exactly be choosy.

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Perpetual haze (The Division 2 screenshots)

It’s been months since I’ve played The Division 2 but it still stands as one of my favorite third-person shooters ever. The game is also stunning and I remember having a blast diving into the in-game photography.

You’ll eventually find yourself in a gameplay loop of repetition but The Division 2’s atmosphere and detailed setting make it so much easier to digest. The shots below (click for full resolution) really highlight the oppressive humidity you’ll find in the fictionalized Washington DC.

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The Division 2 has got the mood

moody storm in The Division 2

Ever since taking a break with Destiny 2 I’ve been missing having a “dick around” shooter. The Division 2 seemed like the perfect fit being featured in a recent Xbox sale – tons of exploration, solo viable, and plenty of legitimately new content to enjoy before hopping onto an inevitable hamster wheel. The Destiny 2 hamster wheel is fun, but things get stale without breaks.

I originally tried it out on PS4, and I’m almost positive it was a free PS Plus game at the time. The only problem is that it was closer to the peak of the pandemic frenzy so it played a little too close to home at the time what with the narrative setup of the game.

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Fallout 76 is the pinnacle of atmospheric design

Fallout 76 capitol

Half baked and thoroughly puzzling – I like many others was confused by the initial release of Fallout 76. From the outside looking in it seemed to run the gamut of all issues associated with a GaaS title released a tad too soon. Unsurprisingly, it received a mountain of backlash.

Over time, my curiosity in what Bethesda Games Studios had developed started to overtake Fallout 76’s initial blunder. Recently, nearly 3 years after its release, I decided to take the plunge. Part of me wanted to see if things had remained truly horrendous and the other part of me wondered if a steady stream of updates had brought Fallout 76 to the surface.

What I’ve found after 20 some odd hours of playtime is that while it certainly lacks qualities found in traditional Fallout games, its level of atmosphere is far and away above anything I would have expected. Fallout 76’s rendition of West Virginia might even be one of my favorite examples of open world atmosphere.

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Awe at every turn (Skyrim Special Edition wallpapers)

All screenshots were captured in 4K on an Xbox Series X. This is the vanilla version of Skyrim Special Edition with no mods. To download a screenshot as a wallpaper, click the image in the gallery below and open it in a new tab. From here you can save the wallpaper locally to your computer or phone.

Virtual photography has a way of shining a light on the intricacies of games. And what game better than Skyrim Special Edition to go on a hunt for shots. Since upgrading to the Series X, it’s been one of my favorite games to eye up in a new way (especially with its performance boosts).

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Red Dead Redemption 2 is undeniably authentic (screenshots)

Red Dead Redemption powerlines valley

Where Skyrim brings fantastical mood, Red Dead Redemption 2 delivers a true to life, organic open world. Nearly two years since release, RDR2’s lived in setting is still yet to be matched.

And much like Bethesda’s pension for creating immersive worlds, it’s unlikely Rockstar will be topped for a long time. I beat the story for RDR2 over a year ago, but it’s still a game I come back to time and time again for its rich systems and authentic natural setting. As someone who loves hiking, Red Dead Redemption 2 is about as good as it gets.

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Always cozy, never dull (Skyrim Special Edition screenshots)

The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Special Edition ethereal god rays

Even after all these years, Skyrim never fails to disappoint in its pension for landscape views, atmosphere, and need to be played. The screenshots below were taken just outside of Whiterun and Dragonsreach. Although you’ll find a cozy atmosphere in many places of Skyrim, these zones are particularly inviting.

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Sun up serene (Microsoft Flight Sim screenshots)

Microsoft Flight Simulator clouds over nyc
  • Game: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020
  • Platform: Xbox Series X|S and PC (coming soon to Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 offers so many opportunities for great shots. After finding out how to access drone mode (hint: navigate to “Showcase” in the camera options), I’ve been having a blast seeking out scenes.

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