Over the last year or so, a healthy supply of titles have been added to Xbox Game Pass' cloud gaming service. In just the last week, bothCricket 22andMLB The Show 22have been released on the Cloud streaming platform, being readily available across all devices without the need to install anything. April 7 sees a total of four games hitting Xbox Game Pass' Cloud service, most of which will beavailable via EA Play.
RELATED:First Xbox Game Pass Title Confirmed for May
Chinatown Detective Agency
Set in theneon-soaked cyberpunk streetsof 2037 Singapore,Chinatown Detective Agencyputs players in the shoes of Amira Darma, an ex-INTERPOL officer who’s decided to go out on her own and set up a private agency. Players will accept their own cases, and travel around the near-dystopian world to solve cases.
One ofChinatown Detective Agency’s most unique selling points is that it will apparently require the player to conduct some research outside the game itself. This can allegedly include searching for a pass code, or discovering the meaning of a mysterious quote.
Players will journey across over 100 environments, each one rendered in stunning pixel art fashion, with vibrant neon lighting dominating the art style.Chinatown Detective Agencyshould appeal to Xbox Game Pass Cloud users who are fans ofthe point-and-click genre.
Dragon Age 2
The 2011 sequel to the belovedDragon Age Origins,Dragon Age 2didn’t quite meet the same critical reception as its predecessor, but being a decade removed from it now, someDragon Agefanshave given it another chance. Set in the fantasy world of Thedas, players take control of Hawke, a refugee who soon becomes a legendary warrior.
Dragon Age 2scored well amongst critics, but for fans of the original, its combat system changes, lackluster narrative, and reused environments and assets seemed like a real step back. Some of the game’s faults lie behind the scenes, with BioWare only being given 14-16 months to finishDragon Age 2,leading to someextensive crunch on the developer’s part.
Despite its shortcomings,Dragon Age 2is still a good game. Its focus on sharp dialogue and relatable companion relationships still holds that high level of BioWare quality, making it certainly worth playing for any RPG fan, or fan of BioWare’s other works such asMass EffectandKnights of the Old Republic.
RELATED:Redfall Could Be as Big as Starfield Thanks to Game Pass
Star Wars: Squadrons
EA’s time with theStar Warslicense hasn’t been too excellent, butStar Wars: Squadronsis a bit of a diamond in the rough for many fans. Though it doesn’t quite live up to the legacy of theRogue SquadronandX-Winggamesit’s trying to imitate,Star Wars: Squadronsis the best modern dayStar Warsspace combat game.
Players get to choose from 10 of the mosticonicStar Warsships, ranging from the X-Wing and Tie-Fighter, to the B-Wing and Tie-Defender. Each ship has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, and has its own purpose in battle. Players will need to choose the right ship for the job, and carefully manage the power settings of their Shields, Engines, and Weapons.
Players can also unlock a plethora of cosmetic options for their ship, ranging from external decals and skins, to cockpit knickknacks like aGrogu bobbleheador dangling Death Star chain. There’s plenty of references and Easter eggs forStar Warsdie-hards to discover.
Star Wars: Squadrons’single-player campaign is a little lackluster, with barely any character motivations or context between missions, but its multiplayer truly shines.Squadronsoffers two multiplayer modes, the Dogfight mode, which sees two teams of five go head-to-head, and Fleet Battles, where players try to destroy their opponents' capital ship. Gameplay can be a little difficult, with some pretty complex controls, but once the player has gotten the hang of it, they’ll be space-drifting around their enemies in no time.
It isn’t the bestStar Warsgame by a long shot, butStar Wars: Squadronswill definitely scratch that itch for fans of theold schoolStar Warsdogfighters. And with enough references and authentic-looking environments and vehicles, there’s more than enough here to keep aStar Warsfan happy for at least a few hours.
Plants Vs. Zombies Garden Warfare
The last game headed toXbox Game Pass' Cloudservice on April 7 isPlants Vs. Zombies Garden Warfare. In a departure from the series' Tower Defense roots,Garden Warfareinstead shifts the series to the third-person shooter genre, infused with a few Tower Defense elements.
Using the Frostbite 3 Engine,Plants Vs. Zombies Garden Warfareis surprisingly good-looking, holding up fairly well even eight years after release. It isn’t the most complex third-person multiplayer-focused shooter, but it’s unsuspectingly fun, with its more arcade-y gameplay lending itself well to the game’s more casual and light-hearted tone.
It might not capture the attention of any die-hard shooter fans, but there’s enough charm here to warrant a quick match or two. And forthose with younger gamers, or those who are looking for a few hours of light-hearted fun,Plants Vs. Zombies Garden Warfareis certainly a game worth checking out via Xbox Game Pass' Cloud service.
