We are on Christmas dates and the truth is, these are dates that I am playing more than ever. Thanks to this, I discover new games that I had neglected; and up to how much fun it is to play Tetris Effect Connected at home with people. Although these dates also bring with them the “kidnapping” of my main television by the kids, and I have to get a lot out of Cloud Gaming.
Fortunately Microsoft has started to get serious with Cloud Gaming’s touch controls, sometimes I just want to connect the mobile and play, without docking an extra controller or carrying anything else. In fact, it’s the best way to use headphones while playing.
Layers of Control in Cloud Gaming
I am currently playing Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of a Lost Past; A great game that my partner Juan analyzed and I recommend you at least take a look at his analysis. It’s a turn-based JRPG, so the gameplay on a streaming-like system is quite nice as it doesn’t require crazy onscreen action.
And this game is maybe the one that made me realize how well the different layers of the game are implemented. Because one of the things that emerges from this system is that there are no fixed controls, but several that vary depending on the scene of the game. So there are times when certain controls are displayed, and when you fight or explore others.
This is happening in more games, not just Dragon Quest XI, actually Each game has its own layer and touchpad ready and designed for quick action. By not having joysticks or buttons, Microsoft adds these shortcuts that are essential to the mobile experience.
There are currently around 20 games with support for touch control in Cloud Gaming. The list will surely grow gradually; in fact, the jump was pretty quantitative almost overnight.