Elgado Game Capture HD Capture Test - Sunset Overdrive (The Epic Quest For EXP)
0So I got me a new capture device. My Hauppage constantly feels like it's going to fall apart. The box is big and fat and hollow, and the build quality isn't particularly great. It's a splendid device let down by its software, mainly. I got sick of pressing the Record button, doing things, and seeing the button say "xx:xx Elapsed, Size: 0MB". The software is trash, but the Hauppauge was very picky about what program sat above it.
Enter Elgado Game Capture HD. I got this thing off eBay for £65 and wanted to test-drive it before signing off on the positive feedback. It's worthy of that feedback and much more. It doesn't use a mains adapter, and gets all of its power through the USB Mini-B cable. Somehow.
It's a very powerful little thing that uses a teeny power footprint, the software seems versatile and robust, and when you press the Record button, there seems to be at least a 99.99% chance of it actually recording, unlike Hauppauge's ~85% chance.
I won't be getting rid of my HD-PVR2, but I don't see much use for it anymore.
Now on to the game, because I'm reviewing one thing and might as well review the thing being actually featured.
I don't quite understand the acclaim fall-off for this game. It's Saints Row on a caffeine/taurine high. How is this ever not going to be fun? City traversal is easy and (mostly) fluid (pardoning my faceplants into walls), the graphics are beautiful (and bold/cartoony where appropriate), the music's pretty hype, the humour panders to video game culture and is just corny enough as to not cause offense or disgust. While the respawn animations don't make death a _treat_, they definitely make it less of a chore. The characters are charming, but I know who I'll remember in a coin-flip between 4Kim and Shaundi.
SO also gets my brand loyalty due to the devs (Insomniac) making one of my most beloved franchises.
Don't sell this game short.
Oh, and in case anyone's asking why I used an Elgado instead of the Xbox One's DVR function... I think the DVR only covers up to five minutes. Good for capturing a WTF Moment or a CMOA, not so good for an entire mission. If the DVR is able to capture greater than five minutes, please feel free to correct me.