So there you have it... did you blink and miss it?
I nearly did. Christmas... talked about and trumped up for six months beforehand, and then cast away like yesterday's news come January 1.
However if you are like me and enjoy a bargain the best bit about the post Christmas blues is the excitement of buying a new bit of kit.
And this year's January sales seem to be the best in living memory.
Credit crunch? WHAT credit crunch?! It seems that every electrical retailer in the land is thrusting its wares on us at a fraction of the price.
A few days ago I - like every other being on the planet - took a step into PC World to look at buying a lap top.
It was like hell on earth. But, on reflection, it seemed to restore some sense of mankind in me.
Due to the sheer number of customers - and the seemingly few members of staff - the customers began talking to one another giving each other guidance on picking up a lap top.
It was surreal really, but nice. You had a collation of knowledge. Teachers, students, OAPs etc etc all coming together to help each other out.
Within 15 minutes or so I walked out of the store more knowledgable than ever - AND without a lap top.
Best bet I thought... shop online.
So yes, given the numbers in PC World I've determined there are literally hundreds of people in Plymouth who are after a lap top.
My advice... try visiting the likes of PC World online, or indeed buy direct from Dell, HP or Apple.
Buying a lap top has got to be one of the most confusing things ever.
It's almost like these people make up specifications just to throw us off the sent.
And I'm not going to lie to you. I still haven't got one. It's like pin the tail on the donkey... I reckon eventually I'll open up a brochure or webpage, close my eyes and point.
So here's what I've learnt which may well help you:
The higher the number of Megahertz (MHZ) the faster the processor should be.
The bigger the hard drive capacity the more you can store (i.e. pictures, video, music etc).
Processor Type: This is a toughie and I can't quite work it out. However feel rest assured a 'Duo' processor is better than a 'Dual' processor and it should run faster allowing you to operate more programmes at once.
A wireless connection allows you to connect to an existing wireless network such as in a office or a wireless hot spot. It is essential if you want to use your lap top - and indeed the web - around the house (you will need a router).
The more USB connections the lap top has the more equipment you can connect to your computer, for example... a modem, printer, scanner or digital camera.
AND Windows Vista's premium home package runs faster than the basic version (apparently).
There, that should help you out.
I'm still looking. Oh, worth mentioning also that Apple Macs might look pretty but be prepared... if you've used a PC all your life, the programmes will be COMPLETELY different to what you are used to. And they're a few more quid too.
Anyway, as we all shake ourselves back into action after the Christmas and New Year festivities, there are a few releases you may have overlooked towards the end of last year that deserve your attention.
What about Motorstorm: Pacific Rift, an offroad racing tour de force on PS3, or Disaster: Day of Crisis, packed with blockbusting action on Wii.
Left 4 Dead is an excellent shooter on Xbox 360 and Shaun White Snowboarding Road Trip puts the Wii's balance board to great use, while 100 Classic Book Collection gives DS owners enough reading material to last until next Christmas.
Title: Motorstorm: Pacific Rift
Platform: PS3
Genre: Racing
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
A luscious island paradise might seem suitable for a relaxing holiday, but it also makes an ideal venue for offroad racing, and the follow-up to the hugely successful MotorStorm trades the desert for golden beaches and verdant jungles that are as dangerous as they are beautiful.
It’s that beauty that really stands out in Pacific Rift, even if the game set-up is pretty familiar to the first outing.
But it all works like a well-oiled machine, whether you’re risking it all on a dangerous short cut or slugging it out with your rivals on the well-worn routes around a whopping 16 new courses.
Split-screen multiplayer is a welcome addition to the bundle, and this should be one PS3-exclusive that gamers ensure has a parking spot reserved in their collection.
Title: Disaster: Day of Crisis
Platform: Wii
Genre: Action
Price: £34.99
Hit count: 3/5
Survival is the primary objective in Disaster, as you’re forced to endure nature’s most devastating catastrophes in a devastatingly short period of time.
As an unprecedented wave of natural disasters pummels the United States, a rogue Special Forces unit has also taken advantage of the chaos and seized a nuclear weapon, leaving you as Ray, a former member of an elite rescue task force, to sort it all out.
And it’s a pretty rip-roaring ride. Starting with a volcanic eruption and crossing 23 stages you’ll take in all manner of incredible disasters in shooter levels, driving, and good old-fashioned third-person adventuring.
Like any big-budget blockbuster film, it’s not perfect (although the soundtrack is fantastic) but that won’t leave you any less satisfied from a few hours on this rollercoaster of a game.
Title: Left 4 Dead
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: First Person Shooter
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Just knowing that Left 4 Dead comes from the same developers as the incredible Half-Life titles will set the bar of anticipation to a pretty lofty level.
As a zombie-infested co-operative shooter, this game manages to meet all expectations, remaining superbly polished in terms of presentation and control, as well as the concept itself, which drops you into a play area not only crawling with zombies but also four hulking great boss bad guys – Tank, Witch, Smokers and Boomer.
If you’re playing solo, the computer can take care of your three companions well enough, but when you go online for human multiplayer help this game really comes into its own, providing a unique multiplayer experience that needs you to take teamwork to the next level. If you want to survive, that is.
Title: Shaun White Snowboarding Road Trip
Platform: Wii
Genre: Racing
Price: £34.99
Hit count: 4/5
Wii Fit opened up a whole new range of possibilities on Wii, aside from just keeping yourself trim.
From a gaming perspective, interactivity stepped up a notch, and has now turned snowboarding from a sedentary simulation into a full-blown physical challenge.
The good news is that the balance board responds beautifully to your every move and once you master the basic controls you’ll be slaloming across the piste in no time.
You will need to use the Wii remote too to carry out different tricks, but this doesn’t detract from what is a good looking, intuitive title that brings a new dimension to the Shaun White series.
Title: 100 Classic Book Collection
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Reading
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 4/5
Fancy transforming your Nintendo DS into a fully portable library? Well, for just under £20 you can have access to 100 classic novels from some of the world’s best known and best loved authors – all on one diddy cartridge.
Whether you fancy a spot of drama, mystery, fantasy, romance, tragedy or comedy, it’s all here.
Join Gulliver on his travels, go Around the World In Eighty Days, sleuth with Sherlock Holmes or disappear 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.
The story synopsis mode details the story and themes of each title, without giving away any of the twists and turns of the plot if you’re unsure what to get stuck into, while navigation from page to page is a piece of cake, with adjustable text sizes too.
An interesting new chapter from Nintendo begins...
In the charts this week, FIFA 09 jumped back to top spot, reclaiming it from Call of Duty: World of War. Guitar Hero: World Tour climbed three places from seven to four, while Far Cry 2 re-entered the top 10, leaping four places from 11 to seven.
GAMES CHART ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1.FIFA 09
2.Call Of Duty: World At War
3.Need For Speed: Undercover
4.Guitar Hero: World Tour
5.Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games
6.Wii Play
7.Far Cry 2
8.Mario Kart Wii
9.Quantum of Solace
10.Sonic Unleashed
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
Thursday, 8 January 2009
Friday, 28 November 2008
Top tips for a hassle free Christmas shopping experience
IT'S amazing how quickly Christmas takes hold isn't it?
I got back from reporting in Afghanistan earlier this week after nearly three weeks in theatre. I come back and... BANG - Christmas it is then... in November.
When I left a few of the larger retailers were beginning to put up decorations, you know just to remind people that Christmas was coming up.
But by November 24th Christmas was in full swing.
"Only 25 or so shopping days to Christmas," one sign read.
Who cares? I considered.
You see, I'm one of the new age of shoppers. You know, the ones that are single-handedly killing city centres.
For the past three or four years I have done just about all of my Christmas shopping online.
Ok, I'm not doing my part in helping local businesses survive the credit crunch. And yes, I might be described as being "lazy" for shopping online in the comforts of my home surroundings.
But you know what...? (And this is the point that local retailers and sceptics miss)... I really don't care.
Shopping online means no queues, and no annoyingly proud Plymouth parents who drive their kiddie buggies with the level of disdain you would otherwise associate with Lewis Hamilton driving on the A386.
There's no real fear of someone in front of you buying the last one, items are cheaper and have free delivery, and you don't have to go far to get it. (For me, off the sofa, up the stairs and into my bedroom and wallah... my Pc).
For me there is no comparison to internet shopping.
I bought a nice camera last month and I found it £100 cheaper online. Even though the nice man in the shop assured me he was practically going bankrupt to give me the camera at that price.
So with Christmas coming up (within minutes if you believe the efforts of some of the city centre's stores) I can offer you some shopping tips from a near enough expert.
My first point of call for electrical bits and bobs is Amazon.co.uk. The website stocks an amazing amount of items such as portable gaming equipment, video cameras and televisions as well CDs, DVDs, hairdryers, cuddly toys or whatever you're looking for.
If you spend over a certain amount (from memory I think it's £15) you get free delivery.
If you are especially looking to buy CDs, try http://www.cdwow.com/ or for DVDs try http://www.dvd.co.uk/. Those two are the most cheapest I've found and the ones I use a great deal. They both have free delivery and are well worth a look. http://www.play.com/ is also worth a look for both DVDs and CDs. Again postage is free.
As Seen On Screen (http://www.asos.com/) is also worth a shout if you're after that t-shirt that Justin Timberlake wore on his last video shoot, or indeed some bling that vaguely looks like something Beyonce would wear.
If you are looking for something more specific, say a video camera, and you know the make and model, it's worth visiting http://www.kelkoo.co.uk/.
This website compares online prices and picks out the cheapest allowing you to click a link to visit the specific store.
In the past people, including myself, have worried about spending large amounts of money on items which may have to be returned for one reason or another.
Certainly in my experience shopping online I have only ever had to return one item and that was a simple process of emailing the site and returning it for a refund. Easy.
So there you have it. A hassle free shopping experience.
So while I've been away there have been a number of big game releases.
Here I've grouped together the reviews to offer some real ideas for Christmas presents from loved ones.
Title: Resistance 2
Platform: PS3
Genre: Shooter
Price: £44.99
Hit count: 5/5
Resistance: Fall Of Man was one of the shining lights when the PS3 launched in a blaze of glory last year.
It was a tight, slick, deftly executed first person shooter that wasn’t without it’s own bout of cathedral controversy, too.
The sequel once again puts you in the war-torn boots of Nathan Hale, who is not only facing near impossible odds on the battlefield against the horrific Chimera, but is also constantly struggling with the Chimeran virus that is raging inside his own body.
Another superb single player campaign moves the story on at a fast-pace and, when complete, there’s a phenomenal eight-player co-operative campaign to tackle – where teamwork really comes to the forefront.
The classic online competitive multiplayer completes an incredible first-person shooter package and makes this one PS3 exclusive you can’t miss out on this Christmas.
Title: The Legend of Spyro: Dawn Of The Dragon
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
The previous Spyro outings have been enjoyable, if a little traditional action, adventure events, but Dawn of the Dragon does seem to mark a new day for Spyro and his chum Cynder, as you embark on a fantastic action/RPG adventure where free-flying around the many different environments will prove the sheer scale of the world you’re playing in.
Throw in some superb voice acting from Hollywood stars Elijah Wood and Christina Ricci, plus a brilliant musical score, and you have yourself a corking little adventure that will really grow on you as you progress.
It’s a magical world and fab family game to get your teeth into.
Title: Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party
Platform: Wii
Genre: Mini-games
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
The Wii Fit balance board was only going to keep you occupied with yoga poses for so long.
Let the raving rabbids loose on this Wii peripheral and you’re soon be sat on your bum on the board wondering what the other 50 or so mini-games have to throw at you.
In the main, it’s cheeky-humoured, heavily-stylised cartoon fun from racers to remote wagglers to drawing on the screen. As with all mini-game titles, you can’t expect everyone to be a cracker, but TV Party scores a pretty high percentage of hits versus misses.
There’s no shortage of family ’party game’ titles on the number one family console in the run-up to those big festive get-togethers, but Raving Rabbids performs admirably in a crowded market and is well worth adding to your collection.
Title: Tamagotchi Connection Corner Shop 3
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: RPG
Price: £34.99
Hit count: 2/5
The days of simple virtual pet management have long gone.
No more can you simply press the right button at the right time on your keyring companion.
In Tamagotchi Connection Corner Shop 3 you’ve got plenty more to worry about as the owner of a variety of shops that must appeal to their every whim, from spas to gardening, ice cream to parties.
The better you work your way through this myriad of mini-games, the happier these little critters will be.
All of this amounts to a pretty saccharine and sterilised gaming experience, which is unlikely to appeal to anyone into double figures age-wise.
It’s repetitive and there’s very little challenge to attract anyone who’s not simply looking to complete their own Tamagotchi collection.
Title: Deal Or No Deal: The Banker Is Back
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: TV Quiz
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 3/5
Noel Edmonds and co have made a pretty tasty living out of Deal Or No Deal - the game of ludicrous odds and ultimate chance that has millions hooked to the TV over their tea.
And now, it’s back by popular demand, as the Banker (and Noel) return for another dose of box-picking action.
Classic modes, as well as some twists on the traditional format, are all available including the Banker’s Bonus and Banker’s Evil games.
These additional features add a little longevity to this title, and with the franchise such a family favourite, the game is a great gift idea for any family member or friend wanting to test their wits, skill and knowledge in the comfort of their own home, and without a live studio audience!
Title: Gears of War 2
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Shooter
Price: £44.99
Hit count: 5/5
With five million copies of the original Gears of War sold, its sequel has pretty big army boots to fill.
As one of the most popular games in Xbox history, Gears re-defined shooter action with an incredible cover system and supreme co-operative play, and guess what - it's just as good all over again! Continue as war hero Marcus Fenix, six months after the events of the original, when there's a new Locust threat from below.
It looks absolutely stunning, and the improved cover system now even allows you to use downed enemies as shields.
This feature is much-needed when you get a load of the psycho enemies you'll encounter along the way, many of whom are thirsty for all-new chainsaw duels - another highlight.
It's as intense and over-the-top as shooter adventures get, and that's before you even get a chance to sample the superb online offerings.
Title: Guitar Hero World Tour
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Music
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Not content with controlling the plectrum-plucking guitar genre on Xbox 360, World Tour opens up the musical possibilities by adding drums and the ability to sing to the guitar and bass options already on your melody-making smorgasbord.
A new innovation is the ability to create your own songs and distribute them among the online Guitar Hero community, which is sure to go down well with those serious about their music-making.
For everyone else, playing through the single player career mode is fab fun, with great new features and a host of top new tunes to make your own.
The sound quality is absolutely brilliant, as you would hope, and matched by seriously high-quality graphics. The perfect title to raise the roof this winter.
Title: Crash Bandicoot: Mind Over Mutant
Platform: PS2
Genre: Action
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
Oh no! A rejuvenated Neo Cortex is taking over the world, one brain at a time, with a text-messaging, do-anything device that controls both mutant and bandicoot minds.
So, armed with his quick wits and lightning agility, Crash must free his friends and the titans - and save the day! And so begins another cartoony caper that boasts all the elements for a strong 3D platformer - decent sound and a great story - but it's let down by the old classic: a dodgy camera.
Put simply, you're unable to move it as you'd like, which can become seriously frustrating when you're trying to make a quick turn.
As Crash Bandicoot titles go, this sits comfortably somewhere in the middle - it won't totally turn you off, although the camera nearly does.
Title: Carnival Games: Mini Golf
Platform: Wii
Genre: Golf
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 2/5
Hot on the heels of the million-selling original, Carnival Games: Mini-Golf brings its larger-than-life, theme park style to the world of miniature golf courses.
Whether you're stepping back in time to the land of dinosaurs, keeping order in the Wild West or searching for a buried treasure in Pirate's Cove, you'll be mixing it up with traditional mini-golf fare as well as some unexpected action-oriented gameplay using the Wii Remote.
Sadly, the poorly-realised swing mechanics mean your amble around the excellently-designed holes will turn more into a frustrating lurch from one green to the next, and the desire to snap your putter across your knee will gradually increase.
It's a shame, because the game looks really nice, but ultimately it's riddled with bogeys.
Title: America's Next Top Model
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Modelling
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
The US reality TV show has given aspiring supermodels an access-all-areas opportunity to forge a career in the modelling industry, and now the DS brings the same career path to gamers.
You take control of one of 10 aspiring models who compete in a variety of different categories, including 'Make-Up', 'Fashion', 'Catwalk' and 'Photoshoot'.
You can probably guess that there's a bit of a female flavour to proceedings, as the stylus helps you strike a pose for a photographer, keep your walk timed perfectly on the catwalk, or ensure your make-up is a match for the occasion.
It's all quite good fun and the pressure to survive every eviction keeps the interest running for a while. Good stuff for girl gamers on the go!
Title: Mirror's Edge
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 5/5
This is no ordinary first-person title - let's make that very clear from the start. And that alone should send you shooting to the shops to snap up this instant classic from EA.
Your character is Faith, a 'runner' in a world where communication channels are highly monitored and the movement of information is closely watched. Be prepared for a bumpy ride as one of these high-octane, adrenalin-pumping couriers.
From the off, you'll see first-hand how the incredible perspective and pace of movement push this game to the limits. Find yourself on the edge of the city and the wrong side of the law, as you attempt to discover the truth behind your sister's wrongful framing for murder.
Superb chases, intense combat - this is an awesome, high-flying experience.
Title: Call Of Duty: World At War
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Shooter
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
After a fantastic foray into present day, the Call Of Duty plunges back into more familiar territory - World War II - and forces players to survive the final climactic days of a world at war, to thwart the advance of Axis powers on multiple fronts from Europe to the Pacific.
Play as a US Marine or Russian conscript across a variety of European and Pacific infantry, vehicle and airborne missions. This game delivers just the kind of shooter experience we've come to expect.
No holds barred, superbly recreated battle sequences don't give you a second to breathe. A new capability to play through the entire single player campaign cooperatively online, also adds new depth. A first class WWII recreation.
Title: Football Manager 2009
Platform: PSP
Genre: Football Management
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
There's nothing more frustrating than having to keep your stat-crunching, life-sucking virtual football management career confined to a PC desktop.
But fear not - now you can lose yourself in all those tactics, transfers and numbers, numbers, numbers whether you're on the bus, train or maybe sneaking in a pre-season friendly under the desk at work.
What's more - for the first time on PSP, the series now features a 2D match engine with two camera angles, allowing you to view the full match or zoom in on the action.
You can also run up to four playable divisions at any one time so you can move your career around the continent, too.
All while your real life career disappears down the swanny! Addictive, engrossing, football entertainment.
Title: What's Cooking? Jamie Oliver
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Cookery
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 2/5
Taking a break from his campaign to teach Rotherham residents how to knock up a stir-fry, the most successful small-screen celebrity chef of our time turns his attention to conquering the even smaller screens of the Nintendo DS.
This is yet another of those 'edutainment' titles that seem to be all the rage right now. Essentially a virtual cookbook with portable capabilities, in aims to instruct and inform in the kitchen, by the barbeque or while scanning supermarket shelves.
The recipes are cracking Oliver fare, with high quality photography to match, but this type of idea doesn't fit the DS medium. As a result, it's likely to become another obscure cooking ingredient relegated to the back of the cupboard.
Title: World Heroes Anthology
Platform: PS2
Genre: Fighting
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 3/5
Another one of gaming history's most famous franchises is bundled up into this bumper collection, pulling together the 2D fighting classics of World Heroes, World Heroes 2, World Heroes 2 Jet and World Heroes Perfect.
Battling through history in a tournament facilitated by a time machine, many of the games' dozens of characters are based on actual historical figures, providing an interesting twist to the combat.
Aside from that, though, it's pretty much what you'd expect from a now aging fighting series - slightly dodgy graphics, limited special techniques and strange English translations. Big fans of World Heroes will enjoy the trip down memory lane, but everyone else should probably pass.
Title: Tomb Raider: Underworld
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action/Adventure
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
This is the kind of big-budget, classic franchise release that you're just desperate to be a hit as the festive period comes around.
And it's so good to report that Tomb Raider: Underworld marks a next-gen return to form for Lara Croft, as she embarks on an incredible journey around the world to uncover the secrets of a forgotten power.
Where Indiana Jones came up all crusty this year, Lara is re-invigorated, with a wealth of new acrobatic abilities and weaponry to tackle the treacherous landscapes of Thailand, the Arctic sea and Mexico, and so on.
Graphics to die for bring a new crispness to a Tomb Raider adventure, and the environments cleverly hide a host of devilishly devised puzzles to tackle. Combine this with an advanced combat system that puts you in complete control of the beautiful Croft, and you know you're onto a sure-fire winner here.
Title: Need For Speed Undercover
Platform: PS3
Genre: Racing
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
You should know by now that the Need For Speed series doesn't do things by halves, and Undercover is no exception - combining stunning gameplay and big-budget Hollywood-style live action movie segments.
Before you know it you'll be racing through speedways, dodging cops and chasing rivals as they go deep undercover to take down an international crime syndicate. While you'll have seen the high-intensity police chases in the past, Undercover introduces the all-new 'Heroic Driving Engine' - a unique technology that generates incredible high-performance moves at 180 miles per hour during breathtaking highway battles - and it's incredible.
Racing fans will lap this up and for followers of the series it's another satisfying shot of adrenalin-fuelled road action.
Title: Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Fighting
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
As brute strength, console credibility and meaty franchises go, this is a true clash of the titans as the Mortal KombaT warriors go head-to-head with Batman, Superman and their comic counterparts in a fab over-the-top fighter.
Simply choose your side and challenge your opponents with the all-new fighting system including Freefall Kombat and Klose Kombat, along with dynamic multi-tiered environments.
Character-specific signature and finishing moves tap into the true Mortal Kombat experience, while some of the visual bruising and torn clothes bring a real gritty realism to your unfolding battles, making this more than just a comic-book scrap.
Whether you're taking on your opponent in Gotham City, Hell, Metropolis or online, this is a welcome collision of larger-than-life worlds.
Title: WWE Smackdown vs RAW 2009
Platform: PS3
Genre: Wrestling
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Memories of TNA Impact! are quickly quashed once you step into the ring in WWE Smackdown vs RAW 2009.
THQ give their popular series a much needed polish, bringing gamers a hugely improved story mode, smoother visuals and an altogether more exciting wrestling experience.
There are improvements almost everywhere you look, from the ability to create your own finisher to the amazingly detailed Highlight Reel movie creator, where you can edit your in-ring action to the nth degree.
Perfect presentation, next-to-no loading times and the best combat system yet means this 2009 release is the new reigning champ as far as console wrestlers go.
Title: All-star Cheerleader
Platform: Wii
Genre: Cheerleading
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 3/5
There are fewer and fewer sporting stones left unturned on consoles. Fishing's been done, horse-racing covered.
What about cheerleading? Well, taking advantage of of the Wii Balance Board's capabilities, it's here for you now, as you get the chance to ride on the crest of the High School Musical wave and perform dozens of real-world dance moves.
You can customise your team's look and also string together your very own choreographed routine. Fans of this kind of dancing title are going to love the new direction that the Balance Board allows them to take.
Obviously, if you're a football and first-person-shooter loving gamer, you'll give this a miss, but for the target market, it makes all the right moves.
GAMES CHART ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1 (-) Call Of Duty: World At War
2 (5) FIFA 09
3 (8) Mario Kart Wii
4 (-) Need For Speed: Undercover
5 (-) Wii Fit
6 (-) Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training
7 (3) Football Manager 2009
8 (9) Pro Evolution Soccer 2009
9 (-) Tomb Raider: Underworld
10 (-) Wii Play
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
I got back from reporting in Afghanistan earlier this week after nearly three weeks in theatre. I come back and... BANG - Christmas it is then... in November.
When I left a few of the larger retailers were beginning to put up decorations, you know just to remind people that Christmas was coming up.
But by November 24th Christmas was in full swing.
"Only 25 or so shopping days to Christmas," one sign read.
Who cares? I considered.
You see, I'm one of the new age of shoppers. You know, the ones that are single-handedly killing city centres.
For the past three or four years I have done just about all of my Christmas shopping online.
Ok, I'm not doing my part in helping local businesses survive the credit crunch. And yes, I might be described as being "lazy" for shopping online in the comforts of my home surroundings.
But you know what...? (And this is the point that local retailers and sceptics miss)... I really don't care.
Shopping online means no queues, and no annoyingly proud Plymouth parents who drive their kiddie buggies with the level of disdain you would otherwise associate with Lewis Hamilton driving on the A386.
There's no real fear of someone in front of you buying the last one, items are cheaper and have free delivery, and you don't have to go far to get it. (For me, off the sofa, up the stairs and into my bedroom and wallah... my Pc).
For me there is no comparison to internet shopping.
I bought a nice camera last month and I found it £100 cheaper online. Even though the nice man in the shop assured me he was practically going bankrupt to give me the camera at that price.
So with Christmas coming up (within minutes if you believe the efforts of some of the city centre's stores) I can offer you some shopping tips from a near enough expert.
My first point of call for electrical bits and bobs is Amazon.co.uk. The website stocks an amazing amount of items such as portable gaming equipment, video cameras and televisions as well CDs, DVDs, hairdryers, cuddly toys or whatever you're looking for.
If you spend over a certain amount (from memory I think it's £15) you get free delivery.
If you are especially looking to buy CDs, try http://www.cdwow.com/ or for DVDs try http://www.dvd.co.uk/. Those two are the most cheapest I've found and the ones I use a great deal. They both have free delivery and are well worth a look. http://www.play.com/ is also worth a look for both DVDs and CDs. Again postage is free.
As Seen On Screen (http://www.asos.com/) is also worth a shout if you're after that t-shirt that Justin Timberlake wore on his last video shoot, or indeed some bling that vaguely looks like something Beyonce would wear.
If you are looking for something more specific, say a video camera, and you know the make and model, it's worth visiting http://www.kelkoo.co.uk/.
This website compares online prices and picks out the cheapest allowing you to click a link to visit the specific store.
In the past people, including myself, have worried about spending large amounts of money on items which may have to be returned for one reason or another.
Certainly in my experience shopping online I have only ever had to return one item and that was a simple process of emailing the site and returning it for a refund. Easy.
So there you have it. A hassle free shopping experience.
So while I've been away there have been a number of big game releases.
Here I've grouped together the reviews to offer some real ideas for Christmas presents from loved ones.
Title: Resistance 2
Platform: PS3
Genre: Shooter
Price: £44.99
Hit count: 5/5
Resistance: Fall Of Man was one of the shining lights when the PS3 launched in a blaze of glory last year.
It was a tight, slick, deftly executed first person shooter that wasn’t without it’s own bout of cathedral controversy, too.
The sequel once again puts you in the war-torn boots of Nathan Hale, who is not only facing near impossible odds on the battlefield against the horrific Chimera, but is also constantly struggling with the Chimeran virus that is raging inside his own body.
Another superb single player campaign moves the story on at a fast-pace and, when complete, there’s a phenomenal eight-player co-operative campaign to tackle – where teamwork really comes to the forefront.
The classic online competitive multiplayer completes an incredible first-person shooter package and makes this one PS3 exclusive you can’t miss out on this Christmas.
Title: The Legend of Spyro: Dawn Of The Dragon
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
The previous Spyro outings have been enjoyable, if a little traditional action, adventure events, but Dawn of the Dragon does seem to mark a new day for Spyro and his chum Cynder, as you embark on a fantastic action/RPG adventure where free-flying around the many different environments will prove the sheer scale of the world you’re playing in.
Throw in some superb voice acting from Hollywood stars Elijah Wood and Christina Ricci, plus a brilliant musical score, and you have yourself a corking little adventure that will really grow on you as you progress.
It’s a magical world and fab family game to get your teeth into.
Title: Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party
Platform: Wii
Genre: Mini-games
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
The Wii Fit balance board was only going to keep you occupied with yoga poses for so long.
Let the raving rabbids loose on this Wii peripheral and you’re soon be sat on your bum on the board wondering what the other 50 or so mini-games have to throw at you.
In the main, it’s cheeky-humoured, heavily-stylised cartoon fun from racers to remote wagglers to drawing on the screen. As with all mini-game titles, you can’t expect everyone to be a cracker, but TV Party scores a pretty high percentage of hits versus misses.
There’s no shortage of family ’party game’ titles on the number one family console in the run-up to those big festive get-togethers, but Raving Rabbids performs admirably in a crowded market and is well worth adding to your collection.
Title: Tamagotchi Connection Corner Shop 3
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: RPG
Price: £34.99
Hit count: 2/5
The days of simple virtual pet management have long gone.
No more can you simply press the right button at the right time on your keyring companion.
In Tamagotchi Connection Corner Shop 3 you’ve got plenty more to worry about as the owner of a variety of shops that must appeal to their every whim, from spas to gardening, ice cream to parties.
The better you work your way through this myriad of mini-games, the happier these little critters will be.
All of this amounts to a pretty saccharine and sterilised gaming experience, which is unlikely to appeal to anyone into double figures age-wise.
It’s repetitive and there’s very little challenge to attract anyone who’s not simply looking to complete their own Tamagotchi collection.
Title: Deal Or No Deal: The Banker Is Back
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: TV Quiz
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 3/5
Noel Edmonds and co have made a pretty tasty living out of Deal Or No Deal - the game of ludicrous odds and ultimate chance that has millions hooked to the TV over their tea.
And now, it’s back by popular demand, as the Banker (and Noel) return for another dose of box-picking action.
Classic modes, as well as some twists on the traditional format, are all available including the Banker’s Bonus and Banker’s Evil games.
These additional features add a little longevity to this title, and with the franchise such a family favourite, the game is a great gift idea for any family member or friend wanting to test their wits, skill and knowledge in the comfort of their own home, and without a live studio audience!
Title: Gears of War 2
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Shooter
Price: £44.99
Hit count: 5/5
With five million copies of the original Gears of War sold, its sequel has pretty big army boots to fill.
As one of the most popular games in Xbox history, Gears re-defined shooter action with an incredible cover system and supreme co-operative play, and guess what - it's just as good all over again! Continue as war hero Marcus Fenix, six months after the events of the original, when there's a new Locust threat from below.
It looks absolutely stunning, and the improved cover system now even allows you to use downed enemies as shields.
This feature is much-needed when you get a load of the psycho enemies you'll encounter along the way, many of whom are thirsty for all-new chainsaw duels - another highlight.
It's as intense and over-the-top as shooter adventures get, and that's before you even get a chance to sample the superb online offerings.
Title: Guitar Hero World Tour
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Music
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Not content with controlling the plectrum-plucking guitar genre on Xbox 360, World Tour opens up the musical possibilities by adding drums and the ability to sing to the guitar and bass options already on your melody-making smorgasbord.
A new innovation is the ability to create your own songs and distribute them among the online Guitar Hero community, which is sure to go down well with those serious about their music-making.
For everyone else, playing through the single player career mode is fab fun, with great new features and a host of top new tunes to make your own.
The sound quality is absolutely brilliant, as you would hope, and matched by seriously high-quality graphics. The perfect title to raise the roof this winter.
Title: Crash Bandicoot: Mind Over Mutant
Platform: PS2
Genre: Action
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
Oh no! A rejuvenated Neo Cortex is taking over the world, one brain at a time, with a text-messaging, do-anything device that controls both mutant and bandicoot minds.
So, armed with his quick wits and lightning agility, Crash must free his friends and the titans - and save the day! And so begins another cartoony caper that boasts all the elements for a strong 3D platformer - decent sound and a great story - but it's let down by the old classic: a dodgy camera.
Put simply, you're unable to move it as you'd like, which can become seriously frustrating when you're trying to make a quick turn.
As Crash Bandicoot titles go, this sits comfortably somewhere in the middle - it won't totally turn you off, although the camera nearly does.
Title: Carnival Games: Mini Golf
Platform: Wii
Genre: Golf
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 2/5
Hot on the heels of the million-selling original, Carnival Games: Mini-Golf brings its larger-than-life, theme park style to the world of miniature golf courses.
Whether you're stepping back in time to the land of dinosaurs, keeping order in the Wild West or searching for a buried treasure in Pirate's Cove, you'll be mixing it up with traditional mini-golf fare as well as some unexpected action-oriented gameplay using the Wii Remote.
Sadly, the poorly-realised swing mechanics mean your amble around the excellently-designed holes will turn more into a frustrating lurch from one green to the next, and the desire to snap your putter across your knee will gradually increase.
It's a shame, because the game looks really nice, but ultimately it's riddled with bogeys.
Title: America's Next Top Model
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Modelling
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
The US reality TV show has given aspiring supermodels an access-all-areas opportunity to forge a career in the modelling industry, and now the DS brings the same career path to gamers.
You take control of one of 10 aspiring models who compete in a variety of different categories, including 'Make-Up', 'Fashion', 'Catwalk' and 'Photoshoot'.
You can probably guess that there's a bit of a female flavour to proceedings, as the stylus helps you strike a pose for a photographer, keep your walk timed perfectly on the catwalk, or ensure your make-up is a match for the occasion.
It's all quite good fun and the pressure to survive every eviction keeps the interest running for a while. Good stuff for girl gamers on the go!
Title: Mirror's Edge
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 5/5
This is no ordinary first-person title - let's make that very clear from the start. And that alone should send you shooting to the shops to snap up this instant classic from EA.
Your character is Faith, a 'runner' in a world where communication channels are highly monitored and the movement of information is closely watched. Be prepared for a bumpy ride as one of these high-octane, adrenalin-pumping couriers.
From the off, you'll see first-hand how the incredible perspective and pace of movement push this game to the limits. Find yourself on the edge of the city and the wrong side of the law, as you attempt to discover the truth behind your sister's wrongful framing for murder.
Superb chases, intense combat - this is an awesome, high-flying experience.
Title: Call Of Duty: World At War
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Shooter
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
After a fantastic foray into present day, the Call Of Duty plunges back into more familiar territory - World War II - and forces players to survive the final climactic days of a world at war, to thwart the advance of Axis powers on multiple fronts from Europe to the Pacific.
Play as a US Marine or Russian conscript across a variety of European and Pacific infantry, vehicle and airborne missions. This game delivers just the kind of shooter experience we've come to expect.
No holds barred, superbly recreated battle sequences don't give you a second to breathe. A new capability to play through the entire single player campaign cooperatively online, also adds new depth. A first class WWII recreation.
Title: Football Manager 2009
Platform: PSP
Genre: Football Management
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
There's nothing more frustrating than having to keep your stat-crunching, life-sucking virtual football management career confined to a PC desktop.
But fear not - now you can lose yourself in all those tactics, transfers and numbers, numbers, numbers whether you're on the bus, train or maybe sneaking in a pre-season friendly under the desk at work.
What's more - for the first time on PSP, the series now features a 2D match engine with two camera angles, allowing you to view the full match or zoom in on the action.
You can also run up to four playable divisions at any one time so you can move your career around the continent, too.
All while your real life career disappears down the swanny! Addictive, engrossing, football entertainment.
Title: What's Cooking? Jamie Oliver
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Cookery
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 2/5
Taking a break from his campaign to teach Rotherham residents how to knock up a stir-fry, the most successful small-screen celebrity chef of our time turns his attention to conquering the even smaller screens of the Nintendo DS.
This is yet another of those 'edutainment' titles that seem to be all the rage right now. Essentially a virtual cookbook with portable capabilities, in aims to instruct and inform in the kitchen, by the barbeque or while scanning supermarket shelves.
The recipes are cracking Oliver fare, with high quality photography to match, but this type of idea doesn't fit the DS medium. As a result, it's likely to become another obscure cooking ingredient relegated to the back of the cupboard.
Title: World Heroes Anthology
Platform: PS2
Genre: Fighting
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 3/5
Another one of gaming history's most famous franchises is bundled up into this bumper collection, pulling together the 2D fighting classics of World Heroes, World Heroes 2, World Heroes 2 Jet and World Heroes Perfect.
Battling through history in a tournament facilitated by a time machine, many of the games' dozens of characters are based on actual historical figures, providing an interesting twist to the combat.
Aside from that, though, it's pretty much what you'd expect from a now aging fighting series - slightly dodgy graphics, limited special techniques and strange English translations. Big fans of World Heroes will enjoy the trip down memory lane, but everyone else should probably pass.
Title: Tomb Raider: Underworld
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action/Adventure
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
This is the kind of big-budget, classic franchise release that you're just desperate to be a hit as the festive period comes around.
And it's so good to report that Tomb Raider: Underworld marks a next-gen return to form for Lara Croft, as she embarks on an incredible journey around the world to uncover the secrets of a forgotten power.
Where Indiana Jones came up all crusty this year, Lara is re-invigorated, with a wealth of new acrobatic abilities and weaponry to tackle the treacherous landscapes of Thailand, the Arctic sea and Mexico, and so on.
Graphics to die for bring a new crispness to a Tomb Raider adventure, and the environments cleverly hide a host of devilishly devised puzzles to tackle. Combine this with an advanced combat system that puts you in complete control of the beautiful Croft, and you know you're onto a sure-fire winner here.
Title: Need For Speed Undercover
Platform: PS3
Genre: Racing
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
You should know by now that the Need For Speed series doesn't do things by halves, and Undercover is no exception - combining stunning gameplay and big-budget Hollywood-style live action movie segments.
Before you know it you'll be racing through speedways, dodging cops and chasing rivals as they go deep undercover to take down an international crime syndicate. While you'll have seen the high-intensity police chases in the past, Undercover introduces the all-new 'Heroic Driving Engine' - a unique technology that generates incredible high-performance moves at 180 miles per hour during breathtaking highway battles - and it's incredible.
Racing fans will lap this up and for followers of the series it's another satisfying shot of adrenalin-fuelled road action.
Title: Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Fighting
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
As brute strength, console credibility and meaty franchises go, this is a true clash of the titans as the Mortal KombaT warriors go head-to-head with Batman, Superman and their comic counterparts in a fab over-the-top fighter.
Simply choose your side and challenge your opponents with the all-new fighting system including Freefall Kombat and Klose Kombat, along with dynamic multi-tiered environments.
Character-specific signature and finishing moves tap into the true Mortal Kombat experience, while some of the visual bruising and torn clothes bring a real gritty realism to your unfolding battles, making this more than just a comic-book scrap.
Whether you're taking on your opponent in Gotham City, Hell, Metropolis or online, this is a welcome collision of larger-than-life worlds.
Title: WWE Smackdown vs RAW 2009
Platform: PS3
Genre: Wrestling
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Memories of TNA Impact! are quickly quashed once you step into the ring in WWE Smackdown vs RAW 2009.
THQ give their popular series a much needed polish, bringing gamers a hugely improved story mode, smoother visuals and an altogether more exciting wrestling experience.
There are improvements almost everywhere you look, from the ability to create your own finisher to the amazingly detailed Highlight Reel movie creator, where you can edit your in-ring action to the nth degree.
Perfect presentation, next-to-no loading times and the best combat system yet means this 2009 release is the new reigning champ as far as console wrestlers go.
Title: All-star Cheerleader
Platform: Wii
Genre: Cheerleading
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 3/5
There are fewer and fewer sporting stones left unturned on consoles. Fishing's been done, horse-racing covered.
What about cheerleading? Well, taking advantage of of the Wii Balance Board's capabilities, it's here for you now, as you get the chance to ride on the crest of the High School Musical wave and perform dozens of real-world dance moves.
You can customise your team's look and also string together your very own choreographed routine. Fans of this kind of dancing title are going to love the new direction that the Balance Board allows them to take.
Obviously, if you're a football and first-person-shooter loving gamer, you'll give this a miss, but for the target market, it makes all the right moves.
GAMES CHART ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1 (-) Call Of Duty: World At War
2 (5) FIFA 09
3 (8) Mario Kart Wii
4 (-) Need For Speed: Undercover
5 (-) Wii Fit
6 (-) Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training
7 (3) Football Manager 2009
8 (9) Pro Evolution Soccer 2009
9 (-) Tomb Raider: Underworld
10 (-) Wii Play
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
Friday, 24 October 2008
Web casts 'e' celebrities
A simultaneous good thing and bad thing happened this week on This Morning's show with Philip Schofield and Fern Britton.
If you don't know what I'm talking about visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxKMPTR0MVA.
The pop star turned human tabloid car crash that is Kerry Katona out did all previous stage performances and became a sensation in six minutes - for all the wrong reasons.
Gurning her face off, the 28-year-old former Atomic Kitten star embarassed herself by mumbling and slurring throughout the interview.
She was on the show to promote Whole Again, her new reality show on MTV. Oh, did I mention the fact that she had her breast operation filmed live for the show?
One needs to question how much of a "performance" she was asked to give to promote it. (Am I being too shallow?!)
Okay for starters, the good thing about the foray was the fact that her appearance convinces those that don't know her how shallow and worthless these so called 'celebrities' are.
The bad thing is her appearance will no doubt fill the pages of certain Sunday newspapers for the next few weeks thus fuelling the desire of the nation to read about her in the future.
Sadly the rise of the internet has led to the rise of the 'e' listed celebrity.
In years gone by the likes of Kerry Katona would have been famous for their popstar careers while they had them. As they disappeared into the wilderness like Colour Me Bad, one would think they would never be heard from again.
Sadly former popstars feel the need to crash and burn, and people like PR guru (and Katona's manager) Max Clifford are there to pick up the pieces and drag it along the news columns - and so it starts over.
Web journalists (whether trained by the NCTJ or by a coupon in a cornflakes packet) then take up the story and drag it out.
And that's where youtube comes into play. Hundreds of people upload the video and it's viewed by countless number of people - as it has.
And sadly the likes of Kerry Katona become supposed celebrities again.
Personally I'm not sure which was more painful... a). watching the actual interview and witnessing Katona's obvious illness; or b). knowing she will cash in and do daytime tv and newspaper interviews for the next two years about it.
Rant over.
Here's the best of the recent games releases:
Title: Pro Evolution Soccer 2009
Platform: PS3
Genre: Football
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Round two in the clash of the football titles! After FIFA 09 dazzled just a few weeks ago, it's the turn of the Pro Evolution series to strut its stuff.
Just as EA's football monster improved in a host of ways, so this `09 incarnation has undergone a radical graphical overhaul to become a real visual treat for players.
In full flow, you could be mistaken for thinking you were watching the real thing.The 'Be A Legend' mode effectively combats FIFA's 'Be A Pro' offering, and Master League has been tweaked to offer an improved hardcore mode for PES regulars.
The final score in this clash of the titans? A draw. Until next year's replay then...
Title: Saints Row 2
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
After the incredible impact that GTA IV had on next-generation consolesearlier this year, Saints Row 2 is in the unenviable position of being in the exact same genre - it's a tough act to follow.
However, while this never reallyreaches the dizzy heights of GTA, Saints Row 2 is much-improved from its firstouting, with a totally transformed and expanded city of Stilwater, all-new vehicles, sandbox tools and toys as well as both online co-op and competitivemultiplayer.
And it is great fun - always a good thing in these games, which canoften take themselves too seriously.
Yes, the story is darker and more sinister,but it's the action, customisation options and overall player freedom that makeyou want to give this a go just months after tackling Liberty City.
Title: Dancing Stage Universe 2
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Dancing
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 4/5
Have you ever seen Youtube footage of overweight teenagers somehow movingtheir feet faster than the speed of light on an arcade dance machine, with theironly care in the world seeming to be simply stepping on the arrows in time withthe music and on-screen prompts?
You should, and playing Dancing Stage Universe2 could elevate you to similar status.
It's rhythm gaming in its classicoriginal form and is such simple, fantastic fun.
All you need to worry about ismatching arrows in time to the music on a mat, and the game will give you a tripthrough the dance decades with tunes as diverse as Franz Ferdinand's Take Me Outand Kool & The Gang's Jungle Boogie.
Give grandad a go on it at Christmas.
Title: NBA Live 09
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Basketball
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
One of the biggest basketball franchises in gaming has experienced somethingof a stuttering start on the court, as early efforts proved.
However, Live 09 has taken a giant stride and leap in the right direction towards slam-dunkingthe series into the Hall of Fame.
The slick gameplay is matched by excellentmotion-captured character models and facial mapping, while Dynamic DNA and Live 365 technology ensure that your own on-court battles draw realism from real-lifeteam and player performances.
This gives the challenge on offer an all-newdimension for people looking for true depth, yet the game also offers enoughpick-up-and-play fun to keep casual ballers amused.
Title: Pipe Mania
Platform: PSP
Genre: Puzzle
Hit count: 3/5
Price: £19.99
Puzzle fans, get ready for some more fast and frenetic pipework.
Pipe Maniabuilds on the infectious playability of the original with expanded game modes,new themes, new play mechanics and new pieces to challenge gamers of all typesand ages.
You've got to slap the pipes down onto the game board before theflooze starts flowing, creating a watertight pathway from start to finish - and, if your leak-o-meter tops out, it's curtains.
This game has come a long way fromthe 1980s original on the Amiga, yet calling upon classic gaming skills - quickthinking, hand-eye co-ordination and keen spatial awareness - means that fun isalmost guaranteed.
It's a tough challenge, but stick with it - it's worth it.
Title: Little Big Planet
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £44.99
Hit count: 5/5
It can take a while for a new console to produce the kind of titles that you’ll look back on with huge affection when the next ’next-generation’ is in full swing.
Little Big Planet is absolutely one of those games for the PS3.
Creative and incredibly addictive to play either on your own or with friends, it’s an action game with a real difference.
You can choose to build a world to share with other gamers or simply explore the adventures there on the disc.
Either way, customising your sack-man character is an absolute hoot, and developing your own patch on the planet for others to come and see feels more like the game itself than an added extra.
This is unique, stunning and sets a new benchmark for PS3 games to beat – and that could take some time.
Title: Far Cry 2
Platform: PC
Genre: Shooter
Price: £34.99
Hit count: 5/5
The original Far Cry was an incredible first-person shooter experience on PC - and that’s saying something, bearing in mind how many FPS titles have appeared in recent years.
Four years later and it’s back, with a new developer and a new location – Africa – for the action.
And this is about as good as these games have ever been, with 20 square miles to explore in search of an arms dealer called 'The Jackal', using stealth or all-out attack.
The weapons are there, whichever approach you choose, and the environments are unbelievably rich with amazing flora and fauna to uncover, should you find the time.
Bundle in a dynamic weather system to help – or hinder – your progress, and you can be sure that Far Cry 2 presents one of the toughest and most tantalising FPS worlds on any format right now.
Title: Bioshock
Platform: PS3
Genre: Shooter
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 5/5
Quite rightly considered one of 2007’s games of the year on Xbox 360 and PC, Bioshock is finally available on Sony’s next-gen console.
And, as before, what you experience throughout your exploration of Rapture, an underwater city built by the realm’s self-proclaimed leader Andrew Ryan, is likely to change the way you relate to games forever.
Posing gamers with a layer of moral questioning above the strikingly-solid gameplay mechanics, weapon and ’magic’ customisation and a tightly-knitted plot, Bioshock is so much more than just ’run and gun’ - if you want it to be.
Let it get into your head and you’ll realise that what has been created here is more than a game, perhaps more of a personal journey with all the top-notch trappings of a near-perfect title to revel in around it.
Genius.
Title: Dead Space
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action Shooter
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Someone once said that, in space, no one can hear you scream.
That’ll be a relief for anyone passing by gamers engrossed in Dead Space, which turns out to be a frighteningly-creepy, survival-horror title set on-board a spaceship overrun by Necromorphs – or aliens, to you and I.
Graphically it’s stunning, and the atmospheric sound will be the source of a spine tingle or two as well, although the game itself is a little on the linear side.
Games in this genre have been a little hard to come by recently if you’re looking beyond the Resident Evils and Silent Hills of the console world, so Dead Space fills a decent-sized black hole in outer space and your games collection.
Title: NBA 2K9
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Basketball
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
This series of basketball games does battle with EA’s offering, and it’s a highly-competitive event generally, with gamers guaranteed to come out winners.
This 2009 instalment from 2K Games seems to be especially tasty, with quicker overall gameplay, more intelligent team-mates and opponents, plus some pretty jaw-dropping recreations of your favourite ’baller superstars.
The addition of ’5 v 5’ online adds a frenetic human element to the multiplayer arena, while online updates should keep your virtual rosters representative of what’s happening in real life.
All in all, a great basketball sim from a top-performing franchise.
GAMES CHART ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1. (-) Pro Evolution Soccer 2009
2. (1) FIFA 09
3. (-) Saints Row 2
4. (2) LEGO Batman: The Videogame
5. (3) Wii Fit
6. (6) Mario Kart Wii
7. (4) Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
8. (7) Wii Play
9. (8) Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09
10. (5) Brothers In Arms: Hell’s Highway
If you don't know what I'm talking about visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxKMPTR0MVA.
The pop star turned human tabloid car crash that is Kerry Katona out did all previous stage performances and became a sensation in six minutes - for all the wrong reasons.
Gurning her face off, the 28-year-old former Atomic Kitten star embarassed herself by mumbling and slurring throughout the interview.
She was on the show to promote Whole Again, her new reality show on MTV. Oh, did I mention the fact that she had her breast operation filmed live for the show?
One needs to question how much of a "performance" she was asked to give to promote it. (Am I being too shallow?!)
Okay for starters, the good thing about the foray was the fact that her appearance convinces those that don't know her how shallow and worthless these so called 'celebrities' are.
The bad thing is her appearance will no doubt fill the pages of certain Sunday newspapers for the next few weeks thus fuelling the desire of the nation to read about her in the future.
Sadly the rise of the internet has led to the rise of the 'e' listed celebrity.
In years gone by the likes of Kerry Katona would have been famous for their popstar careers while they had them. As they disappeared into the wilderness like Colour Me Bad, one would think they would never be heard from again.
Sadly former popstars feel the need to crash and burn, and people like PR guru (and Katona's manager) Max Clifford are there to pick up the pieces and drag it along the news columns - and so it starts over.
Web journalists (whether trained by the NCTJ or by a coupon in a cornflakes packet) then take up the story and drag it out.
And that's where youtube comes into play. Hundreds of people upload the video and it's viewed by countless number of people - as it has.
And sadly the likes of Kerry Katona become supposed celebrities again.
Personally I'm not sure which was more painful... a). watching the actual interview and witnessing Katona's obvious illness; or b). knowing she will cash in and do daytime tv and newspaper interviews for the next two years about it.
Rant over.
Here's the best of the recent games releases:
Title: Pro Evolution Soccer 2009
Platform: PS3
Genre: Football
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Round two in the clash of the football titles! After FIFA 09 dazzled just a few weeks ago, it's the turn of the Pro Evolution series to strut its stuff.
Just as EA's football monster improved in a host of ways, so this `09 incarnation has undergone a radical graphical overhaul to become a real visual treat for players.
In full flow, you could be mistaken for thinking you were watching the real thing.The 'Be A Legend' mode effectively combats FIFA's 'Be A Pro' offering, and Master League has been tweaked to offer an improved hardcore mode for PES regulars.
The final score in this clash of the titans? A draw. Until next year's replay then...
Title: Saints Row 2
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
After the incredible impact that GTA IV had on next-generation consolesearlier this year, Saints Row 2 is in the unenviable position of being in the exact same genre - it's a tough act to follow.
However, while this never reallyreaches the dizzy heights of GTA, Saints Row 2 is much-improved from its firstouting, with a totally transformed and expanded city of Stilwater, all-new vehicles, sandbox tools and toys as well as both online co-op and competitivemultiplayer.
And it is great fun - always a good thing in these games, which canoften take themselves too seriously.
Yes, the story is darker and more sinister,but it's the action, customisation options and overall player freedom that makeyou want to give this a go just months after tackling Liberty City.
Title: Dancing Stage Universe 2
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Dancing
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 4/5
Have you ever seen Youtube footage of overweight teenagers somehow movingtheir feet faster than the speed of light on an arcade dance machine, with theironly care in the world seeming to be simply stepping on the arrows in time withthe music and on-screen prompts?
You should, and playing Dancing Stage Universe2 could elevate you to similar status.
It's rhythm gaming in its classicoriginal form and is such simple, fantastic fun.
All you need to worry about ismatching arrows in time to the music on a mat, and the game will give you a tripthrough the dance decades with tunes as diverse as Franz Ferdinand's Take Me Outand Kool & The Gang's Jungle Boogie.
Give grandad a go on it at Christmas.
Title: NBA Live 09
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Basketball
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
One of the biggest basketball franchises in gaming has experienced somethingof a stuttering start on the court, as early efforts proved.
However, Live 09 has taken a giant stride and leap in the right direction towards slam-dunkingthe series into the Hall of Fame.
The slick gameplay is matched by excellentmotion-captured character models and facial mapping, while Dynamic DNA and Live 365 technology ensure that your own on-court battles draw realism from real-lifeteam and player performances.
This gives the challenge on offer an all-newdimension for people looking for true depth, yet the game also offers enoughpick-up-and-play fun to keep casual ballers amused.
Title: Pipe Mania
Platform: PSP
Genre: Puzzle
Hit count: 3/5
Price: £19.99
Puzzle fans, get ready for some more fast and frenetic pipework.
Pipe Maniabuilds on the infectious playability of the original with expanded game modes,new themes, new play mechanics and new pieces to challenge gamers of all typesand ages.
You've got to slap the pipes down onto the game board before theflooze starts flowing, creating a watertight pathway from start to finish - and, if your leak-o-meter tops out, it's curtains.
This game has come a long way fromthe 1980s original on the Amiga, yet calling upon classic gaming skills - quickthinking, hand-eye co-ordination and keen spatial awareness - means that fun isalmost guaranteed.
It's a tough challenge, but stick with it - it's worth it.
Title: Little Big Planet
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £44.99
Hit count: 5/5
It can take a while for a new console to produce the kind of titles that you’ll look back on with huge affection when the next ’next-generation’ is in full swing.
Little Big Planet is absolutely one of those games for the PS3.
Creative and incredibly addictive to play either on your own or with friends, it’s an action game with a real difference.
You can choose to build a world to share with other gamers or simply explore the adventures there on the disc.
Either way, customising your sack-man character is an absolute hoot, and developing your own patch on the planet for others to come and see feels more like the game itself than an added extra.
This is unique, stunning and sets a new benchmark for PS3 games to beat – and that could take some time.
Title: Far Cry 2
Platform: PC
Genre: Shooter
Price: £34.99
Hit count: 5/5
The original Far Cry was an incredible first-person shooter experience on PC - and that’s saying something, bearing in mind how many FPS titles have appeared in recent years.
Four years later and it’s back, with a new developer and a new location – Africa – for the action.
And this is about as good as these games have ever been, with 20 square miles to explore in search of an arms dealer called 'The Jackal', using stealth or all-out attack.
The weapons are there, whichever approach you choose, and the environments are unbelievably rich with amazing flora and fauna to uncover, should you find the time.
Bundle in a dynamic weather system to help – or hinder – your progress, and you can be sure that Far Cry 2 presents one of the toughest and most tantalising FPS worlds on any format right now.
Title: Bioshock
Platform: PS3
Genre: Shooter
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 5/5
Quite rightly considered one of 2007’s games of the year on Xbox 360 and PC, Bioshock is finally available on Sony’s next-gen console.
And, as before, what you experience throughout your exploration of Rapture, an underwater city built by the realm’s self-proclaimed leader Andrew Ryan, is likely to change the way you relate to games forever.
Posing gamers with a layer of moral questioning above the strikingly-solid gameplay mechanics, weapon and ’magic’ customisation and a tightly-knitted plot, Bioshock is so much more than just ’run and gun’ - if you want it to be.
Let it get into your head and you’ll realise that what has been created here is more than a game, perhaps more of a personal journey with all the top-notch trappings of a near-perfect title to revel in around it.
Genius.
Title: Dead Space
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action Shooter
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Someone once said that, in space, no one can hear you scream.
That’ll be a relief for anyone passing by gamers engrossed in Dead Space, which turns out to be a frighteningly-creepy, survival-horror title set on-board a spaceship overrun by Necromorphs – or aliens, to you and I.
Graphically it’s stunning, and the atmospheric sound will be the source of a spine tingle or two as well, although the game itself is a little on the linear side.
Games in this genre have been a little hard to come by recently if you’re looking beyond the Resident Evils and Silent Hills of the console world, so Dead Space fills a decent-sized black hole in outer space and your games collection.
Title: NBA 2K9
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Basketball
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
This series of basketball games does battle with EA’s offering, and it’s a highly-competitive event generally, with gamers guaranteed to come out winners.
This 2009 instalment from 2K Games seems to be especially tasty, with quicker overall gameplay, more intelligent team-mates and opponents, plus some pretty jaw-dropping recreations of your favourite ’baller superstars.
The addition of ’5 v 5’ online adds a frenetic human element to the multiplayer arena, while online updates should keep your virtual rosters representative of what’s happening in real life.
All in all, a great basketball sim from a top-performing franchise.
GAMES CHART ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1. (-) Pro Evolution Soccer 2009
2. (1) FIFA 09
3. (-) Saints Row 2
4. (2) LEGO Batman: The Videogame
5. (3) Wii Fit
6. (6) Mario Kart Wii
7. (4) Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
8. (7) Wii Play
9. (8) Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09
10. (5) Brothers In Arms: Hell’s Highway
Thursday, 25 September 2008
Every song has a story to tell
Just in case you were wondering Kathleen Hanna, the lead singer of the group Bikini Kill, gave Kurt Cobain the idea for the title of the song Smells Like Teen Spirit when she spray painted "Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit" on his bedroom wall after a night drinking.
In his pre-Courtney Love days, Cobain went out with Bikini Kill lead singer Tobi Vail, but she dumped him. Vail wore Teen Spirit deodorant, and Hanna was implying that Cobain was marked with her scent.
Oh and did you know that the US military used The Clash's Rock the Casbah as a rallying cry when they invaded Iraq in 1991?
And how about the fact that legendary 90s sing songwriter Jeff Buckley wrote "I couldn't awake from the nightmare, it sucked me in and pulled me under" on the song So Real on his debut and only album Grace and later drowned in a river.
Spooky huh?
All these facts behind the greatest songs and songwriters of our times - and thousands more - are available on the website www.songfacts.com.
As well as the facts behind many of the best known tracks over the decades, you can also view the videos (for the more mainstream tracks) with a handy youtube addition to the page.
Not only that you can download the ringtone, buy the track or album, and even the sheet music using links to other sites.
The website works by the user simply tapping in the name of the artist or the song. It then allows you to choose from a list if there are multiple options and away you go.
Since launching the website thousands of people from across the world have added their own views to help clear up any misconceptions behind the lyrics.
See? It is possible to write a blog without ranting about anything. Take note those people who leave comments for no apparent reason.
Got a mo? Here are the latest games reviewed:
Me? I'm still super addicted to the new Star Wars game, The Force Unleashed. Awesome.
Title: Family Trainer: Outdoor Challenge
Platform: Wii
Genre: Sports
Price: £49.99
Hit Count: 4/5
We all know the science behind what a bit of Wii Fit can do for your weight and yoga performance, but the Wii is all about fun while Family Trainer looks to get everyone involved in the fitness thing with a dance-mat style peripheral and some crazy sports to tackle.
From river rafting and mine karting to log jumping and rope skipping, this will work more than just your arms, as your feet get in on the act for total body gameplay.
Besides being darn good fun, it’s well presented and ticks every ’family appeal’ box you could imagine. Without taking itself too seriously, Family Trainer manages to dish out a hefty dose of console fitness for all ages – and where else can you ride through a mineshaft, Indiana Jones-style?
Title: Pure
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Racing
Price: £39.99
Hit Count: 4/5
In a gridlocked, over-populated genre, Pure takes you to the highest peak of the great outdoors, screams "This is different!" and then throws you off the mountain.
That’s the kind of feeling you can expect midway through a race, but you’ll have no time to truly appreciate the beauty of this game as you try to bust half a dozen extreme stunts during your descent back to terra firma.
Perfecting the full repertoire of tricks is more than an added extra to winning races – it’s crucial to your success, as these will unlock the boost required to hot-foot it to the front of the pack.
All of this makes for fantastic over-the-top racing fun that should be snapped up as soon as you’ve wiped the mud from your visor.
Title: NHL 2K9
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Ice Hockey
Price: £39.99
Hit Count: 4/5
Coming hot on the heels of this month’s release of EA’s brilliant NHL 09, 2K9 was always going to have its work cut out to match or even surpass the on-ice achievements of its competitor.
Overall, this puck-fest comes a creditable second, opting for a cross between arcade and simulator action with a healthy dose of the kind of cool presentation that gives 2K9 its unique feel.
Controls are simple and intuitive enough to start slap-shotting pretty soon, but there are plenty of intricacies to master as the difficulty ramps up.
The obligatory online option boosts replay value considerably but, head to head, there’s only one winner – just.
Title: My Pet Hotel 2
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Animals
Price: £29.99
Hit Count: 3/5
If you or your children are animal lovers, you won’t fail to find a furry friend that tickles your fancy here. And there’s no smell.
In fact, it’s probably the ultimate pet care programme for people thinking of buying the real thing as you get the chance to look after your very own fish, budgies, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, dogs or even horses.
The premise is as you’d expect: feed them, keep their enclosures clean, play with them, get new toys for them and ride them (well, the horses) in the countryside.
It’s all colourfully and cutely delivered on the DS and will no doubt prompt questions of "Can I have a real one?" within households up and down the country. Good, furry, feathered fun.
Title: Tim Stockdale’s Riding Star
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Equestrian
Price: £29.99
Hit Count: 3/5
After two decades in the equestrian world, Tim Stockdale could tell you a thing or two about horse-riding, but is virtual equestrianism a one jump too far for the British legend?
Well, there’s no doubt that Riding Star fulfils every young girl’s dream of riding a horse, taking part in show-jumping, dressage and cross-country modes.
Smooth gameplay and good graphics make this a solid title of this kind, adding to the growing bunch of horseplay on the DS. As you can imagine, horses really need to be your thing if you’re to get the most from this title, and Grand Theft Auto IV fans need not apply.
But if you want to perfect your grooming, jumping and everything in between, Tim’s your man.
GAMES CHART:
1. (-) Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
2. (5) Wii Fit
3. (6) Mario Kart Wii
4. (-) Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
5. (2) Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09
6. (1) Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
7. (10) Wii Play
8. (7) Carnival: Funfair Games
9. (9) TNA Impact
10.(3) Spore
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
In his pre-Courtney Love days, Cobain went out with Bikini Kill lead singer Tobi Vail, but she dumped him. Vail wore Teen Spirit deodorant, and Hanna was implying that Cobain was marked with her scent.
Oh and did you know that the US military used The Clash's Rock the Casbah as a rallying cry when they invaded Iraq in 1991?
And how about the fact that legendary 90s sing songwriter Jeff Buckley wrote "I couldn't awake from the nightmare, it sucked me in and pulled me under" on the song So Real on his debut and only album Grace and later drowned in a river.
Spooky huh?
All these facts behind the greatest songs and songwriters of our times - and thousands more - are available on the website www.songfacts.com.
As well as the facts behind many of the best known tracks over the decades, you can also view the videos (for the more mainstream tracks) with a handy youtube addition to the page.
Not only that you can download the ringtone, buy the track or album, and even the sheet music using links to other sites.
The website works by the user simply tapping in the name of the artist or the song. It then allows you to choose from a list if there are multiple options and away you go.
Since launching the website thousands of people from across the world have added their own views to help clear up any misconceptions behind the lyrics.
See? It is possible to write a blog without ranting about anything. Take note those people who leave comments for no apparent reason.
Got a mo? Here are the latest games reviewed:
Me? I'm still super addicted to the new Star Wars game, The Force Unleashed. Awesome.
Title: Family Trainer: Outdoor Challenge
Platform: Wii
Genre: Sports
Price: £49.99
Hit Count: 4/5
We all know the science behind what a bit of Wii Fit can do for your weight and yoga performance, but the Wii is all about fun while Family Trainer looks to get everyone involved in the fitness thing with a dance-mat style peripheral and some crazy sports to tackle.
From river rafting and mine karting to log jumping and rope skipping, this will work more than just your arms, as your feet get in on the act for total body gameplay.
Besides being darn good fun, it’s well presented and ticks every ’family appeal’ box you could imagine. Without taking itself too seriously, Family Trainer manages to dish out a hefty dose of console fitness for all ages – and where else can you ride through a mineshaft, Indiana Jones-style?
Title: Pure
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Racing
Price: £39.99
Hit Count: 4/5
In a gridlocked, over-populated genre, Pure takes you to the highest peak of the great outdoors, screams "This is different!" and then throws you off the mountain.
That’s the kind of feeling you can expect midway through a race, but you’ll have no time to truly appreciate the beauty of this game as you try to bust half a dozen extreme stunts during your descent back to terra firma.
Perfecting the full repertoire of tricks is more than an added extra to winning races – it’s crucial to your success, as these will unlock the boost required to hot-foot it to the front of the pack.
All of this makes for fantastic over-the-top racing fun that should be snapped up as soon as you’ve wiped the mud from your visor.
Title: NHL 2K9
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Ice Hockey
Price: £39.99
Hit Count: 4/5
Coming hot on the heels of this month’s release of EA’s brilliant NHL 09, 2K9 was always going to have its work cut out to match or even surpass the on-ice achievements of its competitor.
Overall, this puck-fest comes a creditable second, opting for a cross between arcade and simulator action with a healthy dose of the kind of cool presentation that gives 2K9 its unique feel.
Controls are simple and intuitive enough to start slap-shotting pretty soon, but there are plenty of intricacies to master as the difficulty ramps up.
The obligatory online option boosts replay value considerably but, head to head, there’s only one winner – just.
Title: My Pet Hotel 2
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Animals
Price: £29.99
Hit Count: 3/5
If you or your children are animal lovers, you won’t fail to find a furry friend that tickles your fancy here. And there’s no smell.
In fact, it’s probably the ultimate pet care programme for people thinking of buying the real thing as you get the chance to look after your very own fish, budgies, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, dogs or even horses.
The premise is as you’d expect: feed them, keep their enclosures clean, play with them, get new toys for them and ride them (well, the horses) in the countryside.
It’s all colourfully and cutely delivered on the DS and will no doubt prompt questions of "Can I have a real one?" within households up and down the country. Good, furry, feathered fun.
Title: Tim Stockdale’s Riding Star
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Equestrian
Price: £29.99
Hit Count: 3/5
After two decades in the equestrian world, Tim Stockdale could tell you a thing or two about horse-riding, but is virtual equestrianism a one jump too far for the British legend?
Well, there’s no doubt that Riding Star fulfils every young girl’s dream of riding a horse, taking part in show-jumping, dressage and cross-country modes.
Smooth gameplay and good graphics make this a solid title of this kind, adding to the growing bunch of horseplay on the DS. As you can imagine, horses really need to be your thing if you’re to get the most from this title, and Grand Theft Auto IV fans need not apply.
But if you want to perfect your grooming, jumping and everything in between, Tim’s your man.
GAMES CHART:
1. (-) Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
2. (5) Wii Fit
3. (6) Mario Kart Wii
4. (-) Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
5. (2) Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09
6. (1) Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
7. (10) Wii Play
8. (7) Carnival: Funfair Games
9. (9) TNA Impact
10.(3) Spore
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
Thursday, 18 September 2008
A taxing time for web users?
So according to new research, one in 10 Britons spend a total of 14 years in front of the television in their lifetime.
Now, I'm pretty sure that everyone will agree with me that that's a ridiculously HUGE amount of time.
Sure like every other student I went through the Neighbours and Hollyoaks stage but jeez? Is there THAT much on TV nowadays that's worth wasting your life over?
I mean, it's like the movies... give it a certain amount of time and everything gets re-made. So all you end up watching is a re-hash of something you've inevitably watched before - and probably hated then too.
Quite frankly I can't find anything worth watching on television nowadays. I'm no longer addicted to switching on the box religiously at the same time every week to watch the Sopranos or 24. I buy or borrow the boxsets.
I find that anything actually worth watching is on premium rate channels which you have to pay for. Now I'm not talking about The Fantasy Channel, I'm talking about Sky One which boasts 24 and Prison Break among its major crowd pullers.
It's the same with football matches. Aside from the occasional Champions League game airing a team that I don't support, all the matches are on Sky or Setanta.
I'm fast losing the will to have a TV at all. But then there's the small problem of you needing a TV licence in order to watch DVDs. Pants isn't it?!
How long will it be before the Government decides to try and slap a tax on viewing programmes or footie matches online?
The other week I was amazed to find live coverage of an England game from a foreign feed. Ok the quality wasn't brilliant (blamed largely on my pants internet connection) but it was still watchable - and best of all FREE.
Here's the best of the last fortnight's new games releases:
Title: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £39.99
Hit Count: 4/5
A trip to the dark side goes very well rewarded in The Force Unleashed, offering gamers and Star Wars fans alike another fantastic glimpse at the interstellar world first conceived more than 30 years ago. Opening action sequences are simply mind-blowing as you take on the role of Darth Vader’s secret apprentice, and while later levels may not always reach such dizzy heights, the consistent awe-inspiring presentation throughout ensures you’ll forgive and forget the odd glitch. The in-game physics allow you to develop your Force powers to truly devastating effect and, with two alternative endings to uncover, there’s every chance you’ll want to play through this twice, such is the fun there to be had.
Title: Yakuza 2
Platform: PS2
Genre: Action
Price: £39.99
Hit Count: 4/5
Once more you are plunged into the violent Japanese underworld where respect and honour are all. Well, almost. Add to that great graphics, twice as much to explore and an improved fighting engine, and you have a pretty darn powerful brawler that will immerse you in a dark, shadowy world where only the strongest will survive. The city streets and illicit haunts of Japan’s nightlife district are beautifully recreated, making this a vibrant, true-to-life world to explore. And with the ability to fight numerous enemies at once with less load times and smoother camera angles, the whole experience feels super-smooth, making this an essential purchase on Sony’s old-stager PS2.
Title: Mount and Blade
Platform: PC
Genre: RPG
Price: £24.99
Hit Count: 4/5
Take your PC into a medieval world populated by lords and vassals who rule over the peasantry, where knights and mercenaries fight side by side – or against each other. Then grab the reins of your mount and unsheathe your blade and prepare to ride out to a land of adventure. It all sounds pretty epic, and actually pans out to be a really enjoyable free-form sandbox game. You can pretty much do anything in a whopping world thriving with hundreds of locations including, of course, jousting, sword-fighting and even buying a round of beer at the local tavern. Just the kind of escapist PC adventure that you can lose yourself in on a frosty autumn evening.
Title: Play TV
Platform: PS3
Genre: TV
Price: £69.99
Hit Count: 4/5
For those yet to join the growing digital TV revolution, where you can pause and record your favourite shows and watch them at your leisure, Play TV is, as you’d expect, fully HD-compatible. It boasts the kind of intuitive controls, single-button help features, tutorial videos and simple navigation that most people would cry out for on their standard digital TVs. Throw in the fact that you can use the PS3’s wi-fi capability to beam programmes onto your PSP, and you know this is one gadget you’ve got to get your hands on.
Title: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Platform: Mac
Genre: War shooter
Price: £39.99
Hit Count: 4/5
Combat shooters don’t come much better than this. The review could end there, but salivate a little longer, if you will, at the prospect of pulling all that’s great about the WWII shooter series into the present day. Focusing on the antics of a terrorist group in the Middle East, you – as US Marine and SAS soldier - must take on all-comers in what is undoubtedly one of the most gorgeous-looking, adrenalin-pumping shooters to grace this generation of computers. Intense is not the word, and even the early missions will have you on the edge of your seat, but somehow the game keeps on trumping itself. Especially in multi-player mode, which is a whole spanking-new world of class, upgrades and customisation that makes you realise why online is where gaming is really at.
Title: Spore
Platform: PC
Genre: Strategy
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 5/5
The Sims will only get you so far when simulating life, and it’s about time a game upped the ante. Spore does that and then some, taking you on an epic journey from the origin and evolution of life through the development of civilization and technology and eventually all the way into the deepest reaches of outer space. From life as a microbe just trying to survive, to launching your creature into the wide world populated by everyone else’s crazy creations, Spore is simply captivating. Fabulous graphics, an amazing array of creation tools to harness and a near-endless universe of other people’s take on ’life’ – Spore is a must for all wannabe-Darwins out there.
Title: Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Strategy
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
Following on from the success of the original Viva Pinata, Trouble in Paradise takes you back to Pinata Island for another highly-addictive dose of papier-mache-inspired madness. A host of new pinatas and varied game modes ensure that anyone who mastered the orginal will find more than enough to get their teeth into this time around, while the Xbox Live online mode allows up to four players to team up and experience the joys of Pinata Island together. Contact other gamers to trade items as well as pinatas, or invite your friends to your garden to compete against them in races, golf and other events – the choice is yours. It’s definitely up there with the original and is well worth a look.
Title: Facebreaker
Platform: PS3
Genre: Boxing
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 2/5
When you hear that larger-than-life arcade boxer Facebreaker is coming from the stable that produced Fight Night Round 3, it’s a little like waiting to see who you’ll face in the ring when you hear they come from the same training camp as Mike Tyson. The reality is, it’s no-one near as tough. What Facebreaker gives in terms of irreverent humour and unique style, it takes from a gameplay perspective, ending up offering little more than an amusing visual boxing feast with little more meat on the bones. Seeing your real-time uploaded face gradually deform during a particularly severe pummelling will make you laugh out loud, but when round two, three and four start you won’t be feeling so spritely.
Title: Infinite Undiscovery
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: RPG
Price: £44.99
Hit count: 3/5
Another fantastical storyline to grip the Xbox 360’s RPG world, Infinite Undiscovery hides its own secrets a few hours into the gameplay, which gamers should stick at to uncover. The initial action and dungeon sequences are less than inspiring – so similar to what we’ve seen before – but after this disappointing opening the stakes are raised, providing an RPG adventure that offers the kind of dramatic situational battles we’re all crying out for, such as executing a daring escape while a gigantic ogre follows in hot pursuit or waging battle amid towering tidal waves. Real-time environments and battle action keep the adrenalin pumping, and you’ll soon be dreaming of a sequel, which one hopes won’t be too far away.
Title: Final Fantasy IV
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: RPG
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 5/5
Any Final Fantasy release is likely to set gamers’ pulses racing, and this one does a fantastic job of showcasing the capabilities of Nintendo’s DS, transferring a brilliant story of action, love and mystery to the small screens, bringing the 2D Super NES original into glorious 3D. There’s no doubt that it’s a tough RPG nut to crack, but it’s made all the more enjoyable with gorgeous cut-scenes and comparable sound that will delight handheld gamers. Yes, it is just a remake, but it’s just as enjoyable – if not more so – than the original. Hunt it down as soon as you can!
Title: Brothers In Arms: Hell’s Highway
Platform: PS3
Genre: First Person Shooter
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
The Call of Duty series has been stomping a path for all other first person shooters to follow on next-generation, but something may have changed. As you’re dropped into Operation Market Garden, the largest paratrooper operation in World War II, could Brothers in Arms come out of the long grass and ambush us all with a refreshing take on this influential battle in hitory? Put simply, it’s fab. From sniffing out the enemy to setting up an ambush and directing your squad to execute it to perfection, this is an adrenalin-pumping shooter with real personality oozing from the central characters. Superb graphics, delightful destructible environments and the now obligatory brilliant online multiplayer means Hell’s Highway is a quick route to shooter heaven.
Title: Mary King’s Riding School
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Horses
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
Standards are impeccably high at Mary King’s Riding School and, for the most part, they appear to have been similar in this game developer’s stables. For another equestrian outing on Nintendo DS, customise your character’s look and style, then head to the paddock to pick your pony before embarking on a challenge to win international three-day events in six different countries. You get the chance to win trophies before spending the prize money on clothes, accessories and horses. In the stables there’s a tack room to adorn your horse in the finest bridlery, saddles and tail ribbons – if you’re that way inclined. If you’re into horses, you’ll love it. If not, why go near this?
Title: Space Siege
Platform: PC
Genre: Action RPG
Price: £34.99
Hit count: 3/5
Imagine the fear and claustrophobia you would feel on a spaceship under attack from aliens. With nowhere to run, you’ve just got to stand your ground and defend every nook and cranny of that ship for all it’s worth. Now take any semblance of excitement building up inside you and bin it, as Space Siege contrives to offer exactly this set-up but with almost none of the enjoyment you’d anticipate. It’s action RPG by numbers, with repetitive clicking on enemies all you need to do to defeat them. Most shreds of character customisation are reduced to the most basic levels, appealing to a wide audience but likely to impress very few. They say that in space no-one can hear you scream. That’s not the case before your PC though.
Title: International Athletics
Platform: PSP
Genre: Athletics
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 2/5
What must surely be the final Olympic-themed release of the summer is bound to pick up a fair bit of interest with it being a) on a portable console and b) being released just as Team GB seem to be picking up the gold medals at an alarming, yet impressive, rate. As with previous releases, you must button-bash your way to gold medals and world records but, with only 14 events and a pass-the-PSP-round-your-friends multiplayer mode, you might feel a little short-changed with this effort. Setting world records is remarkably easy, bringing the credibility and longevity of the title into question. Here’s a new event to take part in – see how far away from this game you can stay. It shouldn’t be too tricky.
Title: Carnival Games
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Arcade
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 2/5
This mini-game compilation was a bit of a hit on the Wii last year, so why not bottle that fun up and shrink it down to cartridge size for the DS? Nice, in theory, but sadly the execution doesn’t quite live up to the hype. Carnival Games on DS proves to be bright and flashy visually but ultimately unsatisfying once you take a trip around the park. Easy games will be quickly unlocked by seasoned gamers, while youngsters will grow frustrated by some games’ insistence on lacking any kind of skill at all, becoming games of chance and nothing more (see Balloon Darts). Twenty quid will probably give you a good summer evening’s fun out at the real fun fair, and that’s exactly what you should do, rather than stay inside and play this.
GAMES CHART:
1.Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
2.Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09
3.Spore
4.Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
5.Wii Fit
6.Mario Kart Wii
7.Carnival: Funfair Games
8.Guitar Hero: On Tour
9.TNA Impact
10.Wii Play
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
Now, I'm pretty sure that everyone will agree with me that that's a ridiculously HUGE amount of time.
Sure like every other student I went through the Neighbours and Hollyoaks stage but jeez? Is there THAT much on TV nowadays that's worth wasting your life over?
I mean, it's like the movies... give it a certain amount of time and everything gets re-made. So all you end up watching is a re-hash of something you've inevitably watched before - and probably hated then too.
Quite frankly I can't find anything worth watching on television nowadays. I'm no longer addicted to switching on the box religiously at the same time every week to watch the Sopranos or 24. I buy or borrow the boxsets.
I find that anything actually worth watching is on premium rate channels which you have to pay for. Now I'm not talking about The Fantasy Channel, I'm talking about Sky One which boasts 24 and Prison Break among its major crowd pullers.
It's the same with football matches. Aside from the occasional Champions League game airing a team that I don't support, all the matches are on Sky or Setanta.
I'm fast losing the will to have a TV at all. But then there's the small problem of you needing a TV licence in order to watch DVDs. Pants isn't it?!
How long will it be before the Government decides to try and slap a tax on viewing programmes or footie matches online?
The other week I was amazed to find live coverage of an England game from a foreign feed. Ok the quality wasn't brilliant (blamed largely on my pants internet connection) but it was still watchable - and best of all FREE.
Here's the best of the last fortnight's new games releases:
Title: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £39.99
Hit Count: 4/5
A trip to the dark side goes very well rewarded in The Force Unleashed, offering gamers and Star Wars fans alike another fantastic glimpse at the interstellar world first conceived more than 30 years ago. Opening action sequences are simply mind-blowing as you take on the role of Darth Vader’s secret apprentice, and while later levels may not always reach such dizzy heights, the consistent awe-inspiring presentation throughout ensures you’ll forgive and forget the odd glitch. The in-game physics allow you to develop your Force powers to truly devastating effect and, with two alternative endings to uncover, there’s every chance you’ll want to play through this twice, such is the fun there to be had.
Title: Yakuza 2
Platform: PS2
Genre: Action
Price: £39.99
Hit Count: 4/5
Once more you are plunged into the violent Japanese underworld where respect and honour are all. Well, almost. Add to that great graphics, twice as much to explore and an improved fighting engine, and you have a pretty darn powerful brawler that will immerse you in a dark, shadowy world where only the strongest will survive. The city streets and illicit haunts of Japan’s nightlife district are beautifully recreated, making this a vibrant, true-to-life world to explore. And with the ability to fight numerous enemies at once with less load times and smoother camera angles, the whole experience feels super-smooth, making this an essential purchase on Sony’s old-stager PS2.
Title: Mount and Blade
Platform: PC
Genre: RPG
Price: £24.99
Hit Count: 4/5
Take your PC into a medieval world populated by lords and vassals who rule over the peasantry, where knights and mercenaries fight side by side – or against each other. Then grab the reins of your mount and unsheathe your blade and prepare to ride out to a land of adventure. It all sounds pretty epic, and actually pans out to be a really enjoyable free-form sandbox game. You can pretty much do anything in a whopping world thriving with hundreds of locations including, of course, jousting, sword-fighting and even buying a round of beer at the local tavern. Just the kind of escapist PC adventure that you can lose yourself in on a frosty autumn evening.
Title: Play TV
Platform: PS3
Genre: TV
Price: £69.99
Hit Count: 4/5
For those yet to join the growing digital TV revolution, where you can pause and record your favourite shows and watch them at your leisure, Play TV is, as you’d expect, fully HD-compatible. It boasts the kind of intuitive controls, single-button help features, tutorial videos and simple navigation that most people would cry out for on their standard digital TVs. Throw in the fact that you can use the PS3’s wi-fi capability to beam programmes onto your PSP, and you know this is one gadget you’ve got to get your hands on.
Title: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Platform: Mac
Genre: War shooter
Price: £39.99
Hit Count: 4/5
Combat shooters don’t come much better than this. The review could end there, but salivate a little longer, if you will, at the prospect of pulling all that’s great about the WWII shooter series into the present day. Focusing on the antics of a terrorist group in the Middle East, you – as US Marine and SAS soldier - must take on all-comers in what is undoubtedly one of the most gorgeous-looking, adrenalin-pumping shooters to grace this generation of computers. Intense is not the word, and even the early missions will have you on the edge of your seat, but somehow the game keeps on trumping itself. Especially in multi-player mode, which is a whole spanking-new world of class, upgrades and customisation that makes you realise why online is where gaming is really at.
Title: Spore
Platform: PC
Genre: Strategy
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 5/5
The Sims will only get you so far when simulating life, and it’s about time a game upped the ante. Spore does that and then some, taking you on an epic journey from the origin and evolution of life through the development of civilization and technology and eventually all the way into the deepest reaches of outer space. From life as a microbe just trying to survive, to launching your creature into the wide world populated by everyone else’s crazy creations, Spore is simply captivating. Fabulous graphics, an amazing array of creation tools to harness and a near-endless universe of other people’s take on ’life’ – Spore is a must for all wannabe-Darwins out there.
Title: Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Strategy
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
Following on from the success of the original Viva Pinata, Trouble in Paradise takes you back to Pinata Island for another highly-addictive dose of papier-mache-inspired madness. A host of new pinatas and varied game modes ensure that anyone who mastered the orginal will find more than enough to get their teeth into this time around, while the Xbox Live online mode allows up to four players to team up and experience the joys of Pinata Island together. Contact other gamers to trade items as well as pinatas, or invite your friends to your garden to compete against them in races, golf and other events – the choice is yours. It’s definitely up there with the original and is well worth a look.
Title: Facebreaker
Platform: PS3
Genre: Boxing
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 2/5
When you hear that larger-than-life arcade boxer Facebreaker is coming from the stable that produced Fight Night Round 3, it’s a little like waiting to see who you’ll face in the ring when you hear they come from the same training camp as Mike Tyson. The reality is, it’s no-one near as tough. What Facebreaker gives in terms of irreverent humour and unique style, it takes from a gameplay perspective, ending up offering little more than an amusing visual boxing feast with little more meat on the bones. Seeing your real-time uploaded face gradually deform during a particularly severe pummelling will make you laugh out loud, but when round two, three and four start you won’t be feeling so spritely.
Title: Infinite Undiscovery
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: RPG
Price: £44.99
Hit count: 3/5
Another fantastical storyline to grip the Xbox 360’s RPG world, Infinite Undiscovery hides its own secrets a few hours into the gameplay, which gamers should stick at to uncover. The initial action and dungeon sequences are less than inspiring – so similar to what we’ve seen before – but after this disappointing opening the stakes are raised, providing an RPG adventure that offers the kind of dramatic situational battles we’re all crying out for, such as executing a daring escape while a gigantic ogre follows in hot pursuit or waging battle amid towering tidal waves. Real-time environments and battle action keep the adrenalin pumping, and you’ll soon be dreaming of a sequel, which one hopes won’t be too far away.
Title: Final Fantasy IV
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: RPG
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 5/5
Any Final Fantasy release is likely to set gamers’ pulses racing, and this one does a fantastic job of showcasing the capabilities of Nintendo’s DS, transferring a brilliant story of action, love and mystery to the small screens, bringing the 2D Super NES original into glorious 3D. There’s no doubt that it’s a tough RPG nut to crack, but it’s made all the more enjoyable with gorgeous cut-scenes and comparable sound that will delight handheld gamers. Yes, it is just a remake, but it’s just as enjoyable – if not more so – than the original. Hunt it down as soon as you can!
Title: Brothers In Arms: Hell’s Highway
Platform: PS3
Genre: First Person Shooter
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
The Call of Duty series has been stomping a path for all other first person shooters to follow on next-generation, but something may have changed. As you’re dropped into Operation Market Garden, the largest paratrooper operation in World War II, could Brothers in Arms come out of the long grass and ambush us all with a refreshing take on this influential battle in hitory? Put simply, it’s fab. From sniffing out the enemy to setting up an ambush and directing your squad to execute it to perfection, this is an adrenalin-pumping shooter with real personality oozing from the central characters. Superb graphics, delightful destructible environments and the now obligatory brilliant online multiplayer means Hell’s Highway is a quick route to shooter heaven.
Title: Mary King’s Riding School
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Horses
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
Standards are impeccably high at Mary King’s Riding School and, for the most part, they appear to have been similar in this game developer’s stables. For another equestrian outing on Nintendo DS, customise your character’s look and style, then head to the paddock to pick your pony before embarking on a challenge to win international three-day events in six different countries. You get the chance to win trophies before spending the prize money on clothes, accessories and horses. In the stables there’s a tack room to adorn your horse in the finest bridlery, saddles and tail ribbons – if you’re that way inclined. If you’re into horses, you’ll love it. If not, why go near this?
Title: Space Siege
Platform: PC
Genre: Action RPG
Price: £34.99
Hit count: 3/5
Imagine the fear and claustrophobia you would feel on a spaceship under attack from aliens. With nowhere to run, you’ve just got to stand your ground and defend every nook and cranny of that ship for all it’s worth. Now take any semblance of excitement building up inside you and bin it, as Space Siege contrives to offer exactly this set-up but with almost none of the enjoyment you’d anticipate. It’s action RPG by numbers, with repetitive clicking on enemies all you need to do to defeat them. Most shreds of character customisation are reduced to the most basic levels, appealing to a wide audience but likely to impress very few. They say that in space no-one can hear you scream. That’s not the case before your PC though.
Title: International Athletics
Platform: PSP
Genre: Athletics
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 2/5
What must surely be the final Olympic-themed release of the summer is bound to pick up a fair bit of interest with it being a) on a portable console and b) being released just as Team GB seem to be picking up the gold medals at an alarming, yet impressive, rate. As with previous releases, you must button-bash your way to gold medals and world records but, with only 14 events and a pass-the-PSP-round-your-friends multiplayer mode, you might feel a little short-changed with this effort. Setting world records is remarkably easy, bringing the credibility and longevity of the title into question. Here’s a new event to take part in – see how far away from this game you can stay. It shouldn’t be too tricky.
Title: Carnival Games
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Arcade
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 2/5
This mini-game compilation was a bit of a hit on the Wii last year, so why not bottle that fun up and shrink it down to cartridge size for the DS? Nice, in theory, but sadly the execution doesn’t quite live up to the hype. Carnival Games on DS proves to be bright and flashy visually but ultimately unsatisfying once you take a trip around the park. Easy games will be quickly unlocked by seasoned gamers, while youngsters will grow frustrated by some games’ insistence on lacking any kind of skill at all, becoming games of chance and nothing more (see Balloon Darts). Twenty quid will probably give you a good summer evening’s fun out at the real fun fair, and that’s exactly what you should do, rather than stay inside and play this.
GAMES CHART:
1.Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
2.Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09
3.Spore
4.Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
5.Wii Fit
6.Mario Kart Wii
7.Carnival: Funfair Games
8.Guitar Hero: On Tour
9.TNA Impact
10.Wii Play
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
Disconnected from life
For the past three weeks I have been angry. I don't usually get angry but certain things wind me up like an emotionally-charged spinning top.
This 'problem', shall we call it, has caused chaos in just about every element of my life.
My financial situation, my love life, my social calendar, and even my work have all suffered as a result.
And the root of my problem...? The internet.
The words "it seemed like a good idea at the time..." have rung around my head for more than 21 days now and my rage is only just subsiding.
Three weeks ago I, as a landlord, decided that I would install a wireless router to a). satisfy the facebook needs of my housemate; and b). prevent him from entering my bedroom every time he needed to use the web for whatever reason.
Easy I thought. Sure, Virgin Media also agreed that it'd be an easy thing.
But you know those people that say "nothing is ever easy?" Well, they - whoever 'they' are - are right.
The router arrived with the supposed 'handy' installation disk and when I switched on my Pc my internet failed.
I hadn't even pulled out a lead or switched a switch yet and already my ageing broadband connection was throwing a hissy fit at the sight of the router.
I phoned Virgin and apparently I had "deleted my driver". At this point all sorts of weird images and thoughts went through my head, but the only response which translated into anything like the English language was "um, uh-huh".
"How did THAT happen?" I asked.
"Pass" the supposed IT helpdesk person replied.
So, 28 minutes later I hang up, connect all the cables together in the mere hope it will come together like a Macgyver (remember that TV show?!) plan.
Nothing, plenty of green and yellow lights signalling success... but ultimately nothing.
I call back Virgin... "If you've got a lap top it should have wireless access now" the not-so-much-sympathetic-but-more-defiant voice says to me.
"That's all very well mister but I want to my Pc to work!" (was the toned down reply I gave).
Nothing.
The next day I take the Pc into the Herald office IT department.
Turned out the driver had gone. Where I'm not sure but it had driven far far away and not left a trace.
The nice people downstairs re-installed it and I later took it home, connected up the wires again and... nothing.
Somehow, and I'm not even going to pretend how, a friend and I re-connected up the original connection (minus the router) and left it - and several hours later it decided to work again.
Happy and content to at least have some sort of connection I left it for three or four days until my housemate came home on Sunday.
By yesterday afternoon he'd connected up the router (without the installation disk I might add), typed in some IP address - which I have no idea what it does - on my Pc and by magic it all works.
And now I have time to reflect. What did I do wrong? Why did I do right? Was it my mistake? Virgin?!'s.
I'm not sure. I can't point fingers but I know it's been emotional.
And how sad is it that I found myself so reliable on the internet?
Banking - done online.
Social networking - done online.
Shopping - done online.
Work - a great proportion done online.
Love life - now hang on... that sounds weird. Sure I send emails to my girl but... oh whatever!
We are all so reliant on the internet nowadays that it only takes three or four days of not having access to show how integrated it is in our lives.
Anyways rant over... here's the best of the new games over the past two weeks:
Title: Soulcalibur IV
Platform: PS3
Genre: Fighter
Price: £49.99
Hit Count: 5/5
The Soulcalibur series has an almost peerless pedigree when it comes to the fighting genre and to say that this PS3 release has been eagerly anticipated would be something of an understatement.
Namco has topped the lot this time, as weapon-wielding battles take on a new level of depth and visual delight.
New gameplay modes and characters keep things feeling fresh (a guest appearance by Darth Vader will always win the crowds over), while some classic warriors try their hand in the next-gen world, too.
Some serious time has been invested into the online capabilities here and that, coupled with the incredible character customisation options, makes Soulcalibur IV a fighter that will certainly stand the test of time.
Title: SBK-08: World Superbike 2008
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Racing
Price: £39.99
Hit Count: 3/5
If the Moto GP series were to glance into either wing mirror, it’d be likely to see SBK coming up on the inside.
While the former has dominated two-wheeled console racing, SBK-08 is the series’ first appearance on the next-gen consoles.
It’s a pretty decent stab at seizing top spot on the podium. You’ll have to put some hours in to get the most from the game – it’s more down the simulation route than a pick-up-and-play arcade affair.
But you don’t need more than a couple of minutes to see it does a good job visually. There are plenty of vehicle modifications to tinker with and racing modes to master, so bikers will be more than happy with how this caters to their superbike obsessions.
Title: Flat-Out Ultimate Carnage
Platform: PC
Genre: Racing
Price: £29.99
Hit Count: 4/5
The FlatOut franchise might lack the hype of Burnout and Gran Turismo, but it offers no less of a unique driving experience and has remained steadily popular.
Ultimate Carnage has been rebuilt from the ground up, taking a heavy steer from last year’s Xbox 360 version, and it provides a pretty breathtaking experience.
Seeing your driver fly through his windscreen after a particularly brutal collision will put a warm glow in the pit of your stomach.
Yes, you may lose the race, but it looks spectacular. It’s the undisputed No 1 destruction racer on the market. What are you waiting for? Go do some damage!
Title: Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune: Platinum
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £19.99
Hit Count: 4/5
It doesn’t seem like the PS3 has been around long enough to be knocking out platinum budget titles, but when it’s a game of the quality of Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, we’re not going to complain too much.
Put simply, for £20 this is probably the best action adventure on the console to date.
It offers a gloriously rich storyline, eye-popping visuals and an uncomplicated yet rewarding mixture of platform, combat and puzzles.
This quest for the treasure of El Dorado makes it hard to distinguish where one cut-scene ends and the real action begins, making the game an incredibly engrossing experience.
It’s a gem that’s well worth digging out again.
Title: Puzzler Collection
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Puzzle
Price: £19.99
Hit Count: 4/5
It’s school holiday time and if those long car journeys are starting to send shivers down your spine, why not stock up on a bundle of over 2,000 puzzles to keep the kids quiet?
Puzzler Collection brings you Fitword, Crossword, Sudoku and Wordsearch puzzles with three difficulty levels that ensure you won’t crack them without some serious effort.
Everything is timed against the clock so the pressure is always mounting. It might look and feel functional, but this game’s more about challenging your mind than entertaining your eyes.
Title: Race Driver: GRID
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Racing
Price: £29.99
Hit Count: 4/5
Fans of racing games are often disappointed if a game proves to be too arcadey or too much of a plodding simulation.
While this may not boast the supreme graphics of the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, this shrunk down DS version of Race Driver: GRID does a fantastic job of juggling both balls, offering over-the-top thrills and spills for the casual racer, coupled with an intense on-track experience that still manages to make a big impact on the small dual screen system.
There are plenty of DS racers to take this Codemasters title round the track a few times, but this baby still qualifies pretty high up the GRID.
Title: Beijing 2008
Platform: PC
Genre: Athletics
Price: £29.99
Hit Count: 4/5
The Olympics are finally here and, while video gaming has yet to be recognised as an Olympic sport, that’s not going to stop you enjoying Beijing 2008 on PC.
You can instantly transport yourself to China and compete in over 30 events, from athletics and gymnastics to cycling, table tennis or archery.
It all adds up to a pretty impressive sporting compendium. Although lending nothing particularly new or innovative to the gameplay it nonetheless locates and grips your competitive side, making the quest for gold in all events a relentless one.
Taking the competition online adds an extra dimension to proceedings, and brings a real worldwide international flavour to your living room, as every Olympics should!
Title: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Platform: PS2
Genre: Action
Price: £24.99
Hit Count: 3/5
The Mummy films have just enough special effects and tongue-in-cheek cheesy humour to justify their summer blockbuster status, and Tomb of the Dragon Emperor sees Brendan Fraser and company enter their third adventure.
This is the sadly-yet-predictably poor tie-in video game. Repetitive, basic in appearance and devoid of any shred of innovation, even if you’re the biggest fan of the film series there’s no way you’ll fall in love with this game.
Pointlessly difficult at times and downright boring at others, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor’s redeeming features are few and far between. At best this is one to rent – at worst a guaranteed bargain binner.
Title: Echochrome
Platform: PSP
Genre: Puzzle
Price: £19.99
Hit Count: 4/5
A sign of a puzzle title’s true potential is often the appearance of utter simplicity from the outset.
One glance at the monochrome, linear appearance of Echochrome may lead you to wonder what all the fuss is about, but within a few levels you’ll be entranced by a 3D puzzler that gives thinking gamers something they’ve never played before.
Twisting levels to lead your ambling mannequin from start to finish, you’ll find yourself having to redraw your own laws of perception in order to succeed and, save for fairly repetitive sound, this is an all-round captivating gaming experience that you’d be mad to miss – especially at under £20.
Title: Growlanser: Heritage of War
Platform: PS2
Genre: RPG
Price: £19.99
Hit Count: 3/5
In a world overcrowded by RPGs, standing out from the crowd is a difficult task. Heritage of War comes packed with extra art books, a key ring, buttons and other bits and bobs to give the feel of added value.
However, it’s the core item in this package – the game itself – that brings you back into the familiar territory of playing through an average fantasy RPG.
Poor graphics, coupled with a ropey combat system and some of the most laughable lines of dialogue you’ll have heard in a long time, don’t do much to endear this game to fans of the genre. It’s a shame to have such a disappointing release from the Atlus stable; here’s hoping a return to form isn’t far away.
GAMES CHART ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1.Soulcalibur IV
2.Wii Fit
3.Mario Kart Wii
4.Wall-E
5.Big Beach Sports
6.Guitar Hero: On Tour
7.Wii Play
8.Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games
9.Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training
10.LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
This 'problem', shall we call it, has caused chaos in just about every element of my life.
My financial situation, my love life, my social calendar, and even my work have all suffered as a result.
And the root of my problem...? The internet.
The words "it seemed like a good idea at the time..." have rung around my head for more than 21 days now and my rage is only just subsiding.
Three weeks ago I, as a landlord, decided that I would install a wireless router to a). satisfy the facebook needs of my housemate; and b). prevent him from entering my bedroom every time he needed to use the web for whatever reason.
Easy I thought. Sure, Virgin Media also agreed that it'd be an easy thing.
But you know those people that say "nothing is ever easy?" Well, they - whoever 'they' are - are right.
The router arrived with the supposed 'handy' installation disk and when I switched on my Pc my internet failed.
I hadn't even pulled out a lead or switched a switch yet and already my ageing broadband connection was throwing a hissy fit at the sight of the router.
I phoned Virgin and apparently I had "deleted my driver". At this point all sorts of weird images and thoughts went through my head, but the only response which translated into anything like the English language was "um, uh-huh".
"How did THAT happen?" I asked.
"Pass" the supposed IT helpdesk person replied.
So, 28 minutes later I hang up, connect all the cables together in the mere hope it will come together like a Macgyver (remember that TV show?!) plan.
Nothing, plenty of green and yellow lights signalling success... but ultimately nothing.
I call back Virgin... "If you've got a lap top it should have wireless access now" the not-so-much-sympathetic-but-more-defiant voice says to me.
"That's all very well mister but I want to my Pc to work!" (was the toned down reply I gave).
Nothing.
The next day I take the Pc into the Herald office IT department.
Turned out the driver had gone. Where I'm not sure but it had driven far far away and not left a trace.
The nice people downstairs re-installed it and I later took it home, connected up the wires again and... nothing.
Somehow, and I'm not even going to pretend how, a friend and I re-connected up the original connection (minus the router) and left it - and several hours later it decided to work again.
Happy and content to at least have some sort of connection I left it for three or four days until my housemate came home on Sunday.
By yesterday afternoon he'd connected up the router (without the installation disk I might add), typed in some IP address - which I have no idea what it does - on my Pc and by magic it all works.
And now I have time to reflect. What did I do wrong? Why did I do right? Was it my mistake? Virgin?!'s.
I'm not sure. I can't point fingers but I know it's been emotional.
And how sad is it that I found myself so reliable on the internet?
Banking - done online.
Social networking - done online.
Shopping - done online.
Work - a great proportion done online.
Love life - now hang on... that sounds weird. Sure I send emails to my girl but... oh whatever!
We are all so reliant on the internet nowadays that it only takes three or four days of not having access to show how integrated it is in our lives.
Anyways rant over... here's the best of the new games over the past two weeks:
Title: Soulcalibur IV
Platform: PS3
Genre: Fighter
Price: £49.99
Hit Count: 5/5
The Soulcalibur series has an almost peerless pedigree when it comes to the fighting genre and to say that this PS3 release has been eagerly anticipated would be something of an understatement.
Namco has topped the lot this time, as weapon-wielding battles take on a new level of depth and visual delight.
New gameplay modes and characters keep things feeling fresh (a guest appearance by Darth Vader will always win the crowds over), while some classic warriors try their hand in the next-gen world, too.
Some serious time has been invested into the online capabilities here and that, coupled with the incredible character customisation options, makes Soulcalibur IV a fighter that will certainly stand the test of time.
Title: SBK-08: World Superbike 2008
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Racing
Price: £39.99
Hit Count: 3/5
If the Moto GP series were to glance into either wing mirror, it’d be likely to see SBK coming up on the inside.
While the former has dominated two-wheeled console racing, SBK-08 is the series’ first appearance on the next-gen consoles.
It’s a pretty decent stab at seizing top spot on the podium. You’ll have to put some hours in to get the most from the game – it’s more down the simulation route than a pick-up-and-play arcade affair.
But you don’t need more than a couple of minutes to see it does a good job visually. There are plenty of vehicle modifications to tinker with and racing modes to master, so bikers will be more than happy with how this caters to their superbike obsessions.
Title: Flat-Out Ultimate Carnage
Platform: PC
Genre: Racing
Price: £29.99
Hit Count: 4/5
The FlatOut franchise might lack the hype of Burnout and Gran Turismo, but it offers no less of a unique driving experience and has remained steadily popular.
Ultimate Carnage has been rebuilt from the ground up, taking a heavy steer from last year’s Xbox 360 version, and it provides a pretty breathtaking experience.
Seeing your driver fly through his windscreen after a particularly brutal collision will put a warm glow in the pit of your stomach.
Yes, you may lose the race, but it looks spectacular. It’s the undisputed No 1 destruction racer on the market. What are you waiting for? Go do some damage!
Title: Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune: Platinum
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £19.99
Hit Count: 4/5
It doesn’t seem like the PS3 has been around long enough to be knocking out platinum budget titles, but when it’s a game of the quality of Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, we’re not going to complain too much.
Put simply, for £20 this is probably the best action adventure on the console to date.
It offers a gloriously rich storyline, eye-popping visuals and an uncomplicated yet rewarding mixture of platform, combat and puzzles.
This quest for the treasure of El Dorado makes it hard to distinguish where one cut-scene ends and the real action begins, making the game an incredibly engrossing experience.
It’s a gem that’s well worth digging out again.
Title: Puzzler Collection
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Puzzle
Price: £19.99
Hit Count: 4/5
It’s school holiday time and if those long car journeys are starting to send shivers down your spine, why not stock up on a bundle of over 2,000 puzzles to keep the kids quiet?
Puzzler Collection brings you Fitword, Crossword, Sudoku and Wordsearch puzzles with three difficulty levels that ensure you won’t crack them without some serious effort.
Everything is timed against the clock so the pressure is always mounting. It might look and feel functional, but this game’s more about challenging your mind than entertaining your eyes.
Title: Race Driver: GRID
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Racing
Price: £29.99
Hit Count: 4/5
Fans of racing games are often disappointed if a game proves to be too arcadey or too much of a plodding simulation.
While this may not boast the supreme graphics of the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, this shrunk down DS version of Race Driver: GRID does a fantastic job of juggling both balls, offering over-the-top thrills and spills for the casual racer, coupled with an intense on-track experience that still manages to make a big impact on the small dual screen system.
There are plenty of DS racers to take this Codemasters title round the track a few times, but this baby still qualifies pretty high up the GRID.
Title: Beijing 2008
Platform: PC
Genre: Athletics
Price: £29.99
Hit Count: 4/5
The Olympics are finally here and, while video gaming has yet to be recognised as an Olympic sport, that’s not going to stop you enjoying Beijing 2008 on PC.
You can instantly transport yourself to China and compete in over 30 events, from athletics and gymnastics to cycling, table tennis or archery.
It all adds up to a pretty impressive sporting compendium. Although lending nothing particularly new or innovative to the gameplay it nonetheless locates and grips your competitive side, making the quest for gold in all events a relentless one.
Taking the competition online adds an extra dimension to proceedings, and brings a real worldwide international flavour to your living room, as every Olympics should!
Title: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Platform: PS2
Genre: Action
Price: £24.99
Hit Count: 3/5
The Mummy films have just enough special effects and tongue-in-cheek cheesy humour to justify their summer blockbuster status, and Tomb of the Dragon Emperor sees Brendan Fraser and company enter their third adventure.
This is the sadly-yet-predictably poor tie-in video game. Repetitive, basic in appearance and devoid of any shred of innovation, even if you’re the biggest fan of the film series there’s no way you’ll fall in love with this game.
Pointlessly difficult at times and downright boring at others, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor’s redeeming features are few and far between. At best this is one to rent – at worst a guaranteed bargain binner.
Title: Echochrome
Platform: PSP
Genre: Puzzle
Price: £19.99
Hit Count: 4/5
A sign of a puzzle title’s true potential is often the appearance of utter simplicity from the outset.
One glance at the monochrome, linear appearance of Echochrome may lead you to wonder what all the fuss is about, but within a few levels you’ll be entranced by a 3D puzzler that gives thinking gamers something they’ve never played before.
Twisting levels to lead your ambling mannequin from start to finish, you’ll find yourself having to redraw your own laws of perception in order to succeed and, save for fairly repetitive sound, this is an all-round captivating gaming experience that you’d be mad to miss – especially at under £20.
Title: Growlanser: Heritage of War
Platform: PS2
Genre: RPG
Price: £19.99
Hit Count: 3/5
In a world overcrowded by RPGs, standing out from the crowd is a difficult task. Heritage of War comes packed with extra art books, a key ring, buttons and other bits and bobs to give the feel of added value.
However, it’s the core item in this package – the game itself – that brings you back into the familiar territory of playing through an average fantasy RPG.
Poor graphics, coupled with a ropey combat system and some of the most laughable lines of dialogue you’ll have heard in a long time, don’t do much to endear this game to fans of the genre. It’s a shame to have such a disappointing release from the Atlus stable; here’s hoping a return to form isn’t far away.
GAMES CHART ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1.Soulcalibur IV
2.Wii Fit
3.Mario Kart Wii
4.Wall-E
5.Big Beach Sports
6.Guitar Hero: On Tour
7.Wii Play
8.Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games
9.Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training
10.LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
The plus points of online grocery shopping
Whatever else I do this week I will feel safe in the knowledge I have done my bit (albeit a very small minute bit) for the environment.
This week I am planning to go shopping at Sainsbury's without leaving my home. I won't use my car, I won't unnecessarily pack a few items into a large carrier bag and I won't add to the stress of a checkout queue.
This week I have been learning all about the delights of online grocery shopping.
I've never been sold on the idea really. What if they get my order wrong? What if they haven't got what I want? What if I don't know what I want?
Most of all I've feared being called a slack b****** by my nearest and dearest.
Okay, I understand the benefits if you live in London and your nearest Tesco is three tube stations away, but in Plymouth you can't go 100ft without being met by the luring supermaket signs.
So why shop online at the Sainsbury's website? Well, as my friend Lisa explained to me last night:
a). If 20 people order groceries to be delivered on one evening they'll all be served by one man in one van which equals 19 less vehicles on the road;
b). The delivery man will pick up your discarded plastic shopping bags when he redelivers your groceries which he will then re-use; and c). (And not SO environmentally friendly but still a benefit) the delivery man will give you a £10 off voucher if he is even 30 seconds late. He won't even argue, he'll just hand it over (apparently).
So sure enough, within minutes of her mentioning that her shopping would be delivered soon, the doorbell went. And there he was in all his home shopping glory.
While I have to admit I actually LOVE food shopping in supermarkets, I do have an annoying tendency to always go shopping when I'm hungry.
Bad idea huh? A £20 shop turns into a £50 shop and you end up returning home with £30 extra pounds worth of goodies that seemed more desireable on the store shelf.
I've also just been reminded by a colleague that that way of thinking "destroys town centres and local shops".
Okay, while I appreciate the sentiment, surely it's Mr Tesco and Mrs Sainsbury who have done just that. They provide a service that people want ultimately. Blame the fools not the fools that follow.
In my childlike way of thinking I also actually like the idea that fresh yummy things are being brought to me... like takeaway pizza.
Oh, and delivery only costs £2.50 (or so Lisa said).
I have to say I'm sold on the idea. Now it remains to be seen whether I receive 14 tins of cat food for the moggy I don't own, hair nets and countless boxes of Tampax.
So anyway... Radiohead... how's that for changing the subject?
Has anyone seen the video for their latest single House of Cards? No cameras or lights were used in its creation.
Instead, 3D plotting technologies collected information about the shapes and relative distances of objects to create what is a unique art project in itself.
Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyQoTGdQywY&feature=user for the making of the video.
Here's the best of this week's games:
Title: Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: RPG
Price: £29.99
Hit Count: 4/5
Final Fantasy tactical RPGs have been delighting gamers for years and Grimoire of the Rift is another supreme instalment on Nintendo DS.
It casts you in the role of high school student Luso, whose summer studying inadvertently catapults him into a fantasy world called Ivalice.
This is where the real adventure begins - with more than 300 quests to complete, this is a monster of a game with some damn tough challenges for you and your clan to conquer.
Cute, pin-sharp 3D graphics are perfectly executed on the dual screen, as is the sound. It’s a must-have for your handheld collection.
Title: Guitar Hero: On Tour
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Music
Price: £44.99
Hit Count: 4/5
Get ready to transform your traditional DS into a full-blown musical instrument with an ingenious add-on that allows handheld gamers to experience the musical fun of the Guitar Hero series.
With a mini fret board slotted into the Gameboy Advance cartridge slot, you can start strumming away in the same way the big consoles have done things over the last couple of years.
Make sure you watch out for some serious wrist cramp though – and take regular breaks! Guitar Hero: On Tour features some great pop and rock tracks and the developers deserve kudos for turning this big living room event into a superb showing on the small screen.
Title: Stronghold: Crusader Extreme
Platform: PC
Genre: Strategy
Price: £19.99
Hit Count: 3/5
Fans of Stronghold: Crusader won’t be surprised by what’s on offer here. Calling it 'Extreme' may be pushing things a bit far – this is essentially the same game, albeit with some new maps and the added capability of being able to take part in 10,000-unit battles.
The intelligence of your opponents doesn’t appear to have improved in the passing years, nor have the graphics, which are below par by 2008 PC standards.
This will satisfy your thirst if you’ve been crying out for more Stronghold action, but it’s not the best.
Title: Unreal Tournament 3
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Shooter
Price: £49.99
Hit Count: 4/5
The Unreal series has been around for nearly a decade now, and this Xbox 360 incarnation brings gamers even more fast-paced, enemy-infested shooter action, all cranked up to a next-gen standard.
Some seriously sumptuous graphics give you all the eye candy you could ever want, but beware, the furious gameplay won’t give you a second to soak it all up.
Single player missions might feel a little too easy for experienced Unreal gamers, but once you’ve familiarised yourself with the maps, this is one of the most enjoyable multiplayer experiences yet on Microsoft’s Xbox Live service. Lock, load and lap it up!
Title: Pool Party
Platform: Wii
Genre: Pool
Price: £19.99
Hit Count: 2/5
Wii Play provided an exciting glimpse of how cue-based sports could be played with the motion-sensing capabilities of Nintendo’s interactive console.
Unfortunately Pool Party doesn’t live up to expectations – it appears to be more a case of one step forward, two steps back.
A sketchy camera, weird controls and some basic graphics let down what has the makings of a decent game. If you’re looking for the perfect antidote to a trip down to your local pool hall, this isn’t it.
GAMES CHART ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1.Wii Fit
2.LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures
3.Super Smash Bros Brawl
4.Top Spin 3
5.Battlefield: Bad Company
6.Big Beach Sports
7.Wii Play
8.Beijing 2008
9.Kung Fu Panda
10.Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
This week I am planning to go shopping at Sainsbury's without leaving my home. I won't use my car, I won't unnecessarily pack a few items into a large carrier bag and I won't add to the stress of a checkout queue.
This week I have been learning all about the delights of online grocery shopping.
I've never been sold on the idea really. What if they get my order wrong? What if they haven't got what I want? What if I don't know what I want?
Most of all I've feared being called a slack b****** by my nearest and dearest.
Okay, I understand the benefits if you live in London and your nearest Tesco is three tube stations away, but in Plymouth you can't go 100ft without being met by the luring supermaket signs.
So why shop online at the Sainsbury's website? Well, as my friend Lisa explained to me last night:
a). If 20 people order groceries to be delivered on one evening they'll all be served by one man in one van which equals 19 less vehicles on the road;
b). The delivery man will pick up your discarded plastic shopping bags when he redelivers your groceries which he will then re-use; and c). (And not SO environmentally friendly but still a benefit) the delivery man will give you a £10 off voucher if he is even 30 seconds late. He won't even argue, he'll just hand it over (apparently).
So sure enough, within minutes of her mentioning that her shopping would be delivered soon, the doorbell went. And there he was in all his home shopping glory.
While I have to admit I actually LOVE food shopping in supermarkets, I do have an annoying tendency to always go shopping when I'm hungry.
Bad idea huh? A £20 shop turns into a £50 shop and you end up returning home with £30 extra pounds worth of goodies that seemed more desireable on the store shelf.
I've also just been reminded by a colleague that that way of thinking "destroys town centres and local shops".
Okay, while I appreciate the sentiment, surely it's Mr Tesco and Mrs Sainsbury who have done just that. They provide a service that people want ultimately. Blame the fools not the fools that follow.
In my childlike way of thinking I also actually like the idea that fresh yummy things are being brought to me... like takeaway pizza.
Oh, and delivery only costs £2.50 (or so Lisa said).
I have to say I'm sold on the idea. Now it remains to be seen whether I receive 14 tins of cat food for the moggy I don't own, hair nets and countless boxes of Tampax.
So anyway... Radiohead... how's that for changing the subject?
Has anyone seen the video for their latest single House of Cards? No cameras or lights were used in its creation.
Instead, 3D plotting technologies collected information about the shapes and relative distances of objects to create what is a unique art project in itself.
Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyQoTGdQywY&feature=user for the making of the video.
Here's the best of this week's games:
Title: Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: RPG
Price: £29.99
Hit Count: 4/5
Final Fantasy tactical RPGs have been delighting gamers for years and Grimoire of the Rift is another supreme instalment on Nintendo DS.
It casts you in the role of high school student Luso, whose summer studying inadvertently catapults him into a fantasy world called Ivalice.
This is where the real adventure begins - with more than 300 quests to complete, this is a monster of a game with some damn tough challenges for you and your clan to conquer.
Cute, pin-sharp 3D graphics are perfectly executed on the dual screen, as is the sound. It’s a must-have for your handheld collection.
Title: Guitar Hero: On Tour
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Music
Price: £44.99
Hit Count: 4/5
Get ready to transform your traditional DS into a full-blown musical instrument with an ingenious add-on that allows handheld gamers to experience the musical fun of the Guitar Hero series.
With a mini fret board slotted into the Gameboy Advance cartridge slot, you can start strumming away in the same way the big consoles have done things over the last couple of years.
Make sure you watch out for some serious wrist cramp though – and take regular breaks! Guitar Hero: On Tour features some great pop and rock tracks and the developers deserve kudos for turning this big living room event into a superb showing on the small screen.
Title: Stronghold: Crusader Extreme
Platform: PC
Genre: Strategy
Price: £19.99
Hit Count: 3/5
Fans of Stronghold: Crusader won’t be surprised by what’s on offer here. Calling it 'Extreme' may be pushing things a bit far – this is essentially the same game, albeit with some new maps and the added capability of being able to take part in 10,000-unit battles.
The intelligence of your opponents doesn’t appear to have improved in the passing years, nor have the graphics, which are below par by 2008 PC standards.
This will satisfy your thirst if you’ve been crying out for more Stronghold action, but it’s not the best.
Title: Unreal Tournament 3
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Shooter
Price: £49.99
Hit Count: 4/5
The Unreal series has been around for nearly a decade now, and this Xbox 360 incarnation brings gamers even more fast-paced, enemy-infested shooter action, all cranked up to a next-gen standard.
Some seriously sumptuous graphics give you all the eye candy you could ever want, but beware, the furious gameplay won’t give you a second to soak it all up.
Single player missions might feel a little too easy for experienced Unreal gamers, but once you’ve familiarised yourself with the maps, this is one of the most enjoyable multiplayer experiences yet on Microsoft’s Xbox Live service. Lock, load and lap it up!
Title: Pool Party
Platform: Wii
Genre: Pool
Price: £19.99
Hit Count: 2/5
Wii Play provided an exciting glimpse of how cue-based sports could be played with the motion-sensing capabilities of Nintendo’s interactive console.
Unfortunately Pool Party doesn’t live up to expectations – it appears to be more a case of one step forward, two steps back.
A sketchy camera, weird controls and some basic graphics let down what has the makings of a decent game. If you’re looking for the perfect antidote to a trip down to your local pool hall, this isn’t it.
GAMES CHART ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1.Wii Fit
2.LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures
3.Super Smash Bros Brawl
4.Top Spin 3
5.Battlefield: Bad Company
6.Big Beach Sports
7.Wii Play
8.Beijing 2008
9.Kung Fu Panda
10.Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
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