THE NEXT time you see me I may well have less hair, a permanent look of anger on my face, and bruised knuckles.
Now I haven't joined the local cage fighting league... I've actually been playing Pro Evolution Soccer 09 online.
The idea is simple. Connect up your PS3 (or whatever platform you have) to the internet, get a copy of the game, register it and wallah! You can play matches against people from all over the world.
The actual reality is very different.
Remember the days of the Spectrum ZX and the (later) Spectrum 128K? Remember how you used to go to load a game, inserting the cassette into the tape player, and wait while the annoying noise signalled the game was loading. And then... it stopped. Without loading the game.
My parents used to ask me how the keyboard of the Spectrum became warped, as if someone had applied pressure onto it... almost like someone had thrown their clenched fists down onto it with great force.
You can imagine how it came about.
That rage from my youth has become increasingly apparent with the release of that game, and the subsequent attempts I have made to 'play' it.
While PES09 is different - in that it actually loads - the problems are similar.
You start the game and all's well. You're playing Ronaldo78 from Paris, France, he takes a shot and it goes wide of the goal.
My keeper goes to take the goal kick, he runs up and kicks the ball, the screen moves to the far end of the pitch and the ball is nowhere to be seen.
The game continues on Ronaldo78 scores, and I'm none the wiser. I was looking at the other end of the pitch where nothing was happening.
In computer speak it's called 'lagging' and it's where the game crashes.
And I can't tell you how annoying it is. Since launching the online service a couple of years ago the makers of the PES series have admitted to problems with its online content.
Each year I get the game and play it hoping the problem has been fixed. But it hasn't.
The online content on other games such as Grand Theft Auto is fine. Or rather, it works. But it seems Konami still haven't worked out how to fix it.
My internet connectivity is fine so it must be down to the game.
It is the single most annoying thing of my 31 years. Apart from of course the dark Spectrum days.
With the release of the new 2010 game later this year, one can only hope that things will improve. At least for my sanity's sake.
Anyways, in the meantime here's some other titles to crack on with:
Title: G-Force
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
The prospect of controlling a guinea pig hooked up with a high-tech jet-pack and other electronic gizmos is already enough to make the most mature gamer raise a smile - the fact that this game comes bundled with a couple of pairs of old-school 3D glasses merely completes your regression to pre-teen times.
Tying in with Disney's big-screen release, G-Force predominantly puts you in control of Darwin, heading up a team of dynamic guinea pigs on a mission to save the world. Plus there's Mooch the fly, whose character you can switch between when puzzles require you to access those hard-to-reach places.
There's a great balance of action and puzzle-solving throughout, and the enemies can't fail to raise a chuckle - whether you're tackling a crazed food blender or temperamental toaster. Tight controls never waver, whatever you're trying to do, and a mild sense of repetition later on the game does little, if anything, to dampen a fab movie tie-in experience.
Title: GTA Triple Pack
Platform: PS2
Genre: Action
Price: £24.99
Hit count: 5/5
While Grand Theft Auto 4 gave gamers a startlingly realistic glimpse into the future of sandbox titles on the next-generation consoles, Rockstar fanatics will never look back at previous incarnations of the GTA series and scoff - they'll appreciate the giant leaps the developer took for gaming-kind with each instalment.
Now you can relive the past with an incredible trilogy that simply must be owned, if only for keeping shrink-wrapped on your shelf for posterity.
A mere £25 gives you the full, unabridged versions of GTA 3, GTA Vice City and GTA San Andreas, all of which in their own right are fantastic, funny, controversial and captivating games - together they're a hefty chunk of the best games ever released for the PS2.
Title: Fritz Chess
Platform: PS3
Genre: Chess
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 4/5
Chess is chess, so how can so many different incarnations of this classic board game continue to shift thousands of units? Surely, if you've got one simulation, you've got them all?
Well, one glance down the features list of Fritz Chess shows that while the classic mode is there in all its glory - and with several difficulty settings - there are also a host of 'alternative' modes that would probably have the game's creators turning in their graves.
Chess 960 randomly shuffles the greater pieces to give each match a new unexpected challenge, while Giveaway chess sees the victor crowned when he has captured all of his opponent's pieces.
These modes certainly add a bit of spice to proceedings, and some much-needed variety, but it's the core challenge that will appeal to chess fans.
And, with over 2,000 historical matches to relive and analyse, there's more than enough to keep those over-active brains ticking over.
Title: Cake Mania: In The Mix!
Platform: Wii
Genre: Cookery
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 3/5
So, what will the Wii controller have you doing this week? It's fair to say that almost every physical activity has been recreated on the system during its relatively short life-span, meaning we shouldn't bat an eyelid at being asked to decorate a cake that you've just baked.
And that's exactly the kind of gaming challenge you can expect with In The Mix, as you build up your bakeries to the point where celebrity chefs would be jealous at the embarrassment of culinary riches at your disposal - from display stands to cookie ovens and everything inbetween.
Graphically it looks really nice, and there's no doubt it becomes a serious challenge pretty quickly, but sadly it's let down by a pretty clumsy control system - the one thing that makes this version truly unique from other formats, albeit this time in a bad way.
Title: Puzzle Kingdoms
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Puzzle/Strategy
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 3/5
From conquering cities around the world to competing in what is essentially are-skinned Bejeweled experience, Puzzle Kingdoms challenges you to plan outstrategic attacks in order to defeat your opponents, then order your troops across the map, winning battles through this puzzle gameplay.
At first it's aslightly bizarre combination of role-playing-games and puzzle action, but overall it works pretty well.
Battles are frenetic and addictive, and the careful management of your team of heroes is also crucial to your success. Fans of Galactrix and Puzzle Quest will be grateful for more of the same here, although things probably haven't moved on as much as you would like.
For anyone else looking for a fairly unique, on-the-go gaming experience, Puzzle Kingdoms is probably worth a look for under £20.
WHAT'S HOT AND WHAT'S NOT
Following the Grand Theft Auto retro trilogy pack on PS2, iPhone and iPod Touch owners can now also take a peek at how GTA-style action is taking shape on Apple's hardware.
A free 'lite' version of TAG Games' crime sim Car Jack Streets has been launched in the App store.
The top-down, free-for-all provides a 30-minute crime spree across the city, with the aim of raising 5,000 dollars to pay off a mob boss, while the full version gives you the wide open city you'd expect, with unlimited missions and carnage to create.
Designed and developed by members of the original Grand Theft Auto creative team, this is one not to miss.
In the charts this week, Wii Sports Resort went straight into the No 1 position, toppling Harry Potter, which in turn sent Transformers spiralling down from two to five.
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 held firm at three, as did Wii Fit at four, while Virtua Tennis 2009 was the big loser of the week, falling out of the top-10 altogether.
GAMES CHART: ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1. Wii Sports Resort
2. Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince
3. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10
4. Wii Fit
5. Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen
6. Fight Night Round 4
7. Call Of Juarez: Bound In Blood
8. The Sims 3
9. Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
10. EA Sports Active: Personal Trainer
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
Friday, 26 June 2009
Jacko's death sparks surge in online viewing
IT seems we are a nation - and indeed a world - of people who love bad news.
I'm sure if you look back at hit counts surrounding all the major news stories over the last 10 years, figures would should most people logged onto the web following the death of someone or the demise of something.
And yesterday was further proof.
The first reports of Michael Jackson’s death emerged on a showbiz website sparking a massive surge in online traffic around the globe as millions of people logged on to find out more.
It was the American site www.tmz.com that broke the news reporting it was "looking bad" for the star.
The massive level of interest caused the site to temporarily go down but that did not stop the news spreading via blogs and social networking sites.
So many people wanted to verify early reports of his death that the computers running Google’s news section interpreted the "Michael Jackson" requests as an automated attack for about half an hour.
The BBC News website reported UK traffic was 48% higher than usual at 4am today.
By 3.20pm yesterday even The Herald's (www.thisisplymouth.co.uk) website had received a great many views with more than 2,000 viewing that story alone making it one of the most read of the day.
With the news of his death confirmed, one of the UK’s most popular sites, Twitter, was full of reaction.
Among the people who turned to the site to pay tribute were Hollywood star Demi Moore and Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
Before long, nine of the 10 most popular topics being discussed were related to the star.
Fans also logged on the myspace page of his former wife, Lisa Marie Presley, to pay tribute.
Once again it seems sad that in death a figure will actually be larger than he was in life, regardless of whether he was known as the 'king of pop'.
If you can peel yourself away from the online updates check out this week's new game releases and related news:
Title: Fight Night Round 4
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Boxing
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 5/5
The Fight Night series has been a rip-roaring success on next-gen consoles, with Round 3 raising the bar in terms of jaw-dropping graphics and gameplay mechanics in the ring. Round 4 picks up right where EA left off, with another hard-hitting simulation that mixes a variety of fighting styles and boxer differentiation to emulate the greatest fighters of all time. Whether you’re pressuring your opponent with the brawling inside style of a young Mike Tyson, or capitalising on Muhammad Ali’s reach and fleetness of foot, this really is the real deal as scrapping experiences go. It’s polished off with an incredible new physics-based animation system that will have you reeling on your sofa with every punch you take. Top-notch sporting action – have you got what it takes to be king of the ring?
Title: Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
Tying in with one of this summer’s blockbuster releases, Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen may be greeted with a little trepidation by gamers, if not cinema-goers. The franchise’s previous foray into the gaming world provided enjoyment, yet left fans wanting so much more. Here, flitting from Autobot to Decepticon side in the engaging single-player campaign soon shows you that the controls have been tightened up and you’re now capable of some pretty stunning combat moves, particularly thanks to the ability to transform in mid-air. A solid multiplayer mode takes the mechanised action online to good effect, and adds up to an all-action sequel that delivers for long-standing fans of these iconic characters, with pretty much all your favourite characters available to play. Transformers fans, let’s roll!
Title: Indiana Jones And The Staff Of Kings
Platform: Wii
Genre: Action
Price: £44.99
Hit count: 3/5
What self-respecting gamer and action-movie fan isn’t going to get just a little bit excited about the prospect of wielding Indy’s whip, thanks to the motion-sensing technology that Nintendo’s Wii can offer? Here, the world’s most famous archaeologist sets out on an all-new globe-trotting quest, from San Francisco’s Chinatown to the lush jungles of Panama, in a race to recover a relic of biblical proportions – the Staff of Moses. There are some control issues, but this shouldn’t detract from what is still a well-designed adventure romp that stays true to the spirit of the original films. Whether you’re running for your life as a temple collapses around you or flying a biplane through a canyon trench, the cinematic moments come thick and fast and should provide more than enough amusement for casual gamers and hardcore Indy fans alike.
Title: Ghostbusters: The Video Game
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Yet another movie to morph onto console systems, Ghostbusters: The Video Game presents an all-new storyline for gamers to get their teeth into, once again putting you in charge of that motley crew of paranormal pest controllers. Not only does it deliver in terms of humour, with superb voice-acting from almost all of the original actors, it also has the kind of gameplay mechanics you’d hope for when faced with the prospect of grappling with a ghost above a trap and lowering it down to complete the capture. It’s pretty much everything fans could want in terms of an authentic recreation of a much-loved film, and it’s a great example of how movie tie-in titles don’t have to always be tosh.
Title: MySims Racing
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Racing
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 4/5
Little racers like this are designed to be high speed, great fun and perfectly designed for DS on-the-go gaming. MySims Racing sings out all of these virtues from the off, as wannabe speedsters burn rubber against the toughest MySims rival racers on the trickiest tracks in Speedville. Rewarding your success on the track with a staggering array of options for kart customisation off it adds a fantastic extra layer of depth to the game. The obligatory four-player multiplayer racing option is delivered really well, with some great power-ups available to help wreck your pals’ progress in the heat of the battle. It may be a small system, but MySims Racing has bundles of big personality and is well worth a look for racing fans.
WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT
PSP handheld gamers may have been green with envy when they saw all the fuss around the release of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars on the DS recently, but fear not – it’s coming to Sony’s system, too. Due for release this autumn, development on the PSP version will home in on using the console’s widescreen graphics, enhanced lighting and animation power, while new story missions will also be introduced.
In the charts this week, Prototype nabbed first place, knocking The Sims 3 down into second spot, while Wii Fit climbed one place from four to three. Ghostbusters: The Video Game was the only new entry to the top end, coming in at four, while the Wimbledon factor is taking effect with Virtua Tennis 2009 and EA Sports Grand Slam Tennis moving up into the bottom rungs of the top-10.
GAMES CHART: ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1.Prototype
2.The Sims 3
3.Wii Fit
4.Ghostbusters: The Video Game
5.Call of Duty: World At War
6.Red Faction: Guerilla
7.UFC 2009: Undisputed
8.EA Sports Active
9.Virtua Tennis 2009
10.EA Sports Grand Slam Tennis
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
I'm sure if you look back at hit counts surrounding all the major news stories over the last 10 years, figures would should most people logged onto the web following the death of someone or the demise of something.
And yesterday was further proof.
The first reports of Michael Jackson’s death emerged on a showbiz website sparking a massive surge in online traffic around the globe as millions of people logged on to find out more.
It was the American site www.tmz.com that broke the news reporting it was "looking bad" for the star.
The massive level of interest caused the site to temporarily go down but that did not stop the news spreading via blogs and social networking sites.
So many people wanted to verify early reports of his death that the computers running Google’s news section interpreted the "Michael Jackson" requests as an automated attack for about half an hour.
The BBC News website reported UK traffic was 48% higher than usual at 4am today.
By 3.20pm yesterday even The Herald's (www.thisisplymouth.co.uk) website had received a great many views with more than 2,000 viewing that story alone making it one of the most read of the day.
With the news of his death confirmed, one of the UK’s most popular sites, Twitter, was full of reaction.
Among the people who turned to the site to pay tribute were Hollywood star Demi Moore and Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
Before long, nine of the 10 most popular topics being discussed were related to the star.
Fans also logged on the myspace page of his former wife, Lisa Marie Presley, to pay tribute.
Once again it seems sad that in death a figure will actually be larger than he was in life, regardless of whether he was known as the 'king of pop'.
If you can peel yourself away from the online updates check out this week's new game releases and related news:
Title: Fight Night Round 4
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Boxing
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 5/5
The Fight Night series has been a rip-roaring success on next-gen consoles, with Round 3 raising the bar in terms of jaw-dropping graphics and gameplay mechanics in the ring. Round 4 picks up right where EA left off, with another hard-hitting simulation that mixes a variety of fighting styles and boxer differentiation to emulate the greatest fighters of all time. Whether you’re pressuring your opponent with the brawling inside style of a young Mike Tyson, or capitalising on Muhammad Ali’s reach and fleetness of foot, this really is the real deal as scrapping experiences go. It’s polished off with an incredible new physics-based animation system that will have you reeling on your sofa with every punch you take. Top-notch sporting action – have you got what it takes to be king of the ring?
Title: Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
Tying in with one of this summer’s blockbuster releases, Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen may be greeted with a little trepidation by gamers, if not cinema-goers. The franchise’s previous foray into the gaming world provided enjoyment, yet left fans wanting so much more. Here, flitting from Autobot to Decepticon side in the engaging single-player campaign soon shows you that the controls have been tightened up and you’re now capable of some pretty stunning combat moves, particularly thanks to the ability to transform in mid-air. A solid multiplayer mode takes the mechanised action online to good effect, and adds up to an all-action sequel that delivers for long-standing fans of these iconic characters, with pretty much all your favourite characters available to play. Transformers fans, let’s roll!
Title: Indiana Jones And The Staff Of Kings
Platform: Wii
Genre: Action
Price: £44.99
Hit count: 3/5
What self-respecting gamer and action-movie fan isn’t going to get just a little bit excited about the prospect of wielding Indy’s whip, thanks to the motion-sensing technology that Nintendo’s Wii can offer? Here, the world’s most famous archaeologist sets out on an all-new globe-trotting quest, from San Francisco’s Chinatown to the lush jungles of Panama, in a race to recover a relic of biblical proportions – the Staff of Moses. There are some control issues, but this shouldn’t detract from what is still a well-designed adventure romp that stays true to the spirit of the original films. Whether you’re running for your life as a temple collapses around you or flying a biplane through a canyon trench, the cinematic moments come thick and fast and should provide more than enough amusement for casual gamers and hardcore Indy fans alike.
Title: Ghostbusters: The Video Game
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Yet another movie to morph onto console systems, Ghostbusters: The Video Game presents an all-new storyline for gamers to get their teeth into, once again putting you in charge of that motley crew of paranormal pest controllers. Not only does it deliver in terms of humour, with superb voice-acting from almost all of the original actors, it also has the kind of gameplay mechanics you’d hope for when faced with the prospect of grappling with a ghost above a trap and lowering it down to complete the capture. It’s pretty much everything fans could want in terms of an authentic recreation of a much-loved film, and it’s a great example of how movie tie-in titles don’t have to always be tosh.
Title: MySims Racing
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Racing
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 4/5
Little racers like this are designed to be high speed, great fun and perfectly designed for DS on-the-go gaming. MySims Racing sings out all of these virtues from the off, as wannabe speedsters burn rubber against the toughest MySims rival racers on the trickiest tracks in Speedville. Rewarding your success on the track with a staggering array of options for kart customisation off it adds a fantastic extra layer of depth to the game. The obligatory four-player multiplayer racing option is delivered really well, with some great power-ups available to help wreck your pals’ progress in the heat of the battle. It may be a small system, but MySims Racing has bundles of big personality and is well worth a look for racing fans.
WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT
PSP handheld gamers may have been green with envy when they saw all the fuss around the release of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars on the DS recently, but fear not – it’s coming to Sony’s system, too. Due for release this autumn, development on the PSP version will home in on using the console’s widescreen graphics, enhanced lighting and animation power, while new story missions will also be introduced.
In the charts this week, Prototype nabbed first place, knocking The Sims 3 down into second spot, while Wii Fit climbed one place from four to three. Ghostbusters: The Video Game was the only new entry to the top end, coming in at four, while the Wimbledon factor is taking effect with Virtua Tennis 2009 and EA Sports Grand Slam Tennis moving up into the bottom rungs of the top-10.
GAMES CHART: ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1.Prototype
2.The Sims 3
3.Wii Fit
4.Ghostbusters: The Video Game
5.Call of Duty: World At War
6.Red Faction: Guerilla
7.UFC 2009: Undisputed
8.EA Sports Active
9.Virtua Tennis 2009
10.EA Sports Grand Slam Tennis
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
DIY skills aided by the internet
So hello! And no before you ask, I didn't get the job on the remote paradise island.
Over the last few weeks I've been busy doing DIY jobs and various other tasks in the newsroom.
It seems my washing machine had been leaking for 18 months without telling me.
I only discovered this fact three weeks ago when a friend came round to look at another job and noticed the 'springy' nature of floor tiles. Oops.
So yes, ever since the damp discovery I've been busy drying, painting, rearranging, washing and um, freaking out.
While builder and plasterer friends of mine have been really helpful in telling me the best way to go about it, I have to say the web has been just as amazing.
Google - whatever you think of it - is just the most useful thing on the planet. If you don't know, someone will... whether they are in Edinburgh or Iceland, there will be some online forum somewhere where someone has had a similar problem and has sought advice.
For me, with the DIY skills of a piece of mouldy cheese, it has been invaluable.
At the same time it's been great pricing up the price of paint, varnish and other useful bits on websites such as B&Q and Homebase.
I even looked on The Range's website (which is pretty good and useful) after interviewing Chris Dawson on - I have to say - a completely unrelated matter.
I am forever in awe of the information joe public can now get on the web, and often question what the hell we did before it?!
In the last couple of weeks I've also been caught up in a raging battle which divides the world... PC or Mac?
I have a PC which has served me well for years and years.
Ever since I've had a job I've used a PC, and even before that I was using one at home.
I've never really thought twice about changing to a Mac but then a friend offered me one.
He's always raved about them (as Mac users tend to do) and I've always ignored him. Until that is, I had a go at one last week.
It has to be said the operating system is soooooo much faster, slicker and well... sexier.
I'm told you can run a number of programmes at the same time, and the hugely annoying system updates are a thing of the past.
While I'm still not completely sold on the idea (it's like deciding to speak a different language after so many years for the sheer will of change!) I have to say I'm not far off.
Oh, also I must admit to chuckling somewhat uncontrollably last week over the visit of world leaders for the global summit.
It wasn't the content of discussions which made me laugh, but more the meeting of the Obamas and The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.
During a 'private' meeting, the Obamas presented HRH The Queen with an iPod containing a video of her State visit in 2007.
And in return what did the Queen give the Obamas....? Why an autographed picture of herself and Philip. Priceless!
Does anyone else consider the image of The Queen wandering around her grounds clutching an ipod ever so slightly weird...?
Title: Pro Evolution Soccer 2009
Platform: Wii
Genre: Football
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
It could be argued that the Pro Evolution Soccer series has been superseded by FIFA – even amongst those hardcore purists who for years refused to be dazzled by official kits and other licenses.
Where the ball may have been dropped on PS3 and Xbox 360, PES is carving an incredibly successful niche on Wii as a real hardcore football title.
It’s hard to pick up, with a very steep learning curve, but the rewards on offer from the intuitive and unique Wii control methods are well worth persevering with.
From marshalling your back four to sending teammates on angled, defence-splitting forward runs, the possibilities appear to be nigh-on endless.
While the title suffers from under-polished graphics, the countless game modes and incredible realism presented to you by this superb control system make this one of the best football experiences on a console right now.
Title: Wanted: Weapons and Fate
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
Anyone who watched Wanted, the movie, will have a pretty good idea of what they’re going to get here – over-the-top action and the kind of intense entertainment experience you might not have been expecting from the outset.
Yes, this is a short game, and the adrenalin-rush of tackling all that the game has to offer will disappear within just five or six short hours.
But the special effects (including a slo-mo ’Assassin Time’) and continuation of the laughably far-fetched story line featured in the film make this an attraction worth paying the entrance fee for. Where movie tie-in titles so often disappoint, Weapons of Fate bucks the trend, and that certainly sets it apart.
Title: Go Diego Go! Great Dinosaur Rescue
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Action / Adventure
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 3/5
Already a hugely successful kids TV series, this installment of Go Diego Go! gives pre-schoolers the chance to travel back through time with Diego and Baby Jaguar to help Maia the Maiasura find her way back to her family in this rescue adventure.
You’ll have to climb rock walls, travel along monkey bars, solve puzzles and even jump on a pogo stick to help Diego’s friend find her way home in this prehistoric journey, all mirroring a recent episode from the show.
Pitched perfectly at the target market, parents can be sure that the game combines authentic animated entertainment with an educational twist and should be well received as an interactive Easter gift for little ones!
Title: WWE Legends of Wrestlemania
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Wrestling
Price: £44.99
Hit count 4/5
Gamers of a certain age will probably remember with misty eyes the days when WWE was better known as WWF, and wrestlers such as Hulk Hogan and Legion of Doom ruled the ring. So here comes a pretty tidy combination – next generation consoles with 1980s and 1990s wrestling nostalgia.
It all mixes up to provide an enjoyable virtual grapple – the control method isn’t too complicated, making it easy to dive in and play as your favourite character.
With around 40 to choose from, you’ll probably spend more time chuckling at the authenticity of these many blasts from the past than you do rediscovering and executing their signature moves.
It all adds up to another excellent wrestling outing on consoles, and certainly one for those in search of the old-school retro feel.
Title: Phineas & Ferb
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Action
Price: £24.99
Hit count: 3/5
Another DS title to hop on the success of animated adventures, this Disney-created duo, Phineas & Ferb, are out to build an awesome vehicle to race.
So, while Phineas heads out on a platforming mission to pick up all the relevant parts, Ferb takes on mechanical duties.
Touch-screen mini games move the story on, and the racing elements turn out to be pretty good fun, too, all displayed in an engaging and colourful style that recreates the vibrancy of the cartoon itself really well.
As with Go Diego above, this game won’t win any awards for its gameplay originality, but what it does, it does really well.
The addition of connectivity to DGamer – Disney’s online kid-friendly service – brings another layer of enjoyment for young gamers as they look to publish their achievements online for all to see.
Title: Halo Wars
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Real Time Strategy
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
From a first person perspective, Halo looked pretty darn good, so what’s it like when you pull back for a wider look?
Well, with the creators of Age of Empires taking the helm, the franchise is in safe hands. Halo Wars does a fab job of putting you in charge of the human UNSC armies as you play out their first deadly encounters with the Covenant.
Set before Halo 1, you lead the crew through initial skirmishes to an all-out war against the evil beggars in, what has to be said, is a well designed, slick-playing RTS title, Halo or no Halo.
The game buzzes off the pressure that comes from carrying the Halo name and feels like a whole new experience for the franchise. Die hard Halo fans must have it. RTS fans will love it anyway.
Title: Family Ski and Snowboard
Platform: Wii
Genre: Sports
Price: £34.99
Hit count: 4/5
Winter sports are notoriously dangerous.
The adrenalin rush of speeding down the slopes on skis or a snowboard could just as quickly transform into a lengthy spell at accident and emergency on the Alps.
Fortunately, this snow-bound sports entertainment is all played out in the relative safety of your living room, using the Wii balance board. Plenty of events and courses – all available from the start – give you loads to get your teeth into.
Once you’ve mastered the motion-sensing controls, things like the slalom and trick competitions add an extra layer of difficulty to the game, which will be welcomed by competent gamers.
For those laid up by the early events, you can always laugh at people playing it instead!
Title: Mario Power Tennis
Platform: Wii
Genre: Tennis
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
As a Gamecube title five years ago, Mario Power Tennis was great fun, so the prospect of bringing it up-to-date on Wii, with those motion controls we know so well, seems pretty exciting.
Sadly, what gamers get is an identical port of the original which is now, understandably, showing its age.
The motion controls should be breathing new life into the title, but in reality they act as a hindrance.
They’re nowhere near as slick as those already displayed on Wii Sports. It’s a shame, because the Mario factor injects more excitement than might normally come with a tennis title. However, it’s just not enough. Mario Power Tennis is a double fault.
Title: Spectrobes: Beyond The Portals
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Action / RPG
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 4/5
Rallen and Jeena, those interplanetary patrol officers who discover, excavate, awaken and train fossilised creatures known as Spectrobes, are back for more, this time investigating the origins of the mysterious portals that lead to distant dimensions.
Beyond the Portals does improve upon the original in most areas, and the excellent 3D graphics combined with meaty combat make this a great little title for DS gamers looking for a fast, light RPG fix.
It’s got something of the Pokemon about it, so will also appeal to fans of that monster training sub-genre.
The inclusion of DGamer, where you can customize a unique 3D avatar, earn exclusive Disney content, and chat with friends though the DS’s wifi connection, adds an extra layer of entertainment that all adds up to a tasty sci-fi package.
Title: Chrono Trigger
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: RPG
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 4/5
Some games are best left untouched.
To attempt a radical overhaul of Chrono Trigger would have been not only a dangerous task but a snub to granting it another flourish on Nintendo DS.
Yes, if you played this many years ago on the SNES it will reignite your passion for the timeless 2D world that gave birth to an RPG franchise rivaled only by Final Fantasy. Bar a few script edits here and there, it’s presented as it was and still holds up against the test of time and technological advancement.
Fans of the original who were wishing for the next stage of the series will have to hold their horses a while longer. For those seeking a spot of nostalgia, or willing to unearth a real retro RPG gem, this is just the job.
Over the last few weeks I've been busy doing DIY jobs and various other tasks in the newsroom.
It seems my washing machine had been leaking for 18 months without telling me.
I only discovered this fact three weeks ago when a friend came round to look at another job and noticed the 'springy' nature of floor tiles. Oops.
So yes, ever since the damp discovery I've been busy drying, painting, rearranging, washing and um, freaking out.
While builder and plasterer friends of mine have been really helpful in telling me the best way to go about it, I have to say the web has been just as amazing.
Google - whatever you think of it - is just the most useful thing on the planet. If you don't know, someone will... whether they are in Edinburgh or Iceland, there will be some online forum somewhere where someone has had a similar problem and has sought advice.
For me, with the DIY skills of a piece of mouldy cheese, it has been invaluable.
At the same time it's been great pricing up the price of paint, varnish and other useful bits on websites such as B&Q and Homebase.
I even looked on The Range's website (which is pretty good and useful) after interviewing Chris Dawson on - I have to say - a completely unrelated matter.
I am forever in awe of the information joe public can now get on the web, and often question what the hell we did before it?!
In the last couple of weeks I've also been caught up in a raging battle which divides the world... PC or Mac?
I have a PC which has served me well for years and years.
Ever since I've had a job I've used a PC, and even before that I was using one at home.
I've never really thought twice about changing to a Mac but then a friend offered me one.
He's always raved about them (as Mac users tend to do) and I've always ignored him. Until that is, I had a go at one last week.
It has to be said the operating system is soooooo much faster, slicker and well... sexier.
I'm told you can run a number of programmes at the same time, and the hugely annoying system updates are a thing of the past.
While I'm still not completely sold on the idea (it's like deciding to speak a different language after so many years for the sheer will of change!) I have to say I'm not far off.
Oh, also I must admit to chuckling somewhat uncontrollably last week over the visit of world leaders for the global summit.
It wasn't the content of discussions which made me laugh, but more the meeting of the Obamas and The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.
During a 'private' meeting, the Obamas presented HRH The Queen with an iPod containing a video of her State visit in 2007.
And in return what did the Queen give the Obamas....? Why an autographed picture of herself and Philip. Priceless!
Does anyone else consider the image of The Queen wandering around her grounds clutching an ipod ever so slightly weird...?
Title: Pro Evolution Soccer 2009
Platform: Wii
Genre: Football
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
It could be argued that the Pro Evolution Soccer series has been superseded by FIFA – even amongst those hardcore purists who for years refused to be dazzled by official kits and other licenses.
Where the ball may have been dropped on PS3 and Xbox 360, PES is carving an incredibly successful niche on Wii as a real hardcore football title.
It’s hard to pick up, with a very steep learning curve, but the rewards on offer from the intuitive and unique Wii control methods are well worth persevering with.
From marshalling your back four to sending teammates on angled, defence-splitting forward runs, the possibilities appear to be nigh-on endless.
While the title suffers from under-polished graphics, the countless game modes and incredible realism presented to you by this superb control system make this one of the best football experiences on a console right now.
Title: Wanted: Weapons and Fate
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
Anyone who watched Wanted, the movie, will have a pretty good idea of what they’re going to get here – over-the-top action and the kind of intense entertainment experience you might not have been expecting from the outset.
Yes, this is a short game, and the adrenalin-rush of tackling all that the game has to offer will disappear within just five or six short hours.
But the special effects (including a slo-mo ’Assassin Time’) and continuation of the laughably far-fetched story line featured in the film make this an attraction worth paying the entrance fee for. Where movie tie-in titles so often disappoint, Weapons of Fate bucks the trend, and that certainly sets it apart.
Title: Go Diego Go! Great Dinosaur Rescue
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Action / Adventure
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 3/5
Already a hugely successful kids TV series, this installment of Go Diego Go! gives pre-schoolers the chance to travel back through time with Diego and Baby Jaguar to help Maia the Maiasura find her way back to her family in this rescue adventure.
You’ll have to climb rock walls, travel along monkey bars, solve puzzles and even jump on a pogo stick to help Diego’s friend find her way home in this prehistoric journey, all mirroring a recent episode from the show.
Pitched perfectly at the target market, parents can be sure that the game combines authentic animated entertainment with an educational twist and should be well received as an interactive Easter gift for little ones!
Title: WWE Legends of Wrestlemania
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Wrestling
Price: £44.99
Hit count 4/5
Gamers of a certain age will probably remember with misty eyes the days when WWE was better known as WWF, and wrestlers such as Hulk Hogan and Legion of Doom ruled the ring. So here comes a pretty tidy combination – next generation consoles with 1980s and 1990s wrestling nostalgia.
It all mixes up to provide an enjoyable virtual grapple – the control method isn’t too complicated, making it easy to dive in and play as your favourite character.
With around 40 to choose from, you’ll probably spend more time chuckling at the authenticity of these many blasts from the past than you do rediscovering and executing their signature moves.
It all adds up to another excellent wrestling outing on consoles, and certainly one for those in search of the old-school retro feel.
Title: Phineas & Ferb
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Action
Price: £24.99
Hit count: 3/5
Another DS title to hop on the success of animated adventures, this Disney-created duo, Phineas & Ferb, are out to build an awesome vehicle to race.
So, while Phineas heads out on a platforming mission to pick up all the relevant parts, Ferb takes on mechanical duties.
Touch-screen mini games move the story on, and the racing elements turn out to be pretty good fun, too, all displayed in an engaging and colourful style that recreates the vibrancy of the cartoon itself really well.
As with Go Diego above, this game won’t win any awards for its gameplay originality, but what it does, it does really well.
The addition of connectivity to DGamer – Disney’s online kid-friendly service – brings another layer of enjoyment for young gamers as they look to publish their achievements online for all to see.
Title: Halo Wars
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Real Time Strategy
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
From a first person perspective, Halo looked pretty darn good, so what’s it like when you pull back for a wider look?
Well, with the creators of Age of Empires taking the helm, the franchise is in safe hands. Halo Wars does a fab job of putting you in charge of the human UNSC armies as you play out their first deadly encounters with the Covenant.
Set before Halo 1, you lead the crew through initial skirmishes to an all-out war against the evil beggars in, what has to be said, is a well designed, slick-playing RTS title, Halo or no Halo.
The game buzzes off the pressure that comes from carrying the Halo name and feels like a whole new experience for the franchise. Die hard Halo fans must have it. RTS fans will love it anyway.
Title: Family Ski and Snowboard
Platform: Wii
Genre: Sports
Price: £34.99
Hit count: 4/5
Winter sports are notoriously dangerous.
The adrenalin rush of speeding down the slopes on skis or a snowboard could just as quickly transform into a lengthy spell at accident and emergency on the Alps.
Fortunately, this snow-bound sports entertainment is all played out in the relative safety of your living room, using the Wii balance board. Plenty of events and courses – all available from the start – give you loads to get your teeth into.
Once you’ve mastered the motion-sensing controls, things like the slalom and trick competitions add an extra layer of difficulty to the game, which will be welcomed by competent gamers.
For those laid up by the early events, you can always laugh at people playing it instead!
Title: Mario Power Tennis
Platform: Wii
Genre: Tennis
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
As a Gamecube title five years ago, Mario Power Tennis was great fun, so the prospect of bringing it up-to-date on Wii, with those motion controls we know so well, seems pretty exciting.
Sadly, what gamers get is an identical port of the original which is now, understandably, showing its age.
The motion controls should be breathing new life into the title, but in reality they act as a hindrance.
They’re nowhere near as slick as those already displayed on Wii Sports. It’s a shame, because the Mario factor injects more excitement than might normally come with a tennis title. However, it’s just not enough. Mario Power Tennis is a double fault.
Title: Spectrobes: Beyond The Portals
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Action / RPG
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 4/5
Rallen and Jeena, those interplanetary patrol officers who discover, excavate, awaken and train fossilised creatures known as Spectrobes, are back for more, this time investigating the origins of the mysterious portals that lead to distant dimensions.
Beyond the Portals does improve upon the original in most areas, and the excellent 3D graphics combined with meaty combat make this a great little title for DS gamers looking for a fast, light RPG fix.
It’s got something of the Pokemon about it, so will also appeal to fans of that monster training sub-genre.
The inclusion of DGamer, where you can customize a unique 3D avatar, earn exclusive Disney content, and chat with friends though the DS’s wifi connection, adds an extra layer of entertainment that all adds up to a tasty sci-fi package.
Title: Chrono Trigger
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: RPG
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 4/5
Some games are best left untouched.
To attempt a radical overhaul of Chrono Trigger would have been not only a dangerous task but a snub to granting it another flourish on Nintendo DS.
Yes, if you played this many years ago on the SNES it will reignite your passion for the timeless 2D world that gave birth to an RPG franchise rivaled only by Final Fantasy. Bar a few script edits here and there, it’s presented as it was and still holds up against the test of time and technological advancement.
Fans of the original who were wishing for the next stage of the series will have to hold their horses a while longer. For those seeking a spot of nostalgia, or willing to unearth a real retro RPG gem, this is just the job.
Friday, 20 February 2009
A spot of research
At times like this I usually raise my head back, tilt slightly to one side and, veer off into some nondescript void.
Sadly no matter how many times I try I can't do it. I can't lie to you and I have no excuse for not being around for the last couple of weeks.
I've simply been away and busy, and busy being away.
But before you write me off thinking this blog is going to be a nothing but dribble consider this... has he actually been away researching?
They say life is all about experience and to consider yourself an expert I guess you have to experience those things that qualify.
Last weekend I decided to take this blog on the road and up to London for a). Valentine's; b). birthday celebrations and c). inspiration.
During the stay my partner and I decided to experience what has been described as the "most hi-tech eating experience in London".
Inamo in London's Soho is quite simply different and a real breath of fresh air.
Some of the (older) guys here at Herald towers laughed off suggestion of the restaurant. "What's wrong with talking to a waiter and doing everything normally?" they asked.
Nothing really. Change is good is it not?
At the core of Inamo's oriental restaurant is an interactive ordering system.
Diners place orders from an illustrated food and drinks menu projected on to their table surface.
You can set the mood, choose your table cloth, play a game of Battleships with the person sat opposite, and even order a taxi home.
A swift click on the table and a waiter or waitress delivers food or drink to your table. Look at another drop down menu and you can view the bill, with food or bar orders racking up as you order them.
The only snag was - after a few drinks - me placing my bottle of beer in the small circle assigned for cursor navigation and thus ordering plates of unwanted food. Eek!
Oh well.
So how many of you have been to Regent Street's Apple store?
Isn't it just THE weirdest place on earth? I mean, I'm into gadgets and boys toys but that place is just freaky.
It's like a temple for geeks.
You walk in and there's a massive open plan space - probably twice the size of the neighbouring Ted Baker store - and hundreds of people are just stood around either holding iPhones, iTouches or iPods or laptops.
Some are talking to guys in suits who look like a cross between medical examiners and scientists and others and on facebook.
Like mobile phone shops people can pick up all the different iPods and play with them... but most didn't have earphones in.
At the back of the room there's a a kind of theatre set up where lectures are given on how to use certain Apple software.
I walked in and felt like I was part of an experiement.
Ok so aside from my trip to London I've also been travelling at the world's oceans. Well, kinda.
A team from Plymouth Marine Laboratory has been working with Google to help populate the new version of Google Earth (v5.0 beta), which contains ocean floor, column and surface data from marine experts around the world.
PML's contribution to "Ocean in Google Earth" was based around research expeditions to portray the exciting, challenging and fascinating life of a marine scientist at sea.
Ocean in Google Earth combines underwater terrain and expert content to enable users to explore some of the most difficult-to-reach parts of the world.
Virtual travellers can swim around underwater volcanoes, watch videos about exotic marine life, read about nearby shipwrecks and contribute photos and videos of favourite surf and dive spots.
And - unlike a certain red-top newspaper seems to think, users can't see Atlantis off the coast of Africa.
Here's the latest titles:
Title: Street Fighter IV
Platform: PS3
Genre: Fighting
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 5/5
The Street Fighter series will always have its roots firmly planted in the world of coin-op arcades, but it’s been phenomenally successful on home consoles, and this fourth installment is a long overdue dose of frenetic ’2D’ fighting, next-gen style.
Featuring a mix of returning favourites such as Ryu, Ken and Chun-Li, as well as new characters such as Crimson Viper, Abel and Rufus, everything now takes on a stylised 3D appearance, squeezing every drop of power from the PS3 to produce an incredible gaming experience that will have fans of spinning bird kicks and the like salivating.
New game mechanics and a raft of special new moves ensure the series is moving on rather than reliving the same old razzmatazz on a different console and this is arguably the best blow dealt yet.
Title: X-Blades
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 3/5
And you thought Lara Croft was the character to have stolen all gamers’ hearts.
In X-Blades, Ayumi proves that a lack of clothing needn’t be a barrier to unearthing a host of ancient artefacts in this hack’n’slash action frenzy.
For the most part, X-Blades proves to be a fairly entertaining action adventure that you’ll have probably played a dozen times before, but without as much flesh on show.
Magical powers expand upon the core combat to make disposing of the host of horrible baddies you’ll encounter all the more enjoyable, and the cel-shaded style of proceedings goes down pretty well on the 360.
The odd jerk here and there and control gripe mean frustrations will creep in after time, but this is still a pretty solid adventure.
Title: Little League World Series Baseball
Platform: Wii
Genre: Baseball
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 4/5
Little League World Series forms one sixth of the recent Fun4all series of Wii games, designed to get the whole family involved in gaming.
You don’t need to be a gamer with any record of console conquests to guess what this is all about, but it’s incredibly good fun, using the Wii’s remote motion sensing to the max, from spinning your pitch to hitting a home run.
Almost every area of playing a match is enjoyable and it’s all presented in that saccharine cartoon style that you can’t help but beam back at towards your TV.
While targeted primarily at youngsters, there are enough difficulty levels to keep you coming back for more and, when you enter senior or ’big’ territory, you know you’re up against the big hitters. A great sports title for all the family.
Title: Race Pro
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Racing
Price: £44.99
Hit count: 4/5
Swedish development outfit Simbin and their founder Henrik Roos – who used to be a professional GT Championship driver – have built a solid reputation for unforgiving yet hugely entertaining racing simulations on PC.
This first foray into the world of console racing proves to be perfect timing as the under-the-bonnet effects slipstream seamlessly from desktop PC to living room TV, offering a considered learning curve before really unleashing the racing beast when you finally come to removing whatever stabilisers have kept you going so far.
Every car handles wonderfully differently, from the brilliant Mini that marks the beginning of your career mode, right through to the BMW and Caterham offerings.
While the graphics could have benefited from one more coat of polish, make no mistake, this is a racer that will suck you in and challenge even the most experienced of gamers...
Title: Eternal Sonata
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: RPG
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
It’s probably a first for a figure from musical history to be holding shelf space alongside the likes of Sonic the Hedgehog and the Grand Theft Auto crew.
But Eternal Sonata thrusts Frederic Chopin into the gaming limelight as, on his deathbed, the famous composer dreams of a young girl facing a terrible destiny and the boy who will fight to save her, leading him to the discovery of the light that shines in each of us in this enduring tale of good and evil, love and betrayal.
Yes, it’s one of those slightly bizarre yet ever so addictive RPG titles that next-gen gamers gobble up on release and, with a cracking battle system, incredibly atmospheric music (with some from Chopin of course) and a graphical style that is detailed to absolute perfection, it is an RPG fan’s dream – epic in scale and unique enough to stand out in a heavy crowd.
Title: F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin
Platform: PS3
Genre: Shooter
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
Just when you thought it was safe to peep out from your sight target, that creepy little girl that sent shivers down all shooters’ spines last year in the original F.E.A.R is back, in another dark dollop of intense first-person shooter action.
Beginning shortly before the ending of F.E.A.R., a Special Forces squad is on a routine mission when the city of Auburn is rocked by a supernatural explosion.
Alma, that freaky girl with immense power and a thirst for revenge, has unleashed her wrath upon the city and thrown it into chaos.
And so begins another awesome episode of close-quarters battling through the supernatural and super-organised human opponents that Project Origin throws at you.
Put simply, it improves on the original in almost every way, and provides gamers with the first real blockbuster gaming experience of 2009.
Title: House of the Dead: Overkill
Platform: Wii
Genre: Shooter
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
House of the Dead is a classic arcade series and Overkill represents the first foray into Wii territory for the light-gun shooting action, coming up trumps, for the franchise and the genre in general.
Graphically, Overkill is cracking and will provide some jump out of your seat moments, although the visual prowess does have a negative on the framerate when the action hots up.
This aside, you’ll love the X-rated dialogue and overall grindhouse feel to this production, which may be an acquired taste, but behind the blood and guts is the kind of technically accomplished title that we’re all dying to see more of on Wii this year.
Title: Destroy All Humans: Path of the Furon
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 3/5
It’s the 1970s and Crypto finds himself in Los Paradiso, a Las Vegas styled environment upon which you (as he) must unleash another helping of humourous destruction upon the human race.
With an upgraded arsenal of weapons and the chance to dish out the mayhem from the comfort of your flying saucer, Path of the Furon does move the original on slightly, although some missions feel like re-hashes from earlier titles.
The graphics are a bit of a mixed bag but the 70s funk and disco fits into proceedings a treat – all in all you feel that you’re getting the final flourishes from a series that may be on a path to self-destruction sometime soon, though fans of Crypto and co will be hoping this isn’t the case.
GAMES CHART ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1 (1) Wii Fit
2 (-) FEAR 2: Project Origin
3 (4) Mystery Case Files: Millionheir
4 (3) Call of Duty: World At War
5 (2) FIFA 09
6 (6) Mario Kart Wii
7 (7) Wii Play
8 (-) My Fitness Coach
9 (5) Professor Layton and the Curious Village
10 (9) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
Sadly no matter how many times I try I can't do it. I can't lie to you and I have no excuse for not being around for the last couple of weeks.
I've simply been away and busy, and busy being away.
But before you write me off thinking this blog is going to be a nothing but dribble consider this... has he actually been away researching?
They say life is all about experience and to consider yourself an expert I guess you have to experience those things that qualify.
Last weekend I decided to take this blog on the road and up to London for a). Valentine's; b). birthday celebrations and c). inspiration.
During the stay my partner and I decided to experience what has been described as the "most hi-tech eating experience in London".
Inamo in London's Soho is quite simply different and a real breath of fresh air.
Some of the (older) guys here at Herald towers laughed off suggestion of the restaurant. "What's wrong with talking to a waiter and doing everything normally?" they asked.
Nothing really. Change is good is it not?
At the core of Inamo's oriental restaurant is an interactive ordering system.
Diners place orders from an illustrated food and drinks menu projected on to their table surface.
You can set the mood, choose your table cloth, play a game of Battleships with the person sat opposite, and even order a taxi home.
A swift click on the table and a waiter or waitress delivers food or drink to your table. Look at another drop down menu and you can view the bill, with food or bar orders racking up as you order them.
The only snag was - after a few drinks - me placing my bottle of beer in the small circle assigned for cursor navigation and thus ordering plates of unwanted food. Eek!
Oh well.
So how many of you have been to Regent Street's Apple store?
Isn't it just THE weirdest place on earth? I mean, I'm into gadgets and boys toys but that place is just freaky.
It's like a temple for geeks.
You walk in and there's a massive open plan space - probably twice the size of the neighbouring Ted Baker store - and hundreds of people are just stood around either holding iPhones, iTouches or iPods or laptops.
Some are talking to guys in suits who look like a cross between medical examiners and scientists and others and on facebook.
Like mobile phone shops people can pick up all the different iPods and play with them... but most didn't have earphones in.
At the back of the room there's a a kind of theatre set up where lectures are given on how to use certain Apple software.
I walked in and felt like I was part of an experiement.
Ok so aside from my trip to London I've also been travelling at the world's oceans. Well, kinda.
A team from Plymouth Marine Laboratory has been working with Google to help populate the new version of Google Earth (v5.0 beta), which contains ocean floor, column and surface data from marine experts around the world.
PML's contribution to "Ocean in Google Earth" was based around research expeditions to portray the exciting, challenging and fascinating life of a marine scientist at sea.
Ocean in Google Earth combines underwater terrain and expert content to enable users to explore some of the most difficult-to-reach parts of the world.
Virtual travellers can swim around underwater volcanoes, watch videos about exotic marine life, read about nearby shipwrecks and contribute photos and videos of favourite surf and dive spots.
And - unlike a certain red-top newspaper seems to think, users can't see Atlantis off the coast of Africa.
Here's the latest titles:
Title: Street Fighter IV
Platform: PS3
Genre: Fighting
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 5/5
The Street Fighter series will always have its roots firmly planted in the world of coin-op arcades, but it’s been phenomenally successful on home consoles, and this fourth installment is a long overdue dose of frenetic ’2D’ fighting, next-gen style.
Featuring a mix of returning favourites such as Ryu, Ken and Chun-Li, as well as new characters such as Crimson Viper, Abel and Rufus, everything now takes on a stylised 3D appearance, squeezing every drop of power from the PS3 to produce an incredible gaming experience that will have fans of spinning bird kicks and the like salivating.
New game mechanics and a raft of special new moves ensure the series is moving on rather than reliving the same old razzmatazz on a different console and this is arguably the best blow dealt yet.
Title: X-Blades
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 3/5
And you thought Lara Croft was the character to have stolen all gamers’ hearts.
In X-Blades, Ayumi proves that a lack of clothing needn’t be a barrier to unearthing a host of ancient artefacts in this hack’n’slash action frenzy.
For the most part, X-Blades proves to be a fairly entertaining action adventure that you’ll have probably played a dozen times before, but without as much flesh on show.
Magical powers expand upon the core combat to make disposing of the host of horrible baddies you’ll encounter all the more enjoyable, and the cel-shaded style of proceedings goes down pretty well on the 360.
The odd jerk here and there and control gripe mean frustrations will creep in after time, but this is still a pretty solid adventure.
Title: Little League World Series Baseball
Platform: Wii
Genre: Baseball
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 4/5
Little League World Series forms one sixth of the recent Fun4all series of Wii games, designed to get the whole family involved in gaming.
You don’t need to be a gamer with any record of console conquests to guess what this is all about, but it’s incredibly good fun, using the Wii’s remote motion sensing to the max, from spinning your pitch to hitting a home run.
Almost every area of playing a match is enjoyable and it’s all presented in that saccharine cartoon style that you can’t help but beam back at towards your TV.
While targeted primarily at youngsters, there are enough difficulty levels to keep you coming back for more and, when you enter senior or ’big’ territory, you know you’re up against the big hitters. A great sports title for all the family.
Title: Race Pro
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Racing
Price: £44.99
Hit count: 4/5
Swedish development outfit Simbin and their founder Henrik Roos – who used to be a professional GT Championship driver – have built a solid reputation for unforgiving yet hugely entertaining racing simulations on PC.
This first foray into the world of console racing proves to be perfect timing as the under-the-bonnet effects slipstream seamlessly from desktop PC to living room TV, offering a considered learning curve before really unleashing the racing beast when you finally come to removing whatever stabilisers have kept you going so far.
Every car handles wonderfully differently, from the brilliant Mini that marks the beginning of your career mode, right through to the BMW and Caterham offerings.
While the graphics could have benefited from one more coat of polish, make no mistake, this is a racer that will suck you in and challenge even the most experienced of gamers...
Title: Eternal Sonata
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: RPG
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
It’s probably a first for a figure from musical history to be holding shelf space alongside the likes of Sonic the Hedgehog and the Grand Theft Auto crew.
But Eternal Sonata thrusts Frederic Chopin into the gaming limelight as, on his deathbed, the famous composer dreams of a young girl facing a terrible destiny and the boy who will fight to save her, leading him to the discovery of the light that shines in each of us in this enduring tale of good and evil, love and betrayal.
Yes, it’s one of those slightly bizarre yet ever so addictive RPG titles that next-gen gamers gobble up on release and, with a cracking battle system, incredibly atmospheric music (with some from Chopin of course) and a graphical style that is detailed to absolute perfection, it is an RPG fan’s dream – epic in scale and unique enough to stand out in a heavy crowd.
Title: F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin
Platform: PS3
Genre: Shooter
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
Just when you thought it was safe to peep out from your sight target, that creepy little girl that sent shivers down all shooters’ spines last year in the original F.E.A.R is back, in another dark dollop of intense first-person shooter action.
Beginning shortly before the ending of F.E.A.R., a Special Forces squad is on a routine mission when the city of Auburn is rocked by a supernatural explosion.
Alma, that freaky girl with immense power and a thirst for revenge, has unleashed her wrath upon the city and thrown it into chaos.
And so begins another awesome episode of close-quarters battling through the supernatural and super-organised human opponents that Project Origin throws at you.
Put simply, it improves on the original in almost every way, and provides gamers with the first real blockbuster gaming experience of 2009.
Title: House of the Dead: Overkill
Platform: Wii
Genre: Shooter
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 4/5
House of the Dead is a classic arcade series and Overkill represents the first foray into Wii territory for the light-gun shooting action, coming up trumps, for the franchise and the genre in general.
Graphically, Overkill is cracking and will provide some jump out of your seat moments, although the visual prowess does have a negative on the framerate when the action hots up.
This aside, you’ll love the X-rated dialogue and overall grindhouse feel to this production, which may be an acquired taste, but behind the blood and guts is the kind of technically accomplished title that we’re all dying to see more of on Wii this year.
Title: Destroy All Humans: Path of the Furon
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action
Price: £39.99
Hit count: 3/5
It’s the 1970s and Crypto finds himself in Los Paradiso, a Las Vegas styled environment upon which you (as he) must unleash another helping of humourous destruction upon the human race.
With an upgraded arsenal of weapons and the chance to dish out the mayhem from the comfort of your flying saucer, Path of the Furon does move the original on slightly, although some missions feel like re-hashes from earlier titles.
The graphics are a bit of a mixed bag but the 70s funk and disco fits into proceedings a treat – all in all you feel that you’re getting the final flourishes from a series that may be on a path to self-destruction sometime soon, though fans of Crypto and co will be hoping this isn’t the case.
GAMES CHART ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1 (1) Wii Fit
2 (-) FEAR 2: Project Origin
3 (4) Mystery Case Files: Millionheir
4 (3) Call of Duty: World At War
5 (2) FIFA 09
6 (6) Mario Kart Wii
7 (7) Wii Play
8 (-) My Fitness Coach
9 (5) Professor Layton and the Curious Village
10 (9) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
Thursday, 15 January 2009
The best job in the world
LOOK in the job pages of The Herald, or any other newspaper, and you'll no occasionally see a 'caretaker' position.
Not once have I ever considered such a position... until now.
The very position I looked at wasn't at a school, a prison or a sports centre - it was on an island. And not just any island, Hamilton Island – the largest inhabited island in Australia's Great Barrier Reef region.
Earlier on this week Tourism Queensland advertised the Island Caretaker position on a newly set up website at www.islandreefjob.com. Such was the hype surrounding the post that the website crashed just minutes after 9am on the day of launch - seemingly when everyone in England arrived at their desks and thought 'what the hell!'
Advertised as 'The best job in the world', they're not wrong. I mean what could make the task seem tedious?
Is it feeding the fish? Cleaning the pool? Basking in all-year-round warm temperatures? The surrounds of blue skies, pure sands and crystal clear water? Collecting the mail?
ARE YOU STILL READING THIS? If so, WHY?
Oh, did I mention the successful candidate will also be paid a salary package of AUD $150,000 for the six-month contract.
He or she will receive return airfares from your nearest capital city (in your home country),
accommodation and transport on Hamilton Island, travel insurance for the contract period,
computer, internet, digital video and stills cameras access, plus travel to a number of the
other Islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
The six-month contract commences 1st July, 2009.
So, if you don't hear from me from July onwards... you'll know why.
While surfing the web this week I've also managed to discover possibly the handiest website ever for those with broken cars.
www.findapart.co.uk is a wonder to behold and fills me full of warm glowing things when I think about.
That's in stark contrast to the internal fiery red rage I feel when I think about garages and mechanics.
This website is everything it says on the tin and more.
And it works like this.
Say you're looking for a part for your car, say a gearbox, and every garage you phone says "no chance".
Visit the website and fill in a very short (not exceedingly long compared to most websites) form giving the make and model of your car and the part you're looking for, followed by your name, telephone (optional) or email address (also optional).
Then click 'submit'. My details went out to everyone on the website's database and... within a day I got a text, email, and a phone call offering me a gearbox with free delivery up in Blackburn. Now that's a service.
Anyways, here's the best releases of the last week:
Title: Lord of the Rings: Conquest
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action / Adventure
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Lord of the Rings never fails to set the gaming fraternity’s collective pulse racing when details of a new release are made available. Conquest takes an easily accessible action/adventure slant on the many battles played out in the three films to hook fans of Tolkien’s epic work once again. The reward for completing a fantastically engaging heroic campaign is unlocking the evil one, which plays out the scenario of the ring falling into Sauron’s hands – a devilishly enjoyable experience. Crisp graphics, atmospheric sound and an easy to pick up and play control system make this the best next-gen hack’n’slash that 2009 has offered up so far.
4/5
Title: Tomb Raider: Underworld
Platform: PS2
Genre: Action
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 4/5
This was the kind of big-budget, classic franchise release that we were all desperate to be a hit on the next-gen consoles. So it’s good to report that Tomb Raider: Underworld is an equally impressive return to form for Lara Croft on PS2, as she embarks on an incredible journey around the world to uncover the secrets of a forgotten power. Lara feels totally re-invigorated, with a wealth of new acrobatic abilities and weaponry to tackle the treacherous landscapes of Thailand, the Arctic sea and Mexico, to name but three. The graphics were never going to match its next-gen counterparts, yet the environments still cleverly hide a host of devised puzzles to tackle. Combine that with an advanced combat system that puts you in complete control of the beautiful Croft and you know you have a sure-fire winner here.
Title: Mirror’s Edge
Platform: PC
Genre: Action
Price: £34.99
Hit count: 4/5
This is no ordinary first person title – let’s make that very clear from the outset. That alone should send you shooting to the shops to snap up this instant classic from EA. As Faith, a ’Runner’ in a world where communication channels are highly monitored and the movement of information is closely watched, you’re launched into a career 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, as you find yourself on the edge of the city, on the wrong side of the law, and out to discover the truth behind your sister’s wrongful framing for murder. Superb chases and intense combat – this is an awesome, high-flying experience.
Title: Jeep Thrills
Platform: Wii
Genre: Driving
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 2/5
Some games should never have made it out of the developer’s studio and Jeep Thrills on PS2 was one of them. What’s all the more shocking is that it has been sit fit to transform to Wii and nearly all of the flaws that held this game back first time round, arise again. Slow, repetitive and poorly presented, this can hardly be classed as a racer, such is the pedestrian pace of proceedings. The tracks are tedious, the turbo boosts barely make a difference to closing the distance on the leaders and the less said about the sound, the better. Suffice to say that if you’re looking to kick off your 2009 with a whimper, Jeep Thrills is where to start. Everyone else should avoid it at all costs...
Title: Lost in Blue 3
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Adventure
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
Lost on a desert island, with all the exotic trappings such an experience entails, the third installment of the Lost in Blue series has you guiding one of two stranded characters, each with their own personal history, through the mysterious isle, surviving the elements to stay alive. You’ll need to work cooperatively with other characters to gather food, explore the island and hunt dangerous wildlife, and by completing one character’s storyline you will unlock the storylines of two additional characters, allowing you to explore the island in different ways, experience new storylines, and uncover different endings. That’s a decent reward for fans of the series, but the whole feel and gameplay of this is remarkably similar to the first two, so you may find your patience tested. A decent adventure nonetheless.
GAMES CHART ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1.FIFA 09
2.Call of Duty: World At War
3.Need For Speed: Undercover
4.Wii Fit
5.Wii Play
6.Guitar Hero: World Tour
7.Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games
8.Quantum Of Solace
9.LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures
10.Mario Kart Wii
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
Not once have I ever considered such a position... until now.
The very position I looked at wasn't at a school, a prison or a sports centre - it was on an island. And not just any island, Hamilton Island – the largest inhabited island in Australia's Great Barrier Reef region.
Earlier on this week Tourism Queensland advertised the Island Caretaker position on a newly set up website at www.islandreefjob.com. Such was the hype surrounding the post that the website crashed just minutes after 9am on the day of launch - seemingly when everyone in England arrived at their desks and thought 'what the hell!'
Advertised as 'The best job in the world', they're not wrong. I mean what could make the task seem tedious?
Is it feeding the fish? Cleaning the pool? Basking in all-year-round warm temperatures? The surrounds of blue skies, pure sands and crystal clear water? Collecting the mail?
ARE YOU STILL READING THIS? If so, WHY?
Oh, did I mention the successful candidate will also be paid a salary package of AUD $150,000 for the six-month contract.
He or she will receive return airfares from your nearest capital city (in your home country),
accommodation and transport on Hamilton Island, travel insurance for the contract period,
computer, internet, digital video and stills cameras access, plus travel to a number of the
other Islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
The six-month contract commences 1st July, 2009.
So, if you don't hear from me from July onwards... you'll know why.
While surfing the web this week I've also managed to discover possibly the handiest website ever for those with broken cars.
www.findapart.co.uk is a wonder to behold and fills me full of warm glowing things when I think about.
That's in stark contrast to the internal fiery red rage I feel when I think about garages and mechanics.
This website is everything it says on the tin and more.
And it works like this.
Say you're looking for a part for your car, say a gearbox, and every garage you phone says "no chance".
Visit the website and fill in a very short (not exceedingly long compared to most websites) form giving the make and model of your car and the part you're looking for, followed by your name, telephone (optional) or email address (also optional).
Then click 'submit'. My details went out to everyone on the website's database and... within a day I got a text, email, and a phone call offering me a gearbox with free delivery up in Blackburn. Now that's a service.
Anyways, here's the best releases of the last week:
Title: Lord of the Rings: Conquest
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action / Adventure
Price: £49.99
Hit count: 4/5
Lord of the Rings never fails to set the gaming fraternity’s collective pulse racing when details of a new release are made available. Conquest takes an easily accessible action/adventure slant on the many battles played out in the three films to hook fans of Tolkien’s epic work once again. The reward for completing a fantastically engaging heroic campaign is unlocking the evil one, which plays out the scenario of the ring falling into Sauron’s hands – a devilishly enjoyable experience. Crisp graphics, atmospheric sound and an easy to pick up and play control system make this the best next-gen hack’n’slash that 2009 has offered up so far.
4/5
Title: Tomb Raider: Underworld
Platform: PS2
Genre: Action
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 4/5
This was the kind of big-budget, classic franchise release that we were all desperate to be a hit on the next-gen consoles. So it’s good to report that Tomb Raider: Underworld is an equally impressive return to form for Lara Croft on PS2, as she embarks on an incredible journey around the world to uncover the secrets of a forgotten power. Lara feels totally re-invigorated, with a wealth of new acrobatic abilities and weaponry to tackle the treacherous landscapes of Thailand, the Arctic sea and Mexico, to name but three. The graphics were never going to match its next-gen counterparts, yet the environments still cleverly hide a host of devised puzzles to tackle. Combine that with an advanced combat system that puts you in complete control of the beautiful Croft and you know you have a sure-fire winner here.
Title: Mirror’s Edge
Platform: PC
Genre: Action
Price: £34.99
Hit count: 4/5
This is no ordinary first person title – let’s make that very clear from the outset. That alone should send you shooting to the shops to snap up this instant classic from EA. As Faith, a ’Runner’ in a world where communication channels are highly monitored and the movement of information is closely watched, you’re launched into a career 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, as you find yourself on the edge of the city, on the wrong side of the law, and out to discover the truth behind your sister’s wrongful framing for murder. Superb chases and intense combat – this is an awesome, high-flying experience.
Title: Jeep Thrills
Platform: Wii
Genre: Driving
Price: £19.99
Hit count: 2/5
Some games should never have made it out of the developer’s studio and Jeep Thrills on PS2 was one of them. What’s all the more shocking is that it has been sit fit to transform to Wii and nearly all of the flaws that held this game back first time round, arise again. Slow, repetitive and poorly presented, this can hardly be classed as a racer, such is the pedestrian pace of proceedings. The tracks are tedious, the turbo boosts barely make a difference to closing the distance on the leaders and the less said about the sound, the better. Suffice to say that if you’re looking to kick off your 2009 with a whimper, Jeep Thrills is where to start. Everyone else should avoid it at all costs...
Title: Lost in Blue 3
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Adventure
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 3/5
Lost on a desert island, with all the exotic trappings such an experience entails, the third installment of the Lost in Blue series has you guiding one of two stranded characters, each with their own personal history, through the mysterious isle, surviving the elements to stay alive. You’ll need to work cooperatively with other characters to gather food, explore the island and hunt dangerous wildlife, and by completing one character’s storyline you will unlock the storylines of two additional characters, allowing you to explore the island in different ways, experience new storylines, and uncover different endings. That’s a decent reward for fans of the series, but the whole feel and gameplay of this is remarkably similar to the first two, so you may find your patience tested. A decent adventure nonetheless.
GAMES CHART ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1.FIFA 09
2.Call of Duty: World At War
3.Need For Speed: Undercover
4.Wii Fit
5.Wii Play
6.Guitar Hero: World Tour
7.Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games
8.Quantum Of Solace
9.LEGO Indiana Jones: Original Adventures
10.Mario Kart Wii
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
Thursday, 8 January 2009
January sales
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
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
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
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