Daddy Brown's Wonderland

Salamander Veteran

2012-02-10T15:37:00.000Z

Rosetintedgamers has returned!

2012-02-09T21:06:00.001Z

If you wish to contribute then please email us at contact@rosetintedgamers.com

Rich Potter's minis

2012-02-09T14:29:00.007Z

Rich has featured on these pages before,( Spurt Reynolds ), but here is a selection of some of his work from when he was part of the 'Eavy Metal team at Games Workshops studios in Nottingham some fifteen years ago or more...

Game Review: W40K: Space Marine (multi-format)

2012-02-08T17:36:00.005Z

...in the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war.

Every aspect of Space Marine oozes with atmosphere, and so it should. Few sci-fi universes are quite as colourful and as richly detailed as that of Warhammer 40K, and Relic have spent the last several years perfecting and fine tuning their video game adaptation of Games Workshop’s epic tale of war to thunderous applause of approval from the 40K fanbase.

Perhaps the best example of this in their latest 40K offering is the Space Marines themselves. It’s just not in the level of visual detail that Relic has applied to each model, but it’s also in how each marine’s demeanour wonderful captures the mighty prowess of these god-like soldiers. During the course of the game a knowing smile will undoubtedly reach across your face as the broken and scattered Imperial Guard genuinely gawp in awe on first seeing the hulking forms of the Space Marines set foot on their planet ready to rain down fire upon the foes of the omnipresent Emperor.

As Ultramarine Captain Titus, (whose stoic but tactically risqué approach to war epitomizes the veteran 40K Space Marine), you and his two Battle Brothers, (Sidonus and Leandros), must ready the Ork invaded Forge World of Graia in time for a Liberation Fleet to arrive and begin the clean up process; which in short means killing everything living thing on the planet and then rebuilding it to it’s former glory. Contrary to regular belief, in the 40K universe mankind aren’t exactly the ‘good guys’, they’re just arguably the best of a rather awful bunch in a universe wracked with war and bloody betrayal. Like reading one of the many 40K novels currently available, (and mostly thanks to Relic’s explicit understanding of the 40K universe), Space Marine feels like one story amongst a thousand others and as such it carries a greater sense of tangibility that many other sci-fi shooters simply fail to do so.

Control of Titus is much as expected; the heavy ‘clank’ of his power armour belies a speed and agility that gives a grace like quality to the marines towering menace. Charging into a hoard of Greenskins, Titus cuts a swath through his enemies with relative ease, the whirring hum of his Chain Sword sending bloody chunks of gore into the air in a whirlwind of precision ripostes. The kick of Titus’ bolter gun is as equally satisfying as heads pop and limbs are torn clean from unfortunate victims. Pushing further into the game you’ll also take charge of the Pattern Bolter and Lascannon for long ranged shots, (the latter vaporising smaller foe); the Vengeance Launcher which enables you to sends out several sticky mines to detonate at the perfect moment; the Plasma Pistol which is followed later by the Plasma Gun, both of which can charge up unleashing powerful blasts of raw energy; the Melta Gun which evaporates everything in its path; and finally a handful of variations on the standard Bolter including the Kracken Bolter, (a more powerful version of the Bolter), the Storm Bolter, (rapid fire), and the Heavy Bolter which just tears through anything and everything . Yes, there are a lot of guns in Space Marine.

The Space Marine has always been regarded as a one-man-army and through Relic choosing a hack ‘n slash/shooter hybrid as the template for their latest 40K offering they have captured the very essence of these armour plated killing machines of the future. As though to hammer home the point there is also no cover system in place, and so save for a few large chunks of debris and the burnt out carcases of space craft that have crashed to the planet below you’re constantly vulnerable to enemy fire.

While you begin with a simple combat knife you’ll soon get your hands on a variety of melee weapons via drop pods scattered about the planet starting with a Chain Sword before moving up to a Power Axe and then the devastating Thunder Hammer. With a simple tap of the Y button followed by B you can stun your enemies to perform one of the brutal, but highly entertaining, execution moves with each execution being different depending on which melee weapon you’re carrying at the time. Performing an execution also gives you an energy boost which is rather handy during those frantic moments when your shield has been depleted and you’re getting attacked from all quarters - but there is a downside. While performing an execution you become locked in an animated sequence that leaves you vulnerable to melee and long range attacks, so if you have very little health left its nigh-on impossible not to avoid death thus sending you back to the last check point. It really is quite infuriating that at the very moment you’re about to grab a bit of life saving health it’s snatched away from you by a stray bullet. You can of course also regain health by entering ‘Fury’ mode once the metre is full giving you a window of superior strength and speed, but once again you’re locked in another animation leaving you vulnerable for a few seconds. If Relic plans to do a sequel to Space Marine then it’s an issue that most certainly needs to be addressed. Perhaps allow the animation manoeuvre to broken mid sequence or better still, allow the marine to be invulnerable during these animations? As it stands now it’s stupid and annoyingly unfair, particularly as you have no control over the outcome as said control is wrestled away from you. It may be for only a moment, but in a game of this nature it’s the moments that count between success and failure.

What Space Marine lacks in variety, (the general pace is broken up by a few, but not nearly enough, jump pack moments and a trip through the skies of Graia in a Valkyrie under attack from Ork Stormboyz), it makes up for in sheer ferocity. Tearing a Heavy Bolter from the confines of its gun placement and unloading round after round into swarms of Orks as you make a stand in one of the games many spectacular set pieces is immensely satisfying to the point of being exhilarating. Explosions and blasts of energy tear across the battlefield, throwing chunks of debris and severed limbs up into the air and as the heat of battle intensifies your senses come under constant assault from the crack of Bolter fire, searing smoke, and the agonising screams of the dead and the dying. It’s a far cry from pushing toy soldiers around a table-top.

The lack of variety is a problem though and you will undoubtedly reach that point where killing your thousandth Ork becomes a little tiresome and you’ll be wanting Titus and his Battle Brothers to maim something else, it’s just that ‘something else’ is quite a few hours away - about the same time the forces of Chaos make an appearance as it happens. Deamons pour out of the warp closely followed by the Traitor Legions, turning the atmosphere of the game into an even darker and foreboding place thus enthusing you with renewed vigour to see it through to the end.

Whether or not you’ll get this far though is down to how much you’re willing to put in however, and in all honesty, given the repetitive nature of the game, Relic are asking for a hell of a lot of patience from its audience. Also, while aesthetically the game recreates the epic scale of Games Workshop’s 40K universe exceedingly well some of the level layouts are a little bland and so things do become a little samey for a time, which doesn’t help shake some of the boredom once it begins to take root. But as I say, stick with it and fight past killing your thousandth Ork and you will be rewarded with some of the most engaging battles ever to grace a 3^rd person shooter.

Regardless of whether you only play it for only a few hours or see it through to its brilliant end, it is without question that Space Marine is a highly entertaining game, one that wonderfully captures the breadth, depth and scale of Warhammer 40K. More importantly what Relic have produced points to the beginnings of a fine franchise that everyone, not just Warhammer fans, can enjoy .

For the Emperor indeed.

9/10

Tory Britain sounds awfully familiar...

2012-02-08T12:53:00.002Z

The working classes fighting amongst themselves

The poorest faction of our society a convienant scapegoat for our countries economic downturn

Disabled and the lame being hounded by the general public due to propaganda pushed by the right wing media and our Government

The rich and powerful continuing to reap the rewards as well as continued support from our Government for a mess they created

Austerity without hope

2012-02-08T11:46:00.002Z

Rob Duncan's minis

2012-02-07T15:53:00.001Z

More of Rob's impressive work.

Saruman

2012-02-07T13:10:00.001Z

Game Review: Saints Row: The Third (multi-format)

2012-02-07T12:23:00.021Z

Saints Row: The Third has possibly one of the most insane openings to a video game you’ll ever play, but as well as that may be Volition’s third outing for their comic book gangster yarn does have one major issue when put alongside its predecessor: A serious lack of content.

There’s no question that this third outing is both technically and visually superior to previous Saints Row games, but it'll only take about your first hour or so to realise that much of what made Saints Row 2 so engrossing has been heavily stripped back. There are only four clothes shops, (that all look identical), no shopping mall, no record stores, no takeaways, no opportunities to consume questionable substances, no proper day & night cycle and so forth. It may seem like needless nitpicking , but it is without question that with all these little extra bells and whistles having been either stripped back or removed altogether the world of Saints Row now feels much more less ‘alive’ than in previous iterations.

Of the main gripes present having activities shoehorned into the main storyline in a bid to flesh things out only serves to highlight the lazy and disjointed story beneath the madness and mayhem. Combined with one ‘super’ rival gang as opposed to having three separate, and inherently more interesting rivals, you’ll find very little to care about said story and the characters therein. Saints 2 was no Shakespeare, but it did have buckets of character and a sense of direction. SR: The Third's tale shares neither of these qualities and by comparison is not only poorly told, it’s as dull as dish water.

Character creation is still the best example of any video game sporting the feature and so being able to practically transfer my character from Saints 2 was an absolute boon. Okay, she may not have quite the wardrobe from the last game but base-jumping as Catwoman into gang-banger territory, killing everyone in sight in a hail of bullets and a few swift kicks to the family jewels is immensely gratifying.

So yes, Saints Row: The Third can be highly entertaining, often amusing, and on that rare occasion an even brilliant video game; sadly it’s all too far and in between. It's also frustrating knowing that along with so much of the content that made Saints 2 so entertaining being omitted Volition has, (in all probability and at the behest of their respective publisher no doubt), held back on much of the games content in a cynical attempt to squeeze even more cash out of the fanbase via a skip load of DLC.

There's fun to be had, but ultimately a disappointing package.

6/10

5 Movies to avoid at all costs...

2012-02-06T19:59:00.006Z

Conan The Barbarian

The original remains one of my favourite films, this turgid piece of shit remake is not however. What's even more baffling is how anyone can not only fuck up such a simple remake, but how someone could fuck it up with such jaw-dropping magnitude!

I got about 3/4 of the way through before I switched it off in disgust.

That New Twilight Movie

I've not even seen it, but given my pouring scorn on the last three travesties that make up the Twilight Saga in my review on this very blog, ( Twilight Saga 1-3 ), I'm quite confident that this won't have me throwing out my Hammer Horror collection just yet. From what I'm told it's even more terrible than the first three movies and now has more in common with an episode of Home & Away that's been written by some love sick emo kid.

I'd rather stick hot pins in my eyes than watch this pus-filled bag of monkey shit.

Priest

Ooh! A vampire hunting, gun-toting, kung fu fighting priest kicks the shit out of everyone in spectacular style in an alternative, apocalyptic future. Sounds great!

Wrong.

Pity, I rather like Paul Bettany as an actor. Shame he fucks things up in the following film as well.

Legion

Why do I keep doing this to myself? I really must get it into my head that most films featuring demons and angels are generally shit.

For the record, (due to all the loop holes that dog this film from beginning to dreary end), I still am none the wiser as to what it's actually all about. The only thing I can ascertain from what laughable plot there is, is that if God did turn on man I'm quite sure his old buddy and bunk mate Satan would attempt strike a deal with us dumb apes so together we could conquer our common enemy?

Makes perfect sense to me. Sadly, this film does not.

Sucker Punch

Scantily clad babes with guns blowing lots of shit up. What could possible go wrong?

Quite a lot actually. Even the presence of some very under-dressed ladies gunning down everything in sight can't pull this out from beneath the murky depths of mediocrity.

Okay, the fights weren't all that bad, but if you're fast forwarding just to get to the fight scenes then alarm bells should start ringing because the only movies you should be fast forwarding just to get to the fight scenes are Hong Kong action movies and that's only because Hong Kong action movies are 20 minutes of plot with an hour and a half of bullets, guns and martial arts.

Candy & Cola

2012-02-06T13:53:00.005Z

Elhaim, Maiden of Light

2012-02-06T01:12:00.002Z

This has been sat on the Ammobunker forums for a while now so I thought it was about time I added it to my blog. Rather pleased how she turned out. Flesh tones took a bloody age!

Crimson Fists

2012-02-06T00:48:00.001Z

Rob Duncan's minis

2012-02-06T00:39:00.000Z

Some fine work here from my buddy Rob.

Particularly like the battle damage on the Dreadnought.

You can expect to see more of Rob's excellent work in the future.

Dwarven Warlord

2012-02-05T22:10:00.001Z

Yes, my camera work is still shite. Anyone want to buy me a really good camera...and perhaps a studio with one of those funny umbrella-light-type things?

Game of Thrones - Opening Credits Cover (Heavy Version)

2011-06-05T11:08:00.000+01:00

I've come back off holiday to discover ...

2011-06-05T01:32:00.000+01:00

...that I now have had 31,428 visits to this blog.

Who in God's name is reading this shit?

Hollywood shuns intelligent entertainment. The games industry doesn't. Guess who's winning?

2011-05-25T09:18:00.000+01:00

An article by Charlie Brooker for the Guardian:

Do you remember the days when you used to be able to head out to the cinema safe in the knowledge that even if the film you wanted to see had sold out, there'd be something else worth watching? I'm talking about 10,000 years ago, obviously, because here's what's on at your local multiplex.

Screen one: a 3D CGI cartoon about a wisecracking badger with attitude you'd quite happily reverse a six-tonne tractor over. Screen two: a 3D superhero theme park ride that thinks it's King Lear. Screen three: a rom-com so formulaic you suspect it was created from a template on Moonpig.com. Screen four: The Very Hungry Caterpillar 3D. Screen five: all of the above, randomly intercut with one another because no one's paying attention anyway. Screen six: a lightshow for cattle. And so on.

About once a month there's a film actually worth bothering with: either something with a quirky sensibility and a modest budget, or the occasional decent blockbuster the studios have made by mistake. There seems to be something missing from cinema: big budget dramas with panache, aimed at an adult audience. Where are they? They migrated to television. And – don't snort with derision here – to video games.

Consider two of the biggest video games of 2011 thus far. The first is Portal 2, a darkly humorous science fiction . . . what? Story? Puzzle? Game? "Experience" seems like the best word to use, even though typing that makes me feel like shoving my fist in my mouth to punch my brain from an unexpected angle. The game mechanics of Portal 2 are almost impossible to describe without diagrams, but I'll try: you wander around a 3D environment trying to escape a series of rooms by firing magic holes on to the walls or floor; holes you can walk or fall through. So if I fire a hole on to the ceiling, and another on to the ground, I can jump through the ground and re-appear falling through the ceiling. This simple dynamic provides the basis for a series of fiendishly clever puzzles you find yourself working through – all of it tied into a humorous narrative that unfolds with more confidence, charm and sophistication than was strictly necessary. And before you whine about the solitary nature of games, it also includes a cooperative two-player mode in which you and a friend play through a parallel game together. The whole thing is stunningly clever and immensely enjoyable.

And then there's LA Noire, the James Ellroy-inspired crime drama, which has caused a stir, and rightly so, with its firm focus on narrative and staggering new facial animation technology. I'm a massive dweeb who keeps up with the latest gaming developments, and even I was astounded at what they've pulled off here. You're watching actors give genuine performances – within something that is still defiantly and unapologetically a video game. The lead character is played by Aaron Staton, AKA Ken Cosgrove from Mad Men – and is instantly recognisable, not just from his likeness, but also his facial mannerisms. Amusingly, plenty of his fellow Mad Men cast members also show up throughout the game (as well as faces familiar from shows such as Heroes and Fringe), reinforcing the overall feel of the game – which is like working your way through a hard-nosed HBO police procedural miniseries set in Los Angeles in the 1940s. If you've never played a game, or you think you hate them – but my description sounds vaguely appealing, give it a spin. Just watch someone else play it for a while if you like. I guarantee you'll be surprised.

And what really made me excited, thinking about both of these games, is that behind the state-of-the-art technology they both make use of (which has a level of sophistication that might come as a blinding shock to anyone who hasn't played a game since 1996), they're both old-fashioned video games at heart – not old-fashioned in the finger-twitching, reaction-testing Space Invaders sense, but something richer, something often overlooked by the population at large: old-fashioned video games that challenge the mind instead of the thumbs.

Portal 2 is essentially a demented series of puzzles – like being stuck inside a physics-based logic problem designed by the Python team; LA Noire is a trad adventure game. Adventure games used to be as close as gaming got to fiction. They started out as interactive text-based shaggy dog stories (a prime example being Douglas Adams's fantastic Hitchhiker's Guide Infocom adventure), transformed into point-and-click comedies (such as Monkey Island), and then largely went away for a while, as the gaming industry focused on gung-ho shooters aimed at teenage boys. The size, scope, and sheer self-assurance of LA Noire marks a major comeback for adventure games – for interactive fiction – and, potentially, a huge leap forward for wider acceptance of the medium as a whole.

And both these games – both of these entirely different, utterly unique creations – are a huge commercial success. In cinematic terms, it's the equivalent of films of the intelligence and quality of 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Maltese Falcon not just being released to great fanfare in 2011, but actually going on to smash box office records. Somehow Portal 2 and LA Noire manage to be more cinematic than a great deal of contemporary cinema – while being something entirely different, something with the phrase "I LOVE VIDEO GAMES" embedded in their DNA like a cheerful slogan through a stick of rock. These are not replacements for films, but something thrillingly different. Gaming's ongoing push into the mainstream consciousness has entered a bold new phase – by appealing to the players' intelligence and imagination, it's starting to make Hollywood look embarrassing.

Mortal Kombat: Legacy-Episode 6 (Web Series)

2011-05-23T20:04:00.001+01:00

Mortal Kombat: Legacy-Episode 5 (Web Series)

2011-05-16T19:55:00.001+01:00

Top 10 worst Mortal Kombat Characters

2011-05-16T19:53:00.000+01:00

Mortal Kombat: Legacy-Episode 3 & 4 (Web Series)

2011-05-04T19:09:00.000+01:00

I woke up this morning to discover there's one less prick in the world.

2011-05-02T11:21:00.000+01:00

Sony: They think it's all over...it is now.

2011-04-28T18:52:00.000+01:00

Well you are no doubt already aware of the major balls-up at Sony HQ with regards to the PSN outage and compromisation of PSN users personal data given that it's been on pretty much every major television news channel, radio show and online site so I'll just post this instead for your entertainment.

The Dirty Little Secret about the Alternative Vote System

2011-04-25T15:44:00.000+01:00

May 5th. Vote NO to AV.

Mortal Kombat: Legacy-Episode 2 (Web Series)

2011-04-19T19:14:00.001+01:00

Mortal Kombat: Legacy-Episode 1 (Web Series)

2011-04-15T23:21:00.000+01:00

The King of Fighters

2011-03-30T23:05:00.000+01:00

No particular reason for this post, I just happen to like, did I say 'like'? I meant love The King of Fighters series; the only 2D beat 'em video game to rival Capcom's efforts, (although KOF's 3D efforts whoop Capcom's into submission). Also, no other fighting game has quite the cast of characters, each boasting their own unique fighting style with perhaps save for Ryo who looks and plays like Ryu & Ken from Capcoms Street Fighter and as a parody has ended up as bumbling fool Dan in the SF series. Ryo's still an awesome character nevertheless.

THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE COMBO EXHIBITION

THE KING OF FIGHTERS: MAXIMUM IMPACT 2 COMBO EXHIBITION

THE KING OF FIGHTERS XII COMBO EXHIBITION

The end of UK Resistance

2011-03-30T16:54:00.000+01:00

Popular games journo Gary Cutlack has officially called time on his popular video games blog UK Resistance. The blog, which was a winner at the first ever Games Media Awards in 2007, has for a long time been a favourite amongst industry insiders for its glorious combination of brilliant writing, high-level offensiveness and outright foolishness.

It would seem the following statement gives reason to the decision for Gary to close the doors on UKR:

“a general feeling of disconnection from a games industry that no longer accommodates, or reflects our needs”.

I wouldn't have ever called myself an avid reader of UKR, but when I did partake in it's anarchy it never failed to entertain.

Anyway, here's a link to the site if you're curious http://www.ukresistance.co.uk/ and below is the closing vid from UKR featuring a brief look back over the last 15 years or so.

GAME give another good reason for the much needed demise of bricks & mortar, high street games retail

2011-03-29T20:01:00.000+01:00

FROM EUROGAMER:

Eurogamer has uncovered evidence that staff at GAME were told to buy Nintendo 3DS consoles and games from supermarket rival Tesco on launch night to sell them in-store as pre-owned.

An internal document, below, reveals that staff were encouraged to make use of Tesco's eye-catching launch bundle offer for the 3DS on Thursday night.

Tesco sold the console for just £175 when bought with any 3DS game for £34.90.
"Whilst we are unable to competitively match this offer in terms of a mint price," reads the document, "it offers a great opportunity to gain 3DS consoles and games for your store's pre-owned stock."

The idea was to use cash from GAME tills to buy a 3DS and game for £209.90 – Tesco's bundle price, and trade it in to GAME for cash at the same price.

£1049.50 was authorised for removal per trip to Tesco – which equates to five bundles. "Your store can do this trip multiple times," reads the document.

The 3DS hardware would then be sold at "the same price as mint due to expected supply shortage".

Game's in-store Nintendo 3DS price is £219.99. Second hand 3DS units are sold between £5 and £10 cheaper.

It is important to note, however, that the document insisted the pre-owned stock only be sold once mstock runs dry, and staff not "up-sell" it to customers.

While the document advises that buying stock from Tesco is a non-mandatory "mission", one GAME staff member told Eurogamer the store he works at was reprimanded for not taking part.

A GAME spokesperson told Eurogamer: "Some of our stores wanted to move quickly last weekend to build their pre-owned stocks of 3DS at the same time as their local competitors, so we gave them a process to do that.

"It was not mandatory, and happened in small volumes."

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Click on image for a better view:

However GAME choose to dress this latest antic of theirs up it's wrong as it deprives genuine customers the chance of picking a bargain. Want a new 3DS? Well if the predicted shortages do come about then GAME will have plenty of them, albeit at a much higher price.

New prices for second hand goods is it now, GAME? Assholes.

Saints Row: The Third-New Screens

2011-03-29T09:11:00.000+01:00

Game Preview: El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron

2011-03-28T22:01:00.000+01:00

The story is freely inspired from the Book of Enoch and follows Enoch, a priest looking for seven fallen angels to prevent a great flood from destroying mankind. He is helped in his quest by Lucifel, (voiced by Jason Isaacs), a guardian angel in charge of the protection of the world who exists outside of the flow of time, and by four Archangels: Raphael, Uriel, Gabriel and Michael.

What sets it apart from other games is the beautifully drawn dream-like visuals cpmbined with the games constant shift from 3D and pseudo-2D gameplay. In an industry where so many are trying to ape the success of games like Call of Duty, Halo and other such popular franchises its nice to see some developers and their respective publishers are willing to step outside the box and take a chance on a new IP.

Game Review: Swarm-Multi-Format

2011-03-28T20:58:00.000+01:00

As far as concepts go Hothead Games’ Swarm is as simple as they come. Your goal is to guide your fifty ‘swarmites’ across varying levels of terrain filled with mines, falling debris, bottomless pits and nasty alien life forms collecting as many points and getting safely home to ‘momma’.

Along the way you all also be challenged with a various mini-puzzles and obstacles to overcome; using your swarm in various different ways to overcome your objectives. You can spread them out to help collect useful objects that much faster, huddle them together to squeeze through tight gaps and traverse across dangerous ledges and if you have enough swarmites at your disposal you can also stack them up to collect out-of-reach items such as bonus points and valuable strands of DNA code.

Your first play of Swarm will undoubtedly feel like rather a laid back experience, but as each level becomes tougher, or the need to trash your last high score becomes your primary goal, sacrificing some of the swarm to progress and garner those high scores is a must. Even with several re-spawn points dotted throughout each level, trying to find a balance between how many swarmites you can kill off while maintaining a high score with timed multipliers becomes quite the challenge and makes for much of the games replay value.

Clearly Swarm is a game of high scores and bragging rights; and if placing yourself at the top end of the leader boards is the very reason why you play video games then there is a lot that will appeal here. The most challenging aspect of Swarm is being able to execute the simplistic commands used to control your swarmites with absolute speed and precision as you guide them through the alien world they have found themselves in. The faster you are on the buttons, the more dextrous your decision making with each obstacle faced, the quicker you’ll rack up the points and max out your multipliers thus adding even more to your high score, pushing you further up the rankings.

As a puzzle-cum platformer it wouldn’t be unfair to draw parallels with Team 17’s Lemmings from yesteryear, and in terms of execution and presentation they do have a lot in common. However, while Swarm is both challenging and entertaining in its own right it lacks the character and clever level design of Team 17’s masterpiece. Also, and rather frustratingly, the sacrifice and reward gameplay is hampered by the pseudo-3D visuals which can often lead to miscalculated jumps and incorrect placement of your swarm during some of the more hectic moments, particularly where a group of actions in any given section of a level are required to proceed.

The biggest sting in the tail, however, is that for all its charm and somewhat likeable gameplay, at 1200 Microsoft Points on XBLA, (£9.99 on PSN respectively), it’s hard to recommend; particularly as what’s on offer is pretty straight forward and basic in its execution. Of course no one should expect untold levels of depth and character from a straight up arcade puzzle-game, but in the same sense no one should be expected to pay over the odds for something so simplistic either, certainly not when you can get Lemmings on the iPhone for free.

6/10

Great film lines: Taken-Liam Neeson

2011-03-26T18:49:00.000Z

I don't know who you are.

I don't know what you want.

If you are looking for a ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.

Game Review: Marvel VS Capcom 3-Multi-Format

2011-03-22T21:17:00.000Z

After almost a decade the Marvel VS Capcom series has made a long overdue return, exploding onto our screens as a more refined, arguable simpler fighting game; one that’s clearly aimed at today’s gamer with the premise being that anyone, whether hardcore fight fan or complete novice, can pick up Capcom’s latest offering and make their mark. Controls-even with a normal setting-are simplified to the point that very little effort is required to pull massive 50+ hit combos and devastating Hyper moves out of the bag, decimating your opponent’s health bar in a flurry of blows, energy attacks and multi-character combos. That’s not to say of course that MvC3 lacks any depth, far from it, and if you’re looking to race up the rankings online then having a deeper understanding of the games fighting mechanics, as opposed to just randomly hammering away at the buttons, will undoubtedly see you move up the table that much quicker.

As expected the familiar faces of Ryu, Chun-Li, Spiderman, Wolverine and co are all in place, but also along for the ride are some entirely new entrants ranging from the instantly recognisable to the down right bizarre; and while some may relish the chance to take charge of Ghosts n’ Goblins hero Arthur, Okami’s Amaterasu or perhaps Albert Wesker from Resident Evil, others may raise a quizative eyebrow at some of Capcom’s choices for the third outing. Nevertheless, it’s through MvC3 being a three-on-three fighting game that this extraordinary combination of characters addresses the balance of each fight that individually they could never achieve. For example, put gun-toting Dante of Devil May Cry up against The Hulk and its immediately apparent that Dante’s quick-fire gunplay can make easy work of Hulk’s lumbering albeit powerful frame, but with a rush character such as X-23 on stand by ready to spring into action at the flick of a button the combination of power and speed can turn the tide in Hulk’s favour; throw in standing powerhouse fighter Akuma into the mix and Dante will quickly find himself turned into mince meat. Of course your opponent has three characters of their own with which to to dish out the pain and in turn can make life as equally difficult for you making for some truly spectacular bouts of combat. Bare in mind, however, that what might work for one group of rivals might not necessarily work against another so button-basher MvC3 may be there’s still an amount of tactical planning needed when choosing the best team for the job in order to come out on top.

Capcom have also introduced something they’ve penned as ‘X-Factor’ into the proceedings which grants extra strength and boots speed for each individual character in varying ways depending on who’s in play at the time. When activated X-Factor cancels all active Hyper and Super combos, allowing you to assault your opponent with a relentless barrage of ground and air combos, literally beating down your rival into submission; and it’s here that MvC3’s hidden depth starts to shine through as you begin to realize that between forcing your opponent to switch characters with ‘Snap Backs’, three-on-one aerial combos, triple Hyper Combos and so forth that there’s more to this full-on beat ‘em up than meets the eye and that perhaps just merrily bashing away at the control pad is doing your chances of winning more harm than good. Then again you could just throw the rule book out of the window, hit those buttons a like a crazy person and simply enjoy it for what it is: Damn good fun.

Being as this is Capcom behind the wheel it should come as no surprise that MvC3 looks simply stunning. Animations are silky smooth with fantastically drawn character models, each with a unique twist to their appearance and polished off with quick-fire remarks during combat and witty pre-fight banter, all of which stem from their original roots. MvC3 also boasts what has to be some of the most lavishly detailed and beautifully rendered arenas ever to grace a fighting game with each telling its own story, changing and moving as each battle takes place.

With an intro sequence that never grows old, a thumping musical score and a dazzling display of pyrotechnics throughout each round of combat combined with wonderful sound effects, MvC3-more so than its predecessors-leaves you feeling as though you have just jumped straight into a live action comic book, one that you simply do not wish to leave.

If there are any real downsides then it would be the omission of some of the games modes and features present in past iterations of the series. Spectator mode, time attack, survival mode, extra stages and additional bonus games are no longer present. There’s ‘Mission Mode’ which, like Street Fighter IV, invites you to complete a series of combos in succession but beyond that, four extra characters to unlock and the obligatory Arcade, Vs and Online modes there is very little else. Shame, because as well put together as the core game is there is a danger that it, as with most fighting games that don’t go beyond the core experience, will have a limited appeal for some whereas in past MvC games having those extra features gave the experience that much more longevity . Still, MvC3’s gameplay is entertaining enough that it will undoubtedly be some time before you consider moving on to something new and with the promise of added DLC around the corner that longevity may yet be extended.

With Street Fighter IV , (perhaps even more so with Super Street Fighter IV), it was clear that Capcom knew its audience, but in the case of Marvel Vs Capcom 3 they’ve thrown out a much wider net in the hope of snaring a much larger demographic of gamers and if the success of the games launch is anything to go by then they have succeeded in their endeavour. By taking a tried and testing formula, simplifying it for a new generation of gamers while still maintaining a degree of depth for the already converted, Capcom have opened the doors of the humble beat ‘em up to an audience that may have, up until now, chose to ignore it. And for that I say bravo.

8/10

The Price of Success?

2011-03-22T19:50:00.000Z

Four friends, who hadn't seen each other in 30 years, reunited at a party

After several drinks, one of the men had to use the rest room.

Those who remained talked about their kids.

The first guy said, 'My son is my pride and joy. He started working at a successful company at the bottom of the barrel.He studied Economics and Business Administration and soon began to climb the corporate ladder and now he's the president of the company. He became so rich that he gave his bestfriend a top of the line Mercedes for his birthday.'

The second guy said, 'Darn, that's terrific! My son is also my pride and joy. He started working for a big airline, then went to flight school to become a pilot. Eventually he became a partner in the company, where he owns the majority of its assets He's so rich that he gave his best friend a brand new jet for his birthday'

The third man said: 'Well, that's terrific! My son studied in the best universities and became an engineer. Then he started his own construction company and is now a multimillionaire. He also gave away something very nice and expensive to his best friend for his birthday: A 30,000 square foot mansion.'

The three friends congratulated each other just as the fourth returned from the restroom and asked: 'What are all the congratulations for?'

One of the three said: 'We were talking about the pride we feel for the successes of our sons. ..What about your son?'

The fourth man replied: 'My son is gay and makes a living dancing as a stripper at a nightclub.'

The three friends said: 'What a shame... what a disappointment.'

The fourth man replied: 'No, I'm not ashamed. He's my son and I love him.
And he hasn't done too bad either. His birthday was two weeks ago, and he received a beautiful 30,000 square foot mansion, a brand new jet and a top of the line Mercedes from his three boyfriends

British Academy Video Game Awards 2011

2011-03-16T23:46:00.000Z

Some of the best games from 2010 were featured in this years British Academy Video Game Awards earlier this evening and having watched the live feed I can honestly say that all in all the show, hosted by the rather excellent Dara O'Briain, was pretty good, delivering a few surprise winners and losers throughout.

Action

Winner:

Runners Up:

Battlefield: Bad Company 2
BioShock 2
Call of Duty: Black Ops
God of War III
Halo: Reach

Artistic Achievement

Winner:

Runners Up:

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Heavy Rain
LIMBO
Mass Effect 2

Family

Winner:

Runners Up:

Dance Central
Kinect Adventures
Kinectimals
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
Toy Story 3

Gameplay

Winner:

Runners Up:

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
God of War III
Heavy Rain
LIMBO
Mass Effect 2

Handheld

Winner:

Runners Up:

God of War: Ghost of Sparta
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
Professor Layton and the Lost Future
Sonic Colours
Super Scribblenauts

Multiplayer

Winner:

Runners Up:

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Halo: Reach
Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty

Original Music

Winner:

Runners Up:

Alan Wake
Fable III
James Bond 007: Bloodstone
Mass Effect 2
Super Mario Galaxy 2

Social Network Game

Winner:

Runners Up:

Bejeweled Blitz
Farmerama
FIFA Superstars
Zoo Mumba
Zuma Blitz

Sports

Winner:

Runners Up:

FIFA 11
Football Manager 2011
Gran Turismo 5
International Cricket 2010
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011

Story

Winner:

Runners Up:

Alan Wake
BioShock 2
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Fallout: New Vegas
Mass Effect 2

Strategy

Winner:

Runners Up:

Fallout: New Vegas
FIFA Manager 11
Napoleon Total War
Plants vs. Zombies XBLA
Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty

Technical Innovation

Winner:

Runners Up:

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Halo: Reach
Kinectimals
Super Mario Galaxy 2

Use of Audio

Winner:

Runners Up:

Alan Wake
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
Call of Duty: Black Ops
DJ Hero 2
LIMBO

GAME Award of 2010-The only award to be voted for by the public

Winner:

Runners Up:

Dance Central
FIFA 11
Halo: Reach
Heavy Rain
LIMBO
Mass Effect 2
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
Red Dead Redemption
Super Mario Galaxy 2

Best Game

Winner:

Runners Up:

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
FIFA 11
Heavy Rain
LIMBO
Super Mario Galaxy 2

Fellowship Award

Peter Molyneux

Defining genres and breaking in new ways in which to play our games, Peter has been at the forefront of video game design and development in the UK as far back as 1987.

Peter’s career can be credited with classics such as Populous, Syndicate, Magic Carpet, Black & White, Dungeon Keeper, Theme Park and the hugely popular Fable series. As well as receiving the BAFTA Fellowship Award 2011, Peter has also an OBE to his name, was inducted into the AIAS Hall of Fame in 2004 and more recently was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Game Developers Choice Awards 2011.

L.A.Noire-The Naked City Vice Case

2011-03-14T20:05:00.000Z

Did you enjoy L.A. Confidential? Perhaps see yourself as a bit of a detective? Well Rockstars new game, L.A. Noire, a violent crime thriller set in a post-World War II Los Angeles and is due out later this year, could be just what you're after. And before the GTA fanboys start wetting themselves, while it does have some open world elements L.A. Noire is not Gran Theft Auto with Tommy Guns, so be quite.

Crysis 2

2011-03-14T09:47:00.000Z

Two hours gaming = a line of cocaine...

2011-03-13T17:36:00.000Z

Well, according to therapist Steve Pope.

From MCV:

Just one day after claims linking video games to sleeplessness emerged, Lancashire based therapist Steve Pope has made some of the most bewildering accusations yet about the possible harmful effects of gaming.

“Spending two hours on a game station is equivalent to taking a line of cocaine in the high it produces in the brain," Pope told BBC Radio 5Live in an interview last night. “It's the silent killer of our generation.

“We're now onto second generation game station players who have always grown up with it. Computer game addiction can also spiral into violence as after playing violent games, they may turn their fantasy games into reality.

"It is the fastest growing addiction in the country and this is affecting young people mentally and physically."

Describing his campaign against gaming as a "personal quest to spread the message", Pope urged any parents listening to the broadcast to "go upstairs to your kids bedroom and try and take the game station controller out of their hands".

He said most kids will react "in the same way as an alcoholic would if you tried to take their booze – it's scary".

Of the sleeplessness scandal, Pope claimed that kids who stay up late playing titles such as Call of Duty are unable to concentrate the next morning "because of the endorphin high in their brains" that leads to a "chemical imbalance" that disturbs behaviour and learning.

Scary stuff indeed! No, not really.

Before you few start battening down the doors and locking away your children from the evils of Mario know that Mr Pope not only made the same remarkable claims a year ago, (to the joy of the tabloids), but when challenged by journalist John Walker of PC website, Rock, Paper Shotgun, he was, surprise, surprise, unwilling or unable to provide any evidence to back up his claims. For the full repport hit the following link ( Deja Vu: Gaming like cocaine claims return ) and then ask yourself the question as to who's really the irresponsible ones here. The games industry, or the fame seeking therapist.

If old video games had realistic sound effects...

2011-03-12T23:07:00.001Z

New Silent Hill Movie-Silent Hill: Revelation 3D

2011-03-08T13:23:00.000Z

If there ever was a contender for “Best Video Game to Film Adaptation” then Silent Hill would be it. Good news then that another one is on the way.

Davis Films producer Samuel Hadida and Don Carmody announced that rising star Adelaide Clemens (X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Vampire, Generation Um, next starring in Mad Max: Fury Road) and Kit Harington (HBO's upcoming series Game of Thrones) will top-line Silent Hill: Revelation 3D. The film begins lensing in Toronto today and is directed by Michael J. Bassett (Solomon Kane, Deathwatch). International sales are being handled by Lionsgate. The first photo of Adelaide Clemens as Heather Mason has been released below.

Silent Hill: Revelation 3D is based on the acclaimed survival horror videogame franchise by KONAMI and is the sequel to Samuel Hadida and Don Carmody earlier Silent Hill directed by Christophe Gans. For years, Heather Mason (Adelaide Clemens) and her father have been on the run, always one step ahead of dangerous forces that she doesn't fully understand. Now on the eve of her 18th birthday, plagued by terrifying nightmares and the disappearance of her father, Heather discovers she's not who she thinks she is. The revelation leads her deeper into a demonic world that threatens to trap her in Silent Hill forever.

Silent Hill: Revelation 3D comes to theaters in 2011 and stars Adelaide Clemens. The film is directed by Michael J. Bassett

Saints Row: The Third

2011-03-08T12:30:00.000Z

Saints Row 2 is without question one of my favourite video games of this generation and is one of the few games I go back to time and again. For those not in the know it's a sandbox game in the vein of GTA, but unlike the technically brilliant GTA IV it's actually fun to play-and in multi-player co-op it's an absolute blast.

In an interview with IGN, THQ CEO Danny Bilson had this to say:

“Saints Row: The Third puts you on top of the world, right at the beginning of the game, with all the perks that go along with being the head of an elite criminal organization,” said Danny Bilson, THQ Executive Vice President, Core Games. “There’s no delivering pizza, no shuttling family members about in a long series of taxi missions. Instead, you take all the power of the Third Street Saints and you take the world by storm.”"I think we're going to blow people away at E3," Farrell said. "You'll be seeing Saints Row 3. You'll be seeing the next Red Faction. You'll be seeing more of Homefront. We've been talking about it, but we'll actually show some of our Warhammer 40k MMO, and I think people are going to go, 'Oh my God. They've got their stuff together.'" And Saints Row 3 will evidently cause some to remark, "This is not your father's THQ."

About Saints Row: The Third

Years after taking Stilwater for their own, the Third Street Saints have evolved from street gang to household brand name, with Saints sneakers, Saints energy drinks and Johnny Gat bobble head dolls all available at a store near you. The Saints are kings of Stilwater, but their celebrity status has not gone unnoticed. The Syndicate, a legendary criminal fraternity with pawns in play all over the globe, has turned its eye on the Saints and demands tribute. Refusing to kneel to the Syndicate, you take the fight to a new city, playing out the most outlandish gameplay scenarios ever seen. Strap it on.

An exclusive preview with Game Informer revealed the follwing:

-As predicted Saints Row III will feature Customizable guns for the first time in the series, you can add sniper scopes to your assault rifles, under-slung grenade launchers. You can also add a third barrel to a double barreled shotgun to create the Gravedigger.

-Just like acquired cars, upgraded guns are now a permanent feature in your arsenal. So don't worry about losing your weapons.

-Players can call in laser guided air-strikes at all times, the explosion disintegrates enemies. Players can also call in a Predator drone, the view becomes top down and you can pepper the area with bombs, or use a smart bomb which you guide with the analogue sticks.

-Cars now deform more realistically

-Remote control gun shoots a bug that allows the player to control any NPC vehicle much like as if the player was driving it themselves. Hilarity ensues with this tool, for example you can control an enemy gangs car and purposefully ram into the police, watching the confused driver get chased by the cops is hilarious.

-Meleeing with a weapon close to an enemy = LOW BLOW! NUT JAB! Stiff jabs to the crotch all round.

-LB button is a sprint button, and also a modifier button, it amplifies almost anything the player does, for example sprint towards a car and attempt to carjack it, instead of opening the door and pulling out the driver, the player can performs a missile drop-kick right into the drivers seat, run from the side and you'll break through the window and the passenger goes flying out the other side...awesome stuff.

-If you prefer to carjack normally, the camera now zooms in as the player shoots the passenger in the face at point blank range, or repeatedly bashes their head with the doors.

-Dedicated grenade button.

-No more eating to regain health, health now regens.

Cosplay: Taking the hobby to the extreme

2011-03-02T17:34:00.000Z

Barking they may be and some of them may be down right hilarious, but for a few the hobby of dressing up as their favourite video game characters is a real passion. Whatever your thoughts, sometimes it's hard not to be impressed by the sheer amount of effort put in by some of these enthusiasts. Welcome to Cosplay.

Silent Hill

Bayonetta

Rio-Dead or Alive

Halo

Kazumi-Dead or Alive

Bioshock

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

Silent Hill: Downpour

2011-03-02T11:20:00.000Z

I like a good survival horror, particulalry of the Silent Hill brand. Here's a look at the new game, Silent Hill: Downpour

Facepalm

2011-02-27T15:05:00.000Z

So, Nick Clegg defended his decision to go on a family holiday while David Cameron visited the Gulf and hundreds of Britons who were stranded amid violent scenes in Libya, by responding to the question of "Who's running the country then while you're both away?" with:

"I forgot".

Yep, that's what he actually said. "I forgot". You couldn't make it up.

Well between this latest clanger, a blind eye being turned to 'business as usual' with the banks and the countless U-turns made by the coalition Government since its time in office it's clear that there is no long term strategy in place to properly tackle the many issues Great Britain and it's people currently face. In reality, Cameron and Co are just running the country day-to-day in the vain hope that something works.

DIVORCE versus MURDER

2011-02-26T18:02:00.000Z

A nice, calm and respectable lady went into the pharmacy, walked up to the pharmacist, looked straight into his eyes and said,
“I’d like to buy some cyanide.”

The pharmacist asked, “Why in the world do you need cyanide?”

The lady replied, “I need it to poison my husband.”

The pharmacist’s eyes got big and he explained,

“Lord have mercy! I can’t give you cyanide to kill your husband, that’s against the law? I’ll lose my licence!
They’ll throw both of us in jail! All kinds of bad things will happen.
Absolutely not! You CANNOT have any cyanide!”

The lady reached into her purse and pulled out a picture of her husband in bed with the pharmacist’s wife.

The pharmacist looked at the picture and said,

“You didn’t tell me you had a prescription."

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Official Trailer

2011-02-24T20:59:00.000Z

So another chance for me to spend hours of my life in the fantasy setting of The Elder Scrolls beckons at the end of the year. Happy Days.

Here's the trailer, narrated by none other than the very excellent Max Von Sydow.

Has the games industry finally crossed the line of good taste?

2011-02-24T19:52:00.000Z

A recent trailer for new zombie video game Dead Island has divided gamers opinions and fuled furious debate across the globe. Why? It shows the last moments of a dying little girl and her family. It's brilliantly directed yes and it's clear, to a point, what creators Techland were trying to achieve in respect to the tradegy and loss that the human race would endure in the event of a holocaust; but as a parent of two baby girls myself it left a bad taste in my mouth. Ben Parfitt, from games industry trade magazine MCV, reflected my own feelings about the trailer in an article he penned at the begining of the week.

Ben Parfitt-MCV: I want to start by saying something right from the off – I hate moral campaigners. I hate political correctness, I hate tabloid outrages, I hate the idea of game censorship.

I was watching films like Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street when I was 13 and I've not grown into neither a holiday retreat slaughterer or a demented dream stalker. And why's that? In the latter instance it's because I've not yet developed supernatural abilities. But to a larger extent it's because I had a sensible upbringing. Despite being exposed to violent media I retain the capacity to tell right from wrong.

Anyone who claims that exposure to media can rob someone of their ability to take responsibility for their actions and decisions is an idiot. However. Yes, I'll also admit that I felt quite uncomfortable when I watched the new Dead Island trailer last night. That is just my opinion, of course.

With regard to Dead Island, though, there's nothing to learn from watching it. It's not designed to make you think or to explore a point of debate. It's a video that uses an image of a dead girl and images of her dying to create an emotional bond with a product.

The truth is, though, that more than the actual video itself, I've found the online reaction far more troubling. I only watched the video after seeing my Twitter stream fill with gushing praise, mostly from fellow journalists. Comments included the obligatory "best trailer ever", "it choked me up – no game trailer has EVER done that", "it's amazing" and "I'm definitely going to buy it now".

Having viewed the short I'm somewhat bemused that my peers should heap such praise on content of this sort. Yes, it's clearly a great piece of film making. And yes, it's touching – in a morose sort of way.
But personally I just can't get away from the fact that I'm uncomfortable watching a graphic depiction of the horrific final moments of the life of a young girl. Yes, perhaps that's because I'm a dad and have a beautiful daughter. In fact, having voiced this very opinion on Twitter last night one friend of mine said that "if this is what becoming a parent does to people, thank GOD it'll never happen to me".

My retort? "I'd say being a parent does make me more sensitive to images of child death. Which doesn't feel that unhealthy".

And I stand by that. By all means, if that trailer does it for you then great, good for you. And if you want to play the game when it eventually arrives then cool, do so. That will be firm evidence that the video, as a raw piece of marketing, has been a success.

But perhaps from time to time we do need to ask questions of what we choose to glorify and what elements of our industry we choose to defend and to celebrate. Gaming all too often comes under unfair attack and I've always been comfortable to lead in its vocal defence.

But let's make sure we pick our fights carefully.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Of course you'll make up you own minds as to whether or not its morally dubious or simply a great piece of film making, and yes arguably being a parant has perhaps made me over-sensitive toward the subject matter. But it does raise the question of just how far is the games industry willing to push the boundaries of good taste before the ravings of the Daily Mail and co begin to ring true...

Here's the trailer but be warned, it's quite disturbing.

WIP Dwarven Warlord-Warhamer Fantasy Battle

2011-02-12T20:48:00.000Z

WIP (Work in Progress) Candy & Cola

2011-02-12T18:09:00.001Z

This mini is from the Soda Pop miniature range. The paint job is complete, I just need to do a base.

Game Review: Gran Turismo 5-PS3

2011-01-03T22:13:00.000Z

Playing Gran Turismo 5 for the first time is a daunting experience. The sheer wealth of cars, events, and game modes on offer is quite staggering and for the first hour or so you’ll find your head in a spin as you get to grips with the sheer scale of it all. An even more daunting prospect is that GT5’s producer and designer, Kazunori Yamauchi, clearly isn’t done with the constant tinkering and fine tuning which has seen the release date of his grand opus pushed back time and again because, (if the continued updates are anything to go on), there’s still a lot more to come. If you’re the kind of gamer who usually bulks at the idea of forking out top dollar for a game that is still in the workshop undergoing further tuning via a series of updates and patches then may I be the first to welcome you to the world of the PC gamer. But don’t let that put you off because, and lets make no mistake about this, Gran Turismo 5 is a stunning racing game, one that will eat away at hours of you’re social life and with each new update it only continues to pull your further into its world of virtual Matchbox racing.

Whilst there is a noticeable jump in aesthetics between standard cars and the-quite frankly stunning-200 premium cars available, Gran Tursimo still manages to set the bench mark in virtual car porn. Like its predecessors, GT5 continues with the series hallmark of photo-realism when it comes to the stars of the show with said Premium cars being so immaculately rendered and painstakingly detailed they can leave some of the more sparse tracks looking a little flat. However, along side the vibrant greens and oranges of Trial Mountain or the lavishly detailed streets of inner city London GT5 can look positively sumptuous. Some may argue that it’s not quite the visual leap expected given the time in development, and while there is some minimal screen tearing and the occasional drop below 60fps during busier moments; Polyphony’s epic racer is unquestionably the finest looking on the market. Weather effects are excellently realised and lends itself to the atmosphere of high powered racing superbly; rain tears across the track obscuring your view, threatening to put you into a spin should your concentration lapse for more than a moment and snow relentlessly battles your every move, daring you to push harder in a bid to gain a few more of those invaluable seconds on your rivals.

Getting behind the wheel of any of the 1000 cars available in the game is where GT5 sets itself apart from the pack. While it may not throw up the instant thrills and accessibility of Forza 3 there’s a real ‘bite’ to the handling and once mastered the sensation of powering out of a corner, using the weight to catapult your machine forward down an open straight can be one of genuine excitement. Even using the humble Dual Shock 3 each vehicle feels unique, and as you move deeper into the world of GT5 having an understanding on how to shift the weight between accelerating and braking is paramount to success in the field. Karting is wonderfully realistic; rallies are visceral and punishing; and thundering around an oval track at 200mph in the monsters that make up NASCAR is as exhausting as it is exhilarating. Plug in a decent force-feedback steering wheel and GT5’s phenomenal handling mechanics come alive, delivering a frightening sense of realism and tangibility that is unmatched by any other racing game on any system.

Whereas before one had to complete a series of licences to move through the many events and challenges on offer the game now works with an RPG styled levelling up system; licences are still in place but, save for a few of the later events, are no longer a requisite for progression. With each race event successfully won and for every licence obtained and challenge completed, experience and credits are awarded. As you level up more events become un-locked for you to compete in while more cars become available for purchase via the new and second-hand dealerships. By adopting this play-and-reward approach Yamauchi may have tightened the reigns of progression a little, but in doing so it allows players to experience all of GT5’s facets in a more controlled, yet relaxed environment whilst also neatly removing the fabled ‘brick wall’ that has marred previous iterations upon reaching a certain point in the game.

Most of your time with GT5 will be spent in A-Spec mode where you’ll race across snow capped mountain tops, through the glare of a thousands lights in night time cities and all of the series signature courses; however in typical Gran Tursimo form there are several other modes that demand your attention. B-Spec invites you to systematically ‘train’ a team of drivers by using a collection of simple commands designed to improve their overall driving ability. The better you manage your drivers, the quicker they’ll level-up allowing them to enter races using more powerful cars and garner higher levels of experience for your overall progression. Essentially, B-Spec is a game of trial and error and one that will infuriate during the early stages as low level drivers will often make for some spectacular cock ups as GT5’s erratic AI tries to keep up. But given time the AI does improve and with a little perseverance on your part you’ll soon have a reasonably competent team to bash out those long endurance races. Special Events include Rally, Karting and a step-by-step guide to NASCAR racing along with the chance to hammer a VW camper van around the Top Gear test track. You can also get to grips with the Nürburgring piece by piece before taking on the world famous course in its entirety, and for rally enthusiasts there’s tips and tricks courtesy of seven times WRC Champion, Sebastian Loeb. Arcade mode makes a return along with split-screen multi-player and a satisfying Drift Trial option. You can take snaps of your favourite cars in exotic locations with HD Photo Travel, and there’s also a course maker which is a fun tool to play around with even if it does lack a little depth.

Unfortunately AI is still Gran Tursimo’s weakest element-particularly in the early part of proceedings-and while there is a marked improvement to your CPU opponents decision making they will, more often than not, rather plough into the back of your prized vehicle than attempt to outmanoeuvre you. Having said that, as you advance from the amateur races and into the professional and expert events the AI-as with the aforementioned B-Spec-does kick it up a notch or two; opponents will actually try to cut in deep or pull out wide through a corner thus forcing you to break hard to maintain your position or risk chancing a tight opening to move further up the field.

Since the games launch back in November of last year there has already been several updates to GT5’s online mode, greatly improving on what was originally a horrible, bug ridden mess. The setting up of and getting into races now runs that much smoother than previously, with each race being fully customisable with numerous options to suit any race for any style of play. You can gift cars to friends, follow each others progress via message boards or just hang out in the [much improved] lobby and have a good old natter whilst deciding on what race to put together. A more recent update also means that racing with other players in ‘My Lobby’ dishes out both credits and experience adding to your overall level in GT Life.

There’s still room for improvement of course: For example, should you end up in a room full of strangers the lack of a car classification system always leads to every online race consisting of 4WD monsters with no less than 800bhp thus removing much of the fun to be had from sampling many of the smaller, nipper machines or classic cars of yesteryear in an online environment. But Polyphony have promised that important changes will continue to be implemented, which is welcoming news because beneath the rough exterior of its online mode GT5 has the potential to be come one of the most spectacular racing competitions to ever grace a games console.

Whether or not you’ll enjoy in GT5 ultimately boils down to how much time you invest in it. If you’ve never been a fan of the series and the thought of ploughing hours into a video game to get the best from it makes your toes curl then there’s very little here that will change your mind. If, however, you have an unerring passion for cars, or have simply thrilled at the convoluted delights Gran Turismo has served up since its original outing back in 1998, then Gran Turismo 5 is an essential purchase.

9/10

Daddy Brown's Games of 2010

2010-12-30T22:37:00.000Z

Action/Adventure: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

Driving: Gran Turismo 5

Beat 'em Up: Super Street Fighter IV

FPS: Halo: Reach

Rhythm/Music: Rock Band 3

Platform: Super Mario Galaxy 2

RPG: Demon's Souls

Sports: FIFA 11

Strategy/Simulation: Gran Turismo 5

Best Online Mode: Halo: Reach

Biggest Surprise: Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2

Best Downloadable Game: The King of Fighers 2002: Unlimited Match

Biggest Disappointment: Kinect

Worst Game: Kinect Joyride

Overall Game Of The Year: Heavy Rain

Honorable Mentions:

Bayonetta

Alan Wake

Mass Effect 2

NFS: Hot Pursuit

God of War 3

Dead Rising 2

Red Dead Redemption

Industry Quote of the Year:

“Our games are not designed for young people. If you are a parent and buy one of our games for your child, then you are a terrible parent.”

Rockstar’s Lazlow Jones defends the firm’s violent games on BBC Radio 1’s Newsbeat. 21/05/10

Game Review: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves-PS3

2010-12-26T19:48:00.000Z

Developed by Naughty Dog, (creators of the hugely popular, million selling franchise Crash Bandicoot ), Uncharted: Drakes Fortune was an action adventure game in the style of Tomb Raider, one that boasted lush visuals, an excellent script, superb voice acting and edge of your seat set pieces. Naturally the game was an immediate hit amongst the Sony fanbase and garnered favourable opinions from all corners of the industry so it came as no surprise when a sequel was announced for 2009.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves sees you once again take on the role of our grave robbing hero Nathan "Nate" Drake as he sets out to discover the legendary mystical valley of Shangri-La and the Cintamani Stone, a mythical rock that is said to grant one with great strength and powers. The adventure begins by throwing the player right into the thick of things with a wounded Nate hanging upside down in a train cart which hangs precariously over a cliff edge. From the get go you’ll be impressed by both the visual and cinematic quality on display as you help Nate climb his way up through the wreak before it plummets into the misty depths below. The snow and wind whips around Drake in such a realistic fashion that it adds to the sense of urgency in such a way it's hard not to catch your breath each time a piece of train breaks away threatening to send Nate to his doom. Eventually you claw your way onto the cliff edge and the game fades out, taking you back a few weeks to previous events.

Nathan's adventure begins when old friends Harry Flynn and Chloe Frazer approach him with a job offer to steal an oil lamp from an Istanbul museum. Nate accepts the job when he learns that the lamp may lead to the legendary treasures said to have been procured Marco Polo's lost fleet. It's here that you get a good sense of Nate's abilities from running, jumping, climbing and melee combat; all of which are much like those found in Nate’s first adventure on the PS3 but much more fluid and precise in their execution. Melee combat, for example, feels a lot more meaty and satisfying with both open combos and stealth attacks providing some small amusement in an affectionate nod towards the fisticuffs found in the Indiana Jones movies.

Control of Nate through his environment is tremendous fun. While it's often clear as to where to go next, which ledge to jump to and from, which crack in the wall to take a hold of and so forth it does it in a way that blends into the environment seamlessly thus creating the illusion that you're guiding Nate through a perfectly natural route as opposed to throwing up obvious way-points through some linear path. Of course that’s exactly what you are doing, but it’s a testament to the carefully thought out level design that makes the illusion that you’re not following some ridged, pre-determined path even more acceptable.

Combat is as intense as it is satisfying and makes much better use of the cover system found in the first game. You can also hurl gas canisters into the air before making them explode with a perfectly aimed shot from Nate's pistol causing walkways to collapse underfoot, vehicles to explode and walls to crumble onto enemies. Paying careful attention to Nate’s surrounding environment you’ll always find something to even the odds a little should you find yourself outgunned. Enemies are intelligent and will attempt to outmaneuver you should you hang around in one spot for too long, but in the same sense they're also dumb enough to be outmaneuvered by you, leading to some amusing moments during a heated gun fight.

As you progress thought the game you start to realize just how stunning Uncharted 2 is. Environments are highly detailed and simply ooze character and believability. It's obvious that a lot of forethought has been crafted into each and every area to give the player a total sense of immersion, even if you are essentially looking from the outside-in as you guide Nate on his adventure. Rain, wind and snow all act as they would in the real world and are perhaps some of the best examples of weather to be currently found in a video game. Wood cracks and splinters realistically, metal fractures and bends, explosions hurl chunks of debris through the air with incredible effect and so on. Character models are well drawn and all-from the main players to disposable henchmen-have believable facial expressions, realistic body language and a fluidity to their movement that captures both the action and set pieces superbly.

It’s also worth noting that with its witty, emotional, gritty and even sometimes cheesy dialogue Uncharted 2 arguably also has some of the finest voice acting and script writing of any video game. Combined with no apparent loading sections you could be watching any Saturday afternoon matinee as each scene moves seamlessly into the next as the story is carried forward. Alone the story is both compelling and gripping, but intertwined with such well presented voice acting and the games smooth progression from one act to the next it rides along effortlessly, conjuring up the kind of thrills and excitement one would expect from a blockbuster movie, albeit one that you are actively taking part in.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is a masterclass in how to develop a video game; a finally crafted piece of work that brings video games one step closer to a more respectable place alongside film and music. Beautifully told and simply exhilarating to play it is easily one of the finest and most accomplished games of the last decade.

10/10

Game Review: Tekken 6-PS3, Xbox 360

2010-12-26T18:57:00.000Z

In todays competitive games market where online gaming is the dominant factor in the success or failure of a title even the most popular franchises have to do more than a tweak here and a polish there to raise its head above the crowd in a bid for front room dominance. One such series is Tekken and from its early days as the king of Playstation fighters Tekken has always been a firm favourite amongst beat ‘em up fans by not so much re-inventing itself, but by staying true to its form as an accessible fighter that boasts huge amounts of hidden depth and character. It will come as a welcome surprise then to learn that Tekken 6 has stayed true to said formula.

Arcade, Vs, Online and Ghost Mode, (where you’re pitted against an endless stream opponents who’s skills are based on some of Tekken’s most proficient players as well as those you can download to test your skills), continue to deliver as satisfying a fighting experience we’ve come to expect from the series and will often have you reaching for the pad for ‘just one more go’. In a surprise move from Namco the game starts with every character unlocked; however there are also several new faces added to the roster with each bringing their own unique style to the proceedings. These new fighters come in the shape of all rounder, Spanish born Miguel; head popping cyborg Alisa; a rather large but deceptively swift Bob; wiry Egyptian hotty, Zafina; Lars who has connections to the Mishima’s; and Leo, who's is possibly the most accessible of the new breed. Along with these new characters there’s also two new systems present in combat; ‘Rage’ and ‘Bound’. The former gives players whose health is at a dangerously low level the ability to hit just that bit harder whilst the latter allows players who have begun a juggle combo to literally smash their opponent into the ground making them bounce back up into the air to unleash another barrage of strikes.

In past iterations Namco have included a handful of game modes with Tekken that stray away from the normal Vs modes. These have come in the shape of Tekken Bowl, (a very playable take on 10 pin bowling), Tekken Force and Devil Within, (both an awful take on the scrolling beat ‘em up of yesteryear), and in the sixth iteration we now have Scenario Mode. Much like Tekken Force before it Scenario Mode requires that you move from one area to the next happy slapping anyone in your path before ending each stage with the obligatory ‘Boss Fight’. Unfortunately it rarely raises itself above being anything other than a mild distraction and only really serves as a tool for which to add more features and customisations for other game modes whilst also allowing you to put your own stamp on your favourite fighters with new clothing and accessories. You could simply ignore Scenario Mode but, and here’s the rub, whereas before the unlocking of hidden characters, extra costumes, levels, cinematics and story came down to playing through Tekken’s single player arcade mode, in order to unlock many of Tekken 6’s bonus content you have to play through this dreary scrolling beat ‘em up many times over.

Thankfully then the combat proper in Tekken 6 looks and plays fantastic and is unquestionably the best of the series yet; both visually and in execution. Characters are big, bold and beautifully rendered with slick animations that are complimented with fighting arenas that are lavishly detailed and a musical score that carries the pace of battle superbly. While the traditional game modes may have-for reasons only known to Namco-taken a back seat to some half baked scrolling beat ‘em up, Tekken has a had long and favourable history where even the low points have always outclassed many other games in the genre and Tekken 6 is no exception to that rule.

Great to look at and-Scenario Mode aside-even better to play, Tekken 6 can safely hold its head high as a testament to the fact that while the humble beat ‘em up may have taken a backseat to the draw of the First Person Shooter in many a gamers homes it’s a genre that is still very much alive and kicking.

8/10

I've seen it all now...

2010-12-24T12:04:00.000Z

Game Review: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood-Multi-format

2010-12-03T18:48:00.000Z

If there’s one certainty with Ubisoft Montreal’s Assassin’s Creed series is that it’s home to a plot that makes about as much sense as a Japanese VRC instruction manual being read out loud by some guy called Desmond* and his nerdy mates, so you’ll excuse me if I refrain from attempting to iterate it back to you here. What I can tell you is that it’s set directly after the events that took place in AC: II whereupon you relinquish the role of renaissance assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze and his ongoing struggle against the Borgia. While one might be forgiven for thinking of this latest installment in the series as Assassin’s Creed 2.5, Ubisoft have actually crammed in a wealth of content, missions and side quests, combined with a single player campaign spanning over 20 hours and a competent and engaging multi-player for Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood to stand on it’s own two feet as a worthwhile inclusion to the franchise.

Save for a few new combat manoeuvres little has changed in Ezio’s repertoire of moves and abilities since the previous game, which makes for a familiar suite of inspired gameplay and clumsy awkwardness. Bounding across the rooftops of Rome with cat-like grace to then take out ones intended target with deadly precision is as satisfying as ever, but for every glorious moment of satisfaction there are [nearly] as many moments of teeth-gnashing frustration. As you nimbly run and jump from one roof top to another, what seemed like a simple combination of button presses only moments before suddenly has you bouncing off walls, leaping in the wrong direction or falling helplessly to the cobble stoned streets below. It’s the same with combat which shifts between you skilfully felling several enemies in an audacious whirlwind of steel to clumsily tripping over your own sword just as move in for the kill. You haven’t changed how you approached these situations any differently from the last time and you certainly haven’t lost all feeling in your fingers and thumbs; the game has just suddenly decided that you’re no longer quite that skilful.

It’s this lack of consistency during gameplay, (something that has been prevalent since gamers first donned the white cowl in Assassin’s Creed), that threatens to break what is-for the most part-one of the most intuitive combat-cum-platformer in years. As gamers we’re accustomed to making our own mistakes and if we lose then it should be down to our own lack of skill, not because the game suddenly decides we’re going to have a bad day by wresting control from us, if only for a few fleeting moments. Having said that, when it does all come together and you find yourself perfectly in tune with what’s happening on screen you can forgive these shortcomings and revel in its brilliance; even if it does mean reloading that previous memory and starting again.

As before Ezio can call upon the aid of the thieves, courtesans and mercenaries to help him in combat and out of tight situations, but this time around there’s the added bonus that upon Ezio destroying a Borgia Tower he can then recruit and train an assassin, (up to total of twelve), to do his bidding. Not only can you call upon these Ezio clones for support, but you also send them out into Europe to complete various assignments and contracts in order to progress their experience. XP can be spent to improve their skills, change their appearance and so on thus making them better, more efficient killers. While not a terribly new concept it is, however, another example in cementing the knowledge that AC: Brotherhood is more than just a cash cow hastily developed for Christmas and is, in fact, perhaps more of a nod towards what Ubisoft have in store for us with Assassin’s Creed III sometime in the new year or thereafter.

Of course it should come as no surprise that, like those gone before it, AC: Brotherhood looks and sounds absolutely spectacular. With noticeable improvements to character models, (facial animations and general movement being the most obvious), and sound throughout, nowhere is Ubisoft’s aesthetic overhaul in their best selling franchise more apparent than in Rome itself. Older gamers, (myself included), often speak in awe of just how far video games have come since we were children and AC: Brotherhood is one such video game that will undoubtedly stir these emotions and prompt discussion. From Rome’s sundrenched, tightly packed rooftops to its bustling, winding streets and overcrowded, sweltering market places it’s a remarkable re-creation of the ancient world in digital form; one that’s’ been so meticulously and loving crafted by its development team and the artists therein that you can almost drink the atmosphere. I’ve never been to Rome, but I doff my hat to Ubisoft for at least giving me a taste of what it may have been like to stand at the highest point of the Colosseum and look out over Rome during the 16th Century. You may find yourself plummeting to your death from the highest of towers after battling with the controls more than once in AC: Brotherhood, but at least you’ll look good doing it.

So to conclude then, this latest adventure into the world of Assassin’s Creed is unquestionably the best in the series yet. It’s story still might not make a great deal of sense and there’s still some work to be done with regards to the general flow of combat and movement, but as it stands Assassin’s Creed is a series that has gone from strength to strength with each new release and AC: Brotherhood continues that trend with aplomb. A flawed, yet beautifully crafted diamond.

8/10

* For those not in the loop, in Assassin's Creed you are, in reality, playing as a modern-day man named Desmond Miles, who through the use of a machine named the "Animus", is allowed to view and control the protagonist's genetic memories of his ancestors. In the first game it was Altaïr ibn-La'Ahad, a member of the Hashshashin during the third crusade and then Ezio Auditore de Firenze in AC: II and AC: Brotherhood consecutively.

2010-11-26T19:07:00.000Z

Gran Turismo 5-24th November. Finally, it's here!

2010-11-21T18:34:00.000Z

And reports from those who have been lucky enough to get their hands on a copy early suggest that it's the absolute mutts nuts.

However, I've agreed for the Wife to purchase it me for Christmas. It's another month, but after almost 6 years I can wait one more month. I am an adult after all...sometimes...maybe...

Moving on, below are some shots of what to expect for car interiors featured in the game. I should point out that cockpit views are reserved for GT5's premium car models; of which there are about 200 or so. Bit of a downer but lets be realistic and put a positive spin on things: GT5 has taken long enough; detailing the interiors of 1000 seperate cars would be a mammoth task and although I am a little disappointed-as I like playing from the cockpit view in nearly all racing games-not having a cockpit view in previous Gran Turismo's hasn't stopped my enjoyment of the games at all.

And here is a shot of the game in action. Petrol heads are going to love it.

Blast From The Past: WRC Evolved-PS2

2010-11-08T20:56:00.000Z

It might be five years old, but WRC: Evolved is still by and far and away the best 'real' rally game available, even bettering this years WRC on the Xbox 360 and PS3 in terms of delivery, style and execution.

WRC: Evolved not only features the complete 2005 WRC Championship, (including all the tracks, all the drivers and all the cars), but also features real dynamic weather effects as well as the impressive Random Event Engine. With this new engine developer Evolution Studios were able to kick up all kinds of events during the course of any stage; from warnings of other drivers crashed or stopped on each stage, wildlife suddenly jumping out in front of you, rocks tumbling from cliff faces, water spills from broken river banks, dust and debris kicked up by other drivers and all matter of obstacles for you to navigate as you blast your way through 16 levels of fog, snow, mud and rain at frightening speeds and at varying times of day and night. As with all the other WRC games over the years Evolved also has a co-driver who praises or scalds you depending on your performance and who, due to the random events found on each stage, is also quick to warn you of track events. The game also features real time damage and component failure which can hamper your performance; all of which adds to the sense of realism.

There is also a Rally Cross mode where up to 4 players can race in split screen mode but as good as it is it’s in the rally proper itself where WRC: Evolved really shines. The best bit? If you’ve still got your PS2, (as any good gamer should have), then you can pick it up on Amazon for about a fiver! Bargain.

Anyway, below is a video of me going at breakneck speed through the back roads of New Zealand in a Skoda Fabia. I’m playing the full 16 country season on professional level using manual/semi-automatic gears and from the cock-pit view. Hard as nails, (especially when you can only just see past the bonnet in thick fog and snow), but its great fun.

Kinect: Is your house compatible?

2010-11-05T18:48:00.000Z

Thinking of splashing out a £129.99 on a shiny new Microsoft Kinect for your Xbox 360 next week? Well before you do you might want to check to see if you're living room/bedroom/gaming room is big enough, because if it's not then Kinect simply won't work properly and you can forget about two player gaming altogether. Hit the link below and have a watch of this rather revealing vid from Gamesradar.

Oh dear, my house is not compatible with Kinect

Even if I wanted Kinect it wouldn't work in my house because while it may be a three bedroom there simply isn't enough room for it to work at it's optimal capacity in my living room. Also, I'm not going to start moving the bloody sofas and whatnot about just to play some party games, not when I've got boxes of the kids toys already behind one and a unit with a fish tank behind the other.

If you find yourself in a similar position my advice is to stick with the Nintendo Wii or buy Playstation Move instead because Kinect could end up just being an expensive waste of time. Remember, GAME, HMV, PC World and pretty much all the other retailers don't do refunds on non-faulty goods and they certainly won't refund your Kinect just because your house isn't the right size for it.

Microsoft...

2010-11-05T12:33:00.001Z

Yes, I know it's more Mortal Kombat related stuff but...

2010-11-03T19:42:00.000Z

Apparently a recent rumour, one that's neither been denied or confirmed by Mortal Kombat's creative director, Ed Boon, is that absolute bad ass Kratos from the hugely popular and frighteningly good God of War series is to make an exclusive appearance in the PS3 version of the latest Mortal Kombat game. What gives weight to the rumour is that in a recent interview Ed Boon said how much he would love to have the murderous greek god in the MK series.

If you're not sure who Kratos is and why he would be perfect for the MK series watch the following vid.

Fingers crossed, folks.

Guilty Pleasures: Mortal Kombat

2010-11-02T21:58:00.000Z

I’ll be the first to admit that Mortal Kombat has seen its fair share of turkeys both in video games and on the big screen over the years, but that hasn’t stopped me from being a huge fan. From the first moment I uppercut my opponent into a pit full of spikes and watched in glee as crimson gore spurted up into the air to then be followed by a demonic voice stating ‘Fatality!’ I knew I was hooked.

From the brilliantly observed, if cheesy, first film, the TV series with its excellently choreographed fight scenes and the-more often than not-highly entertaining video games, I’ve enjoyed it all. Arguably the most appealing aspect of the Mortal Kombat universe-and what certainly keeps me coming back for more-is the characters and the inner struggles they face between good and evil inside a rich and vibrant setting that’s bathed in a dark storyline spanning over centuries. From the ruined temples and woodland plains of Earth Realm; the seas of molten lava that make up Netherrealm; the unholy desolation of Outworld; the constant turmoil of The Realm of Chaos and the beauty of Edenia; all of which are crammed with heroic warriors, demonic Ninja’s, mutant cyborgs, gods of lightening, four armed ogres, beautiful women with a taste for human flesh and more martial art styles, blood, guts and magical fireballs than you can shake a Nunchuck at one has to ask: What’s not to like?

Okay, fair enough, as a video game the fighting mechanic has never been as polished as the likes of Street Fighter or The King of Fighters series of games but it does have a distinctive charm of its own, and one that suits the setting and the characters therein perfectly. However, when the guys behind Mortal Kombat get it right, (as they did with the Mortal Kombat Trilogy, MK: Deadly Alliance and MK: Armageddon), it works a treat, and with the new Mortal Kombat shaping up to the best MK game to date things can only get better.

It's also worth noting that Mortal Kombat was turning people into killers long before the Grand Theft Auto video games hit the scene:

On November 22, 1997, thirteen-year-old Noah Wilson died when his friend Yancy stabbed him in the chest with a kitchen knife. The mother of Noah, Andrea Wilson, alleges that her son was stabbed to death because of his obsession with the Midway game Mortal Kombat. She alleges that Yancy S. was so obsessed with the game, that the child thought he was actually the character Cyrax. This character, Cyrax, used a finishing move in which the character grabs the opponent in a headlock and stabs the character's opponent in the chest. Wilson alleges that this is the maneuver in which Yancy S., killed her son. However, despite the character's other varieties of finishing moves, the character Cyrax does not actually perform this move at all. The conclusion of Wilson v. Midway games, Inc. was, according to the court case report, "Wilson's complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. The product liability counts fail because Mortal Kombat is not a "product" within the purview-of the CPLA [...]"

And even our good friend, and disbarred attorney, Jack Thompson got all bent out of shape about his likeness appearing in a Mortal Kombat game:

In 2006, attorney Jack Thompson ordered a cease and desist to Mortal Kombat: Armageddon stating, "It has today come to my attention that the newly recently Mortal Kombat: Armageddon contains an unauthorized commercial exploitation of my name, photograph, image, and likeness within the game." In fact, what Thompson thought was an actual character put by the developer into the game, was actually created by a player, who used the game's "create-a-fighter" mode to construct a likeness of Thompson and demonstrated it in a film on YouTube. Thompson had the video successfully removed.

Whatever your thoughts on Mortal Kombat this is one fan who isn’t tired of this violent, sometimes comical slice of fiction just yet.

Golden Joystick Awards 2010

2010-10-31T15:41:00.000Z

Here's the results in full:

Action/Adventure Game of the Year

Assassin’s Creed II

Download Game of the Year

Plants Vs Zombies

Fighting Game of the Year

Super Street Fighter IV

Music Game of the Year

Guitar Hero 5

Online Game of the Year

League Of Legends

Portable Game of the Year

Pokémon Heart Gold/Soul Silver

Puzzle Game of the Year

World Of Goo

RPG of the Year

Mass Effect 2

FPS of the Year

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Racing Game of the Year

Forza 3

Shooter of the Year

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Soundtrack of the Year

Final Fantasy XIII

Sports Game of the Year

FIFA10

Strategy Game of the Year

Plants Vs Zombies

UK Developer of the Year

Jagex

One to Watch

COD: Black Ops

Ultimate Game of the Year

Mass Effect 2

Game Review: Demon's Souls-PS3

2010-10-30T14:20:00.000+01:00

Phalanx’s, dark, amorphous form shuffled toward me; deadly spears darting in and out from it’s gluttonous body, probing the air, searching for it’s pray as it’s children, the Phalangeal, surround it protectively for they know that I am here to destroy their master with fire and steel, to bring an end to its reign in this world. Circling carefully, weighing up my quarry I wait for the opportunity to strike and seeing an opening I unleash a ball of fire into the thriving mass. It explodes in a brilliant flash of light, illuminating the large hall for but the briefest of moments before the oppressive, unearthly darkness swallows it up once more, choking down the light like some unseen, gluttonous beast who’s thirst can never be sated. But I pay it no heed for my heart is as hard as the armour that encases my body and as cold as the steel I carry in my hand. I have come too far and suffered to greatly to fall now, to become a slave to the darkness of the fog that has engulfed my home world and laid it to waste.

The unearthly screams of Phalanx as the flames of my retribution sweep over its nightmarish silhouette would have shaken a normal man to madness; but I am no normal man, I have stared death in the face more than once, walked his unholy halls and have overcome his minions time and again to reach this point and I will not fail. With reflexes born of years of training and hardship I swing my mighty sword, cutting deep into the demons flank, tearing at flesh and sinew, driving home my blade, letting my enemy know that I am its death and that there is no escape. Deftly rolling to one side, barely avoiding one of the demon’s deadly spears as it passes just inches over my shoulder, its tip glistening with dried blood and the stench of decay, I spring to my feet and cast another ball of fire. The hall is lit up once more, and as the demon’s children shriek in pain and terror as the flames engulf them it’s then I sense Phalanx’s fear; I can sense that the creature is trying to flee for it knows its demise is imminent. Seizing the advantage I call upon every inch of my being, forcing my aching, battle weary body to lunge forward for the final confrontation and unleash the killing blow that will rid the world of this foul abomination…

Phalanx is the first major demon in From Software’s dark RPG, Demon’s Souls and it took me just over six hours to confront this first boss monster. Why, you may ask? The answer to that is that Demon's Souls is as difficult as video games come; in fact it’s arguably the toughest video game currently on the market, but it's because of its stoic and often unforgiving gameplay that Demon’s Souls stands out as one of the finest and most rewarding RPG’s developed in recent times.

At its core Demon’s Souls is old school gaming dressed in today’s clothing; there are no checkpoints, no randomly placed type writers or fountains to save your current progress and should you meet your end you’ll be transported back to the very beginning of the level where you’ll have to start over. For many that will be perhaps enough for them to happily to ignore From Software’s RPG long before its steep learning curve has them flinging their control pad half way across the living room. If, however, you chose to brave Demon’s Souls dark corridors and damp dungeons you’ll be greatly rewarded with a deep and immersive RPG unlike any other. In perhaps an accidental homage to the video games of yesteryear, playing through this ominous RPG is about learning though the process of repetition; playing and memorising each segment of each level meticulously; remembering the safest pathways; and where to avoid the most powerful of enemies. Running in blindly, swinging your weapon haphazardly will lead to a swift death, but edging your way through each level carefully, feeling your way a piece at a time; understanding that a short sword is more preferable to a spear in a tight corridor, or that a cumbersome battle axe might not be the best choice against more dextrous enemies and that weighing up your foe and ascertaining the situation before leaping into battle will, more often than not, see you emerge victorious. Patience is your greatest ally in Demon’s Souls, not rampant button mashing in the vein hope that you might just chance your way through.

Sanctuary is provided by the Nexus, a mystical hub of crumbling, medieval architecture, twisting stairways and dimly lit corridors. It’s also from here that you enter each realm currently held in sway by some magnificent, yet terrifying demon and its minions. As you progress through each of the five regions, (which split into 3-4 levels per region), dispatching the undead, possessed guardsmen and lesser demons you’ll collect souls and it’s these souls that are your key to victory. Souls double up as both the in-game monetary and leveling currency with which you can buy and repair new weapons, armour and items and also use to improve your overall stats and upgrade your character. Thankfully with each death you retain any new items and upgrades added to your chosen hero thus making each time you enter a realm that little easier. Ironically, the more times you embrace death not only will you have a better understanding of your environment and how best approach each region, but the more powerful you will eventually become; those initial stumbling first steps will, in time, become a distant memory as you carefully weave your way through each area, turning the tables in your favour. However, on dying any souls you have collected are instantly lost on your return to the beginning of the level and the only way to regain them is by fighting your way back to the point at which you died, but should you be slain a second time those souls will be lost forever. It’s a tough lesson in self preservation, but it’s through these harsh lessons that Demon’s Souls offers up an utterly believable sense of immersion; a beautifully crafted, coherent and absolutely logical world where each mistake leading to your sudden, and often brutal demise is-ultimately-of your own making and yet with each failure you learn, you adapt and eventually you begin to succeed; and the satisfaction that comes with that is an experience that you'll want to savour time and again.

Demon’s Souls gameplay can also change depending on how the player acts in each region, shifting each realm and their character between light and dark. This is known as World and Character Tendency respectively and can effect, to some degree, how the world and its inhabitants react to you and how powerful items and creatures therein are. While multiple choices and their conclusions are nothing new in today’s RPGs it’s the ability to constantly manipulate your Character Tendency to suit your current needs, allowing you to switch seamlessly from light to dark as little or as often as you like that separates it from many of its peers. What’s also interesting is that shifting your tendency from light to dark or vice versa in any of the regions only affects that particular region and not the world as a whole so it’s important to create a healthy balance when moving between realms and try to maintain the most suitable tendency for your chosen character and class. Like the majority of Demon’s Soul, understanding World & Character Tendency can be quite daunting for the newcomer, but as with everything else once it slots into place it makes perfect sense and becomes as equally important and plays as integral a part in ones progression as every other facet of this cleverly constructed slice of interactive entertainment.

While Demon’s Souls is ostensibly a solitary experience one of its greatest assets comes in its multi-player. Unlike the usual slew of multi-player modes found in many other games, From Software has cleverly woven it into the single player experience thus never breaking the sensation of facing the darkness of this haunting world alone. In each region, players-who are represented by ghostly apparitions that occasionally flit by you, battling their own unseen monsters-can leave messages that will help, (or hinder), your progress, warning you of enemies lying in ambush or of helpful NPC’s who otherwise may have met an untimely death at the end of your overly nervous sword arm. Throughout you’ll also find blood stains of other fallen heroes and by activating these you become privy to said players last moments giving you an insight to how they died thus giving you the opportunity to avoid repeating the same mistake. It’s also possible to call upon other players to assist you in clearing out a dungeon teeming with monsters or defeat difficult bosses, however it’s also entirely possible for other players to ‘break’ into your world and assassinate you and steal your souls. It’s a bit of a gamble as the attacker is unaware of the prowess of the player they’re attempting to assassinate and as such there’s always the chance that they themselves may be the one skewered on the end of a pole-arm. It’s an ingenious take on multi-player and one that works perfectly in tune with Demon’s Souls trial and error gameplay.

Few games are as bold as Demon’s Souls and fewer still are as unwilling to compromise their vision and, in the case of From Software’s creation, their unique identity. Many will be taken aback by its stark difficulty that much is true, but if the fundamental reason as to why so many are drawn to video games is in the lure of the challenge itself and the reward thereafter then arguably the finest examples of the medium are those that reap the greatest rewards, but only through the greatest of hardship.

10/10

Slayer Goes To Church

2010-10-26T19:09:00.000+01:00

Joe Kelly-Rock On!

2010-10-25T19:50:00.000+01:00

A good friend of mine, Mr Joe Kelly, secured himself a place in the final of Open Mic UK yesterday in Cardiff. Well done fella!

If you want to check out some of his work here's a link to his MySpace page: JDKelly

Mortal Kombat-Ed Boon Interview

2010-10-25T19:20:00.000+01:00

This is going to be ace.

7outof10 Needs You!

2010-10-18T20:30:00.000+01:00

Whilst we’d normally be happy to offer up our consistent dribble of content onto the front page in the hope that some of you come back; we’ve recently caught a gust of windy motivation here at 7outof10 towers, and feel empowered – nay, driven – to bring those of you that gaze skyward along for the ride.

If you’re at all interested in writing about videogames – whether it’s reviews, previews, features, interviews, or the diaries of a real-life Katamari – please get in touch and you could soon have your own little graphical box on the front page. It might even have a number next to it, at which point all of your personal validation issues will instantly disappear, and life will become solely about fluffy kittens and dreamy comment unicorns.

We’re looking for anybody with a passion and aptitude for the task, and if you have any interesting ideas for content we’re open to suggestion and positively brimming with encouragement. We can’t offer payment just yet, but we can offer life-affirming feedback and the occasional free game, both of which – in this economic climate – are invaluable.

So, if any of that sounds like you (and particularly if you are a comment unicorn) drop us an email to:

mailbox@7outof10.co.uk

Get to it!

Emmanuel Brown
Editor-7outof10

Game Review: Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2-Xbox 360, PS3

2010-10-18T18:45:00.000+01:00

It’s clear from the off that Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 has been developed with its fanbase solely in mind and if-like me-you’re unfamiliar with this particular slice of manga/anime you may find the tale of a young boy’s journey to become the Ultimate Ninja, (or as it’s known in the context of the story, a Hokage), more than a little daunting. Never the less as far as fighting games go it’s a pretty solid affair, one that’s resplendent with beautifully drawn characters and environments and the kind of super slick, stylish animation found in many of today’s Japanese animated cinema.

Attack, jump, special moves and shurikens are consigned to each of the four main controller buttons making string attacks, juggles and combos easier to pull out of the bag. Whilst some may bulk at the simplistic control scheme there’s a good reason for why this approach has been adopted: fighting arenas in Ninja Storm 2 work in a full three dimensional plane that constantly shifts and turns depending on you’re location during combat. It’s an interesting take on the 3D fighter and one that works in considerable favour towards convincing the player that they’re in a living anime crammed with colourful explosions of power and dazzling pyrotechnics. Each of the characters can call upon ‘Chakra’ which, put simply, is a bond of elemental and physical energy that can be harnessed to unleash Jutsu (abilities) or Ultimate Jutsu (special finishers), all of which are quite magnificent in their execution and can turn the tide of battle in an heartbeat. Combining Chakra with simple attacks can also unleash powerful combos, allowing one to launch their opponent high into the air for a juggle attack before slamming them back down to the ground below.

What makes each fight so visually engaging is the camera frantically following the action frame by frame; from simple combo to spectacular finishing move it’s almost difficult to keep up with at times and it'll have your head in a spin. Unleash an Ultimate Jutsu and the camera will zoom in to capture your chosen fighters determination etched across their face and then just as quickly zoom out to show the entire arena before smoothly panning around as each fighter jumps back from a flurry of blows. The real skill involved in Ninja Storm 2 is being able to use the ever shifting three dimensional environments to your advantage, especially during team battles where you and your opponent can call upon others fighters to help out with guard, defensive and balance attacks. Constantly moving around the arena, using Chakra to quickly zigzag forward to then launch into the air at just the right moment to get behind ones opponent in a surprise move is a requisite for success. Done right it can be immensely satisfying and once mastered you’ll be able to give even the most challenging of players the run around, chipping away at their life force in a dazzling display of skill before taking them down with an audacious finishing move.

As well as a Free Battle mode, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 also allows you to take the combat online-the first in the series to do so- and, more interestingly, has an ‘Ultimate Adventure’ mode much like the story mode found in Tekken 6. However, unlike the former Cyber Connect 2’s offering doesn’t feel tacked on and is a much more fleshed out experience, one that goes a long way to explaining who Naruto is and some of the history behind the world and the characters therein. Beginning in a place known as Hidden Leaf Village, Naruto returns from a three year training stint and it’s here that you’re thrown into a brief introduction to the games key fighting mechanics, how to obtain, trade and buy items and how to explore and interact with the world Naruto inhabits. Encounters through the course of the adventure are played out the same as in the single player mode but with the added twist that boss fights are intertwined with QTEs and mini-puzzle games which add an extra dimension to the combat whilst also working as an excuse for the game to show off some of its stunning visuals.

Ultimate Adventure also allows you to unlock a huge array of extras and goodies for use in online play, VS and single player modes. Like with many of today’s beat em ups gamers expect more than just a simple Single Player and VS mode for their hard earned cash and so between Ultimate Adventure, Free Battle, VS, Online Battle and tons of hidden extras there’ certainly a lot of bang for your buck to be found here and as such you may quickly find yourself spending hours trying to discover and unlock all these hidden extras. It’s also worth noting that Ninja Storm 2 is infused with some fantastic audio. From the ‘whoosh’ of air as your fighter zip, flips and springs into combat; the deafening crack of lightening exploding forth from fingertips; and the thunder of the ground being ripped up through sheer force of will; there really is nothing quite like it in the fighting genre and will leave anime fans, new and old, breathless.

Still, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 won’t appeal to everyone outside of the core fanbase and with its strong leanings toward Japanese culture it could be off-putting for some audiences. It’s lack of depth, when compared to other fighters currently on the market, will almost certainly have beat ‘em up aficionados turn their collective noses up at it, and that it’s considered a ‘kids cartoon’ by many will undoubtedly see Ninja Storm 2 ignored by the older generation. Having said that, what it does do is not only offer up a unique spin on the traditional beat ‘em up, but it does it with a sense of style and razor sharp direction rarely seen in many of today’s video games. It’s not perfect, but its damn good fun and that alone is perhaps enough for Naruto to garner a few more fans outside of the land of the rising sun.

8/10

2010-10-13T21:03:00.000+01:00

My Dying Bride

2010-10-11T00:24:00.000+01:00

So, I’ve spent the best part of this evening burning all my CD's from my favourite band, My Dying Bride, then converting my favourite tracks to my phone. Being as I have their entire discography on original CD's it's been a mammoth task I can tell you. I've been a My Dying Bride fan since 1992 and while I don't get chance to see them live these days due to other, obvious commitments, (last time was at Derby on a friends stag do in 2006 where I got a drunken, 'metal face' photo-see below-with front man Aaron Stainthorpe and guitarist Hamish Glencross), I continue to be an avid fan. Even the wife, who has no idea who they are, surprised me one Christmas with their live DVD, Sinamorata, which was filmed at atHof Ter Lo in Antwerp in 2003. Bless her.

After meeting them and discovering that they're really sound guys who not only appreciate their fans, but who also have a lot of time for them regardless of age and who you are, my own appreciation for their music soared. May they long continue.

Yeah, a lot of booze was consumed that day and if my memory serves me correctly I'm sure I hit the deck in the mosh pit. Getting to old for that shit now-moshing, that is. Doesn't look quite as good with thinning hair either...

Van Helsing and those Vampires....

2010-10-08T20:04:00.000+01:00

I was up late last night watching the Van Helsing movie from 2004 featuring Hugh Jackman and the lovely Kate Beckinsale. While it may not be the greatest of films it is mildy entertaining, boasts some rather good special effects and when it comes to portraying Vampires it, quite litterally, shits all over those awful Twilight movies...

This...(heeello)

Turns into this...

Then this monstrosity ...

That's how Vampires should be done, and for that Van Helsing garners some kudos.

The Apprentice or “As Useful as a Cock Flavoured Lollipop”

2010-10-06T22:14:00.000+01:00

I make no secret of the fact that I’m not a huge fan of reality TV, but like any good middle aged moaner it’s always advisable to have some knowledge of what you’re ranting about. At its core there’s nothing essentially wrong with reality TV and for the first couple of series some of these slices of TV ‘entertainment’ aren’t inherently bad. You either like reality TV, loath it or have an air of indifference about it. Unfortunately because they’re cheap to produce television executives keep rolling them out over and again until they become a parody of themselves and eventually all that’s being wheeled out is some dead, rotting corpse that stinks the place up something awful; the only reason we don’t notice is because we’ve all become as vacant as Holly Willoughby staring into an autocue desperately trying to find the full stops. So yes, I have at times succumbed to the power of reality TV and, admittedly, have even enjoyed it on occasion. Master Chef anyone?

So, onto the Apprentice. I watched and enjoyed the first, was bored by the time I got half way through the second and wanted to scratch my own eyes out by the third. A new series has begun this week and I felt compelled to have a quick look to see if it might entertain. It took about 10 minutes for me to decide that eating a bucket of shit that had been left out in the sun for a whole day would be preferable.

Ill explain.

The girls and the boys were divided into two groups with their first task being to conjure up a snazzy, original, but empowering team name. Quite a simple task one might imagine until this Janet Street Porter look alike who seemed to have tore off Pinks peroxide blonde, spiky scalp and then proceeded to staple it to her own head, said:

“I think we should call ourselves Winning Women!”

Yeah, you can see where this going.

One of the other female ‘contestants’ then piped up suggesting that might not be such a good idea because at some point the groups would be put into a mixture of boys and girls, to which our Janet look alike replied:

“Oh yeah, that hadn’t actually occurred to me…”

No poppet, it clearly didn’t, and you want to know why? BECAUSE WHEN YOU PACKED YOUR SUITCASE TO EMBARK ON YOUR GRAND ADVENTURE YOU PUT IN A PORK PIE INSTEAD OF YOUR FUCKING BRAIN!

Jack Thompson claims Medal of Honor victory

2010-10-06T19:50:00.000+01:00

Remember ambulance chasing US Lawyer Jack Thompson? The hellfire and brimstone bible bashing lawyer who got disbarred for raising a string of frivolous lawsuits against various parties, which included some of the biggest players in the video game industry because, to his mind, they were creating 'murder simulators' and 'teaching kids how to use real weaponary'?

Well he's back and is as big a twonk as ever.

Read on:

From MCV:

Jack Thompson says gamers who don’t appreciate what he does for American culture “can go to Hell”

Shamed former US lawyer Jack Thompson has reared his ugly head once more, claiming ‘victory’ in what he sees as a battle against EA to get the Taliban removed from next week’s Medal of Honor.

EA confirmed last week that following a period of pressure and media hype it has removed reference to the Taliban from the game, deferring instead to the generic title of ‘Opposing Force’.

Ripten reports that Thompson had previously written to US Defense Secretary Robert Gates in an effort to get the game banned.

“With all respect for everything else on your plate, but as someone who has represented the surviving family members of such video game-caused massacres, I personally urge you, as Secretary of Defense, to do what is necessary, proper, and legal to stop the release of Medal of Honor on October 12th on the basis that it poses a demonstrable danger to our troops by providing a training tool for those who wish to kill them,” his letter read.

“I would also strongly suggest that the Defense Department find out who these Special Ops people are who have acted so foolishly in this regard.

“Finally, I believe the full weight of the federal government should come down upon Electronic Arts and the video game industry’s Entertainment Software Association for their allowing, presently and fraudulently, despite promises to Congress, the widespread pre-sale of this adult game to minors throughout the country and around the world.”

When asked for comment by Ripten, Thompson replied with the following:
“I win again, as usual. Any gamers who don’t think so and who don’t appreciate what I do to protect our culture can go to Hell.

“And please add: Any gamers that don’t know how to get to Hell on an expedited basis, let me know, and I’ll send along the cheat code to get there more quickly.”

Of course, no one with a modicum of intelligence and reason takes this muppet seriously any more and the man is clearly in need of some psychiatric help, but still it's nice to see he's still around, being mad and providing us all with some entertainment.

Just for the record, Jack had nothing to do with the Taliban reference being removed from Medal of Honors' multi-player aspect, he just decided he should take sole credit for it for reasons unbekown to anyone but himself. A stone cold case for the man being locked up in a room made out of rubber wall paper if ever there was one.

Sorry Jack, but being disbarred for being barking mad does not constitute as 'winning' in anyones book.

Blast From the Past: Gauntlet, Doom, Burnout 3: Takedown

2010-10-05T20:36:00.000+01:00

GAUNTLET

Released by Atari in 1986 during the emergence of popularity of role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, the game was a sensation being one of the first true dungeon crawl arcade games. Countless home ports, re-imagings’ and re-makes of this hugely popular arcade game surfaced over the years but it was the original arcade game that remains one of the most popular and important video games of all time-so much so that it even saw itself re-launched on Xbox Live Arcade. Arguably without Gauntlet we may never have seen the likes of World of Warcraft and many other popular RPG’s that have fascinated and enthralled gamers over the years. For my part, (as a fan of Table Top RPG’s back in my youth), Atari’s dungeon crawler was the video game that cemented my own passion for games and gaming and today still remains as one of my all time favourite video games.

DOOM

In 1993 programmer John Carmack and designer John Romero unleashed their first-person shooter Doom onto the world and suddenly what was possible with gaming was changed forever. Widely recognized for having popularized the first person shooter genre; pioneering immersive 3D graphics, networked multiplayer gaming and support for customized additions and modifications, Doom was an overnight sensation. Halo and Call of Duty might be the crème de la crème of modern day, online multi-player first-person shooters, but without Doom they may have never existed; certainly not in their current format. In 2004 Doom was re-designed and released as Doom 3, a darker, more sinister take on the 1993 original. Boasting state of the art visuals, sound and effects, id Software’s remake was, unsurprisingly, met with critical and commercial success. I dare anyone to play Doom 3 on their own, in the dark, with headphones on for more than a couple of hours without having to take a break due to it being so pant-wettingly frightening. However, the original Doom is still a firm favourite and is as playable and as intense as it was nearly twenty years ago.

BURNOUT 3: TAKEDOWN

Criterion Games' take on arcade racing mayhem with Burnout 1 & 2 saw this small British developer garner the interests of publishing giant Electronic Arts soon after their original publisher, Acclaim, went bankrupt. To say their relationship with EA got off to a rocky start is an understatement, but through sheer stubbornness of Criterion’s lead developers wanting more creative freedom, EA soon decided that their current project(s) be scrapped and that the Criterion should do what it does best. The result was one of the most exhilarating and addictive combat racing games ever created: Burnout 3:Takedown. Featuring state-of-the-art visuals and effects with game play that took players at breakneck speeds through hundreds of events across the USA, Europe and the Far East using every dirty trick in the book to take out the opposition, Burnout 3: Takedown was an absolute blast and was very difficult to put down once you’d begun. It was also the first racing game that upon taking out an opponent the camera would, on the fly, zip back in slow motion and gleefully show you your rivals vehicle flip and turn in mid air, spewing out chunks of car and glass before throwing you straight back into the action in one seamless moment. It was impressive stuff and set the game apart from many of its peers by a country mile. While each subsequent sequel has proven to be as entertaining in their own right, (particularly the recent Burnout: Paradise with its open world gameplay), they've failed to capture the magic of Burnout 3: Takedown.

Game Review: Blade Kitten-XBLA, PSN, PC

2010-10-03T22:07:00.000+01:00

The ability to download video games via market places such as XBLA, PSN and Steam may be nothing new these days but the last year or so has seen a slew of quality, affordable titles that have proven to be as entertaining and engaging as much of the premium boxed product filling high street shelves. Ranging from the inspiring, to the simplistic to the down right bizarre, these pick-up-and-play slices of entertainment have grown not just in sheer volume but in measured quality over time and, unsurprisingly, are hugely popular amongst the gaming community and games media alike. Without the constraints of time lines enforced by over zealous publishers or lucrative film studios, the creative freedom offered through producing entertainment for the downloadable market is a boon to developers keen to show of their talents without a having to contend with-for the most part-a mountain of pressure and innumerable rising costs.

Blade Kitten is one such video game and while on the surface it may appear to be a cynical stab at past greats such as Strider and Pandemonium, Krome Studios’ frenetic platformer carries a delightful charm all of its own design. Taking control of a pink haired, sassy, American teenage voiced, bounty hunting cat-girl named Kit and her veritable roster of skills and abilities, Krome Studios’ throws you into a vibrant, colourful world resplendent with big, chunky visuals that fill the screen. Each level offers its own unique style as you take Kit on her adventure of wall jumping, projectile hurling, sword swinging and nimble cat climbing, dispatching the local law enforcement and collecting tokens of various colour and value as you go. There's no doubting that Blade Kitten is a very pretty game and its mixture of American styled cartoon art and Japanese anime is a welcome change from all the browns and greys dominating many of today's blockbuster titles.

Kit’s goal is simple: Collect enough tokens and buy herself a new space ship to replace the one destroyed by said law enforcement whilst at the same time try to retrieve a bounty stolen by a rival. As well her acrobatic and wall climbing skills, Kit is armed with an electrified floating sword that obeys her every command and that can be used as both a close combat weapon and projectile attack. Perform enough combos and head stomps and our heroine can pull out of the bag a Matrix style special attack taking down everyone in her path for the duration of the move. Kit’s sword is also helpful in hitting switches and releasing traps that are otherwise unobtainable, allowing Kit to traverse dangerous fire pits and unlock countless secret areas and alternate pathways.

As you progress, Kit will pick up a few helpful hangers-on along the way, ride a hairless Chocobo type camel thing, run and jump like the clappers away from screen-filling bosses and encounter a host of bizarre characters and creatures. These interludes go a long way in helping to mix things up a bit in what is ostensibly your typical platformer and, thankfully, do so without breaking to much away from the original template. Add into the mix the ability to visit the local merchant where you can buy new weapons, upgrades and costumes for our nimble heroine, a funky selection of tunes ranging from jazz fusion to up beat techno and what you have is a well rounded slice of platforming action that should be appeal to all types of gamers looking for a undemanding, Sunday afternoons bout of gaming.

Krome Studios’ platformer is not without its faults of course. The camera likes to keep the sensation of being constantly on the move and while it does add to the ‘zaniness’ of the game with it’s constant zipping in and out and panning around it does take a little getting used to in the opening stages, especially when chaining together Kit’s repertoire of moves. Also, in perhaps a bid to maintain a sense of speed, some of the levels are far too short and lack some of the exploration and the endless amounts of collectables found in many of the other levels leaving you feeling somewhat cheated. Did I mention the voice acting? While its not quite as cringe worthy as Resident Evil on the PSone it can grate, but having said that it suits it's purpose well enough even if it is more Nickelodeon than Shakespeare. Other than that though, unless you’re looking for gritty realism combined with multi-million dollar set pieces and effects, there’s very little here to complain about.

Blade Kitten may not be the most original of concepts and makes no excuses for wearing its influences clearly on its sleeve and as such has its tongue firmly set in its cheek. Is it homage or a blatant rip-off of past glories? Well I guess that’s up for debate, but what ever you might decide one thing is for certain, Blade Kitten is an absolute blast.

8/10

Movie Review: Twilight Saga, (1-3)

2010-10-03T12:22:00.001+01:00

The popularity of ‘The Vampire’ has seen a resurgence in recent times, no more so than amongst young adults and bored housewives who have, quite literally, fallen head over heels in love with the Twilight Series; a collection of romantic, fantasy novels penned by American author, Stephanie Meyer. Our tale is of one young American girl Bella, who falls in love with an 108 year old vampire Edward, who along with his family has turned away from taking human life in a bid to try and eke out their lives as normal human beings, or as normal as one can whilst trying to avoid being caught out in direct sunlight and exposing their true nature. The tale of forbidden love between mortal and immortal is an oft told one in vampire lore, but here the story is set within a high school in the sleepy town of Forks, Washington USA. Throw in a few werewolves, a love triangle and a few other ‘minor’ complications along the way and the scene is set.

The books were a hit and so it wasn’t long before a film adaptation of said books were in full production and, subsequently, became a global phenomenon. Having not read the books I can only assume, and if history has taught us anything, they’re better than what’s on offer here. Even without prior knowledge of the books the story feels disjointed and unfinished, as if whole chapters and important set pieces have been omitted altogether leaving the viewer often wondering what the hell is going on and why any of it matters, if at all.

Romance plays a huge part in many a movie and for a few is the core ingredient of some of the most celebrated films ever made, but here, ( in the first three films based on the novels of the same name), its delivery is water thin, sometimes unbearably cheesy and often just plain silly. Matters are made even worse by the fact that our heroine Bella, (Kristen Stewart), is as an un-likeable and wholly unremarkable individual as you’ll ever likely come across. Our love sick teen swans from one miserable scene to the next, dragging her self-pitying bottom lip across the ground, grumbling and generally acting like a spoilt, selfish child towards anyone or anything she stumbles into. Remember Kevin and Perry from the Harry Enfield Show? Yes, you’ve got it, just like that. The story tries to justify Bella’s unhappiness with her life by her being an only child whose parents have separated, and while divorce can and often does affect any children involved, here, in Twilight, it backfires-embarrassingly so. Both Bella’s parents are not only seemingly more content in their day to day lives and clearly a great deal happier by their decision to separate, they both show an equal amount of love and affection toward their daughter and never starve her of a stable up-bringing while at the same time doing all that they can to guide and help her make the right choices in life. Bella gets on exceedingly well with her non-violent stepfather; her natural father isn’t a drunk; her mum isn’t the local whore. In fact Bella’s life is as well balanced, well rounded and as safe as any young person could ask for. Unfortunately though, Bella fails to rise beyond being anything other than an annoying, ungrateful little brat that needs a thick ear, or in our more politically correct society, a good ‘talking to’.

So what of the vampires themselves? In short they are without a doubt the most dreary, two-dimensional blood suckers to ever grace the big screen. Given that the vampire is arguably the most famous mythical creature ever to exist in popular folklore, one that boasts a rich and fascinating history dating as far back as Greek and Roman times with more than a thousand stories, tales and fables portraying this fearsome creature-of-the-night, that’s quite a feat.

Yes Twilights’ vampires can move fast, are extremely powerful and yes they drink the blood of the living, but they’re so flat and lifeless, (no pun intended), that just watching them amble about looking like they’re constantly auditioning for a Marilyn Manson music video will have you willing Van Helsing to make an appearance and exact his own particular brand of vampire slaying justice. Like his chosen family, Edward, (Robert Pattinson), is as equally boresome; his unwillingness to accept who and what he is, is accentuated all the more due to his having fallen in love with a human, (Bella), and who now won’t quit whining about the unfairness of his predicament . Further more, Edward and his clan’s attempts at trying to fit their vampiric nature around his pet human is not only cringe inducing, but will have you fighting to take any of it seriously as you attempt to stifle bouts of laughter at the ridiculousness of it all. “We’re glad to have you come by my dear; it means we get to use our Ikea kitchen for the first time!” It’s more The Munsters than Hammer Horror and as such isn’t very big on scares or the kind of nail-biting drama one would often associate with a vampire movie featuring werewolves.

And that is much of what the three films are about; the forbidden love between vampire and human in the face of adversity. There’s nothing wrong with the idea, it’s the staple on which all vampire tales are essentially built, but in Twilight it simply drags itself along at a snails pace without any real sense of direction and rarely will it have the blood pumping. Even the inclusion of love rival Jake, (who happens to be a vampire hunting werewolf from a long line of Native Americans ), struggle to make one care about the dark, romantic tale being played out and the characters therein. Having said that there is a glimmer of hope in the appearance of seasoned British actor Michael Sheen, who in the second film Twilight: New Moon plays Aro and who is also one of the Volturi; a powerful vampire clan considered to be royalty amongst other vampires due to their rather lengthy time as immortals. As expected Sheen delivers a performance with his usual sense of conviction and grandeur and for the brief time he’s on screen Twilights’ vampires feel more real, more alluring and more satisfyingly dangerous than they have for the entire three films. However by the time you’ve reached the third instalment, Twilight: Eclipse, you’ll be pleading for more than just a cameo to lift this irksome tale above its own sense of self-indulgence and deliver just a sliver of edge-of-your-seat-excitement. But it never comes, and so Twilight continues to drown, choking on its own mediocrity as one enervative side plot follows another usually involving some ingenious way to bump off Bella, who, consequently, has been far more of a thorn in the side for her new found friends than not which begs the question: why are they still putting up with her?

Fact is the Twilight movies aren’t very good. They’re neither tense nor thrilling; the plot is forced, often trite and leaves far too many plot holes and loose ends scattered about to bring a sense of satisfaction to any of Twilights’ conclusions. In all fairness the movies are more akin to a teen TV serial similar to Dawson’s Creak, albeit with vampires. With that in mind perhaps fleshing out the Twilight Saga over the course of a televised series would have been a far more agreeable approach and may have perhaps made for a more interesting, well rounded viewing experience? Then again, let’s not put ideas in their heads.

Maybe I simply don’t get it, and I freely admit that I’m not the most romantic individual out there, but anyone who is a fan of vampire lore and who has experienced the rather excellent Dracula: Prince of Darkness or perhaps read more than a few vampire novels in their time, should be confident in their knowledge as to what makes for a good vampire tale, because teen love and buckets of confused hormones oozing out of every pore are not it I’m sorry to say.

2/10

Game Preview: WRC 2010-Xbox 360, PS3

2010-09-26T11:10:00.000+01:00

It’s been five years since the last WRC title, and during that time the reigns have been passed to Italian based developers Milestone, with the title being published by Black Bean Games. While the small developer has predominantly produced racing games since founding in 1996, (most notably the SBK: Superbike World Championship), given the success of the series with previous developer Evolution Studios, landing the WRC licence has given Milestone quite a hill to climb when delivering a next generation rally simulation worthy of the sport.

As WRC 2010 carries the official WRC licence, all the tracks, drivers and cars are the real deal, right down to the decals on the tyre trims. In the demo you’re presented with a choice between taking the wheel of a Ford Focus RS driven by Mikko Hivonen or Sebastian Loeb’s Citroen C4. Once you’ve made your selection there are two courses to choose from; the quick, open, gravel and tarmac wooded lanes of an overcast Finland or the [infinitely more difficult] searing heat of Jordon with its tight, winding, loose gravel mountain roads. Whilst the front-end isn’t the most important aspect of any game it is important to note that – like the promise of a delicious meal – the first bite is always with the eye, and here Milestone have failed to deliver that all important first taste to get the juices flowing. After the impressive, three-dimensional design of Codemasters front-end in CMR: Dirt2, Milestones’ effort seems a little bland, offering not much more than a scrolling bar at the bottom of the screen with some rather flat, colourless option tabs. Whether this is down to it being early code is unknown, but with only two weeks or so before launch Milestone have to deliver something punchier to keep up with the competition.

Thankfully, moving into the game proper, WRC 2010 turns out to be well drawn, very smooth and extremely well detailed with some excellent use of lighting and effects. Thundering down open straights chunks of gravel and dirt kick up around the car as you throw your vehicle into tight corners, hairline window screen cracks appear and grow with time, headlights shatter and body work crumples and deforms realistically. Milestone have also put a lot of painstaking work into the sound of the vehicles and the surrounding environment, clearly believing that sound is as much an important part of the quintessential rally experience as any other aspect; the roar of the engine as you power out of a corner, the whistling of the turbo as you shift through the gears and the crunch and pop of gravel, dirt and rock beneath your racing machine built to take on all that Mother Nature can throw at it is very satisfying.

After playing this short trial it’s clear that WRC 2010 leans more toward the simulation side of proceedings than that of previous iterations, and as such can be quite arduous and may even prove a challenge for rally veterans keen to step into the shoes of their heroes. Even without the presence of rain, mud, ice or snow, not feathering the breaks at the correct points in time or putting to much-or not enough-emphasis on acceleration, or simply the slightest lapse in concentration can quickly find you spinning out of control after clipping that rock hidden on a blind corner, or send you hurtling sideways unerringly toward a firmly planted tree, your wheels locking up tight as you desperately fight to gain control. Matters aren’t helped by the fact that such errors will garner a swift rebuke from your co-driver who, as quick as he is to commend your racing ability is even quicker to condemn you.

If there’s a concern to be had then it’s that the cars at this stage arguably feel a little light, especially at high speeds. Having said that, the steering is tight and concise with the transition between tyre and road surface being – for the most part – satisfyingly tangible as you shift and move across varying grades of gravel and tarmac. How this will pan out in the full game when the WRC takes you over ice covered mountain ranges, rain swept roads or muddy woodland areas remains to be seen, but as it stands this trial run fills one with more confidence than not.

With F1 2010 already on its way to retailers shelves, Sony’s Gran Turismo 5 just around the corner and Codemasters promising to serve up a more rounded off-road experience early next year with Dirt 3, WRC 2010 certainly has its work cut out for it. But if this promising early glimpse is anything to go by, (and that the WRC licence is already an established brand in video games), then publisher Black Bean Games could find themselves in a good position in an otherwise saturated market. At the very least, certainly for the rally enthusiast, WRC 2010 is already looking like it might very well raise a few smiles.

Game Review: Tom Clancy's H. A. W.X 2-Xbox 360, PS3

2010-09-18T20:40:00.000+01:00

Above all the most important element for any video game to work is fun. Without this key ingredient many a million dollar project has found its way into the pre-owned bins or had its original price slashed by retailers in the space of only a few weeks after launch. ‘Fun’ is key to holding your captive audience when dealing with interactive entertainment; that and a good bit of PR. Thankfully, French powerhouse publisher Ubisoft have delivered on both counts when concerning their award winning series of war games based on the works of pro-Cold War novelist, Tom Clancy. Like the novels the games are an explosive mixture of brutal modern day warfare and technical espionage that have captured the imaginations of millions of gamers the world over, so when Ubisoft decided to take their lucrative franchise to the skies with Tom Clancy’s: H.A.W.X, good things were expected.

During the course of development process, however, someone forgot to inject that all important fun factor into Ubi’s latest project and what was released onto retailers’ shelves was a shadow of the glory days of Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell. Dull, tedious and lacking in any real entertainment value, many considered Tom Clancy’s: H.A.W.X as perhaps a step to far in a series of games that was running out of steam and more importantly, ideas.

Fast forward a year and a half later and Ubisoft have decided to have another crack at the whip to once again try and claim dominance in the realms of tactical, aerial based combat. The first instalment left plenty of room for improvement; so naturally the biggest question on everyone’s lips was whether or not Ubisoft could take the criticism levelled at H.A.W.X on board, utilize it and succeed in delivering the kind of frantic, pulse pounding air-based combat simulator all were expecting the first time around.

The answer to that is yes and no. With Ubi’s sequel there’s a constant nagging in the back of your mind that not everything is working quite as well as it could, or indeed should. H.A.W.X 2 looks like a Tom Clancy game, feels like a Tom Clancy game, but rarely does it play like a Tom Clancy game. The thrills and excitement that are common place with the Tom Clancy franchise are to far a few between, and yet a part of you really wants to like it.

After a brief introduction you take command of an American Fighter Pilot who gets shot down and taken hostage by some militant force with a drum to beat. Soon after you find yourself in the shoes of a British Fighter Pilot whereupon, (with the help of an obligatory training section), you get to grips with the basics of manoeuvring, combat and landing. As with all games that involve war it isn’t long before it all goes belly up; your training is cut short and Allied Forces suddenly find themselves in a position of high alert. It’s not the most gripping of starts to a video game where the emphasis is placed on edge-of-your-seat-action and as such this slow, somewhat cumbersome introduction doesn’t bode well for what lays ahead. Next it’s off to Russia where you take command of a MiG29 Fulcrum and plunge headlong into your first taste of ‘real’ combat. Whilst there are flashes of inspiration and the ocasional sense of achievement to be had during these aerial clashes- like manoeuvring from out of the path of a volley of enemy missiles or taking out several enemy craft in succession as you pass over and around dangerous mountain peaks-all to often it can feel like a chore as you lazily move from one set piece to the next wishing for something exciting to happen.

H.A.W.X 2 is also painfully slow at times and like racing games of old it’s as if the world around you is moving while you’re in a fixed position. It’s only when you activate the ‘Assistance OFF’ mode which forces an, albeit impressive, external ‘dogfight camera’ that you suddenly get a sense of being separated from your surroundings as you bank, roll and sweep out of danger.

Takingyour craft low across open deserts, through tight canyons and over lush forests the expected rush of the environment zipping by never reaches its climax; there’s the ‘crack’ of thunder as the sound barrier is broken, but that’s all it ever is. As a result you’ll find yourself begging for something, anything, to make it seem like you really are rocketing across huge, open landscapes at frightening speeds in a MiG29 or any of the other 30+ fighter jets available throughout the game. While some might argue that the sense of speed is relative to how it might actually feel whilst sat in the cockpit of an F-14 fighter jet, that’s a moot point because unless you brave the unfriendly cockpit view, 95% of your time will be spent in a 3rd person mode.

As you push further into the games clichéd plot revolving around the occupants of some pissed off 3rd world country whom is intent on upsetting everyone ‘civilized’ and who now happens to have got their hands on a nuclear warhead, it becomes abundantly clear that the action packed set pieces which are the hallmarks of the Tom Clancy series aren’t quite hitting the mark in H.A.W.X 2. While a few of the missions are quite engaging many more drag on longer than is necessary and fail to really get the heart thumping; certainly not in the way one would imagine a video game featuring some of the greatest fighter planes ever conceived. Even when you take control of an AC-130 armed with a 40mm cannon in a level much like the one to be found in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, it lacks much of the intensity and drama found in Infinity Ward’s popular FPS.

Tom Clancy’s: H.A.W.X 2 is by no means a terrible game and the development team have obviously tried to re-address some of the issues that plagued the first in the series; and in some ways they have succeeded in their endeavours. However, even the most stalwart of fighter plane fans and Tom Clancy die-hards will have a difficult time finding H.A.W.X 2 to be a fulfilling experience worthy of those marvellous feats of engineering depicted. It’s frustrating because there’s genuinely a decent game in there trying to fight its way out. Visuals are detailed and consistent, boasting some great effects whilst being accompanied by a solid musical score and superb sound effects throughout. It has its moments, there’s no doubt of that, and when it works it can be quite exhilarating, but at the same time it’s also marred by the kind of clunky gameplay that constantly switches back and forth between being almost masterful in one instance to downright appalling the next.

Ubisoft have clearly tried to reach for the skies with Tom Clancy’s: H.A.W.X 2, but have found themselves losing control and stalling just as the clouds were about to break. It’s getting there, unquestionably, and if a H.A.W.X 3 is planned for the near future then all that’s needed is a tweak here, a polish there and perhaps a little more ‘need for speed’ injected into the proceedings for the guys at Ubi to have real winner on their hands .

6/10

Game Preview: Vanquish-Xbox360, PS3

2010-09-12T21:10:00.000+01:00

If Gears of War was instead developed as a coin hungry, arcade machine sat somewhere in the secluded corner of some arcade in Western Pier; then this how it would have turned out. Everything about Vanquish smacks of classic arcade gaming at its very finest. Big, bold, beautiful and wonderfully designed, Platinum Games’ chaotic, 3^rd person blast-a-thon is every inch the twitch gamers dream.

At first glance it comes across as an accessible, pick up and play title yet within your first few moments you’ll realize that Shinji Mikami’s latest offering is anything but accessible. Not only is Vanquish eye wateringly fast paced and ludicrously chaotic in its delivery, it demands a level of skill and quick reaction time that it will have even the staunchest of trigger happy gamers catching their breath as swarms of enemy AI cleverly outwit, outflank and outmanoeuvre you. If that’s not enough each level promises to end with a gargantuan boss tooled up with an arsenal that has one purpose and one purpose only: absolute destruction.

Given how Vanquish plays out it wouldn’t be unfair to assume that it’s geared toward a more ‘hardcore’ audience, and in some way it is. However, with its sci-fi setting, awesome weaponry and a protagonist suited in an ultra-cool Augmented Reaction Suit, (which allows you to knee-slide at ridiculous speeds across the combat zone pumping hot lead into your enemy at any and every angle), Vanquish has buckets of mass market appeal. Once you have mastered the basic controls and combinations the insanity is a joy to behold and it isn’t long before you’ll begin to see that your patience is rewarded, and frequently. As soon as the training wheels are off it simply never lets up and like Bayonetta, as your skill with the outwardly complex control system increases so does the countless cool ways to dispatch the myriad foes, and all the satisfaction that comes with it.

Like with many games of this ilk boss fights are breathtaking. Huge, lumbering machines destroy all in their wake as they rain down a barrage of missiles, molten-fire and proton-lasers in your general direction, all intent on your total annihilation. It’s a real test of skill and will push your gaming prowess to its very limits as you duck, dodge, dive, roll and flip in a bid to keep out of harms way whilst simultaneously unleashing your own wanton barrage of firepower as you desperately try bring down your quarry by exploiting the weakest points in its seemingly impenetrable armour. It’s like David & Goliath, only this time with huge laser cannons and bagfuls of attitude.

At its core Vanquish may not offer up the most original of concepts, but as a stand alone title it’s already looking to raise itself head and shoulders above the competition; the gauntlets are definitely off in the SEGA camp. Fast, furious and unrelenting in its delivery, Vanquish pushes at the boundaries of what we’ve come to expect from the 3^rd person shooter and will have your senses reeling. Bring it on.

Game Review: Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days-Xbox 360, PS3.

2010-09-08T20:27:00.000+01:00

Having only played this for about an hour I was so appalled by what was on offer, due to it being humongously shite, I couldn't even bring myself to write a review so decided to let Zero Punctuation share their view with you, dear readers.
Hit the link:

Zero Punctuation : Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days

Microsoft Kinect...

2010-09-02T20:52:00.000+01:00

Star Wars: The Old Republic

2010-08-23T15:01:00.000+01:00

Okay another MMO, this time set in the Star Wars Universe and one created by those chaps behind pretty much every decent D&D and Star Wars RPG video game, Bioware. Will it get a console release? At this stage nothing is certain, but given the success of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic on Xbox its a possibilty. If not, between this and WH: 40K I'm going to have to upgrade my PC and then flip a coin....

...okay, it's gonna be Star Wars.

Warhammer 40K: Dark Millennium Online

2010-08-23T14:50:00.000+01:00

It may be a year or so away but this years Gamescon did treat everyone to an early preview of the Massively Multi-Player Online Game set in the Warhammer 40K universe. Apart from my ocasional venture in to the free MMO Guild Wars, I've pretty much avoided the whole recent craze for monthy subscription based online games, (ala World of Warcraft). On the whole I find the genre to be quite dreary and lacking any real substance, (remember, I used to play Dungeons and Dragons with paper, pencil, dice and unlimted imagination), but going on this early trailer Warhammer 40K: Dark Millennium Online could be the game that tempts me enough to cough up a monthly sub. Maybe.

7outof10 Gets a Makeover!

2010-08-17T19:58:00.000+01:00

Yep that right folks, your favourite locallly based video game website has had a rather spiffing make over. It's slicker, faster and much cooler looking. Top marks to our Editor and all round sofa dweller, Manny. Good job fella!

As per usual if you've a passion for video games and have something to you want to say then head over to the site here http://www.7outof10.co.uk/ and look to the bottom of the front page where it says 'Join us' and hit the link.

Wanker of the Month.

2010-08-16T19:04:00.000+01:00

Today Nick Clegg had this to say about the response to the floods in Pakistan:

"The response from the international community as a whole, however, I have to say, bluntly, has just been lamentable. It's been absolutely pitiful."

Well, Nick me old china, you're worth about 15 million so why don't you donate a couple of those? No? Not at the top of your manifesto? Thought as much......Wanker.

Blast From the Past: Exhumed (Also known as Powerslave in other regions)

2010-08-15T16:46:00.000+01:00

Originally released on the SEGA Saturn and PC in 1996 then the following year on the Playstation, Lobotomy Software’s Exhumed was a non-linear FPS set in Ancient Egypt, in the city of Karnak, during the late 20th century.

The plot is pretty straight forward as in the city has been seized by unknown forces, with a special crack team of hardened soldiers sent to the valley of Karnak to uncover the source of this trouble. However, on the journey there our heroes helicopter is shot down and he barely escapes. Taking on the role of our downed Special Forces member you are then sent in to the valley to save Karnak and the World from this ‘unstoppable evil’. Well, unstoppable if you’re not armed with some high powered weaponry. Soon you find yourself battling hordes of evil creatures including mummies, Anubis, scorpions and all kinds of Egyptian demonology related fiends and spirits. The player's course of action is directed by the spirit of King Ramses, whose mummy was exhumed from its tomb by these same evil creatures.

Clichéd, granted, but it’s in the gameplay that Exhumed really shined. Set somewhere between Doom and Duke Nukem, Exhumed was bright, bold and wonderfully rendered with some fantastic real time, dynamic lighting and SFX. Weapons felt meaty, (particularly the M-60 machine gun), and the chance to play with magical weapons such as the Cobra Staff, (where you unleash homing snake missiles), was a joy.

Throughout, the gameplay follows a standard first-person shooter formula; familiar elements from the genre, such as collecting keys to open doors in a level, are present. As the game progresses the player character picks up a number of artifacts which give him new abilities. Such abilities include being able to jump higher, levitate, breathe underwater, walk in lava, walk through force fields and jump further to reach previously inaccessible areas of the maps. In a similar fashion, there are a number of key symbols (Power, Time, War and Earth) that can open sealed doors in previously visited areas.

In the console versions, each map is connected together by a world-overview map connected by a central hub similar to Super Mario World thus allowing the player to return to any previous unlocked areas in levels already explored once certain artifacts have been found or by switches activated elsewhere in the game.

Exhumed is very hard to come by these days, but if you are lucky enough to stumble across a copy on either the Saturn, or more likely, the Playstation I strongly suggest you snap it up. You won’t regret it.

Note: In the vid, the person playing it isn't looking up, down and around. However, like in Duke Nukem you are able to look in any direction and aren't on a fixed camera like in iD softwares' original Doom.

Mortal Kombat...

2010-08-15T00:58:00.000+01:00

...or perhaps it should be renamed Mortal Komback because this looks ace if not a little twisted.

I doubt it will be as polished as Street Fighter IV, (Mortal Kombat never was to be fair), but as far as the series goes this looks the best yet and if, like me, you've a soft spot for the franchise then surely this will be a must have.

Street Fighter: The Beast is Unleashed

2010-08-14T22:36:00.000+01:00

Daigo Umehara (梅原大吾 Umehara Daigo, born 19 May 1981), is a renowned Japanese arcade fighting video game player. He specializes in 2D arcade fighting games, mainly those released by Capcom. Known as "Daigo" or "The Beast" in the west and "Umehara" or "Ume" in Japan.

Daigo is most famous for the dramatic comeback video clips on YouTube, his most famous being the Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike competition at Evolution 2004 held in the USA. Daigo made a dramatic comeback against Justin Wong's Chun-Li. In the final round of match 1, Daigo's Ken was down to his last pixel of vitality. At this point, any special attack would knock Daigo's character out if connected, since special attacks deal chip damage even when blocked. In an attempt to win the round, Wong attempted to hit Daigo's Ken with Chun-Li's multihit Super Art move "Hou Yoku Sen" (鳳翼扇). However, instead of avoiding it, Daigo chose to "Parry," a technique whereby an incoming attack is blocked without the player losing any health, but by doing so requires moving toward opponent's direction in the same time a hit lands. After the move was launched, not only were all fifteen hits Parried, but Daigo also managed to get into a good position to unleash his own Super Art Move thus knocking Chun-Li out instead. This moment was recorded and later spread on the Internet, gaining immense popularity and is now considered one of the greatest video game moments of all time.

Here's the clip: (watch the crowd, in the bottom left hand corner, go insane)

If you know anything about Street Fighter you'll know just how awesome the display of skill on show here is.

Microsoft Kinect: It's the future...kind of.

2010-08-12T20:22:00.000+01:00

Daily Star Apologises to Rockstar

2010-07-27T20:40:00.000+01:00

Tabloid admits it didn't check accuracy of story, pays damages to Rockstar:

The Daily Star has apologised for its recent claims that Rockstar was working on GTA: Rothbury.

The tabloid admitted it didn't even bother checking whether or not the game was real, and didn't contact Rockstar - but apologises for contacting a grieving family member for comment.

Biting further into its slice of humble pie, the paper even apologised for not questioning why a "a best selling and critically acclaimed fictional games series would choose to base one of their most popular games on this horrifying real crime event".

In addition to the apology, the Daily Star has paid damages to Rockstar, which will be donated to charity.

The original story ran earlier this week, 'revealing' the cover art for a Grand Theft Auto game based on the recent Rothbury shootings, with the journalist who penned the piece later defending himself on Facebook.

Here is the Daily Star's statement in full:

"On 21 July we published an article claiming that the video games company Rockstar Games were planning to release a version of their popular Grand Theft Auto video games series titled 'Grand Theft Auto Rothbury'.

We also published what we claimed would be the cover of this game, solicited comments from a family member impacted by the recent tragedy and criticised Rockstar Games for their alleged plans.

We made no attempt to check the accuracy of the story before publication and did not contact Rockstar Games prior to publishing the story. We also did not question why a best selling and critically acclaimed fictional games series would choose to base one of their most popular games on this horrifying real crime event.

It is now accepted that there were never any plans by Rockstar Games to publish such a game and that the story was false. We apologise for publishing the story using a mock-up of the game cover, our own comments on the matter and soliciting critical comments from a grieving family member.

We unreservedly apologise to Rockstar Games and we have undertaken not to repeat the claims again. We have also agreed to pay them a substantial amount in damages which they are donating to charity."

Why You Shouldn't Read the Tabloids

2010-07-21T21:23:00.000+01:00

You couldn't make it up.

This from games industry trade magazine, MCV:

Unless MCV is hugely mistaken British tabloid, The Daily Star, is actually claiming that a Raoul Moat game is in the works.

In what could possibly be the most outrageous piece of video games reporting in a national UK paper, The Daily Star has today expressed its “fury” at news that a Raoul Moat version of Grand Theft Auto is in production.

Apparently “gaming websites” (though obviously not the ones we read) have shown the cover of “a version of the XBox hit Grand Theft Auto”, supposedly called GTA Rothbury, that’s based on the recent Northumberland shootings that dominated the news earlier this month.

“It is sick – it’s blood money,” the sister of Moat’s ex-partner Samantha Stobbart told the paper. “The game is beyond belief.”

MCV’s guess? Someone somewhere in a dark corner of the internet mocked up the cover (pictured). Somehow this came to the attention of a sorely uneducated non-gamer at The Daily Star. The rest, minus any fact checking or common sense, is history.

MCV has contacted The Daily Star for comment.

UPDATE: It seems that The Daily Star has removed the story. A moment of sense, presumably. We're still awaiting comment.

Click on the screen grab below then magnify for much hilarity.

Game Review: BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger (Xbox 360, PS3)

2010-07-19T03:08:00.000+01:00

In the west where ultra realistic graphics, engaging storylines and guns and explosions are considered the quintessential ingredients for success in the vast majority of today’s video games its no surprise that many a game that doesn’t sport these features often receive a lukewarm reception at retail level or is snubbed by the masses altogether. Enter stage right BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger; a two dimensional beat ‘em up brought to us by the talented Japanese team of developers behind the Guilty Gear series, Arc System Works. The fact alone that BlazBlue is a 2D video game will have many a hardened Modern Warfare fan reeling in disgust and while the it may have garnered some success amongst hardcore fighting fans and seen favourable reviews across the board both here and in Japan, it never really struck a cord outside of its native homeland.

Like so many games before it that have succumbed to the sheer marketing might of ‘the next big thing’, its shame that the game wasn't as well received as perhaps it should have been because for those who were willing to put down their virtual AK47 and step outside the box and try something a little different were rewarded with perhaps one of the most visually stunning and technically brilliant 2D beat ‘em ups ever produced.

From the intricately detailed, pseudo-3D fighting arenas, the lavishly designed selection of fighters, right down to the spectacular visual effects there is absolutely no doubt that BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger is a beautiful game to behold. Character animations are slick and fluid, backgrounds throb and pulsate with a life of their own and should you manage to pull out of the bag your chosen fighters ‘Distortion’ finishing move the screen explodes in a brilliant flash of colour and sound. Combined with a solid fighting mechanic, all these elements wonderfully capture all the hallmarks associated with Japanese Anime to deliver a fighting game of sheer excellence.

As with many games in the genre, BlazBlue’s combat is a simple case of randomly pressing buttons to unleash a combination of light, medium and heavy attacks as well as a handful of super combos and on easier settings adopting a button mashing approach will see you through the most part of the various modes on offer. However, crank up the difficulty level and-like many 2D beat ‘em ups-you’ll soon discover that to achieve results and get the best out of the game will require you to dig just that little deeper and discover all the nuances that separate BlazBlue from many of it’s peers. Like Capcom’s and SNK-Playmore’s fighting games, Arc Systems Works’ title has an incredible amount of hidden depth and character to the combat and should you take the fight online its having an intricate understanding of these characteristics, (from barrier breaks, counter strikes, distortion drives etc), that will see you win the day-or at least stop you from getting repeatedly battered by other players.

Along with large range of attacks every character has two types of block. One is the regular block that can be broken with a "Guard Crush" that can be achieved by pushing the "Guard Libra" gauge all the way to the opponent's side through repeated attacks. If the opponent keeps blocking, then their guard can be broken, leaving them open for attack. The second type of block is a barrier block, which is initiated by blocking while holding the "A" and "B" buttons at the same time. A barrier block cannot be broken like a normal guard, but there is a limit on how long one can be held, which is indicated by the barrier gauge. If the barrier gauge empties, then the player will receive 150% damage until it regenerates to half-full. The heat gauge, (found at the bottom of the screen), can be filled by either dealing or receiving damage. When at a certain percentage, special moves called "Distortion Drives" can be performed. When a distortion drive is successfully performed and connects with the opponent it deals massive amounts of damage to spectacular visual effect.

While many of these features can be found in most 2D fighting games the more you play BlazBlue the more of its hidden depth and how to combine all these techniques will come to light and in time you’ll be experimenting with a myriad of different ways to defeat your opponents; whether online or offline.

Additional to the arcade, survival, training and online modes the console versions has an exclusive “Story Mode”. Sadly, while not terrible as the excellent combat does hold it together, this is the games weakest element. The tale is of little interest and even for an Anime it’s very convoluted and of little sense. The main body of the tale is presented in a selection of [albeit beautifully drawn] uneventful stills with reams of text that you have to repeat several times in order to 100% complete each of the ten available characters personal stories. To add to frustration, on losing a bout of combat instead of just hitting a continue button to resume your progress one is forced back to the main story selection screen where you then have to re-load the story and forward skip each scene until the moment of combat. How Arc System Works got this element of the game so wrong when everything else is so right is anyone’s guess. The only bonus to be had from completing each story mode is the sheer amount of un-lockable goodies to be had which consists of original art work, animations, music and other additional content.

Thankfully though the online mode is near flawless with each round of combat having little to no lag; in a genre that demands pixel perfect timing to work best it’s quite the achievement. Arc System Works can proudly put their fighter alongside the likes of Street Fighter IV and the ‘few’ others that have accomplished the once impossible task of delivering an online beat ‘em up that actually works. Whether or not you’ll be a success online though is clearly down to you and how much time you’re willing to put into learning all the intricacies of this furious fighting game.

Story mode aside, BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger is a truly fantastic beat ‘em up and living proof that not every game has to involve guns, grenades and the threat of terrorist attack to be entertaining. 2D fighters aren’t a new concept in video games, but they are a genre that has endured through the years by being straight forward, good, solid fun and if you can find the time to pull yourself away from the browns and greys of the next big shooter on the horizon it’s well worth a look. Or you could wait until its sequel arrives later this year… BlazBlue: Continuum Shift.

8/10

Stuff I Never Finished

2010-07-14T01:39:00.000+01:00

Some of my old Fantasy Art.

2010-06-24T14:11:00.000+01:00

Gave this one to a friend as a gift when he finally moved back into his house after it was flooded. It's in his downstairs toilet. LOL.

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Facepalm