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Game Over 2010

2010-05-19T10:03:00.002+01:00

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition (X360)
Bayonetta (X360, Normal)
Bioshock (X360, Normal)
Bioshock 2 (X360, Normal)
Heavy Rain (Hard QTEs)
God of War II (PS3, Normal)
God of War III (Normal)
Super Mario Galaxy (108 stars)
Rogue Trooper (Wii, Normal)
Tomb Raider: Underworld (X360, Master Survivalist)
Mirror's Edge (X360, Normal)
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin (X360, Normal)
Ninja Blade (X360, Normal)

Overall, this was a fun game. Being a bit of Japan-freak it gave me a visual hard-on (so to speak) seeing accurate portrayals of places I've visited rather than the usual 'this is Tokyo'. On the flip side the game also overstayed its welcome.

I can forgive the nonsensical repeat which was Mission 7 simply because the developers had the cheeky nous to label the Achievement "Deja Vu". But then it decided to indulge in the petty crime of teasing out the final stretch to limits which test even my patience.

Having the boss fight last two missions is taking the piss, but making the player repeat the final attack is pretty much raping a corpse. Worse was the fact that the camera angle chosen in order to initiate the killing blow isn't the best. In fact I cocked it up three or four times which meant more repetition and then...another boss fight! Absolute bollocks!

Two become one

2010-05-17T16:46:00.000+01:00

I forgot to mention this when I noticed it a couple of weeks ago: Watford has lost a GAME store.

It was announced earlier this year that GAME was closing down a large number of its stores, and this would result in an even larger number of redundancies.

When this news broke the reaction on some of the more moronic comments pages, i.e. Eurogamer, was generally predictable. Most thought that the company sucked. However, amongst the bile there were a few that mourned the loss of jobs (I've experienced redundancy - it's fucking horrible) but more interesting was that in many towns there were several outlets within close proximity of each other.

This is the case in Watford. The original Watford GAME (sadly the one that has closed) was within a few hundred metres of the newer store, which is inside the main Harlequin shopping centre. It's also almost opposite the Gamestation which, of course, is also owned by the GAME group.

It makes sense to keep the Harlequin branch open because it receives the most traffic (one of the reasons I dislike going there) but the other store had some history behind it. It was (forgive me if I get the order wrong) originally a Virgin Games Centre before becoming the rather nondescript Future Zone. The manageress of VGC (I make the distinction because it was unusual at the time) stayed to run FZ. It then became the daft-sounding Electronics Boutique, which was a big US chain although I didn't know it at the time. (I was to cross paths with the EB manager when I went to work at Borders. I had the nagging feeling I recognised the deputy manager and I only found out the truth when he casually referred to his previous job one day.)

GAME soon came along to swallow EB (at least in this country) and bar the ill-advised and short-lived 'Trade-in' design storefront (large awful-looking sign in the GAME orange-yellow trade-in colour) has remained the same until recently.

It would be wrong to say that the GAME store itself held many memories. I can only recall the purchase of my Elite from there and that was recent. I actually have more fondness of the store in its previous incarnations (as my recollection of the different managers proves). However, it's sad to see that particular part of the high street vacated, especially because it's extremely unlikely that it will be replaced another gaming store. Hopefully, the most recent staff there managed to find employment elsewhere.

Game Over 2010

2010-05-16T09:45:00.001+01:00

State of Play: F.E.A.R. 2

2010-05-10T13:20:00.000+01:00

I famously (if indeed anything I do can be claimed to to even approaching fame) gave up on F.E.A.R. after the first level or so. I bought it for the X360 after having played the PC demo (this tells you how far in the past I’m reaching back; I’ve been fully Mac for two years).

I can’t be entirely certain that it was solely the strength of the demo which spurred me to buy the full game. It could have easily as been the availability of a cheap X360 version coupled with the fact that it was region-free too. It doesn’t really matter.

The sequel was picked up in the Boxing Day sales precisely because it was cheap (around £7). I recalled that Edge blessed it with a favourable review, but the price meant it wasn’t particularly a foolish gamble.

The cellophane finally came off last night after much internal debate. I’m already getting enough shooting action with The Umbrella Chronicles so I was a little reluctant to over-egg my gaming balance. On the other hand I still have Halo 3 to replay before tackling ODST (and then more than likely Reach) so there is a considerable shooter backlog to clear. If I don’t start now…

All I remember of the original game was that it was a tight, corridor shooter with massive Ring overtones, i.e. scary, ghostly little girl. The sequel seems to carry on in a similar fashion. Obviously, I didn’t get to see much of the first game so it’s hardly fair to criticise the vagueness of the story (the sequel actual starts just prior to the end of the original albeit from another, removed perspective). What I have gleaned is that it’s a familiar tale of [failed] experimentation, test subjects, mental powers, private military companies, and shadowy corporations...Right onto the action!

It’s actually a little dull. Although you’re working with a tried and tested HUD (at first I wondered why I was the only member of the squad wearing a helmet but in fact you’re kitted out with hi-tech sunglasses; no one else wears a pair though) there is no compass or mini map. Instead you’re guided by vague instinct (later levels use barricaded doors and other obstacles to herd you along) which gives the game a wandering, slightly less than focused feel.

If you’re left wondering what the hell is going on (very much like the characters in the game) then it’s up to you to fill in the gaps. The game scatters about data items in the form of memos, emails, IM transcripts, etc, in a bid to give the narrative some coherence. It’s a familiar ploy but it’s far less engaging then the efforts of titles such as Bioshock or even Doom III. Naturally, there is a series of Achievements revolved around the collecting of them.

The enemies are mostly human in Black Ops guise who all demonstrate some intelligence, i.e. they’ll take cover but leave a knee sticking out. I’ve also come across a fast-paced, experiment gone wrong-type of creature, but that’s about it for variety at the moment.

That’s about it so far. I’m only on the third or fourth level; I’m playing on Normal so it’s a reasonably gentle cruise (you have body armour and health). Hopefully, I can see it through to the end although it’ll be boredom rather than difficulty which will be my nemesis.

Game Over 2010

2010-05-09T18:25:00.001+01:00

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition (X360)
Bayonetta (X360, Normal)
Bioshock (X360, Normal)
Bioshock 2 (X360, Normal)
Heavy Rain (Hard QTEs)
God of War II (PS3, Normal)
God of War III (Normal)
Super Mario Galaxy (108 stars)
Rogue Trooper (Wii, Normal)
Tomb Raider: Underworld (X360, Master Survivalist)
Mirror's Edge (X360, Normal)

I finished this a few nights ago. If you remember Mirror’s Edge was another of my disappointments of 2008 (the others were Tomb Raider: Underworld and Prince of Persia), and sadly my opinion hasn’t changed.

It’s frustrating because there is so much about the game that appeals to me. I love the cool, clean style which forgoes intricate detail in favour of simple geometric design. The cutscenes are another matter. I dislike them because they are a jarring shift away from the primary style.

I also like the main gameplay aspect of the game that of free-running across the cityscape. To have so much of the game constricting the player to so many indoor environments such as corridors and even air vents is maddening (the ending sequence shows you how much opportunity was wasted - the city is vast).

It’s still a game worth experiencing once but it’s so much wasted potential (I remember when Edge put the game on the cover before there were even proper screenshots, an indication of its promise).

Use your illusion

2010-05-09T09:55:00.000+01:00

I don't think I mentioned here that I recently splashed out £35 on a mains cable for my PS3. That's right, I paid a premium for a 'kettle' lead.

It's no ordinary lead (at least that's what I'm led to believe) but rather one of those constructed to give the best possible vision and audio quality. It was actually the cheapest of this type available.

I use it in conjunction with a mains conditioner which in theory gives all my A/V equipment the cleanest form of power available in Watford. The PS3, therefore, has the purest source of electricity because of the new mains cable. Why favour the PS3 in this way? Well it's because with one exception (the TV itself) it's the most expensive piece of hardware I have connected to my television.

Does it work? I don't know. I will readily admit to not noticing any immediate difference. However, after giving the PS3 a break for a while (during which I played Tomb Raider and Mirror's Edge on X360) I returned to Minna no Golf 5. To my eyes certain colours seemed brighter and bolder (the red shirt of my golfer for example) and the close-up of the green when going for a putt seemed sharper.

Of course, it's more than likely that it's a psychological response in wanting to see a difference after having paid my money (the only other PS3 game I've tried is FF XIII, which looks good anyway). However, sometimes even illusion is better than the real thing.

Get lost

2010-05-06T11:06:00.000+01:00

Eurogamer have followed up their somewhat controversial (I can't see the problem) Alan Wake review with one for Lost Planet 2.

I can't see myself buying this one even at a cheap price - a game to tax even my patience.

State of Play: Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles

2010-05-05T16:59:00.002+01:00

Having picked up the sequel at a reasonable price a couple of weeks ago I thought I’d give the original another go.

Much like with my return to Super Mario Galaxy I wiped the data file in order to start the game afresh. Unlike that game, however, I wasn’t entirely sure as to how much progress I was destroying. Not much as it happens.

I completed the chapters rooted in RE: Zero a few nights ago, and polished off those based on the original RE game (referred to as ‘The Mansion Incident’ within the context of this particular game). Thus I’ve now started the opening chapter outlining the events which occurred in RE 3 (the only main RE game I’ve not played). It was all brand new in more ways than one.

As well as discovering how little progress I had made the first time I had approached the game, I also found the game to be unusually difficult. Now I readily admit to being cack-handed when it comes to shooting, but I sometimes ended up at the ‘You are dead’ screen within minutes of the chapter opening. It’s not as if it’s a fast-paced shooter either.

Adding to the toughness is that the game isn’t too generous with its checkpoints. There is just one per chapter, and it is clearly marked with a tallying of your score so far. No matter how much progress you think you have made in a chapter if you haven’t seen that particular screen you know that you will restart from the beginning if you die. Thankfully, the game will allow you to continue immediately after losing out in a boss battle.

Overall, the game is pretty much manageable portions of fun for RE fans - a diversion from the main series of games.

Because...

2010-05-05T13:59:00.000+01:00

I've hardly played the original but Super Street Fighter IV was £19.71 in Asda so I bought it. Because...

Paying the price

2010-05-01T08:26:00.005+01:00

Enough is enough.

First it was Bayonetta, a title that must surely hold the dual honour of being the quickest and most heavily discounted game in recent history. I paid £40 for (as it turned out) the less than stellar Play.com exclusive edition. In a matter of weeks it was knocked down to just £17.99 at Zavvi followed by other web retailers.

Then there was Bioshock 2. I hunted around for a slightly less limited edition (why the fuck would I want a LP?) but with something reasonably special thrown in. I found it at Zavvi, again for £40. In the very same week that I received it the same website dropped the price by a tenner. (The only bright side to this chapter was that I was able to ditch the game but hold onto the goodies.)

The latest insult is Yakuza 3. This one I’m not as bothered because the game is a ‘keeper’, but I now see that it’s available for £17.99. That’s the ‘special’ edition too (was there even any other kind?).

It’s for this reason that I’ve held off from buying Splinter Cell: Conviction. I’ve no doubt that if I bought it on release within the next month some website would be sellling it for half price along with a gram of coke and the offer of a blowjob from a hooker.

2010-04-29T18:51:00.001+01:00

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition (X360)
Bayonetta (X360, Normal)
Bioshock (X360, Normal)
Bioshock 2 (X360, Normal)
Heavy Rain (Hard QTEs)
God of War II (PS3, Normal)
God of War III (Normal)
Super Mario Galaxy (104 stars)
Rogue Trooper (Wii, Normal)
Tomb Raider: Underworld (X360, Master Survivalist)

If I remember correctly this was one of my disappointments of 2008. I thought it a weak end to the trilogy despite the developers attempting to invoke the spirit of the original Tomb Raider (or indeed Anniversary) but with a little of Legend's flair.

Strangely, after playing the first two levels I thought I had got it all wrong. I was taking a more slow and considered approach, taking the time to admire the still impressive visuals. But, sadly, the joy wasn't to last. It all got a little boring and samey again.

Perhaps more significantly I was finding I was more or less getting stuck in exactly the same places. For example, I still initially found it impossible to pull off headshots before suddenly mastering the technique. Then there's the two-pronged, subtle-signposting approach to some of the sections. The first time I played the game it was on its immediate release so finding help was nearly impossible. One section left me frustrated because it seemed to rely on a leap of faith (and even then it was hit or miss). This time around I still looked for another exit before just going for it. I don't want neon signs but it's noticeable that Lara doesn't always give you clues, e.g. an altering of her stance to tell a jump is possible.

Yet despite my moans I can see myself dusting this off again at some point in the future because inevitably I'll want to play Anniversary again, which of course will make me want to finish the trilogy once more.

Game Over: 2010

2010-04-21T09:44:00.000+01:00

Game Over: 2010

2010-04-19T16:27:00.000+01:00

State of Play: Super Mario Galaxy

2010-04-08T19:25:00.000+01:00

Today I collected my 63rd star which means that I've finally made some progress in the game. I also opened up the Green Star galaxy (I knew the colours were significant somehow) which I never achieved on my first attempt. Onward!

State of Play: Rogue Trooper

2010-04-02T12:01:00.000+01:00

I seem to be experiencing a Wii renaissance of late. It seems that (literally) blowing away the dust has revealed a cracking little games machine.

I picked up Rogue Trooper: The Quartz Zone Massacre a few days ago but it's a game that I've wanted since it was released on the PS2 and Xbox several years ago. I would have forgotten about it completely, I suppose, if it hadn't remerged as a cash-in port for the Wii. Annoyingly, it was a game that wouldn't come down in price. Perhaps because it wasn't a widely available title.

As it happens it appeared in an Easter sale for less than six quid. I snapped it up and it was shipped an hour later to arrive the next day.

If you're not in the know Rogue Trooper is from the 2000AD stable of British comic characters, a group that was part of my teenage years long before I dabbled with manga. The Rogue Trooper was possibly my favourite along with Judge Dredd (I loved Dredd because he was a complete bastard, and armed with a gun). There was something that appealed in the tales of being an outcast (the only surviving Genetic Infantryman) and the lonely madness of war.

When a game came out for the Commodore 64 featuring the blue-skinned solider I picked it up albeit when it appeared at low-price ("on budget" as we used to say in the 8-bit days). The game was, though, slow and disappointing. It was in monochrome too.

This new game is courtesy of Rebellion, the developers who own the rights to 2000AD characters appearing in videogames. They released a Dredd game a few years back and have recently been receiving less than favourable reviews for the latest incarnation of Aliens Vs Predator. Thankfully, I think Rogue Trooper is pretty good.

The game's subtitle refers to the heart of the comic's narrative. The incident which saw the wiping out of all of the South's (the tale is played out in the USA of Nu-Earth and is a case of North versus South) latest fighting force: the Genetic Infantrymen. These soldiers are bred for war and are able to breathe the poisonous fumes of Nu-Earth unaided - a distinct advantage over the North's (or Nortland's) army which is encumbered with breathing apparatus. However, a betrayal sees them all wiped out except for one soldier. He learns the truth and goes rogue to unmask the traitor thus becoming a target for both sides in the endless war.

Rogue Trooper the game plays all of this out which immediately pulled me into the game. Because I've not read all of the stories I know of the incident (it's frequently referred to in flashback) but I don't know if the massacre was ever related as straight narrative. It's hard for me not take a biased stance so I've no idea if the story would be appealing to non-2000AD readers.

The game itself is very much a Gears of War affair, which should be enough to explain everything. The differences come from the addition of the comic's lore. Thanks to Rogue's deceased comrades (GIs can live on if their microchips are removed quickly after death and slotted into available equipment; Rogue's buddies Helm, Bagman, and Gunnar live on as...well you can guess) he can crack security, fire an assortment of different types of gun, and manufacture his own ammo.

The visuals aren't great. It's fairly ugly even for a last generation game; the palette is mostly greys and browns. The sound is nothing special either except for Rogue's gun which for me is the most satisfying since the Half Life series (strange as it may seem that I only ever feel I'm shooting a gun if Gordon Freeman picks one up, and that's after having played both Modern Warfare games).

The Wii controls aren't satisfactory either. It's definitely a cash-in affair and awkward because of it. The X360 pad is ideal for these types of games and I'm missing it sorely.

So it's probably very much a case of love is blind. The foundation - story, gameplay, etc - is sound though. Better controls and a HD makeover and I'd snap it up again. As it is it's already put Prototype on the back-burner.

State of Play: Super Mario Galaxy

2010-04-02T11:13:00.001+01:00

After being made a fool of for the last time courtesy of NSMBW (the first game since Assassin's Creed to put me off playing) I decided to fire up Super Mario Galaxy.

Shockingly, I discovered that I had only amassed 60-odd stars. Worse was that I couldn't remember some of the intricacies of the completed galaxies (I know the stars with a tail is a special event level but what did green signify). This was no good. So. instead of merely taking advantage of the generous number of profile slots I simply wiped clean my progress and started from the beginning. I'm glad I did.

The difference between SMG and NSMBW is startling despite the former being (amazingly) three years old. It still feels fresh, inventive and most of all fun. I'm not sure if I'll stall before the sequel but it's definitely a good addition my gaming mix.

State of Play: New Super Mario Bros Wii

2010-04-02T11:06:00.000+01:00

Frustrating. Infuriating. Dull. Plus, I'm rubbish at the game. Nice tunes though.

State of Play: Prototype

2010-03-31T13:32:00.000+01:00

This was one of my Boxing Day purchases, and pleasingly it really hasn't dropped down in price since then.

I decided to start this after finishing God of War III, and the decision was informed more by needing an action-orientated counterpoint to FF XIII than any real similarities in gameplay.

I'm playing the X360 version but that has nothing to do with my immediate distaste to the visuals. That has more to do with coming straight from GoW III, which at its best is absolutely stunning. That's not to say Prototype looks bad but rather that you can see what the additional muscle of a first-party developer can achieve.

The game itself is a mixture of confusing narrative and the fun of freedom. The story is related as events that have already taken place, and added to this is the fact that the protagonist is suffering from amnesia.

The fun comes from your mutated nature which allows you to sprint at impossible speeds horizontally and vertically. Coupled to this is the ability to land from a great height without sustaining any damage whatsoever. In practice this means you can run up the sides of skyscrapers, and then leap from a dizzying height to the ground below. It's exhilarating and frightening (especially if you have vertigo problem as I do) in equal measure.

Of course, you don't have access to all these gene-bending abilities from the start. They're acquired as the story progresses and they're improved by means of earning upgrade points (this is one of the truly stupid aspects of the game so far). Points are earned by furthering the narrative which is accomplished by completing mandatory missions. Extra points can be collected by completing optional tasks focused on particular aspects of your powers such as movement or even killing.

Overall, this is all sounding very GTA-like and it's true. You have the runaround of New York with the ability to piss off civilians and military alike. The difference is that you have superpowers and can take on a tank with your fists instead of a rocket launcher.

I'm not sure how it'll all pan out but if I had the patience to see-off Dark Sector then I'm sure I can last the course with Prototype.

Game Over: 2010

2010-03-29T18:25:00.003+01:00

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition (X360)
Bayonetta (X360, Normal)
Bioshock (X360, Normal)
Bioshock 2 (X360, Normal)
Heavy Rain (Hard QTEs)
God of War II (PS3, Normal)
God of War III (Normal)

A satisfying conclusion to the series. Some sequences are - to use an overused word - epic. If more developers put in the effort then there really might be something to the 'power of PS3' bollocks we keep hearing about.

That's not to say that there weren't the usual GoW niggles such as the difficulty spikes in certain sections. One sequence I considered just plain unnecessary such was its crappiness.

I can see why they cut the epilogue because it really wasn't necessary. However, if it does appear as free DLC which has been suggested then that's no bad thing.

Vive la difference

2010-03-29T18:20:00.000+01:00

Inspired by an advert in Games TM which promised intelligence and proper games journalism I picked up a copy of X360 magazine. The cheap cover price helped a little too.

I've not read a single format magazine since the 90s when I used to subscribe to Official PlayStation Magazine, and regularly read various Nintendo magazines. Sad to admit it but until a year or so ago Edge was my sole videogames magazine (I now subscribe to the aforementioned Games TM and Retro Gamer).

As of yet I've not given X360 the true test of accompanying me whilst I'm sitting on the throne, but a quick flick through leads me to suspect that it won't be a regular purchase.

On the edge

2010-03-18T19:09:00.002Z

It's weird. For a long time now I've been wanting to write something about how disenchanted I've become with Edge magazine, and then something pops up in the latest issue that forces me to reassess: the Final Fantasy XIII review.

The review has led to pages of comments on a forum I visit with the posters either deciding that once again the magazine has gone up its own arse to be controversial or else thinking that in fact it's got the game sussed. But let me tell you about my experience.

I was shocked when I saw the score (you always look at the Edge score before reading the review - anyone who says otherwise is a liar). I wasn't expecting a 10 or even an 8 but rather the more common (some would say overused) 7. To see a 5 really was a surprise. I read the review and I have to say that I pretty much dismissed it.

I say I read the review but it's quite obvious that I did not at least not properly. I tackled it again a few hours later and was even more surprised to find myself agreeing with everything that was noted. It's an extremely well written review - the best I've read in a long time.

How does that affect my playing of the game? It doesn't really. It's kind of strange but I look forward to playing each night despite it being a bit of an uneventful slog. It's only been the last two sessions or so where the gameplay has changed (even then it can be argued that it hasn't altered much) with the Paradigm Shift battle system slowly emerging. I'm only brushing against its unfurling petals but it doesn't take much to see that it really is a superb system, and one that gives JRPGs a much-needed kick up the arse.

So what does it all mean? What I've written says more about me and my tastes than the quality of Edge. That I like average games? That I can tolerate boredom? Who knows but it does give me a little relief that I can free myself from the shackles of Edge's reviews but at the same time feel assured that it's worth sticking close by for the time being.

Game Over: 2010

2010-03-11T18:30:00.000Z

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition (X360)
Bayonetta (X360, Normal)
Bioshock (X360, Normal)
Bioshock 2 (X360, Normal)
Heavy Rain (Hard QTEs)
God of War II (PS3, Normal)

I finished this about an hour or so ago. I felt that I was running short on time (God of War III is due next Friday), and also that I wanted to devote more time into getting further into FF XIII.

Saying that I'm thinking of buying GoW III from the shops because I want to trade-in Heavy Rain (I'm going to follow David Cage's suggestion and just play the game once). I'm hoping that GAME has one of those half-price deals going on. It means waiting a few days after the release date (my day off will be on Thursday and I don't think I can be bothered to use up my Friday lunchbreak to buy a game) which is a shame because I've gotten used to getting new releases early. However, it's hardly going to spoil my weekend.

Game Over: 2010

2010-03-07T19:16:00.001Z

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition (X360)
Bayonetta (X360, Normal)
Bioshock (X360, Normal)
Bioshock 2 (X360, Normal)
Heavy Rain (Hard QTEs)

I finished this last night. I think I rushed it a little to finish it off before FF XIII arrives (tomorrow, hopefully) which spoilt things a little though not as much as that motherfucker who revealed the Origami Killer.

The game has its good and bad points but Heavy Rain is definitely an improvement on David Cage's last effort, Fahrenheit. There are still a few things he needs to iron out, though, such as the need to show the female leads in their underwear (then again people do wear underwear) and the way the things link. Other than that the game is arguably one of the most significant in a long time. There's still a ways to go for true immersion and emotional connection but this is a good start.

Clocking off

2010-03-04T16:47:00.001Z

I forgot to add my two cents on the PS3 disaster that occurred a few days ago - the so-called ApocalypS3.

Thankfully, I was unaffected in that my meagre supply of Trophies was unaffected. Playing Minna no Golf 5, which has no Trophy support, that day also helped. True, I had to stay away from GoW II and Heavy Rain for one night but that hardly spoiled my day let alone my life.

One thing that did annoy me, though, and it's something that some of the more restrained commentators touched upon was that Sony could have kept a lid on the situation by just being more transparent. After the disastrous PR that fellow Japanese giant Toyota is facing you'd have thought that Sony would have been quicker off the mark in releasing detailed information. Being vague and advising people not to turn on their PS3s is simply astonishing.

State of Play: Heavy Rain

2010-03-04T16:36:00.001Z

I'm enjoying this a lot although I'm restricting myself to short bursts every night (I'm obviously playing God of War II as well).

Generally, my view is positive although I'm not blind to some of the game's failings. Perhaps playing Fahrenheit first prepared me for what David Cage attempts with his titles.

What I am pissed off about, however, is me being a complete prick and skimming over Eurogamer's reaction to the DLC - 'The Taxidermist' (I was unaware that only those who bought the Collector's Edition have access to it - at least for now). The article avoided spoilers but I happened to glance at some of the user comments to the piece and some dumb motherfucker revealed the identity of the Origami Killer.

Although I don't think the game is entirely ruined for me it obviously means that my playing experience is totally compromised.

State of Play: God of War II

2010-03-04T16:28:00.000Z

Thanks to my habit of avoiding previews of games that I'm interested in the release date for God of War III managed to sneak up on me. In true 'waiting for a bus' fashion I now face a triple whammy of Final Fantasy XIII, Yakuza 3, and now GoW III being released one after another.

I've yet to pre-order Kratos' PS3 debut but that's because I've no intention of purchasing the special edition. The number one reason being the absurd price and the second being that I already have the excellent God of War Collection.

I tackled the first game last year and being brave tried it on Spartan (hard). This proved to be more frustrating than rewarding so I've stuck to my regular Normal for the sequel.

If the original game looked great following its PS3 makeover then GoW II is simply stunning. You can tell that this was one of the final big releases for the PS2. One thing that never ceases to amaze me when playing this series is the sheer scale of some of the features of the levels. The 'Steeds of Time' section just takes my breath away.

State of Play: RE5 - Lost in Nightmares

2010-02-25T17:52:00.001Z

I thought it would be taking the piss somewhat to include this in my list of completed games.

'Lost in Nightmares' is DLC for Resident Evil 5, and its price point (£3.99) tells you that it's very much additional throwaway fun rather than something more substantial such as Episodes from Liberty City.

What it gives you is the opportunity to discover a little more about a past mission involving Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine. In RE5 this episode was alluded to in cutscene flashbacks but 'LiN' allows you to actually participate although the player is always aware of how it all ends.

Unlike the main game and indeed RE4, 'LiN' is more akin to the previous RE games despite using the new action-orientated, over-the-shoulder perspective. Despite there being an abundance of ammo, shooting is entirely optional. In fact it's entirely ineffective (it's noticeable that your partner's ammo count doesn't decrease). Instead you're required to dispatch your enemies with a little guile and puzzle-solving.

Continuing this nod to the REs of the past is the setting - a seemingly deserted mansion. It's hard not to raise little smiles when you notice all the other touches Capcom has added to remind you of the other games in the series, particularly the original (I'm not going to spoil them for you).

It doesn't take long too complete. Perhaps an hour at most. However, there is the bonus of playing through again as Jill. I've had a quick test and it seems that it plays through slightly differently, which means that there is replay value albeit being just one more time. More substantial, perhaps, is the inclusion of more Mercenaries action with two new characters, including Barry Burton, and the opportunity to unlock more.

For those who haven't yet played RE5 it would probably be better to wait for the definitive version which will include all the DLC, including an as yet unreleased episode.

Game Over: 2010

2010-02-23T12:22:00.000Z

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition (X360)
Bayonetta (X360, Normal)
Bioshock (X360, Normal)
Bioshock 2 (X360, Normal)

After a consecutive four-day break I returned to Rapture on Sunday night. Yesterday, I finished the game. I aimed for and received the really good ending (in terms of the game, not my opinion). It hints at another trip to Rapture (perhaps more precisely a trip beyond it) in the future, but I'm hoping that this isn't the case. I've no issue with another sequel as such but not at the risk of lessening everything that was achieved in the original.

State of Play: Everybody's Golf 2

2010-02-18T17:54:00.001Z

In complete contrast to Bioshock 2 I can't seem to get enough of this game. Each time the PSP dies it gets charged immediately. I think I can only play golf in cartoon form.

Luckily, I still have Minna no Golf 5 on PS3, and I even went so far as to pick up the original PSP game (£4 from HMV).

State of Play: Bioshock 2

2010-02-18T17:51:00.002Z

I'm making slow but sure progress through this sequel.

So far I've taken two nights off from playing and this is because, sad to say, because of fatigue. Despite the all the plaudits (it's received a 9 in the latest Games TM) I'm finding that the gameplay can be repetitive during long sessions.

This weariness is due to the new gathering ability (because you're a Big Daddy you escort Little Sisters to score some ADAM) which soon becomes routine. Each time you set a LS down to drain a corpse, Splicers come running. Naturally, you have to stop them. Then every so often when you harvest/rescue a LS a Big Sister, the game's much-vaunted new threat, comes screaming towards you. It's very much rinse and repeat.

Don't get me wrong. I'm enjoying the game but I no longer can stomach too much of it.

State of Play: Dante's Inferno (PS3 demo)

2010-02-11T18:42:00.000Z

Shameless. That’s the word that comes to my mind when considering EA’s latest, Dante’s Inferno.

Whereas the team at Sony Santa Monica used their passion for Greek mythology to produce the mighty God of War, developers Redwood Shores have simply been inspired by the success of that PlayStation exclusive. There can be no mistake. Kratos’ third adventure is due very soon, and this game is an attempt to make a wave in the face of God of War III’s tsunami.

The mechanics are shockingly familiar. Our hero whirls a scythe around in much the same manner as Kratos’ blades. Enemies can cut down or they can be grabbed for more intimate dispatch; hardier foes can be finished off via QTEs. The currency in this game is souls but they have much the same effect as GoW’s red orbs: they are a means to upgrade your weaponry and repertoire. Health is regenerated at fonts, and you have to pound the controller buttons to get what you need too.

But what of Dante and The Divine Comedy? Puh-leeze! For starters, Dante wasn’t a Death-defeating (the Grim Reaper get his ass kicked and pleads for mercy) crusader. Also, Beatrice was a symbol for goodness rather than a blonde with pert tits as depicted in the game’s cutscenes. Dante’s work has been mined for nothing more than in it’s vivid, incredible depiction of Hell and its eternal punishment of the damned.

Am I being unfair because I’ve only played the demo? Perhaps, but I’m sure that if you’ve played God of War then you’ll feel the same way.

State of Play: Mass Effect

2010-02-04T18:33:00.000Z

Two nights ago I experienced my most frustrating gaming session in a long, long time. I’m not entirely certain but I think I reloaded my saved game some 16,000 times.

As is usually the case it was probably my fault, but regardless of that it still almost killed off the game, which I was enjoying up until that point.
I’m not very far into Mass Effect. In fact I’m quite near the beginning in that I’ve just assumed command of the Normandy, and I have my pick of systems to visit and leads to follow. Not wishing to stray from the narrative so early on I picked one of the main story missions. The trouble is that I picked possibly the most difficult for such a fresh-faced Spectre, and that’s in spite of being warned that it would be a challenge.

Whilst I undoubtedly made the ‘wrong’ choice my experience does highlight one of the flaws of Mass Effect: its uneven balance of role-playing and third-person shooter. Like the more liberal RPGs the game allows you some freedom of movement. Of course, there are risks to straying into areas beyond your character’s experience level usually in the form of frequent encounters with powerful, unforgiving enemies.

The trouble with Mass Effect is that the battles aren’t simply turn-based. True, you can pause the action to implement your squad’s talents but the far more natural course is to let your shooter instincts kick in. However, because your character’s abilities are RPG-based a perfectly targeted shot doesn’t necessarily equate to a hit let alone a kill. Essentially, whilst your aiming might be true it’s not going to mean a damn if your characters stats aren’t boosted in the right areas.

I was dragged into this vicious circle when facing my first boss battle. The end result was always the same, i.e. I got spanked, but the lead-up was more varied. Sometimes my action skills seemed to carry me through, but other times they didn’t do shit. It was here that I discovered that whilst conversations can be skipped, the cut scenes aren’t so lenient. Far worse was the auto-save prior to a conversation that ends in a frantic skirmish. I found that I had to jam the stick in the direction of my chosen path (top right because I naturally lean towards Paragon) and rapidly press X to skip forwards. Oh, and the dollop of shit on the end of the stick I was being beaten with was some truly awful voice acting.

In the end I had no choice. Last night I swallowed my pride and made the lengthy journey back to my ship. This particularly shameful trek involved many elevators, which are Mass Effect’s least likeable motifs, and an extended drive in the Mako.

I’m now involved in a minor side-quest on some brown, rock planet. It’s doing nothing to further the story but it is rekindling my interest in the game. This is a good thing. However, this high could well be short-lived because I learned that Bioshock 2 was despatched two days ago (Zavvi obviously doesn’t give a damn about street dates). It'll be a long time until Mass Effect 3 so there's no real hurry, I guess.

Game Over: 2010

2010-01-28T14:17:00.000Z

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition (X360)
Bayonetta (X360, Normal)
Bioshock (X360, Normal)

I finished this very early this morning even though I started at a reasonable time the night before. It just seemed to keep on going (a bit like Bayonetta), and it felt more like a regular FPS by that stage. Still, overall it was an excellent game (although not 10 material in my view) and I enjoyed it start to finish.

Back to the future

2010-01-26T18:03:00.004Z

Whilst I’m enjoying getting back into the groove with the X360 (I still maintain gaming is gaming, but it’s nice to move from machine to machine) there is something about the console that fucks me right off.

The problem first reared its head when I was playing Episodes from Liberty City late last year, and it has to with saved games. For some reason, unlike the PS3, the X360 doesn’t seem to have internal timekeeping. Instead the console logs the correct time and date as soon as it signs into Xbox Live. If you’re not online then the default date is 22 November 2005 (the US launch date) and your playing time starts at midnight. So what’s the big deal?

Well, things go awry if you’re not online when you’re playing. Every saved game is logged at some point after 12am on 22/11/2005. That in itself isn’t problematic, but consider what happens you play the following day. That’s right: it’s still 22/11/2005. A minor irritation is that continuing from a last saved game can throw up some minor confusion (there were a number of occasions when I continued play only to realise after a few minutes that I was starting missions I completed previously). The worst that can happen actually happened a few nights ago when I was playing Bioshock (it would have been the night before the last blog post).

Although I like to think I’m above the quagmire of the quicksave, but I do use it when the option is available (F5 and F6 were just as familiar as WASD when I was a PC gamer). In Bioshock I tend to use prior to a potentially risky hack, a unsure upgrade, or simply as means of lessening the trawl from a restart point. Yes, it kills the tension but it makes life easier, and although I’m a patient man I don’t see the need to test my patience unnecessarily.

On that particular night I somehow slipped into the bad habit of using the same save slot for my progress. There was no damage done until after about an hour’s play when the goddamn game crashed. When I restarted (a complete machine reboot was required) I discovered that not only had my latest save disappeared so had the one I initially started from, i.e. the final one from the previous night. What was left was one from the last session some two hours or so from where the game crashed. I had no choice…

Of course, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have been so careless as to use the same save space continuously. However, I do know that if the X360 had some semblance of internal timekeeping then the two nights of play would have been distinct by date. Then again it might be something to do with the particular games themselves because I can’t remember having the problem before. I don’t know if even my composure would remain if this happened if I was playing a RPG, particularly a Japanese one.

So from that night on when I now shut down the computer the router remains on, ready to start it's new role as a blue-blinking timekeeper.

State of Play: Bioshock

2010-01-22T14:04:00.002Z

In light of the sequel being released next month I thought a proper play through of Bioshock was long overdue.

I say “proper” because I had already started playing the game at some point in the last two years. Obviously, I stopped playing for some reason or another.

My relationship with the game is slightly strange. I was attracted to the game from the start because of its art style rather than its pedigree although I was well aware it boasted an exceptional heritage.

However, the year it was released was still a time when I was experiencing high definition gaming on a standard definition television. I reasoned that it was better to wait until I had procured a HDTV (I knew it wouldn’t be that long to wait because the release of Metal Gear Solid 4 was my deadline).

When I did finally get ahold of the game my feelings leaned more towards disappointment rather than elation. The game was exactly like System Shock 2 (no surprise, really) although looking back now I’m stumped as to why I would consider this a bad thing. Nevertheless, I remember that I played for a while, collecting a few Achievements in the process, but not for very many sessions.

Having started again four nights ago, I was ashamed to discover a re-run of my Metroid Prime experience: I had given up after an embarrassingly short period of play time. In fact after just two short night sessions I surpassed my original effort. After last night’s play I would have been much deeper into the game if not for a monumental fuck-up (this will be subject of the next post).

My experience of the game this time around has been remarkably different and much, much more pleasing. Firstly, I’ve rid my mind of all the 10/10 scores and Game of the Year accolades Bioshock has picked-up since its release. There’s nothing worse than a ‘perfect’ score to cloud your judgement. I’m also trying to excise the comparisons to SS2 at least for negative reasons.

What has now seeped through is the original feelings which were aroused when Bioshock was first previewed. The recreated Art Deco-style environment makes Rapture more real than my local supermarket; the dark, decaying atmosphere strangely inviting as well as forbidding. By far the most impressive feature, though, has been the haunting presence of the Big Daddies: their whale-like keening, the booming thud of their every step, and their affecting trailing of the Little Sisters.

I’m hoping that everything finishes as well as it began (unlike Modern Warfare 2), and I’m set up nicely for the sequel. We shall see.

My gaming year: 2009 (Part 2)

2010-01-19T14:31:00.005Z

The best of the rest

Just because I rated Uncharted 2 so highly it doesn’t mean that there wasn’t anything else worth playing in 2009. Although there weren’t many they all proved to be most enjoyable.

It’s more than likely that if Uncharted 2 hadn’t been released then Batman: Arkham Asylum would have been my title of 2009. Simply put this game is the best bet yet for anyone who yearns to wear the cape and cowl of the Dark Knight.

Is it actually a standalone game or just the best DLC ever released? However you choose to categorise Episodes from Liberty City there’s no doubt that it’s a fantastic achievement.

I can no longer privately sneer at the millions who choose to get their kicks from fingering a plastic guitar in front the TV. DJ Hero has suckered me into scratching and spinning like a loon using an even more ludicrously-shaped piece of plastic.

Could have been, should have been

Even the best games have those dreaded moments that lead to twinges of disappointment. It’s rare that they will break a game but rather be the cause of the odd grumble or two (or possibly a forum flame war). More common, perhaps, is the game which doesn’t live up to the hype or on a more personal level your own expectations.

Apart from the first glimpses of the new, heavily muscled Chris Redfield I avoided just about everything related to Resident Evil 5. The fourth game was special to me because playing it the second time was just as amazing as the first. The ubiquitous hype machine declared that the fifth game would be one of the greatest games ever. It wasn’t.

A controversial choice I know but perhaps waiting until I played Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare before the sequel wasn’t, strangely, the smartest move. Modern Warfare 2 was good, very good as many will attest but it spiraled off into a realm I didn’t much care about at all.

Highs ‘n’ lows

As I mentioned in the first part of this post I didn’t take much notice of what was happening in the wider world of gaming last year. As ever, though, there will always be something that catches your eyes and ears.

Sony actually did some good by releasing the PS3 Slim. Regardless of its aesthetics the lower price helped people get back onboard the PlayStation bandwagon. Hopefully, increased sales figures will have an effect on publishers who churn out lazy PS3 ports, but sadly I don’t hold much hope.

Microsoft did nothing to appease those who think the company is just a fat, money-grabbing bastard. The last straw, perhaps, was the collapse of the Iplayer deal. The BBC simply couldn’t attach a price tag to something that was free for everyone, and the idea of not accepting money was anathema to Microsoft. (Here’s something amusing. When the MS rep came to where I work to offer training on Sky Player, I cheekily mentioned the Iplayer situation. His reply was that you used a laptop for that service.)

Nintendo caused me a lot pain as a high street store salesperson. Having to explain the nature of the new Wii package (containing Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort) was exhausting for me and my customers. If that wasn’t a hard enough kick in the balls then Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus finished me off completely.

Collector’s editions of games became a complete joke. I thought I would never live down the shame of paying £75 for my Metal Gear Solid 4 set, but Activision came to cool my blushing. This year Sony is getting in on the action with its God of War III collection, which I was considering until I saw the price. I don’t mind paying a little more for something tangible like a CD or book, but vastly inflated prices for offerings such as DLC leave my wallet firmly shut.

I think that's 2009 over and done with as far as I'm concerned - time to get on with this year. Hopefully, I pay a bit more attention this time around.

Staying firm

2010-01-16T19:28:00.001Z

I noted briefly in an earlier post that I had purchased Vagrant Story yesterday from the PlayStation Store.

What attracted me to the game apart from being widely recognised as an overlooked PlayStation classic is that not only is it PS3 compatible but PSP too. Although I have no qualms about playing games from a couple of generations ago they do look pretty awful on HDTV screens. I reasoned that a game from the PS days would look better on the smaller, sharper PSP screen.

I made a small cock-up by downloading onto the PS3 hard drive instead of the PSP's Memory Stick (despite the machine being attached and in USB mode) but you're allowed to have more than one copy so there was no damage done. Once I made the transfer I was ready to go.

I was pleased to see that some effort has been made for PSP compatibility. You can bring up a unique menu to adjust screen and controller settings (it's unique because it is tailored for the PSP; playing on PS3 heralds slightly different menu) as well as access to a manual. What wasn't too pleasing was choosing 'New Game' and then facing an endless 'Now Loading' screen. This was despite the opening movie loading to the title screen without a hitch.

A search on Google led to the advice of updating the firmware to version 6.20. Now this truly smacked my gob because I was certain that my machine was still around the 3.0 or lower stage (true to form I forgot to note my actual firmware version before updating today).

Anyway, updating the firmware proved to be the trick to getting the game to work. I also have a revitalised PSP XMB with access to the PlayStation Store.

I'm looking to start playing Vagrant Story in bed tonight or maybe tomorrow (I'm back to work after a week's holiday so no more late nights watching DVDs and playing X360).

My gaming year: 2009

2010-01-16T17:53:00.012Z

I wouldn’t say that 2009 was a great gaming year or even a very good one - at least from my perspective. That’s not to say that it was bad, and in fact it ended quite well.

But a quick glance at the previous post tells you that my focus wasn’t precisely on the games of 2009. There was a lot of old stuff, a number of re-runs, and some games that were finally conquered with just as much relief as satisfaction.

I didn’t take much notice of what else was happening around me in the wider world of gaming; my two-cents stayed in my pocket. If I wasn’t qualified to comment on the year then talking about the last 10 was way beyond my remit.

Still, here’s some stuff about when I did prick up my ears and click the ‘checkout’ button.

Game of the Year

If only picking lottery numbers was this easy. I just knew that Uncharted 2: Among Thieves would be my only candidate for the year’s best game.

Surprisingly, for a title that I found so good I don’t have too much to say about Uncharted 2. Like all good sequels it takes all the good bits from the first game and smoothens the rough edges; the blueprint remains the same. Of course, this course of action only works when the original is top quality, which thankfully Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune happens to be.

So what did I like about the first game that I should go ga-ga (god, she gets everywhere, doesn’t she?) for the sequel? Well, although I don’t tend to go for blended whiskies Uncharted proved to be a mix that I really could savour. The platform elements weren’t as intricate as Tomb Raider’s, and the gunplay wasn’t as thrilling as that of Gears of War but what it did crib from those games and combine worked to great effect. The bonus was that the story and character interaction was much, much better than that of those two games (it’s telling that Lara is being rebooted again and now with the promise of multiplayer). Uncharted 2 is simply even better.

Better how? For me Uncharted 2 is the closest a videogame has come to being an out-and-out action-adventure movie. Okay, so Nathan Drake isn’t quite Indy but he’s certainly a credible alternative. What’s more the narrative tools, e.g. flashbacks, cliffhangers, flow as part of the game rather than as shoved-in cutscenes. The same applies to the mix of shooting and puzzles. Bar one overlong section towards the end of the game, the need to shoot and the need to think come together smoothly. The majority of the gameplay wouldn’t look out of place in a typical Hollywood action hero blockbuster, which is realism enough these days.

Is there room for improvement in a third game? Of course. Uncharted 2 slips a little towards the end and the final boss battle is just an unnecessary drag. Other than that Uncharted 2 was as entertaining if not more so than all the books and movies I consumed last year.

To be continued...

Game Over: 2010

2010-01-16T12:22:00.002Z

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition (X360)
Bayonetta (X360, Normal)

I finished Bayonetta last night (just before midnight as it happens) but it should have been over and done with much, much earlier. This was because I stopped the other night in the middle of the last level (I reasoned that even if the otherwise excellent checkpoint system failed me, restarting wouldn't be that much of a bind). Best laid plans...

Generally, I have proved to be a very poor player of the game but the reason it took me around two hours to finish was that the denouement stretches longer than an elephant's cock (a phrase my uni mate, Lee, used to fall back on). I hope I'm not spoiling things but the action doesn't let up even during the credits sequence. If it wasn't for the aforementioned checkpoint system, the game would have tested even my patience.

Still, the game was excellent and I hope I can offer a summing-up worthy of it very soon.

Money for nothing

2010-01-16T12:05:00.000Z

Well, not quite.

Browsing through the PlayStation Store a few minutes ago, I came across the Prince of Persia update. This was something I noticed a while ago but never got around to purchasing. Now, the time is right, I thought.

I was about to add some funds to my wallet when I remembered that Shopto was selling XBL Points cheaper than the RRP. I wondered if the same bonus applied to PSN Points but was doubtful because, after all, PSN works with actual sterling rather a vague points system.

However, the site actually does sell them for less than their actual value! The catch is that you have to opt for digital delivery although I can't see the downside in receiving something near instantaneously. I bagged £20 worth for around £17, and I'm going back to the Store in a few minutes.

What I do regret, though, is not thinking about this yesterday when I purchased Vagrant Story,

Game Over: 2010

2010-01-15T18:10:00.000Z

A change of title for the completed games list. New year/decade, new name, I suppose.

I was never really happy with Done & Dusted as it carries the air of utter completion about it. As anyone who reads this blog knows, i.e. one of you, I never aim for a full set of Achievements/Trophies. Treasure/Item collecting is also anathema to me; I just can't be arsed.

Therefore, none of the games I've completed are 100 per cent over and done with so I wouldn't want to give the impression that I'm a true games completist.

Anyway, enough of the babble and onto the first title of the year:

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition (X360)

There really will be some sort of review this time (I promise! Honest!) because I've been playing about with some ideas of how to sum up the games I've completed. Clue: they won't be proper reviews.

A greater mass

2010-01-15T14:29:00.000Z

I've just received the latest issue of Games TM, which features that angriest of ancient Greeks, Kratos, on the cover,

The game of the month by a fair margin is Mass Effect 2, which has garnered that most magical (and controversial) of scores: 10.

The only way to hear Leona on my speakers

2010-01-13T18:21:00.004Z

Eurogamer has posted an English-voiced trailer for Final Fantasy XIII.

Looks like the usual nonsense but I'll be buying it anyway.

Done & Dusted 2009: the final tally

2010-01-01T10:39:00.000Z

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (PS3, Normal)
Saints Row 2 (PS3, Normal)
Stranglehold (PS3, Normal)
Okami (Wii)
Silent Hill 2 DC (PS2, both scenarios)
Naruto: Rise of a Ninja
Fahrenheit (Ps2)
Half-Life 2: Episode One (The Orange Box, PS3)
Onimusha (PS2)
Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
Jak 3
Tomb Raider Anniversary* (X360, Normal)
Resident Evil 5 (PS3, Normal)
Red Steel (Crappy Ending)
Viking: Battle for Asgard (PS3)
Dark Sector (PS3)
Elite Beat Agents
Lost Odyssey
Broken Sword: Director's Cut (DS)
Lost Planet: Extreme Condition* (PS3)
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune*
Ninja Gaiden Sigma*
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (Normal)
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 (Path of the Warrior)
GTA IV (PS3)
Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time
God of War (Hard, PS3)
Episodes from Liberty City
Batman: Arkham Asylum (Normal, X360)
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Regular, X360)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Regular, X360)

Not too bad for a year's work. The mix could have been a lot better though; I've still plenty of Wii games to play through. I reckon there will be fewer PS2 titles on this year's list but there definitely will be some namely a re-run of Devil May Cry 3 and the latest Jak & Daxter. Hopefully, I add some more handheld titles to the mix too because I'm building up a small pile of PSP and DS games.

Now that I've got a PAL X360 there's no doubt that there will be more games played on that machine than the PS3. I purchased a small stack of games in the run-up to Christmas all on X360 (not all of them new though), and any new multi-format titles will probably be bought for that format.

At present it's DJ Hero keeping the PS3 active, but there are at least two big titles coming out for the machine this year which are must-have for me: God of War III and Heavy Rain. I don't know why but there's always something more special about Sony exclusives regardless of how they eventually turn out. Perhaps it's because they really are exclusive and don't appear on the PC at a later date. The PS3 will also be my choice of machine for Final Fantasy XIII.

I think most of the games completed this year will probably be 'fresh' by which mean I've not already started it previously (I'm choosing to differentiate this from re-run games). It was good to clear the plate of Lost Odyssey and GTA IV last year. The exceptions will be Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition, Red Faction: Guerilla, and Red Alert 3. However, I've barely begun the first two games and I've not finished the tutorials on the last. It will take a superhuman effort to complete Assassin's Creed before tackling the sequel and I don't know whether or not I'm up to the challenge.

Well, whatever happens I'm hoping this year will be even more eventful.

* completed at least once before

The dragon reborn

2009-12-08T18:12:00.000Z

The news that Sega has been working on Ryu ga Gotoku 4 has been made all the more sweeter now that Yakuza 3 has been announced.

Yeah, I know that doesn't make a whole load of sense but think about it: the Yakuza games technically don't exist if the Ryu ga Gotoku games are not released in the West.

It's not Shenmue 3 but it's the next best thing.

Done & Dusted 2009

2009-12-08T11:49:00.000Z

State of Play: GTA IV - Episodes from Liberty City

2009-11-26T18:54:00.000Z

I finished off 'The Lost and Damned' a couple of nights ago, but I'm not counting it as a completed game. As soon as 'The Ballad of Gay Tony' is done and dusted then I'll consider Episodes from Liberty City a completed title.

I did enjoy TLAD and I'm full agreement that it (and it's partner) surely the set the new standard for downloadable content. That's regardless of the fact that I did not purchase it as DLC.

The only problems I had were of a technical nature. Rockstar North deliberately went for a gritty, seedy look for TLAD but this caused visual problems for me. Even with the special filter turned off I found the text hard to read - that's everything from the mobile messages and street names to the in-game menus. I also had trouble adjusting the brightness and contrast - Liberty City never looked 'right'. At first I thought it was something wrong with the X360 version of GTA IV, which disappointed me because I thought it had the edge on the PS3 game. I didn't find out the truth until a couple of days after I started playing.

Of course TBOGT has no such problems. The camp, bright colours might be a bit of tongue-in-cheek fun for the developers but it has helped me no end. Everything is bright and clear. I can live with street names being displayed in vivid pink.

I only started the game last night, but even if the narrative isn't as strong in this episode I think I'm still going to enjoy it a lot. No GTA fatigue so far.

Two sides of two coins

2009-11-26T18:43:00.000Z

Here's an interesting 'Face-off' feature focusing on Bayonetta.

By all accounts everyone knew that the PS3 version was borked from the start, but it's interesting to read the opinion that the game feels more like an X360 exclusive which has been ported over seemingly as an afterthought. If so then the PS3 game never had a chance.

Off the shelf...

2009-11-23T18:07:00.000Z

I went into town today with my hardly played copy of Mario Kart Wii in order to exchange it for New Super Mario Bros Wii. I had seen in the paper that GAME were offering £20 for it which is pretty good for such an old game (I had paid £32 for it brand new).

On reaching GAME, though, I decided to cross the road and see what was on offer in Gamestation. After letting the differently worded offer seep through into my brain (get NSMBW for £14.99 in exchange for MKW) I thought I'd give HMV a go. Patience has its rewards.

HMV were offering NSMBW for £5.99 in exchange for MKW, and the game was retailing for £2 cheaper than GAME and Gamestation to boot. In fact the only difficulty I had was being served by a Christmas temp, and that other member of staff helping her seemed equally vague (I kept my temper but informed both of them that I wished to take advantage of the offer that was plastered across the store).

I've not unwrapped it yet because I was expecting the God of War Collection to arrive (it was posted last Thursday) but I'm thinking that I might put that game on hold so as not faff around with switching optical cables between the X360 and PS3.

Great timing

2009-11-22T17:17:00.000Z

So the same week I buy a UK X360 and pack away my Japanese machine Edge magazine awards a perfect score to Bayonetta. This is a game that is currently only available to Japanese X360 owners. Marvellous.

Best of the best

2009-11-17T19:56:00.000Z

So I purchased an X360 Elite yesterday.

I had intended to buy at Gamestation until I actually entered the store and saw that their offer was £199.99 with free Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Gears of War 2. Gears of War 2? To add insult to injury the week's special offer was that game pre-owned for £9.99. I mean I need to re-buy the game but that's a pathetic bundle offering if you ask me. More bad news was that some of the games I wanted to trade-in were on offer too so I was guaranteed to get crap exchange rates.

I went to GAME.

The offer was better here: CoD: MW 2 and Forza 3. I was offered £46.50 for my handful of PS3 games, including Ratchet & Clank, Fallout 3 and Genji. I changed my mind about trading the last two titles in because of their prices (£5 and 50p respectively). I hadn't even booted up Fallout 3 (the idea was to re-purchase the superior X360 version) so I just couldn't hand it over; Genji I'd rather hand in free to charity.

The interesting thing about all of this was that the sales assistant thought he'd be chatty by commenting on the titles as he scanned them in for pricing. He enquired about R&C; slated Fallout 3; and thought Genji looked awful. I responded on the first and third titles but silently wondered what if I was a person who reacted badly to someone criticising my games-buying?

So I had £41 to be knocked off the price of the Elite. The assistant then asked what £199.99 Elite package I wanted (there was a Super Elite at £250 which was pointless for my needs - extra controller, headset, larger HDD). I had only noticed the aforementioned one so wandered over to see if he was telling porkies. He wasn't. The other offer was the same price but with another controller, Pure and Lego Batman. This was a no-go but I indicated I didn't really want CoD or Forza either. He suggested I trade them in exchange for discount.

Now I had intended to pick up the games and trade them in elsewhere (I already picked up CoD on launch day for PS3 and X360; Forza isn't for me). I had already noticed HMV was offering £36 in credit for the X360 version and I shouldn't have had too much difficulty in finding something I wanted in that store. GAME was offering just £30 for CoD and £22.50 for Forza.

However, what was more significant was that GAME was receiving trade-in prices for stock that it could sell at full price. (Obviously, it would make sense to just scan in sealed copies rather than give the games to me to open and hand back).

Yet in the end I didn't give much of fuck either way if GAME was profiting from my wants. I just wanted to spend as little as possible on the transaction. I signalled that it was a done deal. The assistant was astute enough to suggest that I really should hand Genji over and make it £94 off.

After all that I got an Elite for £105 but thanks to Microsoft's fucking hardware design I also had to pick up an HDMI cable package for £15 (I needed the optical dongle for surround sound amp). I had intended to use my VGA cable, which features an optical port, in conjunction with my PS3 HDMI cable (supposedly worth £115) but you cannot physically fit them both in at the same time. Microsoft ain't so dumb.

I really should have got the assistant's name (possibly it's on my receipt) because his attempt to sell me a warranty was hilariously bad. Far worse than my own efforts. Essentially, he told me that Elites were crap and that GAME was tired of telling customers this when they RROD'd so would I like to....

All in all it was a rather unsatisfactory console buying experience - probably the worst I've ever had. Perhaps it was because it wasn't a new machine (I didn't really even need one after all) I don't really know. It was like buying your weekly groceries rather than a bit of kit.

Done & Dusted 2009

2009-11-17T19:21:00.000Z

Off the shelf...

2009-11-14T19:22:00.000Z

Episodes from Liberty City arrived today, which is a relief as it was shipped over a week ago.

Strangely, it's not the Asian version which I was expecting but looks very much like an American release. The barcode says not for sale in the US, though, but the lack of French means it's probably not Canadian. Oh well, as long as it works.

Now that I know Play-Asia is still trustworthy (it always has been but I haven't ordered in ages) I might go for the Japanese version of Bayonetta. Whilst I have considerable doubts regarding its perfect score in Famitsu (40/40) it was a game I was looking to purchase being in the Devil May Cry mold of action adventure.

The PS3 version has been plagued with doubt from the start (it's a port and not one handled by the original developers either) and the comparison videos make it look truly awful (saying that it received 38/40 in Famitsu). The Japanese X360 game is supposed to have full English so it'll be easy to play and I'll have earned some smug points to boot. The downside is that it'll be for keeps because eBay would be the only place I could offload it after completion.

In other X360 news I'm leaning towards keeping that version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. I'm of a mind of complementing my fully-functioning Japanese machine with a UK Elite. The thinking is that there are a few exclusives on the way (Splinter Cell, Alan Wake) which I don't really want to have to start investigating for region-free status. Also, the trade-in offers at GAME and Gamestation are heavily biased towards the X360 so I'm losing out by having to opt for the PS3 version. I'm keeping an eye on the Xmas offers and if the bait is tasty I'll bite.

Done & Dusted 2009

2009-11-13T18:22:00.000Z

Off the shelf...

2009-11-06T17:43:00.000Z

So Tekken 6 got traded-in and Ratchet & Clank: Crack in Time joins my collection.

It's completely typical that neither GAME nor Gamestation offered a special trade-in deal for the game. Last week's Tekken offer was the first PS3 deal I've seen in a long time. GAME doesn't even bother outside of the Wii or X360. You'd have thought that they'd be trying to encourage more PS3 game sales.

Anyway, I received £25 in exchange from Gamestation and I used up an additional £12 of credit too which netted me R&C for about £2. Minus marks for GAME for being the only games store in town selling the title for £42.99 instead of £39.99. Boo!

State of Play: Tekken 6

2009-10-30T17:56:00.000Z

I've just spent the last hour or so playing this and, Christ, is it boring.

The loading times are irritating (even with an install) and it doesn't look as good as it really should. The boredom that settled in is what kills the game for me though.

I had two stabs at the Arcade mode but couldn't even be bothered to reach the end and reward myself with an ending movie (always a Tekken highlight). The Campaign mode (aka Tekken Force) is even worse. The cutscene to gameplay ratio leans heavily towards the former but unlike, say, MGS, the narrative is plodding and tedious.

This game is going next week.

Off the shelf...

2009-10-30T17:51:00.000Z

I went into town today determined to trade-in Uncharted 2. It's not that I dislike the game (far from it as I indicated in an earlier post) but it doesn't make much economical sense to hold on to it. I'm unlikely to replay it until sometime next year so all it would be doing is gathering dust and depreciating in value. I'll re-purchase it again when it comes down in price much like I did with the original.

The trouble was that there wasn't much on offer today. I asked for the trade-in value at Gamestation (£26) and scanned the shelves. Arkham Asylum was on offer at £28 but strangely not the X360 version (I've learned that it's region-free so I'm looking to get it rather than the PS3 game). In the end I noticed that you could get Tekken 6 for £9.99 in exchange for Uncharted 2 (making it a trade-in of £30) so I went for that.

I have to say that I was unenthusiastic about the deal, and not even the gift of a Tekken calendar sweetened the affair. However, I was taking a pragmatic approach, and I aim to trade-in the game at next available opportunity.

Argos was also going through a games clearance so I picked up Super Smash Brothers Brawl for a tenner and Burnout Paradise Ultimate Box for just under £15. I could have made some money buying-up copies of the former (Wii games hold their value) but I couldn't be bothered.

State of Play: GTA IV

2009-10-26T17:21:00.000Z

I popped this back in the PS3 last night. I knew it had been a year since I last played the game, but received a spooky surprise on seeing that the last save date was 25/05/08.

I've been reading the good reviews for the latest DLC release - The Ballad of Gay Tony - and noticed the passing reference to the fact that this double-pack disc release is a standalone product. Of course this is good news for me although PS3-only owners will have to do without (or else pick up a a cheap X360 this Christmas).

Region-locking the original game wasn't a smart move (still the main reason I go for PS3 versions of mult-format release) but the Asian version of Episodes from Liberty City is released this month too so I've gone for that.

As for GTA IV, once I'd gotten used to the strange blurred look to the visuals I'm starting to settle in to Niko's story once more. I've forgotten most of the details (it has been a year and five months after all) but it hasn't deterred me from playing.

Premature evaluation

2009-10-26T14:33:00.000Z

Ubisoft is doing it again with the Assassin's Creed pre-release hype. You'd have thought the company would have learned some restraint by now.

If you look at the back cover of the latest issue of Games TM (Diablo III is on the cover; when is that coming out?) there's an advert for the AC sequel. It's released on 20 November. However, what's more interesting is the blurb on the right-hand side. We have some quotations which are most enthusiastic in tone:

"In a word, instabuy" - vg247

"A masterpiece...Game of the Year" - Loaded

What's even more interesting (it's saying something about my current reading habits that I'm deconstructing a video game advert) is that this is an exclusive advert. This is Assassin's Creed II for PS3. There is no mention of any other format (I'm sure it'll be released in some form on all platforms, including iPhone).

I say that Ubisoft has done it again because I rattled on about their advertising campaign the last time around. A four-page advertorial wraparound was bought for the Guardian (it consisted of a front, front inside, back inside and back pages to encompass the Film & Music supplement). Even considering the post-11 September advertising downturn this must have cost a pretty penny. I suppose I should be thankful it wasn't a spread of Jade Raymond regardless of how pretty she may be (and I think she is).

The sad thing about all of this is that I found this advert more interesting than the game itself (judging by the previews). This second game will need to be truly spectacular to get a purchase out of me because I still consider the original the most boring game I've ever played.

Done & Dusted 2009

2009-10-26T14:15:00.000Z

Off the shelf...

2009-10-19T17:36:00.000+01:00

Even though I have a large backlog of games I still found myself buying more titles last week.

First up was Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09, which was a strange choice because I'm not really a golf fan. Saying that I do have more golf games than you might expect for someone who really has no interest in the sport (I own Leaderboard for the C64, for example). Anyway, the game was heading towards discontinued status and so I was able to pick it up, sealed, for less than £9.

Then there was a triple combo of Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition, Tomb Raider Underworld (X360), and Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition. The reason I purchased these was because my sister dropped a £50 CEX credit note on me on the date of its expiration. I don't really enjoy shopping in there anymore, and I had intended to buy some Blu-rays, but in the end I didn't have much choice.

The BD selection was poor to say the least (as were the prices; Asda is better VFM these days); the games prices were just crap. In the end I went for the cheaper choices which also happened to be titles that I had played and owned before. There was some strategy involved though. I needed to re-buy RE 4 (to wash away the disappointment of RE 5 if nothing else, but more to do with it being a cracking game).

Underworld, though, was for the sake of collection completion purposes. I decided to go for the X360 version because a) it supposedly plays better than the PS3 game, b) I might consider getting the DLC, c) it's another X360 game for my collection, which is a good thing.

It was pretty much the same reason for DMC 3. I have played and completed the game before albeit the original edition, and I traded it in (I received it for free from an online forum member). It was the first DMC I completed and it led to me pre-ordering the fourth game without hesitation.

All of these games will go on the back back back-burner so will probably get played sometime next year, probably during a new release drought.

What is it good for?

2009-10-06T18:27:00.000+01:00

As the UK release date still seems to be up in the air I went ahead and pre-ordered the US version of the God of War Collection.

Thumbs up to Sony for actually doing something special instead of just pushing the two PS2 games on to PSN prior to the third game's release. I'm not sure how it'll pan out, i.e. the HD restoration, but I needed to re-purchase GoW II anyway so this is saves an eBay hunt uf nothing else.

Done & Dusted 2009

2009-09-28T18:45:00.002+01:00

Off the shelf...

2009-09-10T17:34:00.000+01:00

...Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, Devil May Cry 2, and Sly 3: Honour Among Thieves.

They were part of a pre-owned '3 for £10' deal at Gamestation, so I'm not too bothered if I'm not rewarded for my curiosity.

The first title is something I have previously played on GameCube, but I traded it in (it was used anyway) because I got stuck. However, a few months ago I was in the mood to play something Star Wars related and thought of this particular title. But could I find a cheap copy? Of course I couldn't not even on eBay.

DMC 2 is the only one of the series that I've not yet played (I've completed the others in this order: 3, 1, 4) and I'm well aware that not only is it the weakest offering but also that it's nothing much as a game in itself. This is purely for completist reasons.

Finally, the Sly series is one that I've wanted to experience since becoming reacquainted with PS2 games. I also wanted to make sure I familiarised myself with the talents of Sucker Punch before sampling Infamous (as it happens after playing the demo I'm actually not too bothered about the game at all). The trouble is that the Sly games are hard to find regardless of their price so today's find was significant. All three titles in the series have scored 8 from Eurogamer so I'm hoping for good things from the third game.

Colour me bad

2009-09-10T17:20:00.000+01:00

The local HMV has spruced up its games area somewhat but I have to say that it amounts to very little. Essentially it's just a four-way demo pod. It didn't really attract my attention.

What did catch my eye, however, was the years-old PS3 display which was showing the Uncharted 2 trailer. I've not really kept up to date with the further goings-on of Nathan Drake (a habit that I'm unwilling to break these days) so it was of interest.

The thing is that although the action looked pretty damn exciting (I think I will have to buy this on release) it looked terrible because no one had bothered to adjust the colour scheme. It was set on 'Vivid' (this was naturally a Bravia TV) which most people seem to think is the best way of showing off a television because it makes everything brighter and bolder. (Samsung display sets are usually the worst.)

Now I know Uncharted has never pretended to be realistic but the effect of this colour scheme really did make it look like a video game, and certainly not something that could only be achieved on PS3.

There really wasn't much point to this post other than to say that I'm looking forward to the game. I have to think about replaying the original soon.

Done & Dusted 2009

2009-09-02T08:46:00.000+01:00

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (PS3, Normal)

Saints Row 2 (PS3, Normal)

Stranglehold (PS3, Normal)
Okami (Wii)
Silent Hill 2 DC (PS2, both scenarios)
Naruto: Rise of a Ninja
Fahrenheit (Ps2)
Half-Life 2: Episode One (The Orange Box, PS3)
Onimusha (PS2)
Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
Jak 3
Tomb Raider Anniversary (X360, Normal)
Resident Evil 5 (PS3, Normal)
Red Steel (Crappy Ending)
Viking: Battle for Asgard (PS3)
Dark Sector (PS3)
Elite Beat Agents (Easy)
Lost Odyssey

I'm tentatively putting EBA on the list because simply being able to hold the stylus will allow you to complete the game on the Easy setting. In fact the only difficulty (and indeed the only failure) I experienced was on the very last stage. After a very slow start the Medium setting is proving to be more challenging. If don't complete this by the end of the year I'll probably remove EBA from the list. Remind me.

Of course the big news is that Lost Odyssey was finally completed last night. I was only left with the final battle on Monday night and yesterday I decided not to go hunting for more treasure (and thus another Achievement) but dived straight in. Now that I'm in the mood to write again I'm definitely going to put some final thoughts together on this game. Deservedly so because I think I've put more time into the game than any other title - 87 hours.

State of Play: Elite Beat Agents

2009-08-31T11:55:00.000+01:00

Apropos of nothing I suddenly fired-up the DS as soon as I awakened this morning and hunted around for my copy of Elite Beat Agents. Actually, that's a bit of a fib because this sudden seemingly inexplicable urge probably has something to do with being asked for DS game recommendations the other day. Whatever the real reason I almost tore through the entire Easy game in one sitting and without getting out of bed (I thought my skills would be rusty but then forgot the game is actually harder when the beats are slower).

The game is now fairly old (I picked it up used for £3 in GAME of all places) but it's still a good one and a bargain at the price. It's the western version of Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan a rhythm game from iNiS, which has already received a sequel (I was in Japan at the time of its release in 2007). I love both of those games and cite them as the reasons why I actually gave J-Pop a second chance (they use real songs but covers rather than originals).

The interesting thing about EBA is that it didn't simply transport the Japanese game over - it offers different scenarios as well as, obviously, songs in English. It's a little contrived in that they had to come up with the idea of some dancing, cheerleading agency featuring men only (there is no real western equivalent to oendan) but the stories aren't too bad at all.

Stories? Let me explain. Each level is preceded with a little comic strip outlining an individual in dire straits, e.g. a speeding taxi driver threatened with losing his licence is suddenly asked to quickly get a pregnant woman to hospital. What should he do? He cries for help, of course! Answering his call are the Elite Beat Agents who are there to cheer him on. Your role is to tap to the beat. It's sounds ludicrous but it's all good fun.

The stories themselves are in the same graphical style as Ouendan (no surprise really because INiS were also the developers) although they lack the quirky charm found in their Japanese counterparts. Also, because most of the songs are familiar the fact that they are all covers means they're initially less pleasing to the ear. After a while you get caught up in the game and don't take too much notice.

All in all, though, this is a worthy purchase. I'd say get hold of it cheaply and if you like it try and source the Ouendan games (the fact that it's all in Japanese is no barrier because the comic format of the stories aids general understanding).

Free to do what I want

2009-08-29T16:44:00.002+01:00

I cannot believe that just a few short months ago I was praising albeit softly Microsoft for increasing the social aspect of Xbox Live only now to discover that it's not so great at all.

It's a minor thing really. Facebook and Twitter are to become part of the XBL experience, which kind of makes sense in terms of increasing the electronic threads (or handcuffs if you're more cynical or even kinky) between people. The problem is (and not everyone will see it as a problem) is that the aforementioned programs are only available to Gold subscribers; the Silver community (of which I'm a member) will have to make do with a trial.

So it's a kind of thank you bonus for those that pay. That's not a problem; MS is not strictly charging for specific access. What annoys me, however, is the existence of trial versions of Facebook and Twitter. Up until now you couldn't get trials of those programs - they're both free, complete and ready to go. I'd rather that the trials didn't exist at all for the Silver crowd it would make it less insulting.

ETA: I forgot this gem of a quotation from Chris Lewis, the MS VP for Interactive Entertainment Business in Europe. It's in reply to the news that MS has dropped the free HDMI cable from the Elite sku: "Removing the HDMI cable gives the flexibility to consumers who can then decide which type of cable they want for their specific gaming and TV screen set-up."

To be fair to him there was no other way he could have answered without MS sounding like it was trying to recoup coups, which of course it is. I should add that you'd also be amazed about the number of X360 and PS3 owners I meet at work who rely on scart and even composite connections even though they own HDTVs.

Halo, Halo: it's good to be back?

2009-08-29T13:10:00.003+01:00

The first news feature in the latest issue of Games TM happens to be about Halo: ODST. The only real surprise is that they didn't put it on the cover as well like they do with almost every other fucking Halo feature (it's Heavy Rain this month).

Still, this Halo title is of some interest to me at least in that I know that it will be a quality shooter. That's pretty much all I demand from the series because the story and characters are tripe. However, ODST goes a little further in catching my attention because it doesn't revolve around Master Chief, surely the gaming world's if not entertainment as a whole most boring character. C'mon, you know it's true; this isn't Halo bashing.

Master Chief sucks and blows because he's damn near invincible. He's without flaws and has no vulnerabilities either. Think of any memorable character and they will probably have something interesting about them and usually it's because of a flaw or weakness. Think of Kratos (obvious, I know), Solid Snake (particularly in MGS 4), Dead Rising's Frank West (a hero but still bit of a prick), and even the new Lara. Looking elsewhere Judge Dredd was plagued with doubt and they had to kill Superman to make anyone give a damn about him.

Anyway: rant over. ODST doesn't feature Master Chief but rather one of the members of that particular Marine unit (Orbital Drop Shock Troopers). He's normal and he's vulnerable. Hopefully, Bungie has developed a decent narrative around him (or perhaps it's her - I don't really scour Halo-related news). That's pretty much a win already in my view.

The game has also been made more interesting because the company I work has decided to make it the subject of its very first videogame pre-order service (I work for an electrical goods chain, remember, not a games store). I don't think this is a particularly bold move for a number of reasons. The first is that precisely because we're not heavily videogames-related there is no real idea of the company's allocation let alone the actual store at which I'm employed (we're one of the larger ones and we initially received three copies of Wii Sports Resort; I bought one of them too). The second is that because ODST is going to be such a big-hit with every retailer wanting a piece of the profit pie you just know one of them is going to try a grab a bigger slice than it usually would. It'll probably be a supermarket (Morrison's were selling Batman: Arkham Asylum cheaper than the net) and our store is five minutes away from a very large Tesco. Having to price-match a pre-order just looks bad.

Anyway, there's still a month to go to see whether or not I'll even get the game let alone begin worrying about any pre-order worries.

Full of fail

2009-08-29T12:46:00.003+01:00

An interesting article at digitalfoundry about the hardware failures of X360 and PS3.

The general gist appears to be that other than increasing the risks (such as poor ventilation, excessive dustiness or tobacco smoke) your console is going to die by just being played. Could this be the reason why my X360 recently passed its third birthday? (I've a feeling, however, it was part of the original Japanese allocation which would push it towards being four years old very soon).

It's a tough call. I do know, though, that there is a PS3 at work which is on for at least 11 hours a day and it's enclosed in a perspex box with the only means of ventilation being a small hole at the rear (for the cables). I really don't think this display case was meant for the machine but I can say that it's been there for months (I'm not sure what model it is though - perhaps an 80GB but definitely not one of the original 60GB versions) and it still works. It's also playing a Blu-ray demo disc on repeat. It's work-rate is better than that of the staff and it doesn't bitch either.

In contrast to that I'm sure you'll recall that the only console to have ever failed me was the 40GB PS3 I bought for my sister. This was a unit that was used infrequently but the BD drive still failed. Thankfully, it was still within its year's warranty (by a month or so) and it was back from repair within the week.

Getting back to the X360. After all the scare stories shortly after its release I was terrified that my unit would fail. Now I'm not so bothered. It's probably because the machines are relatively cheap now. (It's interesting to note that the PAL machine took a long time to drop its RRP to the level of what I paid for mine - £190 in May 2006). The strange thing is that if I did have a PAL machine then it'd probably get played a lot more than my PS3. Let's face it given the choice it makes sense to go for the better version of the game. (It's the absence of region-coding which makes the PS3 my 'first' console. Thankfully, Microsoft follows the same policy for its own published games or I really would have to buy another X360.) The upshot is that having a new X360 would mean I'd have more access to better quality games but then I'd run the increased risk of having to suffer RRODs, E74s or any other brightly-coloured symbols of failure.

At the moment, though, it'd probably be best if I don't complain too loudly.

Off the shelf...

2009-08-28T12:00:00.003+01:00

Batman: Arkham Asylum didn't leap off the shelves today or even come from Mr. Postman.

I was actually all set to go into town and pick it up but because I've done bugger all this week in terms of leaving the house I didn't have the impetus to break the pattern. Typical me really because I've waited all of 2009 for its release and then I don't buy it.

The reason why is an often stated one but it's the truth nonetheless: I've a ridiculous backlog of games.

I've just settled back into Lost Odyssey and I know that I'm very near the end. If I can finish it off then not only will I have successfully completed my second ever JRPG but I can also tackle the other RPGs in my collection with no left luggage.

But forget Lost Odyssey for a moment. I only remembered Fable II after the second sequel was announced. Everyone's gearing up for Mass Effect II but I can't yet. Same goes for Bioshock 2 and Crackdown 2. I stumbled across Fallout 3 and Valkyria Chronicles the other day (I forgot I even bought the former). I need to play Uncharted again before October and I'm not sure when Lost Planet 2 is out but the original is still waiting to be re-played. Aarrrgh!

Thinking about it, though, I think it really does hang on Lost Odyssey. It is the most enjoyable JRPG I've ever played but it is time-consuming and it is becoming a gaming millstone. If I can clear it then despite being physically a small attack on my large pile of unplayed games mentally it will be of great significance.

State of Play: Mini Ninjas & Wet demos

2009-08-24T12:47:00.003+01:00

I downloaded these for PS3 last night.

I've taken a keen interest in Mini Ninjas because I fell in love with some of the artwork when I saw it in EDGE magazine. It looked so clean and simple. Peaceful even.

The game itself, though, is probably not one I'd buy at full price. I have no issue with child-like games (the baddies are really forest animals under an evil spell) but I can't see me splashing £40 on this particular title. I'll keep it in mind and pick it up when it's come down in price. I can see it as being an entertaining albeit not spectacular game.

I first heard of Wet back when I listened to the 1UP Yours podcast. It sounded completely ordinary at the time, the product of developers with an unimpressive pedigree (the unfortunately monikered A2M) but I was struck by the presenters' optimism during the discussion. They said it was a chance for the developers to move away from licensed fare and show people what they had to give. In other words give the game a chance.

In essence Wet comes across as Stranglehold but with a more flexible and female protagonist (setting the demo in a Chinatown level perhaps wasn't a smart idea either). It's a third-person shooter with obligatory slow-motion diving gunplay (you can also slide and wall-run) and with some additional sword-slashing.

The visuals aren't exactly stunning but they are distinctive because of the old, scratchy celluloid presentation. The controls are simple enough although I feel that your pad preference will come into play if you own a PS3 and X360.

The demo is fairly comprehensive and gives a taster to four gameplay types (it borders on giving the whole game away just like so many lazy movie trailers these days) although all focus on killing goons. There's the standard run 'n' gun level, an 'arena' affair with endlessly spawning baddies (you have to disable the spawn points), a 'fury' mode in which you literally see red, and a moving vehicle shootout which is punctuated with basic QTEs.

Wet isn't just a story mode affair either because each of your kills is graded, and you're awarded points and comments, e.g. Ball Breaker. I can see a lot of Achievements and Trophies based on the player's effort in this area.

Much like Mini Ninjas I can see myself buying Wet for some cheap entertainment. The operative word being "cheap" of course.

Return of the Jak?

2009-08-19T15:03:00.002+01:00

It seems that delving back into the PS2 back catalogue wasn't just an exercise in nostalgia (or perhaps more accurately playing catch-up) because Naughty Dog has entertained thoughts of reviving Jak & Daxter for (I presume) PlayStation 3.

I have to say that I was a little miffed that the fourth game was canned (or at least never appeared) and the only other Jak games were the racing title and PSP-only title, Daxter. Admittedly, the latter was rather good but even at rock-bottom prices I've not really been tempted by the former despite the presence of a fairly decent narrative.

Sony's new console is...er....PlayStation 3!

2009-08-19T14:49:00.002+01:00

You've probably already seen all the pictures by now of the new PS3. It's slimmer, less shiny (Sony nows seems to have gone too matte in an attempt to dull the machine's shinyness), less noisy (aircraft taking off are quieter than my X360 so it's relative, I suppose), and with a few features dropped (no Linux, no PS2 capability whatsoever). Additions include a 120GB hard drive and possibly a 250GB model too.

This is all par for the course because the PS3 is almost three years old now, and was due for a refresh. A slimline model was expected as soon as the original machine was unveiled so it's hardly news. What is surprising is the new £250 price point. It's not the price drop per se because it too had been expected and it is still only a fall of £50. No, what is slightly shocking is that the PS3 will be just £25 more than the PSPGo.

I've saved the best for last. Throughout this post I've used the abbreviation 'PS3' to refer to Sony's machine. The full title is of course PLAYSTATION 3. Now with the release of this latest iteration Sony has decided on a name change: PlayStation 3. The eagle-eyed will notice that this is in fact how the original Sony console was titled (and I must be one of the few people who actually referred to it this way). Perhaps as a sign of its commitment to the machine (10-year lifecycle, remember?) Sony doesn't want to see PSThree on the shelves. At least not yet.

The story continues

2009-08-19T14:42:00.002+01:00

Hmmm, it seems that with Peter Molyneux's recent unveiling I'd better actually unwrap my copy of Fable II. What are we to expect this time, Peter?

My Final Word: Round-up

2009-08-17T17:03:00.003+01:00

This is a really poor way to treat some of these games but there is no other way to make up for my laziness and get back on track within a reasonable time.

Jak & Daxter: the Precursor Legacy

This was my second attempt at the game (I bought it fairly early in my PS2-owning life but it was still a Greatest Hits title) and it was not only more successful but much more enjoyable too. The coherent world that the game offers helped in that regard. I guess that Daxter's character might be 'Marmite' for some but I really do find the furry sidekick amusing; he's brilliantly voiced. The only quibble is that there are two endings to the game. I discovered that I finished with 90 of the 100 Precursor Orbs needed for the true conclusion. The fact that there are only 101 to collect put me off attempting a backtrack.

Jak III

This is closer to Jak II: Renegade than the original but this time the GTA III elements aren't as pronounced. It's less successful in immersing you within a coherent world because you're forced to move between two locations, and movement within the city setting itself is restricted for narrative purposes. Still, the game is entertaining enough and Daxter is on good form as usual.

Resident Evil 5

It's evident whilst playing that the next game in the series really has to be different. The game is an evolution of RE 4 but the impact of the gameplay of that title has now faded. Yes, there are some entertaining set pieces but whilst playing I could never squash the feeling that everything was good but not great. The action is at times incredibly satisfying but that in itself was a problem for me. At no time did I feel that Chris Redfield was ever in danger; the guy is immense. Floppy-haired Leon Kennedy was a far more successful survival horror action hero to my mind, and there were some shocks in his last adventure too.

Red Steel

It's quite a shock to discover that Ubisoft got it wrong from the start. Yes, Nintendo shoehorned in the Wii controls for Twilight Princess but in Red Steel there is a game which tries too hard to show off new gaming technology. How absurd is it to have to pick-up a new profile in order to create it? Ditto that for every single option prior to starting a game. Once I started playing, though, I did enjoy what was on offer. The aiming is reasonably accurate (the zoom, particularly when using a sniper rifle, is poorly considered - more Wii remote showing off) and much of the environment can be destroyed with satisfaction. It does drag on a bit though and the sword fights are an unwelcome diversion. However, the game saves the worst for last: two endings. The true crime, though, is that if you screw up (as I did) you're expected to replay the entire game to make good your mistake and see the correct conclusion. Fuck that.

Viking: Battle for Asgard

I picked this up for a fiver from work some time ago. It's a 3D action adventure which starts off with promise before repetition rears its ugly head and condemns the player to completing several exercises of sameyness. You can get away with performing the same moves to kill enemies (new moves are bought rather than earned too) and the QTEs make killing bosses a breeze as well. The mass battles with thousands of combatants are similarly dull because they all boil down to performing the same specific task. It's a shame because the created world is nicely realised. (It's probably worth adding that the PS3 version is a bit of a pig, and needed a patch not only to rectify some horrific slowdown but also to stop the game crashing.)

Dark Sector

This started off enjoyable enough before getting bogged down in repetitive gameplay. You can see that it's an attempt to bring some Gears of War action to PS3 (although it's a multi-format title). However, it can't beat the original and there are other games that borrow more successfully e.g. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. I'm gonna be a bit lazy here and suggest you read the Eurogamer review because I agree with it 100 per cent. Oh, I forgot to add that I shouldn't be too harsh because I only paid a fiver for the game.

My Final Word on: Tomb Raider Anniversary

2009-07-30T17:45:00.003+01:00

Not too much to say on this one because I think I noted something down when I originally finished the PS2 version.

As usual I played the game as I normally would have and so made minimal progress in terms of collecting items. Also because this was the X360 game I achieved very little either. What I did do this time around, though, was complete the Croft Manor level which for some reason I didn't bother with the first time around.

I still rate this above Legend and Underworld simply because the emphasis is on jumping and climbing rather than shooting. Despite this I still aim to re-purchase the latter just for the sake of completing the trilogy (I recouped £25 of my initial £30 outlay which is why I originally traded it in).

Done & Dusted 2009

2009-07-30T17:43:00.001+01:00

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (PS3, Normal)

Saints Row 2 (PS3, Normal)

Off the shelf...

2009-07-16T16:57:00.002+01:00

Despite having more games to play than I actually have free time I still felt the need to pick up some more titles today.

Wandering into Gamestation I spotted used copies of Lost Planet: Extreme Condition (PS3) and Red Steel for £5 each. The former was probably the last pre-order, full price, Japanese X360 title I bought (I certainly played it in standard definition). I remember the final encounter being irritating but otherwise it was filled with a reasonable level of Capcom action-fuelled excitement. The Wii game was always something I was going to buy providing that I could source it at a cheap price.

However, the main reason for these purchases is, of course, the imminent release of sequels. The Lost Planet sequel brings with it the usual new Capcom title spark of interest but Red Steel 2 is of far more significance. It'll be a test of the MotionPlus add-on and Ubisoft's talents (the game was underway before MotionPlus was announced).

State of Play: Resident Evil 5

2009-07-16T16:26:00.002+01:00

I thought I might as well crack this one open sooner rather than later. So far I've put in about two hours over the course of two nights. This isn't really enough to form an solid opinion let alone a conclusion but here's a few thoughts anyway.

The [PS3] demo made me fear that the controls would severely affect my actual playing of the full game regardless of whether or not I could gain any enjoyment from it. Playing the retail version has eased this fright to a certain extent: the controls are my only real moan to date. I've set the controller option to Resident Evil 4 controls which takes most of the action away from the DS3's L and R buttons. This is a good thing although you can't escape the thumbsticks. Still, I made the choice to go PS3 which makes it a self-inflicted wound.

Another worry I experienced with the demo was the new all-action gameplay of RE 5. Of course, RE 4 was the true revelation for the series; RE 5 just builds on it. Always before you could stand your ground providing your aim was true and your ammo held out. Conversely, if you ran then you did so to escape. This isn't really possible anymore (not that I'm a crackshot anyway) and I was hammered in the demo. There really is the panicked sensation of facing a near-unstoppable mob (having someone with an absolutely huge axe amongst the scrum doesn't help either) coupled with the understanding that running away won't do anything save delay the inevitable. Thankfully, forewarned is to be forearmed and unlike my demo frustration I was able to survive the first true mob encounter almost without incident (almost because I was soon reminded that bringing up the inventory screen no longer pauses the action and I couldn't remember how to give ammo to my partner).

Having a partner is the other new aspect to this RE game. Playing co-op isn't really any option for me in that aside from the PC games I used to play I'm not comfortable playing multiplayer online. I tend to give Sheva most of the handgun ammo that's found whilst relying on a knife 'n' shotgun combination. She's incredibly wasteful, though, so I might adjust my strategy.

Other than that I'm finding the story slow to unravel although that's not really a fair criticism considering the progress I've made. I'm well out of sync when it comes to RE lore so I hope that all the eventual shocks and surprises still have their intended impact. Also, despite the fantastic visuals I haven't really experienced a 'wow' moment like I did with RE 4 (and I mean both times I played it too). In fact the helicopter back-up brought back memories of that game. Re-reading the EDGE review suggests that there are some good times ahead though.

Off the shelf...

2009-07-02T14:25:00.002+01:00

I wandered into Asda and saw that they had some bargain bins out. I picked up Patapon 2 for £5 (I still haven't even unwrapped the original); Mirror's Edge for the same price (I know I found it disappointing but I'm still a great fan of its aesthetics); and finally Eternal Darkness for Gamecube for just 50p (I already own this but it's the US version so I'd have to dig out the Cube).

1080p or not 1080p?

2009-07-02T14:20:00.002+01:00

Crap pun aside I noticed this tucked away at Eurogamer and thought it a short but interesting read: Ridge Racer 7: the 1080p dream.

State of Play:Tomb Raider Anniversary

2009-07-02T13:59:00.002+01:00

It's perhaps a little too soon to be playing this again but I don't think I can wait another 10 years like I did with my first crack at Anniversary.

I suppose there's a difference this time in that I'm playing the X360 version (I originally bought the PS2 game but only after playing the PC demo) but then again the joy of this particular Lara adventure is not in the visuals. Anniversary, for me, is a true Tomb Raider game and not just because it's a remake of the original. True, the grapple is a new addition but a warranted one unlike, for example, a choice of costumes between levels. Although I'm only on the second level, Greece, it's already been a more enjoyable journey than the recent Underworld.

Speaking of that game I think it's inevitable that I'll end up re-purchasing it - to complete the trilogy if nothing else. I could go for the PS3 version for a slight change but it would make sense to go X360 and cough-up the cash for the DLC.

Off the shelf...

2009-06-25T16:50:00.002+01:00

Last week I finally said "yes" to the GAME sales assistant and used the £5 on my Reward card to finally nab Resident Evil 5 (PS3) and for a reasonable £20 too.

State of Play: Sam & Max Season One

2009-06-25T16:25:00.003+01:00

For months I had been reading about the Wii version in Retro Gamer's 'Coming Soon' section, and it was only recently that I realised that it completely passed me by. This I blame on the fact that none of my regular gaming reads reviewed the game, including RG.

So I ordered it for a reasonable price and, typically, the same week I received it I learned that the XBL release (with improved visuals) was set for the following week. Also, the Wii version was blighted with an annoying audio bug. I debated whether or not to break the cellophane and in the end did so because I reasoned that I could actually sell-on the Wii version after completion, and that the Wii remote seemed a more natural match for a point 'n' click adventure.

Season One consists of six episodes (these were released one-by-one for the PC) which true to their episodic nature are separate but still related adventures. The visuals aren't too bad (at least from the proper viewing distance) and the voice-acting is of a more than reasonable standard (Sam and Max aren't voiced by the same duo which featured in Hit The Road). Thankfully, the audio bug doesn't affect every line (it cuts off the last word when it does occur).

Each episode is fairly short probably maxing-out at two hours with a lot of fetch quests to string out the play time. There's nothing particularly taxing either and I only got stuck once and that was to do with not noticing a particular item in the first episode. Perhaps the most worrying thing about Season One (or at least the three episodes I've played so far) is that it's not particularly funny. There have been one or two moments of mirth but nothing close to the hilarity of Hit The Road. I have read, though, that Season Two is a definite improvement in the humour stakes.

Despite the moans I'm more than happy to be playing a franchise and genre which I thought would be lost to me after ditching PC gaming. I'm hoping that the upcoming Tales of Monkey Island also breaks free from the PC and at least makes it to X360 if not the Wii.

State of Play: Ridge Racer 7

2009-06-25T16:08:00.002+01:00

I think one of my biggest regrets after re-buying RR 7 was deliberately deleting my 100 per cent saved-game data. This was meant to force me to re-play the game until completion. The truth of the matter was that I started playing for a short while and then gave up. It was just too soon to start playing again (playing in high definition for the first time didn't make much of a difference), and the final goal seemed so very far away.

About two weeks ago or so I had one of the urges (no, not that sort) for some nonsensical high-speed, no-damage racing thrills and so popped the game back into the PS3. If nothing else it was an excuse to fire-up the Sony machine after playing its older brother for the last few months.

Ridge Racer 7 can be strangely addictive for short spells which explains why I've recently put a lot of time into it. Because it's more or less a test of memory rather than outright skill it wasn't too hard to settle into the old groove. I've now finished off the Grands Prix and unlocked the Extreme Battles (where the real challenge lies). However, this time around I'm making sure I go back through all the GP events with the different car manufacturers in order to make the journey to 100 per cent more swiftly. Inching towards that goal less than one per cent at a time after completing every race available was perhaps the most maddening game experience ever.

Done & Dusted 2009

2009-06-04T16:30:00.002+01:00

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (PS3, Normal)

Saints Row 2 (PS3, Normal)

Stranglehold (PS3, Normal)
Okami (Wii)
Silent Hill 2 DC (PS2, both scenarios)
Naruto: Rise of a Ninja
Fahrenheit (Ps2)
Half-Life 2: Episode One (The Orange Box, PS3)
Onimusha (PS2)
Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
Jak 3

I finished this off on Monday night and I'm sort of floating about in a pool of indecisiveness as to what to play next. I went back to Onimusha 2 but turned off frustrated that I was still couldn't get past a particular boss; it's on permanent pause for the moment. To rid myself of the samurai blues I turned to Just Cause, which is just right for dipping into now and again. It's probably time to turn on the Wii or the X360 for something more substantial though.

E3 sigh: Part..er...um

2009-06-03T09:15:00.003+01:00

This is pretty much a continuation of my last post.

As expected the Sony and Nintendo conferences pretty much consisted of announcements of more sequels. I'm pleased because they're follow-ups to games I like and want to play more of but on the flip-side I'm not excited about them. More Mario, Zelda, Resident Evil, MGS, etc. Bring it on!

It was good to hear confirmation of 'Trico' or Last Guardian (to use its proper title) as well as the upcoming Rockstar North title Agent. I suppose Sony had to be kept sweet somehow after the GTA IV DLC exclusivity.

I'm in two minds about 'Project Natal' though. Unlike Sony's motion controller (and of course the Wii's) I'm not sure about approaching a game with no physical interaction, particularly if MS aims to integrate this into mainstream/hardcore/franchise titles. Navigating menus in the manner of Tom Cruise in Minority Report is all well and good, but what's the common denominator when driving a car regardless of make and model? That's right: a steering wheel. Still, it's an advance in gaming tech and that's worth applauding.

E3 sigh

2009-06-01T20:21:00.003+01:00

It's funny. I started this blog on the tails of an E3 but I'm now finding it hard to muster enthusiasm for what is still the biggest event in the gaming world. I think it's probably something to do with wanting sequels but at the same time decrying the fact that there's nothing but sequels.

Anyway, it's Microsoft's turn today and it's pretty much as expected: more Halo. Okay, so there was also Forza 3 and the news that Facebook, Last FM and Twitter is part of the continuing expansion of NXE (New Xbox Experience). In terms of the latter Apple has already beaten MS in my particular instance thanks to the iPhone, but it's still a neat and natural evolution of the X360 as a social tool.

Two surprises were the announcement of Crackdown 2 (must start that soon) which in a way was always a dead cert but it's taken a long time for confirmation. The other, and more significantly for me, was Metal Gear Solid: Rising. I didn't watch the live broadcast but the reports suggest it was a cracker.

Done & Dusted 2009

2009-05-29T16:38:00.001+01:00

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (PS3, Normal)

Saints Row 2 (PS3, Normal)

Off the Shelf

2009-05-29T16:17:00.003+01:00

As part of the recent Bank Holiday our store has attempted to get rid of all of its discontinued games titles (that's discontinued as in the store no longer stocking them). To do so it looked to the trusty Buy One Get One Free deal, which is usually a winner. Unfortunately, the store didn't bother highlighting this offer to the public. The upside to this is that I had first pickings.

Truth be told there wasn't much on the shelves to pick up. The focus of my mini shopping expedition was the recently released Broken Sword: Director's Cut for the DS. This was on sale for £20 but the problem was finding something else for a similar price in order to get as mileage as possible from my 'free' title. In the end I went for Everybody's Golf 2 on PSP although to my annoyance I've now noticed that Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise is now also available (I told myself that I would try the series if it ever appeared on handheld).

Yesterday I went back for another look. Because the crucial BH weekend had been missed almost nothing had been sold so pretty much everything that was on offer was still to be had. I really didn't want to spend much money so focused on the PS3 Platinum titles. Our store only has the original games in that range most of which I already own or have already played. Despite this I went for Resistance: Fall of Man and Heavenly Sword. I completed the former before I went high definition so it would be 'different' in some manner for a replay; the latter was picked because the other titles were Uncharted, Motorstorm, Ratchet & Clank, and Ridge Racer 7 of which I own three already. Thanks to my staff discount I bought both games for £9, which isn't too bad at all for sealed items.

Today in Asda I spied Red Alert 3 for X360 which I almost picked up before remembering that EA titles are all region-coded. I didn't want another purchasing mistake in the vein of Mirror's Edge regardless of the cheaper price. I did go so far as putting Boom Blox (£9) into my basket and walking towards the checkout before reminding myself that I big enough collection of unplayed Wii games already. I put it back.

Done & Dusted 2009

2009-05-22T16:30:00.000+01:00

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (PS3, Normal)

Saints Row 2 (PS3, Normal)

Stranglehold (PS3, Normal)
Okami (Wii)
Silent Hill 2 DC (PS2, both scenarios)
Naruto: Rise of a Ninja
Fahrenheit (Ps2)
Half-Life 2: Episode One (The Orange Box, PS3)
Onimusha (PS2)

My Final Word on: Onimusha

2009-05-22T16:24:00.003+01:00

This game reminded me as to why I had to ensure my first PS2 was a US machine. The instruction manual clearly states that you can choose Japanese or English voices, but there simply isn't such a choice within the options menu. A quick search on the net reveals that the dual-language option was removed for the PAL release.

Onimusha was a title I picked up soon after I bought my PS2. I don't remember much of it other than the infamous Water Trap Puzzle and that I never completed it; I think I was stuck on a boss battle set in a bluish room. I certainly didn't recall being lumbered with only digital controls (the instructions erroneously state that analogue control is possible). Still it didn't take long to become acclimatised to the controls without being completely comfortable (the controls are not relative to your character's position, i.e. left is left regardless of where you are, which made strafing difficult for me).

I have to say that I think my brain has become rusty over the years (my current job can't be helping either) because I died an almost frustrating number of times on the aforementioned Water Trap Puzzle. I cleared it without any bouts of teeth-gnashing the first time around.

Another thing I attributed to my less than sharp mind was that after some time playing I was entering new areas with no sign of that boss battle in a blue room. As I made progress I couldn't remember previously playing through any of these screens. It was only when I knew I was getting towards the end of the game that I entered what resembled that blue room from my memories. Annoyingly, this was a swift encounter which revealed that there was only the final boss to beat to complete the game. Did I really get that far before or was my brain conjuring up false memories?

Regardless of the state of my faculties I cleared the game in just under a shade of four hours (3:58 to be precise) without any sub-game or item-collecting detours. I have to say that the age of the game didn't really put me off. The visuals seemed better (or at least clearer) than Onimusha 3 did via the PS3; the voice acting was on the bearable side of terrible (the actors' Japanese name pronunciation was better than that of the narrator's); and the gameplay was the familiar pre-Resident Evil 4 Capcom fare. Obviously, it would have had more impact on its release (although my memory appears to disagree) but I enjoyed the brief time I had with it.

Off the shelf...

2009-05-22T16:10:00.004+01:00

Last week I spotted Beyond Good & Evil (PS2) for £5 in GAME. Pre-owned, of course. The deal was that it was a fiver on its own or you could pick up two other titles along with it for the same price. Bit of a no-brainer really.

The trouble was that there was a whole load of shitty titles on offer (I wanted BG&E because I had fond memories of the game. I bought it on release for Xbox and played until completion, and there was the matter of the upcoming sequel too). Anything that was half decent (at least in my eyes) such as Onimusha 3 or FF X-2 I already owned. I toyed with Headhunter (already completed on Dreamcast and sold on), Aeon Flux (EDGE magazine once described this as underrated; Eurogamer gave it 4/10) and Cold Fear (Eurogamer: 5/10).

In the end I selected Just Cause (I didn't think much of the X360 demo but it always seemed a PS2 title to me) and the original Onimusha (bought early in my original PS2's life but never completed).

Yesterday, saw me taking another trip into town with the purpose of seeking out Onimusha 2. I picked up that game along with Jak & Daxter which I had been thinking about re-buying for some time, and Jak III too.

My Final Word: Fahrenheit

2009-05-14T12:12:00.004+01:00

Fahrenheit starts off as an interesting murder mystery (in the vein of Columbo in that we know the identity of the grisly deed) with some supernatural hokum thrown in for good measure. However, the beginnings of a good relationship I forged with the game - thanks to the multiple perspectives of the story - soon soured thanks to an abundance of QTE/minigames.

In the post-modern tutorial (creator David Cage is the tutor) you're warned that you have to work during the action scenes by means of analogue stick prompts or rhythmic button-bashing. Yet I was unprepared for the frequency of these QTEs. It soon reached the point where certain cut-scenes could only progess in conjunction with some Simon-like activity even if the 'action' was dialogue. I hated every single instance of it.

Worse is that the story soon became muddled before crumbling into a nonsense which I wasn't prepared to swallow.

I still have high hopes for Heavy Rain because the ideas within Fahrenheit are strong. The problem is that there's less gameplay involved than that offered by the Metal Gear Solid series. As a game Fahrenheit was even less satisfying than Dreamfall, which was similar in that game elements were inserted into a story.

It's worth a whirl if you can pick it up cheap (as I did) but I wouldn't go out of my way to hunt it down.

Done & Dusted 2009

2009-05-14T12:09:00.002+01:00

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (PS3, Normal)

Saints Row 2 (PS3, Normal)

Stranglehold (PS3, Normal)
Okami (Wii)
Silent Hill 2 DC (PS2, both scenarios)
Naruto: Rise of a Ninja
Fahrenheit (Ps2)
Half-Life 2: Episode One (The Orange Box, PS3)

State of Play: Half Life 2 - Episode One

2009-05-09T20:02:00.002+01:00

After yesterday's bout of moodiness I was fully prepared to fire-up RE: Code Veronica. However, apropos of nothing I remembered that I never really fully tucked into The Orange Box.

I have played some of Episode One before on PC but turned off after getting stuck at one particular section (if I remember correctly it was where there was a never ending stream of Antlions). Needless to say I was immediately sucked back into the adventures of Gordon Freeman and the amazing Alyx. I'm not even bothered if the PS3 version is the inferior effort either.

Not playing tonight though because there's DVD that I want to watch but I plan to carry on tomorrow night.

Continue? Restart? Try again?

2009-05-08T17:22:00.002+01:00

Aside from unadulterated laziness one of the reasons for the lack of blogging is that I'm experiencing a prolonged bout of ennui when it comes to gaming.

I've been out of sorts since completing Naruto and that was over a month ago (I know I didn't even bother mentioning it here). Since then I've started Far Cry 2 (stopped shortly after the tutorial); gone back to Assassin's Creed (one of the most boring games I've ever played since I started gaming); started the first Disgaea on PS2 (still on the first chapter); played one game of Civilization Revolution on DS (the 'tutorial' game); started Contact (first save point); played one level of Madworld; and began to replay Resident Evil: Code Veronica (second save point).

This flitting from one title to another was halted after spotting a copy of Fahrenheit for £3 in Gamestation last week. With Heavy Rain's promise in mind I thought it would be a good idea to sample David Cage's earlier effort. The game kept me occupied for a week although even then I never played on consecutive nights, and bar the extended session last night it wasn't for long either.

So now what to do? I'm leaning towards going back to RE: CV again because it's only a week or so since I last played, but I also feel that I want to fire up the PS3 or X360 again as well. However, the greater problem still exists in that my current mindset is "I'm bored of games", which is of course a vicious circle. If I think I'm bored of games I'm never going to start playing something which will reignite my passion. There's nothing current I'm really itching to play and that includes the last two major releases (RE 5 and Killzone 2) so if I'm looking at anything it's past games that I've ignored/missed.

As for this blog I'll keep it going but barring a brainstorm I think the posts will be at best sporadic in their frequency. Then again you should be used to this by now.

Done & Dusted 2009

2009-05-08T17:09:00.001+01:00

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (PS3, Normal)

Saints Row 2 (PS3, Normal)

Stranglehold (PS3, Normal)
Okami (Wii)
Silent Hill 2 DC (PS2, both scenarios)
Naruto: Rise of a Ninja
Fahrenheit (Ps2)

There will be blood

2009-03-17T14:18:00.002Z

It's no real surprise that one of last year's X360 exclusives, Ninja Gaiden II, is making its way onto PS3. Following on from the Xbox original's appearance on Sony's machine the sequel will appear this year in the guise of the imaginatively titled Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2.

I find former Team Ninja head Tomonobu Itagaki's outbursts interesting but I'm not one to succumb to his bullshit. Ninja Gaiden II wasn't (in my opinion) a game to redefine action games although it was a good game. What was amazing, however, was that the camera control was one of the worst engineered in recent times. Really, it could only have been someone like Itagaki who could pour scorn on Ninja Gaiden Sigma, and then produce something relatively poor.

I'll more than likely purchase Sigma 2 mainly because I never actually completed the X360 game. It was bloody difficult and, for me, at times a less than interesting journey to boot. I stopped at the final boss, an extremely irritating encounter because it was preceded by a substantial sub-boss with no checkpoint to separate them, and sold the game on.