Retro News
February2011
Review Test Drive Unlimited 2 (PlayStation 3)
While Gran Turismo strives to recreate the perfect car model, Test Drive Unlimited 2 is all about imitating fantasy racing culture
It's built around indulgent escapism: expensive cars, snazzy haircuts, tropical islands and designer clothes. Whilst utterly materialistic, TDU2 is daftly addictive. Some players will balk at the game's peripheral...
Review Explodemon! (PlayStation 3)
Explodemon
's</a> dewy-eyed regard for the 16-bit era is charming, but not endearing enough to subsidise the game's predictable level design and mundane boss battles. It's a miracle we got to review Explodemon! at all. The game's status in development limbo has long been depicted by the platform-hopping drama that's surrounded it since its...
Review Stacking (PlayStation 3)
Stacking is the second downloadable title from Tim Schafer's creative power-house, DoubleFine
The last game, Costume Quest, launched around Hallowe'en to generally positive acclaim, providing a unique spin on the traditional turn-based RPG formula. Similarly to Costume Quest, Stacking works a charming concept into some traditional adventure game...
Review Mass Effect 2 (PlayStation 3)
Ultimately Mass Effect 2's obsessive attention to detail is its greatest strength
At times the game's intricate references to obscure fiction can be overbearing, but those that take the time to engross themselves in the world will be richly rewarded. The problem with late ports such as Mass Effect 2 is that they can fall foul to hype. Bioshock left...
Review VT Tennis (PlayStation Minis)
VT Tennis is a bit like an out-of-season bowl of strawberries
Tasteless, but a passable reminder of the summer. Contrary to quick glance deceptions, VT Tennis is not Virtua Tennis. We're sure developers Virtual Toys would love you to make the mistake though. That's not to say they haven't tried to create the illusion, mind. Minutes after opening VT...
Review Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 (PlayStation 3)
Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 tries to appeal to two disparate audiences, and gets lost as a result
The core gameplay is still fun, if not as fluid as its predecessor, but ultimately it's the lavish production values and floor-pumping soundtrack that will keep you going. You could probably plot the beginning of the downloadable games scene's rise to...
Review Tales From Space: About A Blob (PlayStation 3)
Tales From Space: About A Blob is an enjoyable platformer with an emphasis on controller dexterity and clever puzzle design
It's an easy scenario to picture: developers Drinkbox Studios gathered around a large conference table laced with paper, pencils and plates of those round biscuits that aren't quite Custard Creams nor Jammie Dodgers. "How...
Review Super Street Fighter IV (PlayStation 3)
Streets ahead
Make no bones about it - Super Street Fighter IV is essentially the same game that was released last year, only considerably beefed up. With several new characters, Super Street Fighter IV takes a step into "Vs" territory, with a roster of names practically bulging at the seams. Factor in a slew of new stages, a considerably...
Did you know that ATV stands for all-terrain vehicle? If nail'd is to be believed, thin-air is a form of terrain
As the title's improper spelling suggests, this is a game made by people who spent their youth listening to Papa Roach records and drawing tattoo designs on their food technology exercise books. nail'd is the very definition of the phrase...
January2011
Review Dead Space 2 (PlayStation 3)
Years after the conclusion to the original Dead Space, protagonist Isaac Clarke finds himself locked on the Sprawl -- a metropolis built upon one of Saturn's moons, Titan
Unable to recall the past three years of his life, Clarke finds himself suffering from distorted visions of his deceased girlfriend, Nicole. As the Sprawl finds itself subject to a...
Review Dead Space: Extraction (PlayStation 3)
Extracting fear and limbs
Humanity is sacred. Human beings are characterised by the emotions that flow within them, but yet humans are fragile beings. The line between life and death can be broken in an instant, and extract fear from deep within. Dead Space: Extraction finds a group of humans walking the fine line between life and death in deep...
Review Faery: Legends Of Avalon (PlayStation 3)
Faery: Legends Of Avalon is a well crafted turn-based RPG, dressed in a unique fairytale setting
While the game's lack of variety can lead to repetition, the engaging storyline and differing locales ensure you'll see Faery's adventure right through to its abrupt conclusion. We love fairytales. There's something magical about the way they turn...
Review Zumba Fitness (PlayStation 3)
You'll want to move - as far away as possible.
With the success of Wii Fit, we're beginning to see a steady increase in fitness-style game releases on the various consoles. With Move support rapidly growing in popularity among Playstation 3 owners, it was only a matter of time before the craze would hit the console and this time it's in the form of...
Review Modern Combat: Domination (PlayStation 3)
More bang fewer bucks
Question: how many times has a dinner been skipped or forgotten in favour of online shooting marathons on the PlayStation 3? Gameloft knows it’s happening daily, and with the price tag of a measly $7.99/£6.29, Modern Combat: Domination on PlayStation Network is as cheap as a skipped dinner, but is it worth going hungry? If...
Review Angry Birds (PlayStation Minis)
Those with only PlayStation platforms available to them will find the Minis version of Angry Birds a perfect justification for their curiosity, but we'd urge some consideration first
The PlayStation Minis version of Angry Birds lacks features, despite coming in at a higher price. What's more, we're just not convinced the gameplay is all that great...
Review EA Sports Active 2 (PlayStation 3)
EA Sports Active 2 is a compelling substitute to the real gym, with a good variety of well designed exercises and some excellent progress tracking tools
The heart-rate monitor makes exercising both fascinating and visually beneficial, while the game's sturdy presentation ensures you are motivated whatever your current fitness level. We'd never feel...
Review Blue Toad Murder Files (PlayStation 3)
The Mystery of Whodunnit?
Little Riddle is a quaint British village full of eccentric folk, but everyday life in the village has been disrupted by a murder, and one that only a detective of the Blue Toad Agency can properly solve. Taking the role as the detective for the agency will bring about many thought provoking puzzles and intense mind-benders...
Review Everybody's Stress Buster (PlayStation Portable)
Hot Shot Shorties is a hectic, pick-up-and-play mini-game compilation hindered by the cumbersome method Sony's opted to package it
Splitting the game into four disparate XMB applications adds an additional layer of navigation to what is essentially a jump-in-jump-out package. Once you get there, the underlying gameplay is charming, addictive and...
Review Tetris HD (PlayStation 3)
It's Tetris in the same blocktacular format you've been enjoying since the late 1980's
Tetrominoes fall from the heavens and it's your job to arrange them into solid lines. The PlayStation 3 version may introduce some new features such as 1080p visuals, 5.1 surround sound and exclusive multiplayer modes, but at its very core it is still the same old...
Review Eat Them! (PlayStation 3)
Eat Them
is essentially Rampage on the Dreamcast. The Fluffy Logic developed PlayStation Network title is a monster-themed smash 'em up inspired by Godzilla and Jet Set Radio. Occupying an outrageously attractive cel-shaded visual style, Eat Them! puts you inside a comic-book world where mad scientists create and control monsters at the expense of...
December2010
Review Top Darts (PlayStation 3)
Double top
You wait years for a darts game to come to PlayStation 3 with little success and then two turn up in the space of a month – such is the power of the PlayStation Move and its suitability for bringing the sport to life. While PDC World Championship Darts: Pro Tour was a good effort aimed at those who know their Phil Taylor from their...
Gameloft's new kid on the Blokus
More and more classic board games have been making their way into the PSN lately and now a digital version of the classic strategy game Blokus is available from Gameloft, the studio that brought the widely popular card game Uno to the PlayStation Store. The rules to Blokus are simple, but to master this block-laying...
Review echochrome ii (PlayStation 3)
Go to the light
Sony hasn't offered up a huge selection selection of puzzling Move games just yet, with Tumble being the major entry in the genre to date. While that game certainly was a blast, many Move owners have been left yearning for some similarly stellar, motion-infused brain teasers. Enter echochrome ii, Sony's direct sequel to their...
Review Marvel Pinball (PlayStation 3)
Marvel Pinball's visual effects and gameplay frills are supported by a strong physics core and generally good table design
Zen Pinball was one of our most played PlayStation Network titles of 2009, so it was with some anticipation we got thrift of Zen Studios' impending Marvel Pinball — a stand-alone catalogue of four new Marvel themed tables...
Review Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2011 (PlayStation 3)
Become the prey
Hunters around the world often talk about the “thrill of the hunt”, but Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2011 brings a whole new meaning to this saying. Seeking out a great spot to hunt and long waits for that perfect shot are nowhere to be found here, as instead hunters will be fighting for survival in the deep wilds of several...
Review A Space Shooter For Two Bucks! (PlayStation Minis)
Two Bucks?
Frima's super self-aware A Space Shooter For Two Bucks hits all the right notes with smooth, space-blaster gameplay, a solid progression system and some comical, if cliche, dialogue. Frima's latest PlayStation Mini is probably the best they've released, but we can't help but feel like the game's title does it a disservice. Sure, the...
Review Blimp: The Flying Adventures (PlayStation Minis)
Blimp: The Flying Adventures is a simplistic navigation title built around a strong physics core
The first game Blimp: The Flying Adventures reminded us of was Crazy Taxi. Sure the game's two-dimensional, set in outer-space and puts you in control of a zeppelin rather than a taxi, but stay with us. It reminds us of Crazy Taxi because the core...
Review Kung-Fu LIVE (PlayStation 3)
The technology behind Kung-Fu LIVE is incredible at times, transforming the PlayStation Eye into a competent full-body motion controller that literally puts you inside the game
The problem is that the same technology can also be fiddly, with a lengthy set-up process required to get the game working correctly. Even then, though the concept is novel,...
Review Sackboy's Prehistoric Moves (PlayStation 3)
Sackboy’s got the Moves
LittleBigPlanet released on PS3 over two years ago and instantly concreted itself as a landmark title for the system. Sackboy, the adorable stitched doll who is the main character, has become an icon for the PlayStation brand, and is about to partake on his second retail game release in LittleBigPlanet 2 in early 2011...
Review Tron Evolution (PlayStation 3)
Derezzed to kill
One of the biggest surprises about the story of a video game coding whiz transported into a computer's mainframe is that after 28 years there are still not many games set in the awesome Tron universe. It started well enough with Bally Midway's 1982 coin-op, but slowed down significantly until the PC's Tron 2.0 in 2003 and Discs of...
Review PDC World Championship Darts: Pro Tour (PlayStation 3)
Oche dokey
For what it's worth, PDC World Championship Darts: Pro Tour is the first darts game to hit the PS3, and comes fully equipped for PlayStation Move support - though DualShock 3 is also supported. With a host of licensed players, tournaments and sponsors it’s certainly not a half-hearted effort, but it falls just short of hitting the...
Review Deadliest Catch: Sea of Chaos (PlayStation 3)
Dead in the water
Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch has been a massive television success, spanning six seasons and still going strong. Fishermen risk life and limb to catch King and Ophelia crab off the coast of Alaska in the brutal Bering Sea, and the risk is worth it in massive pay-outs that can stretch to over $1,000 an hour. Fighting near...
Review Dead Nation (PlayStation 3)
Dead Nation creates an unbelievably tense atmosphere through frustrating methods
The game's dark, zombie-laden world is enhanced by an incredible lighting engine, but is hindered by a distant camera and an imprecise aiming mechanic. What's more, for as much tension as the game's sporadic checkpoints create, their limited nature concludes in...
Review Funky Lab Rat (PlayStation 3)
It's time to get funky!
2D platformers have seen a revival in recent years, with the rise of downloadable games, which has brought us many fantastic titles such as Super Meat Boy and Braid. Now, imagine a mix of the time travel elements of Braid with the puzzle mechanics of Tumble and you'll have a pretty good idea of what to expect in Funky Lab...
Review Deadstorm Pirates (PlayStation 3)
Davy Jones' lock-on
Over the years Namco has been prolific in developing light-gun titles including Ninja Assault, Point Blank and most prominently the Time Crisis series. Earlier this year it unleashed two-player on-rails shooter Deadstorm Pirates as a sit-down booth coin-op, so considering the possibility that your local arcade has not invested in...
Review Swords & Soldiers (PlayStation 3)
Don your Sword and ready the Soldiers
A port taken from the the popular WiiWare title and recreated with HD graphics and a new game mode, Swords & Soldiers recently received a free patch to support PlayStation Move. In a tower defence style of gameplay, gamers control troops and advance them forward while trying to both take the opponents base...
Review Pac-Man Championship Edition DX (PlayStation 3)
Pac-Man Championship Edition DX is a delightfully addictive sensory experience
Everything about Namco's re-reboot is perfectly tuned and overwhelmingly memorable. A must-have. Pac-Man has always been a bizarre game. Take a moment to digest the original's pitch: an incomplete pizza roams around a haunted maze scoffing tablets. Weird, right? Pac-Man...
November2010
Review Beat Sketcher (PlayStation 3)
Who said games can't be art?
Beat Sketcher combines the art of “light drawing” and music creation to create a new and unique experience for PS3 gamers, and using the PlayStation Move lets budding artists draw highly detailed pictures and share them with friends and family. When the game is first loaded a thorough calibration process kicks in,...
Review Auditorium HD (PlayStation 3)
Challenge the mind and please the senses
What started as a PC Flash game years back has now been translated into a full HD experience in the form of Auditorium HD. A captivating music puzzle game with fantastic auditory and visual style, the PC original has already won awards for its unique style, and arrives on PlayStation 3 with exclusive content...
More play than Create
Play, Create and Share are words that PlayStation fans have become very fond of in the last two years. Games like LittleBigPlanet and ModNation Racers both have gamers not only playing the games, but creating and sharing their own levels online with others across the world. EA has decided to get in on this trend with Create,...
Review Crazy Taxi (PlayStation 3)
Crazy Taxi's the perfect game to have sitting on your PlayStation 3's hard-drive
The initial pang of nostalgia more than makes up for the digital download's asking price, but it's the game's time-wasting potential that will keep you coming back for more. Crazy Taxi is a game that's so good we actually broke our original Dreamcast copy from playing...
Review DanceDanceRevolution (PlayStation 3)
Dance Dance for the world!
The granddaddy of all dance games is back as Konami's classic franchise makes its first appearance on the PlayStation 3. DanceDanceRevolution (DDR) is arguably the one game that proved that not all games needed to be played sitting down. If you aren't familiar with the DDR franchise, gameplay revolves around stepping on...
Review The Fight: Lights Out (PlayStation 3)
Get the low down on this beat down
If you're a hardcore gamer interested in the PlayStation Move, chances are that The Fight: Lights Out has been on your radar for quite some time. With a full-fledged online mode, dirty fighting moves and a gritty presentation, it is the very antithesis to Wii Sports boxing. While other motion-based fighting games...
Review Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit (PlayStation 3)
Coming out of Criterion Games, our initial impressions of Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit were tempered by it not being Burnout
We expected to jump into the game, hit ridiculous speeds and twist in and out of traffic with Burnout's trademark controller response. Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit is a lot heavier and slower than Burnout, and it wasn't until...
Review Who's That Flying?! (PlayStation Minis)
Is it a bird? Is it a plane?
Who's That Flying? proves once again that Mediatonic are at the forefront of PlayStation Minis development. The game's fusion of different gameplay mechanics help to elevate the package beyond its simple "side-scroller" core. Lavish presentation and doses of genuinely comical self-referential humour compliment...
Review The Sly Collection (PlayStation 3)
Adventures of the Thievius Raccoonus
The Sly Cooper games for PlayStation 2 were incredible platforming game experiences in themselves, but here we have all three Sly Cooper games in one package remastered in beautiful high definition for the PlayStation 3. Move supported minigames and stereoscopic 3D support are icing on the cake for this must-have...
Review Get Fit with Mel B (PlayStation 3)
Spice up your life
When people think of gamers, they don't usually think “fitness.” Yet once motion gaming was introduced, a surge of exercise games began entering the market. Some, like Wii Fit, have been a huge success, causing companies like EA and Ubisoft to follow suit. Many of these titles are paired with a celebrity name to help set them...
Review Call Of Duty: Black Ops (PlayStation 3)
We go into every Call Of Duty with a degree of trepidation
By launch day the franchise's hype has usually got ahead of itself, giving the game impossible expectations to live up to. The Infinity Ward developed Modern Warfare 2 was greeted with so much rapture and excitement that when the game launched it felt like a let-down. The formula worked fine...
Review The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest (PlayStation 3)
Son of Samwise
Aragorn's Quest is the first fruit from a decision by Warner Bros to acquire the rights from Electronic Arts and produce its own spin on games set in The Lord of the Rings universe. Originally developed by Headstrong Games with the Wii as its lead platform, but it was later converted to PS3 by TT Fusion. It's a third-person...
Review SingStar Dance (PlayStation 3)
Bust a Move
When you’ve been the leading karaoke title for the past six years, how do you keep the experience fresh? That’s the rather fortunate problem facing SingStar, and this year has seen two significant additions to the formula, first in the form of SingStar Guitar and now with SingStar Dance for PlayStation Move. Rather than hold a Move...
Review Blacklight: Tango Down (PlayStation 3)
Despite playing host to a pile of technical issues, Blacklight: Tango Down is actually a lot of fun and an interesting experiment
The PlayStation 3 version couldn't be launching at a worse time, but those looking for a cheap multiplayer shooter will be well served here. When we heard about Blacklight: Tango Down our scepticism quickly ran into...
Review James Bond 007: Blood Stone (PlayStation 3)
It's fitting that Blood Stone ends with a car chase
The game's developed by the criminally under-rated British studio Bizarre Creations. Y'know, the team behind the excellent XBOX exclusive franchise, Project Gotham Racing, and this year's PS3 combat-racer, Blur. Seeing as there is no James Bond movie this year, Blood Stone is a unique story penned...
Review Rapala Pro Bass Fishing (PlayStation 3)
Luring them in if only for a while
Rapala Pro Bass Fishing is like having an arcade machine in your living room. It may not have the appeal of current blockbuster titles on the market, but what it brings a fun, arcade-style fishing experience that is sure to please, whether you’re a fishing enthusiast or not. Starting up Rapala Pro Bass Fishing...
Review Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PlayStation 3)
World at war
Picking up the epic arc of events in Infinity Ward's blockbuster Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is the much-hyped continuation of the near-future storyline. Modern Warfare 2 crafts a darker, grittier plot than Call of Duty 4, but it's also less grounded. Set roughly ten years in the future, you'll play as...
Review Time Crisis: Razing Storm (PlayStation 3)
Running out of time
Practically from the moment Sony announced the PlayStation Move controller, so-called ‘hardcore’ gamers have been more than happy to brand it a device aimed at ‘casual’ players. It could be argued that they have a point – especially when you consider how closely some Move titles resemble undemanding Wii-standard...
Review Brunswick Pro Bowling (PlayStation 3)
This is not 'Nam. This is bowling. There are rules.
When it comes to simulating sports in video games, there is always a fine line for developers to tread between realism and accessibility. Hardcore fans of a given sport can criticise games that fail to live up to the real thing, while more casual players just want to be able to jump into an...
Review The Shoot (PlayStation 3)
Lights, Camera, Action!
The Shoot is that simplest of creatures: the arcade lightgun game. If you’ve played any on-rails shooter in the past 20 years you’ll think you know what to expect, but The Shoot makes enough subtle additions to be worth a look even for jaded shooter fans. Setting the scene with a brass James Bond-style theme, The...
No pain, no gain!
Televisions all across the globe have humans inflicting pain and injury upon each other every day. Martial arts, reality bloopers and viral videos fill the airwaves, and millions of viewers find enjoyment in this type of entertainment. The creative developers at Idol Minds know that some gamers crave the chance to inflict pain on...
Review Superstars V8 Racing (PlayStation 3)
Superstars V8 Racing is not Gran Turismo, but it's certainly not bad either
With a competent race model and some pretty graphical effects, it's certainly worth checking out while you wait for that other game. Racing games. What else is there to say? There are cars on a track and they go "vroom". Superstars V8 Racing is one of those games...
Review TV Superstars (PlayStation 3)
A real turn-off
TV Superstars is a minigame collection that hinges on the concept of being contestants on a range of reality TV shows, so it’s fitting that it ends up being a shallow and forgettable experience. It all starts off well: you use the PlayStation Eye camera to snap three photos for your contestants’ head, record a short sample and...
October2010
Review Fallout: New Vegas (PlayStation 3)
How do you possibly review a game like Fallout: New Vegas? Isn't it our promise as a publication to see all of a game before we deliver a verdict? In New Vegas' case, that's impossible
It really is — there is no way we could possibly see everything the game has to offer and still meet deadlines and cover other games. New Vegas is like a vacuum, it...
Review SingStar Guitar (PlayStation 3)
As far as we're concerned, SingStar's baseline presentation remains head-and-shoulders above the current crop of high profile competition
As such, if you like SingStar — and you've got a couple of Rock Band/Guitar Hero guitars lying around — you'll probably enjoy SingStar Guitar. Someone, somewhere is probably planning on writing an epistle...
Review DJ Hero 2 (PlayStation 3)
The sequel to last year's dance, hip-hop and pop rhythm alternative; DJ Hero garnered a following with the crowd yet to be lulled by Guitar Hero's heavy-rock focus - those searching for a video game equivalent of club culture
It both succeeded and failed — while the original DJ Hero's track-listing was a breath of fresh air, the game suffered from...
Review Buzz!: The Ultimate Music Quiz (PlayStation 3)
Pretty fly
Buzz! has been around for what seems like ages; released in 2005, there have been no fewer than 18 releases in the Buzz! series in those short five years. Now the latest outing for the be-quiffed host arrives in the form of Buzz! The Ultimate Music Quiz, and it’s brought a few Move rounds with it. If you’ve never played a Buzz! game...
Review EyePet (PlayStation Portable)
Remember: a dog is not just for Christmas, but an Eye Pet is
If we were presented with Eye Pet PSP as a child on Christmas morning, we'd have been beyond delighted. The game's low on content, but the initial "wow" factor of watching a desk, table, car-backseat or garden transform into a variety of environments in which the Eye Pet can play...
Review John Daly's ProStroke Golf (PlayStation 3)
Daly goes about his business with gusto, but not necessarily flair
Arriving after the feature-packed and Move-supported Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11, John Daly’s ProStroke Golf has a lot to live up to, but the Lion does an admirable job of facing up to the intimidating Tiger. Whilst Tiger was as slick and polished as you’d expect from a seasoned EA...
Review Costume Quest (PlayStation 3)
Costume Quest is the latest initiative from Tim Schafer's innovative Double Fine studio
Burned by the saleability of their retail releases, Double Fine's unique, quirky concepts feel right at home on the PlayStation Store. If Costume Quest is an experiment, then it definitely seems to have paid off. Double Fine's games will certainly meet much...
Review F1 2010 (PlayStation 3)
F1 2010 nails the most important aspect of the high-octane motorsport: thrill
The game's exhilarating race model and dynamic weather system make playing the title both exciting and terrifying. Some missteps in the career progression can lead to frustration, but the pure joy of racing makes up for the shortcomings. It's fair to say that Sony squeezed...
Review NBA 2K11 (PlayStation 3)
Truly the greatest
NBA 2K11 arrives with the usual fanfare you'd expect to surround the latest outing of this highly-acclaimed series, but this time there’s a huge, unmissable feather in its cap. Michael Jordan, the titular “greatest of all time”, appears in the game, but we’re not just talking his likeness. This is Jordan’s career: his...
Review Dead Space: Ignition (PlayStation 3)
Dead Space: Ignition is a neat idea
Unfortunately, there's nothing redeeming about the downloadable title's execution. Ignition is intended to build excitement for the January release of Dead Space 2, but it only managed to temper our expectations. The idea of releasing downloadable teasers for big retail releases is a good one. We're Dead Space...
Review Medal Of Honor (PlayStation 3)
Medal Of Honor is a modern combat game
Though the Call Of Duty franchise has shot into the mainstream with its declarations of "Modern Warfare", the plot's never been grounded as such. Medal Of Honor is a modern-day military game and a love-letter to the US army. The campaign jumps between three different groups of US soldiers: AFO...
Review Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 (PlayStation 3)
It's the game that everyone wanted, or at least thought they wanted
This is a Sonic The Hedgehog game designed in the classical mould that made the character an icon. There are no goofy sidekicks, no silly rock songs and most certainly no "dudebro" dialogue. The clue's in the title: it's Sonic The Hedgehog 4. Don't worry though, you...
Review Toy Story 3 (PlayStation 3)
Heavy on fun, light on Move support
When the first Toy Story movie came out, it completely changed the way we look at our animated films, as it was the first feature length movie completely made using computer-generated 3D animation. When the first Toy Story game came out, it didn't really change anything, delivering an uninspired platformer with...
Review Lara Croft and the Guardian Of Light (PlayStation 3)
Ignoring the hokey narrative about mythical spirits and ancient Mayan warriors, Lara Croft and the Guardian Of Light is Crystal Dynamic's attempt at recapturing the franchise's spot-light in the restricted digital download arena
As such, Lara Croft and the Guardian Of Light ditches Tomb Raider's traditional third-person platforming puzzles, and...
Review Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 (PlayStation 3)
Tiger comes out swinging
Tiger Woods is a name that needs no introduction. Rising to fame back in 1996, he's since become one of the most successful golfers of all time, becoming the face of EA's PGA Tour Golf series for over a dozen titles. While it’s all too common to see yearly updates of sports titles from EA, the question is does the game...
Review MySims SkyHeroes (PlayStation 3)
Disregarding the nonsensical plot about evil sky corporations and obvious plot-twists, MySims: Sky Heroes is essentially a generic kart racing game set in the sky
The game mixes its powered-up racing with hectic dog-fights, but it fails to offer much beyond. The plot draws out the formula to extortionately repetitive lengths — but that's not a...
Review High Velocity Bowling (PlayStation 3)
Bowling for supremacy
With the buzz for PlayStation Move now in full swing it is worth remembering that, through the technology incorporated in the SIXAXIS controller, the PS3 has had motion-sensing controller support since launch. The original version of SCE's High Velocity Bowling (HVB) was released a year later and it demonstrated one of the most...
Review 101-In-1 Megamix (PlayStation Portable)
Despite a few exceptions, there's definite creativity in 101-In-1 Megamix's minigame roster
It's genuinely exciting not knowing what type of game to expect next, and Nordcurrent's zany presentation style only adds to the intrigue. The problem with 101-In-1 Megamix's collection is that none of the games stick. A neat progression system pushes you...
Review Sky Fighter (PlayStation 3)
SkyFighter's ultra-polished visuals and 40's war-time aesthetic represent the game's strongest hand
Despite some clever stealth missions, the campaign never really hits its stride — serving up simplistic mission objectives instead of capitalising on the game's chunky combat and satisfying flight mechanics. Different aircrafts with notable...
The war has been raging and it’s time to Move in
MAG is like a bottle of wine, getting better with age. An online-only game exclusively for the PlayStation 3 developed by Zipper Interactive, also known for its long-running PlayStation exclusive franchise SOCOM, MAG garnered a lot of hype before launch for its massive 256-player battles. Despite...
Review Dead Rising 2 (PlayStation 3)
Dead Rising 2 is the sequel to the XBOX 360-exclusive zombie-a-thon Dead Rising
Those who played the original will know to expect a unique and often frustrating game with some unusual design choices. Dead Rising 2 places the chisel-jawed motocross star, Chuck Greene, amidst the zombie apocalypse. His wife has already fell to the undead, and his...
Review Sonic Adventure (PlayStation 3)
If you have any nostalgic ties to SEGA's Dreamcast classic, Sonic Adventure, you're going to get a kick out of replaying this PSN re-release despite its issues
The controls are clunky, the voice-acting is terrible and the port is not brilliant - skipping on even optimising the game for wide-screen televisions. With that aside, it's hard to dislike...
September2010
Review EyePet: Move Edition (PlayStation 3)
An EyePet is for life, not just for hardware launches
EyePet was originally released in Europe at the end of 2009, long before the arrival of PlayStation Move. Back then the game only required a PlayStation Eye, with everything controlled by your hands and a piece of plastic that you held up to the camera. It worked rather well for what it was, but...
Review Space Invaders: Infinity Gene (PlayStation 3)
It might be a bit pretentious for Space Invaders: Infinity Gene to quote the words of Charles Darwin at the start of a new game, but there's a metaphor in the game's key mechanic of evolution
Space Invaders is old but, through fresh distribution methods, Infinity Gene is in-line with modern day expectations. It's a visually stimulating sh'mup that's...
Review Heavy Rain (PlayStation 3)
Storming
Quantic Dream's Heavy Rain arrived in early 2010 in a downpour of critical acclaim, its storytelling, graphical quality and sheer audacity a breath of fresh air. Now a free patch has added support for Sony's Move controller (with a disc release landing soon) and although the game's strengths still shine through, its niggling flaws are sadly...
News Hey PlayStation, It's Your Birthday! It's Your Birthday! *Does Camp Dance*
The PlayStation turns 15 today in Europe
Happy Birthday to you, Tekken and Point Blank 2, Happy Birthday dear PlayStation, Happy Birthday to you! Brappppppppp! The original grey box launched on September 29th, 1995 in Europe. Ridge Racer was the big title from the launch line-up. The brand later became synonymous with Final Fantasy VII, Wipeout,...
Review R.U.S.E. (PlayStation 3)
Real-time. Unit. Selection. Efficiency.
Whilst the September 2010 launch of PS Move has lacked an 'instant purchase' AAA title, its games line-up has still managed to successfully demonstrate the possibilities of the hardware, albeit in an understated manner. Most unique of all is Eugen System's R.U.S.E.; a cunning trickster of a World War II RTS...
Review Hustle Kings (PlayStation 3)
This game's got balls
Hustle Kings isn't anything new to those familiar with the PSN. Developed by VooFoo Studios, the game first saw release at the end of 2009 to much acclaim. With the launch of Move for the PS3, it's become common practice to see some older games get updated to support the Move controller and for Hustle Kings, it's the same...
Review Kung Fu Rider (PlayStation 3)
Is the ticket worth the ride?
On the surface, Kung Fu Rider comes off as a fun variation on the downhill racing formula, removing the boxcars or skateboards players might expect to ride and switching them out for office chairs and luggage. To make this premise even more wacky, the protagonists periodically perform kung fu moves while riding these...
Review Racket Sports (PlayStation 3)
Turn that racket off
Ubisoft’s Racket Sports ('Racquet Sports' in North America) started life on Wii as Racquet Sports Party, a multiplayer waggle-fest that was one of few games to employ Ubi’s Wii camera to allow controller-free gameplay. Since then it’s received an overhaul in the graphical and control departments, but it’s only a sheep in...
Let's get ready to Tuuumble!!!
When Sony began its marketing blitz for the Playstation Move, the ads focused on how Move differentiates from the competition, namely Kinect and the Nintendo Wii. The Move campaign began with a commercial featuring Kevin Butler as the "VP of Realistic Movements" attempting to persuade the viewer the Move can do things...
Review Start the Party (PlayStation 3)
We rock the party
Start the Party is every core Move owner's worst nightmare: a minigame collection, full of casual, family-friendly gameplay. Although the usual issues that hold back the genre are all present and correct here, it's still not a bad title for families and those wanting a silly but enjoyable introduction to the controller. You won't...
Review Planet Minigolf (PlayStation 3)
Miniature golf, Move style
We've seen our share of minigolf releases of varying degrees of fun and price released on the assorted console download services offering gamers a few choices to make for their miniature golf fix. This obviously leads to the question of what exactly does Planet Minigolf offer up on PSN that sets it apart from the crowd,...
Review Flight Control HD (PlayStation 3)
Please enjoy this refreshing puzzle game
Flight Control HD is as well-travelled as its hand-drawn flight crew, starting life on the iPhone and iPod Touch before making it across to DSiWare and iPad. Now it's available on PSN in Europe (read our interview with Firemint to discover why it's not coming to North America) and fully compatible with Move...
Review Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition (PlayStation 3)
Motion slickness
Let loose in March 2009, Capcom's original release of Resident Evil 5 was received with critical acclaim, but was recognised as having more in common with third-person action games than the survival horror premise of earlier titles in the series. With extra features available in the Gold Edition, gamers have the chance to revisit...
Review Sports Champions (PlayStation 3)
Will it make you want to Move?
When Sony announced it was developing a motion controller for PlayStation 3, it certainly didn't shock anyone to see a collection of motion-controlled sports games to go along with it. While comparisons to Nintendo's Wii Remote and Wii Sports Resort are inevitable, it might be a bit more fair to compare it to the...
Review Top Gun (PlayStation 3)
Touting the involvement of Top Gun's original screenwriter, Jack Epps Jr
, the PlayStation Network toes a line between new and familiar content. The game's not the most cinematic ever created, and as such its plot can be difficult to follow, but it maintains a vibe in-keeping with the source material and defines some exposure for which to fly...
Review Alien Breed: Impact (PlayStation 3)
Alien Breed: Impact is a claustrophobic attempt at revitalising a classic genre
It certainly packs plenty of atmosphere across its five or so hour campaign; but some control quirks, and drawn-out mission design make it hard to stomach in long stretches. Alien Breed is a Team-17 classic. Released on the Amiga in the early-1990's, the game was a...
Review Pinball Heroes: Modnation Racers (PlayStation Portable)
There are some neat tricks in Pinball Heroes' presentation of Modnation Racers, but in all the table is a little flat
Perhaps the neatest part of the Modnation Racers Pinball Heroes table is its nod towards the formers creation aspect. Flipping the ball inside the Mod and Kart caverns changes the background of the table, with different designs...
Review Widget's Odyssey II (PlayStation Minis)
Widget's Odyssey II is a simple little platform game with a decent narrative driving it
Sadly, the game's agonisingly short. What's a couple of quid worth? A pint of beer, perhaps. A ploughman's sandwich. Widget's Odyssey II will last longer than both, but not by much. The game picks up from the last Widget's Odyssey title. The adorably annoying...
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