Tag: Previews - Page 15
First Impressions Resistance 3 Multiplayer Beta on PlayStation 3
The most striking thing about Resistance 3 is the way it looks
Insomniac's poured love into every facet of the game's presentation; from the surprisingly minimalistic hand-drawn menu back-drops, to the slick and industrial user-interface — the game's presentation is lavish. We'd read some criticism of the game's visuals prior to going hands-on...
First Impressions Driver: San Francisco on PlayStation 3 Demo
It's the littlest things that make Driver: San Francisco fun
From the wah-pedal infused soundtrack, through to the rear-wheel camera angles, it's clear that Ubisoft Reflections has spent a lot of time analysing classic seventies car chases during the development of the game. Driver: San Francisco promises the "ultimate car chase...
First Impressions Catherine on PlayStation 3 Demo
Video games can be quite immature
Even when they come attached with mature age ratings, the content inside can often feel like the opposite. Enormous guns, vats of gore and over-sized breasts are not necessarily indicative of what it means to be mature, in fact they are the antithesis. Few games capture the essence of adulthood. For all its faults,...
First Impressions Resistance 3
Fight the opposition
If the third entry in the Killzone series wasn’t enough sci-fi shooter action to keep you busy, then the upcoming release of Insomniac’s Resistance 3 is shaping up to Move you back into action in just a few short months. We recently survived some hands-on time with the Resistance 3 demo and have returned to give you some...
First Impressions Uncharted 3 Multiplayer Beta on PS3
If the Uncharted 3 multiplayer beta has taught us anything, it's that we're terrible at Uncharted multiplayer
After a spot of beginner's luck — winning our first game of Free For All with a deftly timed melee swipe to the face — we've lingered in the loser's half of every game we've played. We're even rubbish at co-op, consecutively getting less...
First Impressions Little Deviants
More than mindless mini-games
Once I arrived in Los Angeles for E3 2011, one thing I knew for certain - I had to get my hands on Sony's upcoming PSVita system while I had the chance. And while the games I had on my list of must-see titles mostly involved games like Hot Shots Golf and LittleBigPlanet, it was actually a title I hadn't given a lot of...
First Impressions PlayStation Vita
We take Vita for a spin
After staring at photos of Sony's upcoming Playstation Vita system for the past few months, there was a certain level of excited anticipation at the prospect of actually getting some hands-on time with the unit at this year's E3 show in Los Angeles. And while I had a wealth of questions about how the unit would feel and...
First Impressions ModNation Racers on PlayStation Vita
One of our favourite games on PlayStation 3 last year was ModNation Racers
In our line of work, we're constantly moving on to the next thing. But ModNation Racers was one of those titles that never fell too low down our stack of PS3 games. We'd pull it out every rainy Sunday or slow afternoon, just to browse the game's latest creations, or race a...
First Impressions Hustle Kings on NGP
No-one in their right mind should get excited over a pool game
Considering the NGP's stunning line-up, Hustle Kings should be the game that gets easily overlooked. But with the promise of a new interface and intriguing new multiplayer options, Hustle Kings is an important component of the NGP's line-up in spite of its dry subject matter. Touch...
First Impressions Wipeout 2048 on NGP
While Uncharted undoubtedly rules the roost when it comes to PlayStation content in 2011, Wipeout has been quietly defining the brand throughout its entire life-span
Studio Liverpool's club-culture inspired racer was a smash on the original PlayStation, and hasn't looked back since. The most recent entry, Wipeout HD on PlayStation 3, is probably the...
First Impressions Uncharted: Golden Abyss on NGP
Uncharted is arguably the most important franchise in Sony's roster at the moment
Not only is it a critical and commercial success for the platform holder, the franchise is also an industry leader. Uncharted is continuously setting a precedent for other developers to follow — it's influential. Uncharted: Golden Abyss aims to take that influence...
First Impressions Virtua Tennis 4 on PlayStation 3
Stop worrying: Virtua Tennis 4 plays exactly how you'd expect it to with the PlayStation Move
While a little forgiving, SEGA's anticipated tennis sequel provides the intricate motion control many of us have been dreaming of since first experiencing Sports Champions' excellent table-tennis mode. The publisher really deserves kudos for unlocking the...
First Impressions Yakuza: Of The End on PlayStation 3
"When was the last time you pressed Square to shoot," we asked rhetorically in response to the opening stages of Yakuza: Of The End's Japanese demo
"Erm. Fade To Black," came the unnecessary response. "Exactly," we said in a matter-of-fact tone, "Fade To Black is a PSone game." The proposed point being that Japanese...
News PlayStation Move Heroes Minigames Get Detailed
What's in the package?
Taking PlayStation's six most beloved heroes and putting them into one package, PlayStation Move Heroes has caught the attention of many, but how does the game actually play? Far from the 3D action platformer some would have expected, the title is actually more like a minigame compilation, according to Siliconera. One game on...
First Impressions Ape Escape Fury! Fury!
The Ape's for the Kids
Ape Escape fans have been craving a new console entry in the series for years, and it’s finally close to being upon us. Ape Escape Fury! Fury! brings a unique style of gameplay to the franchise that can only be possible with the power of Move, and we recently got to catch a few Apes for ourselves. Ape Escape became a fan...
First Impressions Tron Evolution
Greetings, programs!
Twenty-eight years is a long time to wait for a sequel, but the follow-up film to the iconic Tron is almost upon us. One month before Tron Legacy arrives on our screens will come Tron Evolution, a game filling in some of the middle ground between both films, and Movemodo was fortunate enough to be invited to a preview event for...
First Impressions SOCOM: Special Forces on PlayStation 3
When we think of SOCOM, we don't necessarily think of a graphical power-house
But SOCOM: Special Forces is surprising in that regard. All credit to Zipper Interactive, they've crafted something technically stunning with their latest title. This is a different kind of SOCOM game. It conforms somewhat to the requirements of a modern-day third-person...
First Impressions Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit on PS3
Having been anticipating Criterion's next racing game since Burnout: Paradise, we were initially somewhat disappointed watching others play Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit
The game looked slower than Burnout Paradise, perhaps a result of the unfinished frame-rate. But once we got our hands on the game - much was forgiven. Criterion know racing games...
First Impressions Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood on PS3 Multiplayer
Online multiplayer has slowly been getting more predictable
While every game attempts to gazump Call Of Duty by offering the exact same suite of features, we've been slowly playing less and less attention. Multiplayer used to be a feature that got us vastly excited about any game that supported it. Nowadays we spend 5-10 minutes seeing how a title...
First Impressions inFamous 2 on PlayStation 3
The original inFamous was a success because of its silky smooth combat mechanics
They're still apparent in inFamous 2, though Sucker Punch has gone out of their was to improve the visual clarity of the open-world environment and up the number of combat mechanics at Cole's disposal. Our demo starts out with a bunch of super-natural goons for us to...
First Impressions Medal Of Honor on PlayStation 3 Multiplayer
Medal Of Honor's multiplayer is a strange beast
We actually think there's a lot to like about it. But at the same time, it's so very familiar. The game doesn't appear to have any personality of its own; and while it's certainly beyond competent, it's also agonisingly akin to Call Of Duty. Our 16-player hands-on demo saw us checking out the game's...
First Impressions Dead Space 2 on PlayStation 3
Dead Space is still one of our favourite games on PlayStation 3
Above all else, the atmosphere Visceral managed to deliver with their debut release remains unmatched. It was refreshing to see Dead Space 2 deliver that same sense of mystery. The game might not be set on the original Ishimura space-craft; but the teasing shadows and bright lights are...
First Impressions MySims: Sky Heroes on PlayStation 3 Demo
We've always liked flight combat titles here at PushSquare
Commercially they are somewhat of a niche product; and they do suffer from genre limitations. Realistically there is only so much you can do with a plane, gatling gun and a few rockets. MySims: Sky Heroes takes the gritty air combat format and makes it cute - a trait in itself which makes...
First Impressions Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow on PS3 Demo
It struck us pretty early on, that we're going to be way more engrossed in Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow's story than its gameplay
From a narrative perspective, the game's cinematics and voice-acting are top-notch. Even the dark, European gothic style is inviting. But the gameplay doesn't quite live up to the presentation's precedent. The demo opens...
First Impressions TV Superstars on PlayStation 3 Demo
TV Superstars is nothing if not unusual
The Studio Cambridge-developed PlayStation Move party game is clearly a parody of British celebrity culture. But its presentation is so bonkers it's hard to believe that anyone outside of the UK will understand it. At least we can say it's "unique". Our demo started with an introduction to TV...
First Impressions The Shoot on PlayStation 3 Demo
We shoot the PlayStation Move into the ground, causing a ripple-effect which sends a horde of cardboard bandits flying
The Shoot is an obvious title to accompany the PlayStation Move's launch window; a rails-shooter which places you on a movie-set [The Shoot y'see, geddit? - Ed] armed to the teeth with weapons. For as obvious as the game seems, it's...
First Impressions Enslaved: Odyssey To The West on PlayStation 3 Demo
The clock-hands are telling
It's late; we've finished writing for the day. But having tried out Enslaved: Odyssey To The West just moments ago, we had to get our thoughts down on digital paper. Ninja Theory's attempt at re-telling the classic Chinese novel "Journey To The West" has us hooked. It's been a while since we went into a game...
First Impressions Quantum Theory on PlayStation 3 Demo
There's a sadness to Quantum Theory
It's the result of Japanese developers growing need to appeal worldwide. As development costs soar, Japan is no longer a strong enough market for big budget titles. And so, games like Quantum Theory are the result. It's an example of a Japanese developer trying to deliver something that will appeal to Western...
First Impressions God Of War: Ghost Of Sparta on PSP Demo
We're on a ship, being tossed from side to side as the sea roars around us
Skeletal enemies climb aboard and we tear them to pieces with wreckless abandon. "Lord Kratos," a crew-member screams from the hull above, "It's destroying the entire fleet." As we march through the innards of the ship, we approach the tail of a gigantic...
First Impressions Vanquish on PlayStation 3 Demo
In many ways, Vanquish is exactly what you'd expect it to be
It's Japanese developers attempting to create a Western game. And so it feels distinctly like Gears Of War. Character movement is chunky, targeting is smooth and the gun-play is beefy and responsive. But it's also being developed in Japan; so it's all a bit bonkers. For example, your...
Hands On High Lighting Our Move Concerns
We get to grips with Move and experience "technical difficulties"
Yesterday we had our first opportunity to go hands-on with the Move controller, and our feelings were mixed about the experience. The Good: Navigating the PS3's CrossMediaBar menu with the Move is intuitive and very pleasing: the controller picks up sweeps and swipes to pass through...
First Impressions Black Panther: New Yakuza Chapter on PSP Demo
Black Panther: New Yakuza Chapter is unlikely to release here in the West
Yakuza's already a niche franchise on the home consoles; spending enormous amounts of money to localise it on a platform in decline (and riddled with piracy) would not make any sense. We realised this a while ago, and to be honest, we didn't really mind. Shortly after Black...
First Impressions RUSE on PlayStation 3 Demo
The real time strategy genre on consoles has proved a tough nut to crack
It's hard to pick out a particularly memorable console strategy game that's compared favourably to its PC counter-part. Typically that's down to the interface, which suits the mouse and keyboard much better than a dual analogue stick set-up. With RUSE and PlayStation Move...
First Impressions Tom Clancy's HAWX 2 on PlayStation 3 Demo
We quite liked the original HAWX game on PlayStation 3 and went into its sequel with some anticipation
While it was hard to get a grasp for the narrative - one of our favourite elements of the first game - during our short play-session, we did have enough time to acclimatise to the gameplay. Air combat games are different to most other games. You...
First Impressions Mafia II on PlayStation 3 Demo
"Take out the fat guy," our partner declares as we point a sub-machine gun out of an upstairs window
Just moments earlier we'd been knocking back coca-cola while perusing a copy of Playboy magazine. Such is the life of a gangster. There's a good sense of place in Mafia II. Almost meticulously so. Take for example the afore-mentioned Playboy...
First Impressions Gran Turismo 5 on PlayStation 3
Gran Turismo 5 is gorgeous
Unbelievably so. Chances are, you already know. We're just here to remind you. When we saw the Toscana rally track in motion, we were stunned. Startled in fact. The game's silky smooth, running at an unwavering 60 frames per second. We watched on as day turned to night, and the blue sky was replaced by twinkling stars...
First Impressions LittleBigPlanet 2 on PlayStation 3
Sackboy's back, alright!
We only got to check out one level from LittleBigPlanet 2, but the charmingly titled "Tower Of Woop" seemed like a good starting point for the cutesy platforming sequel The level was a showcase for a couple of things: firstly the new graphics engine. LittleBigPlanet 2 looks cuter than ever, thanks in part to sharper colours...
First Impressions Kung Fu Rider on PlayStation 3
Questionable controls
Despite looking like the spiritual successor to zany PSone classic, Incredible Crisis, our hands-on time with the PlayStation Move's Kung Fu Rider revealed some irritating control quirks. We just couldn't get Kung Fu Rider to work. It took several attempts before we realised what the game wanted from us, and even then it...
First Impressions Killzone 3 on PlayStation 3
Guerrilla's done an incredible job
Somehow, they've managed to keep the polarizing sense of weight in Killzone 3, while still appeasing concerns that the previous game was too loose. Killzone 3 is a much tighter, much more responsive shooter — but it still has that key ingredient that makes the franchise so different to its peers. Oh, and it looks...
First Impressions The Fight: Lights Out on PlayStation 3
The Fight: Lights Out surprised us
Having read many negative reports on Sony's PlayStation Move controlled brawler, we went in with no expectations at all. We came out of the demo quietly impressed. While the game had noticeable lag and input issues, there were moments when the gritty boxer felt genuinely satisfying. It's just a shame that the AI we...
First Impressions MotorStorm: Apocalypse on PlayStation 3
Man, do we feel sorry for Black Rock Studio
With Split/Second they created a cinematic racing title with an interesting hook. Watching the environments crash around you was the game's selling point, in an overall package that didn't feel particularly well tuned. MotorStorm: Apocalypse is based on a similar concept, but is every inch more impressive;...
First Impressions Dead Nation on PlayStation 3
Housemarque don't need a new title to prove that they're the masters of the PSN dual-joystick shooter
We've put more hours into Super Stardust HD than we care to imagine, so it was with lofty expectations we checked out the studio's latest zombie driven PSN endeavour - Dead Nation. The first thing you notice about the PSN download - due later this...
First Impressions Sports Champions on PlayStation 3
Admittedly, Sports Champions has about as much charm as a limp sock
But having got hands-on time with the compilation's table tennis game, we're not sure it matters. That's because PlayStation Move works; this is not a device playing on empty promises and faked lifestyle commercials - it does what Sony have always said it will: track your movements...
First Impressions Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days on PlayStation 3 Demo
Is it any good?
Kane & Lynch is a franchise that will long be marred by the controversy that took place outside of the product. The original game was a bit of a mess, with poor shooting mechanics taking centre stage in an interesting, but under-developed piece of fiction. Despite that, you'd be forgiven for thinking a sequel wasn't necessary...
First Impressions Patapon 3 on PlayStation Portable Demo
What better than banging drums alone? Banging drums with friends, of course
Patapon 3's come out of nowhere. A short countdown clock on SCEJ's website culminated in a montage appearance from the drum 'em up. Now, just a few weeks after E3, we've all got our hands on the next entry in Japan Studios' Patapon franchise. And unusually for a handheld...
First Impressions E3 2010: Yakuza 4 on PlayStation 3
Yakuza is a franchise firmly fixed in familiarity
Of the three Yakuza games that have launched on the PlayStation in the past, not much has changed. Yakuza 4 hasn't changed much either - instead it's tweaked one pivotal element that separates it from its predecessors. Here, Kazuma Kiryu is no longer the lead protagonist - instead he shares that...
First Impressions E3 2010: inFamous 2 on PlayStation 3
Shocked
Perhaps the most fitting word to describe our reaction to the new-look Cole in inFamous 2. The once gruff-voiced egg-head with electric powers had seemingly been replaced by the cover-star of the next Skate game - a brusque, handsome looking extreme sports star who Sucker Punch describe as being "inspired by Tony Hawk". Beyond the...
First Impressions E3 2010: Journey on PlayStation 3
thatgamecompany's flower made us feel empowered like no other game
There's a moment, nearing the end of the game's relatively short campaign, where you guide your team of petals up an angled high-way. That moment is unlike any other we've ever experienced in a video game - there's a sensation of pure, unbridled freedom. It touches on pretense, but...
First Impressions E3 2010: Everybody's Tennis On PSP
Playing Everybody's Tennis as though it's Virtua Tennis will leave you lying on your arse, racquet in hand
This is much simpler than that, but it requires adjustment if you've spent years on SEGA's flagship tennis franchise. Unlike said titles hold and release mechanics, hitting the ball here is all about getting into position and tapping a button...
First Impressions E3 2010: Twisted Metal on PlayStation 3
Twisted Metal is one of the oldest, most recognisable PlayStation franchises out there
Despite being shunned aside by bigger franchise power-houses in PlayStation's history (the likes of Gran Turismo, Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid), Sony's E3 press conference spelled out quite categorically that Twisted Metal is truly back in bombastic style...