Retro - Timeline
Saturday1st Feb 2014
Feature Mad About Madden - Then and Now
It's (still) good
With the United States bracing itself for its annual football frenzy in the form of the elaborately named Super Bowl XLVIII this weekend, we’re avoiding predictable prophecies regarding likely victors, and instead looking a little closer to home. While the game of American Football has always remained something of an underground...
Wednesday29th Jan 2014
Review Zombeer (PlayStation 3)
Brain dead
Games that aim to make their audience laugh are a very hard thing to pull off. After all, not everyone’s funny bone has the same comedic sensibilities, and that makes it a difficult line to traverse. As a result, for every Portal there are three stinkers like Deadpool waiting in the wings. Moonbite and Padaone Games are the latest...
Tuesday28th Jan 2014
Review Twisted Lands: Shadow Town (PlayStation 3)
Twist and shout
Twisted Lands: Shadow Town is a hidden objects game by Alawar Entertainment, ported from mobile platforms to the PlayStation 3. While it’s been available on the PlayStation Network for a few months now in Europe, it’s just arrived in North America. The big question is: should it have taken the long journey over the Atlantic in...
Monday27th Jan 2014
Review Forest Legends: The Call of Love (PlayStation 3)
Tree hugger
With a name like Forest Legends: The Call of Love, we were expecting one of those racy Japanese sex games here. In fact, this particular author was practically salivating over the prospect of playing such a filthy experience. Needless to say, when this downloadable PlayStation 3 adventure turned out to be a point-and-click escapade, we...
Friday24th Jan 2014
Review Adam's Venture Chronicles (PlayStation 3)
Can you Adam and Eve it?
If there’s one thing that’s missing from Uncharted, it’s puzzles that test your knowledge of the Bible. We’ve all thought it at some point: Nathan Drake just doesn’t believe in God enough. Don’t worry too much, though, as the folks behind Adam’s Venture Chronicles have spotted a gap in the market, and there are...
Monday20th Jan 2014
Review The Walking Dead: Season 2, Episode 1 - All That Remains (PlayStation 3)
Bite me
When episodic outfit Telltale Games’ macabre The Walking Dead adaptation first shuffled its way onto the PlayStation Network way back in 2012, many people were apprehensive following a string of licensed tie-ins that didn’t quite hit the mark. Perhaps this is part of the reason why Lee and Clementine’s five episode first season proved...
Saturday18th Jan 2014
Review The Raven: Legacy of a Master Thief (PlayStation 3)
Poirot Click
Adventure games and mystery novel plots go together like butlers and random acts of homicide. There’s nothing better than a good whodunit, especially when you’re part of the action, neck-deep in clues and yelling at innocent bystanders in the hope that one of them knows something. The Raven: Legacy of a Master Thief is a decent...
Thursday16th Jan 2014
Review Streetkix Freestyle (PlayStation Portable)
A kick in the balls
Soccer may not be the most popular sport in the United States, but the same can’t be said outside of the country. Around the world, not only is football enormous, but it’s a lifestyle for many. As a result, the beautiful game has its own street iteration, boasting a number of mind-boggling ball tricks. Streetkix Freestyle...
Wednesday15th Jan 2014
Review Assassin's Creed Liberation HD (PlayStation 3)
Assassin's speed
Retelling the rather erratic adventures of Aveline de Grandpré, Assassin's Creed Liberation HD leaps onto the PlayStation 3 after its moderate success on Sony's handheld console – and visually, it's just about what you'd expect. The game's events are now witnessed through a much clearer lens, with some drastically improved...
Friday10th Jan 2014
Matters of Import Battling with Beautiful PSone Brawler Panzer Bandit
A distinct lack of panzers and bandits
There’s no getting away from it: Panzer Bandit is obviously “inspired” by Treasure’s seminal SEGA Saturn classic Guardian Heroes. Fortunately, there’s far more to Fill-in-Cafe’s beat-‘em-up than merely imitation for imitation’s sake, as what we have here is a stunning game that not only serves...
Thursday9th Jan 2014
Review Aabs Animals (PlayStation 3)
Avoid eye contact at all costs
Do you like cute things, specifically animals? Do you like to stare at said animals without interacting with them in any way? Are you a fan of music that sounds like a compilation of the happiest melodies ever conceived by man? If your answer is 'Yes' to each of these questions, then congratulations: Aabs Animals is...
Sunday5th Jan 2014
News Mix Some Fresh Green Herbs, Resident Evil: Outbreak Is Back Online
Back from the dead
If you’ve ever bleached your hair blond to mimic the looks of antagonist Albert Wesker, then you’re probably aware of Resident Evil: Outbreak. Released over ten years ago, the PlayStation 2 survival horror employed the console’s network adaptor to create the first online experience in the series’ storied history...
Friday3rd Jan 2014
Matters of Import Cute Witches Blow Things Up in Cotton 100%
May contain less cotton than advertised
Märchen Adventure Cotton 100%, to give it its full and unwieldy title, first allowed us to summon magical death on baseball bat toting snowmen and boggle eyed trees back in 1994 on the Super Famicon, before finding itself ported to the PlayStation almost a decade later under the budget ‘SuperLite 1500’...
Review Robot Rescue Revolution (PlayStation 3)
Rust bucket
Robot Rescue Revolution is a strategy puzzle game for the PlayStation 3, which tasks you with guiding multiple robots to a goal while navigating treacherous terrain. Available for a relatively slender figure from the PlayStation Store, the title includes three worlds to explore and over 100 levels to complete. The core gameplay involves...
Tuesday24th Dec 2013
Review Mutant Mudds Deluxe (PlayStation 3)
Don't jump over this one
Twenty years ago, we never would have guessed that today’s generation of consoles would embrace 8-bit side-scrolling platformers. With the release of titles like Terraria, however, this trend does not show any signs of slowing. As these games continue to grow in popularity, developers such as Renegade Kid are fusing the...
Review Minecraft: PlayStation 3 Edition (PlayStation 3)
Block party
After what feels like a century since the phenomenon that is Minecraft first appeared on the PC, Mojang's block-'em-up has finally dug its way onto the PlayStation 3 courtesy of 4J Studios. Its basic visual style hides a brilliantly deep, yet relatively accessible adventure that's topped off with some thoughtful little RPG elements...
Thursday19th Dec 2013
Review Rust Buccaneers (PlayStation 3)
Be a Fisherman’s Friend
Life on the high seas is tough. Forget about the maggot-infested biscuits and longing glances from your salty old sea mates who want to re-enact some of the scenes from the Titanic with your supple young body, as you have worse things to worry about. There be danger off the starboard bow, Jim lad – and it’s coming right...
Friday13th Dec 2013
Review Gran Turismo 6 (PlayStation 3)
Still in pole position
Opening with a tour around the Istituto Ayrton Senna, a school built in honour of arguably the greatest driver who ever lived, Gran Turismo 6 starts in stark contrast to any other game on the market. Cycling through images of children learning, the intro proceeds to show the motoring creation process, from concept to...
Wednesday11th Dec 2013
Review Putty Squad (PlayStation 4)
Killer Carrots and Crazy Cats
Back in the nineties, the eventually unreleased Amiga version of Putty Squad was praised by the press for its varied level shapes, consistent game logic, and “masterful” animation. Jump forward 15 years, and we no longer get excited by shapes (unless they’re naughty shapes and you’re a member of Reddit), or game...
Sunday8th Dec 2013
Review Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers (PS3)
Seiya ain't so
Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers is almost the very definition of 'anime fighter'. It's chock full of colourful playable characters, crazy storylines, and over-the-top voice acting. If you've ever tried a Dragon Ball Z or Naruto brawler, then you'll generally know what's in store here – even if the original anime never quite caught on...
Sunday1st Dec 2013
Review Angry Birds: Star Wars (PlayStation 3)
Use the birds, Luke
A long time ago (well, 2009), in a galaxy far, far away (Finland), an unassuming development studio named Rovio Entertainment gave birth to a mobile gaming franchise which would ultimately take over the world. Three years later and still going strong, Angry Birds and the beloved Star Wars empire would join forces to create a...
Wednesday27th Nov 2013
Review SoulCalibur II HD Online (PlayStation 3)
A tale of souls and swords, eternally re-bought
When the original SoulCalibur II appeared on the PlayStation 2, it was universally praised for its fantastic 3D fighting engine, its diverse cast of characters, and its plethora of modes. Even today, Namco's brawler is remembered fondly by many as the series' greatest achievement. SoulCalibur II HD...
Saturday23rd Nov 2013
Review WWE 2K14 (PlayStation 3)
Laying the Smackdown
An orphan of THQ’s unfortunate demise at the beginning of this year, the WWE videogame license was quickly snapped up by 2K, and while its role appears to have been limited to simply overseeing WWE 2K14’s completion, the final product is the most comprehensive wrestling package yet. As the 30th anniversary of WrestleMania...
Friday22nd Nov 2013
Review Rocksmith 2014 Edition (PlayStation 3)
It's a long way to the top (if you wanna rock 'n' roll)
Let's cut to the chase: Rocksmith 2014 Edition will not miraculously teach you how to play guitar like Slash in 24 hours. Learning the guitar or bass takes years of dedicated practice, repetition, self-motivation, and real technique. That doesn't necessarily mean that Rocksmith is useless –...
Tuesday19th Nov 2013
Review Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON'T KNOW! (PlayStation 3)
We can't recommend a reason either
Adventure Time is ridiculously exuberant. Its characters are eccentric and weird, its storylines are convoluted and odd, and its humour is a mix of silly, low brow, and exceptionally well timed. It's a show of complexity and deep lore based on the insane. Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON'T KNOW!...
Thursday14th Nov 2013
Review Stick It to the Man (PlayStation 3)
"I know what you're thinking"
Stick It to the Man wonderfully treads the line between dark and silly. It's Ren and Stimpy-esque aesthetic is plopped on top of a paper craft construction, which gives it a unique and endearing look that brings each character – whether it be human or otherwise – to life in a surreal and smile inducing way. Add to...
Review Battlefield 4 (PlayStation 3)
Boom! Shake, shake, shake the room
Almost every event that you're a part of in Battlefield 4 is punctuated by some sort of demolition or explosion. Pursued by a helicopter? It'll blow up sooner or later. Running up a flight of stairs? They probably won't be there on the way back down. Need to get past an armoured vehicle? Better blast it to bits...
Monday11th Nov 2013
Review Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus (PlayStation 3)
Nether say nether
Ratchet & Clank have been phoning it in harder than washed up talk show hosts on a regional radio station of late. Sony’s seasoned double-act seemed to stop trying after the franchise defining Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time, with its more recent multiplayer-focused excursions stumbling harder than Captain Qwark in an IQ...
Wednesday6th Nov 2013
Review CastleStorm (PlayStation 3)
Shocking, in a manner of speaking
Building castles, slaying enemy troops, and launching farting sheep. CastleStorm is built around the idea of both building and destroying castles using a variety of customisable methods. You'll control a massive ballista, which you'll employ to send out a variety of troops, some awesome special attacks, and a...
Tuesday5th Nov 2013
Review Final Exam (PlayStation 3)
Fight school
The PlayStation 4 is fast approaching, and the PlayStation 3 is still drowning in new downloadable releases every week. The ageing system's PSN catalogue is fit to burst at this point, with stunning titles like Journey and The Unfinished Swan garnering more praise than most retail releases could hope for. Final Exam may not be as...
