Tag: Retro - Page 17
Review Tekken 6 (PlayStation 3)
Continuing the outrageous story-arc of the Tekken franchise, Tekken 6 opens to a lengthy introduction reminding you all the events of the King Of Iron Fist tournament thus far
The drill remains pretty familiar in Tekken 6: corporations rule the world, with many clashing along their relevant paths. With the bad blood already flowing through the...
Review DJ Hero (PlayStation 3)
Covering the electro, hip-hop, pop and dance arm of Activision's massive "Hero" franchise, DJ Hero puts you behind the decks as a master DJ, cutting and scratching yourself between tracks to make interesting mash-ups
DJ Hero comes with a great controller, which represents the turntable and mixer of a real DJ's set-up. The turntable is topped with...
Review NBA 2K10 (PlayStation 3)
NBA 2K10 may be plagued by a choppy framerate and numerous bugs, but it still holds together to provide an explosive representation of basketball
The greatest strength in NBA 2K10's arsenal is the real upbeat, fast paced sense of occasion that NBA Live 2010 didn't deliver. NBA 2K10 is frenetic, and often break-neck. It's hardly realistic, but it's...
Review Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (PlayStation Portable)
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is an enhanced port of the Nintendo DS game that debuted to critical acclaim earlier in the year
The plot is much more tongue-in-cheek than in the relatively dark Grand Theft Auto IV. You play Huang Lee, the son of murdered crime-lord looking to avenge the death of his father. Unfortunately, Huang's arrival sees him...
Review LocoRoco: Midnight Carnival (PlayStation Portable)
LocoRoco: Midnight Carnival may not be a full-on sequel, but it's still all-singing, all dancing fun
It's outrageously good value for money too. LocoRoco: Midnight Carnival is still as boisterous as you might expect. The dastardly BuiBui from the previous two games have returned and kidnapped the sleeping LocoRoco. If they can escape the hazardous...
Sent on a rich safari working for clients such as National Geographic, Afrika is a photography simulator in which you scope landscapes for the best possible wildlife photographs
You'll unlock varying equipment along the way, allowing you to take better photographs and learn new techniques. Afrika is a fairly large game, with plenty of environments...
Review Fairytale Fights (PlayStation 3)
In a twisted sub-universe, the heros and heroines of some of our most favourite fairytales aren't happy
Cue Fairytale Fights, a heavily violent take on the often sweet and innocent world of children's literature. Here, Little Red Riding Hood chops the limbs from lumberjacks and the heads off gingerbread men. Fairytale Fights is a bleak game set in a...
Review Mushroom Wars (PlayStation 3)
Everything about Mushroom Wars is minimalistic
The basic bubble menus, clean level design and easy to pick up controls make Mushroom Wars an RTS-lite. Unlike the punishing learning curve of most RTS games, Mushroom Wars is extremely easy to pick up. You can upgrade mushroom houses by hitting the L1 button, and distribute fungi-grunts between...
Review NBA Live 10 (PlayStation 3)
NBA Live 10 looks great and plays with refined vigour
It's not without its problems, but if basketball is your thing - there's plenty here to enjoy. Having somewhat lost its mojo in recent years, NBA Live 10 is a fairly big step forward for the franchise. Graphically the game has come a decent length, with player animation vastly improved, making...
Review Vempire (PSP Minis) (PlayStation Portable)
Simplistic in almost every-regard; Vempire is a bright and buoyant bout of match-four with a price-tag just 200-pence short of excellent
Switch the quadrant to match the squares. It's a mechanic popularised by Bejewelled and borrowed by Impressionware's victorian gothic themed PSP Minis debut. Vempire is certainly not deceiving to be any more than...
Review Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising (PlayStation 3)
Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising is a queer beast
As a thoroughly realistic military shooter, it achieves everything it sets out to achieve. But next to the brash set-pieces of Infinity Ward's Modern Warfare, it feels sterile without the smoke and mirrors. Be assured though, if it's realism you seek, Operation Flashpoint will gratefully satisfy...
Review FIFA 10 (PlayStation 3)
Fifa 10 is the latest update in EA Sports' popular Fifa franchise
One of the biggest titles in the world, Fifa 10 builds upon the excellent Fifa 09 which caused a paradigm shift in football games and actually ended up being the superior product when compared to the usual front runner Pro Evolution Soccer. Fifa 10 brings with it a number of new buzz...
Review Yummy Yummy Cooking Jam (PlayStation Minis)
Like a limited edition McDonalds meal, Yummy Yummy Cooking Jam is a novel one-off that's tantalising despite its inflated price tag and health concerns
The health concerns in Yummy Yummy Cooking Jam's case are not related to weight concerns, but instead hand cramps. Y'see, before we get started we want to clarify our biggest gripe with Cooking Jam...
Review Pinball Fantasies (PlayStation Minis)
Three questions: Do you like pinball? Do you own a PSP? Can you go without lunch to pay for the game? If you answered all yes to our little questionnaire, then you really should be asking yourself why you're not playing Pinball Fantasies right now
Pinball Fantasies is an old game. Commodore Amiga old actually. But who the hell cares when it still...
Review Heavy Weapon: Atomic Tank (PlayStation 3)
Heavy Weapon: Atomic Tank is a frantic, fast and pretty enjoyable 2D blaster; chances are you've seen it all before though
With the war against the Red Star Forces almost lost, there's just one last weapon on hand to save the day. The atomic tank, a mobile power-house that travels across flat terrain, is prepared to save the day, and you're piloting...
Review Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 (PlayStation 3)
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is a totally overhauled version of Ninja Gaiden II that launched exclusively on the XBOX 360 last year
This upgraded port features enhanced visuals, reworked controls and new playable characters, as well as a complete online two-player co-operative mission mode. Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 plots you in the shoes of the Ryu Hayabusa,...
Review Beaterator (PlayStation Portable)
Beaterator is a portable music studio developed by Rockstar Games (the Grand Theft Auto guys) in conjunction with hip-hop producer Timbaland
Despite the Timbaland branding, the game is suitable for all genres, with a lot of the samples and loops provided by Timbo suiting pop, rock, electro, garage and more. The "game" is divided into three...
Review Kahoots (PlayStation Minis)
Kahoots is a charming little game packed with personality
From the home-made graphics to the musical tutorials — it's all rather lovely. What do you get if you take Lemmings, add a dash of LittleBigPlanet, and season with Zoo Keeper to taste? No, it's not a joke; it's Kahoots — a charming PSP Mini from British development team HoneySlug. Kahoots...
Review Tetris (PlayStation Minis)
The classic Tetris gameplay remains in-tact in this no-nonsense reproduction of a fan favourite
Tetris has finally hit the PSP as part of Sony's new PSP Minis initiative. The gameplay remains largely unchanged, with the familiar host of block shapes vying for your line deleting attention through a host of increasingly tense levels. The game does a...
Review Gran Turismo (PlayStation Portable)
Polyphony Digital's world conquering Gran Turismo franchise finally makes its scaled appearance on the PSP with a mind numbing 800 cars and 35 tracks
Gran Turismo's world famous physics simulation returns, with a wide variety of cars and track types (dirt, snow, race track) to pit your wits against. There are a range of driving challenges to...
Review The King Of Fighters XII (PlayStation 3)
The classic fighting franchise returns with its core three vs three battle layout in tact
Every inch the retro fighter, King Of Fighters XII is designed with a combination of retro techniques and next-gen Playstation 3 technology; the game's sprites have each been individually drawn and animated, brimming with style and life via an HD setup. The...
Review Mini Ninjas (PlayStation 3)
Mini Ninjas reveals the tale of an evil samurai warlord who has caused an imbalance in the world
He must be stopped by the game's protagonist Hiro and the legion of failed samurai warriors he rescues on his path. Mini Ninjas is aimed mostly at children, but like all good children entertainment it has a depth of humour beneath the cuddly layer...
Review PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe (PlayStation Portable)
Playstation's premium tower-defence title; PixelJunk Monsters was a huge hit on the Playstation 3, cementing the PixelJunk franchise at the forefront of quirky downloadable titles for the Playstation Network
PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe does everything its Playstation 3 equivalent does, and more. By using resources to build and power-up a range of...
Serving as a means to make sense of a game where you play as a Wizard, Knight and Thief at the same time; the whimsical plot of Trine tracks the events of three contrasting personalities who have been fused together via the sorcery of a magical artifact
What ensues is a trip through a deserted kingdom, where the three must each use their unique...
Review MotorStorm: Arctic Edge (PlayStation Portable)
Motorstorm is one of Sony's "new-breed" franchises, emerging as a Playstation 3 launch title
Evolution Studios' "not-quite-sim-not-quite-arcade-racer" makes its first foray onto other platforms with Motorstorm: Arctic Edge; an off-shoot of the lavish environments from PS3 sequel Pacific Rift. Arctic Edge, as the title suggests, is set atop...
Review Need For Speed Shift (PlayStation 3)
A change of direction for the stagnating Need For Speed franchise, Shift is the game's foray into Gran Turismo territory; a simulation racing with a competent physics engine and visceral cock-pit view
Need For Speed Shift plays host to a range of car manufacturers, race-tracks and events. The single-player campaign has you competing for...
Review SingStar: Motown (PlayStation 3)
SingStar: Motown is essentially a glorified track-pack
Still, the range of quality music, low price and typical SingStar options continue to make the franchise a success — if not a somewhat niche one these days. There's something wrong with you if you don't like Motown. A glory era in the age of pop, the Motown record label is synonymous for...
Review The Beatles: Rock Band (PlayStation 3)
The ever-popular rhythm action genre meets the most popular band of all time, The Beatles
The Beatles: Rock Band is a loving recreation of pivotal moments in the band's elusive history, covering the early days at Liverpool's famous Cavern Club right through to the Abbey Road studio sessions that saw the birth of some of The Beatles' most creative...
Taking clear inspiration from the works of Tarantino, WET is a heavily grindhouse themed arcade shooter that follows the exploits of a sassy female protagonist named Rubi
Caught up in the convoluted plot of blatant twists and wooden acting, WET treads the thin-line of having a plot so obviously bad, it's actually comical. Armed with the fire-power...
Review SoulCalibur: Broken Destiny (PlayStation Portable)
Well, it's Soul Calibur on the PSP
Based on many of the mechanics from the SoulCalibur IV engine, Broken Destiny is a weapons-based fighting game featuring a host of familiar and equally ridiculous characters. The Star Wars characters from the Playstation 3 version of the game have been replaced with the much better suited Kratos and the deeply...
Review Dissidia: Final Fantasy (PlayStation Portable)
In a less than compelling plot that will no doubt delight Final Fantasy aficionados and baffle the rest of us, the God of discord, Chaos, and the God of Harmony, Cosmos, have engaged in an eternal long tussle within the Final Fantasy universe
The outset is Chaos importing a dream team of Final Fantasy antagonists to put the cap in Cosmos' reign...
Review Smash Cars (PlayStation 3)
Smash Cars is Creat Studio's latest PSN exclusive
The game is a sequel to a cult PS2 title of the same name. In this release the developers have kept pretty much everything that made the original game fun in tact, allowing you to race RC cars across an interesting island setting. Much like Nintendo's Wii Sports Resort, the island your racing across...
Review Colin McRae: DiRT 2 (PlayStation 3)
Starting out with just a messy RV and a name to make, DiRT 2 puts you behind the wheel of the late Colin McRae's famous rally car and sets you out on a racing tour of the world
Operating from the back of your RV you'll embark on some of the world's most famous rally courses alongside some of the scenes biggest names including Ken Block and Dave...
Review Wolfenstein (PlayStation 3)
It's kind of ironic that Wolfenstein should fall victim to an overcrowded genre that it created
You step into the shoes of BJ Blazkowicz, a chirpy super-American with the chiseled looks of an overweight Nathan Drake. Once again the Nazis are being general douchebags, digging up some bonkers historical element known as Black Sun Energy. For time...
Review Marvel Vs. Capcom 2: New Age Of Heroes (PlayStation 3)
Marvel Vs
Capcom 2, the 3-on-3 fighting game that demands silly money on eBay, just got that much more accessible via the wonders of the Playstation Network. The game is heralded as the very pinnacle of the 2D beat 'em up by the elite, largely thanks to its impressive roster and flat-out bonkers gameplay. We don't recommend this to those with...
Review G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra (PlayStation 3)
Based upon the recent movie, G
I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra pits you amidst Cobra's deadliest plot yet, putting you in the shoes of the Joes in a co-op arcade shooting environment. Taking its concept from classic run-and-gun shooters like Contra, The Rise Of Cobra is an isometric co-op shooting experience that can be played locally. There are a range...
Review Alone In The Dark: Inferno (PlayStation 3)
Sometimes games come along that truly innovate but for some reason collapse under the weight of their originality
Alone In The Dark: Inferno is one such example of brilliant ideas being released before fully developed. Alone In The Dark: Inferno is a vastly improved version of the XBOX 360 game. Improved camera and control make Inferno the...
Review Archer Maclean's Mercury (PlayStation Portable)
Archer Maclean's Mercury is a very clever puzzle game that is well worth the price of entry
It's a game you'll certainly want downloaded onto your PSP's memory stick for a drab 20 minute journey. Building on the classic Marble Madness, Mercury is a game involving blobs of, well, mercury, and the guiding of them through increasingly difficult mazes...
Review Sonic Unleashed (PlayStation 3)
The most horrendous thing about Sonic Unleashed is that it shows signs of being absolutely, totally, awesome
It's just a shame about the rest of the game. Mandatory medal-hunts. Awful God Of War-ripped sub-gameplay. Terrible voice acting. Drawn-out level design. Just a few of the reasons that Sonic Unleashed is not quite the game you'd expect it to...
Review Fat Princess (PlayStation 3)
Fat Princess is a co-operative multiplayer game comparable with few other titles
The objective of the game's main multiplayer type is to rescue your captured princess. The twist is that the princess cannot be swooped up like a heroine from movies of old; she'll have been force-fed ungodly amounts of cake by the opposing team, making her as heavy as...
Review Fritz Chess (PlayStation 3)
It's chess
Well in actual fact it's more than that. It's Fritz Chess, which means the game is powered by the best chess AI program currently available. There's a loose adventure mode taking you through a series of medieval "castle" opponents, but you won't be playing for the story; Fritz is all about the super challenging AI. Fritz Chess...
Review Shatter (PlayStation 3)
Simple in concept but deep in reality, Shatter takes the simple gameplay mechanics of Arkanoid and rebuilds them for the "New Arcade" generation
With a heavy focus on electronic music, score building and non-stop gameplay, Shatter may represent old-school classics at its core, but plays unlike anything. It's a classic example of the perfect...
Review Monster Hunter Freedom Unite (PlayStation Portable)
The Monster Hunter franchise has been a cultural phenomenon in Japan
It still stands as one of the main reasons for the PSP's success in the region - regularly outselling the Wii and occasionally overtaking the DS. There have been Western Monster Hunter releases in the past but rarely have they come close to even matching 10% of the franchise's...
Review Guitar Hero: Smash Hits (PlayStation 3)
Guitar Hero: Smash Hits is a worthy package depending on your music tastes and your desire to play those tracks as part of a full band experience
If for any reason you're not interested in the tracks available, then being forced to buy this game as full package is probably not recommended. Providing classic hits from the Guitar Hero franchise's...
Review Rock Band Unplugged (PlayStation Portable)
Those of you around in the early days of the Playstation 2 may remember a classic that went by the name Amplitude
Rock Band Unplugged is that same game without the electronica. Running with the Rock Band franchise, Rock Band Unplugged provides a range of "hits" from the likes of Weezer, Lit, Bon Jovi and many other rock veterans. The game...
Review God Of War: Chains Of Olympus (PlayStation Portable)
Kratos's PSP début is angry as ever
The game is set as a prequel to the Playstation 2's first God Of War title, where Kratos has been saved by Ares and is working out a seemingly never-ending chain of payback to the Gods of Olympus. The tale develops much further later on in the game and gives Kratos a much deeper sense of character, but we don't...
Review topatoi: The Great Tree Story (PlayStation 3)
Putting you in the thimble spinning wheel like vehicle known as GEMMA, you play as Raph, the subject of a crash landing and the knight in shining armour who will save his girlfriend from kidnap
There's a story mode and additional platforming challenges available, with leaderboards and collectables providing further challenge. Despite being a...
Review Battlefield 1943 (PlayStation 3)
A Playstation Store download, Battlefield 1943 is a complete competitive multiplayer first-person shooter experience based on the Battlefield franchise
The game provides two factions (Japan vs. USA) and three maps set in the pacific. A fourth map will be unlocked when Playstation 3 owners garner 43 million kills co-operatively, a neat little...
Review Overlord II (PlayStation 3)
Overlord II is the sequel to the critically acclaimed Overlord
The game picks up a short while after the last - where the previous Overlord - putting you in the shoes of a brand new antagonist. Controlling the Overlord essentially relies on issuing commands to your legion of Minions of whom will do your evil bidding whenever you should require it...
Review The Punisher: No Mercy (PlayStation 3)
Set in the gritty universe of The Punisher, No Mercy is an arena based shooter built with the Unreal Engine
The game is a multiplayer focused release, providing a single player story and co-op mode tied together with some comic-book style plot where the crux gameplay is still based around arena shoot-outs. There are a range of characters from The...
