Unreal Tournament 3 [PS3]

Originally titled Unreal Tournament 2007, this latest instalment was almost delayed until the new year, and is also a showpiece for Epic's Unreal Engine 3.

For the first time, Unreal Tournament offers up some single-player action in addition to its usual array of multiplayer modes. An invasion by an alien race known as the Necris has commenced, and naturally, it's your job to defend humankind and get rid of them as James 'Reaper" Hawkins, a member of a hired mercenary team. A tutorial of sorts, the story starts with footage of a battle where Reaper is injured. Post-recovery, Reaper's sister Sarah (Jester) provides a bit of training, after which their commander (Malcolm) fills you in on the situation with the Necris.

During the solo campaign, players will fight various team-oriented battles that introduce the various game types such as Team Deathmatch and Capture The Flag, which will be familiar to most players, as well as Warfare, where teams link nodes across the map and then destroy the enemy's power core. It's also a chance to practice controlling the various vehicles in the game without the pressure of an online match. There's also the new hoverboard as well, which can be controlled via motion controls if you like. As you progress, cut scenes will reveal more of the story and you'll have some choices as far as which battles to fight in. It's a nice added extra, but does feel somewhat strung together, and definitely falls short of the solo game in other First-Person Shooters.

Of course, online multiplayer is really what this series is all about, and in that department, it doesn't disappoint. After creating a customized character, you'll be able to join a Quick Match, browse the various hosted games looking for one that appeals to you, or host your own game. Naturally, there are a large number of settings to tailor the gameplay to your liking. Video effects, audio levels and controller options are almost as numerous as on shooters for the PC. You can even use a keyboard and mouse, if you prefer using them to a controller. If you can't find an online match that appeals to you, or you find you need some practice, you can play against computer-controlled bots to build up your skills. They aren't wimpy either, and seem to be quite a bit smarter and faster than in previous installments. You can also have bots take the place of human players as you wait for more people to join a match that you host. Sadly, there aren’t any split-screen modes where you and a friend can team up against bots, human opponents, or even each other. It’s a shame, since Co-Operative play is fast becoming a must-have feature for FPS fans. Players that were expecting new weapons might not be too thrilled either, as aside from some minor tweaks, the available arsenal hasn’t changed.

The level roster is slightly larger than expected, with different maps available in each game type. While a few are certainly reminiscent of the earlier games, most of them feel fresh enough while still inspiring the same type of cat-and-mouse gameplay the series is known for. One of the new features of UT3 which will likely keep players interested for some time, is the ability to play user-created modifications (mods) made with the PC version of the game. This means that new levels and gameplay types will be available for free. Mod creators will need to export PS3-specific versions of their creations, but players will only need to download the PS3 version of a mod with their PC, transfer it to a flash memory card or USB drive, and then import it into the game from the menu.

The game's graphics are meant to show off Epic's Unreal Engine 3 technology, and do look good. The level structures look amazing, and the game runs as fast as you could ever want it to. It's harder to compare some of the character and weapon visuals, since they are quite stylized, but suffice to say that UT 2004 is looking pretty old at this point. Audio is pretty much what you'd expect from the series, with pumping music, weapon fire, and headset trash talk dominating the soundscape. There's also some ambient sound mixed in there too, and it's definitely nice to have control over the mix.

UT3 is decidedly focused on multiplayer, as veterans of the series will expect. While the single-player campaign does offer a good introduction to the various game types and a training ground for newbies, players are much better off practicing against the bots before taking their game online. The game is very good at what it does, and having access to mods will no doubt keep the game fresh, but the lack of offline split-screen play will likely leave some players wanting just a bit more.

9/10

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock [PS3]

When Activision bought Guitar Hero publisher Red Octane and then handed development of the game off to its Neversoft studio, gamers were concerned that the title might lose some of its magic. Happily, the game manages to keep the same vibe as the previous versions, and adds some new life to the formula as well.

Players again choose from one of several characters that poke fun at various genre conventions and proceed through several setlists, unlocking more tracks as they progress. As usual, you have five fret buttons and the strumbar to hit notes as they scroll past the indicators on the screen. The biggest difference this time is having to contend with the occasional Boss Battle, and eventually battling against Slash from Guns 'N' Roses. During the battle, instead of earning Star Power to multiply your score, you'll earn power-ups that screw over your opponent by increasing the number of notes they need to hit, or making them break a string.

You and a friend can play Career Mode co-operatively online, which is great, since you won't need a second guitar controller. There's also several options to battle one-on-one and see who rocks harder. Worth noting is that the controller is now wireless, and syncs to a USB dongle that plugs into the console. The shape is comfortable to hold for a long session, and the buttons have a softer feel than before, but don't feel loose or unresponsive. Sadly, it doesn't work with previous versions of the game made for the PlayStation 2 when you try them on a backwards-compatible PS3.

The songs themselves are mostly cover versions, as before, but are still high enough quality for the most part that it's not a huge issue. The tracklist should please most fans of the series as well, with tracks from bands like The Beastie Boys, Alice Cooper, Heart, Kiss, Metallica, and The Smashing Pumpkins offering a diverse lineup. With seventy-one tracks in total, and downloadable songs available from the PlayStation Store, there's bound to be a few of your favorites included.

While it's the fourth version of the game in only a couple of years, Guitar Hero III does manage to feel new enough for fans of the series. It's also a good place to start for players who are new to the genre.

8/10

Beats [PSP]

It's taken longer than expected, but Beats brings Frequency/Amplitude style gameplay to the PSP, allowing for beat-matching button-mashing on the go. It's not a port though; Instead of hitting notes on music tracks, players need to match button presses as they pass over one of three spots on the screen. At higher skill levels, highlighting which spot you're matching beats to and getting the button presses correct becomes frantic. The ability to use your own mp3s stored on a Memory Stick adds endless personalization and replay value. Available exclusively through the PlayStation Store website, this $6 download is easily worth the price, and a definite must-buy.

5/5

Mass Effect [360]

Developed at BioWare, known for Role-Playing Games such as Jade Empire, Mass Effect takes players to a future where humans are taking their first steps into space exploration.

As Commander Shepard, the first human to become a "Spectre" agent, it's your job to prove yourself as an effective member of the law-keeping force while also revealing the existence of a huge threat to the various alien races that inhabit the galaxy. Along the way, Shepard will have the chance to team up with various Non-Player Characters who will also take part in squad-based combat.

The fact that this is a Science-Fiction based game already sets it apart from most of the genre and makes for a nice change from the typical sword-swinging RPG action. The game world is huge, with players using a map of the galaxy to determine which planets to travel to and explore. Players can also choose how they interact with other characters through a choice of dialogue options ranging in aggressiveness to make Shepard's character their own and affect responses. In general, players will find themselves with some main objectives involving travel to specific solar systems or planets. You can go pretty much wherever you want though, and check out uncharted planets, possibly finding ruins or even space pirates to battle. As the story progresses, you'll have the option of allowing other humans and aliens to join your party, and take part in battles against various enemies.

While the story is classic Sci-Fi stuff on a grand scale, and the main characters are well-acted by the likes of Seth Green, Lance Henriksen, and Marina Sirtis, the combat action in the game is often frustrating. Your squad-mates exhibit very little intelligence and are often dead before you know it. Adding to the pain are the seemingly hobbled weapons at lower levels (they overheat really fast) and the unskippable cut scenes that you need to watch before each attempt. The character upgrade system is nice though, with earned points either assigned manually or by using an auto-level system. You can also choose to level up Shepard manually and leave the secondary characters on auto, which is great. You'll also have to drive a land-based vehicle called a "Mako" when visiting planets, which has absolutely terrible controls and physics.

Visually, the game generally looks good and features some solid facial mapping and motion capture work, as well as fairly robust character customization. The engine seems to be pushing the system pretty hard though, since graphic details are often seen popping onto objects after they have been on the screen for a couple of seconds. It's also a shame that the game doesn't seem to be streaming any data from the hard drive, as this probably could have helped clean things up and improve load times. Sound-wise, the voice acting is generally excellent, and the music, while perhaps a bit too obvious a nod to Vangelis' score for Blade Runner, is still a nice change from the sweeping strings in most RPGs.

In all, Mass Effect is a nice departure for the genre that does a lot right, even though it gets somewhat undermined by being perhaps a bit too technically ambitious and the action elements needing more tuning. Devotees of the studio's previous games and those looking to give their swords and spells a bit of a rest should definitely make some time for this one.

7/10

Assassin's Creed [PS3]

For the past four years, Ubisoft's Montreal studio have been working on this next-generation project, bringing together elements from previous franchises and a new level of refinement to the action.

The game takes place in the present, with Desmond Miles being the subject of a research project into one of his ancestors, a man named Altair. Most of the game is spent with Desmond using a system called The Animus to travel back into his ancestral memories and control Altair as he carries out various assassinations in the year 1191.

Throughout the game, players will be given missions in various cities where they must meet with the local Assassin's Bureau, gain information on their target's whereabouts through eavesdropping, pickpocketing and interrogating locals, and finally perform the kill before moving on. Climbing certain buildings throughout each city will offer viewpoints that reveal optional objectives such as helping citizens in trouble. Collectible items such as flags can also be found while roaming the rooftops.

The game is very action-oriented, and as expected, owes quite a bit to the platforming action of the studio's Prince of Persia series. Altair's movements are much more fluid though, and you'll often find yourself jumping from rooftop to rooftop in a manner similar to parkour to get to your destination or evade the city guard. Being an assassin, there's also a level of stealth required here too. Altair can choose to carry a low profile with several moves that allow him to blend into and easily move through a crowd, act neutrally, or when the time is right, use high profile attacks on his targets. While the core gameplay is very much PoP meets Splinter Cell, the implementation takes the best of both series and blends them together in a very refined way. The controls are well designed, and easy to get used to while offering several styles of play.

It comes as no surprise that the game simply looks amazing. When you arrive at various cities, or are treated to a 360-degree camera pan when you access a viewpoint, the scale of everything will inspire you to explore every area and detail. The animation, especially between characters as they interact in a crowd, is especially impressive. On the audio side, the game's voice work is very good, and the voices of the crowd will help you locate targets, citizens who need help, and guards who are looking for you.

If you enjoyed Prince of Persia, you'll feel right at home here, and even players who found that series somewhat frustrating will appreciate this game's intuitive controls. The combination of so much to see and do, varied and optional objectives, and quality execution make for an easy recommendation.

9/10

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare [PS3]

After several impressive releases that focused on historical events, Activision bring their military First-Person Shooter series into the modern age, upping the ante for both the genre and cross-platform development in the process.

Starting out as a new British S.A.S. soldier, players run through a short training course and are then given a recommendation from the four skill levels available. Throughout the game, you'll play as S.A.S. Sergeant "Soap" MacTavish, and also as Paul Jackson, a U.S. Marine Sergeant. The story involves terrorists and renegade nuclear missiles, and takes place mostly in Russia and Azerbaijan. As you progress, you mission objectives will range from typical hostage extractions and infiltrations to more diverse tasks such as sniping specific targets or sneaking past enemy patrols in a ghillie suit. The game is divided into three acts, with the latter two each being about half the size of the first one. Overall, the game is noticeably short, but still manages to pack in a lot more bang for your buck than most FPS titles.

Graphically, the game is impressive and, aside from the facial animation, is likely the best-looking game on the system so far. The environments are exceptionally detailed, and smoke, fire and water effects are all top-notch. The game also has an impressive soundtrack, with well acted voice work, though at times you can hear the sound booth acoustics when characters are outdoors. The music is fairly typical, but doesn't interfere or get too over the top. It's also the first cross-platform game of this generation to be truly top-notch on both systems.

Naturally, There are multiplayer modes as well, with the ability to play split-screen on one console, over a Local Area Network, or online. Free-For-All and Team Deathmatch modes are joined by Domination (capture three flags), Sabotage (grab the bomb and destroy the enemy objective), and several variants of each. It's unfortunate there's no Co-Operative story mode though, as the game's substantial difficulty and excellent presentation would make for an ideal Co-Op experience.

Some players will likely be put off by the series' departure from historic battles, but this game is implemented so well that it's simply a must-buy for even casual fans of the genre. It's definitely a short game, but the diversity of missions and high replayability, as well as the multiplayer modes, keep the game interesting for longer than most.

9/10

SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Tactical Strike [PSP]

While there have been a couple of previous SOCOM releases on Sony's portable, Vancouver developer Slant Six take things in a slightly different direction with this title.

Choosing a team of four from nine different international special forces units, players work their way through a scenario involving the abduction of a U.S. Ambassador that will bring them to various urban and remote settings. Instead of the usual focus on First-Person Shooter action, the game puts the camera over the squad's shoulders and gives the player strategic control over their movements and rules of engagement.

The levels are a good size for a portable game, and last longer than might be expected, with several checkpoints scattered throughout each one where you can save your progress. Players are rated on their performance in various categories after each level and assigned a grade. Before moving on, there's the option to spend skill points earned during the mission, and change the team's weaponry. The graphics look quite good, and the cut scene animation is likely some of the best on the system so far. The game's audio is fairly standard though, with weapon sounds, radio chatter and the occasional musical swell making up the majority of the soundtrack.

The command system works well, with a series of menus accessible by holding down various buttons. Holding the attack button, for example, allows you to choose attacking one highlighted enemy, define a field of fire, or shoot after receiving a signal. Whichever option was last selected becomes the default, enabling you to keep your squad moving with stealth, for example, instead of risking accidently blowing your cover with a faster pace. Various objects also spawn interaction icons as well, enabling door breaching, shooting through windows, or healing squad members. You are also able to split the squad into two teams to surround groups of enemies or complete multiple objectives simultaneously.

Moving effectively through the levels is slightly hampered by the way the position marker is used though, since you can't just point to a location in front of you. Instead, you need to press the move button, which spawns a marker that you need to manoeuvre to the target location. The trick is that the marker can only be moved "on rails" along the path that your SEALs would actually take. If you want to leave a building from the second floor, for example, you need to steer the marker down the stairs and out the door, instead of just pointing out the door with a reticule. At times this makes moving your squad a chore, especially over long distances.

The game also features both Ad-Hoc and Infrastructure Mode online play for up to four players and support of the PSP headset. Most of the online modes pit a team of SEALs against a team of mercenaries with the objective of defending or destroying various targets. There's also an Extraction game with a hostage scenario and a Free For All mode that pits all the players against each other.

While the game's strategic focus might turn off some FPS fans, the action is still satisfying and well suited to portable play. The missions are a good length and the game itself features a slightly longer playtime than players might expect. The multiplayer support is definitely welcome, and even though the main mission's subject matter is familiar, the somewhat fresh implementation still makes this an entertaining title.

8/10

Manhunt 2 [Wii]

Rockstar releases this controversial sequel in an edited form after receiving an "Adults Only" rating from the Entertainment Software Ratings Board, possibly losing the game's vision in the process.

While the original Manhunt game pushed a lot of people's buttons with its snuff video vibe and level of violence, the announcement of a sequel being released on Nintendo's family-friendly Wii seemed to be the last straw for many, and the game was largely condemned while still in development. Subsequently, the game has had some scenes edited out and a video effect superimposed over the screen when the player performs "finishing moves" on enemies.

The story revolves around Daniel Lamb and Leo Kasper, escapees from a secret research facility. Controlling Daniel, it's up to the player to figure out what happened, with Leo as your guide. While the premise is substantial enough, some of the implementation is sloppy. Early on in the game Leo tells you to return home since "You left something there for yourself", without any explanation of what it is or how he knows about it, making for some fairly weak player motivation.

As you progress through the game, you'll encounter various adversaries who you can eliminate using various objects and weapons found along the way. Much of the game is based on stealth, which is well implemented, as you'll need to stick to the shadows, and even occasionally hold the Wii remote still in order to remain undetected. Sneaking up on enemies and performing finishing moves is the most effective way of dealing with them.

The play mechanic is nothing like what most people probably imagined though, as you don't control Daniel's movements in real time. Instead, icons appear in the corner of the screen showing a series of motions you need to perform. It ends up feeling much like the boss battles in God of War or even a bit like Dragon's Lair, and almost completely removes the player from the action. During these attacks, the player can barely pay attention to the violence unfolding on-screen, since the icons demand your attention, and the action is obscured by a red overlay, to the point where almost nothing is visible and blood is mostly camouflaged out of sight. It's also worth noting that this generally makes the game less explicitly violent than the original game was, with its copious amounts of arterial spray.

Graphically, the game appears to run on the same engine that the original did, which means it looks decent for a Wii title. The audio was a bit of a surprise, as there doesn't seem to be as much of an attempt to creep the player out and keep you on your toes. There's also an annoying sound from the Wii remote whenever objective notices appear on-screen that it seems you can't turn off.

While it's unlikely anyone will be taking this game at face value, the fact is that the editing of the content and the only partially interactive nature of the finishing moves do hinder the game. If the core gameplay had been stronger, with better player motivation and perhaps some non-lethal attack options to bring more of a morality struggle, this likely could have been a much deeper experience overall, and the editing wouldn't have taken as much away from it.

6/10

Naruto: Rise of A Ninja [360]

Naruto, shunned by most of his village, vows to become the greatest ninja around. This Xbox 360 exclusive features mission-based gameplay, with fighting action as well.

In the main Story Mode, players take control of Naruto as he fails his final martial arts test. Shunned by the other residents of the village, he sets of on various quests in order to restore the town's faith in him and earn their respect. Consisting mainly of fetching and collecting items, ramen delivery quests, and timed races; the game follows the first 80 episodes of the anime series. Naruto can also earn training points, used to visit the Ninja Academy and learn new skills to use when fighting his enemies.

Visually, the game's cel-shaded look won't surprise many, though it does have a higher level of detail than expected. Cut-scenes that further the plot appear to have been pulled from the series, which seems appropriate, but compared to the game look washed out. There's also a strange type of letterbox on the sides of the screen, making the footage taller than it is wide. It's a bit jarring aesthetically, but relatively minor. Sound-wise, the game features music and voice-work that's neither noticeably good or bad, except that a majority of the game's characters pronounce the word ramen incorrectly upon receiving their delivery.

The controls are straightforward when guiding Naruto around the village, but jumps aren't as smooth as in the studio's other titles, causing the occasional missed ledge. Things get more complicated when fighting adversaries, as the action becomes a more conventional fighting game. Naruto can learn and perform special moves by moving the control sticks in various directions, which require good timing and give players the feeling of doing more than just mashing buttons.

Fans of the anime series are certainly going to enjoy this title, with its somewhat open-ended gameplay. The game also brings more to the fighting engine than expected, and both offline and online Versus play help extend the replay value.

8/10

Mercury Meltdown Revolution [Wii]

Using the Wii's motion controls to maneuver blobs of liquid metal through obstacle-laden mazes makes for a challenging game that has more wacky twists to it than players would ever expect.

Using various laboratory-themed levels, players guide their blob(s) of mercury through various maze-like levels toward a goal against time. Along the way, structural obstacles such as ramps and bridges ensure the path is less than smooth. Mazes can also include a variety of interactive elements, such as conveyors, force fields, guillotines, and gravity benders that affect your blob in various ways. If that wasn't enough, some levels contain enemies that will eat, poison or zap your mercury. Players will also need to use various "Paint Shop" devices to change the color of their blob(s) to open color-coded gates, often mixing blobs of different colors to achieve the proper hue.

While the game does include a tutorial, and even a large "Playground" area to practice in, the difficulty starts at a higher level than expected and ramps up surprisingly fast. Younger players (or less patient adults) might find some of the mazes quite frustrating, even on the early levels. Luckily, you can skip on to the next maze if you like. Collecting bonus items in the main game boosts your score, and also unlocks a handful of party games, such as "Paint", where players compete to roll their blob around and cover the most area with their color.

While this title has appeared on the PSP and PS2 previously, the addition of motion control support definitely makes this title worth a look, even if you've played it before. It's more challenging and potentially frustrating than it seems at first though, and could have used some easier levels for younger players.

7/10

Halo 3 [360]

Arguably the most anticipated game ever, Halo fans finally get to "finish the fight" and find out if the world ends in this final installment of Bungie's shooter franchise. Picking up from the cliffhanger at the end of Halo 2, Master Chief's mission is to stop the Prophet from finding an artifact called "The Ark", and prevent him from using the Halo weapon to annihilate the planet. Unfortunately, you've crash-landed in the jungle and need to get yourself out of there first. As you progress through the game, you'll travel to various diverse locations along the way, occasionally taking control of several vehicles to break up the standard shooting action.

The missions themselves are fairly standard. You'll mostly be putting down the Covenant forces, but occasionally need to arm bombs or disable enemy defenses. There are also a few timed-escape levels as well to keep you moving. The levels are quite large, and have some generally good designs. There are a lot of missions that ask you to backtrack though, and this definitely makes some parts of the game feel like filler to bump up the play time. Your squad-mates aren't always dependable either, and you are often paired-up with the Arbiter, who seems to go Missing In Action quite a bit. The game allows for up to four-player co-op though, which is most welcome, especially at higher difficulty levels.

Visually, the game keeps the same general style as its predecessors, but definitely benefits from the Xbox 360's capabilities. Jungle levels feature plants that bend as you brush by and gorgeous water effects in the form of waterfalls, rivers and pools. More barren locales in the game are enhanced by smoke, dust and blowing snow effects. While it doesn't seem there was any facial mapping done, the character animations are top-notch. The game streams in level data during each mission and, while the frame rate hiccups a bit now and then, it's certainly better than watching a loading screen. The Head's-Up Display could have been better though, since objective locations aren't always shown, and players are often left guessing their way through levels that should be easy to navigate. The game's sound is mostly what you'd expect, with various vehicle and weapon sounds mixed in with friendly and enemy voices. The music is handled especially well, and fades in cinematically at key moments during the action.

Naturally, series fans are going to be interested in some multiplayer action as well, and on that score, the game doesn't disappoint. With support for up to sixteen players and some truly large levels, there's a lot here to keep fans busy for quite some time. Standard Slayer (death match) and Capture The Flag modes are joined by seven others, including Infection, where players kill Flood creatures or infect humans and Juggernaut, a kind of reverse tag where killing the Juggernaut player (the target) makes you the next Juggernaut. The game also has some added features, such as the ability to record gameplay and allow players to upload clips to share with friends. There's also a mode called Forge, which a basically a real-time level editor, allowing players to customize the levels as they play. Multiple players can take part via split-screen or over Xbox Live as well.

While this is certainly a comprehensive package, it does seem that all these extras come at a cost to the main Campaign mode, which is much shorter than expected. Most players will likely get through the game in eight to ten hours and, though the story's ending should satisfy most, it's unfortunate that the journey along the way isn't a bit more substantial.

8/10

SingStar Amped [PS2]

Fans of Sony's singing game that prefer their music to rock a bit harder than most should take a look at this release. If you haven't played SingStar before, it's basically a karaoke game where you sing along with music videos and get graded on your performance. As in previous versions, players can sing solo, duets, or battle it out by singing a song at the same time or passing the mic. The game also uses the EyeToy camera to take pictures of you during your performance.

The interface remains the same as before, so veterans will know what they're doing from the get-go. It's slick and easy to follow, offering up a jukebox-style rotisserie of album covers for you to select songs from. The tracklist (see below) spans a wide range of hard rock and heavy metal from the past few decades. Anthems such as Judas Priest's "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" and Quiet Riot's cover of "Cum on Feel the Noize" are offset by more mellow tracks like Nirvana's "Come As You Are" and Blue Öyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper".

There aren't many tracks here that rock fans are going to pass over and the only additions that I would make would be almost any of Queen's hits and maybe Joan Jett's "I Love Rock N' Roll". It should be noted as well, that these songs are all sung by male vocalists, so guys who find too many "chick songs" in the other SingStar releases should have an easier time with this one. The high end of your voice will still get a workout during Yes's "Owner of a Lonely Heart" though. This is the best Sony's done so far at sticking to a genre, and it's good to see a collection that's on the harder end of the rock spectrum.

9/10

Tracklist:

Alice in Chains "Would?"
Audioslave "Cochise"
Blink-182 "I Miss You"
Blue Öyster Cult "(Don't Fear) The Reaper"
Boston "More Than a Feeling"
Cheap Trick "I Want You to Want Me"
David Bowie "Changes"
Fall Out Boy "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race"
Foo Fighters "Best of You"
Free "Alright Now"
Iggy Pop "Real Wild Child (Wild One)"
Judas Priest "You've Got Another Thing Comin'"
The Killers "When You Were Young"
Motörhead "Ace of Spades"
Nickelback "Savin' Me"
Nirvana "Come As You Are"
O.A.R. "Love and Memories"
Pearl Jam "Alive"
Poison "Every Rose Has Its Thorn"
Queens of the Stone Age "Go with the Flow"
Quiet Riot "Cum on Feel the Noize"
Radiohead "Creep"
Ramones "Blitzkrieg Bop"
Steppenwolf "Born to Be Wild"
Stone Temple Pilots "Vasoline"
Sublime "Santeria"
Talking Heads "Burning Down the House"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Gold Lion"
Yes "Owner of a Lonely Heart"
ZZ Top "Gimme All Your Lovin'"

SingStar '80s [PS2]

Sony's singing game takes on the MTV decade with this collection of songs from the eighties. If you haven't played SingStar before, it's basically a karaoke game where you sing along with music videos and get graded on your performance. As in previous versions, players can sing solo, duets, or battle it out by singing a song at the same time or passing the mic. The game also uses the EyeToy camera to take pictures of you during your performance.

The interface remains the same as before, so veterans will know what they're doing from the get-go. It's slick and easy to follow, offering up a jukebox-style rotisserie of album covers for you to select songs from. Naturally, the thirty tracks included here (see below) are all that really matter though, and there's a diverse selection of artists including MTV darlings Madonna and Tears for Fears. There are some glaring exceptions though, such as Michael Jackson and Prince. There's a bit of filler too, and songs like Starship's "We Built This City", would have been better left to the past.

While not a perfect set, most of the songs are classic hits and are well-suited to wanna-be stars having a go at them. The original videos are often funnier, and cheesier, than memory recalls as well, so they definitely add to the entertainment as players botch their performance by laughing at the on-screen action. This is a solid addition to the series, and while it's not for everyone, retro pop fans will have a blast.

8/10

Tracklist:

Billy Joel "Uptown Girl"
Billy Ocean "Caribbean Queen"
Blondie "Heart of Glass"
Culture Club "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?"
Cyndi Lauper "Time After Time"
Dead or Alive "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)"
Dexys Midnight Runners "Come on Eileen"
Duran Duran "Rio"
Erasure "A Little Respect"
Europe "The Final Countdown"
A Flock of Seagulls "I Ran"
Foreigner "I Want to Know What Love Is"
Kim Wilde "Kids in America"
Madness "Our House"
Madonna "Material Girl"
Men at Work "Who Can It Be Now?"
Nena "99 Red Balloons"
The Pretenders "Brass in Pocket"
R.E.M. "Stand"
Run D.M.C. "It's Tricky"
Simple Minds "Don't You (Forget About Me)"
Soft Cell "Tainted Love"
Squeeze "Tempted"
Starship "We Built This City"
Survivor "Eye of the Tiger"
Tears for Fears "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"
Thompson Twins "Hold Me Now"
Tina Turner "Simply the Best"
Twisted Sister "We're Not Gonna Take It"
Wham! "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"

Skate [360]

Electronic Arts takes video game skating back to basics and gives Tony Hawk some much needed competition in the process.
While skateboarding games have been around for the better part of the last decade, none have posed a serious challenge to Tony Hawk's reign over the genre until now. The big difference here is in the controls, and players will immediately notice a difference. Using the analogue sticks to pull off basic tricks and spins gives the game a new feel, and even experienced virtual skaters will have to practice to get the timing right.

The game's career mode consists mainly of completing challenges scattered around the town, which is no surprise. A nice twist comes with the choice of two skate crews with differing styles to hang out with, one is more aggressive, and the other is more about precision. There's also a good number of skating pro cameos in the game, and a decent character creator adds some customization, allowing you to unlock more sponsor's gear as you progress through the game.

The challenges start off pretty easy, letting you get to grips with the basic controls before demanding anything too complicated. The controls feel natural as well, pulling off tricks by flicking the sticks in various directions and using the triggers to grab. The game looks good, and the town you skate around in is quite large, with four neighbourhoods to explore. The bail animations (which you will see a lot of) are varied, depending on what you hit, but don't have the blood effects you might have grown used to. Naturally, there's the requisite soundtrack to keep you moving, and the lineup is no disappointment here. Songs by the likes of Bad Brains, Eric B & Rakim, and The White Stripes highlight a diverse track list that should please most.

The game has Xbox Live support for multiplayer games of up to six players, or you can take turns battling your friends on the couch in a few rounds of S.K.A.T.E. and see who's best. You can also record, save, and upload clips of your best tricks online to show off and prove your skills. While the controls are the big draw here and do change up the action somewhat, there's still a very back-to-basics vibe here that works both for and against the game. It would have been nice to see a more substantial multiplayer game as well, with a few more modes that are different from the career challenges. It's a great start though for a new franchise, and real competition in the skating genre is certainly long overdue.

7/10

Lair [PS3]

Developer Factor 5 swaps X-wing fighters for dragons in this single-player game that combines dragon-riding combat with a story about religious and political conflict.

The story is based on a land divided by both the environmental effects of volcanic activity and the resulting theological rift between the now-called Asylians, who worship God, and the Mokai, who don't. Players take the role of Rohn, an Asylian dragon knight of the Sky Guard. The game tries for a cinematic presentation, and as the plot progresses, Rohn learns that the political situation is more complex than originally thought.

Rohn is sent out on a series of missions, ranging from air battles to attacks on enemy strongholds and escorting and defending other troops. Each mission has a main objective that must be completed in order to progress through the game, although players can earn medals for performing well. Things start out straightforward enough, as you are tasked with repelling an assault on your city or defending some grain barges from attack.

After a handful of missions though, things start to get over-complicated. You are often given conflicting objectives (one level tells you to destroy the enemy's ground weapons, and then chastises you for not attacking the enemy dragons that are defending them). The game's attempts at cinematic grandeur get in the way as well, with cut-scenes often meddling in your attacks, and at times completely disorienting the player by changing your position or location in the battle when they end.

The game looks good in general, though the fire effects and some of the lighting don't look nearly as good as expected. My biggest peeves with the visuals though, are that friendly and enemy dragons are indistinguishable aside from their blue or red flame attacks, causing much friendly fire and the fact that the objective indicator arrow often disappears for about half the time, making the player guess where their main target is. If one of the developer's aims was to recreate the confusion of battle, then they succeeded on that point. Most of the creatures fare well though, and the facial animation during cut scenes is quite good. The sound does pick up some of the slack here, and John Debney's (Sin City) score is one of the highlights of the game.

The controls are generally well laid-out, with steering handled by motion control. Many of the missions demand several types of action though, with each tweaking what the controls do slightly. This causes the player to have to think too much about what they're doing instead of just doing it. Add a target lock that only seems to work about half the time, and quite a bit of shaking the controller in various directions, and you end up with a system that's just too complicated and ever-changing to be much fun. As a bonus, the game is also the first to feature Remote Play via the PSP. Unfortunately, the game's reliance on motion controls and the L2 and R2 buttons means you can only effectively play a fraction of the levels this way.

It's unfortunate that this game didn't fare better, as you can tell the developers had high ambitions. The story is interesting and the game does do some new things, but the complex controls and disorienting gameplay will likely frustrate most players beyond their limit quite soon. Even hardcore players are going to want to rent this one before buying.

6/10

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption [Wii]

The third and final installment in Retro Studios' "First-Person Adventure" take on Metroid is finally here. This time, Dark Samus is corrupting whole planets with phazon, and Samus is ordered to stop the process.

While the story revolves around the corruption of planets, players will be more concerned with the corruption of Samus herself. After the first part of the story, Samus is outfitted with a Phazon Enhancement Device, which harnesses the phazon within her and enables Hypermode. This enables Samus to use more powerful weapons, but at a cost of life energy and the risk of coming under Dark Samus' control if it's used too much. Graphically, players will likely notice little difference from the earlier games, aside from perhaps some better lighting effects. This doesn't really work against the game though, since it gives the whole series a consistency that would have been lost. Same goes for the audio as well, and players will be familiar with the game's audio cues from the start.

The game uses the same type of challenge-based gameplay with bursts of shooting action as the previous incarnations and, as expected, uses the Wii remote to aim; Also giving several options for camera control. Players can choose to enable a lock-on system that also lets them freely aim for easier targeting without losing control. While this is a huge improvement over the GameCube controls of the first two games, it's still somewhat cumbersome to scan objects (holding the minus button brings up a visor-selection), and frustrating when objects, such as door switches, need to be scanned before you can operate them. It would have been nice to see Samus get an "upgrade" that allows her to scan objects on the fly. I also found that after switching out of Morph Ball mode, it occasionally took a few seconds to regain control of the camera. There are some other attempts to bring more interaction to the game through the controls, such as pulling and turning hatch controls, which are novel at first, but eventually feel like a nuisance. Probably the nicest surprise is using the Nunchuck like a fishing rod and "casting" the grapple beam onto objects, then pulling back to move the item. This can also be used on enemy shields to make them more vulnerable.

While this is a fun and challenging game that's a must-buy for fans of the series, it's definitely a big disappointment that there are no multiplayer options at all. After the stellar multiplayer modes Nintendo pulled off in Metroid Prime Hunters for the DS a year and a half ago, this would have been the perfect title to launch a more robust online service for the Wii and pay back the hardcore fans that kept the GameCube alive. Hopefully we'll see a downloadable multiplayer title at some point.

8/10

Blue Dragon [360]

When Microsoft announced that it had enlisted Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi's new company, Mistwalker, to create games for them, Xbox 360 fans who were waiting for a Japanese RPG couldn't have asked for better news.

With a veritable dream team behind it, the game also features character designs by Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Quest) and music by Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger). The story picks up when a boy named Shu and his friends try to rid their village of a menacing creature and find out that the situation is much more complicated than it first seemed.

Unfortunately, in many ways it feels as though this game is stuck in the past. From the stereotypical characters (including a male sidekick and token tag-along girl) to the general predictability of the story, there isn't much here that players haven't seen before. It often feels as though they went through Final Fantasy VII with a checklist, trying to duplicate its success as closely as possible. Even elements such as the battle victory music and items with names like "Phoenix Talon" are highly derivative and never really let the game have its own identity. There's some good news on the random battle front though, since players can avoid wandering creatures and pick their fights for the most part. You can also choose to fight multiple creatures at a time, which often pits them against each other, making your job easier.

The game also adds some training wheel style options that are on by default, seemingly making the assumption that since the Xbox 360 has been underserved by Japanese RPGs, somehow that must mean that the console's owners have never played one before. Graphically, Toriyama's designs work well, especially each character's shadow creature that they can use in battle. The creatures look good as well, and have a cartoonish look mixed with a touch of realism. The outdoor environments can be sparse though, and there doesn't really seem to be much going on that taxes the console's abilities. Musically, the score is competent, while suffering from the same "me-too" aspect as the rest of the game. The mini-boss battle music is laugh-out-loud bad though, with 80's hair metal blaring and screaming vocals that sound like a wanna-be Ozzy from the Black Sabbath days.

With the team behind it, this should have been a colossal event on the scale of a Final Fantasy release, but instead, comes off feeling dated. Hardcore RPG fans are likely going to want to give it a go anyway, and though the story is somewhat enjoyable in general, the game doesn't have the sense of scale or innovation that it should.

6/10

Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 [PS3]

The latest in the Ghost Recon series makes its way onto the PS3 with new maps and co-op modes and some motion control options as well.

The single-player Campaign involves a threat to the U.S. via the Mexican border, and players are dropped off at locations with varied Mexican terrain throughout the game, as well as El Paso, Texas. The storyline itself is quite over the top, involving some renegade nuclear warheads, and the voice acting of your C.O. between missions is a definite contributor. It's all good though, with occasional bursts of brilliance, as things get really crazy in some levels. The game is short though, and while it's a good time, you'll likely groan a little at the ending.

Graphically, nothing really grabs your attention right away, except perhaps the explosions, but in general you just gradually realize how realistic it looks in general. Unfortunately, I got stuck in a level for the first time in ages (trapped between a wall and a car door that had fallen off); Even my NPC squad-mates had a few issues, with one hiding in a hangar until I coaxed him out, and two others getting trapped between a couple of cars... if only they'd turned around. The AI is generally good though, with adversaries putting up a decent fight and friendlies doing what you want for the most part. Controlling your squad is, of course, a major component of the game, and you can look though their eyes, giving you more control than ever. You also have support teams during some missions, and can survey the area with an airborne camera system, command extra infantry or tanks, and call in air strikes.

There's also a good selection of multi-player options here, which in some ways seemed to be the developer's focus. Split-screen, LAN, and Online modes are all supported, and players can take on each other or complete missions in a variety of ways. There's a good selection of maps available that aren't in the single-player mode, and the missions here are different as well, making up somewhat for the rather short solo game. The match-making has more options than expected as well.

Mainly solo players might want to rent this one first, since the main campaign should have been longer and I did have those clipping issues that meant restarting a couple of levels. It's a fun game though, and the strong multiplayer mode earns the game a couple of extra points, so keep that in mind if you're a lone wolf.

8/10

Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks The 80's [PS2]

This new iteration of the guitar game seems aimed at old-schoolers who want to rock out with the tunes they were listening to back when they were "playing Atari".

The core game hasn't really changed, with players trying to match the on-screen riffs using the specialized guitar controller. It's a bit surprising this isn't simply an add-on disc with more songs, but perhaps they figured they may as well make it a standalone game for those few holdouts who haven't bought the earlier versions. As in GH2, there's a multiplayer mode that allows players to compete or play together, with one player on lead, and the other on bass or rhythm guitar. The difficulty seems bumped up slightly as well, even on the medium setting.

The main attraction here, of course, is if you're interested in the tracklist. While including songs like "I Wanna Rock", "Round and Round", and "Holy Diver" were no-brainers, a few surprises like Accept's "Balls to The Wall" show up as well. There's also a good chunk of new wave, with tracks like "I Ran (So Far Away)" and "Turning Japanese" breaking things up nicely.

While it's more substantial than an add-on disc, it's less than a true sequel, and players will have to wait until the fall for Guitar Hero III if they want to see something more than a new tracklist. It's still a great game though, especially if you're partial to metal's classic days.

8/10

Hot Shots Tennis [PS2]

After PlayStation consoles have hosted several iterations of the Hot Shots Golf series, Sony have finally decided to bring the same style of gameplay to the tennis courts, and it's long overdue.

New players will want to have a run through the Training Mode to get the hang of the controls, especially to practice their serve, before starting the Challenge Mode. The challenge here is to play singles and doubles matches against CPU opponents in order to increase your rank and unlock new characters, outfits and courts to play on. The difficulty increases slowly at first, and somewhat unevenly, as later opponents will occasionally be slightly weaker than their predecessor. This adds an unexpected touch of realism, though. As you win, you'll move up in rank, but also unlock new opponents at lower skill tiers. This gives players the option of an easier win if they're having trouble with a certain match, and usually results in winning an unlockable as well.

The controls are, as expected, easy to learn. The left analogue stick controls both your player and the direction you want the ball to go. By pulling back, you can hit the ball with less power, playing close to the net. Lob, slice, and topspin shots are all possible with the face buttons and combined with the stick or proper timing, players can also perform drop shots, smashes, or volleys. The game also has a multiplayer "Fun Time Tennis" mode, where up to four players (using a multitap), can play singles or doubles matches. The various characters have different strengths, allowing for some handicapping of better players as well. There's no online play modes though, which is a bit of a surprise.

While the game features family-friendly graphics, there's enough depth here that most players should find a good challenge. Developer Clap Hanz have created a new franchise that should easily appeal to casual players, but also satisfy fans of the real-life sport. Hopefully we'll see them take on more sports at some point.... Could that soccer ball that bounces through one of the courts be a clue?

8/10

Project Sylpheed [360]

Even though it was also developed by Game Arts, and shares a similar name with Silpheed: The Lost Planet for the PlayStation 2, this game moves from 2D shooter into 3D space battle territory. In the 27th century, some of Earth's colonies are fighting for independence, against the Terra Central Air Force, who are Earth's defenders. The game starts with a training mission of seemingly raw recuits to the T.C.A.F, during which, the enemy attacks. The characters are revealed to be fairly typical anime-style stereotypes, and after engaging the enemy for a while, you figure out that Katana Faraway is the main character and that you assume his role.

The action mainly alternates between mission briefings and heading out to dogfight in your fighter. Completing missions earns you new weapons, as well as points toward developing more powerful weapon options. While in combat, the gameplay consists mostly of finding the nearest bogey and dispatching them, usually with lock-on missiles. It's definitely reminiscent of games like Ace Combat, although you won't have to hunt as much here, since the enemies are usually a lot closer and often leave huge light trails on the screen making them easier to spot.

While the game does have a good amount of action, there just isn't a lot here thats new. Sure it's in space, and younger players who perhaps aren't as interested in the plotlines and relative difficulty of the Ace Combat series, or who are new to the genre will have some fun here. More experienced players will likely yearn for a meatier story and more diverse missions to motivate them though. Even the graphics, while not particularly bad, have a generic style to them. It's surprising this game wasn't released on the PS2, with its larger, younger installed base, since there's nothing really "next-gen" here, and Ace Combat 6 is coming to the Xbox 360 in only a few months.

6/10

The Darkness [PS3]

Jackie Estacado is a mafia enforcer who's been raised by his "Uncle" Paulie and is just turning twenty-one. After one of Jackie's jobs goes south, Paulie turns on him, not knowing that Jackie's birthday will awaken a demonic presence that not only gives him dark powers, but has its own agenda.

Inspired by the comic series, the game is a story-based First Person Shooter that picks up as Jackie is involved in a car chase after a deal gone bad. Even during this opening scene, involving realistic traffic and over the top action, it's clear that this isn't going to be a run-of-the-mill game. Jackie then starts figuring out how to get back at Paulie before he gets hit. The linear gameplay generally involves meeting up with various Non-Player Characters who advise on the next course of action. The story itself takes some strange turns along the way, making this an engaging, and often surprising experience.

The shooting action is quite diverse as well, with several weapon options available, some of them dual-wield capable. Jackie will go up against both squads of police and mob members as the story progresses. Jackie will also gain new darkness powers along the way, including use of a Demon Arm to impale and lift people or objects, and Creeping Dark, which serves as a type of snake-cam with teeth. Jackie can also summon an increasing variety of Darklings from gateways that appear and command them to attack enemies or manipulate objects.

If there's one thing that stands out about this game, it's the overall presentation. From the highly cinematic opening, to the excellent facial and eye animations and the high-calibre voice acting. Everything about this game shows how the developers were given the tools and the time to do things right. The added creepiness of some of the subject matter, and the inventive darkness powers are the icing on the cake. The game even has a substantial multiplayer mode, which allows players to play as humans, darklings, or even shapeshift during the match.

While I can't claim to be a true fan of mafia-based fiction, this game goes far beyond the genre's norms and into survival horror territory, combining them in a way that keeps you motivated. An added bonus is that you get to play the monster, but there will still be times you'll get a bit anxious along the way. I was expecting this to be a fairly typical FPS game and instead find a likely contender for game of the year.

8/10

Rainbow Six: Vegas [PSP]

Ubisoft's squad-based shooter goes portable and follows a parallel story to the home console versions, with the player controlling a team of two on a recovery mission to save fellow Rainbow Six members abducted by terrorists.

The single player Story mode features various mission objectives such as clearing areas of hostiles, hacking computers and reaching waypoints, much as expected. A nice twist is that you'll switch between characters to complete tasks, with one clearing out an area from above so that the other can escort a civilian to safety, for example. This adds more depth to the missions, and keeps things more interesting than if you simply had your second character following you around to provide cover. Completed missions can also be replayed for a better rating, or in a "Terro Hunt" mode, which eliminates objectives and serves as practice for the multiplayer modes.

The game looks quite good, though the PSP does seem to be pushed to its limits, as a kill is often accompanied by a rather large frame rate stutter. The sound is a bit sparse, but certainly realistic, given the game's scenario. There's also a good amount of speech throughout the game via mission briefings and radio chatter, adding to the feeling that this isn't a stripped-down port. The controls take some getting used to, as the face buttons are used to control the camera, but work well overall. It would be nice to see more games allow for custom controls though, especially on the PSP.

Multiplayer mode allows two to four players to join in a game of Survival or Team Survival via a local (Ad Hoc) or online (Infrastructure) Wi-Fi connection. While both modes are certainly welcome, it seems hard to find many players online as of yet. Six maps and a good amount of server options should satisfy most players looking for some online action. There's also Friends List support and a selection of canned voice messages you can send to teammates.

While it's naturally not as deep or technically polished as the home console versions, this game does offer a good experience for players who want some squad-based action on the go. It does have some rough edges and lacks some of the competition's features, such as real-time voice chat or connectivity with the home version, but most shooter fans will likely enjoy it.

7/10

Go! Puzzle [PS3]

Sony's latest offering via the PlayStation Store is this collection of three puzzle games, also available separately for only a few dollars each. It's a great value, and puzzle fans of all skill levels will find something here to suit them.

Swizzle Blocks
Moving a cursor around the screen, players rotate quartets of googly-eyed cubes, trying to create groups of four or more of the same colour. This causes them to explode with an enthusiastic "yee-haw", as they make room for the next set of cubes. As the levels progress, more cubes will be added to the screen at higher speeds, making it harder to clear. There's also a great multiplayer mode, where players can undo each other's plans and trigger wacky cube modifiers.
9/10

Aquatica
The most conventional of these games, this is a solid Tetris-based title where players drop groups of three mines down onto the ocean floor, where they break apart, falling on top of the existing pieces. Lining up three or more of the same colour vertically, diagonally or horizontally clears them away. Wildcard mines that can be used as any colour, and the ability to flip the trios around as they fall make this more addictive than it would seem at first glance.
8/10

Skyscraper
This game tasks you with walking over a series of floor tiles that are the same colour. The trick is that there's usually only one way across and no backtracking allowed. To make matters worse, there's a time limit, and two separate paths you must complete to move on. This is easily the hardest of the three games to learn, but for those that stick with it, will likely be the most challenging and rewarding.
8/10

Forza Motorsport 2 [360]

Microsoft's racing simulator goes next-generation, and there isn't much for fans to be left wanting. Naturally, this update includes more true-to-life cars, customization options, racetracks, and most obviously, even prettier graphics than last time.

As before, the main event here is the Career Mode, where you choose a geographic region to determine which cars are initially available to you. As you race, you'll earn credits and increase your driver's level, which gains you access to more restricted races. There's also an Arcade Mode for those who don't want to dive in all the way at first, or would rather race offline against computer-controlled cars.
Upgrading and tuning your car is again a big part of the game, and hardcore tweakers will definitely be in their element here. There's also a layer-based decal design mode that allows for incredibly detailed custom paintjobs. After you've created a masterpiece, you can even auction it off online for game credits. Although the original Forza game looked great, the graphics are definitely a step up here. Both the cars and environments have a lot more detail and realism. The tracks are, again, mostly real world locations such as Silverstone, Suzuka, and my nemesis, Sebring. The Manhattan track around Times Square makes a return as well, featuring all the glitzy billboards you'd expect.

Only a couple of minor issues keep this game from getting a perfect score. Unfortunately, the soundtrack sounds more like record label deal-making than a selection of music that the developers actually like. The game supports the system's custom soundtrack feature though, which does help somewhat. There's also no option to have an always-on rearview mirror, which may seem minor, but it does detract from the experience to have to switch to rearview mode to see how close your opponents are. In all, it's a great racing sim though, and even casual fans will enjoy it.

9/10

Surf's Up [360]

Instead of most movie-licensed games, where players generally complete objectives to follow the established plot, Ubisoft decided on a different take here and made a surfing game that reflects the movie's action without retreading the story. The action takes place at various locations around Pen Gu Island, and features several of the movie's characters to choose from.

After a quick tutorial to show you the moves, it's time to move on to the single-player Championship mode. The main gameplay is similar to the popular Tony Hawk and SSX games, and you can perform tricks of various difficulty, including spins, grabs and grinding rails found on icebergs. You'll earn points that count toward a goal amount, and increase your energy bar as well. When the bar is full, you'll be able to enter Stoke Mode, and perform crazier tricks for bigger points. It's fairly easy to control your motion and put combos together, but will still take some time to get the timing right, making for a fair challenge. The obstacles in your path can become frustating though, as you head toward a large rock or chunk of ice and know you can't get out of the way fast enough.

The graphics look good, but there aren't many detailed backgrounds or objects except for the waves, which are well-animated and dominate the screen. The character animations are also a highlight beyond the fact that it's a penguin on a surfboard, since the tricks can get quite complicated. If there's a fault here though, it's that there just doesn't seem to be enough to it for the price. There is a multiplayer split-screen mode and an unlockable Leaf Sliding game, where your penguin slides along a type of luge or toboggan run collecting items in a race against time. The main game will likely wear thin far sooner than it should though, unless you happen to be a rather big fan of penguins.

6/10

Shadowrun [360][Vista]

Microsoft's first foray into cross-platform online play comes in the form of an adaptation of the 90's tabletop role-playing game, combining the technologies of Cyberpunk fiction with more traditional RPG fare such as Elves and Trolls while adding ancient Mayan magic to the mix. While you may be curious what kind of storyline could come from such a combination, this title is strictly multiplayer in the style of a First Person Shooter, except for a practice mode against CPU-controlled bots.

At the start of each round, players are given cash to purchase weapons, technical skills, and magic, earning more by killing enemies or healing teammates. Weapons include various guns such as rifles and miniguns and magic attacks including strangling an opponent or summoning a minion. There are also various technical abilities available that allow players to see through walls or glide in the air. This raises the possibility of a clan of sword-wielding Elves with transportation skills going up against a group of minigun-toting Dwarves, and this open-ended gameplay is what offers the most interest. You never really know what skills and weapons your opponents have until they attack. This is also the game's biggest weakness though, as the game is only as interesting and unpredictable as the players make it.

As mentioned, the game is the first to enable Games for Windows Live and crossplay with the Xbox 360. The two versions are identical, and when playing online, it's impossible to know who's on which platform. Windows gamers who prefer a keyboard and mouse may find themselves at a disadvantage though, since there are so many buttons used during gameplay; As a sidenote, the user interface and tutorial mode even assume you are using an Xbox-style controller on your PC. While it's great to see a developer take a genre like this in a somewhat new direction, the lack of a single-player game outside of the training mode and the heavy onus on finding quality players definitely weigh against it.

6/10

Pirates of The Caribbean: At World's End [PS3][360]

While "Movie Games" have a reputation for being nothing more than a cash-grab, Disney's titles have generally fared better, likely for the mere reason that it's their own property being used. So is the case with this game based on the second and third Pirates of The Caribbean films. Again we have Johnny Depp's drunken swagger realistically implemented, as well as facial scans and voices of the main actors.

Naturally, you play as Jack Sparrow for most of the game, but you'll also play as Will and others at points as well, occasionally having to switch between characters to keep them all alive. The levels combine the events of the two films, and at times change elements of the story to keep things interesting and somewhat new to fans. The graphics definitely look better then expected, they even used the 3D models of Davy Jones and his crew from the films, but it's the details that are most impressive. Every level seems to have little nooks and crannies for you to explore and find some of the many collectibles, some of which unlock DVD-style extras. There are also many chances to use items like exploding barrels to make your own dramatic exits in true Jack Sparrow style.

The game does have its shortcomings though, and sadly, these are issues that have been around for years. At times there's definitely a feeling of "What am I supposed to be doing?", which can sometimes be answered by checking the logbook for objectives, but sometimes not. While the swordplay is generally excellent (and the duelling is brilliant), the camera often can't keep up when you're fighting multiple enemies, resulting in attacks from off-screen. This is quite a good time overall, and is easily on the better end of the "Movie Game" scale. The game is near identical on both consoles, with the PlayStation 3 version having a bit of motion control at times, while the Xbox 360 supports Achievements.

7/10

Enchanted Arms [PS3]

At Enchant University, Atsuma spends more time asleep in class than actually learning anything, so it's a good thing he has his more studious friend Toya by his side most of the time. After deciding to cut afternoon classes and check out the annual festival, Atsuma, Toya, and openly gay sidekick Makoto are caught up in a disaster as all the robot-like golems at the festival go nuts Westworld style. The game doesn't take itself too seriously and comes across as something of a cross between Final Fantasy VIII and the Cromartie High School anime. It's a shame they made Makoto somewhat stereotypical, but he does fit the campy presentation. You build up your party by creating your own golems and using them in battle, giving the game an element of customization. A good choice if you're looking for a Japanese-style RPG that's a bit out of the ordinary. [7/10]

Spectrobes [DS]

Rallen is a member of the Nanairo Planetary Patrol, and when he and his partner, Jeena find the survivor of a crashed spaceship, they learn that creatures known as the Krawl are set to invade the galaxy. The only way to fight back is to find the fossilized creatures called spectrobes, excavate them, and evolve them to a battle-ready state. According to my nephew Monty, who is a master of monster battle games, there's a good variety of creatures including beetles, tigers and lizards and the battle system is nice, since Rallen can fight using two spectrobes at once. The graphics are good as well, with creature details like spikes and teeth, and anime-style characters. The stylus is used to dig up the fossils and power-up minerals and yelling into the microphone "wakes-up" the fossilized spectrobes. The game manages to rise above other monster battle games thanks to its appealing story and diversity of action. [8/10]

MotorStorm [PS3]

The original E3 trailer for Sony's off-road racer gave the impression of a chaotic, high speed title with incredible visuals. The great news is that, for the most part, that's how the game turned out. Though the in-game graphics aren't quite up to the level of that initial glimpse, they're still impressive. There are some truly large tracks, taking place around and on top of the buttes of Monument Valley, Arizona, and the integrated environmental footage is really quite spectacular.

The gameplay is based around a burning-man type festival, where you compete in various groups of races, using one of seven vehicle types from motorcycles and ATVs up through buggies and trucks to big rigs. Naturally, this makes for some chaotic moments on the track as vehicles of varying speed and weight boost and bump each other into obstacles or off cliffs. The physics come into play more than in most games, as your vehicle reacts to the varied terrain and jostling from other racers. Crashes are commonplace as well, as players collide with boulders or other obstacles, resulting in a rain of parts scattering the track while a flaming chassis flies through the air.

A racing game based around a desert festival naturally has to have some decent music, and though the tunes are mostly from various hard rock bands, there's enough diversity for players to find a good selection they enjoy. The game also features online play for up to twelve players, and though the implementation is pretty bare, it gets the job done. There's no two-player offline mode to go head-to-head, but that doesn't change the fact that this is a great game and another solid new property for Sony. [4/5]

Dance Dance Revolution Universe [360]

DDR makes its way onto the Xbox 360 with generally the same array of modes and options as previous versions, plus the added ability to take on challengers via Xbox Live and work your way up the leaderboards. Danceable tunes are a given, but the tracklist has more of a pop/rock feel that the usual light techno sounds. The various skill levels don't progress as smoothly as previous versions, so less hardcore players may find themselves struggling to keep up. Fortunately, the game allows you to tweak the speed and types of steps considerably. [3/5]

Virtua Fighter 5 [PS3]

The father of modern 3D fighting games comes to the next generation of consoles. Newcomers Eileen from China and Mexican wrestler El Blaze bring the roster up to 17, not including boss character Dural. The gameplay remains largely unchanged, aside from feeling slightly faster, but the graphics seem to be a nearly perfect recreation of the arcade machine. The standard Arcade, Versus, and Dojo (training) options are joined by the Quest mode that mimics various arcades where you can pit your customized character against computer-controlled opponents. Unfortunately, the development team still aren't convinced that online play would work well, so it isn't included. Still, it's a must for serious fighting game fans. [8/10]

GTA Vice City Stories [PS2]

Of all the regular GTA games, Vice City has been my favourite so far, so I was looking forward to spending more time in the cheeky, 80's-inspired city. This time around, you play as Vic Vance, a regular joe at the local army base with bills to pay. After taking some bad advice, Vic is out on his ass and needs to build up his own empire if he's going to survive.

The game follows the usual drill, with short quests at the beginning that get more compicated and take you to more locations and more violent interactions with local gangs as the game progresses. All the over-the-top elements that made the original Vice City a blast are here, from the rampant drug use, to the cheesy radio DJs. The game does feel scaled down in some ways though, as the graphics definitely don't have as much polish, being a port from the PSP, and there are generally less people and cars around.

The game is still fun, though it's simply not as substantial as the original. If you did play the PSP version, there's no reason to bother with this one, but players who haven't been to Vice City for a few years should certainly consider a return trip. [3/5]

Lumines Plus [PS2]

The killer launch title for PSP owners finally comes to the PS2. The basic idea is to stack two-by-two patterned blocks and make them disappear while listening to techno music and trying not to get distracted by the trippy visuals in the background. The play area should take up more of the screen though, and internet play would have been nice as well. It's definitely starting to show a bit of wear after four versions in only two years, but is still a must-have for puzzle game fans. [4/5]

Formula 1 Championship Edition [PS3]

The presentation is a bit sparse, but all the official tracks and drivers are here. The game uses the 2006 roster though, which may irritate serious players who've been waiting five years since the series' PS2 incarnation. Before jumping into the substantial five-season Career mode, players can take on the Grand Prix Weekend or World Championship, which simulates one racing season. Casual racers will likely find the learning curve quite steep, making the Quick Race and Time Trial modes mandatory for getting up to speed. It's a shame the PSP wing mirror feature didn't make it into the final game, but the racing action is solid, with realistic weather effects and excellent engine sounds. Radio chatter from your pit crew is generally good, but the announcing gets repetitive straight away. Online play can accommodate up to eleven human players in a twenty-two car race and the game supports several steering wheel controllers. [7/10]

Ghost Rider [PS2]

Based on the comic books, Ghost Rider doesn't try for much of a plot, but focuses on action instead as you travel through different areas of Hell and Earth to save Roxanne. The action is fast and there's a good number of on-screen enemies to contend with at a time. As you dispatch them back to Hell, you collect souls to cash in for power-ups, and also build a ranking that earns you bonus souls at the end of the level. You'll also ride the Hellcycle quite a bit, avoiding obstacles and fighting off enemies in a sort of Zaxxon-meets-Road Rash style. Both gameplay styles work well and keep things more interesting than either would be alone. The graphics look alright, but seem like they were probably kept simple to reuse on the PSP version. There are places where everything on the screen is either red, orange, or black as well, which gets rough on the eyes and makes cycle jumps harder to time and some repeated locations give a somewhat cheap feel. Speaking of which, there are a couple of pretty cheap boss fights as well, so be forewarned. The game makes occasional reference to the film during the comic-styled cutscenes, where Mephisto(pheles) looks similar to Peter Fonda and on the power-up menu, where a movie still of The Caretaker (Sam Elliott) provides the background. The alternating beat-em-up and driving action and array of power-ups make this Teen-rated clone of God of War better than it could have been, but not worth more than a rental for fans. [5/10]

Ghost Rider [Film]

Ghost Rider is the latest in Hollywood's campaign to resurrect "classic" comic book characters and bring them to the silver screen, and hopefully, renewed popularity. Though I somehow missed out on the comics in the seventies, I definitely would have dug the whole flaming skull and badass bike concept from the get-go, which means I was more than happy to check out the film.

Our story revolves around Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage), a motorcycle stunt performer, who makes a deal with the demonic Mephistopheles (Peter Fonda) in order to save his father's health. This is a bad idea of course, and though Johnny becomes famous, he pays the price when Mephistopheles comes calling to hold him to his end of the deal and become a soul-collecting bounty hunter. Thus begins Johnny's transformation into a Ghost Rider. A lot of people had reservations about Nicolas Cage, and I have to agree somewhat, since it looks like he didn't get enough direction here. His Johnny Blaze has almost zero chemistry with love interest Roxanne Simpson (Eva Mendes) and he tends to waver between playing the character straight and going over the top. That's not all Cage's fault though, as there's definitely a lack of a single vision that permeates the entire film. The supporting cast fares a little better though, since most of them are strictly defined and only in a few scenes. There's also some truly bad dialogue, especially between Johnny and mentor figure The Caretaker (Sam Elliott) that will likely even have long-time fans cringing.

The film is an effects extravaganza, as expected, with the badass bike leaving trails of flame and massive damage in its wake when Ghost Rider appears. It's well shot in general, with some interesting camera placement and cool wall-riding action, but the pacing and editing are way off, with the reasoning of why Johnny turns into a dude with a flaming skull left largely unexplained. The evil minions that come after Johnny are generic wanna-be goths that each have their own elemental power as well, and mostly serve as fodder for Ghost Rider to learn how to use a flaming chain as a rope or a whip. There's also a generic sense at times, as some of the scenes seem to be ripped straight from Sony's other superhero films such as Blade and, inevitably, Spiderman. It's like there's a bunch of stock effects and characters in their computers that keep getting reused. The film also closes with a fairly cheesy remake of Ghost Riders in The Sky, that could have been really cool, but isn't.

Despite its flaws, Ghost Rider is somewhat successful, and even though parts of it get pretty cheeseball, it's still a good time, if partly for the wrong reasons. It's too bad it seems to have been made by committee, instead of Director Mark Steven Johnson (Daredevil, Elektra) taking firm control of the project. [7/10]

Crackdown [360]

Tracking down various gang lords and taking them out as a bio-engineered supercop sounds cool, but ends up playing a lot like GTA. Skimpy directives and the use of a voice-over instead of cutscenes prevents players from caring about the situation, and the game quickly becomes an exercise in finding enemies with the radar and dispatching of them. Scaling buildings with your super jumping abilities to get at rooftop enemies is kinda cool, but sometimes it's a pain to figure out how to get where you need to go. Overall, there's just too much here that we've seen and done before. [6/10]

Battlestations Midway [360]

Join the U.S. Navy and command ships, subs and planes in various missions based around WWII. There's a lot of depth here, but the controls and various option screens are generally intuitive and well thought out, letting you stay focused on the action. You can choose to command from afar, issuing engagement orders, or take control of individual units for a more hands-on approach. The graphics are realistic, but not mind blowing by any means. In addition to the single player game are various challenges and an online battle mode. Military and strategy game fans should have a blast here, but it's likely a bit more than casual gamers will want to take on. [8/10]

Sonic The Hedgehog [PS3]

Sonic makes his next-gen return and somehow manages to fail almost completely. There's an even greater sense of watching the game rather than playing it this time and the core gameplay has flaws that you'd only expect from the greenest of developers, such as a text box that appears telling you to jump after you already should have. Adding in the silly "shop for power-ups in the town" feature, some truly atrocious presentation with voiceless characters, and probably the most loading times I've sat though in years and you get the worst possible combination of everything wrong with Sonic since the series went 3D. Shame on you Sega! [2/10]

A Delta State primer [DVD]

I did this up since the Delta State season one DVD set is out today, and if you don't know what Delta State is... you should, because it's pretty cool. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long for the second season.

UPDATED: Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection [PS3]

This PlayStation Store download appears to be a direct port of the arcade machine, including support for 1080p resolution and it looks great. Dark Resurrection continues the Tekken 5 story and adds fighters Dragunov and Lili, as well as unlockable boss character Jinpachi Mishima (Heihachi's father). Armor King fans will be happy to note his return as well. The standard Arcade and Vs. modes are here, as well as Ghost Battle, where other players' fighting styles are downloaded as ghosts for you to play against. It's not the same as directly playing online, but it works well, and eliminates any concerns with network lag ruining the gameplay. You can also buy items to customize your characters with gold earned during fights. Though the bonus games fans have come to expect are missing here, the game is easily as good as the excellent PSP release, and for less than $20 will more than sate the appetites of fans until Tekken 6 is released later this year. UPDATED: The game is available now in Hong Kong and Japan, and will be coming to North America "later this month". [9/10]

Blazing Angels [PS3]

Taking the historic WWII simulation in a different direction, this game's all about the battle in the sky, insead of on the ground. After the obligatory flying, shooting and bombing training, the action starts right away with you defending a bridge from enemy bombers. The game plays up the interaction and commeraderie between pilots through radio chatter and the use of wingmen, who you can assign rules of engagement to. A good selection of planes and various multiplayer modes add depth and you can also fly by tilting the controller for more challenge. [8/10]