Turok [PS3]

Joseph Turok is the latest addition to Whisky Company, a military unit sent to an unknown planet to find and capture Roland Kane, a war criminal who was once the commander of Wolf Pack, Turok's old unit. Kane's troops shoot down your squad's airship, forcing Turok to search the strange, dinosaur-infested planet for his squadmates, Kane, and a way back home.

As soon as you start the game, you'll notice that a lot of care was taken in getting the environment right. Part Land of The Lost, part Jurassic Park; The jungles and swamps that you travel through on your mission are well-detailed and alive with creatures, both in the sky, and on the ground. Grass sways, hiding small lizards that bite, and most of the time you get the feeling that just about anything could be lurking around the next corner. Of course, there often is a raptor or other lizard looking for food, but they seldom travel alone. Both visually and aurally, the game gives you the feel of being there, and the first time you see one of the large dinosaurs, it really is quite impressive.

As you progress through the story, more of Turok's background with Wolf Pack will be revealed through flashbacks and memories, and it's certainly interesting enough to inspire you to continue through the tougher spots. The game isn't easy, with several sections requiring the player to think methodically, rather than charge through the situation at hand. There's also some clever boss battles, and a few places where you'll simply need to die a few times before you figure out what to do, sometimes with a bit of frustration.

The combat system is another high point as well, and Turok can use several types of guns found during the game, as well as a bow and a knife. I especially found using the knife an efficient way of dealing with most of the creatures, and the variety of attack moves kept it from getting too routine. When you need some distance, the bow is efficient, and also good for downing small dinosaurs and Kane's troops while staying hidden. The selection of guns that becomes available is surprisingly varied as well, and you'll even find yourself using an RPG and turrets at some points.

The game isn't without its problems though, and most of them seem to have at least something to do with the less-than-fully optimized state of the Unreal Engine on PS3. There's a lot of frame-skipping here. Not enough to ruin the game, but certainly enough that it's more than just an occasional glitch. The lighting is also harsh at times, with the engine's trademark lighting having too much contrast a lot of the time. It may sound picky, but there's also some long load times that happen at close intervals, giving the impression that this was definitely not the lead platform.

There's also a selection of multiplayer modes, where players can face-off online in several styles of play including deathmatch, capture the flag, and co-op. The stealthy vibe of the story mode carries over into the online game as well, with one of the nicest features being the ability to choose which weapons are available. This enables online knife fights, which are quite a fun change from using guns. The lobby system is bare-bones though, and it's cumbersome to both find and host matches.

Overall, The game feels as though you're playing a movie like Aliens or Predator, at times both hunter and hunted, and it's a lot of fun most of the time. Fans of the original Nintendo 64 title will definitely enjoy it, and it's also different enough from most First-Person Shooters that those looking for something a bit less conventional should consider giving it a try.

Burnout Paradise [PS3]

For the first time, Electronic Arts bring their road-raging racing series to the PlayStation 3, with the game now taking place in Paradise City, which is loosely modeled on Los Angeles and the surrounding area.

When you first start out, you'll have a learner's permit, and gain license classes as you progress through the game and win races. You'll also earn new cars, which can be picked up by driving into any of several junkyards. Cars now have "Boost Types" as well, which separates them into classes based on aggression, speed, or stunt ability. An aggression class car will earn boost faster for offensive driving, but won't be able to compete in Burning Route races, which are only for speed class cars. This gives some more incentive to unlock cars than in the previous games, and car types include muscle cars, hot rods and SUVs. While you don't have a huge selection of car-modding options, you can repair damage, change your paint colour, or refill your boost just by driving through the "Drive-Thru" at a repair shop, paint shop, or gas station; without even hitting the brakes. There's also an artsy vignette that plays when you unlock a new car, called "Picture Paradise" that features classical music.

Instead of stopping the action and making players scroll through a menu or drive to a garage to find new races and challenges, you simply pull up to one of 120 intersections in the city, and pull a brakestand. The race event for that location will then start, with computer-controlled opponents pulling up from behind. Players familiar with the series will recognize the straightforward point-to-point races, speed-focused Burning Route challenges, and Road Rage events, where the objective is to take down a set number of opponents within the time limit. The series' Crash Mode is gone, but the new Stunt Run events offer up a way for players to show off their drifting, jumping and spinning skills off of ramps and highways scattered around the city. There's also a new Marked Man race where all the other drivers are looking to force you off the road before you get to the finish line.

One of the new features that really makes the game feel different is that the city is wide open right from the start, without having to unlock any areas. Racers can find their own paths during a race, using the many shortcuts to outwit the other drivers. It's definitely worth taking the time to learn the city as well, since the game's difficulty is a bit higher than in previous versions, and you'll likely need those shortcuts. There's a map in the corner of the screen, but if you look at it for more than a second, chances are you'll look back up to a collision. It's nice that those big flashing arrows designating corners in most racing games are gone, as are the invisible walls that were behind them. I was also pleasantly surprised at how little advertising there is in the game. I would have expected at least the gas stations, where you can refill your boost meter, to have been branded by one of the global chains. There are a few legitimate billboards here and there, and a few branded retail stores, but it seems that EA's heard the complaints gamers had about the heavy product promotion going on in their other games and toned things down quite a bit.

The graphics look considerably more polished than they did in Burnout Revenge, but it's the size of the city really that impresses the most. There's also no tearing or draw-in at all, and the frame-rate is steady at 60fps. There's also more detail, and the lighting doesn't bloom as much this time either, which works for me. The cars definitely look better now as well, and collisions are a bit more directed, with a third-person view taking over just before impact. The sounds are pretty much as expected, and the soundtrack is quite substantial as well, with a good variety of rock and electronic music to suit most tastes. Series vets will remember some of the songs from previous iterations though.

The game also allows online play by simply hitting right on the direction pad and seeing a list of friends currently playing the game. Send them an invite and you can challenge their speed or stunt records, try to take each other down, or create your own custom race for up to eight players. While racing against the computer is as fun as ever, it doesn't compare to challenging friends online in the racing events, or even just playing chicken or tag to see who can score the most takedowns. There's headset support for whatever USB or Bluetooth device you already have setup, and PlayStation Eye / EyeToy support allows the game to take a picture of your rival's reaction when you take them down.

Burnout Paradise feels like the kind of game that the developers always wanted to make, but only now have the technology to pull off. The updated graphics and open world bring the game up to a new visual level and the fact that you don't have to leave the game to choose races or even to find people online adds to the immersive feel. The increased competitiveness you'll feel and the new immersive play styles you can create with friends online bring the street racing experience to a new level.

9/10

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

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

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

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

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

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]