Summary of the Deal articles I’ve posted at Dealspwn.com for September 2010. Continue reading My Dealspwn.com ‘Deal’ Posts for September 2010
Phantasy Star Portable 2 (Review)
For months I’ve been feeding a slew of PSP Minis into my PSP in a vain quest for something with a little substance. Then September rolls up and throws a new Kingdom Hearts title, Valkyria Chronicles II and now Phantasy Star Portable 2, or PSP2, just to mess with the search engines.
Sega’s long-standing series is more sci-fi orientated than the usual RPG-fare, but there’s plenty of familiarity that is universal to the genre. Don’t be worried if this is your first look at the series, the story is relatively new and doesn’t punish newcomers. For those that did play the last game, it’s now three years later after the Seed were defeated, but guess what, peace never lasts. Good thing too seeing as you’re a freelance mercenary. Continue reading Phantasy Star Portable 2 (Review)
Start the Party (Review)
Start the Party should be high on your priority list if you’re looking for an ideal Move game for younger gamers. This compilation of brief mini-games is more fun for kids, but the rest of the family can enjoy it too.
PS2 fans may remember the EyeToy Play titles and this is pretty much an update on that format for the PS3’s PS Eye and new Move motion controller. The camera grabs a live feed of your living room and the player on-screen and surrounds them with colourful, crisp borders for each minigame. Continue reading Start the Party (Review)
Kung Fu Rider (Review)
Well that didn’t take long. On the same day PlayStation Move arrives and impresses with a mighty 9/10 score for Sports Champions, we get our first stinker for the motion control device.
The concept is sound for a game idea, if not a little barmy. You slide down busy Hong Kong-esque streets on an office chair, baby seat or some other inappropriate device, aiming to get to the escape van at the bottom of the hill, while collecting cash and points along the way by kicking Yakuza thugs and performing tricks. If you can remember Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam, you’re in the right ball park. Continue reading Kung Fu Rider (Review)
Sports Champions (Review)
So, out of the four launch titles for Sony’s new motion controller, which should you go for? Well, the answer is simple, Sports Champions. I’d advise getting at least two motion controllers to get the most out of the game, even for single-player action. Games like Archery and Gladiator Dual can be played with one, but using two adds so much to the experience.
All the games have single player modes where you compete in bronze, silver and gold tournaments with short individual matches. There are mini-games for each game too. Multiplayer is definitely King here, but the wide range of difficulty levels the AI offers, means they are a fun challenge for anyone playing on their own. The graphics are bright and crisp with everyone who played it over the weekend warming to the more realistic looking characters as better alternatives to the Wii’s deformed monsters. Anyway, to the games… Continue reading Sports Champions (Review)
Actual Crimes: Jack the Ripper (PSP Minis Review)
After sneaking around on the DS and PC under the ‘Real Crimes’ banner, Jack the Ripper brings his mystery to the PSP Minis platform with this hidden object / puzzle game.
For those of you not familiar to the hidden object genre, you are presented with a cluttered screen filled with a ridiculously wide range of objects. The objects here all fit the setting of the late 1800s. Using a cursor you must find the items listed on your left. The graphics are well drawn and generally static apart from the odd bit of rain for example. The music sets a quietly sinister tone while the ambient noises add a decent touch of atmosphere to the game. Continue reading Actual Crimes: Jack the Ripper (PSP Minis Review)
Valkyria Chronicles II (Review)
Many fans, myself included, were worried that the transition to PSP from PS3 would be an awkward one for the well-loved original title. We needn’t have worried though as Sega have managed to get the PSP to really stand up to the challenge.
The story for this tactical JRPG once again takes places in Gallia a small country in fictional Europa, after the war that took place in the original. This time around the conflict isn’t based around an invasion, it’s a civil war. You don’t need to have finished or even played the first game to enjoy this one as the story is new and uses a different set of main characters. Fans of the original will enjoy some cameos and will most certainly settle into the combat much easier. Continue reading Valkyria Chronicles II (Review)
Alien Breed: Impact (Review)
The top down shooter genre is getting quite crowded on the PlayStation Store, so each new release is going to have to really work for our money. At over £10, Alien Breed: Impact is reallygoing to have to work for it.
The game takes place on a huge space vessel overrun by aliens. Most of the crew are dead, you’re the only hope yadda yadda. The atmosphere owes a lot to Dead Space, but hey you might as well borrow from the best. Continue reading Alien Breed: Impact (Review)
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West (Hands-on Preview)
Early PS3 owners will already know that developers Ninja Theory can make stunning looking games. Their last effort, Heavenly Sword, was a bit unlucky as it was released too early on in the PS3’s lifecycle to become a significant sucess. Despite the much healthier numbers of PS3s out there now, Ninja Theory have decided to play it safe with a multi-platform release. And who could blame them with a game this good looking?
Before we lucky handful of fans get three delicious hours with a complete build of the game (ahead of the world’s press, by the way), Namco Bandai’s Lee Kirton gives us a bit of background about the game. Continue reading Enslaved: Odyssey to the West (Hands-on Preview)
Fly Fu (PSP Minis Review)
How annoying are flies? The dumb bastards come in from outside and spend the rest of your hangover bouncing off the window despite you closing the curtain and opening a window. Well next time you roll up a magazine, just beware, he might know Fly Fu.
This is a simple side-scrolling beat ‘em up. How simple? Well, all the backgrounds are basic grey pencil drawings on white paper and the cutscenes are basically doodles. But this only helps add to the game’s charm. The game has no pretensions as instead of saying ‘loading’ it will say ‘doodling.’ Continue reading Fly Fu (PSP Minis Review)
Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter (PSP Minis Review)
More Poundsaver Turok than Monster Hunter for this PSP Minis title. You roam across several islands hunting dinosaurs with modern weaponry. There’s no plot, just here’s a gun, kill as much as you can, then return to base. Rinse and repeat.
The landscapes are just so deserted. Without the radar you’re only going to come across small dinosaurs that aren’t on your specified hunting list. It’s like going to a safari park that’s mainly populated with the dino equivalents of dogs and squirrels. Continue reading Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter (PSP Minis Review)
PSP2: Most Wanted Features
Sony hasn’t given us any real indication that a second PSP is on the way anytime soon. But that doesn’t mean the net hasn’t stopped trying to unearth any details via rumours, scrupulous checking of tech trademark registrations or the CVs of every tech developer on LinkedIn every two minutes. But what would we actually want from a PSP2? Here’s a list compiled from my own thoughts and general grumbles from fellow gamers. Continue reading PSP2: Most Wanted Features
My Dealspwn.com ‘Deal’ Posts for August 2010
Summary of the Deal articles I’ve posted at Dealspwn.com for August 2010. Continue reading My Dealspwn.com ‘Deal’ Posts for August 2010
Don’t Go Zombie (Flash Review)
Take away the frustration of planning your journey on Google Maps with this neat game. Because everything’s better with a dash of zombies right? Ok so it might be a little distracting to plan journeys with but it is cool how Google Maps is used in this zombie shooter.
Simply enter your postcode or anywhere else in the UK that has had a street view added to the Google Maps servers and you’re away. The game chooses a random nearby destination for you to aim for by clicking forwards on the street-view picture to zoom forwards bit by bit and change direction with the navigation controls in the corner. Every now and then you will be attacked by some hand-drawn styled zombies that must be shot to progress. Continue reading Don’t Go Zombie (Flash Review)
Killzone 3 (Hands-on Preview)
This was hands-down the game of the show at the PlayStation Beta Rooms showcase held in Birmingham. There were various different level chunks available to play and I found myself constantly coming back to replay each of them.
The first section is that from the E3 stage demo (colour me excited). I seem to be in the open-air cargo hold of an ship and have just been attacked by Helghast jump-pack troops. If you’ve seen them in action, you’ll know they can be tricky to take down. Continue reading Killzone 3 (Hands-on Preview)
Gamescom 2010: EA News Round-up
Here’s our first coverage from Gamescom, Germany. We’re kicking off proceedings with a look at the announcements from EA’s press conference.
PS3 owners have the best news of the lot from EA at this year’s Gamecom event as Mass Effect 2 is coming to PS3 in January 2011. It will be packed with a few extra hours’ worth of gameplay nibbles as well. No mention of the first Mass Effect coming over too, but that’s what YouTube’s for right? Continue reading Gamescom 2010: EA News Round-up
Gamescom News: EA Round-Up
Here’s our first coverage from Gamescom, Germany. We’re kicking off proceedings with a look at the announcements from EA’s press conference.
PS3 owners have the best news of the lot from EA at this year’s Gamecom event as Mass Effect 2 is coming to PS3 in January 2011. It will be packed with a few extra hours’ worth of gameplay nibbles as well. No mention of the first Mass Effect coming over too, but that’s what YouTube’s for right?
Bioware haven’t just been casually porting over classic 360 games to the PS3, as Dragon Age 2 has been given a release date of 11th March in Europe.
Dead Space 2 now has an official European release date nailed into our schedules, January 28th. Our very own Jon and Matt will no doubt be getting their hands on the game very soon, so keep an eye out for that coverage.
The Sims Medieval marks a change of scenery and time setting for the series. Currently only planned for the PC, gamers will face a more narrative-driven story arc than the usual get a job, get a house, get a girlfriend, then die (I’m a massive fan honest). The new setting tones down the plastic colours for something a bit more like Dragon Age. For fans it might just be the well-deserved change of scenery they deserve after years of the same. For everyone else, they’ve already skipped this paragraph. 360, PS3 and Wii gamers can look forward to The Sims 3 though on October 26th.
David Beckham was announced as an ambassador for EA Active 2. He wasn’t actually there, but we’re assured he approves. The healthy exercise game will come with a heart monitor to alert you to that vital moment as you pass out, into your new TV.
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit is getting the Special Edition treatment. Pre-order the game and you’ll get two exclusive cars, the Alfa Romeo 8C and the Ford Shelby GT500 (hmmm shiny). EA also pointed out the auto log system that keeps track of your friend’s times and online progress. To EA it’s new, to us it sounds a lot like features we’ve seen in previous EA titles like Burnout Paradise and Need for Speed: Shift.
FIFA 11 will finally allow full control over goalkeepers. It’s the sort of thing we’ve been asking for for ages, but will never actually use. The goalie will be available in all modes including Be a Pro and online matches. All credit to EA for reaching the goal of 11 Vs 11 online matches. Bagsey not being in nets!
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be getting Kinect support. Not massively exciting, but it is one of the few existing IPs to take up the challenge of the new motion controller. The Weasley twins from the films demonstrated the game, with quite a lot of lag on show. Hopefully that’ll be sorted in the next few months before release.
That’s all the news announcements from EA’s stage show then. Nothing to show for Battlefield: Modern Combat 3 or Mirror’s Edge 2 then which is a shame, but we’ll keep the faith. Still, Mass Effect 2 for PS3, Kinect for Harry Potter! Everyone goes home happy, yes?
Keep tuned to Dealspwn for more from Gamescom soon.
Young Thor (PSP Minis Review)
Young Thor is a traditional side-scrolling platformer / beat ‘em up title. It follows the journey of Thor on his way to rescue four maidens from Hel, ruler of the Norse Underworld.
Combat is pleasingly simple and the lack of depth is hidden by the way you can attack enemies in different body parts for better effects. Numbers fly off enemies to indicate the damage done and when these numbers turn yellow, you know you’ve just discovered a weak spot. For example, the best way to deal with the tall trolls is to jump over them, turn around in mid-air and give them a crack to the back of the head. Continue reading Young Thor (PSP Minis Review)
PlayStation Beta Rooms Round-up Part Two
My penultimate piece of coverage of the Sony PlayStation Beta Rooms will recall my hands-on experience with Little Big Planet 2, Gran Turismo 5 and 3D gaming. Get some! Continue reading PlayStation Beta Rooms Round-up Part Two
PlayStation Beta Rooms Round-up Part One
Well the PlayStation Move games at Birmingham’s Sony’s Beta Rooms have been covered now with Part 1 and Part 2, but don’t worry I didn’t forget about the rest of Sony’s upcoming titles. Today I’ll be going over MotorStorm: Apocalypse, Eat Them and Dead Nation with more to follow soon. Continue reading PlayStation Beta Rooms Round-up Part One
The No Sleep Gamer 