REVIEW: Brothers in Arms: D-Day
Developer: Ubisoft | Publisher: Ubisoft Shanghai | For: PSP
Brothers in Arms: D-Day is the first of the series on the PSP.
Unfortunately it tries far too hard to retain all of the series famous
squad based strategy elements on a platform that cant properly support
it.
The main problem lies with the controls. The console version
required two analogue sticks to take care of movement, but on the PSP
your restricted to jut one. The game is in desperate need of more
buttons to take care of viewing, strafing, and advancing, but these
buttons are used for things like the squad commands and over head
tactical map.
The two pre-set control options on offer are basic and advanced.
Neither are much cop, basic is far too limited and advanced is just
confusing. Graphically the game is unimpressive. The framerate skips
past and invisible walls seem to occupy most open areas. This
makes large parts of the game unplayable, as any sniping activity is
put on hold, and instead players must sneak up on enemies. Which given
the control set is near impossible.
Multiplayer is basically the same as single player, only two people get to swear at the controls instead of one.
The controls really detract from what could have been an decant
game, unfortunately coupled with the glitch graphics and poor two
player option D-Day is a hard game to recommend. Best stick with the
console version.
Kapooki Games feature on GD.ie
Kapooki
Games is the focus of the latest feature article on Gamedevelopers.ie.
The feature highlights the back-story of how the former Irish games
developer went into liquidation in 2005, with debts of over 700,000 euro…
How
a small start-up studio, located over a tattoo parlour in Dublin, went
from being one of Ireland’s brightest game development hopes to
another casualty of a ruthless industry. Pavel Barter reunites Dave
Stafford, Shane Whelan, Gearoid Coughlan, and Ger Lawlor, of Kapooki
Games. - gamedevelopers.ie
PS3 launch in Dublin
The PlayStation 3 launched tonight in Ireland, Games Toaster went out to get the images of midnight launches in Dublin… expect more news on the PS3 later today…
Shoppers
waiting outside ‘Game’ on Dawson Street before midnight to be some of
the first to buy the PlayStation 3 in Ireland, there was about 50-60
waiting outside when we arrived.
The first person to buy a PS3 in ‘Game’ on Dawson Street.
We asked this shopper to pause for a second.
HMV
on Grafton Street was also open for the launch. Many Thursday night
drinkers were bemused by the line of about 50 shoppers, HMV says they
had served about 20 people at this stage. While it’s unclear if the
performers were regulars on the famous shopping street, also know for its buskers.
Games Toaster
then made it over to Dublin’s north side to GameStop at Henry Street,
where the crowd was still about 50 strong at around 12.40, GameStop say
that up to 150 people turned out. That’s a DJ on the stairs. And below an indoors shot of GameStop.
Gears of War cracks to film
Games are big business and in recant years there has been a number
of film adaptations of popular titles. It really was only a matter of
time before someone snapped up the film rights to Epic Game’s Gears
of War.
Trade bible Variety today reports that New Line Cinema, most famous
for the Lord of the Rings films has acquired the rights. Wyck Godfrey
the force behind Aliens Vs. Predator and I-Robot will produce from a
script from Stuart Beattie, who is also adapting Spy Hunter for the
silver screen.
The game has already received a umber of accolades, including
several game of the year awards, as well as shifting close to four
million copies worldwide.
There are currently a number of high profile films based on gaming
titles in development, including Metal Gear Solid, Prince of Persia and
Uwe Boll’s Far Cry. A number of others have simply disappeared from
production schedules, the most prolific being Halo.
New Line are eying Summer 2009 as a release date, and rumours abound that Epic Games will release a sequel to tie into the film.
REVIEW: Guitar Hero II
Pub: Harmonix Music Systems | Dev: Red Octane | Format: PS2
Reviewer: Craig Gallagher 
games have allowed us to experience life as wannabe wizards, Jedi,
soldiers and aliens. Guitar Hero helped stimulate the rock and
roll fantasy, minus are the drug overdoses, sordid sex and in band
fighting.
Guitar Hero II is more of the same. The gameplay is quiet simple and
easy to pick up. You begin your quest for rock greatness by playing
covers of Shout at the Devil by Motley Crue in skid row bars and in
high school.
The long road to the top leads you to sold out arenas, where you
must conquer the most fiendish six string riffs known to man. The
satisfaction of nailing a killer riff is a rush rarely felt in gaming.
Gamers feel as if they’ve actually accomplished something. The fact
that this is all done through a piece of plastic plugged into your PS2
makes it all the more fulfilling.
The song selection wont appeal to all, but the selection and variety
of styles is impressive. There’s a wide range of metal, rock, punk and
a few surf tracks thrown in for good measure.
Guitar Hero is one of the most unashamedly fun games on any console.
So what if you look like a bit of a twat as you strum and head bang
in your living room. Anything this fun should be illegal. So grab a
tight black t-shirt and let the fun commence.
REVIEW: Far Cry: Vengeance
Developer: Ubisoft | Publisher: Ubisoft | Format: Wii
Reviewer: Craig Gallagher After
all those endearing stories of families coming together to play Wii
golf, as a warm fire burns, its time we asked the most important
question of all. Can the Wii be used to wage a bloody rampage ? After
sticking Far Cry: Vengeance in the answer is a reaffirming yes.
It takes awhile to get ones bearings, the controls take a bit of
getting used to but once you accomplish this things are surprising
defined. The combat control system is expertly implemented, fluid and
stealthy. You are able to sidewind and glide over terrain, aim with
100% accuracy and lunge at enemies. But remember its only a game, so
try to refrain from actually lunging at the screen. The gameplay is
closer to the shooting gallery games of yesteryear, than the current
gently nudge the thumb-stick and shoot, that we’ve become accustomed
to.
Unfortunately the control system can also be rather troublesome. Try
turning your head to defend yourself, and the less said about using
ladders the better. The main problem is that the Wii control not only
aims your weapon, it also controls where you look. Jerk it too high
during battle and you can end up staring at the jungle canopy, which is
rather annoying, due in no small part to the fact that it almost always
results in death. After designing such a oerfect combat system it’s a
shame that the movement system isnt nearly as redefined.
The main complaint is that the main campaign is far to short and too
easy to complete. A bit of effort in creating a new campaign from
scratch could have given FCV the boost that it needed. As it is, it
appears that the developers took that left overs from the PC versions
and decided to fashion a game out of them. needed.
Far Cry: Vengeance is a relatively satisfying weekend rent. Anyone
looking for the proper Far Cry experience is best to invest in the
original and best PC version.
REVIEW: The Warriors
Developer: Rockstar | Publisher: Rockstar | Format: PSP (PS2, XBox)
Reviewer: Brendan Tinnelly
Time has not been kind to the scrolling beat ‘em up. Before the arrival
of the original Playstation, the genre was regarded as the
one-stop-shop for those seeking their fix of action. The subsequent
jump to 3D led to various failed attempts to reinvent the genre, before
it was quickly laid to rest.
Rockstar then surprised everyone by developing a game based on a cult
1970’s movie that was, essentially, a side-scrolling beat ‘em up on
celluloid. In doing so, they managed to create what was a true return
to form for the genre - featuring simple yet satisfying fight mechanics
and an engaging story. There were criticisms; most notably that one can
only punch a faceless thug in the face so many times without the
experience feeling a little repetitive.
Rockstar have done well in bringing this game to the PSP. The
story-mode is present and accounted for, as is a quick-rumble mode for
those wishing to dive straight into the face-punching, on top of
multiplayer modes. The controls map well to the handheld, the visual
and audio production is top-notch, and the load times are tolerable.
Indeed, in many ways the PSP is the best hardware for this game.
Dipping into the game for 10 minutes here or there not only helps to
stave off that sense of repetition which hampers the home console
version, but is perfectly suited to the simple, accessible game
mechanics.
It is not all sunshine and lollipops however, as the screen can get a
little overcrowded during some of the bigger donnybrooks, and the
fighting engine falls down when faced with such numbers. The abundance
of cut-scenes is another annoyance, but thankfully they’re usually
quite brief.
So, the rarest of games. a by-the-numbers port of a Playstation 2 game
onto Sony’s handheld that doesn’t leave you completely underwhelmed,
but rather accentuates the positives and all but removes the negatives
of the original
REVIEW: Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Pub: Activision | Dev: Raven Software | Format: Xbox 360
Reviewer: Craig Gallagher Like
many of the stories it tells the comic book genre has had a major
resurgence in recant years. The games have almost always focused on one
character or one team, usually the X-men. This all changes with Marvel:
Ultimate Alliance, which brings together a rather large number of Marvel characters.
The story is the age old, evil genius with world domination
on his mind. Dr Doom and the Masters of Evil are on the verge of
acquiring unimaginable power which in their hands could cripple the
world. Nick Fury gathers the worlds finest heroes to try and stop the
inevitable rise of evil.
The gameplay is pretty easy to pick up. Players are sent on a
variety of missions. You command a team of four heroes and must fight
your way through a variety of villains. Along the way you gain
experience points which help to take down the more powerful enemies.
The control system is brilliantly executed and really lends its self to
the pick up and play ,mentality lacking in so many games.
My only real problem with the game is the voices. The problem
is that the same one liners are heard over and over again. This may
seem like a small quibble but when you hear the same line of dialogue
every two minutes it really begins to grate.
Bar that small fault Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is a worth while purchase for both gamers and comic book fans.
REVIEW: WoW: Burning Crusade
Developer: Blizzard | Publisher: Vivendi | Format: PC
Reviewer: Craig Gallagher Blizzard
don’t mess about when it comes to expansion packs. They give it as
much care and attention as they would a new game, in fact anticipation
for these expansion packs is akin to that of the initial title. After
several delays, The Burning Crusade is finally here and it’s been
well worth the wait.
Anyone reading this with even a passing interest in WoW will have no
doubt all ready purchased the expansion, and become familiar with what
is in essence perfection. The expansion adds an unimaginable amount of
new content and numerous new features. The new level 70 cap is an
especially nice addition, as are the two player races. But look beneath
the initial offerings and there is more to this pack than you would
ever guess.
The most important addition is the introduction of two completely
new races, the Blood Elves and the Draenei. The Blood Elves are aligned
to the Horde and the Draenei to the Alliance.
There are also a number of new professions, skills and trades that
players can learn. The most noticeable of these is jewel crafting. This
is available to all players but the Draenei receive a 5% racial bonus
if they pick it up.
Old players shouldn’t fret, The Burning Crusade has plenty for
anyone who just wants to keep honing their existing character. As I
said earlier the level cap has been bumped to 70. This isn’t just some
superficial addition that makes you do some more raids in a bid to
level up. Its where the expansion pack really comes into its own, and
where the story really begins. To level up these addition levels you
have to go through Dark Portal and trek across the Outland. Thankfully
you can now do this from above, with the introduction of flying mounts.
The Burning Crusade is a great way to extend the WoW experience. You
can start a new character or continue to with your existing one.
Anyone with even a passing interest in the game will get value for
money and hours of fun from The Burning Crusade.
REVIEW: Shinobido
Developer: Acquire | Publisher: SCEE | Format: PSP
Reviewer: Brendan Tinnelly There
are, basically, two types of ninja. Of the first specimen, popularized
by the internet and Saturday morning cartoons, we know that they are
awesome, predominantly mammals, but occasionally mutant turtles, and
are totally sweet. The other, and if I may say less appealing, type, is
the one who invariably pops up in videogames. This ninja is quick,
silent, invisible, deadly. And so it is in Shinobido: Tales of the
Ninja.