REVIEW: LittleBigPlanet

Developer: Media Molecule | Publisher: SCEE | Format: PS3

In a world where games are more often than not released with the mentality of release no, patch later it’s becoming more and more common for games to be on store shelves before they’re finished. LittleBigPlanet may very well be the most under-finished early releases ever only in this case the unfinished nature of the game is also it’s biggest asset. The game allows you to fill in the gaps crafting your very own unique gaming experience.

This is done through the use of a number of ingenious level design tool, a truly unique character called sackboy and a hell of a lot of stickers which you can put anywhere you want. The addition of level editors to games are common, some of the most entertaining game levels around have been crafted by fans using these level editors. What no other title has done is utilise the ability to design your very own game levels in such an exciting way.

LittleBigPlanet is designed to bring out your creative inner being. You start with a blank canvas, which you can manipulate and play with to your hearts content. The pre-designed levels are a joy to race through, it’s like Jim Hensons and Tim Burton’s love child/

Levels you design can be shared online with other gamers offering up unlimited possibilities. While it remains to be seen if the game will live up to it’s potential it’s hard to imagine gamers not embracing the title and designing level after level.

LittleBigPlanet is one of the inventive and unique titles ever made. It offers up unlimited possibilities and enough features to keep most gamers entertained for the foreseeable future.

REVIEW: Gears of War 2

Developer: Epic Games | Publisher: Microsoft Games Studios | Format: 360

Two years ago Gears of War burst into gamers lives like a desert eagle blast to the temple. It was polished beyond belief and offered up one of the most exciting FPS experiences in years. Rather than have gamers race in blindly killing everything that moves, it forced you to hide behind debris and then pop out to kill something.

Gears 2 feels more like Gears 1.5, sure the visuals have been polished, environments are far more varied and there’s some nice visual touches but overall pretty much everything remains the same. Characters flounder around like drunken rugby players, gameplay is exactly the same. Run around, duck behind an a burnt out car then pop out and shoot an alien or three.

The online mode is where the action really shines and with that in mind the story mode generally involves our hero Marcus Fenix being accompanied by Dom. This is far more entertaining when another person plays along side you, it allows you to explore a variety of different tactics and utilise the impressive big ass guns, such as the mortars and the sweet ass chain guns which really are impressive to use.

Back to the online mode, the different modes on offer Submission, in which a soldier becomes become the flag in Capture The Flag, and the awesomely fun Horde, which allows five players to survive 50 enemy soldiers till none remain. Horde is one of the most addictive multiplayer experiences ever and worth the price of the game alone.

The greatest problem with the game is that it tries far too hard to aspire to be a truly cinematic experience. The game is a intended to act as the middle part of a trilogy and takes some time to explain the origin of the alien insurgents. Shame then that the characters and dialogue are so laughably handed. The score though is fantastic, Steve Jablonsky who scored last years Transformers does it again delivering one of the finest game scores of all time.

All in all Gears 2 is a highly entertaining and enjoyable experience let down by some rather dull on rails sections. Like many middle sections to a trilogy the game suffers from far too much exposition and not enough action.

REVIEW: Brothers in Arms Hell’s Highway

Developer: Gearbox Software | Publisher: Ubisoft | Format: PS3

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher

Much like the war which its based upon, Hell’s Highway has been a long way coming. First mooted in 2006, a rash of set backs ensured that the third in the Brothers in Arms series lost much of it’s initial momentum. Now, after years of waiting Hell’s Highway finds it’s self on the PS3.

Like many realistic FPS, HH suffers from placing far too much emphasis on heavy handed melodrama and trying to force home just how much a tragedy WWII was. While games based on such a black note in human history should be treated with respect, HH spends far too much time utilising poorly voiced cut scenes and a script peppered with such inane topics of conversation that it’s hard not to wonder if this wasn’t written by 12 year old.

Throw in the usage of slow motion head shots that reward you for managing to place a bullet in an enemies head one does wonder why exactly did the developers spend so long creating a solemn and respectful tone only to go and glorify war in the game. That said, the low motion head shots are bloody great fun if highly inappropriate.

In the last few years we have been treated to a slew of above average war based FPS, so it’s not surprising to discover that HH doesn’t come anywhere near close to matching titles such as Call of Duty 4. Even when this is taken into account HH still stands up quite well due to it’s superior gameplay. Taking a traditional FPS and mixing it with tactical squad-based gameplay works surprisingly well and makes for a far more satisfying experience. Gamers will find themselves contemplating their next move rather than rushing in guns blazing. From the get go one aspect of the game really does shine, the AI of both your troops and enemy soldiers is exceptional. Your team mates will always take cover rather than getting mown down and will more often than not act on their own initiative rather than slavishly wait on commands from you. Knowing that you aren’t constantly needed to baby-sit makes for a truly challenging and entertaining game.

The game is a lot of fun but given the superiority of the first two entries and the numerous delays its likely that Hell’s Highway may be the last we see of the franchise, though the game does leave the door open for a sequel which hopefully deliver the franchises true potential. Far from a poor title, HH is simply mediocre and in this day and age mediocrity is no longer acceptable.

REVIEW: Far Cry 2

Developer: Ubisoft | Publisher: Ubisoft | Format: Xbox 360

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher

Far Cry 2 is the new step for FPS gaming, tearing up the rule book as it goes it offers a deeply satisfying and thorough entertaining ride. The overall sense of freedom and sheer spectacle on offer from the non stop action marks Far Cary 2 as the definite next generation FPS thus far.

Right from the start the game tries to set it’s self apart from the original by setting the action in Africa rather than some tropical paradise. Playing as a mercenary you encounter some bad luck when you are ambushed by a group of soldiers working for a local gunrunner named the Jackal as well as contacting Malaria. From here your mission is quite simple, find and kill the Jackal while making waste of his organisation.

Much like GTA4, Far Cry 2 offers an open ended world and allows you to complete your missions and objectives in any order you wish. There is no linear way in way goals must be completed and given that you can pretty much go anywhere. You can steal vehicles and drive off into the hills shooting guards and wildlife to you hearts content. The game is so full jam packed with freedom that no matter how often you replay the game you will never play the same adventure twice.

When you finally decide to go about completing your task you can decided just how exactly you wish to do so. You can use stealth, slice your enemy from left to right with a machete or go for the preferred route and recreate the ending of the last Rambo. Waltz into a enemy compound with a missile launcher and lay waste to hordes of enemy soldiers with blatant disregard for all living entities, it does bring a smile to ones face.

The combat is fantastic and coming up with new ways to dispatch enemies is one of the most enjoyable ways to spend an evening. From causing multi-vechicle car crashes then tossing a few grenades in just for the hell of it to mowing down groups of guards with a jeep, it’s unbelievably fun. The sheer joy one can gain from the sadistic dispatching of enemies may be slightly worrying.

In addition to the substantial single player the game boasts a 16 player multiplayer which includes all the usual modes such as Capture the Flag as well as a new mode Uprising. In this you and your team must guard someone as they attempt to capture checkpoints. While far from the next great step in multiplayer gaming it remains a hell of a lot of fun.

Far Cry 2 is at risk of being just a blip on the radar in the upcoming Christmas race but if there is a agaming God then justice will prevail and Far Cry 2 will reign triumphant. It’s sheer size, aweinspiring visuals and ability to do as you please makes he game worth every cent.

REVIEW: The Bourne Conspiracy

Developer: Sierra Entertainment | Publisher: High Moon Studios | Format: 360

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher:

At this stage the vast majority of the worlds populace is familiar with Jason Bourne, be it from the highly successful trio of film or the original novels by Robert Ludlum Jason Bourne has crossed over into mainstream conscious much like James Bond.

The latest incarnation of the iconic character is in pixalated form in the game The Bourne Conspiracy which one of the summers most entertaining and action packed titles thought the plot may not make much sense to anyone approaching with no prior knowledge of the character.

The game follows Bourne, a 30 million dollar assassin whom after failing to neutralise a target gets a dip in the Mediterranean sea and ends up losing his memory. The game follows Bourne as he grables with his identity and searches for the answers he needs. You play the urrent missions as well as a number of older ones which he recalls.

All this takes place across the world with Bourne using a number of techniques from hand to hand combat to to driving cars to the obligatory gunfire.

The gameplay is far from perfect but it is designed in such a way that it makes the game a joy from start to finish. The hand to hand combat is expertly implemented though the duck and cover aspect is poorly done. It’s generally far more effective to just run around shooting than it is to take cover.

The driving levels are also an inconvenience as the over steering results in simple movements send your into walls and obstacles. Both the shooting and hand to hand combat are fantastic. It’s fast, furious and fun to boot which is all you can ask.

Expectations for The Bourne Conspiracy were low, most including this reviewer expected it to be a completely redundant cash in on a successful film franchise but the overall results are quite impressive. The game more than does the film and books justice and delivers the most satisfying gaming experiences of the summer.

REVIEW: Secret Agent Clank

Developer: SCEE | Publisher: High Impact| Format: PSP

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher:

The PSP has in recent time became the sidekick console. Daxter was the first to get his chance to shine as the star of his own game and now it’s Clank’s turn. We all have a James Bond fantasy, racing about in a dapper tux shooting badies and using numerous gadgets. Secret Agent Clank takes this fantasy and makes it real, for Clank anyways. From Clank introducing himself as “Clank, Agent Clank” to the iconic camera in the gun barrel shot.

It seems that developers Impact Games doubt Clank’s ability to carry his own game as there are a number of playable cameos by Ratchet as well as the very first playable incarnation of Captain Qwark. While these two additional characters deliver some respite from Clank’s misadventures they pale in comparison to the madcap insanity of Clank’s missions.

From the opening console quality video it’s obvious that a lot of love has been put into making this a truly entertaining and rewarding game. The game offers the usual array of challenges, battles and a very entertaining story driven linear story mode. The plot is quite simple, Ratchet has been caught attempting to steal a gem and thrown into prison for for his misdeed. Waking the next day with no memory of the event and suspecting that he may have been framed Clank sets out to prove his friends innocence.

The gameplay is pretty much the same as it ever was. You run around killing bad guys, collecting bolts and taking part in numerous races and what not. The bolts are once again used to buy weapons and upgrades
only this time you can buy weapons and send them to Ratchet inside a cake. Ratchet can then use these weapons in his own battles inside prison. Ratchet’s story really isn’t that involving and is more of a
series of fights than an actual storyline.

Captain Qwark’s story on the other hand is really quite a lot of fun. Qwark has been following Clank around taking credit for all of Clank’s deeds. His section of the game involve you replaying Clank’s levels but in a seriously exaggerated fashion. Small boss fights which Clank fights now end in a truly epic fashion.

My biggest problem with the game is that the developers spend far too much time on the non Clank aspects of the game, which really ruins the games flow. While both Ratchet and Qwark are entertaining and funny as hell they take the focus off of Clank and in a game called Secret Agent Clank you really expect far more of the title character.

Secret Agent Clank is one of the most pleasurable and entertaining titles on the PSP in a long time. It’s funny, entertaining and a fine addition to the Ratchet and Clank franchise. Gamers loking for the next spy saga may be disappointed but for fans of the series of anyone whom enjoys a good time then Secret Agent Clank is a necessary title.

REVIEW: The Incredible Hulk

Developer: Edge of Reality | Publisher: SEGA | Format: PS3

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher

Turning a summer blockbuster into a half decent game is a monster task for any developer. The general rule is that the finished product is usually a sub par experience with poor gameplay and a looming sense of regret when you realise that you just lost upwards of 6o euro.

There is the odd stellar title that manages to sneak though, such as the superb Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay which remains this reviewers favourite FPS of all time. The latest cash in is The Incredible Hulk and while it fails to reach Riddick heights of quality it remains quite a decent title which is a lot of fun.

The plot follows the film with a few detours to up the action ante. Bruce Banner is on the run from the US army led by General Ross whom is eager to capture the Hulk and use him to create genetically altered

super soldiers. What follows is a series of fights between you and tanks, soldiers, various villains and the big daddy The Abomination, a kinda anti-Hulk. All this takes place in New York City, which you can pretty much smash up. The city is immense and packed with people, cars and numerous soldiers. The sheer amount of damage that you can do is unparalleled.

You can pick up and throw cars, tear one in half and create home made metallic boxing gloves. The city is an interactive hub with a number of side missions and mini games to complete. Many of these further the story while others are just an excuse to break stuff and cause as much damage as possible The damage that you do to the city allows enemies to zero in on you and try to take you down.

The biggest draw back is the fact that many missions are repetitive with many involving you simply having to bash buttons for a few minutes. The most irritating missions are the ones in which you have to protect buildings as you do far more damage to the building jumping around it than your enemies do when attacking it. At times the ability to just race around destroying stuff grows quite mundane and you find yourself reaching for the off button.

At the end of the day, The Incredible Hulk isn’t going to redefine gaming as we know it but what it does do is offer a number of hours of nonstop mayhem and destruction. While far from the dizzy heights of the Riddick game it’s certainly far superior to last years Fantastic Four game and is worth a cursory rental at the very least.

REVIEW: Viking Battle for Asgard

Developer: Creative Assembly | Publisher: SEGA | Format: PS3

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher

Vikings are cool. No one can argue otherwise, be they raping, maiming and plundering or drinking themselves silly Vikings have always held a soft spot in the hearts of us all. These were men who set out into the unknown conquering new lands and fighting valiantly to the last man.

Throw in the stories of Asgard and their Gods and it’s hard to believe that there are so few games based on the Viking mythology. Viking: Battle for Asgard goes so way redeeming this.

The story, not that it really matters much follows the adventure of Skarin, a Viking whom the Goddes of Light have called upon to repel the forces of the evil Hel whose army of the undead is killing people in a bid to create a new Valhalla. The story is told through rather artistic cut scenes reminiscent of the graphic novel 300, though tbh it can be quite difficult to follow at times. And lets be honest no one is approaching a game about vikings for a meaty storyline. All anyone really wants is some hacking and slashing with gallons of the red stuff.

Which is exactly what you get. The third person action adventure relies upon one driving force and that is the truly epic battles. You have to do some obligatory questing, exploring and rescuing but once this is done and you’ve freed your men you get to storm a compound and engage in much blood shed. The combat is fantastic.

Wielding a sword and axe you get to wade through enemy soldiers cutting and decapitating as you go. Attacks are limited with upgrades available as you progress and the ability to power up attacks using Rage mode is a nifty trick. There’s also the ability to unleash elemental magic, such as thunder, fire and fire by collecting the souls of your slain enemies which handily enough appear as red crystals.

The noncombat aspects of the game are mediocre are best. The world is broken up into three levels which initially seem to offer up a lot of scope for exploration. Sadly this initial interest soon turns to boredom as you realise that there’s nothing to do an little to see. The only real alternative to aimless wandering is the are the quests to find barrels of Meade and other such novelties.

Acquisition of gold is generally done through trekking off the beaten path and offers a short reprieve from the tedium of combat less action on offer. All that said, while it does detract significantly from the game the sheer exuberance of violence and astounding battles goes a long way toward compensating for this.

Visually the game is competent with some truly breathtaking moments and many not so impressive. The camera is a major hindrance with constant manipulation of it essential to getting anywhere. Poor camera control is the downfall of many games and in Vikings it can be truly torturous. Trying to see what lies ahead of you while fighting off hordes of the undead are not ideally suited to one another.

Lets be clear, Vikings: Battle for Asgard is not a game for those seeking deep and rich narrative or Morrowwind-esque exploration. What it offers is unparallelled button bashing and enough blood to satisfy any gore hound. It’s not big, it’s not clever but it is great fun. And when it comes down to it that’s all that really matters. Worth a look and a weekend rental while remaining an essential purchase for anyone who loved 300.

REVIEW: Haze

Developer: Free Radical   Publisher: Ubisoft | Format: PS3

After all the delays Haze is finally with us. Long touted as the
definitive PS3 exclusive shooter, the game which much like Halo would
have gamers buying a PS3 just to play. It promised to redefine first
person shooters by combining a cinematic story with intense jaw
dropping action. Unfortunately like many of it’s kin it fails to
achieve anything more than mediocrity

The story follows Sergeant Shane Carpenter, a newly recruited
soldier who spends his days fighting alongside his fellow Mantel forces
comrades. Sent to quash a possible revolutionary army in South America
called the Promise Hand you engage in numerous fire fights. To create
the ultimate soldiers Mantel has been giving it’s recruits a
“nutritional supplement” called Nectar which heightens senses and
abilities. Nectar promised to be the most interesting aspect of Haze
but rather than implement it as a useful tool the game instead uses it
as a  mere gimmick. At around the half way point Carpenter
realises the dangers of Nectar and it’s addictive nature which turns
his fellow soldiers into blood thirsty monster. Joining the previous
enemy Carpenter begins to fight back and conquer his dependence on the
drug. The whole concept was handled much better by another Ubi Soft
title Far Cry, where it was an integral part of the gameplay.

The biggest problem with Haze apart from the lackstruck storyline
and lack of originality is that it blows its load way too early.
Excluding the range of weapons and the ability to drive vehicles all of
which are available to use within the first 30 minutes there really
isn’t anything more to it. After this there’s absolutely nothing more
to discover. That said the difficulty level does spike significantly
when Carpenter decides to switch sides. The Nectar addicted spasming
Mantel soldiers do prove a challenge but the AI is so poor most of the
time that this initial difficulty is soon over come.

The multiplayer offers a number of fun additions to the generic
single player. You can play through the campaign mode with a friend in
co-op mode which proves to be quite handy as you can breeze through the
game in double time. There’s also the obligatory online modes such as
Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch. There is also the addition of a new
game mode Team Assault in which one group of players play as Mantel
forces and the others play as The Promise Hand. You have to complete a
number of tasks and the first to do so wins, shame then that like the
campaign mode there’s nothing of any real significance here.

Haze was a great idea and I’m sure it would have made a fantastic
PS3 exclusive title if it weren’t for all the shortcomings. At the end
of the day Haze is a mediocre shooter which offers nothing that a
hundred others titles don’t all ready. I really wanted to love Haze
but when all things are considered it’s little more than a distraction
to pass the time between now and MGS4’s release.

REVIEW: Iron Man

Developer: Artificial Mind and Movement | Publisher: SEGA | Format: Wii

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher There
exists a rather unfortunate trend where games based upon films are
generally poor. Oft times they are cheap cash in rushed out to coincide
with the films release. In recent years this rule has been broke a
number of times, most significantly by Chronicles of Riddick: Escape
From Butcher Bay which remains to this day the finest FPS on any
platform as well as being based upon a film. Iron Man which is
currently doing extremely well in cinemas is also out across all gaming
platforms. While a long way from the quality of Riddick it’s still a
step above many tie in games.

The story is very loosely based on the film and were it not for
Robert Downey Jr. And Terrence Howard providing voice work you’d be
forgiven for thinking this was a completely separate entity to the
film. Like the film the game begins in a cave where Stark is being held
captive. After his inevitable escape the game plot goes in a different
direction while maintaining a lot of the same themes.

The gameplay is basically run and gun or in the case of Iron Man
hoover and run. Situations general involve you flying into an area,
dispatching some small forces before getting a chance to face off
against a major bad guy such as War Monger or the awesome Titanium Man.
There’s no real variety on offer, but that said there’s a satisfying
sense of accomplishment mowing down hordes of enemy soldiers with a
gattling gun. In fact it’s difficult not to laugh manically as you do
so. The main complaint this reviewer has is that death is so damn
difficult. At times it’s almost impossible to perish which takes away
any real sense of danger.

Visually the game suffers in comparison to it’s PS3 and 360
counterparts. The hardware limitations of the Wii mean we get a more
stripped down. Iron Man looks fine whereas all enemy soldiers look
exactly the same. Buildings are blocky and lack distinction, vehicles
are hard to pick out and overall the game has a rather dreary look. The
inclusion of the Havok engine is difficult to see, in fact were it not
for their logo on the box it would be nigh on impossible to tell. Only
a tiny number of objects can be blown up while everything else just
sits there no matter what pounding it takes.

The problem with Iron Man the game is that while not a terrible game
it is a terrible license. The glee which can be obtained from wanton
killing slowly diminishes over time till all that’s left is a shallow
license which had such potential. While not worth a full price
purchase, fans of the film and comic are advised to rent it first.

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