REVIEW: The Sly Collection

Developer: Sanzaru Games | Publisher: SCEA | Format: PS3

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher The Sly series was one of the most entertaining series to grace the Playstation 2 and like many great series it has something of a cult following who should be over the moon with the release og the Sly Collection for the PS3. Bringing together the 3 entries in the series formatted for HD gaming it’s a true celebration of quality platforming which fans will adore.

The first thing which gamers will notice is just how old school the original feels, while it remains highly entertaining and will raise many a laugh time really has not been kind. While there is nothing inherently wrong with the title it is very much a product of time past, the stilted platforming is somewhat underwhelming and may leave newcomers curious as to exactly why the series has received an upgrade.

Thankfully Sly 2: Band of Thieves is as fresh and entertaining as it was first time around. The decision to abandon many of the mini games and racing sequences which dragged the original to a halt is greatly appreciated. Most importantly the platforming elements have been tweaked to damn near perfection and with the inclusion of some entertaining stealth missions Sly 2 remains even now in this day and age a thoroughly entertaining title.

Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves is the high point of the series, it takes all that was great about Sly 2 and improves upon it.Really there’sm not much you can write about it other than to call it one of the best platform titles ever released. The story is well told and will raise many a smile, the platform elements are fantastic and most importantly the game is never anything but entertaining.

The Sly Collection is a fantastic package featuring some of the best platformers ever released and given the relatively low price tag the Sly Collection is a must have.

REVIEW: Assassins Creed: Brotherhood

Developer / Publisher: Ubisoft | Format: PS3, 360

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher Assassin’s Creed 2 was one of the most refreshing and invigorating sequels in a long time, it expanded upon the original tweaking each individual aspect of the game till they had a sequel which delivered on every front tweaking each aspect of the original and improving upon it. With Brotherhood the developers have taken the concept and tweaked it even more to deliver an experience which borders on perfection.

Beginning a year after the end of part 2, Brotherhood finds a Ezio once again waging a private war on the Borgia who have plans upon controlling all of Italy and in true gaming style it’s up to you to ensure that their plans do not succeed.

The most obvious addition to the game is the multiplayer, the first of its kind in the series to date. Rather the usual free for all or capture the flag, Brotherhood’s multiplayer is very much a strategy based affair with you adopting many of the tricks of the single player, disguises, sitting down, hiding in crowds, etc in order to succeed. As with all great multiplayer there is a variety of modes on offer.

Manhunt involves two teams of four players against each other in which one team has to stay hidden while the other hunts them. Wanted does pretty much as it says on the tin, each play has a specific target and must track them down while being hunted yourself, it’s simple yet deeply rewarding and makes a nice change of pace from the usual shoot everyone experience adopted by most online games. Alliance involves teams of two working together to protect one another while taking out their own target and the final mode is simply a variation on wanted. The simplicity of the modes is what makes them so much fun, there’s something deeply satisfying about hunting down another player and stopping them. It’s not simply a case of running around a map at will but rather like a military manoeuvre takes planning and cunning.

With multiplayer out-of-the-way its time to delve into the single player which believe you me is absolutely fantastic. The most impressive addition is the enemy A.I. Which is far superior to that in the previous entries. While it’s still easy to get past them it is much harder to escape when they do catch you. They will hunt you like a wild dog and it’s a common sight for them to call in reinforcements during combat seriously upping the stakes. With the chips stacked against you it may seem a if the games is a little overzealous in making things difficult for you.

Thankfully then that Ezio is not alone this time around. As you progress through the game you can recruit various rebellious citizens into your guild and train them as assassins so that when things are looking the bleakest you can on the, it’s something which you will find yourself doing often as it not only levels the playing field but is perhaps your only chance of winning some of the truly epic battles you find yourself in.

Perhaps the most startling and breathtaking aspect of the game isn’t the combat but the city of Rome. It gigantic and I mean gigantic. From the wide open streets to the tight dark alleys to the marketplaces to the large countryside it’s an awe-inspiring place. That he entire place is one open world with no sign of load times between ares is all the more impressive. It’s easy to forget about the main game and simply spend hours searing the map for treasure and other collectibles. This reviewer found himself at times just standing still for long periods of time simply to take it all in. Ubisoft have really out done themselves here and created the first truly living breathing video game world.

Assassins Creed 2 was a massive improvement of the first in the series most noticeably in the story and the way it was implemented. With Brotherhood this has once again been tweaked and improved, the story has been streamlined leading to a much more immersive experience. You can now leave the Animus at any time to explore the modern day Monteriggioni and while it’s little more than a time waster there are a number of collectables to be discovered and does make for a nice change of pace.

Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood like all great sequels builds on the previous entries in the series, taking what was good about them and making it great. Brotherhood is easily the best in the series to date and remains one of 2010’s most impressive titles. It truly is a breathtaking title and one which any serious gamer must own.

REVIEW: Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole

Developer:  Krome Studios|Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive |Format: 360

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole is as you no doubt guessed based on the film of the same name. With any licensed title there is no doubt a pressing urge in most gamers to simply ignore any title based on a major film but this is one of those rare cases where a licensed title is surprisingly entertaining and satisfying experience.

Given that the film is about owls it’s expected that the game will involve a lot of flying, which in the game is fantastically implemented. Flying feels smoot, it’s easy to get the hang on and most importantly it feels natural. The ability to fly opens up gameplay to whole new levels, simply free-falling before pulling up at  the very last moment is one of the most exciting and exhilarating gaming experiences around. Soaring across expansive environments is equally impressive with a feeling of freedom that is truly breathtaking.

Combat is also fantastic, it’s intuitive and the use of a simple targeting system makes for gameplay which is exciting and fun. THe ability to lock on to and literally fly rings around an enemy creates an interesting dynamic which when coupled with the ability to throw enemies into burning trees and water creates a truly cinematic cell.

unfortunately the missions and their objectives are where the game falls short. THe lack of any real variety and a overlty generic feel to the mission which generally involve escorting, racing or defending an area do grow tiresome. The difficulty level is also rather disheartening, you can easily complete the game in a matter of hours and theres little replayability offered.

Visually the game is quite nice to look at  though when compared to the film they are sadly lacking. While this isn’t bothersome during gameplay it does become an issue during in-game cut scenes which really aren’t a patch on the film. It’s a perfect example of a licensed product which would seriously benefit from utilising scenes from the actual film. Audio wise the game also suffers, the voice acting is dreadful and is certainly not helped by the repetition of dialogue. Again it’s an area which would certainly have benefited from utilising the voice cast from the film.

It’s a shame that the game falls down in these areas as it really is a fun game. While it’s hard to justify buying at full price it is certainly worth a rental and kids and those with an owl fetish will love it. At the end of the day it’s one of the better licensed titles around and come January is something to keep an eye out for in the bargian bins.

REVIEW: Medal of Honor

Developer: Danger Close/Dice | Publisher: EA | Format: PS3

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher The Medal of Honor franchise certainly deserves your respect for it singlehandedly launched one of the biggest gaming crazes of all time. The WWII fps has over the past decade became one of the most successful and acclaimed niches around. With Medal of Honor the franchise attempts not just a sequel but a whole new beginning wiping the slate clean as it updates to the modern-day replacing Nazis with the more topical Taliban.

The single player campaign begins in dusty Afghanistan with little in the way of introduction gamers are dropped head first into the action. The developers have repeatedly stated a desire to avoid political based storyline instead choosing to focus on the heroics and sacrifices made by the men on the ground. It’s an objective which is as noble as they come but given that none of the characters are anything but caricatures it robs the game of any impact. The closest we get to developed character traits are Rabbit’s luck rabbit foot. Characters all have cool sounding call signs but anybody who has watched an episode of the Unit will testify that it’s the characters and not their names which leads to an emotional investment in events.

The stunted nature of the single player campaign, it can be clocked in around 4 hours really does the game a disservice as within those 4 hours are some of the most thrilling and exhilarating action gaming around which is an experience sadly cheapened by heavily scripted gameplay. Unfortunately Medal of Honor more often than not plays almost like an on rail shooter with constant screams of where you should aim which coupled with numerous instances of making turrets and guiding missiles that it all becomes rather mundane.

Thank your lucky stars for the inclusion of Tier 1 mode which manages to offer a far more thrilling experience than you would imagine. Tier 1 serious ups the ante difficulty wise and the use of a timer makes for nail-biting gaming. THe objective is simple, complete the mission in the fastest time. It’s ironic that the most impressive game mode is the one in which story matters the least.

Multiplayer like Tier 1 is triple A gaming. Developed by DIC it may not be the most original gameplay around but it gets the job done in style. Much like Battlefield 1943 there are three classes to choose from, Rifleman, Sniper and Special Ops. Each class has its own ranking system allows you to equip your character with specialist equipment. Unsurprisingly the weapons cache you begin with is barebones to say the least, with the object of the game being to raise your level and acquire new gear.

Medal of Honor may not be the Call of Duty beater that we hoped but it’s also far from the travesty that many are branding it. The single player while sadly underwhelming does have a number of breathtaking moments which nearly make it worthwhile. The Tier 1 and multiplayer modes more than make up for this but the game remains a missed opportunity.

REVIEW: Tom Clancy’s HAWK 2

Developer/Publisher: Ubisoft | Format: 360

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher HAWK 2 is the latest in the never-ending line of Tom Clancy titles. Following on from the adrenalin fuelled first entry in the series the game places you straight back into the cockpit as you utilise futuristic aircraft, weapons and technology to generally wipe any enemy resistance from existence.

The plot is one which has obviously had a lot of attention lavished upon it though like many military based game it can be rather confusing as a seemingly never-ending line of military bigwigs issue orders about domestic terrorism and the constant impending apocalypse. Where the story most impresses is in the manner in which it links in with other Clancy titles such as Splinter Cell Conviction.

As with other Clancy based games HAWK 2 is a visual treat with superb cut scenes and a truly awe inspiringly realistic game environment. Utilising satellite imaging the in-game environments are photo realistic with the gamer experiencing a constant sense of playing within a real world environment. Each aspect of the visual experience has been lavishly created allowing for a truly unique gaming experience which coupled with inventive use of in-game technology such as Night Vision and infrared leaves gamers in no doubt as to the games attention to detail.

The control system is equally well implemented. Navigating and understanding your HUD is a breeze and with the intuitive flight controls, HAWK 2 is one of the few flight based sims which anyone can pick up and play with no prior experience. There are however a few niggles with the game, the refuelling sequences are a pretty nifty addition but are far too difficult to repeatedly do. In many missions you must switch between air-borne and land based enemies which in theory is all well and good but the constant need to switch between the different weaponry required was a chore.

All in all Tom Clancy’s HAWK 2 is one of the most entertaining and rewarding flight based sims in a very long time. After the rather mundane Top Gun and lackstruck Ace Combat HAWK 2 is a breath of fresh air which impressive on every front. While there are a few small problems none of which are enough to stop HAWK 2 from being a triple A title.

REVIEW: Madden NFL 11

Developer/Publisher: EA | Format: PS3

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher Madden NFL 11 arrives with little in the way of fanfare, which comes as no surprise considering how low a profile the NFL has on this side of the pond. Like many yearly updates, Madden can come across as nothing more than a roster update with more polished graphics but scratch beneath the surface and there’s a rewarding and redefined title on offer.

The mantra for Madden this time round is “Simpler, Quicker, Deeper” which may sound like the script to a low brow porn but in reality is exactly what the series needed. The simplification of the playbook interface makes for a far less daunting task for inexperienced players and shortens each match considerably which believe you me is a good thing. The use of sound bites of both offensive and defensive coordinators explains the multitude of strategic plays for each given situation acting as a handy tutorial for newcomers as well as allowing seasoned gamers a more thorough understanding of the sports depth.

The addition of Locomotion, a running engine allows for a more realistic approach. Rather than bashing the sprint button in order to gain speed the on field player automatically gains momentum making for a far more fluid and responsive system. The combination of the above new features makes for a more intuitive and rewarding game, the constant sense that each play could lead to something more.

Visually Madden 11 is somewhat disappointing, while it has received a visual polish the game can still look rather ropey at times, the overtly animated and awkward looking victory celebrations being the most obvious. Still the reinvigorated gameplay more than makes up for the at times ropey graphics and at least Madden haters will no longer be able to trot out the “its just a visual polish” criticism.

The biggest let down is once again the A.I. Watching as a team seem to deliberate lose a game trough bad play is at once frustrating and unforgivable. It can seriously suck the life out a game and result in much controller throwing. The occurence of injuries is absurd, turning them way down in the settings is advisable if you wish to keep player in the game for more than a few minutes. While casual gamers won’t notice these flaws experienced gamers will find them particularly distracting.

With all is said and done, Madden 11 is a return to form for the series and manages to appeal to both hardened gamers and newcomers alike. It may not be the perfect Madden game but it’s pretty damn close.

REVIEW: Crackdown 2

Developer: Ruffian Games| Publisher: Microsoft | Format: 360

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher The original Crackdown was an interesting take on the sandbox genre. In it you took on the role of a cop in a futuristic city as you battled gangs and took ona variety of missions. The most interesting aspect of it all was that you were able to acquire and upgrade superhuman abilities, you could jump insane distances, pick up cars and throw them with ease aswell as a slew of others. The game was a refreshing and entertaining take on the genre and one which deservedly won it’s self a number of dedicated fans.

The sequel developed this time by Ruffian Games is pretty much more of the same. Considering the different developers most gamers expected a different approach but you’ll have trouble spotting any real difference. It’s pretty much the same game as the original only with different missions and a refined graphics engine. The story is something of a misstep here, you once more play a cop trying to bring peace to the city but this time you must not only fight the gangs but a disease which has been laying waste to the population. Bar this set up the story is pretty much non-existent. There is no coherent narrative and as such youre pretty much free to do as you see fit. In place of a story we instead get a fully created world to explore and abilities to earn and upgrade. The city is a sprawling metropolis which stretches for miles and given the hordes which roam the streets you’re never far from some action.

As with so many sequels of late the missions have been created so as to encourage co-op gameplay. Missions involve attacking enemy bases, capturing places on the map aswell as laying waste to hordes of enemies, all in all perfect multiplayer fodder. If you decide to go it alone, the missions remain exactly the same. It would have been nice to see some additional missions opened up to co-op gamers, it would certainly add a level of replayability that as it stands Crackdown 2 seriously lacks.

Crackdown 2 is fun when played alongside another friend but for gamers on their own it’s a repetitive and uninteresting title which soon grows tiresome. Fans of the first Crackdown will find a lot to like here but for everyone else Crackdown 2 is another title to add to the long list of missed opportunities.

REVIEW: Singularity

Developer:Raven Software |Publisher:Activision|Format: 360

The Bioshock comparisons are evident from the get go, special powers, unique and twisted enemies, upgradeable weapons and an enviroment directly out of your worst nightmare. Oh and don’t forget the rather tiresome audio logs full of useful information, useful that is as long as you’re willing to sit around listening to them. While these comparisons will no doubt be the focus for many there is much more here than yet another run of the mill shooter and unlike most of its ilk a few unique gameplay ideas saves the day.

The story unfolds on the Russian island of Katorga-12, the site of dastardly time manipulation experiments and being a sci-fi epic, the worst thing that can happen, does of course happen. A time shift sends our intrepid hero through time to a place where Russia is the worlds super power and an evil dictator runs the world now inhabited by mutated freaks. As the game unfolds you find yourself manipulating tears in time in order to jump back and forth in time in doing so changing the time line, it’s a unique idea which is perfectly executed.

As mentioned your time manipulation powers are integral to the gameplay, though like all good things in life too much of them robs them of their delight. The ability to unleash a time bubble which brings time contained within to a near standstill is a neat trick but it’s use makes gameplay rather formulaic and easy. By using the time bubble you can grab nearby enemies and easily dispatch them, repeat a few dozen times per area and in 8-10 hours it’s all over. Other abilities include being able to warp humans into mutated freaks and on the mutants themselves you can bring them to a near standstill or age their bodies till all that remains is dust. It’s all good wholesome family fun.

One of the most important aspects of any shooter is the control system and in Singularity the control system is intuitive and perfectly implemented. Movement and aiming are both spot on and the button layout makes for a title which can easily be picked up by even the most casual of gamers which considering the array of abilities on offer is no small feat.

The 8-10 hours of gameplay may not seem like much but considering the multiple endings on offer and dozens of rewards scattered throughout the levels re-playability is quite high making up somewhat for the rather lack struck multiplayer. Only two modes are offered and neither is exactly interesting, still with a few friends it will kill a rainy afternoon just don’t expect anything ground breaking.

Singularity is the definition of a good game which could have been a great one. It has it all, a great idea, inventive gameplay, great enemies but at the end of the day the repetitive gameplay robs it of greatness. That said, it’s still good fun and well worth at least a rental.

REVIEW: Green Day: Rock Band

Developer: Harmonix |Publisher: EA | Format: PS3

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher The Guitar Hero franchise got in on the single band music title with Guitar hero: Aerosmith way back in 07 whereas it took Rock Band a further two years to release a title dedicated to one band. Considering that the band in question was the Beatles, one can forgive the delay. After the success of the Beatles Rock Band it was only a matter of time till we saw more single band title released and now it’s the turn of pop punk heros Green Day.

Following the beatles is a tough trick to pull off and while Green Day do have a vast catalogue of songs to draw from unfortunately the absence of key tracks from the band’s history is disappointing. Most of the tracks included are taken from the latter half of the bands life with Dookie and American Idiot represented here in their entirety with 12 tracks from 21st Century Breakdown on offer. Given the nature of the music the difficulty level is substantially less than that of the Beatles, 3 cord punk rock never was all that difficult to pick up and play.

Gameplay is the same as last years Beatles, you can do up to a three-part harmony with other singers and can utilise the No Fail option if you want to play through the full song but just don’t feel capable of succeeding on your own all in all there’s nothing different on offer here but let’s be honest why fix something which aint broken.

Greed Day Rock Band is exactly what it says on the tin, nothing more, nothing less. THe soldi selection of songs will appeal to fans though long time fans may feel short-changed given the absence of key moments in the band’s history. Your enjoyment of the game all depends on one thing, whether or not you love Green Days music and as such fans will find a lot to enjoy here. for everyone else, Beatles Rock band remains the definitive single band title.
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REVIEW: Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands

Developer: Ubisoft | Publisher: Ubisoft | Format: PS3

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher

The last Prince of Persia title took the franchise in a rather different direction, employing as id did an open world design and gorgeous artistic graphics. It took a franchise which had grown rather tired and reinvigorated it. The latest release, to tie in with the just released film Sands of Time is something of a step back, which is no bad thing considering just how well it works.

The story focuses on the rivalry between our hero the prince and his brother, like most brothers at on time they got along but once evil inhabits the one brother, things have a habit of going sour. The story is a throw back to the superior Sands of Time and as such it really goes the extra mile in crafting a franchise entry which manages to hark back to older titles but at the same time still seem fun. Harking back to the Sands of time the game features intricate and elaborate level design, a hero who has the agility of a monkey, combat which is fun and puzzles which are actually puzzling.

Initial levels have a very paint by numbers feel and anyone whose played a previous title will find no surprises here. Add in the lackstruck and shallow combat and you have a recipe for disaster. Thank God then for the intricate a designed levels in which surprise lurks around every corner and a responsive control system which makes for entertaining if challenging gameplay.

The linear gameplay, a change to the open world design of the last game may seem like a step back but in reality it’s one of the games biggest strengths. The levels all work together with each new area building on the last as you constantly blend skills and abilities. The unlockable moves are the ones which make for such an interesting experience. The ability to freeze water at the touch of a button is the most widely used ability. Turning waterfalls into frozen walls to run across as at the tap of a button you crash through a previously frozen wall of water. It’s an interesting and highly rewarding feature which makes for some truly stunning moments.

Combat, unfortunately is rather lack struck. In past incarnations combat has never been the franchises  forte but it was always stylish enough to overcome such issues. In the Forgotten Sands it’s a bit of a mess, the camera seems to constantly point in every direction bar where you need and the rather simplistic nature of the combat means simply bashing the controls for a few minutes ensures you come out on top. While bosses are slightly more difficult they all seem to follow the same pattern, you avoid their attack before jumping on attacking. It’s simplistic and boring and constantly reminds you that you’re missing out on some superior platforming fun.

despite the initial hand holding and lack-struck combat there is more than enough fantastic platforming action on offer to satisfy fans of the franchise. At the end of the day the game is never less than entertaining and one of the funnest platforming titles in a long time. It’s shortcomings keep the game joining the ranks of the franchises better entries but it’s still a superior effort.

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