sprites & bites

Borderlands just released last week has to be one of the best games I have played this year.  It is an RPG shooter along similar lines of Fallout 3 but with a unique cel-shaded cartoony look and a more comical side to it.  From the moment I started playing Borderlands I just knew it had something special about it.  It’s whole feel is very sarcastic and tongue in cheek and is a joy to play amongst the more serious games out there.

It started out as a game with more realistic graphics but over time the developer decided to scrap the realistic look and go for a cel-shaded cartoon look.  This does actually fit in very well with the games humour and sometimes it feels akin to a comic book.

The weapons system is quite unique and the developer wrote a program which randomised weapons and gives you a theoretical hundreds of thousands of guns, although when playing through the game it did actually feel like only 100 guns, this is because even though there may be a sniper rifle made lovingly of plywood, it has a number of them with different tweaks to make it seem like there are lots when really it is just the same gun.  There are still many guns you just only get to see a few types with lots of combinations.

The missions are quite repetitive but when playing them the game does not give that air of repetitiveness at all, each mission feels unique with it’s own personality but really deep down it is like 10 tins of beans made by the same company but with different labels, it does not feel that though and that is good game design.

I actually got hooked on this game and played it from start to finish in almost every available moment and I finished it at around level 34 in 36 hours.  I had so much fun it was such a shame when the game ended and I knew there were no missions left to play.

This game definitely gives great value for money.  It has a large world, tons of missions and has a funny storyline.  If you love RPG games and shooters then this is an excellent mix and I doubt anybody would regret buying it.  Lots of games being released this time of the year so if you cannot afford it now, do rent it or wait for it to drop in price because it is an excellent game.

It is rare, but I give it an EXCELLENT/10

First up is Mini Ninjas.  Mini Ninjas is aimed at young children to promote exploration in a large world. The world is not that big and the game is very linear but it does promote exploration by way of collectable items. You can collect many new magical powers throughout the game and of course you have your ninja skills. You can also choose up to 8 playable characters all with their own unique skills.  To also promote a friendly way of fighting without nastiness for the younger audience, whenever you kill an enemy they do not die but turn into an animal. You can also turn into any animal yourself to use their skills.

Mini Ninjas is a fun game and has some replayability when you want to go back and repeat a level to find the items you missed.  Lots to collect and great fun.  GOOD/10

“UP” is a new game from Disney Pixar which follows in the adventures of Russell and Carl – an elderly gentleman and a young boy – from the upcoming film UP due soon. Russell and Carl are tied by a very long piece of ribbon to a floating house.  You have to navigate through the levels and you can choose to play either of them at any time.  They follow each other so you can easily switch between them to do different tasks.  Some tasks require a certain character to play so you can switch when necessary.  It all seems an okay platforming game at first but you soon realise that the game is very broken and not very well programmed. Voice acting can be out of sync with what is happening and also voices get repeated a lot. The other problem is that when the computer controls your other character it is doing a terrible job and may miss jumps and die.  The game is very slow, cumbersome and and glitchy.  I do not recommend anybody buy this game full price.  Accept it gracefully as a gift or wait until it is in the bargain bin.  TERRIBLE/10

Ice Age 3 is another movie which has been transformed into a game. Ice Age 3 was actually released a few months ago but I have only just got around to playing it.  This game is incredibly fun and is the best of the 3 in this issue. In fact it is the best platformer released  this year.  You play as various characters from the film in various locations from the snow of the Ice Age to the jungles riddled with dinosaurs.  The game starts off feeling a little bit generic but soon it blows open and the levels become insanely fun.  To go with a fun game, the script is also quite funny. There are fruits to collect to spend in the Ice Age store on upgrades and you can collect weapons as you go, including a rocket launcher made of a giant bamboo cane!

Ice Age 3 has everything you can want from a platformer including typical platforming styles taken from the likes of Crash Bandicoot. The only downside is that it is quite short and I completed it in around the 5 hour mark.  So it is a short game but well worth playing.  It is probably not worth the full high street asking price at the moment, but try and get it second hand or wait until the price drops, it is definitely not one to be missed. GREAT/10

WOLFENSTEIN – PC, XBOX 360 & PS3

The Castle of Wolfenstein games have come a long way since their inception many sunrises ago.  Wolfenstein is it’s latest incarnation and is the first on the current generation of consoles.  Set in World War 2, you are fighting the Nazi German’s and their zombies.  You find an old talisman which has special secret powers to unlock.  As you progress through the game you gain extra powers to the talisman – powers like the ability to make enemies glow up so you can see them easily and a special power to see hidden doors and secrets. Weaponry comes in the form of the usual WW2 guns – MP4, M23 and the rifle.

The game is made by Activision who are the publishers of the Call of Duty series, this is no Call of Duty but there are influences from those games.  The controls are very similar and have the same feel and even the mission markers look just like the Call of Duty stars.

Graphically the game does look good but there are sometimes low resolution detail and you can see they could have put a little bit more into the presentation. It is certainly no deal-breaker though and there are far worse looking games around.

Wolfenstein is of average length and a casual gamer can get through the campaign in 10-12 hours, maybe a little more if you do all the side extras.

Good/10

Shadow Complex  – Xbox Live Arcade 1200 points

For 1200 points you are getting a fantastic game which is almost of full retail price proportions and is far better than some of the sludge that has been released lately.

Shadow Complex is a side scrolling 3D platformer/shooter/puzzler all thrown into one tasty package. It is made by Epic Games – of Gears of War fame, so you know that every effort has been made to give you a great gaming experience.  It looks good, the graphics are high detail for an arcade game and I experienced no problems.  There was only one time when the game showed some screen tearing and that was when riding the minecart.

The game is quite easy to play and even grandad’s would not have a problem with the controls.  My finish play time was over 6 hours but I did not take the time to collect all items and visit every room.  My stat at the end of the game was only 49% of items to complete so it has the possibility of a good 4-5 hours extra if you are wishing for 100% completion.

Shadow Complex in my opinion is the best Xbox Live Arcade game to date, bar none and is worth every penny I spent on it.

Great/10

Batman: Arkham Asylum

History shows that video games made from movies/comic books have always been very poor, with little gameplay, lots of bugs and look graphically rubbish.  It is like the developers are trying to milk a cash cow without putting in any effort.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is here and is definitely one to break the mould.  This game looks every bit a high definition game with amazing visuals. I would go as far to say next to Call of Duty 4, it is the best looking game on the Xbox 360 to date. There were no bugs, no glitches, no tearing and no framerate problems except for a bit near the end – some cutscenes with the Joker. I am not saying it is the best game ever, only that it looks the best, nearly.

The game is a bit of a hack and slash button mashing affair when it comes to combat, this makes it a relatively easy game to play except really when it comes to the boss battles.  I have to admit I have not completed the game.  I have come to a boss battle near the end and I simply cannot do it and there seems no way to change the difficulty.  This may be a game which ends up unfinished, which is a shame as I have throughly enjoyed it.

There are lots to collect, from riddler puzzles to trophies and interview tapes with prisoners.  There are also challenges to unlock, these can be timed challenges or set pieces to achieve certain goals.  The challenges are accessed through the main menu.  If you have the PS3 version of the game it does include the Joker challenge missions for free.  Sadly the Xbox 360 version does not have these challenges and you will probably have to pay for them if you want them at a later date.

This is a must have game which is worth at the very least a rental.

Great/10

I have no idea whether it is a TV problem or a sky HD box problem.

Every night at around 12.15-12.30am the TV will lose its HDMI signal. Its as if the source (sky box) has been switched off and it says “HDMI 1 – No source detected”. But the sky box is still on.

If I switch the TV off and on again viewing will come back. It will repeat itself every 10 mins or so for about an hour and a half. It NEVER happens during the day or at any other hour.

There is no timer on the TV, auto standby on the box is switched off.

Now here is the weird thing, it only ever happens when watching E4. If I am watching any other channel it does not happen.

I have tried different HDMI sockets (TV has 3) I have tried different cables but the same thing happens. It does not happen to the PS3 or the Xbox 360.

I have called Samsung and they are baffled but have escalated it to the higher tech team. I have called Sky and they are equally as baffled and have also escalated it to the higher team.

TV is Samsung LE40A557P and is about 5 months old
HD box is a Thomson with EPG version sky+8.3.2 and is little over a year old.
The problem has been occurring only for last 3-4 weeks.

Does anyone have any idea what may be causing this please? Because everyone I speak to is out of ideas. Even if I hear from someone with the same problem but no resolution, I don’t mind at least I feel I am not alone then

Great idea but like everything else run by a big corporation, it is too expensive.

I really want Call of Duty 2 as I have never been able to find it again in the shops but at £20 I think that is far too expsnive for a game which is 5 years old.  If it was £9.99 I would buy it instantly but not at £20, I am not that desperate.

They should really have prices whcih reflect the market for older games.  Maybe have a tier system – new games at near full price, games over 2-3 years old should be bargain bucket.

Unfortunately I think people will accept these prices and pay them which will in turn justify them to Microsoft and they will not bother changing them.

Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood is the sequel to Call of Juarez.  Actually it is more of a prequel because the storyline happens before the storyline of the original.  Remember the God-fearing Reverand Ray McCall from the previous game?  Well this is when the mighty Reverand was not a Reverand but a soldier in the American Civil War fighting for the confederate.

The game starts off in the American Civil War until Mr Ray gets bored and decides to pursue other matters, getting him into trouble with his superiors.  You play alongside Ray’s brother Thomas.  When each level starts you get to choose who to play – Ray or Thomas.  Both of them have unique abilities that the other does not have.  If you choose Ray on a level if you go back and play again with Thomas, you are playing the level from a different perspective so there is some replayability in the game.

The game is very linear and only one route through a level but it really does not matter, it is an enjoyable game nevertheless.  At certain points of the game, before you choose to start your mission you can play around a bit with some side missions.  Just go to the stores and look at the wanted posters on the walls.  There are sides to kill people or to get back stolen property for example.  They are small destractions from the main game.

It is not the best looking current gen game around, but it does the job and sometimes it does look great.  I found when playing I had some picture tearing at times but it was never a serious issue.

Generally it is not too difficult a game but my main gripe is the shooting duels, I find them incredibly hard and sometimes they took 10 attempts or more to win.  Very frustrating.

Good game, definitely worth a rental and maybe pick it up to buy if you are interested in the included multiplayer.

Good/10

Another year, another EA money spinner of Tiger Woods PGA Tour – we are in double figures now and have made it to 10, representing next year 2010.  EA like to feel ahead in the calendar.

First thing I notice after the starting splash screen is a nice new menu, but hey..  “New courses available, press LB” so I press LB and it takes me to the 360 marketplace where I can buy 2 courses at 600 points each – thats two DLC courses ON THE DAY OF RELEASE – clearly EA held them back from the real game to gouge us for extra money.  I find this disgusting practice.

So onto the game itself.  Graphically the game looks good and EA are  improving on the way they render bushes and trees but still they seem unable to do crowds properly.  The crowds have so little detail they might as well be matchsticks but this is really just a minor irritation and shows that whilst EA are making a good effort to make the game look good, they are neglecting the crowds.

The game has all of the traditional modes, tournaments and the career play.  Every year the career challenges are laid out differently, last year it was the honeycomb grid, this year they are play cards moving left to right through the different courses and have differing levels of difficulty.  All of ythe challenges are copies from real life golf incidents with major players over the years, so it is quite good we are actually playing these famous incidents – from long drive challenges, to par 3’s etc and infamous comebacks.

Apart from the way the challenges are set out, not much really has changed from last year.  Your personal coach is still there and you have the optional challenges to improve your golf through the coach.

If you really must get the newest golf game every year then this is worth a buy but there is not much more to that of last year, so do not expect huge changes.