Gaz Allenby & Family

 

 

My first new addition to the gaming section for some time, and that is Xbox 360. I have to admit I was a staunch Sony fan and as such was determined to wait for the PS3 release; I even had one on pre-order. But then I thought about the price, estimated at £500 plus for a release bundle, then I heard that some software will licence itself to the actual unit it runs on so it cannot be used elsewhere, eliminating the pre-owned market, how much truth in this there is I don’t know, but it wouldn’t surprise me. Then the anticipated price of games, nearly £60, and finally the slipped released date – AGAIN! So when presented with an XBox offer on the net, a premium system for £220 I decided to join the XBox fraternity, and am I ever glad I did.

The machine plays like a dream, the graphics are superb (as expected for a next gen console), but for me, probably like many others, it’s the introduction to the world of Xbox Live, Xbox’s on line function, which is the revelation, this means there is always someone out there to play when you get bored of the single player rut, don’t worry though because the console rates you based on your game play history and tries to match you with similarly experienced players. Long live the Xbox 360!

 

So having had it a couple of months now, here are my views on some of the games I’ve been playing on it. 

 

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Bought Viva Pinata for the kids, but they're fighting me fo the controller at the minute. Looks & sounds cheesy, garish colours and cartoony graphics aimed at the junior market hide an addictive and satisfying simulation games, I really like it, and so do the kids. 7.5/10

 

 

 

 

Lost Planet........Gears on Snow?..........Crap.........Looked great...........played crap...........didn't like it............took it back.  2/10

 

 

 

 

 

Really got intoplaying the arcade game Texas Hold'Em, love the game and the ease of dropping in and out of the On line play while not having to be a total expert to get satisfaction out of on-line play, so I bought this hoping for a little bit more. It doesn't work though, I found it slow and confusing and no where near as satisfying as the simple on line no frills card game, do yourself a favour, if you enjoy poker, give this a miss and get yourself the arcade versions, to don't need to see badly digitized faces and corny dialogue to enjoy poker. 3/10

 

 

 

Where to start with Gears of  War, I've had to re-evaluate my last few games on the strength of this game. Now I'm not a FPS fan, I play them occassionally, but the hype around this compelled me to buy, and am I glad I did. The first thing that'll get you is the graphics, this game is simply stunning, the environments, characters and cut scenes are a joy and show the true potential of the 360 combined with HD visuals, it would be worthwile for this alone, but add in an intuitive gameplay, ahalf decent story, a good level of challenge and this becomes the game that it was promised to be. The movement, action and visuals simply draw you into the game. It is a joy to play, and while I am louthed to give any game a 10 out of 10 this comes pretty damn close – 9.5/10

 

 

Star Wars II - The original Trilogy is a pure gem of a little game. My kids, sadly, are not too familiar with the original Star Wars films that some of us 'older generation' are, but despite this the playability of the game itself appeals to the younger gamer, as I'm sure was one of it's orginal designs. My 9 year old daughter loves it and would spend here entire time playing it I'm sure if I let here. However, it's appeal is not limited to just little people, oh no!, if, like me, you're one of the many fans of the original Star Wars franchise then the humour and familiarity of this game will have you equally engrossed as the kids.

It's gameplay and puzzle play may be simplistic, and on first glance maybe too simple, but for the game to be truly appreciated , all corners of every level need to be explored. To do this you need first play each level, sequentially, in Story mode, this will in turn 'unlock' characters for you to later utilise in re-exploring levels in Free mode with the characters to access areas which were otherwise inaccessible in story mode. As I said, it's a cracking game and between this and Fight Night 3, little else gets a look in the CD tray – 8.5/10

 

 

 

Dead Rising. OK here’s the score with Dead Rising, it’s my latest game buy, haven’t had time to explore the full depth of the game yet, but instantly I love it. You are a Hotshot reporter dropped into a Zombie infested shopping Mall to get the scoop of the Century. In the past I have been frustrated by the linear play afforded by their CapCom titles such as Onimusha and Resident Evil. Dead Rising breaks free from that and gives you a much more open game play, with free roaming environments, a barrel of laughs and a endless supply of Zombies to kill. A game that makes you smile while you play gets my vote every time, try the lawn mower attack on a bunch of the undead, or a coat hanger in the mouth, or just buckets on the heads and watch them bump into each other aimlessly, great. And if you get bored with this there is a good story line and mission objectives. Or of course you can try and get as many road cones on as many zombies as you can. Until I’ve played it further I can’t give it higher, till then it gets a 9/10 (for now).

 

 

Fight Night Round 3. I own this on the PSP, which kept me occupied on holiday and at times threatened to consume it, so the Xbox version was a must. The game is basically the same, with the same commentary and Game modes, the PSP feels more arcadia than the Xbox, and on the Xbox it feels more grown up. But the best thing on the Xbox is the look, this game looks STUNNING! and once the differing controls are mastered it is a joy to play. I love it and I’ve got months of game play left in me for this yet – 9/10

 

 

 

MotoGP6 looks the business, and has the real feel of a racing sim. But it’s exactly because of that that makes it a game that isn’t instantly accessible, the controls, though ultimately may be realistic, take time to master, some of the pre race challenges become infuriating despite on the surface of it being quite simple. However, that said, if persevered with this becomes a rewarding game in race / career mode, the challenges may become infuriatingly difficult to complete, but ultimately do what they’re supposed to and come the race you are much more prepared for the individual characteristics of the track, which in turn makes the race more satisfying - 7/10

 

 

Rumble Roses. Yes I know, what is a game like that doing in my list, well, it was pressure from two of my girls to get it. To them it’s a fighting game with just girls in it, who have neat costumes to dress up in. To anyone else, it’s borderline computer filth with heavy sexual undertones design to obviously appeal to the more insular male audience. Plus it plays like a pig, I hate it, the girls love it, so for now, it’ll get a 4/10

 

 

Championship Manager 2006. An old favourite of mine from the PC, I bought it out of laziness, why chop and change between PC and Xbox, just get everything on the Xbox, to be fair, the mouse/keyboard interface is a miss, but not enough to lose the core appeal of the game, once playing it still grips you and compels you to play on for one more match after another. Xbox title, maybe not, a good game deffo! 7/10

 

 

 

Table Tennis may seem a strange choice for a next gen title, but trust me it plays, and looks, like a dream. Its appeal is it’s simplicity of controls, anyone, irrespective of gaming experience can be having long enjoyable rallies within minutes. There are career modes for those who want to develop it further, the Xbox live interface also makes it easy to play someone other than the console – 8/10

 

 

 

Ghost Recon Advance Warrior is a tactical shooter. Again the graphic capabilities of the console enhance the gaming experience to what can become a very addictive game. Unfortunately this is one the games I haven’t yet managed to experience live yet, and the one I want to most. Its team tactics, verbal commands and game play lend itself totally to on line, something I must do. Still, stand alone it is an engrossing game but without the benefit of knowing its true on-line potential I’ll give it 8/10

 

 

 

 

 

 

Been playing Rome a lot the last few weeks, and there is still a lot left in it. I manages the near impossible by improving on the previous two in almost every way. There ‘s nothing like sending a squad of incendiary pigs, flaming wildly into the centre of a group of charging elephants, seeing them scatter in every direction taking any nearby unit out of the action. The interface is improved, as are the graphics, particularly in the map view where you can position troops in actual areas of terrain. The battles are as enjoyable as ever, although I do miss the follow projectile option and the range of formations afforded the previous two versions, the ability to zoom up close and personal is also a great development, especially if you want to see the last of your enemies forces get ripped to pieces by your War Dogs. This is yet another huge thumbs up.

9 out of 10

I treated FSW with some scepticism for a long time before finally being persuaded by reviews and promotion to buy it, and I have to say it surpassed my expectations of it. It is a well crafted and graphically impressive game. It’s unique gameplay of squad based, management shooter works quite well actually.  Point and click strategy gives you a feel of being in command rather than just following the action. However, all that said it does also demonstrate that combat isn’t so much an all action spectacle as a dangerous game of chess, making sure you units approach their objectives with care, covering each other in a orchestrated manner. This means it can get, well tedious, especially as progress is done from save points, so a careful 10minute  approach to an objective, which goes belly up at the last push has to be replayed through the full 10 minutes. That said, it is an enjoyable game and not one I regret adding to my collection, especially as there is some amusing coarse ‘grunt’ humour scattered throughout . Who said war was easy.

7 out of 10

 

 

 

What can I say about GTS SA. When GTA first came out many years ago it’s gameplay and quirky humour made it an instant success, since then, particularly with Vice City it has taken expansive games to a new level. SA goes one better, this game is HUGE, so much so that I find myself writing this while only half way through it, and I am playing it just about every day at the minute to some degree, with still over half the map to discover. It still looks great, the humour has got down and dirtier, the missions equally difficult to the right degree and it is distracting in that you keep finding yourself just wanting to ‘prat’ about, doing Taxi missions, or just rolling round looking for low rider competitions, a gym to exercise, maybe a KFC to eat, or just somewhere to take your Ho. It pushes the boundaries as far as it can, based around you as gang member/leader making a name for himself in the Underworld, and while GTA VC you had to do it in an Armani suit and for more ‘businesslike’ criminal of the mob, this is street ghetto crime, from the dialogue, the clothes and hair cuts you have to choose, to the soundtrack which is once again out of this world. That said I cannot give GTA SA a 10 out of 10, mainly because for all it’s great points, it still feels like a (really great) rework of Vice City, don’t get me wrong, it looks great, plays great and sounds great, but then so did Vice City. It is of course bigger, much bigger, and the attention to your characters personal development are a compelling upgrade. It is a must have all the same and I will continue to play it to death. One word of advice, this carries an 18 certificate, and if you are sensitive to your children being exposed to violence, bad language, sexual and narcotic content then do not buy them this, some of it is very adult. A big boys game so to speak.

9 out of 10

 

 

The current craze on the console at the moment is Burnout3: Takedown on the PS2. Read lots of reviews on this since I bought it, but I didn't need to read a review to realise how good this game is. Within seconds you are into the game and creating carnage and mayhem everywhere. Racking up the bonus points, releasing new vehicles and unlocking trhe next challange compelling you to stay on that extra 10 minutes to unlock the next items, keeping you wanting to play, like every good, nay great, game should do. It far surpasses the predecessors in the series in scale, gameplay and graphics. This is a great game, giving the best arcade playability in a console game I have come across in an age.

9 out of 10