Gaming Blog

Solatorobo: Red the Hunter DS Review || Novel Gamer column on Game People

2011-10-26T08:44:00.000-07:00

Solatorobo: Red the Hunter provides an incredible journey in a huge fantasy world with a great story. This is one of the biggest adventures by far to be had on the DS.

The hallway echoed with my booming steps as the heavy metal feet of the DAHAK carried me forward. As I continued on, two robot security drones came to attack me. I leaned the DAHAK down and picked one of the droids up by its feet. Leaping into the air, I hurled the terrified machine into its partner, destroying them both in a shower of sparks.Reaching the darkened end of the corridor I saw that the way forward would be impassable for the suit. I gulped and stared bleakly at the tiny ladder, as I realised I would have to dismount and continue on foot. I took with me a small hand weapon. In comparison to the DAHAK's mighty form, I knew I represented a pitiful opposition to any enemies lurking the darkness. I felt very alone. I gripped the pistol tightly and began to climb into the shadows...

The pleasure I got from playing this game speaks most strongly to my love of animated Japanese movies. Not so much the building-destroying, explosion-leaping or motorbike riding anime, but more the wistful, child's-dream fantasy of Studio Ghibli, the company behind Spirited Away and Laputa. While resolutely science fiction, the floating cities in Solatorobo are stone-cobbled and the next character I meet may as likely be a pastry chef as an amorous cargo-trader.

Solatorobo creates a fantasy world of sky pirates, brigands and treasure. The costumes are flamboyant and operatic and the action equally melodramatic. Red, the hero, is a (ed: Dog) mercenary looking to earn a living from taking on jobs for the menagerie of interesting supporting characters. He fosters an intense rivalry for the local security forces and before he knows it he is embroiled in a bigger plot with conspiratorial twists and a magic secret. It's like Han Solo's journey in Star Wars if it had been directed by Terry (The Adventures of Baron Munchausen) Gilliam.

While Solatorobo's quests are largely variations on being sent to find an object or kill a certain group of enemies, the basic mission structure is kept lively and enjoyable by the brilliant fiction and cast of memorable characters. The settings are varied, from a giant-bee-infested jungle to a subterranean sewer. The game's narrative always manages to keep bringing fresh ideas and locations and remains an engaging adventure throughout.

Solatorobo features a highly unique combat concept

It also benefits from a fairly open-world structure. While there were certain quests which advanced the story, I found that being able to explore each new location at my leisure helped connect with Solatorobo's world. A clear sense of location is a hugely important factor in immersing a player or audience in a narrative and this game achieves it.

Another element which reinforces that sense of space is the requirement for Red to dismount his powerful robot suit occasionally to explore less traversable terrain on foot. Compared to the god-like robot, Red on his own feels very small and vulnerable. As my story above suggests, I found these moments were loaded with sympathy for the character along with a real sense of suspense.

The game's unique selling point is also its weakness. Solatorobo features a highly original combat concept. Enemies are fought in real-time by lifting them and throwing them to cause damage. Multipliers can be added by jumping into the air before hurling and hitting another opponent with a flying victim. Red's robot suit, which allows for these activities, can also be upgraded to increase lifting strength, speed, attack and defence. The battles are kept interesting by a variety of enemies that have to be approached in different ways to allow Red to get his cunning claws into place to lift the enemy.

It's like Han Solo's journey in Star Wars if it had been directed by Terry Gilliam.

But, despite that stream of varied encounters the basic approach of lifting, throwing and returning attacks becomes repetitive very quickly. I can't put my finger on it, but I feel that somehow the combat needs a couple of extra strategic elements to provide a truly addictive experience.

In true Zelda tradition there are also some mini-games which can provide a welcome distraction. The mech-fighting and fishing games are highly enjoyable. However, there is an aircraft racing side-game which I found to be fiddly to control and is visually messy and unsatisfying.

The air racing does opens up into 4-player races for players over Wi-Fi and this may provide a more entertaining challenge than I was able to experience. However I couldn't help but feel that the basic handling lacked fluidity and the collectible weapons never seemed to be as finely tuned as a combat racer like Wipeout or Mario Kart.

Those flaws are minor, however, in the face of Solatorobo: Red the Hunter's undeniable charms. In addition to all that this game has to offer there are even 12 additional quests to download, providing even more adventures. With sun-bleached fantasy castle towns and pantomime characters it feels every bit like getting immersed in a dreamy cartoon escape.

Chris Jarvis writes the Novel Gamer column.

"I write stories to say what I think about games, for me it's the only way I can really communicate what I feel about them. Do you ever have a response to something that's hard to put into words? I find that sometimes I have something to express that can't be communicated by trying to explain how I feel, directly."

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Nier PS3 Review || Intimate Gamer column on Game People

2011-10-26T08:38:00.000-07:00

I have never played a game quite like Nier before. But it took a while for me to realise what exactly that meant. Characters, relationships and story overtake its gameplay mechanics, and invite us to intrude on the painful loss of intimacy between a father and his sick daughter.

Part of my unusual reaction to Nier was how the game handled its characters and how they drove the story. Unlike many hack and slash adventure games I had played before, Nier offered me a wonderful, promising and sometimes interactive storyline.

From the offset, you are plunged into a weird and post apocalyptic world. It looked familiar at first, a grim world plagued by snow and cold, cluttered with devastated buildings and the colour grey. From that moment I saw the shell of a man, at first any typical forlorn and tragic hero, having lost everything, it looked like he had nothing to live for. But he got up and he fought, and it was quickly revealed that he was a father, and from that moment on, that was exactly how I saw him.

It became a story about a father striving to protect his sick daughter, and about a daughter who only wanted to spend time with her father, and not be a burden to him. I expected the girl to die, and our hero to become that tragic figure, wondering without a purpose. But unlike other games I've player that didn't happen, and I found that really refreshing.

Nier's daughter's name is Yonah. The dynamic between father and daughter meant I was instantly attached to her, which doesn't happen often. Children in video games rarely prove to be a driving force, more often a hindrance or a sorrowful plot device, and although Yonah may have been exactly that - a way to bring the magic and mystery to Nier's small village and give him purpose, it didn't feel forced.

The dynamic between father and daughter meant I was instantly attached to her.

It felt tragic in the loss of their parent-child intimacy. Through surprisingly believable reactions we see how Nier wants to make certain of what exactly is wrong with her. Searching for an answer he struggles to keep them afloat in a dying world, needing to spend time apart from his sick daughter in order to secure their future.

When Yonah's disease, the Black Scrawl, begins to makes itself known in full Nier is finally lost in his determination to find a cure. It becomes difficult to interact with anyone, such was his single minded intent -- the will of a man driven to find a cure for his daughter.

The architecture of a forgotten world, this bizarre landscape of bridges that lead nowhere and abandoned military bunkers turned junk heaps, creates a unique place for this intimacy to be played out.

But more than the world, it is the Neir-Yonah relationship that really makes the game work. The diary entries on the loading screens were a beautiful way of keeping Yonah present in her absence, bringing forward little details about her and her father that could not be expressed elsewhere.

It was already clear that Yonah loved her father, but through these messages you see her loneliness, and how in order to keep her alive Nier is almost negligent in his love. It is a sad dynamic that speaks for itself, something that rarely gets explored in video games.

It is a sad dynamic that speaks for itself, something that rarely gets explored in video games.

It's odd, but very realistic. Yonah, despite her illness, just wants her father around more. We are let into the innermost mind set of both Yonah and her father, and throughout the game I felt it push me forwards.

My only regret is that the gameplay mechanics weren't able to match the weight of the relationships. It often felt more like reading a novel than playing a game. In these terms it suffers next to more mature handling of characters we find in books. Many of the other characters were stale, and weren't terribly original. Despite the unusual world setting the people were all terribly familiar, almost type cast.

Although there are lovely touches here and there, characters like the hard-done-by outcast and spoilt-young-king detract from the father/daughter experience. I had such high hopes for the game, and although it did offer a different story and way of playing through it, I think that in the end, these ambitious actions may have been its own downfall.

Neir will always be special for me though. It may be one game that I've played where the plot and characters truly overtook everything else. The game-play was not exactly challenging, just awkward, so I kept on playing for the story alone, and I think that is both wonderful and a little weird too.

Hollie Simon wrote this Intimate Gamer article under the watchful eye of Emma Boyes.

"I thought it would be interesting to write about sex and relationships in Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS lite and PSP games. I'll also touch on other areas like how women are portrayed, gender roles, and being gay."

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Tetris: Axis 3DS News || Reporting Gamer column on Game People

2011-10-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

Tetris: Axis brings the grand-daddy of Nintendo franchises onto the 3DS with a range of new play styles as well as that classic Tetris formula.

With the name Tetris: Axis it's tempting to think that Nintendo have finally succumbed to the fad of releasing everything as a WWII-themed shooter. Thankfully this isn't the case and Tetris: Axis proves that there are still plenty of new ways that seven unique shapes can provide a range of puzzle-based games.

The first and most appealing feature is the return of the classic Marathon mode. This will make use of the AR capability of the 3DS by super-imposing the Tetris wall on a real surface in your environment. This means that for those that haven't given their ? card an outing in recent times it may be time to search for it. Also utilising the AR mode is a game type called Climber, in which Tetris blocks must be dropped to form a staircase for a figure climbing a cylindrical tower. The player will have to move around the object in order to place falling shapes. It remains to be seen how enjoyable this mode becomes in practice and how well suited the lengthy rounds of Tetris are to standing and moving around.

Tetris: Axis is also getting some SpotPass functionality which allows players to acquire new items to use in-game to achieve higher scores. For those in less social 3DS areas, hopefully this won't detract from enjoying the game itself.

In addition to these there are over 20 variations on the Tetris theme, including Jigsaw, Capture and Fit. Multiplayer also benefits of a huge array of choice including local Wi-Fi, Download Play and World Battle via online multiplayer. All of these support up to 8 players.

Compared to early release titles like Pilotwings Resort - which generated debate about the small amount of content it provided for a full price game - I think Tetris Axis delivers a huge amount of content at a budget price point. With the game set to be available for less than ?20, it is a generous offer and refreshing that Nintendo recognise the need to encourage gamers to buy yet another iteration of Tetris.

But, as iterations go, it looks as though Tetris: Axis has a range of options which will make use of some of the 3DS' great feature and should be a must-have title for any owners of the console.

Tetris: Axis is currently planned for release on the Nintendo 3DS on the 21st October 2011.

Chris Jarvis wrote this Reporting Gamer article under the watchful eye of Paul Govan.

"The problem with video game news is that there is so much of it. I've made it my task to sift out the noise and bring you news about games I think you should be excited about."

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Ms Splosion Man 360 XBLA Review || Intimate Gamer column on Game People

2011-10-26T08:29:00.000-07:00

Ms Splosion Man may be pink but is no more intimate than her masculine counterpart. The same formula is fun for a while, but in the end I went looking for interesting characters and conversations elsewhere.

Arcade games aren't exactly known for their in depth plot-lines and diverse characters. Their uniqueness is in their ability to tell a fulfilling story on a smaller scale.

However, whilst playing Ms. Splosion Man, I didn't feel that there was much more than an original premise. I had wanted to discover how Ms. Splosion Man fitted into the universe established by her boyfriend (or perhaps husband) Splosion Man, but it was not exactly the most intimate or deep of games. It was fun to play, but it didn't really offer me anything more than that.

I have not played any Splosion Man games before and had no expectations, or in fact very much idea of what might happen. I had, however, hoped to find some sense of reason within Splosion Man world, but discovered quickly that this wasn't going to be the case. The story is essentially just: Splosion Man is captured.

It had it moments when I thought that there might be something beyond the explosions, when faced by new enemies and certainly in the very opening level when being chased by a giant robot. BUt amidst the tension that put me on the edge of my seat Ms. Splosion Man seemed almost entirely unaffected, completely oblivious to events around her.

I know this is just an arcade game, but a little bit of relational intimacy or characters to engage with would have got me through the battering gameplay. But without this, I never really became involved in the game or the character of Ms. Splosion Man.

It was not exactly the most intimate or deep of games.

Sure, she was entertaining with her singing and dancing, in a pop-culture referencing kind of way, but there was no substance beyond this, no personality of her own. It made it difficult to like her, she reminded me of a classic Loony Toons character, entertaining but not exactly unique. Fun for an entertaining evening, but certainly not someone to regularly date.

She left no food for thought, I was not for a moment interested in what she had to say or indeed if she had anything to say at all, it felt to me that she was not even aware of whatever goal she had.

Although Ms Splosion Man may not be for everyone, at least it didn't pretend to be anything more than what it is - an exciting, exploding, puzzle, platformer. For whatever reason, it lacked characters and conversations, but the game itself seemed to make up for it.

It lacked conversations, but the game itself seemed to make up for it.

Ms. Splosion Man didn't leave me hungry for more. I experienced it, and left it at that, it was easy to just leave behind. Male or female it appeared as though it wouldn't have made a difference to the game, to me, it just looked like yellow had been traded in for pink.

Hollie Simon wrote this Intimate Gamer article under the watchful eye of Emma Boyes.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Inazuma Eleven DS Review || Novel Gamer column on Game People

2011-10-26T08:23:00.000-07:00

Inazuma Eleven combines Anime-style roleplaying with a quirky football simulation. I really wanted to like it. I really didn't.

It was one of those matches that the crowd would remember for the drama as much as the final score. Our own plucky team had set out on a personal underdog-to-hero story and this was the game that would prove our potential.With only seconds left on the clock, the score was one-all and the ball was deep within my own half. I deftly tackled the opposing striker and cleared the ball to the left wing. I tapped the ball forward through the enemy, skilfully guiding it from player to player. My striker was onside; he picked up the pass and charged for the open goal - the opposing keeper was no-where to be seen. My star player pulled back his foot and cannoned the ball toward the net.At which point the enemy keeper appeared from nowhere and summoned a magic sword which cut the ball in half, denying the goal. I couldn't help but feel cheated. It didn't even count as a foul.

Inazuma Eleven attempts to use Football as the action element in a cartoon role-playing adventure. In narrative terms it understands the passion well, weaving its rags-to-riches story about an enthusiastic young player in a run-down school club without motivation. He rallies his friends and recruits fresh players to take on a series of matches which will save their club and prove their worth.

It's very well presented, with great quality animation and voice talent. It's from the same developer as the Professor Layton series and all the production hallmarks are on display. The Football sections are controlled by drawing lines with the stylus for players to follow. I found this initially confusing compared to other, more direct Football games; however once mastered it provides a great insight into the movement of players on the pitch and the need to set up strategic plays to confuse the defence and the goalkeeper.

The smaller encounters are fairly entertaining, replacing the random monster battles of an RPG like Dragon Quest VI with sudden four-a-side challenges to gain possession or score first. Where Inazuma Eleven really fails is in the incorporation of 'special moves' into the main Football match challenges.

Inazuma Eleven fails to overcome the challenge of combining player skill with character stats.

The drama created by a Football match revolves around possession of the ball, the effectiveness of player positioning and prepared set pieces and ultimately the skill of eluding the keeper. Inazuma Eleven actually succeeds in simulating Football very effectively, in that it provides the tools for a player to position team members, define a strategy and then see that strategy play out.

That would be fine if that is as far as it went. Unfortunately, each player has stats which affect the success of tackles, saves and the like and skill points can be used to unleash special moves. These add a role-playing progression to each character as new abilities are unlocked but I found it detracted from my enjoyment of the Football challenges.

The magic skills undermine the drama of Football. The story I related above is my own experience of running an extremely successful play against the opposing team. The keeper was wide, my striker was onside and I had a clear shot at the goal. However, the hidden mechanics of the game decided to deny my achievement.

To make matters even worse, most of Inazuma Eleven's statistics are calculated behind the scenes. I don't even know what factors contributed to the special move which ended my game. This also applies to fouls, which seemed to be decided in a random fashion. The only calculated statistic which is presented to the player is in tackle challenges.

In narrative terms it understands the passion well, weaving its rags-to-riches story.

The problem here is the way the game provides difficult action sequences for the player to overcome, but then decides the outcome using in-game stats. The player is already given a considerable challenge in having to wrestle possession of the ball, guide it through the opposing lines and make a successful challenge. Having done this, however, the fruits of the player's skill are then arbitrarily decided by in-game mechanics. It would be like a driving game introducing random engine explosions in the last lap of a race, or a golf game introducing teleporting holes.

I'm not much of an ardent Football fan myself, but I still felt enormously cheated that my efforts in-game had been negated by an arbitrary role-playing mechanic. This actually blocked my progression in the game, having failed to beat the same match four times in a row. Each time I was ham-strung for the same reason, by a special move which cancelled an almost certain goal. Inazuma Eleven left me feeling so frustrated I actually struggled to sleep after playing it.

The creators of Phoenix Wright and Professor Layton have made a good stab at trying to create a stirring cartoon Football drama, but fail to overcome the challenge of combining player skill with character stats. Inazuma Eleven is neither an enjoyable role-playing adventure nor an entertaining or accurate Football simulation.

Chris Jarvis writes the Novel Gamer column.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Skylanders Characters and Figures Full List Wii Rough Guide || Collecting Gamer column on Game People

2011-10-26T08:19:00.000-07:00

Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure puts exquisite collectable toy figures to work in a videogame. Getting the best value from your collection is more than finding the cheapest price, it's as much about choosing the toys that suit how you play the game.

As with any action adventure videogame it is understanding how game works that actually makes it more fun. With Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure this is even more the case as it has a range of different toy characters you need to choose from. Identifying the toy characters that best suite your style of play (and your budget) is important to your experience of the game.

Earth Characters: Terrafin Prsim Break Bash Legendary Bash Dino-rang
Fire Characters: Ignitor Eruptor Flame Slinger Sunburn
Air Characters: Sonic Boom Lighten Rod Whirlwind Warnado
Water Characters: Gill Grunt Zap Slam Bam Wham Shell
Magic Characters: Spyro Dark Spyro Legendary Spyro Voodood Double Trouble Wrecking Ball
Tech Characters: Trigger Happy Boomer Drobot Drill Sergeant
Life Characters: Stealth Elf Stump Smash Zook Camo
Undead Characters: Chop Chop Legendary Chop Chop Ghost Roaster Hex Cynder

Before I go through the different Skylanders character stats, attacks and upgrades you need to understand how this fits together. I'll assume you've read the Skylanders Review and watched the Studio Tour so you have a good idea of how the toys are used to access characters in the game.

Each of the toy figures belongs to a particular grouping: Earth, Fire, Air, Life, Undead, Magic, Water and Tech. Owning all the characters in one of these groups gives you an extra bonus when you play. Also, the groupings define how the characters perform against each other in the versus mode and in the main campaign. Each group has special areas that only they can access.

Fig 1. Pre-order Skylanders Figures on Amazon.

When choosing which toys to collect you need to balance the benefits from owning all of one sat against the being able to pick and choose from the different sets and access more of the special areas. Also, if you are going to be fighting against friends you may want a range of different character groups to select from to match up against their toys. For instance, fighting Fire with Water is more effective than fighting it with Tech.

As well as these groupings. the toys each have a set of starting characteristics that defines how they perform initially and how you can power them up and upgrade them in the videogame.

Firstly, they have a primary and secondary attack that defines both the style, range and effectiveness against different enemies. The primary and secondary attacks can sometimes be used in combination to increase the power or reach of a weapons. For example Prism Break can fire his primary Beam attack into the crystals he summons with his secondary Shard Summon attack to reflect it in more directions and increase its range.

Secondly, each toy has a particular set of upgrades. Again these provide additional attacks that can increase the range and power of their starting weapons. These will either offer a new ability or power up an existing one.

Finally each toy has a set of characteristic stats that define how they perform. These are upgraded as you work through the different levels but still determine how powerful they can become.

The in-game stats detail Max Health (Hit points), Speed (Movement), Armour (How Hard to hit), Critical Hit (Chance of doing extra damage), Elemental Power (Increase effect of elemental zone), Heroics (Challenges completed), Hero Level (Website progress).

The cards/web game stats are slightly different. These detail Attack (the strength of their weapons), Agility (how high they can jump and how fast they can move), Defense (how much damage their armour and body will absorb from an enemy attack), Luck (how quickly they recover from stun attacks), and is used in other non-skill based aspects of the game.

With that in mind, here are the detailed differences between each character (which will be filled out in detail as more information becomes available):

UK Availability: Only as part of Pirate Adventure Pack.

US Availability: Only as part of Pirate Adventure Pack.

Terrafin hails from The Dirt Seas, where it was common to swim, bathe, and even snorkel beneath the ground. But a powerful explosion in the sky created a blast wave that turned the ocean of sand into a vast sheet of glass, putting an end to Terrafin?s duty as the local lifeguard. Not one to stay idle, the brawny dirt shark found himself training in the art of boxing, and not long after he was local champ. Fighters came from all around to challenge him, but it was a chance meeting with a great Portal Master that led him to give up his title for a greater purpose.Upgrades include:Shark PunchEarth SwimBrass KnucklesMega BellyflopRazorfinCharacter Stats:Coming soonCard Stats:Strength: 70Agility: 25Defense: 80Luck: 50

UK Availability: As part of Triple Pack or Single Pack.

US Availability: As part of Triple Pack or Single Pack.

Prism Break was once a fearsome rock golem who didn't like to be disturbed. Then, an accidental cave-in left him buried underground. One hundred years later, a mining expedition digging for valuable jewels discovered him by chance with a well-placed blow from a pick axe - something Prism Break doesn't talk about. After 100 years of solitude, he found that the pressure of the earth had transformed him emotionally as well as physically, turning his crude rocky arms into incredible gems with powerful energy. Grateful for being free of his earthly prison, Prism Break decided to put his new abilities to good use and dedicated himself to protecting Skylands.Primary Strength: Energy BeamsSecondary Strength: Shard SummonUpgrades include:Chained RefractionCrystalline ArmourFocused EnergyCharacter Stats:Max Health: 290Speed: 35Armour: 18Critical Hit: 30Elemental Power: 32Card Stats:Strength: 75Agility: 10Defense: 90Luck: 45

UK Availability: As part of Triple Pack or Single Pack.

US Availability: As part of Triple Pack or Single Pack.

Bash spent most of his early dragon hood staring into the sky, watching the flying creatures of Skylands soar amongst the clouds. Determined to join them, he learned how to curl himself into a ball and roll with incredible momentum in a vain attempt to take flight. Over the years, his skin hardened, forming a natural protective armour unlike any other creature. He now thunders through Skylands, leaving a wake of destruction against any who threaten it. Despite his thick skin, he still gets a bit touchy about his inability to fly.Primary Strength: Tail SwipeSecondary Strength: Rock RollUpgrades include:Iron TailMace of DestructionGaia HammerCharacter Stats:Max Health: 310Speed: 35Armour: 12Critical Hit: 20Elemental Power: 32Card Stats:Strength: 85Agility: 30Defense: 90Luck: 20

UK Availability: As part of Legendary Pack.

US Availability: As part of Legendary Pack (Toys R Us Exclusive).

Bash spent most of his early dragon hood staring into the sky, watching the flying creatures of Skylands soar amongst the clouds. Determined to join them, he learned how to curl himself into a ball and roll with incredible momentum in a vain attempt to take flight. Over the years, his skin hardened, forming a natural protective armour unlike any other creature. He now thunders through Skylands, leaving a wake of destruction against any who threaten it. Despite his thick skin, he still gets a bit touchy about his inability to fly.Primary Strength: Tail SwipeSecondary Strength: Rock RollUpgrades include:Iron TailMace of DestructionGaia HammerCharacter Stats:Coming soonCard Stats:Strength: 85Agility: 30Defense: 90Luck: 20

UK Availability: Coming soon.

For years, Dino-Rang trained to use the weapons of his tribe ? earthen boomerangs. His people were skilled hunters in a world far away from the realm of Skylands. As he slept one night, a freak portal suddenly opened beneath him. Unsure of how? or why? he arrived in Skylands, Dino-Rang set out to explore the world that was suddenly his new home. Eventually becoming a Skylander, he now fights with his own brand of dino-justice, while seeking out the fabled Twin Diamond Boomerangs, which he believes could hold the clues to his greater destiny.Upgrades include:Stone BoomerangsBoomerang ShieldStonefist TrapsDervish ShieldVolcanic Glass BoomerangsCharacter Stats:Coming soonCard Stats:Coming soon

UK Availability: In 3DS Starter Pack.

US Availability: In 3DS Starter Pack.

On his first quest as a knight, Ignitor was tricked by a cunning witch into wearing a magical suit of armour that he was told would resist fire from a dragon. But as it turned out, it was made of cursed steel. He journeyed to a dragon?s lair where a single blast of fire transformed him into a blazing spirit, binding him to the suit of armour for eternity. Despite this setback, Ignitor remains a spirited knight who is always fired up to protect Skylands from evil... and find the witch that tricked him.Primary Strength: Flaming SwordSecondary Strength: Fire SpiritUpgrades include:Scorching BladeFire Forged ArmourIncinerateCharacter Stats:Coming soonCard Stats:Strength: 100Agility: 40Defense: 65Luck: 50

UK Availability: As part of Triple Pack or Single Pack.

US Availability: As part of Triple Pack or Single Pack.

Eruptor is a force of nature, hailing from a species that lived deep in the underground of a floating volcanic island until a massive eruption launched their entire civilization to the surface. He?s a complete hot head - steaming, fuming, and quite literally erupting over almost anything. To help control his temper, he likes to relax in lava pools, particularly because there are no crowds.Primary Strength: Lava LobSecondary Strength: EruptionMega Magma BallsHeavy Duty PlasmaSuper Eruption Upgrades include:Character Stats:Max Health: 290Speed: 35Armour: 18Critical Hit: 30Elemental Power: 25Card Stats:Strength: 80Agility: 25Defense: 85Luck: 35

UK Availability: As part of Triple Pack or Single Pack.

US Availability: As part of Triple Pack or Single Pack.

Flameslinger is an Elven archer with incredible aim. In fact, he is so good that he wears a blindfold just to prove it. When he was young, he rescued a fire spirit from a watery doom and was gifted an enchanted bow and magical fire boots that he now masterfully uses to defeat evil throughout Skylands. With the scorched earth he leaves behind, you can always tell where he has been.Primary Strength: Flaming ArrowsSecondary Strength: Fire DashUpgrades include:Searing ArrowsFirestormInferno BlastCharacter Stats:Coming soonCard Stats:Strength: 40Agility: 90Defense: 25Luck: 80

UK Availability: Coming soon.

US Availability: Coming soon.

Born in the centre of an active volcano, Sunburn is part dragon, part phoenix, and 100% fire power. He is very proud of his unique heritage, and is the only dragon and phoenix hybrid known to exist in Skylands. This rare combination makes him a desirable target for dark wizards and bounty hunters that seek to gain power by unlocking the secrets behind Sunburn?s ability to teleport. Joining the Skylanders gave Sunburn a way to help defend the world from evil, but also provided him with protection, as he remains one of the most sought after creatures in Skylands.Upgrades include:Flamethrower BreathImmolation TeleportBlaze throwerPhoenix DashInfinite FlameCharacter Stats:Coming soonCard Stats:Coming soon

UK Availability: As part of Single Pack.

US Availability: As part of Single Pack.

Long ago, Sonic Boom took refuge high atop a mountain peak in the far reaches of Skylands, hoping to keep her griffin hatchlings safe. But despite her precautions, a devious wizard tracked her down and placed a wicked curse on the griffin eggs. Once hatched, the young hatchlings can live for only mere moments before they magically return to their shells... only to be hatched again in an endless cycle. Wanting to prevent such evil from happening to others, Sonic Boom joined the Skylanders and has trained her young to defend Skylands each time they are hatched.Primary Strength: Sonic RoarSecondary Strength: Egg TossUpgrades include:Sonic RoarEgg TossLoudmouthGriffin FlightEgg ShockerCharacter Stats:Max Health: 280Speed: 50Armour: 18Critical Hit: 30Elemental Power: 25Card Stats:Strength: 50Agility: 60Defense: 60Luck: 55

Availability: Coming soon.

UK Availability: Available from Tesco.

US Availability: Available in Single pack (exclusive to Target).

UK Availability: Coming soon.

US Availability: Coming soon. Not in the Triple pack that Amazon returns for "Warnado" search.

Warnado was hatched in the fury of a rare and powerful Enchanted Twister. Although initially frightened and quite dizzy, over the passing years he grew to enjoy his whirling surroundings and learned many abilities and secrets of the Air Element. This led to Warnado becoming a powerful force and the only known turtle of his kind. Now, the only time he gets dizzy is when standing still.Upgrades include:Spin AttackSummon TornadoSharp ShellWhirlwind FlightTurtle SlamCharacter Stats:Coming soonCard Stats:Coming Soon

UK Availability: In 360, PS3 and Wii Starter Pack.

US Availability: In 360, PS3 and Wii Starter Pack.

Gill Grunt was a brave soul who joined the Gillmen military in search of adventure. While journeying through a misty lagoon in the clouds, he met an enchanting mermaid. He vowed to return to her after his tour. Keeping his promise, he came back to the lagoon years later, only to learn a nasty band of pirates had kidnapped the mermaid. Heartbroken, Gill Grunt began searching all over Skylands. Though he had yet to find her, he joined the Skylanders to help protect others from such evil, while still keeping an ever-watchful eye for the beautiful mermaid and the pirates who took her.Primary Strength: Harpoon GunSecondary Strength: Water CannonUpgrades include:Boiling Water HoseWater Jet PackAnchor CannonTriple HarpoonDouble HarpoonCharacter Stats:Max Health: 270Speed: 35Armour: 6Critical Hit: 50Elemental Power: 25Card Stats:Strength: 70Agility: 40Defense: 60Luck: 50

UK Availability: As part of Single Pack.

US Availability: As part of Single Pack.

Zap was born into the royal family of water dragons, but a riptide washed him to a distant sea, where he was raised by electric eels. Growing up, he excelled in everything and even created a special gold harness that allows him to carry an endless electrical charge and shock things at a great distance. Zap also proved to be a gifted racer, outstripping any opponent... with the possible exception of the dolphins. With them, it became a good natured challenge to see who could keep up with Zap. But an electric current in his wake often reminded them who they were dealing with. Despite his mischievous streak, Zap grew to be a true protector of the seas and Skylands.Primary Strength: Electric BoltSecondary Strength: Water SurgeUpgrades include:Electro-SlimeMega-VoltWave RiderCharacter Stats:Max Health: 260Speed: 50Armour: 24Critical Hit: 30Elemental Power: 32Card Stats:Strength: 30Agility: 65Defense: 70Luck: 65

UK Availability: Coming soon.

US Availability: Coming soon.

Slam Bam lived alone on a floating glacier in a remote region of Skylands, where he spent his time ice surfing, eating snow cones, and sculpting amazing ice statues. It was a peaceful life, until Kaos destroyed the glacier, stranding Slam Bam on an iceberg that drifted through the skies for days. He awoke on Eon?s Island, where he was taken in and trained to become a Skylander. Now his ice sculptures serve as a frosty prison for any evil-doer that gets in his way.Upgrades include:Yeti FistsIce PrisonArctic ExplosionYeti Ice ShoesIce Knuckles

UK Availability: Available from Smyths.

US Availability: Coming soon.

Wham-Shell was ruler of a kingdom deep in the oceans of Skylands that for a long time lived peacefully. That is, until his underwater utopia was invaded by a legion of oil-drilling trolls that scattered his people to the wind. Armed with a powerful mace that had been handed down from one king to the next for generations, Wham-Shell defeated the greedy trolls and drove them away. Soon after, he joined the Skylanders to help defend against this type of atrocity ever happening again.Upgrades include:Malacostracan MaceStarfish BulletsKing?s MacePoseidon StrikeMega TridentCharacter Stats:Coming soonCard Stats:Coming soon

UK Availability: In 360, PS3 and Wii Starter Pack.

US Availability: In 360, PS3 and Wii Starter Pack.

Spyro hails from a rare line of magical purple dragons that come from a faraway land few have ever travelled. It?s been said that the Scrolls of the Ancients mention Spyro prominently - the old Portal Masters having chronicled his many exciting adventures and heroic deeds. Finally, it was Master Eon himself who reached out and invited him to join the Skylanders. From then on, evil faced a new enemy - and the Skylanders gained a valued ally.Primary Strength: Fire BreathSecondary Strength: Horn ChargeUpgrades include:Dragon FlightTriple ShotFire ShieldCharacter Stats:Max Health: 280Speed: 50Armour: 18Critical Hit: 30Elemental Power: 25Card Stats:Strength: 60Agility: 90Defense: 50Luck: 60

UK Availability: In 3DS Starter Pack.

US Availability: In 3DS Starter Pack.

Spyro is a rare magical dragon with the ability to harness the power of the other elements, though he prefers to master fire. However, this innate power also leaves him vulnerable to the influence of dark magic. When the Darkness is nearby, Spyro can channel its energy and combine its power with his own, becoming Dark Spyro. Over the years, he has learned to focus and control his power, using this dark magic to fight the forces of evil.Primary Strength: FlameballSecondary Strength: Horn ChargeUpgrades include:FlightFire ShieldTriple FlameballsCharacter Stats:Max Health: 280Speed: 50Armour: 18Critical Hit: 30Elemental Power: 25Card Stats:Strength: 60Agility: 90Defense: 50Luck: 60

UK Availability: As part of Legendary Pack.

US Availability: As part of Legendary Pack (Toys R Us Exclusive).

Primary Strength: FlameballSecondary Strength: Horn ChargeUpgrades include:FlightFire ShieldTriple FlameballsCharacter Stats:Max Health: 280Speed: 50Armour: 18Critical Hit: 30Elemental Power: 25Card Stats:Strength: 60Agility: 90Defense: 50Luck: 60

UK Availability: As part of Triple Pack and Single Pack.

US Availability: As part of Triple Pack and Single Pack.

Voodood was a brave warrior among his people. During his rite of passage as a young Orc, he entered the Cave of Trials to prove his worth. It was there he found much more than expected. Lured by a brilliant light, Voodood discovered the skeleton of an enormous dragon with an ornate axe buried where the heart would have been. The village was astonished when he exited the cave holding the legendary Axe Reaver and wearing the dragon skull on his head. Voodood quickly became warrior leader and defended his homeland from many beasts and invaders... until he was the last of his tribe. Soon after, he joined the Skylanders.Primary Strength: Axe ReaverSecondary Strength: Zipline AxeUpgrades include:Magical TripwireExtended BladeElectro AxeCharacter Stats:Max Health: 290Speed: 35Armour: 12Critical Hit: 30Elemental Power: 32Card Stats:Strength: 75Agility: 60Defense: 50Luck: 35

UK Availability: Coming soon.

US Availability: Coming soon.

Double Trouble was an adept spellcaster. On an expedition to find exotic ingredients for his potions, he travelled in search of a rare lily that was said to multiply the power of any spell. So thrilled was he when he found it, Double Trouble instantly ate the plant and performed a spell. Suddenly, there was a loud pop? then another? and another ? until Double Trouble was surrounded by exact copies of himself. As it turned out, he had misunderstood the details about exactly what would multiply. But it didn't matter, for he quickly realized the clones were delightful companions? never mind that they were only half his size and would explode on contact.Upgrades include:Eldritch BeamConjure Exploding DoubleSummon Magic BombArcane Eldritch BeamMagical CataclysmCharacter Stats:Coming soonCard Stats:Coming soon

UK Availability: Coming soon.

US Availability: Coming soon.

Wrecking Ball was once a tiny grub worm about to become the main ingredient in an old wizard?s cauldron of magic stew. But when he was dropped in, the wizard was shocked to see the little grub devour all of the soup and emerge from the cauldron 20 times larger and with a long, sticky tongue. The poor old wizard was even more surprised seconds later, when Wrecking Ball proceeded to swallow him whole. Eventually he ran, quite literally, into the powerful Portal Master Eon, who was intrigued by how he came to be and impressed with his unique abilities.

UK Availability: In 360, PS3 and Wii Starter Pack.

US Availability: In 360, PS3 and Wii Starter Pack.

Trigger Happy is not just his name, it?s his solution to every problem. No one knows from whence he came - he simply showed up one day with his hand-crafted shooters, blasting gold coins everywhere and it?s been like ever since. And while his home is a great mystery to everyone throughout the lands, they all know him as a crazy gold slinger that will take down any bad guy... usually without bothering to aim.Primary Strength: Gold Coin ShootersSecondary Strength: Safe Cracker BombUpgrades include:Pot O? GoldGolden Super ChargeCoinsplosionMachine gunUnlimited CoinsCharacter Stats:Max Health: 200Speed: 50Armour: 30Critical Hit: 50Elemental Power: 25Card Stats:Strength: 40Agility: 60Defense: 20Luck: 100

UK Availability: As part of Triple Pack or Single Pack.

US Availability: As part of Triple Pack or Single Pack.

As a young troll, Boomer loved to blow things up - particularly sheep. Later, he was drafted into the troll army, where they gave him LOTS of things to blow up. However, Boomer realized the sole mission of the army was war and conquest. Even though he was a troll, these things didn't interest him. So he left the trolls after saving a town from being destroyed by them. Not long after, he was invited to be a Skylander - the only troll ever to win such an honour. Now he uses his explosive skills to fight evil... much to the relief of sheep everywhere.Character Stats:Coming soonCard Stats:Strength: 70Agility: 40Defense: 50Luck: 75

UK Availability: As part of Triple Pack.

US Availability: As part of Single Pack and Triple Pack.

Dragons are smart, but none so much as Drobot. He was born in the highest reaches of Skylands, where dragons spent all their time competing in aerial battles. But Drobot was more interested in taking things apart to see how they worked. While exploring one day, he came upon some mysterious technology, which he used to assemble a robotic suit. Features include laser beams that shoot from his eyes, flight enhancement technology, a vocal synthesizer that gives him a deep booming voice, and the ability to shoot spinning gears. With such power - more than most other dragons - Drobot joined the Skylanders to help protect the residents of Skylands.Upgrades include:Mega BlastersTactical BladegearsThruster FlightHover ModeQuadratic BlastersCharacter Stats:Max Health: 290Speed: 43Armour: 24Critical Hit: 20Elemental Power: 32Card Stats:Strength: 40Agility: 60Defense: 75Luck: 45

UK Availability: Coming soon

US Availability: Exclusive to Sams Club in US.

Availability: In 3DS Starter Pack and Single Pack.

US Availability: In 3DS Starter Pack and Single Pack.

As a small child, Stealth Elf awoke one morning inside the hollow of an old tree with no memory of how she got there. She was taken in by an unusually stealthy, ninja-like forest creature in the deep forest. Under his tutelage, she has spent the majority of her life training in the art of stealth fighting. After completing her training, she became a Skylander and set out into the world to uncover the mystery behind her origins.Primary Strength: Blade SlashSecondary Strength: StealthUpgrades include:Dragonfang DaggersArboreal AcrobaticsElf JitsuCharacter Stats:Max Health: 270Speed: 50Armour: 12Critical Hit: 50Elemental Power: 25Card Stats:Strength: 60Agility: 100Defense: 30Luck: 70

UK Availability: As part of Triple Pack and Single Pack.

US Availability: As part of Triple Pack and Single Pack.

Stump Smash was once a magical tree that spent most of his time sleeping peacefully in the forests of Skylands. Then one day he awoke to discover his entire forest had been chopped down and logged by trolls - himself included. His long branches were gone, leaving him with only powerful mallets for hands, which he used to smash the troll tree-cutting machines. Although still grumpy about what happened to him, Stump Smash has vowed to protect Skylands against those who would do it harm... especially trolls.Primary Strength: Wood HammerSecondary Strength: Acorn SpitUpgrades include:Petrified PummelThorn BarkStump Crusher CombosDouble StumpCharacter Stats:Max Health: 340Speed: 43Armour: 30Critical Hit: 20Elemental Power: 32Card Stats:Strength: 90Agility: 20Defense: 70Luck: 40

UK Availability: Coming soon.

US Availability: Coming soon.

UK Availability: Coming soon.

US Availability: Coming soon.

Zook hails from a strange and unusual species called Bambazookers, who once lived their entire lives standing in place? until Zook discovered they could walk simply by stepping out of the mud. After that, he became a wandering hero, using his hand-carved bamboo tube as a bazooka that fires special explosive thorns. Campfire songs were even written about him. Now, Zook spends him time as a Skylander, figuring he can be an even bigger hero? and have even more songs written about him.Upgrades include:Bazooka AttackFoliage BarrierMortar AttackFullSplinter JacketExploding ShrapneCharacter Stats:Coming soonCard Stats:Coming soon

UK Availability: As part of Single Pack.

US Availability: As part of Single Pack.

Chop Chop was once an elite warrior belonging to the ancient race of Arkeyan beings. Like many of the Arkeyans, he was created from a hybrid of elements - in his case, undead magic and technology. Chop Chop is a relentless, highly-skilled solider who wields a sword and shield made of an indestructible metal. With the Arkeyans having vanished long ago, Chop Chop wandered Skylands for centuries looking for his creators. Eventually, he was found by Eon and recruited as a Skylander.Primary Strength: Sword SlashSecondary Strength: Arkeyan ShieldUpgrades include:Spiked Shield BashArkeyan Vorpal BladeVampiric AuraCharacter Stats:Coming soonCard Stats:Strength: 65Agility: 60Defense: 100Luck: 20

UK Availability: As part of Legendary Pack.

US Availability: As part of Legendary Pack (Toys R Us Exclusive).

UK Availability: Toys R Us Exclusive Darklight Crypt Pack.

US Availability: In the Darklight Crypt Pack.

There was a time when Ghost Roaster was neither a ghost nor a roaster. Instead he was a chef living in a village high in the mountains. One day, while clipping wool from a sheep to use in a recipe, he accidentally fell into the Valley of the Undead and transformed into a ghost eating ghoul! After eating an entire spectral village, its Ethereal Ruler chained Ghost Roaster to a spiked ball as punishment - its rattle heard as he wanders the night, warning nearby spirits. When Master Eon eventually heard of his predicament, he figured even a ghost eater could be useful. So he made Ghost Roaster a Skylander... after he promised to eat only evil ghosts.Upgrades include:Chain WhipSkull ChargeEctoplasm ModeHauntNightmare TouchCharacter Stats:Coming soonCard Stats:Strength: 60Agility: 40Defense: 85Luck: 40

UK Availability: Coming soon.

US Availability: Coming soon.

Long ago, Hex was a gifted and powerful sorceress who travelled deep into the underworld to confront the Undead Dragon King named Malefor, who made several attempts to capture her to learn her secrets. Though she successfully battled the dragon, Hex returned from the underworld changed ? having unwillingly joined the ranks of the Undead. Many are wary of her since her transformation, suspecting she has used her powerful magic for evil purposes. But Eon trusts her, and views her as a most valuable Skylander ally.Upgrades include:Conjure Phantom OrbRain of SkullsWall of BonesStorm of SkullsCaustic Phantom OrbsCharacter Stats:Coming soonCard Stats:Coming soon

UK Availability: Coming soon.

US Availability: Coming soon.

While just an egg, Cynder was stolen by the henchmen of an evil dragon named Malefor and raised to do his bidding. For years, she spread fear throughout the land until she was defeated by Spyro the Dragon and freed from the grip of Malefor. But dark powers still flow through her, and despite her desire to make amends for her past, most Skylanders try to keep a safe distance? just in case.Upgrades include:Spectral LightningShadow DashCynder FlightBlack LightningShadow ReachCharacter Stats:Coming soonCard Stats:Coming soon

Steph Flemming writes the Collecting Gamer column.

"There are as many way to collect games as there are to play them. I want to bring together old, new, classic, rare, sealed game collectors together in one place, and make sense of it for us everyday people."

Steph Flemming recent reviews:

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Dark Souls 360 Review || Returning Gamer column on Game People

2011-10-26T08:09:00.000-07:00

Dark Souls asks if you are hardcore, then sets about proving you wrong. Returning to games after so long away, it was refreshing to be reminded days when hardcore was a label you had to earn.

Perhaps it's because I'm back after a break, but to me it's obvious: hardcore gaming isn't what it used to be. It seems to be under ever increasing pressure from casual games. Platform holders like Sony and Microsoft often seem to have forgotten the unspoken vows they made to the people upon whose backs they rest: the core gamer.

Demon's Souls, the previous game, was one in the eye for the casualisation of gaming, and set a new standard for core gamers to aspire to. It quite literally took great delight in frustrating even the most committed of gamer, testing their metal to the limit.

Dark Souls continues this role play game tradition, and then some. In fact it turns what is usually considered an entertaining pastime into something solely for the masochists.

This sounds quite negative I know, but as you spend time with the game - if you manage to prostrate yourself on its unforgiving alter for long enough - it actually starts becoming something you enjoy, and eventually don't want to give up on until it's finished. What starts, after choosing to be a knight, wanderer or thief etc, as a slog against an unending undead infestation actually turns into a finely tuned balance of risk and reward.

Don't get me wrong, as you progress there is some help along the way. Bonfires offer safe havens (a little like light spots in Alan Wake) where your health and life-renewing Estus flask are refilled. There is then a wide range of weapons and character advancements to invest in. But before you can really dabble in all this you need to put in some serious hard work, and not a few hours.

Onto this chaffing gameplay Dark Souls pours all sorts of irritants.

A breakthrough moment for me came as I realised that combat is as much about timing as it is about wielding the best weapon. Time your strikes to perfection and suddenly you can attack and parry enemies night and day better. This is all well and good until you meet the next boss. These are, as you would imagine, ridiculously difficult.

Onto this chaffing gameplay Dark Souls pours all sorts of irritants. You are only able to have one save file per character and when you die (when, not if) you lose the souls you've collected that haven't been spent on character development. The enemies often swarm you from all angles which make timing attacks almost impossible. You also have a lot of manual camera control to contend with -- often finding yourself staring at a wall as you are bludgeoned to death. Finally there is the stupidly high difficulty level the game has in the first place.

But with all this challenge and difficulty comes a lot of satisfaction when (or if) you defeat a particular level. Progress in Dark Souls is hard won, but when it comes it is with a rush of relief and excitement.

The people who are prepared to make this sort of investment are who Dark Souls is made for: that (maybe) dying breed of gamer who wants the hardest of challenges. Those few people who relish the unforgiving experience. I dabbled with Dark Souls, but I know there will be others who will lose themselves in it for months.

This is a game that truly defines what a hardcore gamer means.

There are other games that do this, but they (unlike either Dark or Demon's Souls) try and sugar coat the experience in fancy visuals or high falutin gameplay. Dark Souls does none of that. Simple, straight forward and honest -- and it's hard not to respect it for that.

But actually, it's the people who will play Dark Souls through to completion that gain my respect. I enjoyed my time with Dark Souls, but all the time I was aware that I wasn't numbered with the players who would see this experience through to the end.

By this measure Dark Souls is wonderful. Casual gamers, mums, dads, girlfriends even your XBox Live or PSN friends may not understand it, but this is a game that truly defines what a hardcore gamer means -- and by doing so uncovers how diluted that badge has become, and what it used to mean in days gone by when I used to be numbered with the hardcore.

Sinan Kubba writes the Returning Gamer column.

"As an 80s kid I was obsessed with gaming. But university, stress and life relegated my hobby to the backseat. After years in the wilderness, I'm back into video games. I don't just want to play games that remind of a happy youth though. I'm just as excited about games that take things forward, experiences that re-ignite that curiosity and fascination I had years ago."

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie DS Review || Novel Gamer column on Game People

2011-10-26T08:08:00.000-07:00

Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie is a perfect piece of classic role play action, with a narrative that sets it apart from the crowd.

From humble beginnings in my home village, to world-straddling travel with epic stakes, my journey was well-trod and well-known. I'd been away for a long time, but coming back to these lands felt instantly familiar.I'll be honest, when travelling alone I find the hero thing a bit of a chore. But once I have a team together it's a whole different story. Each member has their job; each moved timed to perfection, often the enemy are sprawling at our feet having barely had a chance to strike.Our battles are a dance, each move practiced by rote and honed to a deadly precision...

On the one hand, Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie (known as Realms of Revelation in the US) seems to be a very by-the-numbers role play adventure. The adventure starts with the solitary young hero in his home town, then moves on to gain companions and grow into a globe-trotting adventure. From that perspective, it's pretty standard JRPG fare.

What sets Dragon Quest VI apart - and what I think sets apart every Dragon Quest game I have played - is the brilliant approach the narrative takes to telling the story. Dragon Quest always seems to a structure which lifts it above the crowd. As a storyteller myself, I can appreciate how equally important it is to frame the story as it is to tell the story.

Inhabitants of Dragon Quest VI are a window into a world populated with families, trysts, hopes, dreams, regrets and secrets.

The game actually opens with the player taking control of a troupe at an advanced point on their journey. The companions all know one-another and are preparing to face their ultimate enemy. However, the battle does not go to plan and the characters become cast away. At which point our hero awakes, alone in his bedroom with only fragmented memories of the visions just seen. As the audience/player, we are given important questions that draw us into the story. Is is a vision? Time travel? Or something deeper?

In fact, the brilliance of the narrative that Dragon Quest VI weaves is that just as the player is given clues to one mystery, another begins to unfold. Its a perfect cycle of suspense and revelation that keeps the story addictive and exciting, as with all the best fiction.

It's a fiction which even wrong-footed me, turning into a far more involved and lengthy adventure than I had expected. I was convinced I was facing the game boss at one point, only to discover that what I had played up to that point was a prelude. The game suddenly opened into a wider adventure with a developmental skills tree for each character and a far deeper mystery than I had guessed. In filmed drama terms, it was as though my entire adventure to that point had been the pre-credits teaser.

The world is such a pleasure to explore, too. Far from filling the world with bystanders that spout random clues or repetitive text, it seems as though every individual met has a relationship with another character or a view on the situation. Talking with the inhabitants of Dragon Quest VI gives a window into a world populated with families, trysts, hopes, dreams, regrets and secrets.

With a well practiced team each battle becomes a satisfying set-piece.

Of course the basis for the story is some of the best role play battling around. At the end of the day it is classic turn-based combat with random encounters; if that isn't to your taste then Dragon Quest VI isn't going to challenge that. As the short story above depicts, the joy of battling in Dragon Quest is the mastery it offers the player. With a well practiced team each battle becomes a satisfying set-piece, with specific approaches for familiar enemy groupings. Rather than becoming stale, it is a testament to the monster and battle design that it always feels fresh and exciting.

The icing on the cake is that Dragon Quest VI looks and sounds fantastic. I wouldn't say it has catchy enough tunes likely to spawn a musical offshoot like Final Fantasy Theatrhythm (3DS), but from the opening bars it is an epic and orchestral treat for the ears, especially for the DS. The graphics are also beautiful with wonderfully constructed towns and environments. I often find myself using the 360-degree rotation just to look for incidental details. If there is a downside it is that the visual design differs very little from each of the other recent DS Dragon Quest titles. It is an unnervingly familiar world.

Every great role play game series has its unique appeal. The thing which always has me returning to Dragon Quest is that the way that even the most conventional fantasy story is told with a unique viewpoint. Whether it's Dragon Quest IV's coup of casting the player as the shopkeeper in the weapon store, or Dragon Quest V's family-spanning lifelong quest - there is always a fresh perspective here which keeps the adventure genuinely exciting.

Chris Jarvis writes the Novel Gamer column.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Rage 360 Podcast || Family Gamer Podcast column on Game People

2011-10-26T07:59:00.000-07:00

This week in the family gaming show Loz tells me about his love affair with Rage, I dig into Just Dance 3 and Dance Central 2 Kinect games before looking ahead to GoldenEye Reloaded on the 360 and PS3. Also broadcast on Kerrang Radio.

Download, subscribe via iTunes, Podcast RSS or Email.

This Family Gaming podcast is broadcast each week on Kerrang Radio's Loz Guest show. We talk about the latest games, and how we find time to play them with busy family and work lives.

It's also a chance to look ahead to see what games are coming up that should be on your radar as well as highlight some less well known gems we think you should be playing.

Listen live via the Kerrang Radio player or subscribe to the Game People podcast for your weekly fix of Family Gaming chatter.

Andy Robertson appears in this podcast. "Videogame reviews for the whole family, not just the kids. I dig out videogame experiences to intrigue and interest grownups and children. This is post-hardcore gaming where accessibility, emotion and storytelling are as important as realism, explosions and bravado."

Loz Guest appears in this podcast. "Loz is the governor of all things alternative on Kerrang! Radio. There ain't a lot he doesn't know about rock and its alternative styles and he dedicates his very existence to bringing only the very best music to the listener."

Andy Robertson writes the Family Gamer Podcast column.

"This Family Gaming podcast is broadcast each week on Kerrang Radio's Loz Guest show. We talk about the latest games, and how we find time to play them with busy family and work lives."

Andy Robertson recent reviews:

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

The Death of Hardcore Gaming Article || Family Gamer column on Game People

2011-10-26T07:49:00.000-07:00

Family Gamers validated by new study. More significant is the video-game industries realisation that they need to do more than mass market to the core gamers. Narrowcasting is the order of the day. What's your gaming tribe?

Surveys and studies can be tailored to prove pretty much anything. However, sometimes a well researched piece of work undeniably underlines reality. A new study sourced with demographic profiling from TGI a leading provider of media surveys, does just this as it sticks a pin in the shifting ground of videogame players.

Commissioned by the Golden Joystick Awards and Future Publishing, but remaining strangely unpublished beyond a headline heavy press release, the research reveals three new gamer profiles. As they put it in the opening paragraphs of the study "Recent research has uncovered three new types of gamers. Mono Gamers, Commuter Gamers and Family Gamers have all emerged as unique, new gamer types present in the UK in 2011." I like how they are thinking.

Perhaps the best take-away here is that we can longer understand ourselves as gamers or non-gamers. The world is now fractured and segmented and requires a more tribal understanding. Whether it happens quickly or slowly, it is inevitable that videogames will follow digital TV and Radio in their increasingly Narrowcast (rather than Broadcast) approach.

As George Walter, Editorial Coordinator of the GamesMaster Golden Joystick Awards, puts it "As the gaming landscape rapidly changes we're seeing the creation of new gamer profiles resulting not only from technological advances like mobile devices and motion control systems, but also because videogames are now intrinsically integrated into everyday life. It's no longer a case of 'Gamers' and the rest of us' it's more 'what kind of gamer are you?'"

The TGI backed study goes on to profile each of its new gamer tribes:

Now they sit round the TV and play games.

Family Gamer: New-age of families with patriarchs who have grown up with videogames and introduce them to their children - past: would have sat down and played a board game, present: now they sit round the TV and play games.
- Defined characteristics: Parent of children aged 5-15, owns a console, spends at least five hours a week playing console games, and agrees to the statement "enjoy spending time with their family".
- Incidence rate: Equates to approximately 2% of the UK population (1,045,000)
- Profile: 57% are males, average age 38.

Is the main person who plays on that console.

Mono Gamer: Gamer who buys a console driven by the desire to play one particular game i.e.. Call of Duty, FIFA, Gran Turismo - a growing group as consoles become cheap enough to be an impulse buy.
- Defined characteristics: Owns any console in home, is the main person who plays on that console, plays at least 10 hours a week on the console, has spent less than ?100 on games in the last 12 months.
- Incidence rate: Equates to approximately 1.5% of the UK population (737,000)
- Profile: 88% are males, average age 27

Plays all their games on the move.

Commuter Gamer: Plays all their games on the move - e.g. iPhone/iPad
- Defined characteristics: Owns a tablet PC or a mobile phone that they regularly play games on. Is in full time employment.
- Incidence rate: Equates to approximately 11% of the UK population (5,585,000)
- Profile: 70% are males, average age 36. 18% live in greater London.

Of course these groupings are as generic as a Myers-Briggs indicators - and are just that, indicators rather than pigeonholes. But as a starting point they are actually very useful. It was this same instinct that, some five years ago, started me writing about games from a family gamer perspective.

Of course, it's nice to see Family Gamers talked about in an official study, but more than that the acceptance that we need to address game players as if they are people (which I hear some might actually be) is a big step forward.

I've really enjoyed developing some 40 different Narrowcast reviews, alongside my own Family Gamer niche, on Game People the last few years. There has been a steadily growing interest and response from readers in these different tribes, and it has led us to create some very unusual ways of talking about videogames - Songs, Stand up, Radio plays and Origami Haikus to name a few.

What has kept us going has been the direct and immediate response from these different gaming tribes. Most recently the move into video with Family Gamer TV for the Family tribe has seen a leap in engagement.

As games do this, they grow up.

It's this perspective of gaming that also leads to much more interesting games. As I was talking about on last week's FGTV show, games like Limbo and Flower are much better places for Family Gamers to start than the mass marketed family games because they actually treat the player as if they have the concerns of a real person.

As we engage with gamers and games in a more person-centric fashion I have great hope that videogames will emerge the richer for it. This personal engagement offers the resources they have been lacking to ask interesting questions of developers and designers. What would this game look like if it wasn't violent? What does the player take with them once they've stopped playing? How does this entertainment play with the cultural ideas in the mind of the player?

As games do this, they grow up. They still struggle to throw off the old habits of servicing just hardcore gamers with violent experiences -- and more to the point violent experiences that treated death and loss with an unthinking juvenile perspective.

Andy Robertson writes the Family Gamer column.

"Videogame reviews for the whole family, not just the kids. I dig out videogame experiences to intrigue and interest grownups and children. This is post-hardcore gaming where accessibility, emotion and storytelling are as important as realism, explosions and bravado."

Andy Robertson recent reviews:

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Paper Mario 3D 3DS News || Reporting Gamer column on Game People

2011-10-26T07:45:00.000-07:00

Paper Mario brings its flat perspective view to the platform it was seemingly designed for: the 3DS.

Mario may have made the incredible transition to 3D with the Mario 64, but it is arguably the Paper Mario series which took the most original approach to a 2D platformer being given a third dimension.

In the world of Paper Mario, all of the characters are paper thin. While playing the game in the two-dimensional plane, Mario is vulnerable to spikes, falls, enemies and shells as always. However, when Paper Mario flips into the third dimension, he is able to see the different in depth between the objects, often allowing him to slip by an enemy or find a new route past an obstacle.

It is this planar approach to the design which poses so many interesting questions about Paper Mario for the 3DS. Previous iterations have needed to flip the view through 90 degrees in order to see the depth between objects; but surely the 3DS' display (assuming the 3D slider is on) would allow the player to perceive this for themselves?

With the advanced 3D display it is tricky to predict how Paper Mario will adapt. Is there a danger that the boundary between Paper Mario's style and the upcoming Super Mario 3D Land will become purely a matter of characterisation?

One thing is already clear: the RPG-like approach to Paper Mario is intact, this time with turn-based battles for Mario to defeat his enemies. Paper Mario games are also traditionally more plot-driven than the more escapist Mario adventures, so it will be interesting to see if Paper Mario 3D continues this approach.

Paper Mario 3D is currently planned for release in 2012 for the Nintendo 3DS.

Chris Jarvis wrote this Reporting Gamer article under the watchful eye of Paul Govan.

"The problem with video game news is that there is so much of it. I've made it my task to sift out the noise and bring you news about games I think you should be excited about."

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Pucca Power Up DS Review || Story Gamer column on Game People

2011-10-26T07:37:00.000-07:00

Pucca Power Up DS is a high octane traditional platformer with lashings of cutesy Korean style.

Love stories, or at least stories that contain a strong aspect of romantic love, are predominant in virtually every medium, except for videogames. In the west at least, it's very rare for romantic love to be central to a game.

Well, Korean media tie-in Pucca Power Up is all about a romance, albeit a stalkery and cartoonish playground romance. Although not very well known in the UK, Pucca is a bit of a media phenomenon across the world. It's the story of ten year old girl Pucca, who lives in a noodle house, and her romantic attachment to Garu, a twelve year-old who is the scion of an ancient ninja dynasty. While created for a card game, the property is now best known as an animated series.

As a game, the story is about the pursuit of love, literally a pursuit as young Pucca chases her unwilling beau, and that constant movement from left to right drives the game onwards. When Pucca catches Garu, he struggles away from her kisses only to run off again. On alternate levels, the player gets to play Garu running from Pucca.

As Pucca chases Garu there are platforms to jump on to and hazards to avoid. Romance remains the dominant theme, with hearts to collect as an in-game currency, and Pucca knocking out enemies and hitting switches with a cupidesque bow and arrow. There's even a minigame where Pucca has to rescue Garu from drowning, reviving him with a smoochy kiss of life.

The core of the gameplay is side-scrolling platforming, and it plays well with the action nimble and precise. But it's the presentation that really makes the game, an effervescent sense of bouncy joy to Pucca and Garu's cartoon world that provides the momentum a game like this needs.

Love stories are predominant in virtually every medium, except for videogames.

The visuals are great, with lovely clean character designs and colours that really pop. The music is relentless and frothy, and at intense points the game becomes a rush of candy colour and bubbling sound.

It won't be for everyone, but if you like 16-bit era platformers then Pucca Power Up is energetic, charming and, yes, a bit romantic.

Mark Clapham writes the Story Gamer column.

"I love a good story. Games tell many different stories: the stories told through cut scenes and dialogue, but also the stories that emerge through gameplay, the stories players make for themselves."

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Torchlight PC Review || Scared Gamer column on Game People

2011-10-26T07:28:00.000-07:00

Torchlight PC may be reminiscent of older RPGs like Diablo, but it also makes many improvements to the genre.

Torchlight is a spiritual successor to the Diablo games. Indeed so close are the two games ties that many of the team responsible for Diablo left Blizzard to form Runic Games, Torchlight's developer.

Similarities run deep,right down to the intro music, which while not identical, conjures a very similar feel. The more similarities I see the more I am forced to consider why I have found my time with Torchlight so much more enjoyable than my brief stint with Diablo 2.

Both titles appeal to a number of my gaming idiosyncrasies. Each offers a stylized fantasy setting that drip with atmosphere, as well as the constant draw of improved weapons and equipment, which provides much of the motivation to keep returning to the game. Foes regularly drop unidentified items that my obsessive-compulsive side is all too content to compare meticulously with everything else I have acquired to assess which is superior.

Maybe the reason I now find Torchlight so entertaining is because I have matured as a gamer. Today I am more eager to experience a variety of different games and play mechanics, rather than feeling the need to viscerally disembowel every opponent I come across. But I don't think Torchlight appeal stems solely from my changing tastes; I believe that it is Torchlight's refinements to the point and click, loot hording model that has me so enamored.

Torchlight adds a number of small innovations that separately seem inconsequential but combine to transform the grind associated with this dungeon crawling style of RPG from a chore to pleasure.

Torchlight adds a number of small innovations that combine to transform the RPG grind from a chore to pleasure.

Cosmetic changes came first and foremost in grabbing my attention. With ten years separating the releases obviously improvements are to be expected, but it isn't Torchlight's visual fidelity that is so impressive, it is its style. Moving through the caverns of Torchlight is like walking through a cartoon.

The changing appearances of areas as I explored the caves keep the game feeling fresh while chunky featured characters, seemed joyous at their inclusion. Their bulky appearances managed to stop the game from feeling oppressive, but never prevented a growing darkness in mood as I descended through the level.

In some games this darkening mood would dampen my spirits, forcing me to limit my playtime, but Torchlight's brighter aesthetic allowed me to muster significantly more endurance to continue my games.

In conjunction with the visuals giving the experience more longevity, slight tweaks to gameplay also took prominent position among the alterations made to Diablo's formula. Streamlined character classes made starting the game less intimidating, limiting me to just three archetypal classes, ranged, melee and magic. While pairing down the classes may have limited some of the depth, with no time to replay the game, the three classes on offer more than kept me entertained as I plundered the game's depths.

Torchlight's dogs and cats bring with them a host of abilities.

But most welcome of all of Torchlight's additions was the inclusion of pets. Torchlight's dogs and cats bring with them a host of abilities. Firstly they are cute companions whose presence serves to alleviate the loneliness of the majority of the games solitary quests. Their loyalty also meant that they attacked anyone who wished me harm; a talent made all the more effective by the ability to bind spells and other powers to them. Soon after starting thegame I found myself with a furry friend who could summon skeletons and turn into a spider to help them savage any attacker that dared come near me.

Pets skills in combat however paled in significance when compared to the their primary skill. Take anyone who enjoys loot hording games and ask them the most frustrating thing about the genre and they will tell you it is the constant backtracking to stores to offload items. I still remember the stress of playing Oblivion, too far from any area where I could sell or store excess items valuable items. Forced to jettison items I may never see again I would become incapacitated by indecision. Panicking that I may make the wrong choice and loose forever a valuable item.

Pets relieve some of this stress by acting as a personal seller. My dog would happily carry as many items as I and, when required, would return to town alone to hocking any goods I didn?t want. It may not be ideal, in this equation after all I may unwittingly still offload something that may prove useful later (I am still unable to tell the superior option between a level 189 cutlass with fire and healing, over a level 191 saber with frost) but knowing I will at least acquire something from the loss went some way to easing the stress I find in these dilemmas.

Every change made to Torchlight has made the game more accessible. By reducing the complexity of initial decisions, and by removing unnecessary back tracking the entire experience becomes more pleasant, while retaining the core of what made Diablo so popular to this day. While it is not especially long, its bargain price makes it hard to not recommend.

Alex Beech writes the Scared Gamer column.

"Games connect us to exhilaration in various ways. I love mine to scare me. Although the shock, horror and gore are all pretty unnerving, nothing comes close to the sweaty palms of playing games that take you to ridiculously high places - InFamous, Mirror's Edge and Uncharted to name a few."

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Hot Wheels Track Attack Wii Review || Story Gamer column on Game People

2011-10-26T07:23:00.000-07:00

Hot Wheels Track Attack Wii has simplistic racing, but plenty of customisation options for lovers of over-the-top toy motors.

Any sufficiently popular toy range will inevitably move into other media, including videogames, regardless of how appropriate they are to that transition. At the most absurd edge of this phenomenon, someone once tried to make a Saturday morning cartoon about a Rubiks Cube, just because the puzzle toy was hugely popular at the time.

Taking the Hot Wheels toy car range into videogames isn't quite as absurd as making a cartoon about a talking magic Rubiks Cube, but neither is it the comfortable fit that a 'toy cars = racing game' formula makes it seem.

At heart, Track Attack is exactly the game you would expect: a straight-forward arcade racer featuring the kind of souped-up, cartoonish vehicles found in the toy range. It's brightly coloured, bold and clearly aimed at relatively young gamers, with simple controls and not too much of a challenge.

There's no frills or supporting narrative to the action, which is slightly off-putting but fits with the idea that the game as a playbox of virtual toy cars. Track Attack doesn't welcome you in, but rather throws options in your face.

And there are plenty of options, with a plentiful supply of game types, cars and customisation options. The environments are less enticing, with four generic areas to race in: a tropical beach, a rain forest, a desert and a post-apocalyptic city which has the odd alien in the background, but otherwise looks more like a run-down dump than the atmospheric wastes of Fallout.

Pick a car, fiddle with the colours, and head into the first environment and you're thrown straight into the race, with no tutorial, story introduction or cut scene other than a pan-across the cars. There are no visible drivers, or anything living: Hot Wheels is cars cars cars, and that's it.

Does that mean they're supposed to be actual toys in-game? Well, the environments aren't toy-sized like in the much-loved Micro Machines games, although they are cartoonishly unreal with surreal touches like the aforementioned aliens, or a T-Rex crossing the track. Is the Hot Wheels world a cartoon land based around racing, or a super-detailed toy room? It's hard to tell.

Isn't quite as absurd as making a cartoon about a talking magic Rubiks Cube.

This uncertainty of purpose applies to the racing gameplay itself, which falls uncomfortably between straightforward classic arcade racers like Out Run, and the wackier, sillier fun of Mario Kart and its clones. Track Attack's combination of serious-faced, muscular cars and sharks bouncing over the road feels disjointed.

In spite of these reservations, Hot Wheels: Track Attack's racing handles well, albeit simplistically, and in many ways is a throwback to the simpler arcade racing of an earlier era, before Gran Turismo or even Test Drive raised the level of realism and simulation.

One way in which Track Attack tries to play with the big boys of racing games is the number of options. In terms of gameplay there are three tracks for each of the four environments, and five types of race for each, making for a total of sixty individual rounds in the single player game.

That's not bad value, albeit repetitive, especially as the variety in game types is not as deep as it seems: Race is the basic racing mode, while Elimination is the same but with the last racer knocked out after every lap. Hot Lap is against the clock, Checkpoint is a slalom weaving to hit targets on the track, while Token Grab isn't really a race at all, just a timed chance to grab the in-game tokens needed to upgrade cars.

There are plenty of cars to upgrade, but to be honest I've never been terribly interested in different kinds of car, so I picked one I liked, turned it bright pink and boosted its stats. After that point the tokens just piled up unused. The more motor-minded may enjoy tinkering with the various types of cars.

Unpretentious cartoon racing with no frills or narrative.

There are some interestingly extreme cars to unlock, and theoretically you see them in-race before you unlock them, but as the game is fairly easy you won't see much of, say, the car that looks a bit like a shark, as it'll be eating your dust with all the other opposition. I'm fairly bad at racing games, but managed to get Gold or Silver in most of the rounds on my first go.

There's also a track creation tool, for further digging into the game's possibilities, and a trophy system to reward the gradual completion of the game.

The depth of customisation just adds to Track Attack's disjointed feel, as it's hard to imagine anyone who enjoys tinkering with cars to this extent equally appreciating such straightforward arcade racing. Nonetheless, if you want a lot of unpretentious cartoon racing with no frills or narrative, but a lot of secondary toys to play with, Track Attack might be for you.

Mark Clapham writes the Story Gamer column.

"I love a good story. Games tell many different stories: the stories told through cut scenes and dialogue, but also the stories that emerge through gameplay, the stories players make for themselves."

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Family Gamer TV 1.5 Article || Family Gamer TV column on Game People

2011-10-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

Family Gamer TV introduces a new family. Tobi, Mary and their three kids have never owned a videogame console. As the sun sets on our San Francisco trip Tobi talks about playing games Limbo, Flower and Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure. I look ahead to Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 3DS and Dance Central 2, Disneyland Adventures and Kinect Star Wars.

Subscribe via RSS or Email.

I've often been warned off putting new players in front of unusual games like Limbo and Flower. The consensus seems to be that they should start with family friendly games like Just Dance and Boom Blox. While I appreciate the sense in that sentiment, many of these family friendly games are actually very confusing for a grown-up new to gaming.

Recently I've been having some really interesting conversations with people new to gaming who I've got to play Limbo and Flower. For me these games are a much more interesting place for an adult to start, and offer a more meaningful experience without the clutter of other titles.

When I had the chance to have Tobi and his family on FGTV I thought I would try this approach out on him. You can judge for yourself in this episode, but I think it worked pretty well:

We'll be back next time with another gaming surgery question for you. If you have anything you'd like us to tackle leave a comment below.

Tobi Emmens appears in this podcast. "I'm looking at videogames to consider how they affect our well-being. Without wishing to simplify things that are very complex, how we spend our time has some kind of impact on how we think, feel and behave. Videogames are no different."

Andy Robertson writes the Family Gamer TV column.

"This Family Gaming TV show is broadcast every other week. We talk about the latest games, and how we find time to play them with busy family and work lives."

Andy Robertson recent reviews:

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion 360 Review || Intimate Gamer column on Game People

2011-10-26T07:14:00.000-07:00

Oblivion is a timely reminder of the intimate experience a role play game generates. How I felt about the game mirrored Oblivion's complex character relationships, but like real life these were at times slippery and contradictory.

The Elder Scroll's series is known for revolutionising the fantasy role play genre with its previous titles such as Morrowind. With the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim out this year, I wanted to go back and play The Elder Scrolls IV, Oblivion.

First thing that strikes you is that this is still a spectacular game and has aged gracefully, crammed with lore and character diversity. I took my time, revelling in the dynamic character progression and the enthralling world itself.

Your character is paramount in the Elder Scrolls IV, and the game goes through a great deal of effort to make you feel important and unique -- capable of making many different choices. Your personal preferences are paid great attention to, your character is involved in everything, and recognised throughout the world of Oblivion for the skills you develop.

The game had such broad character capabilities, I felt almost overwhelmed by the amount of options available to me. There are hundreds of things I was able to do, and my character choices felt liberating rather than limiting. I was able to play the game the way that I wanted, which created an experience that was intimate because it was unique to me.

With different ways to complete missions and routes in and out of dungeons and houses, I could carve my own path through this world. Oblivion met me in this desire and actively encouraged me to play to my strengths. I was able to be as stealthy as I wanted, creeping my way through castles without being seen and striking from the dark, these were the talents that I had built up simply by playing the game. I really loved that it rewarded me for being consistent.

But like in any relationship, commitment and identity are complex and slippery concepts. I became head of the Brotherhood of Darkness, I became defined, I was someone, the leader of a secret order having crawled through the ranks. I was proud of my character and what I had achieved. But then almost unexpected I fell into the exact same role in the Fighter's Guild -- perhaps the total opposite of the sinful assassins that I had previously aligned myself with. It all felt a little wrong, I shouldn't be getting away with that, surely?

An experience that was intimate because it was unique to me.

It seemed like my actions were truly without limits, but at the same time these achievements accounted for nothing. The game was blind to what they ment in relationship to each other. It was simply a title placed in my journal.

Once reaching the head of the Fighter's Guild and the Brotherhood of Darkness, I too conquered the Mage's Guild and eventually went on to climb to the top of the Thieves Guild too. Such large accomplishments that seemingly amounted to nearly nothing.

In the end it felt disappointing. I had enjoyed climbing these towers, aiming to prove myself to this created world -- but I had fought for no reason. I came to realise how little my actions counted in Oblivion, and was disheartened by it despite how much I had achieved.

Oblivion is innovative, vast and challenging. Despite being a little overwhelming at times, the gameplay was enthralling and engaging, and the main quest line was enough to let you to trawl your way across mountains and through dungeons and long forgotten Elven Ruins.

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, but Oblivion often forgets this.

You make your own destiny and the game respected you for it, even if it didn't manage to make your successes feel worthwhile. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, but Oblivion often forgets this.

The game fought for its marvellous balance of entertainment and challenge. The non-playable characters were engaging and I could frequently overhear conversations that lead me to secrets and treasure. I felt comfortable and welcomed by the world, my character, even without a voice and background seemed a firm part of it.

If Skyrim can continue to build upon this foundation, and establish a stricter relationship between the different roles, it will be an experience not to be missed.

Hollie Simon wrote this Intimate Gamer article under the watchful eye of Emma Boyes.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Trailer: NIER wields a bloody sword

2011-10-26T07:05:00.000-07:00

Square Enix has taken the wraps off its latest action title for PS3 and Xbox 360, NIER. The game has been given an official website as well as an embedded trailer. The game is being developed by Cavia and its trailer gives a feeling that NIER may be on the lines of Devil May Cry, look-wise. The website says that NIER will require the players to don the shoes of an "unyielding protagonist" who is out to find a cure for his daughter as she battles against Black Scrawl virus. Apparently, the game will be your traditional hack n’ slash bit, only spruced with an emotional plot. Check out some shadowy creatures facing the wrath of a really angry hero. NIER wields sword like a toy and the official page says he’s armed with multiple weapons and can weave magic. Ah, right up our alley it seems. We’ll report more on the game from E3 as NIER is an official part of Square Enix’s lineup at the event. And as the trailer says: Coming in 2010. Via: siliconera

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Killzone 2 patch 1.27 not coming this week

2011-10-26T06:57:00.000-07:00

Looking to tweak your controls just right on Killzone 2? Ah! Pity it won’t be happening this week. You see, the good guys at Guerilla Games have delayed it. Yeah, son of a b****! Here’s what they said on their Twitter feed:

Just got official confirmation - the patch has been delayed and will not be released this week.

So the ‘Precision Controls’ option – one that tames analogue sticks a tad bit – won’t be coming after all. And neither will promised tweaks for the Skirmish mode and other online tweaks. “Join Friend” is yet another addition that players are really looking forward to. It lets players join in a friend’s faction and squad, even when faction balancing is on. When Patch 1.27 will actually go live, we have no idea as of now. More when the web reveals something. Guerilla says “it shouldn't be much longer." Via: g4tv

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

PSP Go shot and detailed

2011-10-26T06:56:00.000-07:00

PSP’s new avatar has finally been spotted, photographed, and described in some detail. All this has happened over the past couple of days and, needless to say, has set gamers’ nerves tingling with anticipation. That the images, and even a video, are leaks goes without saying. What’s noteworthy though is the fact that Sony's own monthly interactive video series Qore is the source of these goodies. Anyway, PSP Go, as it is known, is seen flaunting a 3.8-inch display, which is 43% more bright than the PSP-3000. Of course, it is a sliding device with controls revealed when its screen is slid. Among the specs of PlayStation Portable Go flowing are noted: • 16 GB of embedded flash storage • Absence of UMD drive • Memory Stick Micro slot • Built-in Bluetooth • Full compatibility with older PSN channels. The device is expected to make an appearance at the upcoming Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). Meanwhile, we report, courtesy of the leaked video, that Sony is going to announce a spate of big gaming titles for PSP Go like Gran Turismo and MGS at E3. Sony’s E3 Press Conference will be held on June 2 and this leak has certainly taken a bit of sheen away. Well, unless this one’s a hoax to mislead us. Either way, we post the video below; you watch and come to your conclusions. Via: techpowerup

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Robocop type weapon scanner to assist policemen

2011-10-26T06:48:00.000-07:00

Watch out! R-Type Tactics coming to America

Electronic Gaming Monthly, an American video game magazine published by Ziff-Davis of 1UP network, in its foreign column, has given a big surprise to its fans saying that the strategy game R-Type Tactics is soon to be released in America in the coming...

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Assassin's Creed 2: A leak gone in 11 seconds!

2011-10-26T06:44:00.000-07:00

A leak is a leak! Essentially it means things are available before ‘official’ comes into picture. And frankly we are suckers for anything in the name of a leak; footage, screens, quotes, every bit. That we harp on them and they come back to bite us is quite a different matter altogether. Anyway we have found Assassin 2’s leaked footage and we are really (re-al-ly) excited about it. And of course we want to share our excitement. So without further ado here are eleven seconds of footage that could make or break your opinion of the game. Oh who are we kidding? Anyway the footage packs a lot of action in a really (re-al-ly) short span of time; jumping, climbing and running too. Wonder if Ubisoft will take the trouble to remove it from YouTube? And since we are on the topic, Assassin's Creed 2 has been promised for Q3, 2009. Thanks: destructoid

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Trailer: The Lord of the Rings has a friendly version

2011-10-26T06:41:00.000-07:00

The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's QuestThe Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest is, arguably, the friendliest version of the epic, or so is the popularly held belief. Now we have a trailer as a testimony. Aragorn’s Quest represents the very first gaming activity of Warner Bros. Interactive, since it acquired the literary and film rights to Lord of the Rings. The game is currently under development for Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable, and is due this fall. The trailer starts with children gathering around fire to listen to the story of Aragorn, and then it moves on to showing glimpses of his cavalier conquests. Aragorn's Quest is about controlling Aragorn though the events of three books. Now stream and let your path be guided by the courage of Aragorn. Elsewhere on the web you can also access some screenshots of the game. Via: shacknews

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Trauma Team on Wii: Operate now!

2011-10-26T06:35:00.000-07:00

trauma team 20090529101340223 640wHere’s a chance for gamers to redeem themselves; to be specific those gamers who chickened out at the med school. Altus has announced that a new entry to its Trauma Center Series will come out in spring 2010, and it will be called Trauma Team. The game has been announced for Nintendo Wii. Trauma Team will make a departure from the usual stuff and will allow gamers to take on six different roles: general surgeon, diagnostician, EMT, orthopedic surgeon, endoscope technician or medical examiner. (The levels at this invites screw-ups is already making me rub hands in glee!). Atlus touts dynamic story sequences, hand-drawn art style, and quality voice acting that make Trauma Team “the ultimate medical entertainment experience!” Guess we’ll know when the time comes. Keep your gloves powered meanwhile. Image Via: 1up

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Guitar Hero 5’s full artist-repertoire

2011-10-26T06:29:00.000-07:00

It has only been days since Guitar Hero 5 was announced for a September release. Then we were handed a sample list of artists who’d make an appearance on the title. Now it seems we have a comprehensive list of just who all would be coming to rock our gaming consoles. GH5’s official page is the source for the names of “some of the biggest rock artists and bands of all time, including The Rolling Stones, The White Stripes, Kings of Leon, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Santana and Vampire Weekend.” The list is sure to please some, even as it leaves some disappointed. Either way, it’s all good. Jump for all the illustrious names. 1. 3 Doors Down 2. A Perfect Circle 3. AFI 4. Arctic Monkeys 5. Attack! Attack! 6. Band Of Horses 7. Beastie Boys 8. Beck 9. Billy Idol 10. Billy Squier 11. Blink-182 12. Blur 13. Bob Dylan 14. Bon Jovi 15. Brand New 16. Bush 17. Children Of Bodom 18. Coldplay 19. Darker My Love 20. Darkest Hour 21. David Bowie 22. Deep Purple 23. Dire Straits 24. Duran Duran 25. Eagles Of Death Metal 26. Elliott Smith 27. Elton John 28. Face To Face 29. Garbage 30. Gorillaz 31. Gov't Mule 32. Grand Funk Railroad 33. Iggy Pop 34. Iron Maiden 35. Jeff Beck 36. Jimmy Eat World 37. John Mellencamp 38. Johnny Cash 39. Kaiser Chiefs 40. King Crimson 41. Kings Of Leon 42. Kiss 43. Love and Rockets 44. Megadeth 45. Mötley Crüe 46. Muse 47. My Morning Jacket 48. Nirvana 49. No Doubt 50. Peter Frampton 51. Public Enemy Featuring Zakk Wylde 52. Queen & David Bowie 53. Queens Of The Stone Age 54. Rammstein 55. Rose Hill Drive 56. Rush 57. Santana 58. Scars On Broadway 59. Screaming Trees 60. Smashing Pumpkins 61. Sonic Youth 62. Spacehog 63. Stevie Wonder 64. Sublime 65. Sunny Day Real Estate 66. T. Rex 67. The Bronx 68. The Derek Trucks Band 69. The Duke Spirit 70. The Killers 71. The Police 72. The Raconteurs 73. The Rolling Stones 74. The Sword 75. The White Stripes 76. Thin Lizzy 77. Thrice 78. Tom Petty 79. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers 80. TV On The Radio 81. Vampire Weekend 82. Weezer 83. Wild Cherry 84. Wolfmother Of course we may get more names later. And in that case: the more the merrier. Via: gonintendo

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Aino: SE delivers Remote Play for PS3

2011-10-26T06:21:00.001-07:00

Sony Ericsson is bringing streaming to the PS3 like no other device has done till date. SE just announced Aino, a phone that’s compatible with the PS3 and that delivers Remote Play to Sony’s gaming machine, allowing users to control PS3 and watch videos on it over Wi-Fi or over the internet. This 3G GSM phone comes with a very nice 3-inch screen, 8 MP camera (with geo-tagging and up to 16X digital zoom), photo editing and video recording. On the Music front Aino delivers a touchscreen media player, stereo speakers, and MP3/AAC ring tones. Also included are a host of applications like: Google Maps, YouTube, Facebook, 3D and Motion Gaming, and Walk mate. Full list of features here. Aino will be out later this year and represents the next best thing to that imaginary PSP cell phone. Watch out for more info in the coming weeks. By the by, Sony why the delay in finally using SE for some good? More pics after jump. Via: nerdwithswag

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.