Burnout - Paradise?

Burnout Paradise is the 6th game in the series. So is it worth forking out another £40 for this one? Well, yes in short. When playing it, it doesnt feel like a Burnout title.

The old style of menu selected game modes are gone, and replaced by a free roaming interface where similar to need for speed, to play missions, you have to find them. There are over 70 playable cars and 20 square miles of roads to explore from the start. Nowhere is blocked, so you are able to go everywhere from the start. You do miss the thrill of going somewhere new, and unlocking new areas, but by having the whole city free to roam from the start it means no problems in where Burnout Paradise excels, its online mode.

There is no need to save your progress, quit your game, log on, search.. it does it all from in game. You are (almost) instantly connected to a 'freeburn' game with up to 7 other drivers. Online you can follow quests, race with other drivers, or annoy the little stupid kids by continually crashing into them, scoring 'take downs'. The online mode turns out to be more fun than ringing Asda and getting their staff to put a call out for your friend Tess Cosis-Cheaper on their tannoy. While im on the subject of Asda, their customer service is awful, they wouldnt take a game back because their was a finger print on the disk.. grow up now eh?

Anyway, this games single player also boasts an impressive game time. Licenses pass fast, but there is also 400 barriers, 120 Billboards, 45 drive throughs and 50 Super Jumps to find. O and 75 cars to unlock through various means. There are no loading times, and loads of different ways for you to race/smash you car about. Stunt runs, marked man, races, road rage all mixed with cars to suit each event (aggression, speed, stunt). NB No matter what car, crashes always look good.


Negatives? Well of course.. The game is called Burnout : Paradise. The signs in the city say 'welcome to Paradise'. Not Paradise City, and even if they did.. is there really any need to play 'Paradise City' by Guns and Roses that many times?? I mean, im not saying its a bad song, but how long can you listen to that screeching noise? Other complaints.. um.. O apart from the annoying little kids you find everywhere online now, there are also people who have no clue how to play and can make online challenges less fun than watching a football game on setanta.

New Game Scores, 1 word sum up and buy or not to buy..

Brnout Paradise - 9/10 - addictive - Buy, because everyone else will..!

Uncharted. Drakes Fortune

One of the most hyped games on the ps3, Uncharted: Drakes Fortune see you play an ancestor or Sir Francis Drake, who follows clues in the quest to find treasure left behind. Only he is not alone in the search.

The game launches you straight into the action, with it starting on a boat. With a whole gang of modern day pirates coming at you.


The graphics, as we have come to expect are good, and the cutscenes are amazing. Sometimes though, you have a feeling that you should be playing some parts, rather than watching them. Apart from yourself, you have 2 allies in the game. Sully, an old man who casues you more problems than your stereotypical loud mouth 'friend' on a night out in Stoke, and also Elana, the 'Love Interest' of the game. However, she is not the typical love interest at all. She can do things without you making her, she can hold weapons, and believe it or not, actually kill people for you. In the hard difficulty, it is impossible to complete without allowing her to help you..

Ok, there are a few negatives. The camera angle does make it really obvious where exactly you are supposed to go. As good as the graphics are, the limted size of the levels is obvious, as there is only really one way you can go throughout the game, getting lost is rarer than a happy 14 year old emo. The game is also a little short, admittedly, no game keeps me going for long, but I had this game completed on medium in about 9 hours. I'm currently playing through the hard difficulty, and the only real difference is the accuracy of the enemies shots. The boss fight too i had completed on the second attempt, compare that to the 4 days of metal gear solid, or the never ever cos its so bloody hard boss fight of heavenly sword.

Anyway, i thought this game overall was really good. Its the first action/adventure game ive enjoyed in a while, and this is partly due to its tomb raider-esque feel. The playing system was good, controls easy to pick up, and addictiveness massive. I mean, there are some games i stop playing because im bored, and some that i stop playing because i realise i should have been asleep 4 hours ago, and this is the later..

New Game Scores, 1 word sum up and buy or not to buy..

Uncharted: Drakes Fortune - 8/10 - treasured - Buy

Tiger Woods - Rough As.

I bought Tiger Woods 08, again for the PS3 as my Xbox is still broken. (Thanks Microsoft) Ok, ill start with the positives. The graphics are amazing, and the ability to create your own character is a brilliant, mine actually resembled me!

Thats quite enough of that.

Its not often a game take a step back from its predecessor. However, after playing tiger woods 07 on the Xbox till death last year, i felt that this game was trying to be too technical, at the cost of gameplay.
Its like going to a Mcdonalds and buying 'THE NEW BIG MAC", only to find out, its new because its half the size and tastes of actual meat. Its still pleasant, but its not what you were expecting or really, bought the game for. Or the Burger. Whatever makes sense.
I understand im picking, but for someone who has played previous Tiger Woods, this game is instantly frustrating. There were faults with almost all shots played. For those who dont know, tiger woods is played by moving the analogue stick backwards and forwards. The straighter the line made, the straighter the shot, the better the timing of the swing, the better the power.. and so on.

But the game kept on insisting me and others were hooking the ball every single shot. This was tried after a restart of the game, and the same happened. I mean, we could see we werent hooking it, but it was still saying we were. Its like when.. no matter how much someone tries to tell you again and again that a french accent is sexy.. We all know its not the case, and although your input is far different. Ultimately, you just get annoyed and give up. O im sorry, im wrong. Of course they dont just sound like they're speaking out of their nose, how silly of me. Or in this case.. yes tiger woods 08, im hooking it.. ok..

Anyway, apart from the awful controls, there are small bits that you miss. The aiming system on 07 was better, the putting is near impossible, there is no way to speed up the shots. O and of course, with all EA games, there is more chance you'll meet an honest german than being able to connect up to their servers.

Overall, not impressed, and i shall be taking it back asap and swapping it for Uncharted Drakes Fortune. Speaking of which..

It is not often you play a demo of a game you were not convinced of its appeal, and after know you are going to buy it. Uncharted Drakes Fortune is one of these games for me. So ill review it when ive played it!

New Game Scores, 1 word sum up and buy or not to buy..

Tiger Woods 08 - 3/10 - backpedal - Don't buy.. plain as that.

PES vs Fifa & Something Terrible Has Happened..

On saturday afternoon, when playing football (and performing an amazing save), something awful happened.. this..

Its not a magic picture, but just incase.. that massive lump below my thumb isnt supposed to be there..

I tore muscle tissue in my hand, meaning that movement of my thumb is very limited, and will be for a week or so. Anyone who cant see where im going here?

It has become very painful and near on impossible for me to play any computer games.
But anyway, I've decided to review this years/seasons two main football games. These 2 are of course Fifa 08 and Pro Evolution Soccer 2008. To ensure a fair contest, i'm doing both on the same console, the PS3. I'll start off by saying that since I have prefered PES since Pro Evo 4, I have been heavily swayed by the smoother gameplay, and not been bothered by the unlisenced names. But every year it seems like PES has slowed down, the play more bitty, whilst Fifa has slowly improved, the passes even occasionally going where you press them to. But anyway..

Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 v Fifa 08

First off, Pro Evo 2008. The case looks as good as ever, the disk and opening sequence build the exitement, and then the gameplay.. Well.. never have I regretted spending £40 so fast. The frame rate it awful, the longest passage of smooth play is a few seconds and then it stops to work out why it was working. Die hard Pro Evo fans will tell you 'turn off some features, it runs fine!'. These few features to my experimentation are no commentary, no SFX, no BGM, no stadium effects.. o and actually installing the game on your hard drive.. And guess what? There is still a noticable delay. Also, to anyone who hasnt noticed, you can score pretty much every single time by cutting in on the edge of the box and letting the ball hit their toblerone handed keeper and pop out to you forwards.. realistic eh? So.. is the gameplay still worth this effort? In short, no. Although most will still try to argue that despite these set backs, Pro Evo is still the best game. It is obvious these have never given Fifa 08 a chance.

Straight off, Fifa 08 is the most enjoyable football game i have played since Pro Evo 4, and before that Sensible Soccer (by the way, download that now from Xbox live if you can) on the megadrive. The graphics are superb, no skipping and the loading times are non existent, well there are some - but you can actually play in the loading arena while you wait. The better commentary is more varied, and without Mark Lawrenson! BGM soundtrack is awesome and as for the previously less superior gameplay? Its actually just as good, if not better (no lag too). The ability to score screamers is actually there, but there is no sure fire way to score. This game is so enjoyable, and finally Fifa has actually shown itself as a world class football game in gameplay as well as graphics. And it has a lifespan. EA are looking into patches for the game which will update team rosters after the next few transfer windows.

Long story short?

Pro Evolution 2008 4 - 9 Fifa 08

New Game Scores, 1 word sum up and buy or not to buy..

Pro Evolution 2008 - 4/10 - samey - get fifa instead.

Fifa 08- 9/10 - suprising - definite buy, even if you have no friends and will only be playing the single player version

Guitar Hero 3 - Legends of Gaming?

Guitar Hero has been one of the most enjoyable series of games released, but is the idea getting old now?

Guitar Hero 3 sets out similar to the previous 2, but now there is a Wireless guitar on all 3 major consoles. This allows you to wander aroud your room, jump off the bed, go down on your knees without restriction, preventing you from being pulled back towards the console like on a bungee run, or, like how my playstation 2 died, pulling the console off of your desk.

To people new to the guitar hero series, the experience of playing the game is hilarious, challenging and fresh. However, to veterans, the format is exactly the same. Sure, the online modes are better, faster, and there are far more battle modes. To complete some stages you have to beat a 'guitar legend'. Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Slash (Most bands at some point in his life). This is, slightly different, but.. your still playing guitar.

It sounds like im having a go, but the desire to play through the single mode more than once is non existent. And there are only so many rounds of so called 'legend' bands you can play through until you get to any good songs (Reign in Blood by Slayer, One by Metallica.... thats pure class). I understand that the game cannot have huge rock songs every single one, but alot of the songs I have barely ever heard of.

However, overall i would reccommend buying this game, especially if you access to the internet. The ability to download songs has been freed right up, and even recent songs youve heard of are now relatively cheap. But remember, in the next couple of months, Rock Band hits the shelves. Thats the ability to play the guitarist, bassist, and now the drummer and singer too. ( Yes there are going to be a mic and a drum kit included), and with alot of hype surrounding it, you might be worth holding on for that.

New Game Scores, 1 word sum up and buy or not to buy..

Guitar Hero 3 Legends of Rock- 6/10 - chordy - personally, if you are short of money, wait till Rock Band.

Super Mario, Bee Mario, Ice Mario

Another day, another hosts of alter egos we didnt know existed from our friend mario. Only 5 more stars today, but i had other things to do! O and another hard work out on Mario and Sonic at the Olympic games.. with G putting extra effort into his pole vault.. (See right)

I am still, after 21 days waiting for my package to arrive from microsoft so i can send off my xbox to get it fixed. Its now getting beyond a joke, and my 360 games are taunting me. You would have thought after millions of the same fault with the Xbox 360 and the ring of death, they would have worked out a faster system of fixing the system.

O well, heres the view i get when i turn on my xbox, and roughly 55% of all xbox owners will discover at some point in their playing life..

I hate it so much. Ladies and Gentlemen, the ring of death.

Im ending the day playing NBA Live 08 on the Playstation 3. Very similar to the 07 version, but with slightly better graphics, and a much improved shooting and tactical system. The gameplay flows well, but occasionaly the ball will pass to no-one. Helpful when games do that.. American sports games always tend to be alot tighter than fifa is, and everygame is contested right to the end, no matter what team you are playing against. I have not a clue what im doing in the season mode really, just playing each game when they come along.

New Game Scores, 1 word sum up and buy or not to buy..

NBA Live 08- 8/10 - swoosh - if you like basketball, or just love multiplayer sports games - buy

Mario, Sonic, Mario, Knuckles

More Super Mario Galaxy today, and again, more Mario & Sonic Olympics. The Olympics really is a great group game, taught 2 new people to play today, in the space of about 5 minutes. The Wrists are still caining but with all great games, you play on regardless. The PS3 has really taken a back seat at the minute, Fifa 08 hasnt been touched in days!

Super Mario Galaxy... really though.. what a game. Im on 43 stars now, and im happy to replay all levels to find hidden stars. Every level is well thought out, and fun to play. Today i had to save luigi, and i continue on the trail of princess peach. Its getting hard to distinguish between the games though now, i keep trying to get mario to throw a javelin, or long jump over gaps.

Also my brain grade has risen on Big Brain Academy, im now a B. Not bad for a student with enough time to write a blog about computer games. Big Brain Academy is a fun game, as well as multiplayer benifits. The only thing is that the single player is slightly limited. The want to go back and play the same exercises again and again is doubtful. But now, a copy can be found for £15 it is a great budget game

New Game Scores, 1 word sum up and buy or not to buy..

Big Brain Academy (Wii) - 7/10 - expanding - for £15 its a good deal - buy

The Day I Killed My Wrists

Nintendo have the habit of building really addictive games, not addictive like BioShock is, in that you desperately want to find someone your looking for, or Fifa, cos you really want to score that 45yard screamer with Gary Neville (it happened!), but just the gameplay is so enjoyable.

Nintendo have a new masterpiece in Super Mario Galaxy.

The variation of the game is endless, the fact that my mate came into my room and asked me if it was still the same game speaks for itself. The controls are basic and easy to pick up, and like all Mario adventures, there is humour and a large range of activities to be found. I am not saying that you are not interested in the story line, but when was the last time you were playing a mario game and were actually concerned about Princess Peach?

They have worked mini games that are missions into the play, so it isnt just space hopping, and of course, like with all Wii games, there is a heightened sense of involvement and you jerk, spin and jump, using the nunchuck and the wii-mote. Im about 25 stars in, and once ive completed it? Ill play it all over again.

In a completely different genre, with similar characters however was Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games. This is one of the most enjoyable 'fun' multiplayers since Mario Kart all those years ago. Every event can be picked up quickly, which means no-one starts whining because they 'dont get it', well almost no-one.

Along with the classic events - 100metres, hurdles, javelin, there are certain 'pimped out' events, that are called dream events. I try not to play these in multiplayer as i think they are not as good as the usual events though. Still enjoyable. Anyway, i completed this game, unlocked all the events etc in 6 hours, but with any great mulitpayer game, this is ideal as it means more multiplayer action.

I should point out my Xbox360 is currently broken, so it may be a while before thats sorted.

New Game Scores, 1 word sum up and buy or not to buy..

Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) - 10/10 - revolutionary - you havent got this already?!

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii) - 9/10 - Sociable - definetly buy if you have friends.