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30.1.09
It's taken three years for a Lord of the Rings game to make it to console, not since the Battle for Middle-Earth II have we been exposed to Tolkien's fictional world and as with the console version of that game EA have successfully created a game that doesn't compliment either Tolkien's written world or Peter Jackson's films.
The game loosely follows both book and movie, beginning with the Battle of Helm's Deep (although one or two "what if" scenarios have been added such as a battle to retake Moria and a siege of Minas Morgul). Whether you play as Good or Evil (the Evil campaign is unlocked only after completing the Good campaign) you get the choice of four classes, Warrior, Archer, Mage or Scout. The game seems to favour the range class of the Archer, fire enough arrows while moving backwards and you have a good chance of beating anything that comes towards you, whether it be a weak orc or a great troll.
Conquest is made from the same mould as Star Wars: Battlefront 1 and 2 which were also made by Pandemic. One major difference being, the Battlefront games were good. Not that Conquest isn't outstandingly bad, it's just the same as every other game made by EA when they venture into genres that aren't sport related. The gameplay is disappointing as you soon find yourself falling into the repetitiveness that is button-mashing.
The graphics overall are also sub-par, the only thing the developers seem to have concentrated on are the faces of the games residence; the rest of the game from a graphic point of view would fit in if it was released on the original Xbox. The size of the battles too is disappointing, even as close as a month or so from the release date, it was suggested that the number of participants in battles would be different depending on which map you were on abut could reach as much as 50. Instead we were restricted to a number around the 30 mark. Another nail in the coffin for this game is the heroes. Normally a point where developers can really go to town and be inventive with their abilities, special moves and so on. Not so in Conquest, the majority of the heroes are just the same as the normal classes but with a bit more survivability. Faramir and Aragorn, for example, are exactly the same. In fact, the only real difference is that Aragorn's special ability is to throw ghosts at his enemies!
Not all heroes however are unimaginative, Sauruman feels different, as does the Mouth of Sauron and the Balrog (they would actually find it hard to make him feel like a regular soldier though.) The animated quick time events are a great little feature too, the ability to climb up the leg of a Mumak and take it out in the same manner as Legolas does in the Return of the King is awesome as is scrambling up the back of a troll before performing a very graceful one hit move. It never gets old and adds some much needed balance to fighting against monsters. The randomness in some battle of being picked up by a circling giant eagle or nazgul, in my opinion is also a good addition to the game which gives you a feeling of being in a real battle where simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time can spell doom for a warrior. Having said that though, I did get exceptionally frustrated when, while playing as Sauron and striding menacingly towards Gandalf the White to begin an epic battle of the ages, I was picked up by a passing giant eagle which resulted in an instant kill.
Overall, this game lacks anything that is truely memorable, the bad gameplay, graphics and unimaginative style mean that the bad points greatly outweigh the good. The potential for a great game -certainly one that would become as successful as the Battlefront games, if not more- was definately there, but the end result is disappointing.
5/10
Lewis
Not all heroes however are unimaginative, Sauruman feels different, as does the Mouth of Sauron and the Balrog (they would actually find it hard to make him feel like a regular soldier though.) The animated quick time events are a great little feature too, the ability to climb up the leg of a Mumak and take it out in the same manner as Legolas does in the Return of the King is awesome as is scrambling up the back of a troll before performing a very graceful one hit move. It never gets old and adds some much needed balance to fighting against monsters. The randomness in some battle of being picked up by a circling giant eagle or nazgul, in my opinion is also a good addition to the game which gives you a feeling of being in a real battle where simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time can spell doom for a warrior. Having said that though, I did get exceptionally frustrated when, while playing as Sauron and striding menacingly towards Gandalf the White to begin an epic battle of the ages, I was picked up by a passing giant eagle which resulted in an instant kill.
Overall, this game lacks anything that is truely memorable, the bad gameplay, graphics and unimaginative style mean that the bad points greatly outweigh the good. The potential for a great game -certainly one that would become as successful as the Battlefront games, if not more- was definately there, but the end result is disappointing.
5/10
Lewis
Labels: 360, Conquest, LotR, Review
- Lewis O'Brien
- Sony announce a 95% slump in profits, their first loss in 14 years. The figures released on 31st December, 2008 clearly prove the lower demand for electronic goods due to the current economic crisis. However, despite PlayStation 3 console sales going down by 44,000 units, demand for games has gone up, with 14.8 million PS3 games sold. [MORE INFORMATION]
- Eidos and Beautiful Game Studios are getting ready for the release of Championship Manager 09 in April. The demo version will be released for footie fans to download and sample come March. [MORE INFORMATION]
- Sony will be releasing four new colours of PSP in Japan during March. The colours, named 'Carnival Colours', will be available for purchase in Japan only at 19,800 yen a piece (around £160). There's no word on a European release yet, though. [MORE INFORMATION]
- Three new Spore titles will be coming to PC, Wii and DS this autumn. The extensions, named Spore Creature Keeper, Spore Hero and Spore Hero Arena, will be released alongside the already announced Spore Galactic Adventures. [MORE INFORMATION]
- The first of the Tomb Raider: Underworld DLC will hit our screens in February, with the first on the 10th. No prices have yet been revealed, but they're promised to be "competitive". [MORE INFORMATION]
- Microsoft has closed Aces, one of its oldest in-house game studios and the developers responsible for Microsoft Flight Simulator. Going against their hopes for the economic downturn to not affect their studios, the studio was closed and the entire staff axed. [MORE INFORMATION]
- Plans have been uncovered for a Gears of War film, to be released in 2010. Die Hard 4.0 director Len Wiseman will be in charge, with Stuart Beattie (the scripter for Pirates of the Carribean and Collateral) writing the screenplay. [MORE INFORMATION]
- A new Uncharted 2: Among Thieves trailer has been released on the PlayStation Store. It shows the protagonist, Nathan Drake, in a perilous situation involving a train carriage and a vertigo-inducing drop. Download it for free from the PSN.
- The Leipzig Games Convention 2009 has been cancelled, due to ongoing pressure from industry rival Gamescom. It will be replaced by Games Convention Online. [MORE INFORMATION]
Labels: NewsBites
- Linford Butler
A NewsBites post will be up sometime tonight. Sorry, I couldn't do it last night due to huge and ridiculous amounts of coursework, but I can promise they'll be an update soon.
Linford
Linford
- Linford Butler
We've had a Chimeran invasion of Britain. It didn't work, fortunately for us. Another invasion took place in the United States, which also failed miserably. So why, oh why, do those pesky converted-human Chimera want to try another invasion?The answer - they haven't failed in America. Well, not yet anyway. Enter Resistance Retribution. Set in the time between the end of Fall of Man and the beginning of Resistance 2, Retribution follows the storyline of fomer British Royal Marine, James Grayson in the weeks following the destruction of the Chimeran tower in London. After being forced to kill his brother inside a Chimeran conversion tower, James suffers a nervous breakdown and is imprisoned for desertion. However, the European resistance - the Maquis - enlist Grayson's help, and soon he is fighting against the Chimera in Europe.
Developed by Sony Bend, Resistance Retribution was first revealed at E3 2008, and since has enjoyed both it's own hype whilst also bathing in the hype of Resistance 2. And Bend have certainly gone to great lengths to make sure the first PSP incarnation of the Resistance series is a gaming experience to remember.Retribution features some fantastic and innovative new features, the likes of which have never been seen on the PSP before. 'Infection' mode allows players with a copy of Resistance Retribution and Resistance 2 to connect their games and 'infect' their PSP, changing the game mode and giving new features such as a new player costume and look, new weapons and health regeneration. Retribution will also be one of the first games to feature a form of cross-platform processor sharing; players will be able to hook their PSP-2000 or -3000 up to a PS3 and use the Dualshock 3 to play their copy of Retribution on a big screen.
Graphically, Retribution impresses. For a PSP game the graphics are very good, and from the in-game visuals that I've seen, the game is unlikely to disappoint. Also, the graphics do not lose quality when played on a big screen, so players wishing to play at home on their 40" plasma will get just as much out of Retribution as on-the-road gamers will on the PSP's display.Gameplay looks excellent, especially for a PSP shooter. Sony Bend have learnt from the mistakes of shooters which have gone before, and as such have not attempted to make a game with an advanced, home-console thesis. In fact, Bend have developed a game which is designed for PSP through-and-through - this is evident from the new 'aim assist' option, which counters the problem of not having two analog sticks on the PSP whilst making gameplay more fluid.
Retribution is the first Resistance game to feature a common shooter concept - a cover system. Players will be able to take cover automatically when they are near it, making for a (hopefully) much more tactical feel to the game. In addition to the non-replenishing life bar the game will feature, Retribution is sure to have a less run-and-gun feel that it's PSP brothers.Resistance Retribution is due for release in North America on 17 March, and whilst Europe is still waiting for a release date, if you really want this game you can pre-order from Amazon, Gamestop or any other good retailer.
Linford
Labels: Hype Train, PSP, Resistance Retribution
- Linford Butler
Just a short one this week...
- A Final Fantasy XIII viral countdown promises a 'new vision'. With the countdown set to end on 28th January at 4pm GMT, you can register so a reminder is sent to you when the countdown is about to end. Square Enix says that it is the 'first of many countdowns to come'. [MORE INFORMATION]
- Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 is set to bring real time strategy to the PS3, with a pre-order available now. We won't be seeing RTS on our beloved consoles until late March, though. [MORE INFORMATION]
- Sony have confirmed that a Killzone 2 PS3 Bundle will be coming to the UK, costing £299.99. [MORE INFORMATION]
Labels: NewsBites
- Linford Butler
In this edition of Geeky But Cool I will be talking about NVIDIA 3D. This new piece of kit allows you to play your video games in full 3D like you would get by going to an Imax cinema, you don't get the silly blue and red cardboard glasses but a state of the art plastic glasses allowing you to get even more immersed in your gaming experience. This technology will be available to you right now if you are willing to pay £100 for the glasses and drivers for the program. There are already a large list of games that are compatible with the technology such as Mirrors Edge, World of Warcraft and Call of Duty.
Grimmy
Grimmy
Labels: Geeky but cool
- Gr1mmy
Tom's GOTY post is now up, although it's plonked itself further down the page for some reason. You can read it by clicking here.
Alternatively, you can read all the GOTY posts by clicking on the sidebar link or by clicking here.
Linford
Alternatively, you can read all the GOTY posts by clicking on the sidebar link or by clicking here.
Linford
- Linford Butler
- EA Games have announced plans to create a EA Sports Complex for PlayStation Home. The complex, currently slated for release this spring, is designed with both casual and hardcore gamers in mind, and will allow players to meet up with EA Sports fans, launch games and view leaderboards and other EA content. [MORE INFORMATION]
- With the release of the hotly anticipated Killzone 2 coming ever closer, rumours sparked about the release of a demo version of Killzone 2. The existence of such a demo was confirmed by Sony shortly after the rumours began - EU users will be able to download a playable demo from the EU Store sometime before release, whilst US users have to pre-ordeer from GameStop to access the demo. [MORE INFORMATION]
- Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars has become the very first Nintendo DS game to recieve an 18 classification from the British Board for Film Censoring, the BBFC (Britain's content regulation board). However, no cuts were needed before release - after Rockstar's little lover's tiff with the BBFC over the content of Manhunt 2, this must be a relief for the developer. [MORE INFORMATION]
- Downloadable content for Mirror's Edge has been dated. The premium content will cost $10, around £7 over here. Expect it on 29th January.
- The zen-like experience from the makers of flOw, Flower, is going to be released on the PlayStation Network this February. Remember this title from E3 2008? [MORE INFORMATION]
- Grimmy's favourite game with the longest game title known to any species, Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket Powered Battle Cars, comes to the EU Store on 22nd January. To read Grimmy's review, click here. [MORE INFORMATION]
Labels: NewsBites
- Linford Butler
Many RPGs are now aimed at the more hardcore gamers, leaving the casual gaming market stranded (not that their exactly spoilt for choice with the Wii) Fable II however is playable by just about anyone. The simple layout of the story line is weak at times but straight forward. It is however, the diversity of the role of your character that is the selling point of this game. What type of hero will you be?
Once you create your character, their alignment and path in the world is entirely up to you. They can follow the path of good or evil. Become a citizen of Albion, get a job, find a wife or husband and raise a family. Eventually you will have to do some adventuring but even then, that doesn’t mean you have to follow the sometimes poor story, the mass of side-quests and repeatable assassinations or bounty hunting is huge. Not as big as other RPGs such as Oblivion but we wouldn’t want to scare the casual market with too much to do now would we?
At some point you will probably enter the job market, whether it’s just for fun or to earn a bit of extra money. This quick money making system (whether you’re blacksmithing, bartending or woodcutting) makes you very rich, very quick. Although this may immediately seem like a good thing, it soon becomes obvious that it takes some of the fun out of this overall enjoyable game. Another way of making money is through you faith companion, your dog who sticks to you from the beginning of the game sniffs out loot and gnaws on fallen enemies and although he may not steal a permanent place in your heart, you will find his constant company and believable, effective AI a useful addition to the game.
The drop in drop out co-op mode where a friend takes the place of a henchman in your service is done well and is a nice added feature that has always been difficult to put effectively into an open RPG. The camera however, while in this mode can get annoying. The first player has control of it which remains in a fixed position, following the characters unless the first player presses RB in which case the camera faces the direction of the first player. As you can imagine, this can get very frustrating for the henchman.
This is a game with few flaws although, like any, it does have some. Annoyances such as the golden “bread crumb” path which points you where to go takes the fun out of exploring. This is, however optional and can be removed on the options menu. The biggest problem involves the levelling of your character. The same system of Strength, (skill with melee weapons) Skill, (skill with ranged weapons) and Will (skill with magical attacks) are used, however as your Strength increases so does your girth, it seems the designers have tried to make your character seem muscley but the overall effect simply makes them look fat. Therefore, to keep a hero looking the part you have to sacrifice the Strength of you hero.
Apart from a few small flaws which are no more than annoyances really, this game is an impressive display by Lionhead Studios and didn’t receive nearly enough publicity in my opinion. Fable II has set an example for other RPGs hoping to break into the casual gaming market.
Apart from a few small flaws which are no more than annoyances really, this game is an impressive display by Lionhead Studios and didn’t receive nearly enough publicity in my opinion. Fable II has set an example for other RPGs hoping to break into the casual gaming market.
8/10
Lewis
- Lewis O'Brien
After the flooding of the market with loads of good games in a short period of time just before Christmas, it may be a while before any of us go looking for other games to quench the thrist for games, but time waits for no man and 2009 is now upon us with plenty of good looking games expected fo release this year which are we looking forward to the most?
Originally I was going to post Lord of the Rings: Conquest as my most anticipated game of the year but seems as though it's already released in America and will be relaed here in just three days, it didn't seem worth it. So, here's my numbr one game to look forward to this year.
With Halo fanboys itcing to get their hands on this game, you'd better pre-book, this game is going to fly off the shelves jut as fast as Halo 3. Graeme Devine, the Lead Designer for Halo Wars recently said "What Halo did for first-person shooters, Halo Wars is going to do for real-time strategy." a bold statement, but it seems it could hold true. Is Halo Wars going to show the world that Real Time Strategy games can be effectively played on consoles? It seems like it will be but only time will tell.
Lewis
Labels: Halo, Halo Wars, Hype Train
- Lewis O'Brien
#5 Battlefield Bad Company
I first saw this game at a screening of the latest Indiana Jones film, the trailer was funny, action packed and quite stunning. I bought this game soon after its release and was amazed by the long distance visuals of Russian countryside filled with the distant echos of gunfire, explosions and funny cut scenes gets this game into my top 5.
#4 Racedriver: GRID
This game was recommended to me by our very own Lewis, I have always liked racing games but not many have been that much fun since the days of the original Need for Speed Underground 1 and 2. I truly enjoyed GRID because it had lots of different types of racing split between 3 parts of the world, USA with city races, Europe with track racing and Japan with its Touge and Drift events.
#3 GTA IV
I chose GTA IV as my number 3 because I thought its realistic approach to the series was a good step to take rather than head towards the likes of Saints Row and its unrealistic and frankly childish game play. It had some lovable characters including Niko, Roman and Little Jacob who all had their own personalities.
#2 Call of Duty: World at War
Over the Christmas holidays this was pretty much all I played on my off days when my guild wasn't raiding. I gave the story mode a try first but i thought it to be a little repetitive, but then I tried the online mode and that got me pretty hooked. It reminds me of Call of Duty 2 with all the Berlin settings, I also love the new Pacific and Japanese Locations that are included.
#1 World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
I know that this may be unfair because I'm such a big Warcraft fanboy but I have spent so much time playing it since release and have enjoyed so much of it with my guild mates. I really enjoyed the new icy scenery, chilling orchestral music and all the lore behind the quests and characters thought the continent of Northrend. This expansion features so many of the characters and historical places from Warcraft III: Frozen Throne. I made this number 1 because I'm a huge fan of Blizzard's amazing games, who have a good year ahead of them with the upcoming Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2 in progress and probably much more to come from WoW.
Grimmy
Labels: Game of the Year 2008
- Gr1mmy
Special Mentions:
These are games which don’t make the list for one reason or another, but deserve a mention anyway.
These are games which don’t make the list for one reason or another, but deserve a mention anyway.
Dead Space
Resistance 2
Another game I haven’t had the pleasure of playing start to finish, Resistance 2’s online play was one of, but not the best of the year. The online play was quick, the class system really forced people to work together, and I don’t think I found one griever online. No “OMFG KILL STEALER!” - everything was fun, kept me on my toes and really captured the atmosphere of an all out war online. It’s truly an awesome game, but sadly again, I haven’t been able to finish the game start to finish, so I can’t put it in my list, but thinking about it I probably wouldn’t anyway. Regardless though, if you even glance though Matt’s review you’ll see its one of those flagship games that the PS3 desperately needs.
Dead Space is the best survival horror game I have played since the release of the Wii’s Resident Evil 4 port back in ‘07, and some would argue that it isn’t a survival horror game itself. Dead Space took a tried and tired genre and gave it a new life. Everything is top notch from the sound to the game play, the game also challenges some crucial concepts within the game industry at the moment, such as reinventing the headshot within the game and giving each individual enemy type there own weakness. I just sadly haven’t had the chance to play it start to finish yet, though I can say its amazing to say the least. So expect a full review in the next week or so.
Resistance 2Another game I haven’t had the pleasure of playing start to finish, Resistance 2’s online play was one of, but not the best of the year. The online play was quick, the class system really forced people to work together, and I don’t think I found one griever online. No “OMFG KILL STEALER!” - everything was fun, kept me on my toes and really captured the atmosphere of an all out war online. It’s truly an awesome game, but sadly again, I haven’t been able to finish the game start to finish, so I can’t put it in my list, but thinking about it I probably wouldn’t anyway. Regardless though, if you even glance though Matt’s review you’ll see its one of those flagship games that the PS3 desperately needs.
Left 4 DeadFinally Left 4 Dead. Valve is easily the best game producer out there. Why? cause they keep banging out classic after classic after classic. This is was THE online experience of the year and whilst it isn’t a traditional death match, nothing compares to fighting the infected horde, online or with friends.
Tom's Top 5 Games of the Year
The proper Game of the Year post, with my top 5 games from 2008.
#5: No More Heroes
The otaku hitman Travis Touchdown makes my list at number 5. No More Heroes wasn’t an original game with everything a comedic skit of something in modern day Pop culture. But it did do what I’ve wanted to do on the Wii for a long time. Use my Wii mote as a sword and start cutting hordes bad guys down, anime style. And the who can forget the highlight of the game the top 10 killers in Santa Destroy. Each one of the bosses in this game is comedic genius and true to the traditional boss battles, hard as nails, but have a weakness after attacking, it’s traditional and it works, well. Sadly however the Wii lacks more titles like this, perhaps if game developers could take a leaf out of Suda 51’s book and make more games like this then maybe they could bring the Wii back into the hardcore gaming market, add that and bring out a Wii that can contend with this generation of games and you have the perfect console, EVER.
#4: Gears of War 2
2006 was a good year for gaming and brought out two classic, exclusive games for both the 360 and PS3. The PS3 had Resistance, the 360 Gears. Gotta admit, I wasn’t a fan of the first Resistance. However whilst Resistance 2 was a breath of fresh air for me, I was in for a real treat with the Gears sequel. Gears takes everything good about the first game and makes it better by adding, more multiplayer maps, more weapons, more gore, and an additional multiplayer mode that could be a game in itself. Not forgetting the single player mode that delivers and delivers until the climatic ending, Gears 2 is quite frankly the 360 exclusive of the year, and vastly superior to its PS3 counterpart Resistance 2.
#3: Metal Gear Solid 4
The Legendary Solid Snakes final mission finally arrived on the PS3 in late June. And it was worth the wait. Hideo Kojima knows how to make games epic and interesting, and MGS4 is the epitome of this. The plot is epic, the game play perfect and the sound pulls at your heart and makes you feel the raw emotion of the games stellar script and voice acting, David Hayter’s final performance as Snake is worthy of an Oscar. Kojima is frankly a video game genius, and has created the PERFECT conclusion to a legendary game series; anyone who has been following the game series will see the Microwave tunnel as the most epic thing ever. A must have for any PS3 gamer.
#2: Super Smash Bros Brawl
The ultimate party game. I seriously can’t think of anything that I have had more raw fun with in 2008. The Smash series is quite simply one of those gaming masterpieces that go down in the hall of fame as being revolutionary in its genre and Brawl is the perfect game for large amounts of fun and absolute mayhem in the multiplayer party game genre. With a such a diverse range of characters, levels, and game modes it never gets boring and I could play for hours and do something different every minute, if this game was purely single player this game would be worth a Special mention easily, but with its quite frankly Stellar multiplayer it has barged its way into the number 2 spot, and it was my number 1 game of the year until I played this next game, which should seem familiar to you.
#1: Fallout 3
Were you expecting something else? It would be a crime if this didn’t make the top spot for this year. The graphics are the best I have ever seen in a game; it’s a living work of art. Playing it on my HDTV it makes me realise, 2009 should be the best year for games yet, if this is what developers are achieving now, what kind of Uber game they going to make next year. If I could pick one game of 2008 that perfects game play, graphics and story it would be Fallout 3, even if the question was of the last 10 years the answer would still be Fallout 3. The sheer size of Fallout 3 is a bit of a double edged sword at first with a massive, “What do I do now?” echoing throughout your head. But once you start wandering though the stark but beautiful wasteland, only one thing will ring though your head. Awesome.
Tom
Labels: Game of the Year 2008
- Tom
GGTL has been evolving a bit lately, with us adding more features to make your surfing experience on GGTL that little bit easier and more fun. So, here's a general run-through of the changes, just so you know what features you have at your disposal.
Linford
- Sidebar: The sidebars have been updated to make all our new regular columns, such as NewsBites and Geeky But Cool, as well as special articles such as Game of the Year, easily accessible via just one click.
- Followers: If you have a Blogger account or a Google account, you can follow GGTL and get all the latest articles directly to your Blogger Dashboard or Google Reader as they go live. You'll never miss a thing again.
- Commenting: Ever wanted to get involved in a discussion, but didn't want to go to the hastle of navigating multiple pages to post a comment? You don't have to any more - we've added a form at the bottom of every post page to make commenting easier and quicker. It's also a direct line to the editors at GGTL, so please get involved and we hope to speak to you soon.
- New banner images: New banner images have been created for our regulars, so they're now instantly recognisable. Particularly like Grimmy's Geeky But Cool posts? Just look for the blue gradient banner. It's that simple, and works the same way for all our other regulars.
- Reactions: We've actually included this Blogger feature on the blog for a while now, but I thought I'd point it out just in case you hadn't noticed it. Reactions enables you to voice your opinion on a post without having to comment. It takes just one click, and you don't even have to reload a page. You can find Reactions at the bottom of every post; just click 'good', 'bad' or 'okay'.
- Backlinks: If you own a blog powered by Blogger and read a GGTL post, why not blog it? By just clicking on the 'Links to this post' link at the bottom of a post, you can link to any GGTL post on your blog. Be careful only to include a link to the post on GGTL, though, as copying the entire post without prior consent from us is naughty and we'll get all huffy with you and ask you to take it down.
Linford
Labels: New Features
- Linford Butler
Ah, 2008. It seems like so long ago; the world's moved on into 2009 without a second thought, hoping that money will get better, the weather more bearable and the games thicker and faster. But, let me cast your memory back to 2008, with my top 5 games of the year.#5 007: Quantum of Solace
I bought this game after seeing gameplay videos and following the hype surrounding the new Bond film and game, expecting an exciting and bone-numbingly adrenaline-filled gaming experience. I wasn't disappointed. Quantum of Solace has many redeeming features - the excellent Gears-esque cover system, the fantastic shooting, the dual-camera view, and a good storyline that was loyal to the plotlines of both of Craig's Bond films. However, there were some flaws (such as the dreadful online play) which forces it to number 5.#4 Far Cry 2
Do you love Africa? Are you an amateur arsonist? Do you like shooters? If the answer to any of these answers is yes, then Far Cry 2 is my recommendation to you. This game is brilliant in most senses of the word; the expansive, sandbox play area, fantastic fire and explosion effects and decent online mode gains Far Cry 2 the number 4 spot.#3 Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty
This PlayStation Network exclusive is exactly what gaming is about: good, clean fun. With a fantastic and funny storyline which picks up from Tools of Destruction, Quest for Booty continues the amazing action and magnificent playability which the R&C series has become synonymous with. Graphically amazing and with some truly hilarious scripting and voice acting, Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty snatches number 3.#2 LittleBigPlanet
Media Molecule's masterpiece LittleBigPlanet falls into the top five at number 2. A true original, LBP boasts a magnificent online system tied flawlessly into the single player campaign, fantastically narrated by Stephen Fry; brilliant customisation and user-created content and wonderful, regularly-updated DLC. A true work of art.
#1 Resistance 2
But, in the end, it has to be Insomniac's sequel to their PS3 launch title which has to scrape the top spot. Resistance 2 is everything a shooter strives for; taking all the best bits from Resistance: Fall of Man and adding much more, R2 is frantic, fun and realistic in equal measure. However, the number one has to be earned by the online mode - the least laggy I've seen in a very long time, strengthened further by the fantastic online games and party system. I'll be playing this long into 2009.Linford
Labels: Far Cry 2, Game of the Year 2008, LittleBigPlanet, Quantum of Solace, Rachet and Clank, Resistance 2
- Linford Butler
So, that's the end of 2008. Did the guy in the red coat leave us all plenty of video games? Lets hope so, here are my top 5 games of 2008...#5 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
I only picked this game up recently but now wish I had picked it up earlier. The immersive story line, brilliant acting and compelling force powers make it a classic Star Wars game to rival the likes of the Battlefronts. It certainly has its flaws though which is what puts it in only at number 5.
#4 Fallout 3
Bethesda have once again created another amesome RPG. The post-apocalyptic, futuristic setting of Fallout 3 can seem very basic when compared to the beautiful environments of Elder Scrolls VI: Oblivion but this simply adds to the almost overpowering sense of destruction and anarchy from this great game
#3 Fable 2
What kind of Hero will you be? The main selling point of Fable 2 runs true throughout the game, allowing you to play good or evil. Nothing new in a game, especially a RPG but the thing that makes Fable 2 stand out from the crowd is your complete freedom within the game. Do anything, from raising a family to bounty hunting. Save Albion from the forces of evil or get a job and become a simple citizen of the land.
#2 Race Driver: GRID
I'm not usually one for driving games, I don't know the first thing about cars or engines or anything like that so I end up racing a Ferrari in an off-road race or something. But with GRID i became totally hooked and pretty much played nothing else through the summer.
#1 Gears of War 2
The follow up to the legendary Gears of War 1, many critics said that it couldn't out do the prequel. Gears 2 however, surpasses its predesessor in almost every area. Epic have created a game that will be used to compare to other shooter games for years to come. This Legendary game is easily my number one of 2008
Lewis
Labels: Fable 2, Fallout, Game of the Year 2008, Gears of war 2, GRID, Star Wars, The Force Unleashed
- Lewis O'Brien
I know the original plan was to do this on video, but I decided that it would be little more than me talking to a camera for 5 minutes, holding game boxes if I didn't do it this way. Anyway; 2008 was a great year. Here are my top 5 from it:#5 Resistance 2
Resistance 2 should be used as an example for all game developers. Easy to pick up and play, hard to master. Great online mode, no lag. Amazing co-op gameplay with classes that actually work together; Resistance 2 does it all. Well maybe not, it has all of the fundamentals of a classic…but at times it feels like that’s all it has, fundamentals.
#4 Mirror’s Edge
Mirror’s Edge is the most unique game I have played all year. Even though combat is a big let down, and at times the missions can be frustrating (see boat level), the times when you run from rooftop to rooftop being chased by the police, are among the best of the year. Just as a note, ME has my favourite art style in a game ever.
#3 Grand Theft Auto 4
GTA 4 represents a more mature GTA series in times to come. I welcome this change. Whilst other games can boast of “amazing” character creation or “ground-breaking” user generated content, GTA 4 is one of the only games in history that have ever captured the feeling of a real city.
#2 Burnout Paradise
This is what racing games should be like. I don’t want to tune a car’s engine; I want to smash it to hell while jumping off a car park roof. I don’t want boring tutorials; I want to smash a car to hell, while jumping off a car park roof. I don’t want to change my car’s tyres, I want to smash it to he- OK, you get the picture. Burnout shows racing at its very best.
#1 Fallout 3
Fallout 3 has a great setting. Sure, at first it looks like a bunch of rocks and debris scattered around a wasteland, but if you dig deeper, what you find is an immersive world full of rich characters with good voice acting (at times), and a fun combat system. However, the thing that made this my game of the year was all of the little finishing touches. Stumbling on an exhibition in a museum that contains a replica vault complete with car salesman-like voiceover? Amazing.
Matt
Labels: Burnout, Fallout, Game of the Year 2008, Grand Theft Auto, Matthew, Matthew Meadows, Mirrors Edge, Resistance 2
- Matthew Meadows
- The sequel to the now-platinum starter of the series, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, is set to use all of the PlayStation 3's processing power, compared to the 30% power that the original used. This will allow Uncharted 2 to have faster character animation, better facial expressions, more movements and a generally deeper feel. [MORE INFORMATION]
- Sony Computer Entertainment has stated that PlayStation 3 sales were up 130% during the holiday season, despite November sales being down 18.8% on November 2007.
- New limited edition console bundles have been announced for both PS3 and Xbox360. Sony are set to release special-edition PS3 consoles for Resident Evil 5 and Yakuza 3, both with limited edition prints on them. Microsoft's new bundle, to promote Star Ocean: The Last Hope, contains the 360 console, a customised faceplate, the game and a music CD. They will cost around £329 and £178 respectively - unfortunately, the consoles are Japan-release only. [MORE INFORMATION]
- Gamesloft have been named the best mobile publisher of the year, with Rally Master Pro named the best game. [MORE INFORMATION]
- The UK games industry has doubled in just five years, making it the fastest-moving entertainment medium on the planet. [MORE INFORMATION]
- Linford Butler
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