Latest Features
Features Yoostar2 - Blitz Games Studios
We finally make it into the movies
A month or so ago we reported that UK studio Blitz Games had updated its popular BlitzTech framework for full Move support, potentially paving the way for motion control to be incorporated into countless British-developed games. The studio isn't just an engine creator however, with several of its own titles...
First Impressions SOCOM: Special Forces on PlayStation 3
When we think of SOCOM, we don't necessarily think of a graphical power-house
But SOCOM: Special Forces is surprising in that regard. All credit to Zipper Interactive, they've crafted something technically stunning with their latest title. This is a different kind of SOCOM game. It conforms somewhat to the requirements of a modern-day third-person...
First Impressions Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit on PS3
Having been anticipating Criterion's next racing game since Burnout: Paradise, we were initially somewhat disappointed watching others play Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit
The game looked slower than Burnout Paradise, perhaps a result of the unfinished frame-rate. But once we got our hands on the game - much was forgiven. Criterion know racing games...
First Impressions Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood on PS3 Multiplayer
Online multiplayer has slowly been getting more predictable
While every game attempts to gazump Call Of Duty by offering the exact same suite of features, we've been slowly playing less and less attention. Multiplayer used to be a feature that got us vastly excited about any game that supported it. Nowadays we spend 5-10 minutes seeing how a title...
First Impressions inFamous 2 on PlayStation 3
The original inFamous was a success because of its silky smooth combat mechanics
They're still apparent in inFamous 2, though Sucker Punch has gone out of their was to improve the visual clarity of the open-world environment and up the number of combat mechanics at Cole's disposal. Our demo starts out with a bunch of super-natural goons for us to...
First Impressions Medal Of Honor on PlayStation 3 Multiplayer
Medal Of Honor's multiplayer is a strange beast
We actually think there's a lot to like about it. But at the same time, it's so very familiar. The game doesn't appear to have any personality of its own; and while it's certainly beyond competent, it's also agonisingly akin to Call Of Duty. Our 16-player hands-on demo saw us checking out the game's...
First Impressions Dead Space 2 on PlayStation 3
Dead Space is still one of our favourite games on PlayStation 3
Above all else, the atmosphere Visceral managed to deliver with their debut release remains unmatched. It was refreshing to see Dead Space 2 deliver that same sense of mystery. The game might not be set on the original Ishimura space-craft; but the teasing shadows and bright lights are...
First Impressions MySims: Sky Heroes on PlayStation 3 Demo
We've always liked flight combat titles here at PushSquare
Commercially they are somewhat of a niche product; and they do suffer from genre limitations. Realistically there is only so much you can do with a plane, gatling gun and a few rockets. MySims: Sky Heroes takes the gritty air combat format and makes it cute - a trait in itself which makes...
First Impressions Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow on PS3 Demo
It struck us pretty early on, that we're going to be way more engrossed in Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow's story than its gameplay
From a narrative perspective, the game's cinematics and voice-acting are top-notch. Even the dark, European gothic style is inviting. But the gameplay doesn't quite live up to the presentation's precedent. The demo opens...
Feature Overlooking The Depth In Sports Champions -- "Twiggy" The Push Square Opinionator
I've spent a good chunk of my week playing table-tennis
Don't be silly, I've not risked my life sharing the Youth Club's beaten down excuse for a table-tennis table with a group of hoods — I've been playing the sport in my living room via PlayStation Move. I've always been a fan of motion controls and, in particular, motion controlled sports...
First Impressions TV Superstars on PlayStation 3 Demo
TV Superstars is nothing if not unusual
The Studio Cambridge-developed PlayStation Move party game is clearly a parody of British celebrity culture. But its presentation is so bonkers it's hard to believe that anyone outside of the UK will understand it. At least we can say it's "unique". Our demo started with an introduction to TV...
Interviews VooFoo Studios - Hustle Kings
We go poolside with the developers
Two weeks ago we reported that PSN pool title Hustle Kings was set to receive an update bringing Move and stereoscopic 3D support. We tracked down the developers VooFoo Studios and fired a few questions their way. Movemodo: First of all, please introduce yourself and your role on Hustle Kings. John Kearney: Hey, my...
Feature Competition: Win A Copy Of Flight Control HD For The PlayStation 3
We've teamed up with the fine folks at Firemint to give you a chance to win your very own copy of the excellent Flight Control HD for PlayStation 3
In our review we described Firemint's air-traffic arcade game as "intuitive and addictive". Hit the jump to find out how you can take part. One random lucky winner will score a PSN download...
Feature Five DLC Characters We'd Love To See Added To Sports Champions
Our biggest complaint with the excellent Sports Champions is that on a presentation level it's pretty flat
Let's be honest here, who is going to remember what Kenji and Giselle look like? Zindagi might have done an excellent job programming personality into the AI opponents, but their art team weren't on form designing the characters. That's fine,...
First Impressions The Shoot on PlayStation 3 Demo
We shoot the PlayStation Move into the ground, causing a ripple-effect which sends a horde of cardboard bandits flying
The Shoot is an obvious title to accompany the PlayStation Move's launch window; a rails-shooter which places you on a movie-set [The Shoot y'see, geddit? - Ed] armed to the teeth with weapons. For as obvious as the game seems, it's...
The PlayStation Move launch went better than I imagined
Word of mouth is extremely positive within the hardcore circles. Conceptually the device bares resemblance to the Wii; but there's a sense that this is what many of us were originally expecting from Nintendo's foray into motion controls. It's the hardcore gamers that Sony have been targeting...
First Impressions Enslaved: Odyssey To The West on PlayStation 3 Demo
The clock-hands are telling
It's late; we've finished writing for the day. But having tried out Enslaved: Odyssey To The West just moments ago, we had to get our thoughts down on digital paper. Ninja Theory's attempt at re-telling the classic Chinese novel "Journey To The West" has us hooked. It's been a while since we went into a game...
Interviews Firemint - Flight Control HD
Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away...
Flight Control HD is coming to land on PSN in Europe and Australia tomorrow. This time of course it's got PlayStation Move support and has been translated to glorious HD. To coincide with this imminent arrival we took the opportunity to fly some questions over to Firemint's Community Manager, Alexandra...
First Impressions Quantum Theory on PlayStation 3 Demo
There's a sadness to Quantum Theory
It's the result of Japanese developers growing need to appeal worldwide. As development costs soar, Japan is no longer a strong enough market for big budget titles. And so, games like Quantum Theory are the result. It's an example of a Japanese developer trying to deliver something that will appeal to Western...
First Impressions God Of War: Ghost Of Sparta on PSP Demo
We're on a ship, being tossed from side to side as the sea roars around us
Skeletal enemies climb aboard and we tear them to pieces with wreckless abandon. "Lord Kratos," a crew-member screams from the hull above, "It's destroying the entire fleet." As we march through the innards of the ship, we approach the tail of a gigantic...
Feature Late To The Party #4: MegaRace 3: Nanotech Disaster on PlayStation 2
Ever since I was a young boy, Lance Boyle has haunted my nightmares
The fictional character, played by Christian Erickson, has always been the hook of the car-combat franchise, MegaRace. He's largely the reason I grew up with the franchise — every two-three years the dusty old Panasonic 3DO would come out of the cupboard, and the first port of...
Feature The Motherlode of European PlayStation Move Launch Information
Updated with launch titles!
Mainland Europe receives the Move on September 15th; Australia and New Zealand on September 16th; and the UK is the last of the bunch on September 17th. Your Move options: PlayStation 3 320GB Move Bundle (£284.99/€349.99) – Replacing the existing 250GB model in Europe, this 320GB machine comes with a PlayStation Eye...
Features Why Not Create a Fitness RPG?
When genres collide!
Recent comments by Yoshinori Kitase about the Move's unsuitability for RPG play due to masses of motion-controlled fighting over 40 or 50 hours of gameplay got us thinking here at Movemodo. Some games are marketed purely on the level of their physical exertion and its benefits – Zumba Fitness will no doubt fit into this...
First Impressions Vanquish on PlayStation 3 Demo
In many ways, Vanquish is exactly what you'd expect it to be
It's Japanese developers attempting to create a Western game. And so it feels distinctly like Gears Of War. Character movement is chunky, targeting is smooth and the gun-play is beefy and responsive. But it's also being developed in Japan; so it's all a bit bonkers. For example, your...
Feature There's No Place Like Home: This Week I Dressed Up As A Lobster
One of the big new additions to PlayStation Home is Oscar's Lobster Mania - a target-practice game that challenges you to toss lobsters into the mouth of a greedy mechanical dummy
The whole thing's a showpiece for how PlayStation Home's developed as a platform; not only does it look great, but it actually plays fairly well too.The contraption's...
Hands On High Lighting Our Move Concerns
We get to grips with Move and experience "technical difficulties"
Yesterday we had our first opportunity to go hands-on with the Move controller, and our feelings were mixed about the experience. The Good: Navigating the PS3's CrossMediaBar menu with the Move is intuitive and very pleasing: the controller picks up sweeps and swipes to pass through...
Features Five Games We Don't Need to See on Move
Begone, foul beasts!
Unlike other platform holders, Sony has a concept approval process, meaning a game has to receive a thumbs-up from Sony before it can go into development for a PlayStation platform. Although this should limit the amount of low quality titles released for the company's consoles, the odd one or two still sneaks through the net...
Feature Is There Still A Place For Duke Nukem? -- "Twiggy" The Push Square Opinionator
The re-announcement of Duke Nukem Forever this week has put my thoughts to the test
I was semi pleased when the game was cancelled. Obviously, my thoughts went out to all those who had worked hard and were losing employment — but at the same time, I feel like we've moved on from the Duke Nukem character. Does he even matter anymore? I vaguely...
Features What PlayStation Move Does and How
If you're new to Move, read on
Here at Movemodo, we promise to guide you through the confusing labyrinth of PlayStation Move news, reviews and information. We'll even hold your hand if you want us to – this is a new age, after all. Like us, you're just starting out on your PlayStation Move journey, so now's the best time to explain what...
Features Five Games We Need to See on Move
From pipe dreams to no-brainers
PlayStation Move promises to change the PlayStation experience completely, adding extra realism, immersion and brand new control capabilities to the console's library. With that in mind, which games really should come over to Move? Here's five of our picks. Everybody's Golf (Hot Shots Golf): Forget Tiger Woods, this...
Feature PlayStation Move Reviews Are Go-Go-Go, Largely Very Positive
Today is the day of reckoning
Just a year after the PlayStation 3 Slim's launch here in Europe, Sony's got another big day ahead of them. The PlayStation Move is out in the wild, and Sony's let some of the big publications go knee-deep with impressions. On the whole, everything's looking pretty positive for Sony's motion controller. Joystiq describe...
First Impressions Black Panther: New Yakuza Chapter on PSP Demo
Black Panther: New Yakuza Chapter is unlikely to release here in the West
Yakuza's already a niche franchise on the home consoles; spending enormous amounts of money to localise it on a platform in decline (and riddled with piracy) would not make any sense. We realised this a while ago, and to be honest, we didn't really mind. Shortly after Black...
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories proved to me that survival horror benefits from motion control better than most other genres
The game placed you in a particularly threat-free world; opting instead to create tension through interaction and atmosphere. Simply moving your flashlight across the game's eerily dark setting was enough to place you in the...
First Impressions RUSE on PlayStation 3 Demo
The real time strategy genre on consoles has proved a tough nut to crack
It's hard to pick out a particularly memorable console strategy game that's compared favourably to its PC counter-part. Typically that's down to the interface, which suits the mouse and keyboard much better than a dual analogue stick set-up. With RUSE and PlayStation Move...
Feature Late To The Party #3: Pursuit Force on PlayStation Portable
I'm racing down a busy high-way, the glow of syncopated red and blue sirens light up my face
My lips curl as I take aim at my pursuer and pull the trigger. "You ain't getting away so easily," I whisper to myself with all the aggression I can muster. White knuckled I close in on the damaged car. I stand up in my vehicle and try to maintain...
First Impressions Tom Clancy's HAWX 2 on PlayStation 3 Demo
We quite liked the original HAWX game on PlayStation 3 and went into its sequel with some anticipation
While it was hard to get a grasp for the narrative - one of our favourite elements of the first game - during our short play-session, we did have enough time to acclimatise to the gameplay. Air combat games are different to most other games. You...
Feature What A Great Week For PlayStation -- "Twiggy" The Push Square Opinionator
I've got absolutely nothing to moan about
This has been an excellent week for the PlayStation brand; so good, in fact, that even reports of a jailbreak weren't able to subdue the mood. I predicted before GamesCom that it would be a low-key show - but Sony's found their stomping ground. Last year Sony dominated the European event with the headline...
This time last year we were about to experience one of the most pivotal moments in the PlayStation 3's history; the announcement of the PlayStation 3 Slim and the entire platform's re-branding completely rejuvenated Sony's platform and put it back into serious contention with the XBOX 360
The announcement came at GamesCom, a German-based video games...
Feature Late To The Party #2: Ridge Racer Type 4 on PSone
It's hard to go back to racing games
It's a genre that's constantly evolving. While two-dimensional platformers and puzzle games remain fairly time-less — racing games evolve. It's funny, in fact, that I should return to the original PlayStation's Ridge Racer Type 4 just days after getting a hands-on with Sony's upcoming Gran Turismo 5. Despite...
First Impressions Mafia II on PlayStation 3 Demo
"Take out the fat guy," our partner declares as we point a sub-machine gun out of an upstairs window
Just moments earlier we'd been knocking back coca-cola while perusing a copy of Playboy magazine. Such is the life of a gangster. There's a good sense of place in Mafia II. Almost meticulously so. Take for example the afore-mentioned Playboy...
Feature Competition: Name The Video Game Starlet, Win PlayStation Minis!
Grip Games -- the developers behind the PlayStation Mini 5-In-1 Arcade Hits -- want you to name their cover girl, and they're giving away PlayStation Minis in reward for your creative juices
We've got five copies of 5-In-1 Arcade Hits to give away to the best five submissions. And you thought naming babies was hard... 5-In-1 Arcade Hits is a fun...
Feature There's No Place Like Home: Stomping Scorpions In Sodium One
The moment I realised the true potential of PlayStation Home was when I visited the Sodium One game space
I urge anyone who's still got negative impressions of Sony's virtual world to visit Lockwood's meta-game space and pick-up the gear you need to access the full game. Sodium One is a complete experience tied into the PlayStation Home engine —...
First Impressions Gran Turismo 5 on PlayStation 3
Gran Turismo 5 is gorgeous
Unbelievably so. Chances are, you already know. We're just here to remind you. When we saw the Toscana rally track in motion, we were stunned. Startled in fact. The game's silky smooth, running at an unwavering 60 frames per second. We watched on as day turned to night, and the blue sky was replaced by twinkling stars...
First Impressions LittleBigPlanet 2 on PlayStation 3
Sackboy's back, alright!
We only got to check out one level from LittleBigPlanet 2, but the charmingly titled "Tower Of Woop" seemed like a good starting point for the cutesy platforming sequel The level was a showcase for a couple of things: firstly the new graphics engine. LittleBigPlanet 2 looks cuter than ever, thanks in part to sharper colours...
First Impressions Kung Fu Rider on PlayStation 3
Questionable controls
Despite looking like the spiritual successor to zany PSone classic, Incredible Crisis, our hands-on time with the PlayStation Move's Kung Fu Rider revealed some irritating control quirks. We just couldn't get Kung Fu Rider to work. It took several attempts before we realised what the game wanted from us, and even then it...
First Impressions Killzone 3 on PlayStation 3
Guerrilla's done an incredible job
Somehow, they've managed to keep the polarizing sense of weight in Killzone 3, while still appeasing concerns that the previous game was too loose. Killzone 3 is a much tighter, much more responsive shooter — but it still has that key ingredient that makes the franchise so different to its peers. Oh, and it looks...
First Impressions The Fight: Lights Out on PlayStation 3
The Fight: Lights Out surprised us
Having read many negative reports on Sony's PlayStation Move controlled brawler, we went in with no expectations at all. We came out of the demo quietly impressed. While the game had noticeable lag and input issues, there were moments when the gritty boxer felt genuinely satisfying. It's just a shame that the AI we...
First Impressions MotorStorm: Apocalypse on PlayStation 3
Man, do we feel sorry for Black Rock Studio
With Split/Second they created a cinematic racing title with an interesting hook. Watching the environments crash around you was the game's selling point, in an overall package that didn't feel particularly well tuned. MotorStorm: Apocalypse is based on a similar concept, but is every inch more impressive;...
First Impressions Dead Nation on PlayStation 3
Housemarque don't need a new title to prove that they're the masters of the PSN dual-joystick shooter
We've put more hours into Super Stardust HD than we care to imagine, so it was with lofty expectations we checked out the studio's latest zombie driven PSN endeavour - Dead Nation. The first thing you notice about the PSN download - due later this...
First Impressions Sports Champions on PlayStation 3
Admittedly, Sports Champions has about as much charm as a limp sock
But having got hands-on time with the compilation's table tennis game, we're not sure it matters. That's because PlayStation Move works; this is not a device playing on empty promises and faked lifestyle commercials - it does what Sony have always said it will: track your movements...
