Review Tekken Revolution (PlayStation 3)
King of free-to-play fighters
News Oh Wow, Check Out the PS4's User Interface in Action
Thank heavens for crashes
News - 2013, Week 32
Sunday11th Aug 2013
Review Spartacus Legends (PlayStation 3)
Are you not entertained?
Ubisoft’s first foray into the free-to-play market on consoles arrives in the form of Spartacus Legends, a one-on-one fighter that pits upgradable gladiators against each other both online and offline. It’s an historical premise that slots wonderfully into the genre, but does its freemium nature take away from the...
Rumour Is Sony Set to Drop the PS Vita's Price at GamesCom?
Breaking the barriers
A leaked Target flier hints that Sony may drop the PlayStation Vita’s price at GamesCom. The paper-based advertisement (pictured above) puts the flagship portable’s base cost at $199.99, some $50 less than its recommended retail price. Adding further fuel to the fire, the promotion is dated for 18th August to 24th August,...
News Polls Show PS4 Is Preferred Next Generation System, Says Sony
Top of the lot
In somewhat harrowing news for Microsoft and its upcoming Xbox One console, Sony’s chief financial officer Masaru Kato has told investors that around 80 per cent of consumers prefer the PlayStation 4 to its counterparts. The executive was citing polls including the Redmond-based manufacturer’s system, as well as Nintendo’s...
News No Assassin's Creed on Vita This Year, But You'll Be Able to Stream from PS4
Sail the seven seas
Against all of the odds, Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation was a solid success. The decent PlayStation Vita exclusive sold very well, but sadly there’s no portable version of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag in the pipeline. That’s becaus
Saturday10th Aug 2013
Review BreakQuest: Extra Evolution (PlayStation Vita)
Another brick in the wall
The humble block breaker has been stuck in a rut ever since Arkanoid introduced weapons and allowed you to shoot down bricks with Moonraker-esque submachine guns. BreakQuest: Extra Evolution, an enhanced PlayStation Vita port of last year’s well-received PlayStation Mini, aims to smash that sorry spate of stagnation by...
Talking Point Should the PS4 Feature an Avatar System?
Mii too
Rarely a week goes by where there isn’t a new LittleBigPlanet costume to buy. Whether it’s the re-release of seasonal outfits or some brand new threads to tie into a big movie or game launch, Sackboy’s the undisputed king when it comes to cosplay. But for as popular (and presumably profitable) as these downloadable garments are, you...
News Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Expansion Ushers the Apocalypse
No sign of Ben Affleck, though
Treyarch’s infectiously enthusiastic David Vonderhaar is back to provide a run-through of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2’s final DLC pack, Apocalypse. The add-on – which is due out this month on the Xbox 360, and later on the PlayStation 3 – includes four fresh maps and a brand new zombie co-op experience. The new...
News Sony Promises That PS4 Losses Won't Be Anything Like PS3
That's good news, huh?
Considering that the PlayStation 3 left Sony in a financial crater equivalent to the one that prompted the onset of the last great ice age, it’s reassuring to learn that the Japanese giant is not planning on burning quite as much cash with its next generation console. Speaking as part of an investors meeting last week, group...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue Eleven
Bigmouth strikes again
The weekend has crept up on us like Sam Fisher in Splinter Cell: Blacklist. We’re mere weeks away from the onset of the autumn onslaught, which means that this is your last opportunity to clear up your backlog in preparation for titles such as Rayman Legends, Killzone: Mercenary, and a certain next generation system. But...
Friday9th Aug 2013
Weirdness Saints Row IV's Wad Wad Edition Costs a Million Bucks
Money bags
Another day, another Saints Row IV publicity stunt – except this one seems to be having the desired effect. Deep Silver has partnered with GAME to announce the sandbox adventure's one-of-a-kind ‘Super Dangerous Wad Wad Edition', which will set you back a cool $1,000,000 to own. No, we’re not making this up. So, what does the...
News Cory Barlog Recruiting a New Team at Sony Santa Monica
God of War II director working on something huge
Cory Barlog’s “crazy announcement” turned out to be exactly what we expected: the God of War II director is returning to his former stomping ground, Sony Santa Monica. In an enormous post on the PlayStation Blog, the outspoken developer talked candidly about the tim
News Crash Bandicoot Spins Past 500,000 Downloads in Europe
Naughty Gods
Releasing old games like Crash Bandicoot on the PlayStation Network makes more sense than peanut butter and jelly, as evidenced by the fact that the PSone Classic has now surpassed 500,000 downloads in Europe. Sony confirmed the tidbit as part of its monthly digital sales charts, where the Naughty Dog hit held onto its place atop the...
News Don't Feel Blue, Below Could Come to PlayStation 4 Yet
What lies below?
It really doesn’t matter how many Capybara shirts Microsoft's Phil Spencer wears: it's not going to stop hotly anticipated Xbox One indie title Below from deploying on other platforms. In an open letter on its blog, the Canadian outfit explained that the game will “go elsewhere” after a short period of exclusivity. “It’s...
News God of War II Director Cory Barlog Teases 'Crazy' Reveal
Has the king come home?
Put your hype in perspective – this is unlikely to be a game announcement. However, it’s still news worth anticipating. Cory Barlog, the man behind God of War II, has Tweeted that there’ll be a “crazy announcement” on the PlayStation Blog today. Our best guess? He’s returning to Sony Santa Monica. The outspoken
News Ubisoft Declassifies Splinter Cell: Blacklist Before Release
No longer invisible
French publisher Ubisoft has been spending too much time with Sam Fisher. The company confirmed that Splinter Cell: Blacklist is finished today, and that it’s ready for manufacturing ahead of release. Of course, you could be forgiven for forgetting that the stealth adventure's deploying in the first place, as it’s been...
News SEGA May Reveal a New Yakuza Title Later This Month
You'll probably never get to play it, though
Yes, we’re still bitter. We’d gotten used to playing a new Yakuza title every year, but SEGA still hasn’t said anything about a localised version of Yakuza 5. The sequel – which deployed in Japan last year – sounded absolutely amazing, but we don’t have time to study a foreign language in...
News KickBeat Dances to PS3 and Vita's Tune in September
Shake, rattle, and roll
It’s been a while since we heard, well, anything about Zen Studios’ music-meets-martial-arts PlayStation Vita rhythm action game, KickBeat – and that’s because the company’s been busy beavering away on a PlayStation 3 port. The title will now deploy on both of Sony’s flagship systems on 3rd September in North...
Thursday8th Aug 2013
News This Is What Originally Happened At the End of The Last of Us
Spoilers lurk inside here
Stop right now, thank you very much. If you haven’t finished The Last of Us yet, for the love of Ellie please click your browser’s friendly ‘back’ button right now. We’re about to blow the game wide open, so you’re going to regret it if you don’t sprint like a Runner late for the bus. Are we safe yet? Alright,...
News Sony Playing It Safe with PS4 Pre-Orders, Doesn't Want Customers to Defect
Hoping to get lots of stock on store shelves
As we know, Sony has locked down pre-orders for the PlayStation 4 in Europe. The platform holder has warned retailers across the continent that launch day delivery can no longer be guaranteed. However, according to
Feature Do You Remember These PlayStation Branded Mobile Phone Spin-Offs?
PlayStation All-Stars Island is not the first of its kind
Sony shocked, embarrassed, and tickled PlayStation fans today with the announcement of PlayStation All-Stars Island – a summery smartphone cash-in that sees first-party favourites such as Sackboy and Nathan Drake cameo in a collection of copycat minigames. But while
DLC Review A Birdseye View of BioShock Infinite's Clash in the Clouds
Booker the flights
BioShock is a narrative driven series that’s defined by its grand adventures and fascinating locations. Unfortunately, these hallmarks do not apply to Clash in the Clouds, the first of three DLC expansions for BioShock Infinite. This is a mostly gameplay focused affair, with the emphasis on action rather than exposition. All...
Weirdness PlayStation All-Stars Holiday in Coke Zero Phone App
Marketing mash-up
PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale may be deader than Sir Daniel Fortesque, but that’s not stopping Sony from partnering with Coca-Cola for PlayStation All-Stars Island – a co-marketing endeavour between the platform holder and the soft drinks giant for iOS and Android devices. Yes, you read th
News Pssht, You Won't Need to Pay to Share Game Footage on PS4
Shiny happy people
We’re convinced that Sony’s been glugging holy water or something. The company can’t seem to do anything wrong at the moment – and that’s making Microsoft’s errors stand out like a lighthouse beacon. Earlier in the week, the Redmond-based manufacturer revealed that you’ll need an Xbox Live Gold account to access the...
News Sony XDev Europe Plotting 'Fantastic' Reveals for GamesCom
Hold onto your hype
Sony XDev Europe, the Liverpool-based group responsible for external PlayStation projects, is planning some “fantastic announcements” at GamesCom. The outfit teased the tidbit on its Twitter page, adding that it’s “looking forward" to the show. The platform holder’s set to host a press conference on 20th August, where...
News Super Stardust Developer Confirms PS4 Reveal for GamesCom
Late boomer
We already predicted that Super Stardust HD developer Housemarque would be dropping some PlayStation 4 related bombs at GamesCom earlier in the week – but now the developer has confirmed as much. Writing on Twitter, the Finnish studio simply responded “yes” when asked by a fan if it would be
News As You'd Expect, Media Molecule Has a Ping-Pong Table
Tons of papercraft animals, too
Ever since we wore plimsolls and Donkey Kong shirts with a smile (sorry, we didn’t know any better back then), we’ve promised ourselves that we’ll one day work in an office where there’s a ping-pong table. We haven’t quite realised that dream yet, but if we keep cranking out quality stories like this one,...
Wednesday7th Aug 2013
Talking Point How Will the PS4 Controller's Touchpad Be Used?
Rub-a-Dub
We’ve already established in previous articles that the PlayStation 4’s refreshed controller is a thing of beauty. The analogue sticks feel sturdier than a body builder’s biceps, the triggers melt under your fingertips like a Mini Milk in the microwave, and the light bar looks snazzier than Chewbacca donning Dolce Gabbana shades. One...
News Oh Wow, Check Out the PS4's User Interface in Action
Thank heavens for crashes
We’re in PlayStation 4 limbo at the present. The console is approximately three months away, yet we’re still greedily awaiting more information about its software, features, and functionality. With platform holder Sony running a tight ship until GamesCom, that means that we’re being forced to feed on scraps – like...
News You'll Be Racing Through India and Canada in DriveClub on PS4
Around the world in three laps
Evolution Studios promised that DriveClub would take us on a world tour when the PlayStation 4 launch title was first announced, but so far we’ve only got a glimpse at muggy old Scotland. That’s because the developer has been busy beavering away on some more exotic locations behind closed doors – including Canada...
News PS4 Downloads Can Be Adapted Depending on Player Habits
Smart system
Much in the same way that we always move the tomato sauce to the front of the fridge, PlayStation 4 downloads can be rearranged depending on which modes and features prove the most popular. Speaking as part of an interview with The Guardian, DriveClub’s technical director Scott Kirkland explained that certain circuits and vehicles can...
News Clutch More Clutter with Batman: Arkham Origins' Collector's Set
Stash it in the Batcave
Assuming that you haven’t already got a cabinet full of needless memorabilia to dust, you may want to expand your collection of gaming gumpf by grabbing Batman: Arkham Origins’ obligatory collector’s edition. The set – as you may expect – includes a premium statue featuring the Caped Crusader and the Joker. It also...
News Yep, PS4 Pre-Orders Are No Longer Guaranteed for Launch
You're too late
It’s strange that Sony hasn’t officially said anything about the PlayStation 4’s pre-order scenario in Europe. We suspect that it wants punters to go ahead and put a deposit on the system, anyway – even if launch day consoles are now no longer guaranteed. That’s official at this point by the way, as UK outlet ShopTo has...
Store Update 6th August 2013 (North America)
Royal flush
This week’s North American PlayStation Store update is an absolute corker. In addition to the hotly anticipated Vanillaware brawler Dragon’s Crown, there’s also the brilliant Tales of Xillia vying for your attention. Other goodies include Ibb and Obb and new Soul Sacrifice DLC. Let's do this. Pre-Orders: NHL 14 ($59.99)
Store Update 7th August 2013 (Europe)
Help yourself
Wow, it looks like the European PlayStation Store has caught free-to-play fever. A vast majority of this week’s releases can be downloaded without even opening your digital wallet, including Spartacus Legends, Deathmatch Village, and BreakQuest: Extra Evolution. Other fresh arrivals include Floating Cloud God Saves the
News Die! Die! Die! Takes You on a Trip Through the Human Body
No, that's the name of the game
Die! Die! Die! hopes to get your blood pumping and your bowels rumbling this week, as it brings biological battles to the PlayStation Vita. The surgical simulator – out today in Europe – promises a seven hour excursion through the circulatory system, spanning three campaigns, 84 levels, and more. Judging by the...
News Sound Shapes, We're Gonna Party Like It's Your Birthday
We're gonna sip Bacardi like it's your birthday
If you happened to spot a small circle being sick In Da Club last night, then you likely bumped into Sound Shapes’ first birthday celebration. The game is exactly a year old in North America today, and while it may have acknowledged that fact with a few too many shandies overnight, it’s planning to...
Tuesday6th Aug 2013
Review Tekken Revolution (PlayStation 3)
King of free-to-play fighters
The video game industry is changing faster than a Tekken character’s costume. The digital era has ushered a flurry of new distribution models for publishers to exploit, and that’s left major firms like Namco Bandai juggling dozens of ideas in the hope of happening upon a critical hit. Tekken Revolution, one of the...
Review Tales of Xillia (PlayStation 3)
A tale worth telling
You may be inclined to disregard Namco Bandai’s latest offering in the Tales series, but although it's the thirteenth main entry in the franchise (not including spin-offs), and bursting with strangely dressed teens with voluptuous hair-dos – as well a few girls who need to be told that strategically placed ribbons don't...
News Amazon Warns That Fresh PS4 Pre-Orders May Not Be Fulfilled At Launch
British supplies running dry
Amazon is the latest retailer to acknowledge Sony’s previously reported PlayStation 4 pre-order deadline. The UK arm of the online giant has added a message to the next generation console’s product page, warning consumers that any purchases made after 6th August may not be fulfilled at launch. “Due to high demand,...
News Whoa, This Is How The Last of Us Almost Ended
Spoilers hide on the other side
Consider this your last warning: there are spoilers in this article. If you haven’t finished The Last of Us yet, then you may want to consider tapping your browser’s obliging ‘back’ button right about now. Have you done it yet? Can we stop waffling? Seriously, if you’re still reading this then we can’t be...
News What Does PlayStation Vita Firmware Update v2.60 Do?
Keeping things convenient
If you’ve powered up your PlayStation Vita this morning, you may have spotted that there’s some new system software available. Sony sneakily deployed firmware update v2.60 overnight, and while it’s not exactly bursting with must-have features, it does include some minor tweaks that should make using the system a...
News Bluepoint Games Is Bringing a PlayStation Classic to Current Consoles
You've got our attention
Ooh, this is a fascinating little tidbit. Bluepoint Games, the Austin-based studio behind the God of War Collection and the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, is currently “bringing a Sony classic to current game systems”. The snippet is mentioned as part of a couple of job listings, but no additional information is...
News Housemarque's Jetting Off to GamesCom, Expect PS4 Bombs
We're already drooling
Super Stardust HD developer Housemarque is set to swap its humble home of Helsinki for the bright lights of Cologne later this month, as it heads to GamesCom – presumably to make some PlayStation 4 related announcements. The company confirmed that it’s attending the German convention on its Facebook page, explaining that...
News Look Around the PlayStation Vita's Latest Firmware Update
Please ensure that you have your copybook at hand
We don’t know what your high school experience was like, but whenever our teachers couldn’t be bothered to do any work, we were always plonked in front of a video. Perched on uncomfortable stools, we'd be forced to watch low-budget documentaries, which almost always included really patronising...
News Prep Your President with Saints Row IV's Inauguration Station
Your short shorts are ready, Mr. President
Much like with Saints Row: The Third's Initiation Station demo, you'll be able to create, customise, and upload your own Saints boss for Saints Row IV using the cleverly titled Inauguration Station, which is set to release tomorrow on the European PlayStation Store, and next Tuesday in North America. From...
Monday5th Aug 2013
Review Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational (PlayStation 3)
Fairway to heaven
You’d need a heart more barren than a bothersome bunker to dislike Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational (or Everybody’s Golf, as it’s known in Europe). Originally putted onto the PlayStation Vita, this PlayStation 3 port of the sugary sporting sim is every bit as sweet as its portable predecessor. Boasting a bevy of colourful...
Talking Point Would You Buy a $500 PS4 and Vita Bundle?
Forever friends
The concept of a PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita bundle has existed since the beginning of time, but rumour has it that Sony is actually planning to officially introduce the chunky combo later this year. A “well-placed anonymous” source has told Machinima that the platform holder will dep
News Toys 'R' Us Backs Away from Purported PS4 Release Date
Still a secret
Toys ‘R’ Us has shied away from speculation claiming that it’s privy to the PlayStation 4’s release date. In a report published by BT Games, a spokesperson for the retail giant stated that it had been handed information on the next generation console’s launch plans “direct” from its suppliers – but it’s since...
Review Narco Terror (PlayStation 3)
Don't do drugs
Narco Terror is a cheesy 1980s action movie squeezed into a pseudo-isometric twin stick shooter, full to the brim with stupid one-liners, massive explosions, and drug peddlers with machetes. It’s a game that’s based on simply having dumb fun – but how long does it take for the novelty to wear off? As you may probably guess, the...
News By the Nine! The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Voted Game of the Generation on Amazon
Dragonborn to win
Running from 1st June to 4th August, mammoth online retailer Amazon.co.uk hosted a poll which pitted some of the biggest games of this console generation against each other in a tournament-style showdown. And Bethesda's open world epic, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, came out on top. The 2011 release fought off Super Mario Galaxy,...
News Hitman: Absolution Infiltrates North American PlayStation Plus
Runner 2, Star Wars Pinball, and more on the way
PlayStation Plus is set to get a little bit balder in North America, as Sony has announced that Hitman: Absolution will be whacking the Instant Game Collection this week. Agent 47’s latest adventure will be accompanied by discounts on escapeVektor,
News Stop Pleading for New PS All-Stars Characters and Stages
Sony confirms that it's stepping out of the ring
While a slew of leaked concept art recently offered scant hope of new content for PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, platform holder Sony has confirmed that it’s done with the brawler – well, sort of. On the official
News Yes, The Last of Us Does Lack Exploding Heads in Europe
Gratuitous violence yanked from international release
Earlier in the year, a report suggested that The Last of Us had been censored in Europe. Hot on the heels of a slew of disgruntled forum posts, Movie-Censorship.com noted that dismemb
News UK Sales Charts: The Last of Us Clicks at the Heels of Minecraft
Building blocks
We truly are in the summer lull – even though it’s cloudy outside. A lack of new releases meant that Minecraft held onto its spot atop the UK sales charts this week. Slipping Pikmin 3 sales allowed The Last of Us to pull itself into second, while
