Retro Reviews
Review NBA 2K11 (PlayStation 3)
Truly the greatest
NBA 2K11 arrives with the usual fanfare you'd expect to surround the latest outing of this highly-acclaimed series, but this time there’s a huge, unmissable feather in its cap. Michael Jordan, the titular “greatest of all time”, appears in the game, but we’re not just talking his likeness. This is Jordan’s career: his...
Review Dead Space: Ignition (PlayStation 3)
Dead Space: Ignition is a neat idea
Unfortunately, there's nothing redeeming about the downloadable title's execution. Ignition is intended to build excitement for the January release of Dead Space 2, but it only managed to temper our expectations. The idea of releasing downloadable teasers for big retail releases is a good one. We're Dead Space...
Review Medal Of Honor (PlayStation 3)
Medal Of Honor is a modern combat game
Though the Call Of Duty franchise has shot into the mainstream with its declarations of "Modern Warfare", the plot's never been grounded as such. Medal Of Honor is a modern-day military game and a love-letter to the US army. The campaign jumps between three different groups of US soldiers: AFO...
Review Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 (PlayStation 3)
It's the game that everyone wanted, or at least thought they wanted
This is a Sonic The Hedgehog game designed in the classical mould that made the character an icon. There are no goofy sidekicks, no silly rock songs and most certainly no "dudebro" dialogue. The clue's in the title: it's Sonic The Hedgehog 4. Don't worry though, you...
Review Toy Story 3 (PlayStation 3)
Heavy on fun, light on Move support
When the first Toy Story movie came out, it completely changed the way we look at our animated films, as it was the first feature length movie completely made using computer-generated 3D animation. When the first Toy Story game came out, it didn't really change anything, delivering an uninspired platformer with...
Review Lara Croft and the Guardian Of Light (PlayStation 3)
Ignoring the hokey narrative about mythical spirits and ancient Mayan warriors, Lara Croft and the Guardian Of Light is Crystal Dynamic's attempt at recapturing the franchise's spot-light in the restricted digital download arena
As such, Lara Croft and the Guardian Of Light ditches Tomb Raider's traditional third-person platforming puzzles, and...
Review Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 (PlayStation 3)
Tiger comes out swinging
Tiger Woods is a name that needs no introduction. Rising to fame back in 1996, he's since become one of the most successful golfers of all time, becoming the face of EA's PGA Tour Golf series for over a dozen titles. While it’s all too common to see yearly updates of sports titles from EA, the question is does the game...
Review MySims SkyHeroes (PlayStation 3)
Disregarding the nonsensical plot about evil sky corporations and obvious plot-twists, MySims: Sky Heroes is essentially a generic kart racing game set in the sky
The game mixes its powered-up racing with hectic dog-fights, but it fails to offer much beyond. The plot draws out the formula to extortionately repetitive lengths — but that's not a...
Review High Velocity Bowling (PlayStation 3)
Bowling for supremacy
With the buzz for PlayStation Move now in full swing it is worth remembering that, through the technology incorporated in the SIXAXIS controller, the PS3 has had motion-sensing controller support since launch. The original version of SCE's High Velocity Bowling (HVB) was released a year later and it demonstrated one of the most...
Review 101-In-1 Megamix (PlayStation Portable)
Despite a few exceptions, there's definite creativity in 101-In-1 Megamix's minigame roster
It's genuinely exciting not knowing what type of game to expect next, and Nordcurrent's zany presentation style only adds to the intrigue. The problem with 101-In-1 Megamix's collection is that none of the games stick. A neat progression system pushes you...
Review Sky Fighter (PlayStation 3)
SkyFighter's ultra-polished visuals and 40's war-time aesthetic represent the game's strongest hand
Despite some clever stealth missions, the campaign never really hits its stride — serving up simplistic mission objectives instead of capitalising on the game's chunky combat and satisfying flight mechanics. Different aircrafts with notable...
The war has been raging and it’s time to Move in
MAG is like a bottle of wine, getting better with age. An online-only game exclusively for the PlayStation 3 developed by Zipper Interactive, also known for its long-running PlayStation exclusive franchise SOCOM, MAG garnered a lot of hype before launch for its massive 256-player battles. Despite...
Review Dead Rising 2 (PlayStation 3)
Dead Rising 2 is the sequel to the XBOX 360-exclusive zombie-a-thon Dead Rising
Those who played the original will know to expect a unique and often frustrating game with some unusual design choices. Dead Rising 2 places the chisel-jawed motocross star, Chuck Greene, amidst the zombie apocalypse. His wife has already fell to the undead, and his...
Review Sonic Adventure (PlayStation 3)
If you have any nostalgic ties to SEGA's Dreamcast classic, Sonic Adventure, you're going to get a kick out of replaying this PSN re-release despite its issues
The controls are clunky, the voice-acting is terrible and the port is not brilliant - skipping on even optimising the game for wide-screen televisions. With that aside, it's hard to dislike...
Review EyePet: Move Edition (PlayStation 3)
An EyePet is for life, not just for hardware launches
EyePet was originally released in Europe at the end of 2009, long before the arrival of PlayStation Move. Back then the game only required a PlayStation Eye, with everything controlled by your hands and a piece of plastic that you held up to the camera. It worked rather well for what it was, but...
Review Space Invaders: Infinity Gene (PlayStation 3)
It might be a bit pretentious for Space Invaders: Infinity Gene to quote the words of Charles Darwin at the start of a new game, but there's a metaphor in the game's key mechanic of evolution
Space Invaders is old but, through fresh distribution methods, Infinity Gene is in-line with modern day expectations. It's a visually stimulating sh'mup that's...
Review Heavy Rain (PlayStation 3)
Storming
Quantic Dream's Heavy Rain arrived in early 2010 in a downpour of critical acclaim, its storytelling, graphical quality and sheer audacity a breath of fresh air. Now a free patch has added support for Sony's Move controller (with a disc release landing soon) and although the game's strengths still shine through, its niggling flaws are sadly...
Review R.U.S.E. (PlayStation 3)
Real-time. Unit. Selection. Efficiency.
Whilst the September 2010 launch of PS Move has lacked an 'instant purchase' AAA title, its games line-up has still managed to successfully demonstrate the possibilities of the hardware, albeit in an understated manner. Most unique of all is Eugen System's R.U.S.E.; a cunning trickster of a World War II RTS...
Review Hustle Kings (PlayStation 3)
This game's got balls
Hustle Kings isn't anything new to those familiar with the PSN. Developed by VooFoo Studios, the game first saw release at the end of 2009 to much acclaim. With the launch of Move for the PS3, it's become common practice to see some older games get updated to support the Move controller and for Hustle Kings, it's the same...
Review Kung Fu Rider (PlayStation 3)
Is the ticket worth the ride?
On the surface, Kung Fu Rider comes off as a fun variation on the downhill racing formula, removing the boxcars or skateboards players might expect to ride and switching them out for office chairs and luggage. To make this premise even more wacky, the protagonists periodically perform kung fu moves while riding these...
Review Racket Sports (PlayStation 3)
Turn that racket off
Ubisoft’s Racket Sports ('Racquet Sports' in North America) started life on Wii as Racquet Sports Party, a multiplayer waggle-fest that was one of few games to employ Ubi’s Wii camera to allow controller-free gameplay. Since then it’s received an overhaul in the graphical and control departments, but it’s only a sheep in...
Let's get ready to Tuuumble!!!
When Sony began its marketing blitz for the Playstation Move, the ads focused on how Move differentiates from the competition, namely Kinect and the Nintendo Wii. The Move campaign began with a commercial featuring Kevin Butler as the "VP of Realistic Movements" attempting to persuade the viewer the Move can do things...
Review Start the Party (PlayStation 3)
We rock the party
Start the Party is every core Move owner's worst nightmare: a minigame collection, full of casual, family-friendly gameplay. Although the usual issues that hold back the genre are all present and correct here, it's still not a bad title for families and those wanting a silly but enjoyable introduction to the controller. You won't...
Review Planet Minigolf (PlayStation 3)
Miniature golf, Move style
We've seen our share of minigolf releases of varying degrees of fun and price released on the assorted console download services offering gamers a few choices to make for their miniature golf fix. This obviously leads to the question of what exactly does Planet Minigolf offer up on PSN that sets it apart from the crowd,...
Review Flight Control HD (PlayStation 3)
Please enjoy this refreshing puzzle game
Flight Control HD is as well-travelled as its hand-drawn flight crew, starting life on the iPhone and iPod Touch before making it across to DSiWare and iPad. Now it's available on PSN in Europe (read our interview with Firemint to discover why it's not coming to North America) and fully compatible with Move...
Review Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition (PlayStation 3)
Motion slickness
Let loose in March 2009, Capcom's original release of Resident Evil 5 was received with critical acclaim, but was recognised as having more in common with third-person action games than the survival horror premise of earlier titles in the series. With extra features available in the Gold Edition, gamers have the chance to revisit...
Review Sports Champions (PlayStation 3)
Will it make you want to Move?
When Sony announced it was developing a motion controller for PlayStation 3, it certainly didn't shock anyone to see a collection of motion-controlled sports games to go along with it. While comparisons to Nintendo's Wii Remote and Wii Sports Resort are inevitable, it might be a bit more fair to compare it to the...
Review Top Gun (PlayStation 3)
Touting the involvement of Top Gun's original screenwriter, Jack Epps Jr
, the PlayStation Network toes a line between new and familiar content. The game's not the most cinematic ever created, and as such its plot can be difficult to follow, but it maintains a vibe in-keeping with the source material and defines some exposure for which to fly...
Review Alien Breed: Impact (PlayStation 3)
Alien Breed: Impact is a claustrophobic attempt at revitalising a classic genre
It certainly packs plenty of atmosphere across its five or so hour campaign; but some control quirks, and drawn-out mission design make it hard to stomach in long stretches. Alien Breed is a Team-17 classic. Released on the Amiga in the early-1990's, the game was a...
Review Pinball Heroes: Modnation Racers (PlayStation Portable)
There are some neat tricks in Pinball Heroes' presentation of Modnation Racers, but in all the table is a little flat
Perhaps the neatest part of the Modnation Racers Pinball Heroes table is its nod towards the formers creation aspect. Flipping the ball inside the Mod and Kart caverns changes the background of the table, with different designs...
