At this precise moment in time, it's 11pm here in the UK, and my Blur multiplayer beta is 12% through its download. Given that the file is a sizeable 1.44Gb, it's a safe bet to assume that I won't be playing it today. However, you can rest assured, dear readers, that I'll be posting my impressions as soon as I've had a chance to get to grips with the game.

Soon, my pretties... Soon! no comments

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is the seventh game in the Silent Hill series, and is the second game by developers Climax, who were responsible for the PSP/PS2 game Silent Hill: Origins. However, Shattered Memories is a unique entry into the Silent Hill series for a couple of important reasons: it is the first time the series has appeared on a Nintendo platform; and the game is also a re-imagining of the first Silent Hill game, and marks the start of what could essentially be a series re-boot for the franchise.

As another first for the series, the game plays distinctly differently from all of the others, in that it has been developed from the ground up to make use of the Wii remote, whilst the game itself is split into two distinct gameplay types: slow-paced search segments, and more action-orientated chase segments.  

In terms of the game's control scheme, the developers have opted for a Resident Evil 4 style, over-the-shoulder camera, and the Wii remote is used as a pointer to aim your flashlight at objects of interest on-screen. For the vast majority of the game, you'll find yourself creeping through the darkness with your flashlight in hand.  During the search sequences, the control scheme works really well, and really lends itself to helping create an eerie, foreboding atmosphere. By contrast the chase sequences – while being the game's sole method of putting you in any real sort of danger – only really manage to dilute the atmosphere created by the search sequences, and often the difficulty of these sequences makes them almost no fun to play through.

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I don't know about you, but I really liked Prince of Persia, the 2008 current-gen franchise reboot. It had its fair share of detractors, but in the end I thought it was a beautiful, simple game with an exceptional ending. I was really looking forward to the sequel(s), and was upset when I heard that the next installment in the PoP franchise would be based on the Sands of Time storyline and not this new reboot. So I decided to download the "Epilogue" DLC and have some closure.

Story-wise, the game picks up right where the retail game ended, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Unfortunately, there isn't complete closure to the story, but it's still fun to jump right back into a game and continue the story without having to wait for (or pay the full price for) a true sequel. I'm really glad that Ubisoft at least gave us this to satisfy the fans.

If you didn't like the first game because it's too easy, then I have some good news for you: this DLC is about twice as hard as anything you'll find in the real game (excepting the boss fights, which are par for the course). The platforming combo strings run several minutes in length, and several of them require real skill, unlike most of the retail game. There is a new "launchpad" power (too lazy to look up the real name, but you know what I mean if you've played the game); this purple pad will launch you to another area as well as create new platforms for you to run across. It's a nice little addition.

There aren't any orbs to collect in this DLC, but instead they have something even better - they added these hidden panels ("frescos") for you to find and run across for bonus achievement points. The frescos are cleverly hidden away from the path of the game, which means you'll spend a lot of time looking around and thinking of new ways to get to these hidden spots. For such a fundamentally linear game, these panels were really refreshing.

Overall, the DLC lasts about three hours (be warned, there's a secret achievement for completing it in under two hours, and I didn't get it), and it's well worth it if you enjoyed the retail game. no comments

Why does every freaking Battlefield game have server issues when it first releases? Bad Company 1 had problems, 1943 had problems, and now I've been staring at the window you see above for the last ten minutes trying to get in a game of Battlefield: Bad Company 2.

Come on, guys, this is your coming out party! You should be ready for the flood of players in the first few weeks. I woke up early (yes, 10:20 is early to me), just so I could play while the lady was still sleeping, but all that is out the window now. Next time, let's get our shit straight, ok?

Update: Ok, I finally get in a match, and what do I see? THAT ALL OF MY UNLOCKS AND XP HAVE BEEN RESET TO ZERO! What the hell is going? One more thing, when I stab someone, the game hasn't been giving me their dog tags, which is one of the best things about the game. That's really annoying, no comments

Joystiq via The Tech Game have some new images up of what just might be the first DLC pack for Modern Warfare 2. Sadly, MW2 has shuffled off of this mortal coil and will soon be replaced by Battlefield: Bad Company 2.

But just to show that I'm not made of stone, a faint pang of remorse did stir in my icy heart when I saw that (according to the above sites) multiplayer maps "Crash" and "Overgrown" would be returning from MW1. *sigh* Ah, well. Them's the breaks.

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I've always had a funny thought whenever I see the game Just Cause, and its upcoming sequel Just Cause 2 (whose demo just landed on XBLA today). Although I realize that the "Cause" in the name is pronounced as "Kôz" (like in the term "cause and effect"), I like to think of them as "Kəz", as in the shortened version of the word "because". Did I lose you yet? I hope not. Keep reading.

Secondly, once I start thinking of the game as "Just 'Cause", I like to imagine that you play as a super-nice pushover guy who just walks around and does good deeds for people "just 'cause".

"Oh darling, you bought me flowers! Why'd you do such a thing for me?"
"Just 'cause, honey."

I really need to get out more. no comments

I have to admit to being initially quite sceptical about Heavy Rain, though this had very little to do with the game itself, and more to do with my feelings towards developers Quantic Dreams' previous game, Indigo Prophecy (also known as Fahrenheit).

However, after playing the demo for this, and reading Giangs review, my curiosity was truly picqued. Whilst I'd initially consigned myself to renting this game, or picking it up cheap, my curiosity finally got the better of me today, and I bought it.
At this present moment in time, the game is currently in the process of its mandatory installation to the PS3's hard drive, so I figured I would mult-task by writing this at the same time as making the origami swan pyramid head thing.
I really hope I enjoy this game, as I think the story seems like something I could really get into.

Well, that's the installation complete, so wish me luck, people. no comments

Earlier today, developers Bizarre Creations - the devs behind the PGR games - were giving away free beta codes for their upcoming game, Blur.  Courtesy of CVG, I managed to get my hands on a code, and as of next Monday, should have early access to the multiplayer beta.

For those who aren't familiar with the game, it's an arcade-style racer, that centers around giving the player power-ups to take out rival racers. The game is often described by the mainstream media as being "Mario Kart with real cars". As that description doesn't sound too promising, and because I want to stay open-minded about the game, I'm going to look at it more positively, and describe it as Burnout (which I love) with weapons.

Whilst I honestly couldn't say if the game is going to be any good or not, I'm going to reserve judgement until I've played the beta.  Either way, though, you can rest assured that I'll post my opinions here when I do make my mind up. no comments

I just watched MSNBC's video review of Battlefield: Bad Company 2, and I'm about to drop everything at work to go pick up my copy. It literally got my blood pumping, and gave me a tingly feeling...down there.

Is anyone else picking it up tonight? Friend up with TheJesusZombie on Xbox 360 if you want to make some Battlefield love. no comments

As the first release in Microsoft's XBLA Block Party, which runs all the way through March, Toy Soldiers is set to release on XBLA this Wednesday. However, given that a lot of people probably haven't heard much about this game, check out the video below to get an idea as to what it's all about; hopefully you'll be as pleasantly surprised as I was:



Confused? Intrigued? Well, the game is essentially a tower defence game, but one that lets you take control of the units you command, to let you snipe, strafe, and bomb your way to victory. Personally, I think this sounds like fun, and is certainly a neat twist for those who feel a little burnt out on tower defence games.

If you want to check it out, the game releases on XBLA this Wednesday, and will retail for 1200 MSP. As of yet, there is still no word as to this weeks PSN releases, but we'll be sure to let you know if anything neat catches our eye. no comments