Don King Boxing – Wii Review NGamer Link

In the next issue of NGamer – up soon!

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=211432

Ready 2 Rumble Revolution – NGamer Wii Review Link

Full article to be posted soon. Condensed version on NGamer’s site:

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=211301

LIT review – GamesRadar

Link to edited LIT review for Wii on GamesRadar.com – Full review in next issue of NGamer!

http://www.gamesradar.com/wii/lit/review/lit/a-20090318104352335071/g-2009031810052475040

GamesMaster Awards 2009: 4 Page Feature – GamesMaster Magazine Issue 210

(Note: It looks a thousand times better in the mag)

GAMESMASTER AWARDS 2009

“Oi, you can’t come in here – those shoes are too casual, mate…“

…As for the rest of you, roll on up! Flood the venue and scream for joy, it’s time for us to host our GamesMaster Awards for 2009. We’ve been unable to leave the office due to a constant stream of letters blocking the door, while 12 highly skilled monkeys from abroad were hired just to help us sift through the entries. So now, without further ado, it’s time to crown the best gaming moments from the last 12 months, as voted for by your favourite person. YOU!

GAME OF THE YEAR 2008

1st: GRAND THEFT AUTO IV – (98%)

The top three were tighter than a duck’s bottom, but GTA IV proved you all have memories longer than its final mission as you voted it your game of the year. With ‘The Lost and the Damned’ downloadable content nearly here, is there a chance you’ll make it game of the year for 2009? We’ll just have to wait and see…

RUNNERS UP:

2nd: FALLOUT 3 – (93%)

Just missing out, the sheer depth and scale of Fallout 3 made it a favourite, with its oodles of sidequests and inventive combat system.

3rd: LITTLEBIGPLANET – (96%)

Games with plots are over-rated, according to you folks anyway. The amount of artistic freedom offered by LBP really got your creative juices flowing.

CAPTION: Pistol in hand, Niko makes a clean getaway with the Game of the Year award for 2008.

CAPTION: “I would like to thank Roman and Katie for this moment… but they are riddled with bullets.”

BEST PS2 GAME OF 2008
1st: LEGO BATMAN – (86%)

There were murmurs of Traveller’s Tales Lego formula feeling stale, but Lego Batman certainly found a home on PS2, the plastic platformer picking up best title in what must surely be the console’s final year.

RUNNERS UP:
2nd: CALL OF DUTY: WORLD AT WAR – (N/A)

Despite the lack of online co-op and deathmatch, World at War just missed out on top spot.

3rd: FIFA ’09 – (88%)

The beautiful game isn’t as beautiful on PS2, but the gameplay still scores.

CAPTION: Pow! Smack! Shazaam! Batman proves he’s brick hard.

BEST PS3 GAME OF 2008

1st: LITTLEBIGPLANET – (96%)

Being the first console game to really break the online community market, Sackboy wallops Snake into second place and takes the title of best PS3 game with its fascinating online library and amazingly unique visuals.

RUNNERS UP:

2nd: METAL GEAR SOLID 4 – (97%)

Second is scant reward for someone who continually prevents disaster.

3rd: RESISTANCE 2 – (91%)

Resistance from consumers was obviously futile.

CAPTION: We ‘felt’ LittleBigPlanet would win in the end (hyuck hyuck).

BEST XBOX 360 GAME OF 2008

1st: Gears of War 2 – (95%)

It was no contest really, was it? The emphatic Gears of War sequel offered a twisting plot and a deliciously violent romp, expanding on the abrupt ending of the first game and offering scenes of real emotion.

RUNNERS UP:
2nd: Fable 2 – (94%)

Kicking chickens and doing the dirty deed gets Fable 2 into second place.

3rd: GRAND THEFT AUTO IV – (98%)

Game of the Year, but third on its console? We’re proud champions of consistency here at GM! It’s your decision.

CAPTION: He may be big, but Marcus Fenix’s BMI puts him firmly in ‘obese’ territory.

BEST Wii GAME OF 2008

1st: MARIO KART WII – (91%)

Not only a game for casuals, Mario Kart is still the hardcore Wii gamers choice, despite Nintendo’s unfair weapon balancing act. Now all we need is a friendlier way to input friend codes and we’re sorted…

RUNNERS UP:

2nd: SUPER SMASH BROTHERS: BRAWL – (92%)

Epic stand-offs between Jigglypuff and Kirby sweep the nation.

3rd: NO MORE HEROES – (90%)

No more No More Heroes? We need more games like this on the Wii, urgently!

BEST DS GAME OF 2008

1st: THE WORLD ENDS WITH YOU – (88%)

Now THIS is a DS game. Utilising almost every facet of Nintendo’s dinky delight, The World Ends With You is a game inside a game with its style assaulting you from both screens. Your emphatic choice for number one.

RUNNERS UP:

2nd: PROFESSOR LAYTON AND THE CURIOUS VILLAGE – (90%)

Brain teasing, cranium twisting handheld agony.

3rd: GUITAR HERO: ON TOUR – (85%)

Finger teasing, knuckle twisting handheld agony.

CAPTION: If you can figure out what on earth is going on here then contact Consoletation zone.

BEST PSP GAME OF 2008

1st: FINAL FANTASY VII: CRISIS CORE – (92%)

You can’t get enough of the seventh instalment, it seems. Zack’s back-story carries on Cloud’s legacy, and shocked us by actually being quite good, as we gave it 90%. A shining light in a pretty barren ’08 for the console.

RUNNERS UP:

2nd: GOD OF WAR: CHAINS OF OLYMPUS – (86%)

Kratos’s might be able to kill deity’s, but he can’t beat Zack.

3rd: MIDNIGHT CLUB: L.A. REMIX – (88%)

Rockstar weigh in with this decent portable racer.

CAPTION: Genesis has long flowing hair and a big sword and… oh, just stop it already.

BEST PC GAME OF 2008

1st: SPORE – (93%)

Controversies raged over SecuROM installation, game length and super-piracy, but Spore still shoots to the top with its simply amazing scope. Will Wright will right these problems, we hope, when he announces Spore 2 (hopefully)…

RUNNERS UP:
2nd: WORLD OF WARCRAFT: WRATH OF THE LICH KING – (90%)

A strong position for the expansion, Wrath of the Lich King just misses out.

3rd: AGE OF CONAN: HYBORIAN ADVENTURES – (86%)

For God sakes, put some clothes on. The characters are as bare as Hyboria itself.

CAPTION: Spore, Warcraft and Conan prove to be worlds apart.

BEST PIECE OF HARDWARE OF 2008

1st: PS3

Could 2009 finally be Sony’s strongest year? You lot seem to think so, as the 360 runs out of steam and chugs into second place. Just kidding, it was actually very tight. Go out and buy a console anyway, they’re all brilliant.

RUNNERS UP:
2nd: XBOX 360

Claiming the silver medal, is this in protest at the New Xbox Experience, we wonder?

3rd: DUALSHOCK 3…

…surprisingly makes an appearance, batting off strong competition from the Wii-board.

BEST GRAPHICS OF 2008

1st: METAL GEAR SOLID 4 – (97%)

Hands down, the best graphics go to Metal Gear Solid 4, as we gasped in awe at Sony’s use of cell wrinkle technology. Would the 360 cope with the strain? We may still yet find out…

RUNNERS UP:

2nd: GEARS OF WAR 2 – (95%)

Steamingly ugly Locust’s and veiny, uglier Human’s captured beautifully on 360.

3rd: GRAND THEFT AUTO IV – (98%)

The over-realistic strains on Niko’s travel-worn face couldn’t guarantee him top spot.

CAPTION: The Beauty and the Beast unit pick up our special design award.

BEST SOUNDTRACK OF 2008

1st: MIRROR’S EDGE – (80%)

Free running Faith’s rooftop fumble was greatly improved by the gorgeous sounds around her, whether it was the strong Swedish influences or simply the sound of her scraping her bum when sliding. Mirror’s Edge takes the GamesMaster Grammy.

RUNNERS UP:

2nd: SUPER SMASH BROTHERS: BRAWL – (92%)

Stunning orchestral re-imaginings of Nintendo classics. Far better than Wii Music…

3rd: GRAND THEFT AUTO IV – (98%)

Maybe not as good as Vice City’s soundtrack, but it’s still a great selection for stealing cars to.

CAPTION: A high pitched ‘GYYYYYUUUURGH’ would have been tops, too.

MOST PLAYED GAME OF 2008

1st: FALLOUT 3 – (93%)

There’s no way this would lose. You have to invest hundreds of hours just to cover the side-quests! Covering every inch of this pseudo-fifties future imagining is still keeping everyone going, month’s after its release.

RUNNERS UP:

2nd: CALL OF DUTY: WORLD AT WAR – (91%)

Cross-console shooter so nearly reaches the heights of its older, more modern brother.

3rd: SUPER SMASH BROTHERS: BRAWL – (92%)

Multiplayer brawler beats off the competition to land third place.

TOUGHEST GAME OF 2008

1st: FALLOUT 3 – (93%)

Even with the aids of V.A.T.S. combat, Fallout 3 is still a bugger to beat. We could blame the lack of ammo and overly large monsters, but we find it especially tough because we can’t help but start a fight during conversation.

RUNNERS UP:

2nd: MIRROR’S EDGE – (80%)

A first-person perspective without the gunplay. Peace and love, peace and love.

3rd: NINJA GAIDEN 2 – (70%)

Now, we think this is just the most stupidly hard game ever. Can’t wait for the third, though…

CAPTION: Toughest Game and Most Played Game, you sure are gluttons for punishment!

HERO OF THE YEAR 2008
1st: SACKBOY

Despite costing around seventy-five pence to construct, Sackboy has beaten off many established stars to become your hero of 2008. He’s also the gaming equivalent of a filthy shirker, seeing as we do all the hard level building and all…

RUNNERS UP:

2nd: SOLID SNAKE

Ask your Granddad to come out of retirement and kill an army. Snake does it every day of his life.

3rd: NIKO BELLIC

You lot really should look up ‘Hero’ in the dictionary…

BOXOUT:

A lad called Nathan spoke for most of us when he e-mailed in his hero of the year. ‘The Judge who banned Jack Thompson!’ he no doubt scrawled with a grin…

VILLAIN OF THE YEAR 2008

1st: LIQUID OCEOLOT

After missing out on the award for sexiest bloke, Ocelot can take heart at winning Villain of the year in light of his convoluted war effort plot and Liquid Snake morphing arm thingy.

RUNNERS UP:

2nd: LORD LUCIEN

Fable 2’s dog killing emo isn’t as tough as he thinks he is.

3rd: DMITRI
Grand Theft Auto’s Eastern Bloc psycho ends up in blouse wearing third place.

CAPTION: You like me, you really like me! Now, die in a fire.

BEST BIT IN A GAME 2008

1st: REVISITING SHADOW MOSES

Snake’s plot-twisting return to Shadow Moses was your stand out gaming moment in 2008, which including an epic battle with Crying Wolf, Vamp, and Naomi’s flippant emotions. A stand out part in one of 2008’s epic titles.

RUNNERS UP:

2nd: GEARS OF WAR 2, FIRST LEVEL

Gears’ Hollywood introduction had all jaws on the floor the UK over.

3rd: LAST SCENES OF GTA IV

Choosing who to let live and die was a tear-jerker of the highest level.

CAPTION: We thought we wouldn’t ever have to come back here after the awkward Otacon ending of the first game.

BOXOUT:

Our favourite ‘moment’ was submitted by Tom Carlyle of Chippenham who quite enjoyed Dom’s wife ‘looking all skanky and that’…

DISSAPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR

1st: NEED FOR SPEED: UNDERCOVER – (79%)

Oh dear. The one constant in this poll was how disappointed you all were with Need for Speed: Undercover. Was it the limp story or the erroneous bugs and niggles? Either way, you let us know that you were let down by it.

RUNNERS UP:

2nd: SONIC UNLEASHED – (80%)

Oh look, it’s a new Sonic game! Gathering dust in the bargain bin!

3rd: PRINCE OF PERSIA – (71%)

You can’t die? Breaking Prince’s trusted formula obviously wasn’t a popular decision…

CAPTION: To disappoint you even further, here’s a mobile phone screenshot.

BEST CHEAT OF 2008

1st: GTA IV HEALTH/ARMOUR/WEAPONS CHEATS

Threats of taking away precious achievements proved to be laughable, as you guys used your phone to cheat the game instead of arranging social time with Brucie.

RUNNERS UP:

2nd: SPAWNING ANNIHALATOR – GTA IV

Wreaking havoc across Liberty City was ample trade for the ‘Walk Free’ achievement.

3rd: FALLOUT 3 GLITCHES

Said glitches include an EXP hack by changing the difficulty, and swindling caps from wasteland losers.

CAPTION: Cheating in GTA IV gave us some hilariously laugh out loud moments.

BOXOUT:

Scott Gilbride’s submission landed on our desk, and written in a solemn cursive font under the best cheat category was ‘I wouldn’t cheat…’. Bless…

MULTIPLAYER GAME OF 2008

1st: LEFT4DEAD – (93%)

Whether on PC or console, Left4Dead still gives us hours of enjoyment, both online and in the office with Team GM running around screaming like pansies. It’s a good job too, as its single player borders on the useless.

RUNNERS UP:
2nd: CALL OF DUTY: WORLD AT WAR – (91%)

We’re still unsure about swapping airstrikes with packs of dogs. Doesn’t bother you lot, though…

3rd: SUPER SMASH BROTHERS: BRAWL – (92%)

Nintendo’s character homage shrugs off Mario Kart competition and smashes its way into third.

CAPTION: Ding, dong, the witch is dead. Ironically, this makes her all the more dangerous.

SEXIEST GAME BABE/BLOKE OF 2008

1st: LARA CROFT…

… again. It was either the brand new High-Def water flowing off her lycra swimsuit or her sexy new voice actor. Either way, she adds another trophy to her already heaving mantelpiece for 2008.

RUNNERS UP

2nd: FAITH – MIRROR’S EDGE

Free runner Faith keeps her body trim by running up advertising boards and killing corrupt police officials.

3rd: SHAUNDI FROM SAINTS ROW 2

Well… whatever floats your boat, we guess…

CAPTION: 95% of the vote went to Lara. 95% of Lara is silicon.

BOXOUT:
Worringly enough, a vote for ‘Professor Pester’ from Viva Pinata caught our eye. Luckily for you, young MAN, we’re keeping your identity secret…

BEST AND WORST BOXART OF 2008

BEST:

1st: LITTLEBIGPLANET – (96%)

Looking like a pilot episode of Rainbow, the LittleBigPlanet box is being used in schools all over the UK as a substitute colour wheel.

RUNNERS UP:

2nd: RESISTANCE 2 – (91%)

Captures the mood of a 1950’s alien invasion perfectly.

3rd: FABLE 2 – (94%)

Bare, yet sombre, Fable 2’s box captured a real sense of character isolation.

WORST:

1st: FIFA ’09 – (90%)

Shockingly, there’s something about Wayne Rooney’s face and Ronaldinho’s teeth that you just don’t agree with…

RUNNERS UP:

2nd: WALL-E – (64%)

That sad look on his miserable face sums up our time with Wall-E.

3rd: PETZ: RESCUE OCEAN CONTROL – (N/A)

Haaaaaaaaaaaahahahahah…

Patapon 2 Review – GamesMaster Magazine Issue 210

OUT: 31^st JULY 09, PRICE: £19.99, PUB: SONY, DEV: IN-HOUSE, ONLINE: YES, PLAYERS:1-4,

PATAPON 2 – PSP

STRAP: ‘Get your Patap-on!’

Just as the tones from the last one had been bled out of our skulls, Patapon 2 lands on our desks and we’re ordered to put in headphones to prevent another office-wide infection. Their loss, Patapon 2 is simply brilliant. Luckily, you don’t need much prior Pata-perception to jump straight into the sequel, it’s a rhythm game, a God game and a mean strategy game all rolled into one with beats that’ll rewire your spinal column and artwork that’ll rewrite your optic nerves.

It’s also why Patapon 2 is a much tidier package than the first. Nothing has been tinkered or tampered with, it didn’t need much improvement. Instead, a slew of whistles and bells have been attached. The core rhythm/God elements are the same, using the face buttons to command your Patapon army in funky motion, yet there’s a whole new host of Patapon to recruit and level up, giving it a more strategic role-playing element. Air units are a blessing as are elemental Patapon and a Hero unit that has special attacks and can change its class. It makes battles more strategic (read: tougher), but when your Patapon army is on song, there’s nothing better.

The same old niggles are still there. You’ll still have to trawl through old levels to collect minerals and level up and you’re severely punished if your timing is but a moment off. However, the addition of a 4 way multi-player egg hunt between friends is a great distraction from the sometimes slow trudge through single player. Patapon 2 could only ever work on PSP, let it absorb your life when it’s released during the summer.

BEST BIT!
CAPTION: Building up a Patapon army to deal with any given situation, and taking on the world!

CAPTION: The guy in the mask is your hero. Keeping him alive is pivotal to finding ‘IT’.

CAPTION: In multiplayer, you have to escort giant eggs to safety with your pata-pals.

CAPTION: Graphically, Patapon is still top of the league.

JUDGEMENT

GRAPHICS: 90%
Spit-polishes the unique and gorgeous look of the original.

GAMEPLAY:87%

Thought provoking strategy, but a lot of backtracking is needed.

LIFESPAN: 89%

It’ll take you an age to build an army you’re proud of to take to battle.

OVERALL: 89%

An oasis in the barren PSP desert, it’s the PSP’s first strong title of 2009.

SHOULD YOU BUY IT:

BETTER THAN: Parappa the Rapper, 75%

WORSE THAN: Loco Roco, 92%
WAIT FOR: Resistance: Retribution
BEST PRICE: £14.99, Play.com

SimAnimals Review – GamesMaster Magazine Issue 210

OUT: NOW, FORMAT: Wii, PRICE: £39.99, DEVELOPER: IN-HOUSE, PUBLISHER: EA, ONLINE: YES, WEB: WWW.SIMANIMALS.COM, PLAYERS: 1-4

SIMANIMALS – Wii

ALSO ON – DS

STRAP: Don’t go down to the woods today…

So is SimAnimals a Viva Pinata beater? Not a chance. EA have tagged it with the Sims moniker, but we were alarmed to hear we would be caring for plant life and wide-eyed critters. And sadly, it’s as dull as it sounds. Even Watership Down dabbled in murder and psychosis…

SimAnimals is far from a car-crash game; it just doesn’t really offer anything gameplay wise. As in other Sim games, your Wii-mote controls a floating hand as you arrange plants and trees to attract creatures to your woodland. Rabbits and Squirrels will appear first with carnivorous heavy hitters like wolves and bears popping up in later areas to try and cause trouble in your serene valley.

FLOWER POWER
It matters little. Sometimes there’ll be conflict as a bigger animal devours a smaller one, but leave everybody alone and they’ll get along fine, paw-in-paw as you mess about planting Hyacinth. Plant management soon becomes your primary concern as the animal’s environment becomes more important than the animals themselves. Yawn…

You’ll be given specific challenges to complete at each clearing along the lines of ‘plant eight trees’, or ‘attract two cats to your forest’, they’re very bland and weak. SimAnimals excels in just holding your interest as you unlock the next area or animal. There’s no call at all to revisit once you’ve had a comb, except maybe for multi-player where you can invite three of your friends to roam your forest.

The Wii controls work very well, but presentation is poor. Animals and textures have a last-gen feel to them, jarred edges making them look blocky and rushed. SimAnimals would be great for a younger sister or older relative. Us though, we’re sticking to Farthing Wood for our woodland excitement…

BEST BIT!

CAPTION: Building an animal utopia can be satisfying when things go to plan.

CAPTION: Mate, dammit. We’ve planted some aloe and hibiscus, what more do you want?

CAPTION: You’ll need the help of your animal buds later to stop the upstream pollution…

CAPTION: The in-game encyclopaedia gives us real life facts about the world around us. Zzzz…

BOXOUT 1:

FERN-BULLY

Typically, the last few levels give you access to the heavenly power of lightning. Don’t get too excited, it’s only useful for clearing dead trees. Zzzzz…

CAPTION: Don’t hide there, big guy, you’re in the way of the GamesMaster demolition squad.

CAPTION: Don’t fret. Feeding him startled squirrels and tickling his belly will cheer him up.

JUDGEMENT:

GRAPHICS: 55%
Blocky and bland. This is supposed to be a lush forest, isn’t it?

GAMEPLAY: 54%

Not much in the way of an actual ‘game’ to play here, really…

LIFESPAN: 63%

Multiplayer extends it a little, and you can always obsess over your woodland.

OVERALL: 60%

An inoffensive stroll through a dull park. Buy a ticket to the Zoo instead.

SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

BETTER THAN: Star Wars: The Clone Wars, 59%

WORSE THAN: Animal Crossing: Let’s go to the City!, 80%

WAIT FOR: The Sims 3

BEST PRICE: £29.99, gameplay.co.uk

Cooking Mama 2: World Kitchen Review – GamesMaster Magazine Issue 210

OUT: NOW, PRICE: £34.99, DEV: COOKING MAMA LIMITED, PUB: 505 GAMES, WEB: http://www.cookingmamaworldkitchen.com/, PLAYERS: 1-2

COOKING MAMA 2: WORLD KITCHEN – Wii

STRAP: A recipe for success?

Poor ol’ Mama. She greets us in a bandana in a bid to show she means business on our first day in her kitchen, and although her heart is in the right place as she tries to train us, we turn out to be only as good as our tools. In this case, it’s the Wii-mote. For fans, it’s recognisable Cooking Mama. You can take on the large seven-page recipe roster in a bid to win a medal, cook for a ‘friend’, or take them on in a cooking challenge with Mama herself. Having an extra Wii-mote gives you the luxury of cooking with a buddy, all the ingredients needed to advance from the first Cooking Mama on Wii, right?

KITCHEN NIGHTMARE

It pains us to criticise Mama, but the Wii-mote lets it down dreadfully by incorporating a stirring or pouring motion in almost every recipe. Identikit activities like straight chopping aren’t a problem, a slight flick of the wrist or a shake registers A-OK, but if you’re asked to stir soup, grind coffee beans or twirl an ice-cream cone then throw in the towel. The game does an awful job of recognising the more explicit commands, we looked like the weather vane atop GM towers as we leaped all over the room in an attempt to do the simplest tasks, our temper boiled over like our pan of Miso-soup in the end.

Like a soufflé, we’ll end on a light note. Mama is adorable, addictive fun, especially for kids, and when the controls actually work there’s a full feast of fun to chew on. It’s great trying to perfect the full range of recipes, but the terrible utilisation of the Wii-mote is tougher to swallow than a week old pork pie.

BEST BIT!:

CAPTION: Actually nailing a recipe! When Mama’s on form, she cooks up a storm.

CAPTION: Mama’s always there, championing our ugly food.

CAPTION: Graphically, sound, everything you do is in spanking new 3d…

CAPTION: …But maybe it’s this extra dimension that harms the control scheme?

JUDGEMENT:
GRAPHICS: 71%
In all new 3D, this is one fine looking Mama.

GAMEPLAY: 65%
Standard Mama, with a few new recipes thrown in for measure.

LIFESPAN: 60%
You COULD master each recipe. If you actually CAN is the problem…

OVERALL: 64%
We think it’s about time for Mama to add a bit of spice into her cooking.

SHOULD YOU BUY IT?
BETTER THAN: Spider-man: Web of Shadows, 55%
WORSE THAN: Guinness World Records: The Videogame, 77%
WAIT FOR: the next DS Cooking Mama
BEST PRICE: £24.99, Play.com

Reviews Round Up – GamesMaster Magazine Issue 210

OUT: MARCH 09, PRICE: £29.99, DEV: MISTWALKER, PUB: IGNITION, PLAYERS: 1

BLUE DRAGON PLUS – DS

Good news! You don’t have to be a Blue Dragon nut to enjoy this DS incarnation. Within an hour, you’ll be brought up to speed thanks to some eye-popping full motion video and handy character bios. Blue Dragon Plus is a tactical RPG in the mould of Final Fantasy Tactics, you’ll move your huge team of recognisable characters (Shu, Zola, Szabo et al) around an isometric grid with your stylus as you try and figure out just how Nene came back to life. It isn’t very accessible for beginners as something like Dragon Quest (see opposite), and battles aren’t as strategic as they should be due to sheer volume of foes on screen, but it’s a solid entry for hardcore fans.

JUDGEMENT: 81%

A risky direction for the series to head in, but a surprisingly successful RPG.

CAPTION: Like Final Fantasy 4, the FMV on the DS is so impressive, a real sight to behold.

CAPTION: Battling in real time can be tough when there’s so much happening at once.

—

OUT: NOW, PRICE: £24.99, DEV: GAMMICK ENTERTAINMENT, PUB: DEEP SILVER, PLAYERS: 1

ELITE FORCES: UNIT 77 – DS

Remember Commandos? Elite Forces has a similar premise; you take control of a unit of four soldiers with specific skills (demolitions, sniper, electronics expert and tank), and have to defeat modern day terrorism using only your stylus. Sadly, this draw is also its most concerning flaw. Best-case scenario, your team is bunched together on screen and you’re trying to escape another enemy onslaught. Scenery could get in the way, or you unintentionally select a different character and perish, or shoot a nearby barrel instead, killing your enemies and vaporising your team, too. Distant checkpoints don’t help, but the strategy gets admittedly more fun further in, when vehicles are introduced. The stylus frustrations, sadly, can’t be ignored.

JUDGEMENT: 62%

Fiddly stylus controls all too often get in the way of a great DS idea that had plenty of potential. Maybe next time, eh?

CAPTION: There’s no way to defend or evade attacks. Send in team ‘Sitting Duck’.

CAPTION: Vehicles are a hoot to drive. When they feel like moving, that is…

—

OUT: NOW, PRICE: £24.99, DEV: ARC SYSTEM WORKS, PUB: 505 GAMES, PLAYERS: 1-2

BATTLE FANTASIA – 360, PS3

Looks wise, Battle Fantasia’s on a par with Eternal Sonata – it’s impossible not to fall in love with, let alone ignore its sweet, cel-shaded fighters and utterly bonkers character design. As a fighter though, Fantasia doesn’t cut the mustard. The pedestrian pace and lack of attacking options betray the individuality shown in the flamboyant graphics, while the bare-bones options of Story Mode and Arcade Mode quickly turn into a gruelling slog. It isn’t as rewarding a long time investment as Arc SystemWorks’s Guilty Gear offerings – even playing alongside a like-minded mate – and you’ll have little call to return after completing Story Mode a few times. Pretty, then, but ultimately all mouth and no trousers…

JUDGEMENT: 64%

Maybe worth a dip if you’re a fighting novice – but why play this when you could be playing the incredible Street Fighter 4?.

CAPTION: Quirky characters are all well and good, but Watson the rabbit? We say ‘No!’.

CAPTION: Despite the sluggish pace, the visuals are pure, cel-shaded eye candy.

—

OUT: NOW, PRICE: £24.99, DEV: IN-HOUSE, PUB: SQUARE ENIX, PLAYERS: 1

DRAGON QUEST V: THE HAND OF THE HEAVENLY BRIDE – DS

Originally on SNES, but never released in Europe, Square Enix have given role-player Dragon Quest V a complete overhaul and released it on DS. With the 3D graphical revamp, its enormous overworld, charming script and storyline that spans three generations (including the option to marry and start a family), Dragon Quest is one of the most absorbing handheld titles of 2009. There’s a lot of initial grinding to do, and the story doesn’t really spark until about five hours in, but this slow-burn works in its favour as you get to grips with the game’s size. It isn’t an update on the scale of Final Fantasy IV, nor is it as immediate in its intentions, but it’s a worthy rival for your affections.

JUDGEMENT: 88%

Well worth your time, Hand of the Heavenly Bride is an excellent DS RPG.

CAPTION: Character battle animations are beautiful and fluid, it’s all part of Quest’s charm.

CAPTION: The world map is enormous. You’ll be travelling more than the Hairy Bikers.

We Want Your Job! – GamesMaster Magazine Issue 210

We want your Job!
Pestering the jammiest jobsmiths in the business

This month, EA gave us an offer we couldn’t refuse as we were allowed to chat to the Producer of The Godfather II.

GM: Hi Joel, tell us about your role on The Godfather II.

Joel: I’m Joel Wade and I’m the Senior Producer for The Godfather II. The fun meaty part of my job is working with the game designers, artists, and engineers and acting as an “editor” for all their creative brilliance. I try to keep the entire game in mind, and focus the team on what I think gamers will appreciate the most.

GM: Is working with games as fun as it sounds? How long have you been in gaming?

Joel: I’m going on 15 years, from kid’s games to racing to first-person shooters. It really is fun; having a meeting about how it should feel to “virtually” strangle someone isn’t something most people get to do. Make no mistake, however… it’s a tremendous amount of work. Loving the games is the key to surviving in this business.

GM: What stresses are involved with working with a license like The Godfather?

Joel: Dealing with such a beloved license definitely has its share of stresses. Many people consider it one of the finest works of American cinema ever produced and, unfortunately, a subset of them feel it a sacrilege to extend that into another medium. Fortunately, there are also some really supportive fans who are very interested in carving out their own stories in the rich, Godfather universe.

GM: Is delving into your darker side when making a crime game a necessity?

Joel: In some ways it is. I’m really not a psychopath, but I do enjoy playing one for a little while. Realizing that I can enjoy the fantasy of extorting a racket owner in the game world, and still be a nice, stable person outside of the game is critical.

GM: Any tips for youngsters looking to get into the industry?

Joel: Passion is the first step, but the easiest one in many ways. Flexibility is important as well. Great ideas are one thing, but working with others to execute on those ideas is the hard part. And finally, be persistent! I took my first boss out to lunch every month for a year before he finally relented and gave me a job.

CAPTION: “Look at all those stimulants! What are you, a schmuck on wheels?”

TOOLS OF THE TRADE:

1) My three drugs of choice – sugar, caffeine, and Jack Daniel’s.

2) My signed Heidi Klum shot from my 007 days…. sigh.

3) My girlfriend- a nice, healthy reminder of “real” life beyond the games.

4) Headphones – when you really need to get something done fast.

5) The Don – Reminding me to always plan your moves before executing them.

We Really Love Games! – GamesMaster Magazine Issue 210

WE REALLY LOVE GAMES!

YOU THOUGHT YOU LOVED GAMES?

These folks have taken it all too far!

This Month: Lauren Swingle tells us about her clay cufflink collection. See them over at http://tinyurl.com/6cefp5

GM: The detail on these is incredible. How painstaking was it?

The first time I make anything new, it’s pretty tedious, but after that… well, actually every pair is pretty tedious! There’s definitely an initial period of trial and error as I figure out how to make each item in the most efficient way possible.

GM: Have you worn them in public yet? What’s the reaction?

My husband wears my various gamer cufflinks to work, and I am always wearing a pair as earrings. We get lots of compliments and it’s a neat way to connect with fellow gamers.

GM: Any more game related wears? How about a Gears of War cummerbund?

No cummerbunds yet. Other than cufflinks I offer keychains, wine charms, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and figurines, many of which are different video game related pieces.

GM: What consoles and games light your fire?

I like all platforms, but as a child of the 80’s, I’m particularly fond of my “old-school” NES. Some of my best-selling pieces are actually the NES game cartridge cufflinks and the NES controller cufflinks.

GM: Finally, what are you up to at the moment?

I’m always trying to think of new things to add to my shop. In my spare time, I love to play with my golden retriever, Leela, and am currently working my way through Resident Evil 4 on my PS2. (I know, I know, I’m a little behind the times!)

GM: Many thanks, Lauren!

CAPTION: Lauren shows off some of her best cufflinks!

CAPTION: Golden NES Zelda cartridges? Lauren really pours love into her project.

REALLY LOVE GAMES?

Send us your pics to You Thought You Loved Games? GamesMaster, Future Publishing Ltd., 30 Monmouth St, Bath, BA1 2BW and you could be featured in the pages of GM!