Welcome to the tropical island of Palanai – its welcoming green and yellow tones surrounded by clear, rippling water. It’s exactly the kind of place you’d want to visit for a trip away, serving as the perfect escape from the stresses of everyday life. And yet this tropical landscape holds a twisted secret of its very own; you’ll marvel at how mad you get as you’re incessantly knocked down by the respawning zombie horde, be amazed at how you flail your weapon in frustration as groups charge from every direction, and stare in disbelief at just how very bored you become at the prospect of crossing the landscape to reach yet another painful fetch quest.
This is Dead Island: Riptide, the non-sequel that takes the open world formula in hand before violently abusing it with an array of ill-conceived ideas and shoddy implementation. View the full article »
If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to roam the city streets as a souped-up assassin then wonder no more, as Arkane Studios has your back with The Knife of Dunwall. It’s a download that offers a fresh perspective – and even some new abilities – by having you step into the well-worn boots of Master Assassin, Daud… a character fans should remember as being one of the main instigators of the city’s problems. Dunwall City Trials provided a set of tough challenges for Dishonored at a suitably low cost, but is this the story-based DLC we’ve spent months waiting for? View the full article »
He’s torn through rival armies as a Spartan general, spilled the blood of his own family whilst under the influence of Ares, formed and broken allegiances with the gods of Olympus before bringing his own legend to a dramatic close in the seminal God of War 3. Now Kratos takes us back to the beginning to experience his first big adventure as he faces the brutality of the Furies – a trio of sisters known for their skewed sense of morality and torturous methods. We’ve come to understand his ambitions pretty well over the years with a heavy helping of main games, handheld outings and high-def re-releases, but is God of War: Ascension an adventure too much for this surly anti-hero? View the full article »
‘Cloak engaged’. It’s the deep, synthesised sounds of those two little words that have become so synonymous with this series, which has always tried to set itself apart from the competition with a unique style of play. In Crysis 3, you play as Prophet – a stronger, faster, more invisible soldier just perfect for taking down the oppressive Cell and alien forces. Fans of the series will remember Prophet as a reborn cybernetic warrior with little if any physical humanity left. To his enemies, he’s the greatest threat around; a proficient killer looking to throw off the balance of power and change the world.
The steampunk city of Dunwall tell a tragic story of its own, having suffered through plague, betrayal and villainy, almost crumbling beneath the weight of the warring factions which sought to rule with an iron fist. View the full article »
The odds are good that you’ve already decided on whether or not to buy this latest addition to Trials Evolution. It’s a game that’s built up a solid fanbase through devilish track design and a solid helping of tongue-in-cheek humour. Bikes have been flipped, heads have been smacked and bones have been broken, yet there’s no denying the addictive formula of caution, risk and reward that has lifted this otherwise humble arcade game to such renowned acclaim. View the full article »
It’s hard to believe that it’s been over a year since Bethesda’s epic adventure graced our homes and sent us on a journey through the mountainous lands of Skyrim. With impressive graphics, a generous helping of spells and dragon shouts, plus a seemingly endless list of quests, it came as no surprise that the title gained enormous praise, topping many a ‘game of the year’ list in the process. 360 players have already been treated to the decent if unremarkable Dawnguard, but this latest effort, entitled Dragonborn, seeks to be altogether more interesting and sizeable. You’ll have new areas to explore and new foes to encounter, but is it worth the 1600 point asking price?
Few games are as immediately striking as The Unfinished Swan, a downloadable title on sale via the Playstation Network courtesy of the aptly named development studio, Giant Sparrow. Without a doubt, it’s the sparse environments and abundance of white that will make the biggest impact on the casual viewer.
It’s fair to assume that the developers had a particular goal in mind, pulling together an adventure that is original yet at the same time familiar. It may have a graphical style of its very own and some creative ideas, but is this a storybook quest that’s best left on the Playstation store shelf?
It’s been a while since we last went full throttle in the stunt-tastic Trials Evoluion, having moved on to the latest and greatest games that have been soaking up our time. This 400 point download may have come at the best time then, serving up another slice of arcade antics at just the right time to make for a welcome distraction.
You already know whether you love Trials or not, in which case you might still be tinkering with the track editing tools and leaping around on the creations of others. With such a wealth of content so readily available, does Origin of Pain do enough to stand out from the crowd?
High above the city streets, as the rains pours from the night sky, a man paces. Hearing a noise, he moves to investigate. Looking above and around, he shrugs it off as little more than paranoia. A flick of a dart and the light above shatters… it’s an ominous sign of what’s to come. Shaken, the guard pulls out a flashlight and begins his search.
A shadow creeps slowly from above, the sheen of the blade revealing its deadly intentions. The guard feels a hand over his mouth and the sword at his back, but it’s all too late. It’s a flawless kill, just one of many – and it’s this sense of empowerment that lifts Mark of the Ninja above many of its big-budget contemporaries.
