If you’re feeling nostalgic for some retro 80’s action movies, filled with cheesy one-liners and over-the-top action, then you’re in luck. Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is now available on PC, XBLA and PSN and is the first downloadable content to the highly successful Far Cry 3. With a punchy soundtrack, futuristic weapons and mutant dragons which shoot lasers, what’s not to love?
The Resident Evil series is one of the forefathers of the Survival Horror genre, spanning back to the release of the original game in 1996. For the first time many players were thrust into an atmosphere where ammunition was precious and save points were few and far between. These games have changed a lot over the years, most notably with the switch in play style seen in Resident Evil 4 with the over-the-shoulder precision aiming, but the franchise is still going strong with the release of Resident Evil 6 last year. Younger fans of the series may be unfamiliar with the style of the original Resident Evil games, but thanks to the HD release of Resident Evil Code: Veronica X on the Xbox Live Marketplace and Playstation Network they can now be introduced to the origins of one of the most successful horror series ever made.
“There aren’t enough shooters” Said no one ever.
Of all the gaming genres we have to choose from these days, few are as overflowing with titles as the ever-popular shooter category. Zombie Studios, the folks behind the free to play Blacklight: Retribution, have once again charged into the brimming market, this time with Special Forces: Team X for Steam and XBLA. Focusing solely on multiplayer action, this cell-shaded shooter puts a promising new spin on map-selection and throws killer dobermans around like it’s nobody’s business; yet even with all its attempts at variety, can it really differentiate itself as something special or is it just another cover-based gun game trying to find space behind an already-crowded concrete barrier?
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?
Guardians of Middle-earth ties together J.R.R. Tolkien characters from The Lord of the Rings with the strategic gameplay of a MOBA (Multiplayer online battle arena) style competitive game. Monolith Productions has carried the concept from the traditional PC environment to home consoles, producing an addictive multi-player experience that is not only challenging to learn, but ridiculously difficult to put down.
Naughty Bear returns with the downloadable sequel to teddy bear mayhem in Naughty Bear: Panic in Paradise. The original Naughty Bear was poorly received, chastised for its repetitive gameplay and less than perfect controls. Can Panic in Paradise redeem the franchise and establish itself as a solid franchise?
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.
Dust: An Elysian Tail is a love letter to the days of old, when we were content with the 16-bit side-scrolling exploits that made up the classic generation of gaming. You’ll find beautiful worlds, unique characters and plentiful secrets just waiting to be discovered at your leisure. You’ll slash, chat, collect and level up all in the name of taking down the powerful foes and helping the friendly denizens that inhabit the land.
It may sound like Dust offers little new in terms of style and gameplay mechanics, and to some extent this assumption would be true. To consider the game nothing more than the sum of its parts would be a mistake however, as this is one adventure that comes together to form a satisfying whole which succeeds to excite and enchant in equal measure. View the full article »
