I love video games as much as anyone (okay, a few of you may be a little more hardcore than I am), but sometimes it’s important to put the wiimote down and enjoy the outside world. With that in mind, I want to bring your attention  to a website called, TicketsToGo, which offers tickets to concerts and other events, including sold out shows.

Personally, I visited the site trying to get my hands on some tickets to see the “Queen of Pop”, of course I’m referring to Madonna tickets. My girlfriend is crazy about her, and I’ll be able to really surprise her with a special night out when Madonna comes to town. I knew Madonna was popular and has had a long-lasting career, but I was surprised to learn she has had over twelve number one hit songs, as well as she has sold over 120 million albums – so I guess my girlfriend is far from being her only fan. That’s why TicketsToGo is such an important website, as you can find tickets there that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to get your hands on.

Anyhow, if you’re a music buff, or just want to get away from the ps3 for a few hours and enjoy a show, make sure to check out the TicketsToGo website. They truly offer something for everybody.

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If there was ever such a game as to get your heart pounding through intense shoot-outs and gun play, it’s COD(fish) 4. And apart from GoldenEye on the revered Nintendo 64, you will not find a finer example of the genre. And a fine outlook of things to come. Firstly I’d like to point out a fact that most gamers do not know about the game, Treyarch, the main developer of the previous Call of Duty games is not at the helm of this title, however a company that is at the helm now, Infinity Ward; has done a fine job of bringing both series up to the times and spec of the current generation of home visuals. From the very outset of the game you are presented with some of the most amazing graphics as yet seen on a home console and begs to question the moves of such other games such as Battlefield that lacks that vital sheen of completion that this game so surprisingly offers.

You play from two different perspectives in this, the British SAS who are up near the Northern part of Russia and northern Europe, then there is your U.S.M.C. counterpart, who is charged with a take on the second Gulf War (the Iraq war) to get to the leader of the terrorists armed market down in the deserts of a fictional country in the Gulf. The game eludes most of those casual gamers as something more Hard-Core from an online stand point, as you will find most competition on that part of the game rather unforgiving and sometimes ever ruffianed by the users to ruin your enjoyment of something that is in most cases a joy to play, definitely worth a few hours gaming online. Mean-while the single player is very well done, a compelling plot drives the player through the thick and thin of this fictional conflict through various scenarios and inventive enemy AI (though the odd, “character running into a wall” still exists). Smooth gameplay augments the player’s choices and although you must follow a linear path through the game, you still feel you play a vital role in the story itself.

However the game does let itself down on the replayability side, offering little in the way of unlockables to compel you to play the game over again, though honestly, the story itself should do that. Also the promise of extra missions in an, as yet unconfirmed, download from the PSN (and X-Box Live) will certainly keep this game in your disk drives far longer than even I expected.

A shout out also goes out to the sound effects and general audio quirks, rounding off this review. -The Verdict- A joyous update to a glorious series, with some of the best gameplay (and ‘gunplay’) yet seen in a First Person Shooter. Truly a masterpiece from start to finish both technically and in almost every other way. A brilliant game deserving of its score below.

Before we get down to the numbers, I’ll point out that the game also features a rather good split-screen multiplayer… And on we go… (wheres my calculator?) -

The Score-

Graphics: 9/10

Gameplay: 10/10

Audio/Music: 8/10

Plot/Storyline: 8/10

Replayability: 7.5/10

Final Score: 8.5/10

-Final Words- This game comes highly recommended. Though if your PS3 (or X-Box 360) does not have an internet connection (broadband), the you will only be getting half the package.

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A HORNED BOY.

A girl in white.

Welcome to the fairytale world of Ico.

Now seven years old, the fact that Team Ico have produced only one other game since, and are currently in production of their third, should go a long way towards proving just how phenomenal it must have been. And still is. Featuring arguably the most impressive visuals of any game this far produced, and a haunting soundtrack that as all the more poignant for the fact that the game relies far more on a distinct lack of music to create mood.

The basic premise is fairly simple. You play a young boy of approximately ten years of age who was born with a set of horns growing from the sides of his head. This seems to be some form of taboo in his local village, for reasons which are never really explained. The game opens with a group of men on horseback walking up a winding path through some woods to an immense fortress which has clearly seen better days, and is on it’s own island accessible only via a large bridge, or by boat. The decrepit nature of the architecture is important to the plot, as it is a combination of this and the young boys ingenuity which allow him, and the young girl Yorda, to ultimately find their way to freedom.

When I first heard about the game, specifically the focus on leading the young girl (approximately fourteen or so), barefoot and dressed all in white, by the hand, I was more than a little dubious. The symbolism of it all seemed just a little too strong, and I was concerned that the focus would be far too suggestive in nature. However, unlike many Japanese productions, this was simply not the case. Innocence and corruption are far more important themes than simple sexual innuendo. Or rather, that was the impression I took from it all. And as Fumito Ueda-sama (the Director and Lead Designer) has said, he intentionally left the specifics to be somewhat vague. Arguing that it should be a unique experience for each player, and that it should be left to us, as individuals, to take from it what we will. Something which I and many other fans of the game, agree that he has succeeding in creating.

There are a number of factors which combine to make this game such an outstanding experience. Not least of which is the animation style. Utterly mind blowing for the previous generation of gaming (when it was released) and still a major contender in the High Definition era. Rather than focusing on a push for photo-realism, the environments are rendered purely to be as stunningly beautiful as possible. Lush colouring, beautiful clear water and glare from the sun being only some of the things which combine to make this a truly breathtaking game to behold.

This game really was the first time when I played it again simply for the joy of pausing to look around me. Either to watch the water lapping against the shore, or to see the high peaks of mountains or other parts of the island fort in the distance. Almost everything you see along your journey can be reached at some point, which means you have the opportunity to think about potential obstacles and work out solutions far before actually being confronted with them. And this is extremely useful because the puzzle solving side of the game is far more integral to progression than bashing away at the strange shadowy creatures which will attempt to drag Yorda away.

If you should happen to ever find yourself struggling to work out what you need to do next, then turn to Yorda herself. She’s a smart girl and will often be able to work out what needs to be done to move on quickly. Though she will rely very much on the player to do much of the work. Such as moving weights onto pressure pads and climbing chains to reach areas that are otherwise inaccessible. It could be argued that Yorda’s apparent infirmity is sexist and degrading, but when you consider you first find her dangling hundreds of feet above the ground in a cage, perhaps it’s not so surprising that she seems to be a little lethargic at times. After completing the game for the first time, there’s even the option of changing to a two player mode which is nice, but would probably have been better if added as an option from the start.

Still, the game is a true joy to play, and though short, there’s so much symbolism in there that each time you play through it there will always be something else to think about. Though it would have been nice if there were alternate methods of solving puzzles or multiple paths to explore. It’s not a game for everyone, especially those who prefer a far more action packed experience, but for the people who are interested in an engrossing, thought provoking, completely beautiful experience, Ico is about as close as you can come, and firmly proves that you don’t need amazingly advanced technology to produce stunning visuals.

Graphics: 9.5/10
Gameplay: 8/10
Audio/Music: 9.5/10
Plot/Scripting: 9.5/10
Overall: 9.5/10

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Also check out Avatar: The Last Airbender-Into the Inferno, Avatar: The Burning Earth and Avatar The Last Airbender!

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This review is dedicated to the memory of Mako : 10/12/33-21/07/06

I ORIGINALLY ONLY picked up this game because there was very little on offer in my local gaming store when I was looking for titles to increase my library of games for my, at the time, newly acquired Wii. At the time I didn’t have a working television aerial or access to either Sky of cable, so I had not yet had the opportunity to watch the smash hit Nikelodeon series. All I knew about it was that it seemed to be influenced by old Chinese mythology and that, despite apparently being popular with absolutely no children in the world anywhere, it was an extremely successful cartoon.

I was apprehensive at first because, generally speaking, commercial success doesn’t really mesh with my specific tastes. Perhaps it’s simply because overexposure turns me off (which it certainly does) or perhaps it really is because I just have different taste to most of the rest of the world. Whatever the reason(s), on this occasion, the rest of the world and I are very firmly in agreement. The game itself is an engrossing and visually stunning experience, utilising the glory of cel-shading (something which I am a distinctly vocal proponent of) to its full potential to produce beautifully colourful and rich textures. One of those games where you can just stop and marvel at the simple elegance of the environment without ever getting bored. Something which, for me, the more (supposedly) advanced games often lack.

The characters, also, are expertly rendered, moving with an impressive degree of realism and, better yet, not falling foul of the bane of incorporeal scenery. Everything you come across, be it a rock, a tree or another person, is solid and will prevent any part of your chosen character (there are four, but I’ll get into that below) from passing through them. No hands or feet passing through walls or anything like that. At least, not that I could detect, and I usually notice that kind of thing because it’s something of a pet hate of mine.

The game has no overt ties to the series itself, although it does feature many elements from it. Including the full voice cast and a number of secondary characters who have appeared throughout the span of the first season. And though it is an officially licensed game, it’s standing within the overall cannon is uncertain. And, oddly enough, it isn’t a fully self contained story as you would often expect from a game like this. There are certain aspects of the plot which are left open as the story comes to a close. Perhaps intended for an, as yet, unreleased, sequel.

However, as previously stated, the game does feature many aspects from the show and seems to take place either in the space between the end of season one and the beginning of season two, or at the very least during the closing episodes of season one. The absence of Yue, who plays a significant role during the events of episodes 17 to 20 (the final four of the season) lead me to believe that it is afterwards. Though the plot of the game seems to have been based heavily on an earlier episode (number 17 to be precise) as it features a very similar premise, albeit handled differently.

Basically, the Fire Nation have gotten their mitts on some technological wunderkind and are forcing her to make monstrous new war machines for them to propel their war efforts to new heights. Part of this new plot entails the capture of benders from each of the other nations, Earth and Water, though not Air as they were wiped out a hundred years earlier. All apart from the Avatar (the only person capable of learning to use all four elements whilst everyone else is limited to one) who rather luckily managed to get himself trapped inside an iceberg and was perfectly preserved until two teenagers from the Southern Water Tribe found him whilst out fishing one day.

Being the Avatar, the de facto protector and peace keeper of the world, Aang cannot just sit idly by and let this all go on unchecked. So, he and his two friends Katara annd Sokka, the brother and sister who first found him, along with his loyal companion Appa, the flying Bison, and Momo, a lemur he found amidst the remains of his former home, set out to give the Fire Nation a firm slap on the wrists. And hopefully rescue the imprisoned inventor and the missing benders along the way. To do so, they must travel all over the world, from the North Pole, to the Earth Kingdom city of Omashu and one of the destroyed Air temples. There’s even a pit stop on a forgotten island thrown in for good measure.  Initially, players take control of Aang, the twelve year old protagonist with a lot of weight on his young, narrow shoulders. But over the progression of the first three levels first Sokka and his boomerang, Katara with her healing water, and then Haru with his control of the very Earth itself are added to the list. Each of the four main characters appear on screen at the same time, fighting in tandem, with the option to switch between any of them via use of the motes thumbpad. Apart from during those occasions when they are not in the party of course.

Gameplay consists primarily of a diagonally, top down roving beat-em-up style. Something akin to the Baldurs gate or Champions of Norrath style, with levels progressing via the accumulation of exp when defeating opponents such as Fire Benders, hog monkeys and wolves (amongst others). And though level twenty is the maximum, it will still take you until late into the game to reach it. At each level up your health and chi are increased and you earn one more point to allocate to the heroes skills. These are different for each character and reflect their respective skills. And although twenty skill points is not enough to have all skills available together, you go back into the character screen and shift them around at any time if you feel that your current selection isn’t working. Or simply just because you fancy a change.

Ultimately, the game has very little variety in the gameplay itself. It’s a pretty straightforward dungeon crawl affair, which is fine because that’s exactly what it was intended to be, the focus being a lot more on the progression from one plot point to the next. The plot development itself being shown primarily through cinematics at the beginning and end of each level, and in smaller doses via the quests that you will be asked to embark upon by various people you will meet along the way. Though there is also the option to make use of Momo to go scouting for hidden items (one quest on each level) and a tile game called four nations (which is also used to acquire some rare pieces of equipment) if you want a change of pace. Taking control of Momo, which can be done even after his sub-quest is completed, can be especially amusing when near people as he hears nonsensical sounds rather than words, what with being a lemur and all.

There are also a number of hidden treasure chests scattered throughout the game which can only be unlocked either via bending, or by having Sokka smash them open with his boomerang. This is done by copying various sigils which are drawn on screen by using your Wii remote. First you will see a demonstration of the sigil (which seem to be loosely based on Chinese) being drawn, then you will use the mote to recreate it as accurately as possible. In principal it sounds simple, and it is simple, but not quite as easy as it may sound. It’s not just the shape you have to duplicate, but also the order in which the lines and curves are drawn. As well as the chests there are various points such as Earthbending a path across a gap, or Waterbending a sheet of ice across a river, where you will be required to do the same.

Unfortunately, the game received a lukewarm reception from both fans of the show and the uninitiated as well. Some going so far as to call it both dully repetitive and uncooperative, with an uninspiring storyline. It must be said that, yes, as far as Avatar goes, the game cannot claim to boast the best plot when held up against the superb quality of the writing in the series, but neither can it be said that it was poor either. And as well all know, the transition from one medium to another is never an easy thing. And again, yes, this may not be the most successful attempt, but nor is it the worst.

On the whole, the game is thoroughly enjoyable. A suitably challenging, but not overly difficult game that was clearly intended to be a more sedate, relaxing gaming experience. There is a good balance between appearance (it really is a visually stunning game) and smooth, simple, gameplay mechanics. The one real failing I would say is that it does not support multi-player. With four characters to choose from throughout the vast majority of the game, it was definitely a bad choice on the part of THQ to not allow for at least a two player aspect. And it was a shame that Mako was not included to play Uncle Iroh who appears briefly, but does not speak.

Graphics: 9/10
Gameplay: 7/10
Audio/Music: 8/10
Plot/Scripting: 8/10
Overall: 8.5/10

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As you have most likely gathered from Bobfish’s words below, I am, and have been for many years, a Star Wars fan. And I have to agree with most of what he said. That’s right, I said most. Deal with it. Opinions differ from person to person and two perspective opinions are better than none.

However, Star Wars games in recent years have been rather tantalizing disappointments on home consoles, the best of which being, in my opinion, Star Wars: Battlefront. It certainly got my excitement for SW gaming flared for more, and we weren’t disappointed with the coming of its sequel, and also Lego Star Wars. Perhaps we were finally going to see the quality and number of Star Wars games increase. Wait… now hold on. Did I just say quality? Well step back ten years: The Nintendo 64 console had such greats as Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, arguably on of the finest of its type, it being a flight sim of the finest Star Wars ships And Shadows of the Empire, a rough and tumble into the life of a Smuggler (Dash Rendar) who owed Han Solo far too many favours. Both great games, but enough of my nostalgia which I do not wish to go into in depth. Down to the matter at hand:

Star Wars The Force Unleashed. It is by no means a terrible game, but does that mean it’s any good? To be honest… it’s a wholly lukewarm
experience.

The game itself, at first at least, is appealing, with well designed and unique levels that in many cases are truly spectacular, and has a huge focus on the Force, which is very much unleashed… but nothing more.

Unfortunately, there is so much focus on the Force, that most other aspects are lost in its “Oh look I can do this! Hey look, you can tear a Star Destroyer from the sky! Look… look!” manner. But honestly, avert your eyes now, as the Star Wars experience you were expecting is long gone, with the game actually having the player repeat the same tasks in nearly every level. So much so that the game literally, and in some cases narrowly, leads you by the nose down the path it wants you to follow. Granted of course it makes sure your path is filled with as many dumb, cannon fodder, grunts you could possibly handle till it become a tiresome repetitive rant of the game bragging what it can do by repeatedly showing you the some thing over and over, leaving much of its initial potential behind in its Force fuelled
carnage.

Meanwhile, it does showcase some amazing set pieces, boss battles and graphics, including sound effect that really immerse you into the universe so far far, and getting farther away, with the well thought out but ultimately redundant, story. The effects and level design become less inspiringly amazing as the game progresses, becoming nothing more than a slash ‘em up Star Wars style, only I wish it was ‘that’ cool. The set pieces, such as tearing the Star Destroyer from the sky, are probably its one true saving grace, but even then, they repeat on you, leaving little in the way of replay value, while the game’s boss battles are also samey, turning to button bashes and on screen prompts for finishing moves. All in all leaving you with a rather cold, empty “What has playing this achieved?” feeling

.

Jedireaper’s verdict:

Ultimately Star Wars: The Force Unleashed’s linear game-play, and repetitiveness is its undoing. If it had an online multiplayer, or even some split screen action, the game would have been marginally better. As it stands. I wouldn’t recommend it, even for the story, because if that is what you are buying the game for, go out and get the Novel release written by Shane Dix, which does a better job of conveying the story than the game does, though I wouldn’t really recommend doing that either.

Jedireaper says:

Graphics: 8/10
Gameplay: 6/10
Audio/Music: 8/10
Plot/Scripting: 7/10
Replyability: 4.5/10
Overall: 6.7/10

I compare this game to something of a hyperactive child, that wants to how you its new toys. That sums up, for me, this Star Wars game.

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