Top Five Games of 2010?

Concluding my top 5 lists I present my five most anticipated games of 2010 and my five to watch in 2010.

Most Anticipated Games of 2010

1. Infinite Space (DS)

I have been looking forward to the European release of this Starship-based JRPG for some time. It is my most anticipated game of the year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinite_space

2. Mass Effect 2 (360/PC)

Mass Effect created a world that I really wanted to spend a lot more time in. Thankfully, I now don't have long to wait to don my N7 suit again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_Effect_2

3. Split/Second (360/PS3)

I played Split/Second at Eurogamer and was instantly won over. This could be the best arcade racer since Burnout Paradise.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split/Second

4. Red Dead Redemption (PS3/360)

If someone could make a decent Wild-West genre game then you would expect it would be Rockstar.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Dead_Redemption

5. Professor Layton & The Final Time Travel (DS)

With two fantastic adventures under his belt surely the Professor can be trusted to give us a third memorable game?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layton-ky%C5%8Dju_to_Saigo_no_Jikan_Ryok%C5%8D

Five to Watch in 2010

1. Bioshock 2 (360/PC/PS3)

Most people are expecting it to fail to live up to its predecessor, but it could once again be a surprise package?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioshock_2

2. The Eye of Judgement Legends (PSP)

No fussy camera or fiddly cards necessary in this portable reinterpretation of the game.

3. Tower of Shadow (Wiiware)

A really interesting concept (using shadows) is at the heart of this future Wiiware title.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/lost-in-shadow-dated-detailed

4. R.U.S.E (360/PC/PS3)

Can an RTS on a console actually work?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R.U.S.E

5. Fallout: New Vegas (360/PC/PS3)

It has yet to build any hype, but if it is as good as Fallout 3 no one will be complaining.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallout:_New_Vegas

Other games I'm really interested in...

• Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4 (All)
• Dead Space 2 (PS3/360)
• Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake (PSP)
• Hot Shot Tennis (PSP)
• Picross 3D (DS)
• Dragon Quest IX (DS)
• Alan Wake (360)
• Splinter Cell Conviction (360)
• Fable III (360)
• Joe Danger (XBLA)
• Heavy Rain (PS3)
• ModNation Racers (PS3)
• Final Fantasy XIII (PS3/360)
• Sonic & Sega All-Stars (All)

Five Great Games Everybody Played in 2009

Continuing my top 5 games for 2009 I’m moving on to the 5 great games that everybody played: a collection of games that grabbed the headlines as well as being the cream of the crop.

DiRT2

Easily took the crown as the most enjoyable and rewarding racing game of recent years. DiRT 2 is the best pure racer –with focus on racing rather than simulation- since Project Gotham Racing 4, and much more fun than the cold and anaesthetic Forza 3. Amazing graphics, a solid frame-rate and a pumping soundtrack complete the package on one of the games of the year.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

The real outstanding feature of Uncharted 2, in addition to the jaw-dropping environments and non-stop action, is the quality of the dialogue, narrative and general writing. It really does raise the bar in interactive character driven story telling: there is little exposition, well rounded and believable characters, and a story that propels itself without the need for clumsy prolonged cut scenes or back-story. At no point do you think “what am I doing?”.

Professor Layton and Pandora’s Box

The Professor and Luke are back again to unravel the mysteries of Pandora’s Box and a train full of crazy characters. Like the previous game in the series the puzzles range from the very easy to the fiendishly hard. In this second outing the puzzles are much better integrated into the main story and its events. With three more Layton games bound for Europe, we can look forward to many more years of intriguing stories and addictive puzzles.

Battlefield 1943

Battlefield 1943 excels as a fun and enjoyable multiplayer first person shooter. Stripped of complexity and perfectly balanced, it proved to be a hit with both shooter aficionados and more laid back players alike. The easy to master controls (with the exception of the plane) and non-stop action mean there is never a dull moment and no frustration. A sub £12 price-point made Battlefield 1943 one of the best value games of the year.

The Beatles: Rockband

I really don't like the Beatles: I don't enjoy their music and I find their whole mythology an irritation. Somehow Harmonix have managed to sell me something I don't like and have a great time playing it? I think it is in no small part to the quality of the production, and the visual flare used in the presentation of many of the songs. It hasn't made me a fan of the band, but I can honestly say I really enjoyed playing their music in the game.

(At the time of writing I have yet to start playing Assassin's Creed 2 or Batman Arkham Asylum in any depth.)

Read part 1 of this series: "5 Great Games Nobody Played"...

Five Great Games Nobody Played in 2009

In what is rapidly becoming a seasonal feature, I am once again going to reveal my top 5 games for 2009. We start with the 5 great games that nobody played: a collection of games that passed under the radar or that sold poorly.

Anno: Create a New World

Shamelessly overlooked by most of the gaming press, Anno: Create a New World (or Dawn of Discovery in the US) is the first Anno game to have been specifically designed from the ground-up for the Wii. The result is a first rate Civilisation-style game with arguably the best control system yet devised on a console. Playing the game with the Wii Remote and Nun-chuck is simple, intuitive and an absolute pleasure. If only all games were as well produced and designed as Anno: Create a New World.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anno:_Create_A_New_World

Dead Space Extraction

The Wii has hosted some excellent games this year that cater for all gaming tastes. Dead Space Extraction is the year’s surprising twist on the survival horror genre. Mislabelled by those who haven’t played it as “on rails”, Dead Space Extraction proves to be both intelligent and frightening in equal measure. Clever use of cinematic techniques and brilliant voice acting add depth and quality to the presentation; whilst the level design and ammo conservation deliver tension with the frights.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Space_Extraction

Swords & Soldiers

Wiiware has really taken off this year and has seen some remarkable independent games - such as the Bit Trip series and Art Style: Orbient. However, the real star was this unusual 2D side-on real-time strategy game. It could well be the best real-time strategy game conceived on a console. Its design overcomes the limitations of using a control pad, whilst retaining all the necessary features for a fun and challenging strategic game. What makes Swords and Soldiers really stand-out is the charm and humour of the characters, which are clearly inspired by Hagar-the-Horrible.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swords_%26_Soldiers

Tropico 3

Who wouldn’t want to be a dictator and run their own mini Cuba? Think of it: cigars, mojitos, and all night salsa! Tropico 3 is a clever blend of Sim-City and Theme Park set in the 1950s Caribbean. Available for both the PC and Xbox360, it made a refreshing change to the “flash-bang-wallop” that most of November’s games were all about. With a wonderful soundtrack, decent graphics and more satire than an episode of “Have I Got News For You”; Tropico 3 is a real winner.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropico_3

DJ Hero

A combination of a devalued “Hero” brand, a high price, animosity towards Activision and some bizarre marketing decisions (Emimen and Jay-Z - their music is hardly in it) has put off most people. It is a real pity as DJ Hero is an absolute gem and goes a long way in refreshing the tired rhythm game genre. DJ Hero’s eclectic soundtrack has music in it to sort all tastes, whilst the combination of tight controls and excellent mixes makes for a really enjoyable game. Even the Turntable peripheral is solidly constructed and well designed – aside from a slightly loose cross-fader.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dj_hero

Reviews Round-up Part 5

Motorstorm 2: Pacific Rift (PS3)

Motorstorm is back, and this time it has taken the cyberpunk off-road racing even further and set the entire game on a volcanic pacific island. The setting provides Motorstorm with much needed variety in both the track environments and design: from long beaches and lava tubes, to jungle tracks and mountain top observatories. Races are grouped by location and race type, making progression less linear and more interesting. Online, you can race with up to 12 other suicidal petrol heads. Motorstorm 2 is loud, brash and loads of fun.

(4/5)

Mirror’s Edge (PS3)

Mirror’s Edge proved to be a revelation. Despite my dislike of the first person shooter genere, and especially first person precision jumping, I found the game to be exhilarating and rewarding. The first person free-running is brilliantly implemented, and the stark environments spectacularly convey the corporatocracy (a government dominated by corporate influence) in which the game is set. Despite a number of flaws, such as the forced combat and weak story-telling, Mirror’s Edge manages to balance frustration with fun, and difficulty with well thought out puzzles.

(5/5)

Little Big Planet (PS3)

Little Big Planet is both revolutionary and old fashioned in equal measure. Essentially it is a 2D platform game construction set. But such a description doesn’t do the game justice when you consider the sheer scope available to players and creators alike. With thousands of user created levels already in existence and the impossibly cute Sackboy, Little Big Planet should have something for everyone. Unfortunately, it is not a flawless experience: the floaty jumping never feels right and restricted number of retries make the gameplay more frustrating and difficult than it should be. However, Little Big Planet is a contemporary classic and many hours of fun can be had both playing and creating levels.

(5/5)

Review: Singstar

Singstar makes its way to the PS3 and introduces some revolutionary community features.

Pros: fun; excellent integrated community features; great online store; large selection of music DLC

Cons: limited initial play list; weaker rap mode; no online modes

Singstar has a long pedigree on the Playstation 2.  The PS3 version expands the features to include both iTunes and YouTube like functionality. Singstar is one of the first PS3 games to make full use of both the Playstation Store and Playstation Eye. You can capture movie, audio and photo snapshots of your performances, and then upload them to share with friends and other players.

The core game remains unchanged from the previous generation. You might feel silly the first time you play Singstar's virtual karaoke but with a partner or friends it can be a whole lot of fun.

Singstar's excellent community features and integrated store really do showcase the potential of the Playstation 3. The game should be a welcome addition to any party.

5/5

Review: Burnout Paradise

Burnout Paradise is the best game in the series, and possibly the best arcade driving experience on any console. 

Pros: Fantastic city environment; seamless online; online co-op challenges; well balanced cars 

Cons: Some bad EA Trax; EA servers; online racing is dull; single player can become repetitive; Sat Nav and map are hard to read.

No other game this year that has had me grinning from ear to ear so much. What Burnout Paradise's clever online experience exploits is the sheer fun to be found in completing silly challenges with a group of friends. Criterion have also managed to create the first seamless online system that allows players to drop in and out of a session without any disruption. 

Paradise's brilliantly designed open city allows the player to explore, play and race at their leisure. The driving mechanics are classic Burnout: fast, frantic and with lots of power sliding. The framerate never falls and the sense of speed is without equal. Only minor niggles over the map and sound-track tarnish an otherwise perfect game.

There is something for everyone in Burnout Paradise. Petrol heads will love the seat of the pants racing, whilst puzzle solvers will enjoy the stunt and online co-op challenges. 

5/5

 PS3 and X360 versions played.

Review: Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (PS3)

Uncharted lands on the PS3 with a bang as loud as Indiana Jones' whip.

Pros: Slick presentation and graphics; a cracking yarn; interesting lead character; great controls; achievements!

Cons: A little short; final boss is lame; some illogical paths; simple puzzles

Medals (Achievements): Fair

Very few games deliver on their early promise. Fewer still exceed it. Uncharted is one of those rare beasts that, right from the start, displays a quality of gameplay and presentation that supersedes any preconceptions or expectations. Uncharted looks amazing, sounds brilliant, has some excellent voice acting, and is complemented by an engrossing story.

Essentially, Uncharted is a new take on the Indiana Jones/Lara Croft action adventure that blends the classic puzzle solving and platforming with an exceptional third person shooter. Uncharted is more combat orientated than Lara's adventures, and more tactical in execution. You will need make extensive use of cover and conserve ammunition in order to progress through the story.

The game has a genuine sense of pace, with enemy encounters counterpointed with more laid-back problem solving, platforming or adrenaline fuelled vehicles sections, including a memorable journey up river-rapids on a jet-bike. At no point does any of this become repetitive or old, and it really helps to drive the story and adventure forward. If there is a slight criticism, it is that the puzzles can be a tad obvious, and some of the routes a little illogical. For instance, in once section you travel through enemy infested tombs, following a trail of puzzles and clues, only to end up back where you started from.

I completed a play-through on normal difficulty in about 11 hours, which would have been shorter were it not for the ridiculous last boss. The Medals (Achievements) add an incentive to replay the game and unlock all 1000 points.

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is my PS3 game of 2007, and should be the first game you purchase when you pick up a new PS3. The breathtaking environments, story, gameplay, action and adventure, all add up to one great game.

5/5

Review: Heavenly Sword (PS3)

For: Breathtaking graphics; best ever cuts scenes; top quality acting; immersive story and characters; solid gameplay; good use of motion controls; fighting 500 enemies at once!

Against: Tiresome boss fights; short (5-6 hours)

It is a shame that the PS3 price will prevent most gamers getting a chance to enjoy Heavenly Sword, as it is probably the most beautifully crafted and visually arresting games of this generation.

The quality of the cut scenes alone, produced by Andy Serkis and Weta Workshops, is simple breathtaking and of the same quality of the Gollum digital animation in the LOTR trilogy. The level of detail on the skin, eyes and facial movements (all in engine) is quite incredible for a video game. The script and acting is also top quality with some genuine wit, humour and intensity. If you get a chance, check out some of the videos online.

As for the gameplay? Well it is a clone of God of War, but with a few new, interesting and innovative features thrown in.

The sword combat is very satisfying and consists of attacks in the different stances: speed, range and power. The enemies attack in the various stances -identified by colour- and you can only block and maximize your attacks by matching the stance. The combat also features a combo and counter system similar to that in Tekken or Soul Calibur. As you make kills you earn style points which can then be used to perform special moves - usually resulting in instant kills and a groovy animation. Most of the time you fight between 4 and 10 enemies at once, but the power of the PS3 is fully shown on the last level when you literally fight 500-1000 enemies at once on a "Helm's Deep" style battle field - absolutely astonishing technically, and quite brilliant.

At least 50% of the game is played as Nariko and her Heavenly Sword, whilst the other 50% is played with either her kooky friend Kia and her "Twing-Twang" (Bow), or as Nariko operating a huge cannon. These "shooting" missions are unique in that require the use of the tilt controls of the SixAxis controller.

Throughout the game whenever you throw or fire something, you can switch to an "aftertouch" mode where you have complete control of the projectile in flight - it is like the Bullet Tequilla Bomb in Stranglehold. You can adjust the projectiles direction by tilting the controller. The missions where Kia takes down archers from across a valley are very satisfying when combined with the arrow aftertouch - not to mention gruesomely cruel. Most of the games puzzles also use the "aftertouch" to direct thrown hats or arrows onto shields and switches.

Like God of War and Tomb Raider Legend, Heavely Sword also makes use of "quick time" events - movie sequences where certain buttons must be pressed in time. These "Hero Time" sequences are largely enjoyable, but they do become tiresome in the Boss Battles where they are required to perform the finishing moves.

If this game does have a weakness it is with the 'old school' Boss battles. The actually Bosses are all very strange and weird -which is fine-, and remind me a lot of the Bosses in Metal Gear Solid. Each Boss Fight, however, feels artificially lengthened and you often have to defeat the Boss 3 or 4 times before it concludes. These battles often result in tiresome 20-30 minute fights that Capcom would be proud of.

For me this is the PS3's first standout title, and while not perfect, it is a game that everyone should try to play. If you have a buddy with a PS3, camp yourself around their house to play the demo, or better the game. Is it enough to justify a new PS3? Probably not, as the game is too short and you'd just be left with Motorstorm and Warhawk to play afterwards. However, if the PS3 comes down to a sensible price (sub £250), and you are wondering what game to get to show the system off...Heavenly Sword is the game to buy.

8/10

Review: Resistance Fall of Man (PS3)

Resistance Fall of Man plays, looks and feels like a run of the mill Half Life meets Timesplitters hybrid.

Pros: Set in England; good weapons; 40 player online!; uses PS Network (friends list)
Cons: Derivative; mediocre graphics; missing some "magic"

Resistance Fall of Man is one of two PS3 only launch titles, and as such is an important game for Sony. First generation games on a new console are always troublesome and often never achieve players' high expectations; it is often a couple of years before a platform gets it's "Gears". This was never truer than of the PS3 and Resistance - Fall of Man.

Resistance plays very much like Timesplitters in that the controls are ultra responsive and twitchy, whilst the environments and textures are clearly optimised for a very high framerate rather than sheer beauty. This can make the game feel "plastic" and the streets of York, in particular, look very angular and flat.

The run and gun gameplay is good fun and the array of weapons is very interesting; there are some whacky ideas explored. The problem is that, with the exception of the weapons, you have played "this" game many times before; Resistance borrows too much from the likes of Half Life and FEAR and ends up feeling very stale, very early.

The saving grace is the brilliant, lag free (dedicated servers, no peer-to-peer), 40 player online which is just _awesome_. It made made better for the fact that very few people have headsets (none packaged with PS3, although any bluetooth headset will work), so annoying "septics" are at a minimum.

There is quite a lot of game for the money and the investment in Resistance is worth it for the multiplayer alone. It is just a shame that Resistance Fall of Man in single player, looks and feels like a run of the mill Half Life meets Timesplitters hybrid.

3/5

Review: Super Stardust HD (PS3)

Asteroids meets Geometry Wars in the best PSN game so far...

For: Great asteroid physics; cool weapon upgrades; co-op; spherical pay area
Against: Gets pretty tough

Good Playstation Network Games have been thin on the ground. Calling All Cars was OK, but the likes of Rub and Dub were just awful.

Super Stardust HD is a sequel a 16-bit Amiga game and combines elements of Asteroids with Geometry Wars to create a very additive and fun game. All for just £6.

The object of the game is to shoot stuff,... literally tonnes of stuff... that orbits the planetary surface. You, and a co-op buddy, must clear the planet of all the falling asteroids and nasty aliens with three different weapons that specialise in destroying the asteroid types: ice, rock and gold. Power-ups improve the weapons as well as provide shields and energy bombs. Like Geometry Wars the goal is to survive as long as possible and rack up bigger and bigger score multipliers.

The co-op, soundtrack and sumptuous HD graphics, particularly the explosions, weapons and asteroid destructions, make Super Stardust a great game to look at and hear as well as play.

With a barren selection of PSN games, it is not hard to recommend the excellent Super StarDust HD for when you pick-up a PS3...?

8/10

Review: Tekken 5 DR (PS3)

Tekken 5 DR is is classic Tekken rendered in stunning HD and all for just £6.99 - amazing!

Pros: It's Tekken; Price; Huge array for characters
Cons: Some dodgy background scrolling; only a couple of game modes

The Tekken series has had it's ups and downs, but with Tekken 5, the focus is very much on sticking with what works well. For me personally Virtual Fighter is still the best game in the genre, but Tekken and Soul Calibur are a close second. Tekken 5 DR fails to disappoint with all the classic characters, moves and extreme locations that you would expect. The gameplay remains as reliable and well tuned as ever, whilst the HD presentation is fantastic.

At only £6.99 (no Points in P$ land) Tekken 5 is cracking value for money and does put many XBLA games to shame for the same price. A 500MB download, it is not small, but well worth the effort.

Tekken 5 DR is is classic Tekken rendered in stunning HD and all for just £6.99 - amazing!

8/10

Review: MotorStorm (PS3)

MotorStorm (PS3) is an exciting and extreme take on off-road racing, and is the best PS3 launch title

Pros: Great graphics; manic gameplay; multiple routes; it feels off road
Cons: limited online; limited tracks; “by the numbers” single player game

MotorStorm is an off-road extreme racing simulator with cars, buggies, bikes and trucks. Races feature up to 16 competitors and may include vehicles from different classes or all one class. The racing is manic, frantic, exciting and huge fun. All the vehicles feature complex damage effects, and the “bullet time” crashes are truly spectacular. Pile-ups are common and are complete carnage!

All the vehicles can utilise a Nitro Boost, which gives you a temporary speed boost, complete with flames! This is carefully balanced by having limited use before it blows your vehicle up – often with spectacular results. You can control the vehicle with the SixAxis sticks or use the motion sensitive tilt support; but to be honest it is complete cack, so don’t bother.

Many tracks feature multiple routes that are optimised for the vehicle being raced: flat and muddy for trucks; high and jumpy for bikes; bumpy and twisty for buggies. The tracks themselves are littered with pot holes, debris, broken vehicles, destructible buildings and the odd cliff! You really get the sense of “off road” as you struggle to control you vehicle bouncing over these dessert landscapes squeezing between other vehicles and hazards.

The graphics in MotorStorm are excellent, with real time damage, plus mud, water and dust accumulating on your vehicle and obscuring your view. The environments are all dessert locations, but are varied enough between quarry and cliff-top locales to have some distinction. The animations, particular the “bullet time” crashes, are brilliantly done and really had a sense of fun to the carnage - the biker damage is particularly gruesome.

As is the norm with “extreme” games, it features an over-the-top college rock sound track – it is perfectly fine and suits the aggressive style of racing. The sound effects are also good, particularly the sound effects from the nitro boost and during one of the frequent crashes.

The online game has the usual competitive race modes, whilst the single player is a pretty straightforward series of race events. The game does feel like it lacks a bit of depth in terms of race variety, but future free DLC looks like delivering some additional modes and features.

MotorStorm plays like a dry version of WaveRace (N64 and Gamecube), which is high praise indeed. The sense of ‘balancing your vehicle on the edge of stability’ is very similar to the Jet Skis physics in WaveRace and just as satisfying. It can be argued that the single player is a little short and one dimensional, but the sheer fun and excitement of the off road racing more than makes up for it. MotorStorm is the best PS3 launch title and the first “must buy” for any PS3 owner.

8/10

Review: flOw (PS3)

flOw is a surreal and relaxing experience that is quite unique

The best way to describe flOw would be to imagine taking Feeding Frenzy and crossing it with a Tate Modern ambient art installation.

The premise is simple: you must evolve your creature in a fluidic space by eating other amoebas and creatures. Everything is controlled with the tilt feature of the SixAxis and is quite brilliant in a non game relaxing kind of way.

The graphics and music are suitably ambient and weird, to complement and complete the "chill out" journey.

For only £3.50, flOw is a absolute steal and more than just a tech demo. This is the first must by on the PS Store.

7/10