Games HOT SPOT - Top 10 Most Wanted

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At last, the Call of Duty series has moved beyond World War II and into the present day. Infinity Ward has also most certainly put a lot of work into adding a healthy variety to CoD4's gameplay, something often thought lacking from military shooters in the past. Firefights range from claustrophobic shootouts in a surging container ship to ranged combat in the wide-open paddocks of Russian farmland. In short, you'll never feel like you're just doing the same-old-same-old missions ad nauseam - which, is obviously an awesome thing.

Call of Duty 4 looks simply amazing. In an era in which most developers are rushing to get their hands on Epic's renowned Unreal Engine 3, Infinity Ward has instead developed its own proprietary game engine that has resulted in arguably the best looking FPS in recent memory. It's very easy to break it down into bullet points - the state of the art true world-dynamic lighting, bloom effects, dynamic shadows and depth of field graphical tricks and tech - but all that needs to be said is that the game is just staggeringly realistic, particularly coupled with the incredible audio; the guns shake your surround sound setup down to the ground and the convincingly conversational chatter between the troops is in stark contrast to the deliberately silly one-liners of Halo 3's marines.

Here's the bottom line; when it comes to its single-player experience, Call of Duty 4 manages to blast away the Xbox 360's biggest gun, Halo 3. There, we said it. Blasphemous perhaps, but true. Couple that with a multiplayer component that increases exponentially in scope and enjoyment the more you play it, and you've got a shooting package that not only rivals Bungie's masterpiece, but it outdoes it in many ways as well.

Full review of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare on Gameplayer.com.au

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The Burnout series is a racing series with a twist; it counts that you cross the finish line first, but it's equally important ­ if not more so ­ that you drive recklessly and cause as much mayhem as possible in the process. While racing dangerously is a big part of the Burnout experience, it's the damage system that has won gamers' hearts worldwide. The Crash Mode of the series, for example, has you driving into a preset scene to specifically cause the most specular crash possible, with points awarded for the amount of damage your car sustains as well as for the cars caught up in the resulting pile-up.

Burnout Paradise, then, is the series' first current generation (Xbox 360 and PS3) iteration and as such features a whole bunch of innovations that would not have been possible on Xbox and PS2.

Gone is the old menu-driven, heavily structured racing system of old. Instead, you're welcomed to Paradise City, a vast metropolis featuring 250 miles of road to weave around, and the playground in which the game is set. See how you can drive around this virtual city and just lose yourself in the traffic that goes about its own business.

There are number of game modes featured in Burnout Paradise, including Race (the standard racing option), Road Rage (take down a specific number of cars within the time limit), Marked Man (avoid being taken down on your way to the finish line), Stunt Race (score points by performing stunts and Burning Route (a race against the clock which is rewarded with an upgraded car.

Given the free-roaming playground aspect of Paradise City, races are started by holding down both triggers as you pull up to any of the 120 traffic lights found in the city.
Needless to say, Burnout Paradise looks absolutely stunning and runs at a blisteringly fast and smooth 60 frames per second. Sticking close to its roots while introducing some interesting new features, Burnout Paradise is a welcome and strong addition to the series.

Full review of Burnout Paradise on Gameplayer.com.au

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Don't get us wrong we're not weird superstitious freaks in any way, shape, or form (though we won't say "bloody Mary" into a mirror 13 times at midnight, discreetly avoid black cats by field goaling them into the neighbour's yard, and ritualistically pray to Superman every night to deliver us from Zod). But as a general guideline we try to avoid calling the supposed source of all evil a cry baby. But if there is some hidden misfortune or imminent curse to be copped from smart talking the devil it must have a seriously delayed reaction because the Devil May Cry series has steadily gone from strength to strength regardless. And when we mean strength to strength we're of course deliberately ignoring the second game entirely - which was a low point in the series. But thankfully game number three, and its apologetic special edition, fixed that mistake by returning the series to its former glory - much to our relief. However, with the latest installment, Devil May Cry 4, making the big transition to next-gen, and featuring a new playable character that will cut in on our Dante quality time; we're understandably anxious to see whether this fourth iteration will continue the quality standard set by DMC3...

You'd think that Devil May Cry 4 would ease you into the action. Maybe throw a few lightweight trainee demons into the first level, first-day-on-the-job types, to act as hapless fodder for your gun and blade. Y'know, to give you a chance to get a feel for it. That would be wishful thinking. Instead, DMC4 opens with a boss battle, a spectacular confrontation in a church with none other than the leather clad Über bad arse from the first three games, Dante. Playing as Dante look-alike Nero, you must outgun and out-manoeuvre your demon-hunting doppelganger with a mix of dual-wielded pistol blasts, brutal sword slashes and devastating throws with your glowing demon arm. With Dante down (but not out for the count - you take control of him later on in the game), you're then free to get stuck into what DMC does best; frenetic and incredibly violent encounters with large numbers of enemies at once - launching them into the air with an uppercut from your blade, juggling them with a peppering of bullets before leaping up to pile-drive them back into the earth.

As it stands, DMC4 includes all the ingredients required for an epic action game; the visuals are right up there with Ninja Gaiden Sigma, the controls are tighter than the old guy who rats for shop-a-dockets in the bin near your local Woolies, and the puzzle sections mix things up nicely. Fans of the series should plan a return pilgrimage, and DMC newbies should definitely watch this game too. Because after thrashing our Devil May Cry 4 sample code, we'd say that this game is screaming down the highway to hell - in a totally sweet, ACDC kind of way.

Full review of Devil May Cry 4 on Gameplayer.com.au

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Why is it that past life therapists will almost always tell you that you were once a member of the aristocracy or a famous explorer? The reason is simple: we're more inclined to believe something that appeals to our ego. If someone tells us we used to be a 16th-century toilet cleaner, then we might start asking questions. Assassin's Creed, is a game based entirely on the idea that we carry our ancestors' memories in our DNA. It's a hugely thoughtful piece of entertainment that throws up some pretty challenging ideas for a videogame. Like BioShock, it's another subtle sign that this entertainment medium is growing up.

Playing as Altair, a member of the Hashshashin sect of assassins, you might not expect what type of game Assassin's Creed  is. Despite coming from the maker of Splinter Cell and Prince of Persia, this is neither a stealth game nor a platformer. In fact it's a parkour (or "ninja acrobatic") adventure in medieval robes. The vast majority of the game is spent climbing walls and jumping between towers and rooftops - and the whole experience is immensely fun to do. The dynamism of Altair's movement is unlike anything we've seen before, as is the intelligent way he climbs up each structure differently.

Combat is a little more involving, requiring some efficient timing to pull off the extremely visceral finishing moves. With a bit of practice, it's possible to cut down ten men without taking a hit. Overall, the game has a fantastic cinematic quality, and this stands out the most during combat.

Hardcore gamers and critics universally agree that Assassin's Creed is a must-play for its intriguing story and truly groundbreaking graphics - and we add our affirmation to that list. It's also one of the most mature, thoughtful games of recent years, confronting you with moral decisions that are far from clear cut. Check it out.

Full review of Assassin's Creed on Gameplayer.com.au

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Unreal Tournament III is a multiplayer-focused first person shooter. What this means is that while there's a robust and enjoyable singleplayer story to play through and enjoy, the real reason to pick up UT3 is to lose yourself in the absolutely brilliant and varied ways you can play this game against other people, either over a LAN or online over the PlayStation Network.
Developed by the team that brought us Gears of War on the Xbox 360, there's a marked similarity in appearance of the two games; UT3 pits players in arenas of grimey future-tech locations. And like Gears of War, the visuals in UT3 are outstanding, offering a benchmark for other titles on the PS3 to match.

There are six main game modes, covering epic, team-based skirmishes on massive maps to short and fast "shoot anyone that's not you" battles. Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture The Flag and Vehicle CTF offer the most traditional game types, while Duel (a one-on-one game type where the winner stays and then fights the next person in the queue) and Warfare (a team-based mode requiring the capture of multiple control points before assaulting an enemy's base) prove addictive and interesting.

Further cementing UT3 position as the multiplayer shooter of choice on the PS3, players can further customise the rules of each game style offering a huge amount of game variety.
There's even the option of creating original "skins" to change the appearance of your character. Talented and patient "skin" artists have already taken to the system, creating authentic recreations of characters from other games. For example, you could play as Master Chief from the Halo series, Samus Aran from the Metroid games and even Marcus Fenix from
Gears of War. We're not sure what licensing issues are at play here but the end results
are a whole heap of fun.

With stunning visuals, multiple play modes and the great way the characters handle, UT3 is currently one of the most enjoyable and rewarding multiplayer shooters on the PS3.

Full review of Unreal Tournament III on Gameplayer.com.au

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We'll say this up front: Tools is Ratchet and Clank's finest hour. A bold claim, you say? Indeed, but one we can back up. Insomniac games - who also brought us the brilliant Resistance: Fall of Man - could have so easily just tidied up the graphics and animation a bit and flung the same old game out to an eager public.But instead they've ut the time in to make this game the best installment of the series and a damn good game in its own right.

For the uninitiated: The game is a 3d platformer and the action begins with Ratchet - the last Lombax in the universe (or is he?) and Clank, his diminutive robotic chum chilling out, having kicked the collective arses of five prequels worth of baddies. But, wouldn't you know it, some intergalactic mongrel on a power trip starts raining down death and destruction. Cue: planet hopping action, space ship battles and insane weapons that can be pimped up like tornado launchers, spike guns, flamethrowers and a shotgun that rules the school. All of these weapons can be upgraded in a tree-like structure after you've collected enough Raritanium - meaning you can choose the type of destruction you unleash. Do you want your weapon to shoot wide, more quickly or with extra barrels? You get to choose, making replayability a valid factor.

Ultimately a whole lot of love - and heaps of work - went into this game and it shows. Whether you're grinding along perspective-warping rails or jumping and gliding through enemy-infested planet-scapes it's always fun. The ending leaves us on a bit of a cliff-hanger, which is kind of annoying, but other than that Tools is a belter of a title and well worth your time.

Full review of Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction on Gameplayer.com.au

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Some things will never change. The sky will always by blue, the grass will always be green, and in "Quarter four" of every year FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer will emerge from the depths of their respective studios to again do battle on the world stage. To the victor the ultimate prize: the Best Simulation of the World Game.

FIFA 08 is an excellent step up for the series and we're happy to say that this year's release provides a significant leap over its predecessor. The game is presented with real class, giving the sport the respect and aesthetic its immense popularity deserves. From the interactive title screen where you'll waste away hours trying out tricks as Ronaldinho, through to the well-constructed interface (with awesome stat-tracking) and thumping soundtrack, FIFA 08 is a seriously sweet piece of software.

After a decade of lazily inventing 'new' modes by slightly tweaking old ones, effectively giving the same gameplay different names, the team over at EA have come up with something genuinely innovative in the 'Be-A-Pro' option. In this mode you opt to control a single player, with the key to success being your ability to play your role in the greater team effort. For example, as a central midfielder you'll be tasked with spotting runs, timing through balls, weighting lobs and hurrying back in defense after a turnover. As a striker, you'll need to make those runs, accept good balls and use fancy footwork to open up an opportunity for a shot on goal. And as a defender you'll need to snuff out attacking raids, and get the ball up field with purpose.

Taking this fantastic new mode into account while we sound the final whistle, we're happy to say that FIFA looks absolutely amazing and is packed to the rafters with features and modes. Now would be a stellar time for you to take another look at the series.

Full review of Fifa 2008 on Gameplayer.com.au

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The Need for Speed series of racing games has gone from strength to strength since its inception back in 1994, and as always the series sticks to the maxim that variety is the spice of life.

This time, the focus is on canyon racing. There are four canyon-based race modes based on the Japanese Touge race style (see the movie 2 Fast 2 Furious: Tokyo Drift for a crash course in Touge) in Need For Speed Carbon (NFSC), and they're a thrilling addition to the series thanks to inherent danger of racing so close to a fatal precipice. There's Race, Checkpoint and Drift canyon racing, but the most rewarding and challenging mode is Duel, whether you race an opponent over two stages. In the first stage, you must simply keep up with the leading car to the finish line, with victory granted to the racer with most points (the closer to the leader you remain, the more points you earn), while the second stage places you in the leading position attempting to "lose" your opponent through superior driving ability.

Set in Palmont City (which borders the regions found in the previous Most Wanted and Underground NFS games), the main crux of play in Carbon is the winning of territory by racing gang members on the city's streets. New cars and canyon races are won as further territories are captured.

Aside from that, this is classic Need For Speed gameplay: acquiring and modifying ­ in both appearance and performance ­ cutting edge cars and racing them in nail-biting contests against other car enthusiasts, which can also be played out online against real opponents.The PS3 version of Carbon also makes use of the motion-sensing capabilities of the SIXAXIS controller, allowing a slight twist into the direction of a turn to give an extra boost.

Full review of Need for Speed: Carbon on Gameplayer.com.au

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Hello. The following review of The Simpsons game is true. And by true, we mean - false. It's all lies. But they're entertaining lies. And in the end, isn't that the real truth? The answer is: No. We love the Simpsons. It is the binding sticky stuff of our tiny little world, and that's a phenomenon universally shared by virtually everybody we've ever met. Frankly, we think that people who dislike the Simpsons must hide underground with the c.h.u.d.s or the mole people; either that or the very concept of Simpsons hating is just make-believe like elves, gremlins or Eskimos.

Basically, the premise of the game is that Bart is trying to buy a copy of 'Grand Theft Scratchy', a violent new mature-rated videogame, at his local 'SequelStop' game retailer. After conning the store clerk (the typically squeaky-voiced teenager) into selling it to him, Bart immediately has the game confiscated by Marge. As Bart walks home dejectedly through Springfield, a mysterious instruction manual for The Simpsons Game descends down from the heavens, endowing him and the rest of the four-fingered family with videogame-like super powers.

What follows is a 3d platformer that has you and another Simpson family member jumping and collecting your way through some hilarious recreations of existing games, and some truly surreal levels like Professor Frink's 'game engine'- a factory-like level where typical gaming power-ups are churned out on production lines and a withered-looking Sonic the Hedgehog runs on a large treadmill powering the whole thing.

Completionists will be in seventh heaven here, with a heap of collectibles to find, and unlockables to discover. While it's true that hardcore gamers will find the game entertaining, newcomers will have find it very approachable too - due to the stellar comedic efforts of the shows writers, who are pretty much on fire. Best..Simpsons Game...Ever.

Full review of The Simpsons Game on Gameplayer.com.au

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A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away ...

No, wait, we all know that part.

What you may not have known, however, is that George Lucas' Star Wars universe and that ubiquitous childhood toy found in homes worldwide, Lego, have been thrust together into videogame form. And the results are nothing short of fantastic.

A romping action adventure which can be tackled with a second person by your side, Lego Star Wars has you playing as a huge collection of beloved (and some not so well-known) characters as you work your way through all the key events of the film. The trick here, of course, is that you've never seen Star Wars look as cute before.

What makes the whole Lego Star Wars so praise-worthy ­ besides of course, the brilliantly cute and effortlessly personable combination of the Star Wars and Lego universes ­ is the humour that's been lovingly injected into virtually every part of this adventure. As you relive all the key sequences of all the Star Wars films re-done in hilarious slapstick style, you'll come across a countless number of gags ­ both overt and subtle ­ that'll leave you smiling from the inside out. From the hidden stormtrooper spa bath room aboard the Death Star you stumble across to the way Princess Leia gets defensive about being ogled whilst wearing that bikini, The Complete Saga never fails to entertain. This is a game that doesn't take its Star Wars roots too seriously, and it's all the better for it.

The Complete Saga is actually the two previously released Lego Star Wars games ­ the first focusing on the new trilogy (beginning with the midichlorians of The Phantom Menace and ending with Anakin and Obi Wan's infamous duel on lava-filled Mustafar of Revenge of the Sith) and the second dealing with original Star Wars trilogy (A New Hope through to Return of the Jedi) ­ in one complete package. There's also new a bunch of new characters to play and new abilities added to existing characters for those who have played either ­ or both ­ before.
The PlayStation 3 version offers higher resolution graphics over the Wii version, the ability to play the game co-operatively online using the PlayStation Network, and Sixaxis motion controls.

Full review of Lego Star Wars on Gameplayer.com.au