Kinect Joy Ride Game Review

Joy Ride was originally going to be a free download for everyone on Xbox Live but Microsoft decided to make it one of their main launch titles for the highly anticipated "Kinect", which uses motion sensor technology. I'm sure everyone has pretended to drive some sort of imaginary vehicle with their arms at some point in their life, i personally used to do this at McDonald's drive through with friends, but the point is Joy Ride finally makes this a reality.

Joy Ride drops players into the world of casual arcade racing powered by Microsoft's motion sensing system, Kinect. The game is full of vibrant beautiful colours and lots of challenges, providing a very fulfilling package for anyone who chooses to give it a test drive. The game is designed to feel approachable for anyone, it feels like it has something to keep everyone happy but the only problem is the controls, Kinect just seems to ruin what would otherwise be a fantastic Xbox Live Arcade title.

Limbo Game Review

Games are beginning to turn into a form or art and Limbo is the latest game to catch the eye of the gaming world with it's film noir style graphical direction. The game produces no dialogue, no text, and gives no explanation. It's hard to imagine how this can then be called "Art" by the critics in the gaming industry and be considered one of the best games of the year. The fact is Limbo manages to communicate everything that it needs to say without saying a single word, using the setting, Sound, and Environment to create an atmosphere that is almost unmatched by any other 2D Puzzle Platformer i have ever played. On top of all this the ending is one of the greatest moments in recent gaming history.

In Limbo you take control of a young boy after he wakes up in a dark forest. There is no indication of how you got there, why your there, or where you should go. You don't even know who you are. You set out on your journey and you find out very soon that this is a very dangerous unforgiving world you are in, your motivation at this point is to find a way out of this forest. The game has no unnecessary cut scenes or loading times, it's just you locked in this horrific atmospheric world unaware of what lies beyond your next step. The game manages to lure you into it's unique environment, isolating you from anything else.

Fallout: New Vegas Game Review

Two years after the phenomenal success Bethesda had with Fallout 3, we are blessed with the latest juggernaut of the franchise, Fallout New Vegas. Obsidian didn't feel the need to make any major changes to the successful formula and at times New Vegas can feel like a huge expansion to it's predecessor. This is certainly not a bad thing though considering Fallout 3 was one of the greatest open world RPG's we have seen in modern gaming.

The Fallout franchise takes places after a war which leaves the U.S desecrated, Humanity emerges from the tragedy just as selfish and power-hungry as before. Unlike most other areas in the U.S, Vegas managed to survive the bombardment of nuclear warheads fairly untouched. In the aftermath a group of people formed, touting the values of the old government system and called themselves The New California Republic, or NCR.

Vegas has a different look and feel to the rest of the post-apocalyptic wasteland. While other areas feel lifeless and dead, Vegas is thriving thank's to the Hoover Damn which provides the citizens of New Vegas with clean water and power, something most other areas lack.

Vanquish Game Review

Vanquish is the latest third-person shooter to hit the market from the creator of Resident Evil, Shinji Mikami. This alone is enough to capture the interest of the gaming world. Vanquish is a Sci-Fi third-person shooter which provides eye catching cinematic moments along side gameplay which feels as great as the game looks.

Vanquish, the fourth attempt from Platinum Games, takes place on a orbital space station called Providence. The station has been overtaken by a Russian extremist group known as The Order Of The Russian Star. The extremists take control of the station which is energised by microwave energy and use it to attack San Francisco. After the attack San Francisco is devastated leaving the United States with no option but to send a full fleet in order to prevent the next attack on New York. The military are not alone in their fight against the extremists, joining them is DARPA researcher Sam Gideon who comes equipped with the ARS battle suit. The military are under the impression Sam is joining them in order to gather intel on the suit's performance in the field however this is just a front for Sam's secret mission. His goal is to locate and rescue the captive professor candidate who created the energy system powering the station and suit. This may sound very traditional for anyone familiar with the Sci-Fi genre of games or movies and it is, the games weakest point is definitely it's mediocre story but with fantastic action sequences and cinematic thrilling moments the game does enough to let you forget about this issue.

Super Scribblenauts Game Review

Scribblenauts amazed the gaming world with it's creative charm and imaginative world when it was released late 2009. Now we are introduced to Super Scribblenauts, This sequel fixes all the problems with the previous title such as the awkward controls for our hero, Maxwell , and even manages to expand the Scribblenauts universe. The sequel is even more fun and creative than the first game, retaining all of it's charm and providing a delightful puzzle platforming experience for any Nintendo DS owner.

Scribblenauts is a game which can create any non-trademarked item and then that item will act as it would in reality. For example, you can create God, yes GOD! and even give him an AK-47 if you wish to. Next you could create the Devil and hand him a Lazer Gun. Now as you know God and the Devil are not best of friends and when equipped with a weapon they will fight to the death. This provides almost no limits of imaginative and creative way's to entertain your mind.

The major new addition to Super Scribblenaughts is the ability to add adjectives to anything you summon. So for example, if you summon a cute little Dolphin then feed him an exploding fish, the Dolphin be blown to pieces leaving you either sad, or extremely delighted and thrilled with your sadistic creativity. I have spent countless hours just messing around on the main menu which allows you to play the game without any missions, sort of like a practise mode to help you learn by yourself. Lately i have had a Seal killing fetish for some strange reason.

Sonic The Hedgehog 4 (Episode 1) Game Review

There is no doubting the fact that SEGA's mascot has fallen from grace over the past decade after his transition from 2D gaming into the 3D era. Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode 1 is SEGA's latest attempt at reviving the little blue platforming king and restoring his pride, recreating 4 zones each consisting of 3 acts and a boss battle from the original 2D classics we all know and love from our Genesis days.

Since Sonic made the transition into the 3D era fans have been left disappointed for the most part with the exception of Sonic Adventure 2 : Battle, a personal favourite of mine. Sonic has lost his speed and charm which made him a household name back in the Genesis days however SEGA's latest attempt with Sonic sees him return to the 2D classic Sonic games and it is exactly what fans have been waiting for.

Dr Robotnik, or Eggman as they refer to him now is back and up to no good again. In Sonic 4 you will play through four zones each consisting of three acts and a boss battle, finally attempting one last boss battle which will test even hardcore Sonic fans.

Each zone is inspired from the original Sonic games on the Genesis however they take the inspiration and use it to make the game feel new and fresh. The first of the 4 "Splash Hill Zone" will look very similar to Green Hill Zone and will not show much difference from the old Sonic games other than the graphical differences. After the first zone you really see the designers inspirations come out in the next few zones. The Lost Labyrinth has areas where you will need to carry a torch lighting your way through dark corridors in search of the exit, and lighting dynamite to blow up obstacles in your way to advance further. My favourite of the 4 zones is Casino Street, this zone was very nostalgic to me and brought back allot of childhood memories and emotions. There are now poker style playing cards which Sonic flips when he runs past either rewarding the player or punishing them. The Mad Gear Zone asks the player to run across giant gears opening up new passageways for Sonic to advance through the stage, and the vacuum tubes most memorable in the Chemical Plant Zone of Sonic The Hedgehog 2 are BACK! and for me this is great since Chemical Plant was my favourite Sonic stage.

The Special stages are back with slight differences to keep this feeling like a new experience with old friends. You rotate your stage much like in the old days while Sonic falls through collecting all the rings before the timer cuts off.

Sonic 4 is a game that looks as great as it plays, the designers manage to create a game that retains the old school art style with a modern day twist. Colours are bold, bright and vary in each zone making you feel like you are always somewhere new. The old orange and yellow checker'd platform areas now look as though some of the squares go in deeper than others and waterfalls now look fantastic. It is also great to see all your old favourite enemy's with up to date visuals and effects, such as my own personal favourite the little red Piranha fish. Sonic looks better than ever and leaves trails of smoke when he runs, and when he jumps he will throw his hands in the air. Sonic also has lots of facial expressions for anything effecting him now which just adds to the detail and presentation.

Power ups are back but they haven't changed much. All the old ones we know and love such as, superspeed, invincibility, and bubble shield are all here with no real changes other than their theme tunes.

The only significant difference in gameplay is the introduction of the lock-on targeting system which works so well in Sonic's 3D adventures. You can now attack enemy's with precision accuracy from almost any position and it's not only for fun. You will be required in some areas to use this such as when the floor is covered with spikes and the only way to continue is to target the hovering enemy's above them. This is something allot of fans from the old days might not be so willing to welcome but i personally think it's great and shows how Sonic has advanced through out the years. The game will also feel faster when blasting through a row of enemy's then continuing down a hill before clearing another looped path way. The only reason people might doubt this feature is because it does make the game less difficult than it otherwise would be without it but that is only a small complaint.

The big disappointment with Sonic 4 is co-op, there is none. While i understand the goal was to re-create Sonic 1 and bring Sonic back to his roots it would have been great to have a friend play along side me as Tales after all this is Sonic 4 and we should be progressing not going back. I think it would have also been nice to unlock some other playable characters for fun such as Shadow (who i would really love to see in a 2D game) or Knuckles but that might come later as this is only episode 1. We do get Super Sonic which is great and more fun than ever.

The music in Sonic 4 is wonderful, all the old sounds are back like the springs that repel Sonic through the stages, the pop's when Sonic blasts through an enemy, the warning when Sonic is running out of air, air bubbles when Sonic is under water, and even the crumbling sounds of the breakable walls Sonic can speed through. The stage music is just as cheesy and joyful as ever delivering an old retro feel in a modern way. Boss battles feel just as fun as ever when the music begins to change as well and you know that big Egg is after you again.

The only other drawback with the game is it's rather easy difficulty level for anyone who spent the majority of their youth locked away in a basement with the little blue hedgehog. This can't be helped though Sonic is what it is and the only way to change the difficulty for anyone who is a Sonic pro would be to change the whole concept of what Sonic is. The final boss fight however is ridiculously hard compared to the rest of the game. After playing the game through and meeting the end boss you feel like each boss was just a warm up fight for this guy who uses all of the previous bosses methods to take Sonic down. It's long and frustratingly hard and if you are not a die hard Sonic fan this might be the reason you turn the game off. Personally i think the game needs this testing end and when all episodes are complete we should have a few more ultimate boss battles which make the complete Sonic 4 a tougher game than any of the previous ones.

Sonic The Hedgehog 4 is going to be released in episodic forum, most likely we can expect to see 3 to 4 episodes each consisting of 4 zones, 12 acts, 4 boss battles, and 1 ultimate boss battle so there is lot's to look forward to in the future from SEGA.

Sonic is a franchise i will always have a place in my heart for. I am a huge Sonic fan and for me SEGA has finally gave the fans what we have been asking for. If i was an unbiased reviewer i would give Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode 1 an 8/10, however i want to score this game as a fan.

As a fan this is everything i have been waiting for an more, however as Sonic 4 is going to be released in episodic forum i can't give this a 10/10 so my final score is 9/10

Halo Reach Game Review

Game Information

• Publisher (Microsoft)
• Developer (Bungie Software)
• Genre (First Person Shooter)
• Console (XBOX 360 Exclusive)

Halo has been the most successful franchise on the XBOX 360 for a long time now with only the release of a Call Of Duty game to rival it, Reach is Bungie's latest and final attempt to bring Halo back to the top where many believe it belongs. With ODST receiving allot of criticism, mainly because it could have been released as a download rather than a full priced title Halo fans are expecting something big! from Bungie's latest attempt and i can tell you Halo Reach delivers another great gaming experience.

The story in Reach is one of the most powerful and emotional of any Halo game. You play as a member of Noble Team only known as Spartan 6. The game will pair you up with each of your team mates on various different missions, This helps give each member of Noble Team their own role in the story and makes you connect emotionally with each individual on your team. The campaign offers a new and fresh feel with the traditional closed indoor fighting mixed in with huge open battlefields, even taking the fight to space this time around. The game manages to feel new and fresh with the introduction of new weapons and items such as the jet pack which is my personal favourite of the new additions. Stealth kills have also been introduced and there is a wide range of ways to kill an enemy with a knife from behind always managing to satisfy the player in a way we have never seen before in a Halo game. Four player Co-op is back and even better than ever, There is nothing more fun than jumping into a Halo campaign with 3 other friends and struggling through a mission on Legendary. This is even more true now that allot of the problems with dumb AI in previous Halo games has been fixed, Reach is tougher and smarter than any of it's predecessors, But don't worry while the game is tough it is also rewarding, You earn Credits from everything you do in the Game which can be used to customize your character for online multiplayer and campaign mode. The customisation is outstanding in Reach delivering a huge scale of customisation options to make you look as unique as possible, giving each player online or offline his own individuality when playing through the game. Finally i just want to mention the audio in Reach, once again Martin O'Donnell is back and provides an outstanding soundtrack to help create the atmosphere and emotions felt when playing this remarkable game.

The gameplay is the same as with any Halo game, However the biggest difference is the introduction of Jet Packs. This adds a new element to a Halo game giving hardcore veteran Halo players a new challenge to look forward to in Campaign or online multilayer. The shooting feels as smooth and crisp as ever with any Halo game and with the new weapons and stealth kills the gameplay should feel new, fresh, and fun for even the old school Halo gamers.

The Graphics in Halo Reach are gorgeous, you will feel like you are in another world when your eyes look out into the distance and see the stunning and beautifully designed backdrop to each mission and different area in the game. Sometimes there can be a slight problem with the frame rate but this is only because the battle scenes in some areas are unbelievably huge in scale. Weapons, Character models, Vehicles, and the Environment looks much better in Reach compared to previous Halo games with more detail and better lighting effects. One of the things you will notice when playing through Reach is the Atmosphere, The Atmosphere in ODST was the highlight of that game and Reach follows on from ODST by creating a world that not only looks amazing but feels amazing when playing through. At some points when playing through Reach i would feel as if i was in a real war zone, i would find myself looking at Spartans falling and think of them as real people. Halo Reach manages to capture you inside it's world and deliver a memorable experience that is not to be missed.

Multiplayer is always the biggest selling point with any Halo game and in Reach it's better than ever. Although it is disappointing to see a low number of maps, some of which are just jazzed up re-makes of old Halo classics we are sure to see downloads released in the not to distant future. Halo Reach offers us a new Forge mode which is better than ever. Forge mode allows you to edit maps and create new game types and it seems the only limit with Reach's forge mode is your time and patience. Fire fight is back and even more fun than in ODST with the new wepons and ability's, The improvement to the AI can make it a very challenging experience but with a group of friends there is no better experience in the game world.

Halo Reach achieves what all other Halo games could not, a complete package. 9.5/10