Mirror's Edge Game Review

In November of 2008 EA released an unexpected title, Mirror's Edge. At this point EA were not known for taking a risk on new franchises but following the success of Dead Space, a Horror game which was released earlier in the year and highly received by critics, Mirror's Edge continued EA's new approach with yet another new franchise that would delight fans. Mirror's Edge is a game developed by DICE (Swedish Company) which focuses on the First-Person camera angle to create a unique free running action-adventure game that feels intense, frantic, and thrilling throughout the relatively short but delightful experience the game offers.

Mirror's Edge tells the story of a young woman named Faith Connors, she is a runner in this phenomenal looking futuristic city, ruled by an overbearing totalitarian government. Faith's job is to deliver pieces of information to an underground network which still lives with an ounce of freedom in this city ruled by an iron fist. Much like in the Sport (Parkour) Faith uses her incredible acrobatics to outrun, out-leap, and out-swing "Blues" (Cops) who chase her to the edge of the city with aggressive pressure and force. Early in the game players learn that Faith's sister (Kate Connors) has been wrongly accused of murder and it's Faith's job to clear her name.

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.

Super Meat Boy Game Review

Super Meat Boy is the definition of a traditional 2D platformer. Gameplay boils down to nothing but running and jumping, this might seem like very little but when you think of games like Mario and Sonic you begin to realise anything is possible with these building blocks. Meat Boy's goal is always the same, make it from point A to point B in order to rescue his love (Bandage Girl) who has been captured by the evil Dr Fetus (crazy Baby in a jar). This of course is no easy task, and can be very challenging when faced with the numerous obstacles in your way, like a Buzzsaw, Spike, or a Monsters Jaw, each of which will splatter Meat Boy into a thousand bloody pixels if he comes into the slightest of contact with any of them. The reminder of your previous failed attempts will be noticed as you try again to manoeuvre the obstacles, this time while looking at the blood you have already spilled.

With a game like Super Meat Boy the biggest and most important aspect of the game is the controls. Meat Boy feels great to control, he is the perfect weight and speed and the developers managed to make him feel just as he should. Beginners won't take too long before mastering Meat Boy's movements and being able to judge his movement with precision.

EA Sports MMA Game Review

When it comes to Mixed Martial Arts THQ's UFC series is leading the way, but with EA Sports deciding to dive into the octagon what can we expect for their first attempt with EA Sports MMA. While EA lack the big-name license, they still manage to provide a great roster of fighters along side solid gameplay and most importantly a game which feels as brutal as the sport itself.

For anyone who is unfamiliar with MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) it's a sport which pits two men against each other much like Boxing, the difference is due to the lack of rules the fight is more of a no-holds-barred affair. Each fighter is placed inside an octagon, or Boxing ring with a pair of gloves (smaller than traditional Boxing gloves) and the action begins. Unlike Boxing the action can take place on the ground as well as the standing game, this allows for different forms of fighting to compete with each other. You will use traditional Boxing techniques alongside Muay Thai, Greco-Roman Wrestling, Judo, Sambo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Karate and much more to defeat your opponent. The sport is immensely varied and allows players to be whatever type of fighter they want to be. This also helps create very interesting matches between two opposing styles.

(EA Sports MMA Middleweights)

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.

Kirby's Epic Yarn Game Review

Games back in the 80's and early 90's were all about 2D platforming, perfecting these types of games is what had everyone talking at the time. Games like Mario, Sonic, Earthworm Jim and much more contained us to our basement for hours every day. Then the 3D era of gaming came along and everyone's focus was shifted into a new direction. Lately we have seen a resurgence of what made us spend 90% of our childhood's in a basement, 2D platforming games.

2010 has already produced some spectacular 2D platforming games, some are new and fresh while others dive back into time and recapture the magic of past classic franchises. For me personally the three stand out games so far are Limbo, Super Meat Boy, and Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1. Sonic we all know and love and it's great to see him return to his former glory while Limbo and Meat Boy are new classics worthy of rivalling any of our old beloved franchises. Kirby is the latest to continue with this string of 2D platforming games and delivers yet another fantastic game.

Kirby's Epic Yarn is a unique platformer which enhances all that is great about 2D side scrollers and uses it to create one of the best games of the year. Epic Yarn is a game full of charm, Kirby is always cute and delightful to control but it's the design of the game which is so enchanting. Epic Yarn is a game which uses anything you would expect to find in an arts and crafts store to create one of the most unique environments ever seen in a side scroller. Yarn, string, and buttons are the items used to create the building blocks for this unique and wonderful world.