Imagine a whole world where you could play, explore and create whatever you like - and imagine that you could take that world with you wherever you go
Rabbids Go Home (Wii)
The rabbids have had enough of losing to Rayman, but going home may cause more mayhem than staying. You see, they've decided that the best way to leave Earth is to build a tower of rubbish all the way to the moon (not that they're certain that's where they came from).
- Playing as the maniacal rabbit creatures you tour each level in a shopping trolley collecting anything that's not tied down and a lot that isn't: from a chest of drawers to a runaway cow. Many items give you special abilities, like a skyscraper chase in a giant bubble and an aircraft jet engine that lets you suck up even more objects.
- With the rabbids' trademark humour still intact (your basic attack scares the clothes off humans, which you can then collect as well) and some of the best cartoon style graphics on the Wii this is a clever evolution from the old mini-game collections.
Professor Layton and The Curious Village (Nintendo DS)
Professor Layton and The Curious Village
(Nintendo DS)
In the curious village of St. Mystere, townsfolk greet each other with rebuses, lock their doors with sliding puzzles and hide their secrets within brainteasers. When a wealthy baron passes away, his will reveals an elusive treasure hidden someplace inside the village. Now it`s up to Professor Layton to untangle St. Mystere`s riddles and puzzles, find the hidden treasure and crack the case. As Professor Layton, you`ll tackle over 130 puzzles as you unravel the mysteries of the village. Puzzles range from mazes and riddles to logic and sliding puzzles. Fully voiced animated scenes bring the story to life, while the funny and eccentric villagers and the classic, hand-drawn art provide a stylish charm that will appeal to all.
- Touch Screen controls make working through puzzles a snap
- New puzzles are available weekly for download via Nintendo WFC
- 130 puzzle
- Touch Screen controls
FIFA 10 (PS3)
Brand new this year is the 360 degree dribbling system, giving you the most precise control ever. There are also changes to how the defensive line is formed, as well as improvements to crosses, freekicks and goalkeepers (who can now receive red cards).
Naturally the game retains its hugely successful on and offline multiplayer modes, with new options and better stability for online play. The manager mode has also seen a massive update to make it just as deep and complex as the main game. With all these new features and more EA Sports are betting on FIFA remaining the champions for a long time to come.
Nintendo Wii Nunchuk Controller add-on (Wii)
Nintendo Wii Nunchuk Controller add-on
(Wii)
The Wii Nunchuk controller is a secondary controller that adds even more innovation to the next generation of gaming, and does it all with less physical movement....
FIFA 10 (Xbox 360)
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii)
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
(Wii)
The biggest Olympic superstars are back and the only country they're representing is video game land. The team-up that fans could previously only dream of is back, as the worlds of Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog combine at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.
Following the same format of the 2008 summer games tie-in you and your friends can choose to compete in authentic Olympics disciplines as everyone from Mario and Sonic to Bowser, Dr Eggman, Yoshi and Tails.
Only a few disciplines have been revealed so far, but already we know that the game is going to contain ice hockey and figure skating. There will also be new fantasy events such as Dream Ski Cross, which sees everyone competing in a Mario Kart style race complete with familiar looking power-ups and speed boosts. Realism isn't the goal here, just good old fashioned multiplayer fun.
Mario Kart with Wii Wheel (Wii) - Wii Remote Not Included
Mario Kart with Wii Wheel
(Wii)
Wii Remote Not Included
Take your place on the starting grid and prepare for high-speed racing action in Mario Kart Wii. Use the Wii Wheel (included) to steer your way round 32 tracks and race against friends to see who is king of the road! You can slow down the opposition or give yourself a handy speed boost by using a variety of helpful items, or pull off spectacular stunts on your way to the finish line. There's even the option of mixing with Mario and co. by racing as your Mii. Get in gear and join a race that everyone can enjoy!
Professor Layton and Pandora's Box (Nintendo DS)
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii)
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
(Wii)
The biggest Olympic superstars are back and the only country they're representing is video game land. The team-up that fans could previously only dream of is back, as the worlds of Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog combine at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.
Following the same format of the 2008 summer games tie-in you and your friends can choose to compete in authentic Olympics disciplines as everyone from Mario and Sonic to Bowser, Dr Eggman, Yoshi and Tails.
Only a few disciplines have been revealed so far, but already we know that the game is going to contain ice hockey and figure skating. There will also be new fantasy events such as Dream Ski Cross, which sees everyone competing in a Mario Kart style race complete with familiar looking power-ups and speed boosts. Realism isn't the goal here, just good old fashioned multiplayer fun.
Mario Kart with Wii Wheel (Wii) - Wii Remote Not Included
Mario Kart with Wii Wheel
(Wii)
Wii Remote Not Included
Take your place on the starting grid and prepare for high-speed racing action in Mario Kart Wii. Use the Wii Wheel (included) to steer your way round 32 tracks and race against friends to see who is king of the road! You can slow down the opposition or give yourself a handy speed boost by using a variety of helpful items, or pull off spectacular stunts on your way to the finish line. There's even the option of mixing with Mario and co. by racing as your Mii. Get in gear and join a race that everyone can enjoy!
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360)
Call of Duty:
Modern Warfare 2
(Xbox 360)
Modern Warfare 2, the sequel to the Multiplayer Game of the Year winner 'Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare', continues the gripping and heart-racing saga with an unprecedented level of action as players face off against a new threat dedicated to bringing the world to the brink of collapse.
- Call of Warfare: Stunning cinematic action, including new underwater missions, new gadgets such as the motion detector and new vehicles including snowmobiles and more.
- Rough guide: Massive globe-spanning adventure sees you travelling to the deserts of Afghanistan, the slums of Rio de Janerio and the wilderness of Russia.
- Bigger world: New larger levels allow you to tackle missions however you want: will you try a frontal assault or a more stealthy approach from another angle?
- Special co-op: New Special Forces mode will introduce two player co-operative play for the first time, in a series of non-story missions
Singstar: Take That (PS2)
Microphones required to play - Not included
- The best tracks by the UKs favourite pop group sing your heart out to Relight My Fire, It Only Takes A Minute and Shine.
- Go solo, croon a duet with a friend or compete in teams for a fun-filled party that everyone can enjoy.
- Loads of online* extras to extend your SingStar experience beyond the disc: download new tracks from the growing collection at the SingStore and upload your favourite performances to My SingStar Online.
- Search for your favourite Take That songs using Voice Control Technology.
- Fully compatible with the Wireless SingStar Microphones. Forget the cables and focus on your Take That dance routines.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PS3)
Call of Duty:
Modern Warfare 2
(PS3)
Modern Warfare 2, the sequel to the Multiplayer Game of the Year winner 'Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare', continues the gripping and heart-racing saga with an unprecedented level of action as players face off against a new threat dedicated to bringing the world to the brink of collapse.
- Call of Warfare: Stunning cinematic action, including new underwater missions, new gadgets such as the motion detector and new vehicles including snowmobiles and more.
- Rough guide: Massive globe-spanning adventure sees you travelling to the deserts of Afghanistan, the slums of Rio de Janerio and the wilderness of Russia.
- Bigger world: New larger levels allow you to tackle missions however you want: will you try a frontal assault or a more stealthy approach from another angle?
- Special co-op: New Special Forces mode will introduce two player co-operative play for the first time, in a series of non-story missions
Wii Sports Resort (Wii) with Wii MotionPlus Accessory
Bring Back That Lovin' (it) Feeling!
I've been lucky enough to obtain Wii Sports Resort a week in advance, so have had a few days to try it out. Here's my first ever review!
One sentence summary (if you're short on time): Resort gives you back 80-90% of that feeling you got when you first played Wii Sports. If you loved Wii Sports, you'll love this.
As ever, two player action is far more fun, so you'll need a second motion plus unit. This does make the package over £50 in these tight economic times, so maybe birthday money should be used!
The Technology
Having tried the Motion Plus unit with Grand Slam Tennis, I was slightly disappointed that it wasn't as good as I'd hoped. However, I'm now putting that down my inability to play tennis, rather than any failing in the device.
For me, the Motion Plus is very good. Good enough that you quickly forget the technology behind it, and take the accuracy for granted.
The Gameplay
So far my children (age 6 & 10) and I have tried:
Swordplay (great!) - The first on the menu, and an obvious one to gain appreciation of the motion plus enhancement. Initially there is a temptation to assume thrashing the Wii remote about is a winning strategy, but the use of blocks by your opponent disorientates your character which can then be counter attacked.
Archery (excellent) - One you get the hang of the controls, they become intuitive, and the satisfaction of hearing the Arrow fly and 'thud' into the target is great.
Frisbee (very good) - For realism, I'd say that my kids actual ability to throw a frisbee properly is reflected in the game version - fairly poor!
Canoeing (fair)
The Aeroplane one (fun)
Bowling is pretty much a clone of the original, though the spin applied to the ball is more accurate.
The Golf is similar enough to the original to be familiar, but has more courses (6 I think), and 18 holes per course. Golf was always my favourite on Wii Sports.
Other Details
As ever, the attention to detail from Nintendo gives the game lots of endearing touches - At the main screen details of who has played the game recently appear, with their respective Mii's sitting or standing together tapping their feet to the music.
'Stamps' are the equivalent of trophies on the PS3, although they are really just for your own satisfaction.
There is a full soundtrack in the style of the original game.
Gripes
If only you could play on-line....
Summary
Once again, the selection of games might not have 30 hours of new content each, but most are more than just technology demonstrations. Resort, like the original has games that you can pick up and play when you have 15 minutes, and just want to have fun rather than intense action. Having said that 2 hours went far too quickly...
I think Golf, Archery, and possibly Frisbee and Swordplay will have us coming back for months to come.
Right now, my 6 year old wants to Swordfight again, and claims he is going to 'Take me down to Chinatown...'
Enjoy!
Great fun for all the family!
I had my Sports Resort on Pre-Order and received it today! Like many people, I loved Wii Sports and it was the first game I tried on the Wii. I wasn't sure how this one would fair in comparison...
Firstly regarding the motion plus accessory; I must admit that on first impressions I didn't think it was THAT great - I couldn't really see the difference in the game and it just made the remote heavier!:( However, when you are playing precision games (like sports - for example golf or bowling in this game), you definitely do notice the difference. In golf for example, the motion plus will detect the tiniest bit of movement when you are moving your golf club - this makes game play all the more realistic which in turn makes it more fun. The set also comes with a new longer remote jacket (I was actually thinking I was going to have to buy one separately!)
Anyway secondly, the game itself is a lot of fun. There are 12 different sports to try out. Three of the 12 sports require the use of the nun chuck which I think is a great improvement - in the first Wii Sports, you only got to use the nunchuck for boxing! Also, this time round you get to use the Wii remote in a lot more ways so you're not just swinging your arm all the time. My favourite games so far have to be Canoeing (it's tricky but v.fun paddling around in the water doing races), Frisbee (looks so simple but takes skill to throw accurately) and Air Sports (you ski-dive out of a plane and try to catch other Mii's to get photographed with them!).
You start out with one type of game per sport but as you progress, new games are unlocked so you can try out different games within the sport and different levels of difficulty. I've only been playing this for a day so no doubt there is lots more to uncover!
There are very few downsides - I was a bit disappointed with the Golf and Bowling as they are pretty much the same as the Wii Sports version. The bowling does however feel different in terms of throwing the ball - it's been harder for me to get strikes so maybe this is the motion plus in action!! I also don't much enjoy table tennis but this is probably just a preference thing!
SUMMARY
Overall, this pack is pretty good value especially if you definitely want to get the motion plus anyway (it costs about £15-£25 to buy it on its own) - I didn't feel like it made too much difference but I am yet to try it out with other games. The Sports Resort game is a lot of fun - really well-designed for the Wii. You're in a sunny sports resort and as a result the games are all bright and fun with lots of sunny music to reinforce the beach atmosphere. The game is also a great one if you want to use the multiplayer option - I think adults and kids will both enjoy it and of course it's a lot of fun competing against each other! You will no doubt have hours of fun with Sports Resort if you enjoyed the original game!
This game makes the Wii feel new again!
WII SPORTS came free with the NINTENDO WII console and is one of the best-selling games of all time, introducing gaming to new audiences young and old, male and female and set new standards to how games are played using the innovative motion sensitive controls of the Wii remote and nunchuck . WII SPORTS RESORT is its sequel, showing off what Nintendo's new WII MOTIONPLUS can do (there is 1 included in the package).
There are 12 sports included in this game, all of which have at least 2 or 3 different ways of playing (for example - bowling now has regular, 100-pin and spin master modes; air sports has flying where you find locations and pop balloons as well as dog fights ;basketball has free-throw challenge and 3-on-3), making this game literally endless fun. The sports included are:
1 Bowling
2 Table Tennis
3 Canoeing
4 Fencing
5 Archery
6 Cycling
7 Golf
8 Frisbee
9 Basketball
10 Air Sports
11 Power Cruising
12 Wakeboarding
If you thought you were good at bowling or golf from the previous game, you'll need to learn it all again on this one as it is so much more accurate than before, making this game so realistic. Each sport is so much fun and with the MOTIONPLUS they all feel as if you are really playing the sport (especially golf, table tennis and Frisbee). As well as having a personal score for your Mii, you now have stamps that record your achievements. You can now also play team games on a lot of the games, making this more competitive on multiplayer.
There are a few things that let this down such as no online play and also having to buy addition MOTIONPLUS units to play multiplayer (without having to share a remote) means that this can get expensive if you want to play with 4 players.
Overall this is probably the best and most enjoyable game I have played on the Wii since the original WII SPORTS and there is just so much to learn and unlock so I can see myself playing this for years to come (I have literally only stopped playing the original - some 2 and a half years since I bought it - now because of this!) so this is money well spent. If you have a Wii then you HAVE to buy this!!
About Wii Sports Resort (Wii) with Wii MotionPlus Accessory detail
- Amazon Sales Rank: #8 in Computer & Video Games
- Brand: Nintendo
- Model: Wiisportsresort
- Published on: 2009-07
- Released on: 2009-07-24
- ESRB Rating: Everyone
- Platform: Nintendo Wii
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 2.33" h x 5.46" w x 7.77" l, .76 pounds
Features
- Set off on a journey to a tropical island where a variety of new sports and activities awaits you with Wii Sports Resort!You'll feel a greater sense of immersion thanks to the included WiiMotionPlus accessory, which lets you fully experience all the heatedcompetition and hilarity of this fun game
Wii Sports Resort (Wii) with Wii MotionPlus Accessory Description
Wii Sports Resort is a new collection of fun sports games that anyone can pick up and play.
This sequel to the popular Wii Sports makes use of the Wii Motion Plus accessory, which gives players the most responsive and realistic experience possible. The Wii Motion Plus accessory, which is included with Wii Sports Resort, plugs into the base of the Wii Remote controller and, combined with the accelerometer and sensor bar, provides an experience that gives players an even greater sense of immersion.
Just as with Wii Sports, people will love competing against friends and family. As the competition heats up, Wii Sports Resort is as much fun to watch as it is to play. First-time players will find it easy to pick up a Wii Remote and jump into the action.
Wii Sports Resort takes place on the tropical island of Wuhu. This great new game will whisk players away to a resort thats full of action, offering more than 12 sports to participate in from, Archery to Frisbee, basketball, cycling, canoeing, Power Cruising, Table Tennis, Air Sports, Swordplay, Bowling, Golf and wakeboarding.
Wii Sports Resort takes the inclusive fun and intuitive controls of the original Wii Sports to the next level, offering a beach resort environment and many more sports to get to grips all using Wii MotionPlus. Wii Sports resort is easy to pick up and play, but comes coupled with deeper levels of play that are sure to challenge even the most experienced gamer.
The inclusion of Wii motion plus in this game will guarantee, that veteran Wii users and newcomers alike can enjoy unprecedented gaming precision as they cruise on a water scooter, duel with swords, toss a flying disc and much more.
- Wii Sports Resort takes the inclusive fun and intuitive controls of the original Wii Sports to the next level
- A whole new set of entertaining and physically immersive activities includi
Wii Fit Plus - Game Only (Wii)
Finally! The Wii Fit comes of age.
I bought the Wii Fit once all the fuss had died down, primarily because it was so hard to get hold of. When I set it up, I was initially very impressed with it. Practicing balancing and posture was good fun, and certainly a novelty. However, I purchased it as an exercise tool, and I found it sadly lacking in that department. The reason was down to one thing; poor software. In a nutshell, when I exercise, I want to select a routine and just get on with it. With the Wii Fit I could not do this. I had to select an activity, do it, then select another activity etc etc. This completely broke the rhythm of the workout, and the Wii Fit was soon replaced with a dance mat, which was much more fun.
So, now the new software is out. Whats it like?
Well, first of all, if you are a regular Wii Fit user then relax, all your data will be ported across. To be honest this was embarrasing to me as I hadn't used the thing in ages.
Secondly, you get told of all the new features: workout plus, multiplayer etc. So you know what to expect. You can also register babies and pets, if you like that sort of thing.
So, the first time on I get a gentle rollicking as I hadn't been on for over 100 days, had missed my goals etc etc. However, I had lost weight so that was a nice plus! There were two new options of interest: Training Plus, and My Wii Fit Plus.
My Wii Fit Plus is the most useful to me, and has the following options:
My Wii Fit Plus Routines
- pre planned routines designed for different goals (lifestyle / health / youth / form). A good place to start if you are a newbie.
My Routine
- build your own routine by selecting from the yoga and muscle exercises available. You can automatically chain them and it tells you how long it is. Oh yes! This is what I want!!!
Favourites
- Frequently, recently and rarely.
I can't begin to explain how much better the Wii Fit is now. Being able to do a routine without stopping and starting has turned this from an amusing toy to a valuable exercise machine. You can even enter non wii-fit activities, so for instance, if you cycle to work it can be recorded here. Not only that, but it also tells you how many calories you have burned. You can micromanage your fitness if thats your cup of tea.
For me though, all I wanted was to be able to do a prolonged routine on my Wii Fit without needing to stop and start. I can now do this. The multiplayer and advanced features will no doubt come into their own later, but for me, the Wii Fit has now finally come of age.
An essential purchase.
Wii Fit Plus is great fun for keeping you and your family more fit!
Wit Fit Plus has 15 new games which are as follows:
1. Perfect 10 is a game where you use your hips to hit numbers in which to reach a total. This is good fun and will test your body and mind co-ordination.
2. Cycling is done by walking on the balance board and you steer with your Wii Remote collecting flags. I found the cycling ok but prefer the cycling mode in Wii Sports Resort.
3. Rhythm Kung Fu is abit like the Rhythum Boxing only alot harder.
4. Driving Range is done by standing on your Wii balance board sideways and you swing the Wii remote like a golf club. I found this event to be the weakest out of the new ones.
5. Segway Circuit is brilliant fun as you race around poping beach balls!
6. Bird's-eye Bull's-eye is a real laugh in which you flap your arms like a madman to fly around, and you have to land on the targets for points.
7. Snowball Fight will test your reactions and throwing skills.
8. Obstacle Course is great fun and you feel like your running around a Mario level!
9. Tilt City is very enjoyable in which you guide these colour balls by tilting your Wii remote and your weight on the balance board towards their matching colour pipe. By matching the colour balls with the same colour pipe it will set off a firework.
10. Rhythum Parade surprised me as I was good at it and enjoyed it too. I was waving my Wii remote and Nunchuk in perfect timing on my first go!
11. Big Top Juggling is a very hard rhythm balance game.
12. Skateboard Arena is fantastic with it's jumps and stunts.
13. Table Tilt Plus is a good challenge even for those that have mastered the first one.
14. Balance Bubble Plus I completed the whole course on my first go which was mixture of skill and being very lucky.
15. Jogging Plus has new routes to un-lock and observation skills!
Other great things about Wii Fit Plus is the Multiplayer Mode in which you and your family or friends play games together. Each player takes turns with the Wii balance board and Wii Remote, and simply change players when prompted. There are three more Yoga and Muscle Workouts to try. You can practise your balance test games which test your Wii fit age in My Wii Fit Plus menu ( door ). There are five new balance test which are a bit tricky. Wii Fit Plus tells you how many calories you have burned off and you might find it useful being able to set yourself different fitness routines.
All your data from the first Wii Fit game is carried over to Wit Fit Plus which is most excellent indeed just like this game is really!
Not a huge advancement over the original.
I was hoping that this would let me add more than one program, say one for a quick routine and one for an extensive, but that is not an option. The building-blocks of the custom-designed program is the smallest set of reps per exercise. Yes you can select the same exercise several times but you only have thirty slots and I run out of them before I run out of steps wanted.
I miss the feedback at the end of the exercise when linking the exercises into a program. I don't miss the top-ten scores or the excessive button-pushing.
The comments and nags are exactly the same as in the original and at least as repetetive.
The new exercises are fine, but there are not many of them. Six or seven? You do get access to all of the exercises (except the challenges) without having to earn them, which is helpful for the non-beginner. There is also the option of creating a guest account to showcase some of the fun to be had, nice touch but I haven't tested it.
The new games are fun and a new set of challenges, which is good.
I love the addition of more complex tests for the daily weigh-in - good move.
On the whole barely worth my money, imho, but a better buy than the original WiiFit if you're new to the game.
About Wii Fit Plus - Game Only (Wii) detail
- Amazon Sales Rank: #6 in Computer & Video Games
- Brand: Nintendo
- Model: 045496901707
- Published on: 2009-10
- Released on: 2009-10-30
- Rating: Universal, suitable for all
- ESRB Rating: Everyone
- Platform: Nintendo Wii
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: .30 pounds
Wii Fit Plus - Game Only (Wii) Description
Requires Wii Balance Board
- Know Your Physique: Wii Fit Plus will now allow you to check and monitor 4 areas of your physique, BMI (body mass index), centre of gravity, and calories burnt during your workout you can then set your goals, against these areas. The BMI test measures your weight/height. Wii Fit Plus will take this measurement and let you know how you fair in comparison to the ideal. Once you are aware of your BMI you can set goals to reduce this measurement, by take part in the Wii Fit Plus exercises and introducing a healthier lifestyle. Your centre of gravity is measured via the Wii Fit Plus age test in which you will take on various balance in an attempt to keep your Wii Fit Plus age as close to or lower than you real age.
- Train Yourself: Wii Fit Plus contains 5 training categories Aerobic Exercises, Muscle conditioning, Yoga, Balance Games and all new Training Plus. All the training categories are designed to help develop bodily balance control, burn fat, help tone and condition muscle, as well increase aerobic stamina. All these great activities offer a fun way to get fit with your family.
- Wii Plus Routines: Allows you to create customised training routines, or ask your personal Wii Fit Plus trainer can create training programs for you, based on the area of your body you wish to work on - bum, hips, thighs - Wii Fit Plus will help! There are over 40 different activities within four training categories.
- Aerobic Exercises: New Additional Jogging Courses, Ste Rythum Remix all-new songs.
- Muscle Exercises: 3 New Muscle Exercises.
- Yoga: Includes 3 New Poses.
- Balance Games: Heading, Ski Jump, Ski Slalom, Tightrope, irritating maze, Penguin game, Snowboarding, and meditation.
- Training Plus: Skateboarding, Rythum Kung Fu, Dungeon Jogging, many more.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PS3)
"Call of Duty Surprise"
Well, it's not a surprise that the Russian Ultranationalists are the baddies, we had already in "CoD 4" been told that they were the worst terrorists ever. So much for Political Correctness .......but I suppose the rationale is that the Russians are more thick-skinned than your average guys, they can take it. Unlike the Unmentionables. Anyways, I hurry on to say the Surprise really is a big surprise: look forward to it, I'll say no more.
I don't do much multiplaying on the PS 3 - I am perfectly happy with the Mac and CoD/United Offensive online experience - so I need not comment on THAT. Only that something strange is going on in the PC world and part of the Xbox community that flame down all and every positive review, and all because of some lack of dedicated servers. That may well be. I have long ago discovered I like my maps very large and heavily populated: Call of Duty/United Offensive.
I haven't played the game to the end yet, far from it, only past the Big Surprise. And I must say gameplay is more hectic and frenzied than I have experienced up until now, only "Killzone 2" perhaps surpassing it. The cliffhanger episode is almost a holiday ...but hush, I say no more.
Graphics are spectacular! Settings are enormous, deep and wide, monstrously detailed. Friends, neutrals and not-friends are everywhere, adding to the almost overloaded confusion, and still all movement and panning is splendidly smooth. Very well done. But ...and there is always a BUT: unless I am very much mistaken there's not a lot of anti-aliasing applied, and jaggies can be noticeable. It doesn't bother me much though.
It is all a bloody mayhem, perhaps more so than I had expected, but hey, it's Call of Duty. Weapons are by and large direct descendants of the ones in "Call of Duty 4" and they can be picked up everywhere for your individual preference. I have played for several hours now, and now will call it a day. I have always considered it very bad form to play a game right to the end in one go, and not concentrating on enjoying the experience in a singleminded rush for the finish line.
Dare I finish by begging for "Call of Duty: The Big Push"? World War One and all the horrors of it.
One of the best action FPS games ever
Having played this since yesterday, I've now finished the single player campaign and I've had a couple of hours on the multiplayer. First things first, if you don't like action First Person Shooter (FPS) games then this probably isn't for you. If you like sneaky, one-man-against-hundreds games like Metal Gear Solid or Half-Life 2, then you should consider this, even though it is quite different type of game. If you like action FPS games then you should buy this immediately!
The single player campaign is excellent fun, with some tremendous scripted sequences and cinematics. Like the first Modern Warfare game, the single player campaign is relatively short; I completed it in just under 6 hours. That's no bad thing however, as I was very keen to get onto the multiplayer, which is where MW2 really shines. There are loads of unlockables to keep you going back, as well as a whole host of new classes and new weapons. If you were a fan of MW's multiplayer then you will love this.
New to the COD franchise is the 'Spec Ops' campaign, specifically designed for co-operative play. While I'm intending to spend a lot more time playing the single player and competitive multiplayer modes, the Spec Ops mode makes a nice break from the other two. It's essentially a whole bunch of mini-games that get increasingly harder, and is well worth a few hours play with your pals.
Overall, if you were looking forward to this game you will find very little to disappoint. If you didn't like the first MW game, then you probably won't like this, though the co-op mode is something a bit different.
COD Best Yet
Just started playing and the game is everything you would expect and more. The Airport was not as all hipped about. FPS players have been randomly
shooting folk for years. The graphics are fantastic and although I have only played for a few hours (midnight collection) the game was literally dragging me a along at breakneck speed.
What more can I say: the texture engine of the game is really pushing the PS3 and it seems to cope easily. Ice looks like ice, though hanging off a ledge precariously with one ice hook was novel. Great Great Great
Check out Game and HMV as they are both doing trade in deals. Have fun
About Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PS3) detail
- Amazon Sales Rank: #2 in Computer & Video Games
- Brand: ACTIVISION
- Released on: 2009-11-10
- Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
- Platform: PLAYSTATION 3
- Format: Unknown format
- Dimensions: .23 pounds
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PS3) Description
Modern Warfare 2, the sequel to the Multiplayer Game of the Year winner 'Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare', continues the gripping and heart-racing saga with an unprecedented level of action as players face off against a new threat dedicated to bringing the world to the brink of collapse.
- Call of Warfare: Stunning cinematic action, including new underwater missions, new gadgets such as the motion detector and new vehicles including snowmobiles and more.
- Rough guide: Massive globe-spanning adventure sees you travelling to the deserts of Afghanistan, the slums of Rio de Janerio and the wilderness of Russia.
- Bigger world: New larger levels allow you to tackle missions however you want: will you try a frontal assault or a more stealthy approach from another angle?
- Special co-op: New Special Forces mode will introduce two player co-operative play for the first time, in a series of non-story missions
- Be the best: Competitive multiplayer is even bigger and better than before, with all-new rewards for everyone from raw recruits to the most experienced players.
FIFA 10 (PS2)
SUCH and improvement on fifa 2009!
I have just played this for the first time, and spent over 10 hours discovering the new manager mode additions and the much improved graphics and game play all round! I was disappointed, because i assumed that EA sports would not find the time to make it, with it already out on the PS3, however I am ecstatic with the easy to use format.
The shooting has created a much wider variety of shots to perform, and with a more realistic goalkeeper with better perception of the game, it brings a real life scenario to your television. Something Fifa have picked up from last year is their improvement in the lower leagues, with improved player ratings and more realistic stadiums. The commentators have improved no end, however I was not too impressed by this year's menu backgroung music!
Undoubtedly, the biggest improvement was the improved manager mode, with more realistic pricing for each player, and the format of the transfer market, with player availability. Finally, the new manager memos given by the board are also great fun to try and answer correctly! A great game all round... I am going back to playing it now!
Great improvement from 09.
I got this game on release day and instantly sore the improvements i played stoke vs man utd and as a stoke fan was very happy to see rory delaps throw included in the game and with a bit of commentary about it. Also now all the goalkeepers in the prem have there actual kits. And holland are finally in the game. The gameplay is improved although if you play it on fast mode the game can 'lag' for a short moment this is not online btw. But if you play it in normal this is not a problem. The unlockables are good you can unlock a good choice of boots, 3rd kits etc. Now for the two main game modes. Manager mode has not improved a great deal from 2009 although the transfers are more realistic and you can have a training sim now and it even shows the draw being made for the carling cup and the fa cup and other tournaments.Be a pro has improved no end you can now start a career and get the england team you start of unnoticed and then you gradually get into your national team (I have been in the squad twice but have not made the starting 11 once) i also found out you can be dropped from the sqauad if you dont perform as i did not score for a few matches and suddenly found my self out of the squad. Overall a great attempt at fifa's last ever game on the PS2 i'd think its gone with a bang!.
About FIFA 10 (PS2) detail
- Amazon Sales Rank: #67 in Computer & Video Games
- Brand: Electronic Arts
- Released on: 2009-10-02
- Platform: PlayStation2
- Format: Unknown format
- Original language: English
- Dimensions: .20 pounds
FIFA 10 (PS2) Description
Last year's game topped the league and now the all-new FIFA 10 is looking to defend its title as the number one football action game. More realistic than ever, this latest sequel has greatly improved artificial intelligence, ball physics and graphics.
Brand new this year is the 360 degree dribbling system, giving you the most precise control ever. There are also changes to how the defensive line is formed, as well as improvements to crosses, freekicks and goalkeepers (who can now receive red cards).
Naturally the game retains its hugely successful on and offline multiplayer modes, with new options and better stability for online play. The manager mode has also seen a massive update to make it just as deep and complex as the main game. With all these new features and more EA Sports are betting on FIFA remaining the champions for a long time to come.
Key Features
- Leagues better: The world's most successful football sim gets even better with improvements across the board, including physics, controls and multiplayer options.
- Dynamic dribble: New 360 degree dribbling control system allows for pixel perfect control of the ball at all times
- Football focus: Newly improved artificial intelligence ensures teammates and opponents always move with a purpose and stay focused on the ball at all times
- Beautiful game: Massively improved graphics, including better player likenesses, new crowd animations and new rain and snow effects that really affect the gameplay.
- Master manager: Greatly expanded manager mode, with a revamped experience point system and staff upgrades, a new interface and the chance to edit kit numbers.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360)
Worth the wait
I picked this up last night at midnight from the place i work (game) and have been playing it ever since , it is outstanding. Graphically it is on another level to nearly all games out at that monent. It looks great on an HD tv but m sure it would look excellent on a normal tv. The single player took nearly six hours for me to complete which is quite short, it does not disapoint being all action from start to finish in a very nice variety of locations. There is a point in the story which is simply put the gaming moment of this year for me ( i know that makes no sense but when you arrive at it you will know). The only flaw is there is no Co-op story mode but that is made fine by the actual Spec-ops mode which is co-op and has a variety of missions, which are so good to play with a friend. I tried firing up the multiplayer earlier on this morning and already theres a load of people playing it and with good reason its great also i would say its better than in the original because of all the small difference that have been made, they add up to something big i feel.
Overall if you own a 360 you must buy this and experience the best game of the year.
Worth every penny - and yes - it meets all the hype in the world !
This is gaming at its absolute best. In HD is mind-blowing; the graphics incredible and the sound effects awesome. The maps are huge, vast and detailed and this game will (like its predecessor) provide months and months of top quality gaming.
After the wait, the hype and the queueing at midnight, I'm pleased to say it was all worth it. To anyone luckily enough not yet to have discovered the awesomeness of the COD games then buy in the knowledge you're about to enter a new world of incredible game play; to those already familiar - why haven't you bought this game yet ??
The "sad" thing about this game is that it blows away other "similar" titles, kinda spoils you, and sets a very high benchmark for future titles to attain.
Awesome Graphics
The graphics on Modern Warefare 2 are absolutely mindblowing; there is a great deal of detail in every scene. Whilst the game is very short I have almost completed it in under a day; there are some very good scenes- such as when you escape on snowmobiles or when you go into the slums of Brazil in order to get a prisoner whom might be useful in an exchange. However, there is one scenario on story mode which goes too far I won't spoil it but I don't think it adds anything to the story and honestly i can't believe they have been allowed to keep it in especially as this happened in real life.
Having been used to played WAW my gripe is the same as for Modern Warfare on multiplayer mode in that I don't think the weapons have the same characteristics and variety as in the multiplayer on WAW. As with Modern warfare I think story mode is where the game excells whereas with WAW I think the opposite is true and it is the multiplayer which makes the game so great.
In short i think a lot of people will want to rent this game as i have as it has a very short game play unless you are a big fan of the multiplayer mode and have enjoyed Modern warfare then you won't be disappointed.
About Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360) detail
- Amazon Sales Rank: #1 in Computer & Video Games
- Brand: ACTIVISION
- Released on: 2009-11-10
- Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
- Platform: Xbox 360
- Format: Unknown format
- Dimensions: .23 pounds
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360) Description
Modern Warfare 2, the sequel to the Multiplayer Game of the Year winner 'Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare', continues the gripping and heart-racing saga with an unprecedented level of action as players face off against a new threat dedicated to bringing the world to the brink of collapse.
- Call of Warfare: Stunning cinematic action, including new underwater missions, new gadgets such as the motion detector and new vehicles including snowmobiles and more.
- Rough guide: Massive globe-spanning adventure sees you travelling to the deserts of Afghanistan, the slums of Rio de Janerio and the wilderness of Russia.
- Bigger world: New larger levels allow you to tackle missions however you want: will you try a frontal assault or a more stealthy approach from another angle?
- Special co-op: New Special Forces mode will introduce two player co-operative play for the first time, in a series of non-story missions
- Be the best: Competitive multiplayer is even bigger and better than before, with all-new rewards for everyone from raw recruits to the most experienced players.
Need For Speed: Shift (Xbox 360)
A very good game, but perhaps not for some NFS fans
This game is very similar to the likes of Race Pro, Grid and most of all; Forza 2, it's perhaps even more realistic than any of them, so if you are the typical NFS fan who likes the previous easy handling style games, and doesn't like your racers too realistic this may well be frustrating.
At first I found the game a little unexciting, it has all been done before with Grid and Forza, but I have to say it does grow on you hugely the more you play.
The career is pretty pointless unless you like that kind of thing, the only purpouse of it is to get the BMW M3 GT2 which the game gives you when you have completed and beaten the very last NFS live tour race at Brands Hatch, apart from that all the tracks and cars are already available to play in quick race mode right from the off, and if you find this sort of mode tedious, it gets worse, as it gets tougher the further you progress into the career, the easy mode here is most definitely not for absolute beginners new to racing games and is challenging at first, especially with the new tracks.
Graphics are good and although the aren't mindblowing I have to say that the game leads the way in trackside detail and objects, there is just so much more stuff around the tracks that you just don't see in other games, Donnington for instance, has been done dozens of times in other games, but here you will find yourself noticing new things all around the track.
I have to say I don't like the gimmick of blurring the cockpit when the car goes above 100mph, since when do drivers get blurred vision inside their cars when they go this fast? it is the one chance you get to have a look around the cockpit when you are on a long straight and you can't beacuse the whole thing has blurred away, even the ai's cars blur at that speed, but not the outside world, I don't know whose stupid idea that was to implement this but it was a ludicrous one, especially as the game is trying to be realistic. Another thing is when you crash the screen goes black and white, something you'll either like or loathe. The AI aren't all that either, they make Michael Schumacher seem sportsmanlike, as they will ram you like demented loons for no reason, in reality they would be disqualified for such behaviour, and if you have it set on hard, they seem to get even more agressive, too much to be honest, which can spoil the racing, it seems EA has modelled the Ai not on real life race drivers, who would fear for their own lives and their fellow drivers at such speeds, but on the people who race online; who as soon as you overtake them, will try and ram you off the track, but this isn't Burnout Revenge, its a racing sim. Another complaint; only 3 difficulty levels to choose from, medium is too esay and hard is a tad too hard, of course that's just me, but EA need to take into account that 3 difficulty levels doesn't cover all the different kind of gamers skill levels out there, and if a game is either too easy or too hard it doesnt give much of a challenge. I do wish they would include a custom creatable tournament in the game, where you can create a tournament with any amount of tracks you choose, career tournaments are pathetic with their handful of races, it would be far better than racing 'quick races', not enough racing games offer this and they should. Those gripes aside, I would say everything else is perfectly good.
On a final note, the game has very likely saved the NFS franchise, the in car dashes are fantastic, and the cars handling is great, and whats more the game grows on you, but if you are of the view that you preferred the old games and hate this, don't despair as there are a couple of games out early next year that are similar to the old NFS arcadey games, called 'Split Second' and another called 'Blur' which is made by the guys who made PGR, check them out, there are videos on amazon.
TRACKS: the game does offer mostly new tracks not found in other games, I am so sick of racing silverstone, laguna seca, etc because they are in so many games already, but that aside there are some great new tracks to get stuck into, the track list is as follows:
Alpental
Ambush Canyon
Autopolis GP/Lakeside
Brands Hatch GP/Indy
Dakota Club/GP/National/Tri Oval
Donington GP/National
Ebisu Circuit South/West
Glendale Club/East/West
Hazyview Eight/Oval
Laguna Seca
London River/Royal Mile
Miyatomi
Nordschleife/Aremburg/Karussell/Nurburg
Road America
Rustle Creek
Silverstone GP/International/National
Spa Francorchamps
Tokyo Circuit/Club
Willow Springs GP/Horse Thief Mile
and CARS:
2006 Aston Martin DBR9
2009 Audi R8 LMS
2008 Audi R8
2008 Audi RS 4
2007 Audi S3
2007 Audi TT 3.2 quattro
2006 Audi S4
BMW M3 E36
BMW M3 E46
BMW M3 E92
2008 BMW 135i Coupé
2009 BMW M3 GT2 (available in the 'Special Edition' version only)
2007 BMW Z4 M Coupé
2008 Bugatti Veyron 16.4
2006 Dodge Challenger Concept
2008 Dodge Viper SRT10
Vaughn Gittin Jr's 2010 Falken Tire Ford Mustang GT
2010 Ford Shelby GT500
2007 Ford Focus ST
2006 Ford GT
2006 Need For Speed Shelby Terlingua
1996 Ford Escort RS Cosworth
2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS
2006 Chevrolet Cobalt SS
2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
2006 Honda Civic Si
2000 Honda S2000
2006 Koenigsegg CCX
2008 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4
2007 Lamborghini Murciélago LP640
2007 Lamborghini Reventón
2006 Lotus Elise 111R
2007 Lotus Exige S
2005 Maserati MC12 GT1
2008 Mazda MX-5
2006 Mazda RX-8
1995 Mazda RX-7
1994 McLaren F1
2007 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition
2007 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer EVOLUTION
2006 Mitsubishi Lancer EVOLUTION IX MR-edition
2003 Infiniti G35 (V35)
1997 Nissan 200SX (S14)
2009 Nissan 370Z (Z34)
2006 Nissan 350Z (Z33)
2009 Nissan GT-R SpecV (R35)
2008 Nissan GT-R (R35)
2000 Nissan Silvia (S15) spec.R AERO
1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34)
1972 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R
1992 Nissan 240SX (S13)
2006 Pagani Zonda F
2010 Pagani Zonda R
2008 Porsche 911 GT2
2009 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
2006 Porsche 911 GT3 RS
2004 Porsche Carrera GT
2007 Porsche Cayman S
2008 Renault Mégane RS
2007 SEAT Leon CUPRA
2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STi
2007 Lexus LF-A Concept
2008 SCION tC
1986 Toyota Corolla GTS (A86)
2008 Volkswagen Scirocco
2006 Volkswagen Golf GT
Well, it looks nice...
There is no doubt that this game looks nice, but unfortunately it doesn't play nice!
First of all, the loading time for each of the tracks is excruciatingly long - even with the game installed to the hard drive. By the time the tracks load, I have usually lost the will to live!
The handling of the cars is terrible - the steering seems all wrong with the cars seemingly steering in acute angles left or right with the slightest touch of the controller. You can change the steering sensitivity but the process of doing this is terrible. You have to go all the way out to the top menu, change the controller settings (which are not documented) and then go into a quick race to try them out - due to the dire loading times actually getting this to a stage where the cars are controllable is a long and drawn out process. Even after this, the cars still do not handle correctly.
People may cry 'this is not a simulation!!!!', but I would argue that it has been presented in a way to challenge games such as Forza, which even in its previous incarnation was better.
I have played this all the way to tier 5 (I am level 21), so I have given it a chance, but in the end will be trading it in as it is such a frustrating game. I would strongly suggest that people rent this first and give it a couple of days before deciding to buy.
Dirt 2 is much more fun than this, and I suspect that Forza 3 will be miles better.
The first NFS worth buying in years
NFS used to be great fun, that is until they started making it about street racing and basically trying to create the Fast and the Furious film on a console. It got too glitsy, too 'bro, dude bro pimp your ride bro, like far out add some mad colours so it hits off on the street man'-ey and I pretty much lost interest in the series after Underground 2.
I slotted this in the dvd tray and sighed half expecting Vin Diesel to grunt something at me any second, but no, I was met by excellent graphics, a nice level of realism and nothing annoyed me. It's slick, satisfying and strikes the perfect balance between simulation and arcade racer - you can't really pick up and play it well unless you've played before but by the end of a 3 lap race you've got it and want more.
Firstly you can adjust the driving aids to suit your style, if using a gamepad I would recommend that you switch to control setup 2 if you want to change gear manually and set abs-on, tc-low and sc-off. I initially turned them all off but I tend to have the most fun with this setup as it still allows powersliding exiting a corner and requires that you only brake heavily in a straight line, also once you start to tune your cars it can become difficult to control the wheelspin in a straight line (even at 160mph) without the tc.
Second, the cars: These are great and all exhibit unique handling characteristics, there's no generic feel, the difference between FWD, RWD and AWD is nicely judged, the engine sounds are pretty much perfect and the detailing wonderful. The damage system is good and will only really dent your progress if you say hammer the Veyron you're driving into parts of the Nordschleife at 200mph. The effect when you crash is also a welcome addition.
The tracks look great and the trackside folks wave you along your merry way with smiles, claps and occasional punches in the air. Spa has nice mountains in the background, Silverstone is the most accurate I've ever seen on any game (in lap-feel and detail) and the track surfaces themselves are very accurately rendered. To be quick you have to stay off the larger kerbs (excellent sound when hitting them) and be sure to come off the brakes in time as the gravel traps and tyres will punish you. There are classic racing tracks mixed among make-believe tracks but I like that, it's more exciting and the created ones are just as fun. The drift tracks are actually quite hard with all the aids turned off, and I like that too.
Gameplay is fun, the career mode is a bit linear but gives variety with 'invitational' events that let you drive a specific car for one race, Lotus Elise only for example. Then theres the sort of driving duel races where it's you vs. one AI chump in two closely matched cars, Viper Vs. Ford GT for example. This leads me onto the 'points' system. You get points for either being accurate or aggressive, do a clean sector you get points, push all the other cars off track and you also get points. The more points the better but you'll quickly find that you have to use both philosphies to win. On balance it's not a bad idea and it does encourage you, but I wouldn't worry too much, the desire to be quickest trumps it.
After purchasing this game I found that it has been created in large part by the same games designers behind GTR, GTR:2 and GT Legends. These games are perhaps my favourite on the PC and I'm lucky enough to have a G25 wheel to enjoy them with. I have no doubt that NFS: Shift is a console racer for people like me. What it's not for is people who watched the latest Fast and Furious film and thought it was great.
4 stars, it's the best racer on the xbox 360 at the moment and handles very sweetly with analogue throttle and brakes. It doesn't get 5 because it could do with a few more cars and tracks and most importantly an offline multiplayer splitscreen mode. Still, I'd give it 89%.
*Edit: I should add that it's a relatively difficult game, more difficult than Forza and certainly Dirt 2. You have to be increasingly gentle and certainly progressive with the controls which are very sensitive. There are also extensive tuning options such as rebound, spring rates, front and rear downforce, tyre pressures, ride height, camber adjustment, individual gear ratios etc etc. If you want you can tune up a car just the way you like it then take it online to race.
About Need For Speed: Shift (Xbox 360) detail
- Amazon Sales Rank: #40 in Computer & Video Games
- Brand: Electronic Arts
- Released on: 2009-09-18
- Platform: Xbox 360
- Format: Unknown format
- Original language: English
- Dimensions: .23 pounds
Need For Speed: Shift (Xbox 360) Description
Need for Speed SHIFT is an all-new simulation racing IP that combines the true drivers experience with real-world physics, pixel-perfect car models, and a wide range of authentic race tracks. Need for Speed SHIFT takes players in a different direction to create a simulation experience that replicates the true feeling of driving high-end performance cars. Players are thrust into the loud, visceral, intense, athletic experience of racing a car on the edge of control from the drivers perspective through the combination of perception based G-forces, the hyper reality of the cockpit view, and the brutal experience of a first person crash dynamic. Need for Speed SHIFT features an accurate, accessible physics-based driving model that allows you to feel every impact, every change of track surface and every last bit of grip as you push yourself to the edge.
Need for Speed SHIFT is being developed by Slightly Mad Studios in collaboration with Black Box and senior vice president Patrick Soderlund at EA Games Europe. Slightly Mad Studios includes developers and designers that worked on the critically acclaimed games GT Legends and GTR 2.
- True Driver's Experience A variety of visual cues delivers the true driver's experience including a three-dimensional HUD that mimics driver head movement, inertia and G-forces. The depth of field also adjusts based on the speed of the car
- So when the car is travelling at high speeds the perspective will shift to the distance putting the car/cockpit out of focus
- Enhanced AI A sophisticated AI system will mean that your races are more exciting than ever before. AI opponents will react and perform based on the player's aggression and overall driving skill thus creating race experiences for all skill sets
- Dynamic Crash Effect - When the player hits a static object or opponent car, the player will feel like they are
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