Speed Ball 2 Evolution

Publisher:
Tower Studios
Developer:
Vivid Games
Genre:
2D Sports
Release Date:
February 2011

It's odd but when my friends suddenly started tweeting about the rewards that they had received in Speedball it was the first time that I'd heard of this series. It's past incarnations had done quite well for themselves so not knowing what to expect I thought I'd give the latest one a go on my iPhone.



Picking for myself a logo and naming my team the mighty "Lovefist" the game helpfully offered me a tutorial. The game is like rugby mixed with football. Each team fields 10 players and the objective is to score more points. This can be done by scoring goals, hitting the various other targets or knocking out the other players team. The latter can be achieved by tackling the opposing teams players whenever possible and reducing their individual health bars to 0. There's a couple of extra bits and pieces like power ups and features that double your points when you score. My personal favourite was the button that when hit turns the ball into a lethal projectile. As is typical with this kind of game you actively control whichever character has the ball.

I was grateful for the tutorial as you can play by either tilting your iPhone in the direction you want your currently selected player to move or by enabling an optional joystick. Tapping elsewhere on the screen throws the ball or tackles in the direction you are currently facing. I started with the tilt controls but found it sometimes went a bit wrong for me. My controlled player constantly ran to the bottom of the screen and scored home goals. Not very helpful I must say! Perhaps it's just my aging iPhone or my inability to sit still but I found the game more enjoyable when I was able to use the joystick.



So I playing through the career mode with my team 'Lovefist'. I was given some money with which to enhance their abilities and because I wanted 'Lovefist' to be a forceful team I spent this on enhancing their strength and stamina. While this gave my team an edge when tackling it unfortunately rendered them useless in other aspects of the game, meaning I lost my first season. In the second season their stats were carried over and thanks to a few lucky wins I was able to accrue enough cash to balance them out. A few hours later I realised just how addictive this game can be.

Its a shame that I hadn't encountered this game before as it's absolutely brilliant. The game play has had me hooked for quite a while and it's fairly easy to get into, got a minute or two to spend? Play a quick match you won't regret it.

Dickin about: Minecraft Project

I've been working on this as part of a presentation I will soon be making and thought I'd share it with you all.



A different angle;


A night time shot;


I'll be posting the presentation when it has been finished so keep an eye out for it.

Won't somebody please think about the parents?

One of the few good things about being a gamer is that you always know what you're looking for when you walk into a store. You know that anything with 'Grand Theft Auto' in the title is going to feature prostitute butchering rampages and anything with 'Nintendogs' in its name isn't, well not while Nintendo are ignoring my suggestions at least. The question is though what if you weren't so well informed? What if you were a parent trying to find a video game for your offspring but didn't want to expose them to something that is far too mature for them?

The Internet is the first choice and a few keywords can lead you to some good sites, this one for example http://www.whattheyplay.com/ seems quite well written and impartial which is reassuring because it's quite easy arrive at a site detailing the latest outrage in gaming and that can be quite disconcerting.

If you've not had time to search the Internet before finding yourself in a store what else is there to help you decide? Truthfully the system in place for age ratings is more confusing than helpful, even for someone who knows their video games. Whats the difference between PEGI and ESRB? Why is this game 7+ and another a lower rating? Is it because it contains content not suitable for people under that age or is it because the game is too complicated for a small child to understand?

So the last line of defence for the parent is the people working at the store. It's up to these stalwart defenders of our sanity to guide us to the correct decision. To sort the wheat from the chaff, to help us avoid something that may despoil our innocence. Do they succeed in their task? Well not always.

For a start you go to a game store and assume the people working there are video game fanatics but that isn't always the case. Particularly in the run up to Christmas it's not uncommon to find people there who want to make some money to spend on presents and drink and aren't really interested in video games. I'm not saying their evil, just that they may be as ill informed as the parents they are trying to advise.

Then you have to keep in mind that they are their to do a job and not share their passion. When I worked at a video game store I was a terrible employee, I'd rather people went away with the right game than the most expensive one. It worked out alright for me because people grew to trust that and returned more often but for most people it's all about pushing the latest and greatest game. Even if you know yourself it's not a very good one, or one suitable for the person someone is buying it for.

Perhaps then it's up to us to inform and teach. The people who have played games to death help steer parents to the right decision for their kids. It sounds like a tough task but I think I can do it... just as soon as I've sliced up a few more hookers.

Why I won't be getting a 3DS

When the 3DS was first announced I was quite quick to get my preorder down for one but I have since been wondering is it worth £200?

Simply put the technology is impressive. Controlling a fully 3D version of Link as he appears from a card you put on the table is amazing. Annoyingly though not everyone can appreciate the 3D effects. After adjusting the slider for a while I was able to get the full effect but every time I moved my head things got a bit blurry. Not ideal in a portable console.



The battery life isn't great either. They found themselves having to recharge every 2 hours at least. Not ideal if you want something to entertain you over a long journey.

Couple that with a somewhat lacklustre range of launch titles, featuring primarily remakes or sequels of existing games and the £200 price tag becomes a bit questionable. I already own Street Fighter 4 on my 360 so what's the point of getting it again? Is 3D worth it?

I will be getting a 3DS someday. Perhaps when Nintendo do the inevitable 3DS lite but definitely not before the price drops to something a little more reasonable.

Gonna take you for a ride! : Marvel Vs Capcom 3

Publisher:
Capcom
Developer:
Capcom
Genre:
2d fighter
Release Date:
February 18th 2011

The first Marvel vs Capcom game came out on the Dreamcast in 1999 and while some of the "die hard" fans of 2d fighters were put off my its simplicity, it made the genre a lot more accessible to the more casual player. Truly stunning combinations were no longer exclusive to people who devoted hours to the study of complex move lists. You could quite easily get the same effect from mashing a few buttons and hoping for the best, well, some of the time. So 12 years on Marvel Vs Capcom 3 graces our consoles, how does it fare?

The premise is as always paper thin. Some how Doctor Doom and Albert Wesker have managed to cause the worlds of Capcom and Marvel to merge, allowing the top fighters from both worlds to engage in a massive free for all. Oh and then Galactus shows up. Don't expect a great deal of plot from these games, though the endings for each character are amusing, they are ultimately meaningless.

The game's format is simple, each player picks 3 characters from the vast roster and squares up against another similar squad. There are no "rounds" as such, the game keeps going until the time runs out or all 3 characters are knocked unconscious. You get to switch your characters in and out as and when you wish, allowing your other team members time to rest, so you aren't stuck with just one person until they are knocked out. You can also bring your team mates out temporarily to throw the odd fireball but this leaves them vulnerable to a good kicking. Special moves are fairly easy to pull off and the ability to knock people around in the air makes for some spectacular combinations that are all easy to pull off. If you're new to the genre or just not very good, like me, then the game is generous to provide a "simple" mode. In simple mode a lot of the moves are just simplified to pushing a few buttons, which means they are easier to pull off. Of course this simplicity gets in the way of the really large combinations that require a bit more skill.



Just as an aside, you don't need an arcade stick for this game, you can quite happily play the game with the default controller of choice but an arcade stick does make things better and easier. I still had my "Street Fighter 4: Standard" one knocking around and that does the job adequately.

The multiplayer aspect is definitely this game's forte. The online system is fairly quick to get into, although I've had some difficulty in the past with ranked games. In truth I prefer playing against friends round someone's house as thats where the most fun is to be had, but it's nice that the online aspect has been done well.

Visually the game is stunning, the characters themselves are a mixture of cell shading and 3D that gives them a very comic book feel. The backgrounds while vibrant and detailed are done in a manner that doesn't distract you from the fight at hand, but provides a colourful backdrop for your special moves. My personal favourite level is "Tron Bonne's", with a firework display going off in the background.



I have to admit that while for the most part the voice acting is good, a certain few character's voices get annoying very quickly. Thankfully there is an option to switch specific character's voice acting to Japanese that makes it slightly less painful on the ears. The music is pretty much a standard affair, it's often hard to hear over the special moves and the like but there are a few good songs, the remix of "Gonna take you for a ride" is really good.

The biggest problem that you will find with Marvel Vs Capcom 3, with any game of this genre , is the lack of longevity. After the first few days of initial play you'll slowly find yourself playing less and less. Often the game becomes relegated to the occasional gaming session at a friend's house. It's sad but is often the way with these games, they're lack of any discernable story makes it hard for them to maintain interest. There is a noble effort to address this by providing a gallery of content that is for the most part locked until you accrue a certain level of points, points being awarded for almost anything apart from looking at things in the gallery. While it's enough to make people want to finish the game as each character, it's not enough to add a great deal to the game.

So enjoy this game, even by the high standards of this genre it stands top of the class, just don't expect to be playing it as much in a few months time.

PS3 drought, 360 price slash, end of the world? Not really

As most of you have probably heard LG's lawsuit with Sony has resulted in a ban against PS3s being imported into Europe. Does this mean that we're going to run out of PS3 consoles or that Microsoft will drop prices in an attempt to capitalise on this opportunity? It's always a possibility but in reality it's not very likely.

Firstly most stores have at least a 2 weeks supply of the consoles. Secondly the ban itself is only for 10 days. LG are fighting to have this extended while Sony are doing everything they can to get the time reduced so it will be interesting to see how this develops.

The ban itself only applies to Holland so it is possible for Sony to setup operations elsewhere that would allow them to supply Europe with consoles. LG could of course just begin again in that new location and get the same ban in place.

In short it's going to be interesting series of events but ultimately with little consequence for us consumers. Anyway the arrival of the 3DS is probably going to have a bigger impact.

For more details I'd recommend looking at the article gamesindustry.biz.

Going to make you an offer you can't refuse: Mafia 2

Publisher:
2K Games
Developer:
2K Czech
Genre:
3rd Person Shooter, Sandbox game
Release Date:
August 24, 2010

It's hard not to find the world of the Mafia appealing. From what we've seen in the films it's a life of glitz, glamour, violence, gun fights and stinking great amounts of money. What's not to like? Well Mafia 2 is going to show you the life of a made man and contrary to the films it's not all it's cracked up to be.

As far as I can tell Mafia 2 has no major connections to the original game apart from a brief cameo from the protagonist of the original game. Instead you are cast in the role of Vito Scaletta who begins by recounting his life story of poverty and strife. Caught whilst stealing with his friend Joe Barbaro, Vito is sent to fight in the second world war, this segment serving as the games tutorial. Sent home with an injury, Joe uses his new connections to save Vito from having to return to the war. Going home to tell his family the good news, Vito soon finds his father has left the family in debt to some sinister Mafia types who are keen to get their money back. At this point Vito's journey into the life of organized crime begins, all set to the backdrop of post World War 2 America.



Mafia 2 is an interesting game. At first it looks like any old sandbox game, you have a large city, a wealth of cars to steal and a number of people to rob from but that's where the similarities end. While there are a number of activities; like upgrading your car of choice, stealing from the various shops, eating at fancy restaurants and buying stylish suits ultimately the only story line is that of the main game. So there's no side missions or activities to keep you entertained. Thankfully however the game never forces you to do some inane tasks to unlock the story, it's always available. There for you to dip into as you wish. It's a good thing then that 2K games have written such an immersive story with well rounded characters, otherwise you'd have little reason to play.

Missions vary, sometimes you'll find yourself shooting anything that looks at you funny, other times you'll be racing around town with the police in close pursuit, the rest of the time missions are a combination of the two. There's nothing particularly ground breaking about this game but in the same respect everything is done well so there's nothing that stands out as poor. The only things worth mentioning are a few interesting ideas that hopefully future games will take into consideration. For example police are no longer magically aware that you are a criminal and they don't suffer from such crippling amnesia that they forget you after losing sight of you for a while. Instead, if your car runs someone over and they see your license plate then they will come after you if they see you driving around town. If you shoot someone but escape then you need to change your clothes before you can safely wander about again, otherwise you will be instantly greeted with a shotgun blast to the nostril. It sounds simple but ultimately it makes you consider your actions quite carefully before committing to a violent crime spree.



The world itself seems small compared to some of the other games in the sandbox genre but it's so beautifully put together you won't seem to mind as much. Driving around in my pristine car of choice, I couldn't help but admire how wonderful everything looked as it was reflected off the bonnet of my car. Not once did the game chug, not even the time when I decided to introduce a number of cop cars to my good friend Mr Hand grenade and a series of explosions began that would put any action film to shame. My computer is fairly new but I wouldn't consider it the top tier of gaming machines, not by a long shot.

To accompany the brilliant aesthetics of the game you get your usual in car radio stations, playing the likes of the sultry voiced Dean Martin initially, but later adding a few rock tracks to its repartee, things like 'Buddy Holly and the Crickets'. The voice acting isn't bad, I never flinched when a character opened their mouth which makes the game fairly easy on the ears and while there is a fair bit of foul language its never excessive, which is good because it often detracts from the dialogue. Unless its Deadwood, then it makes for a good drinking game.

Simply put, if you have ever seen a film about the Mafia that you enjoyed, go buy this game. It's gripping story will draw you in and the amazing graphics will keep you hooked. If you want your modern day gangster game with a truly free setting then perhaps this game isn't for you.