The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Review

The original Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64 is one of my favourite games of all time so when I heard that an updated version was coming to the Nintendo 3DS I was very excited. It was probably one of the deciding factors that made me buy the console if truth be told. But could a 13 year old game still hold its own against modern day RPGs and games? The answer is a resounding, Yes!

The game has been totally revamped for the 3DS with new graphics, controls and 3D visuals and it is a joy to play and watch. If anything the game is easier to control with the bottom screen on the 3DS being used to manage your equipment and perform certain actions. The only thing that hasn't been updated is the soundtrack for the game which is still the original score. This is a shame as a new symphonic suite would have been nice but I suppose it stirs the old memories when the original tunes are played.

The game itself is all but identical to the original game (there is an unlockable Master Quest mode, which makes it harder) and it is an interesting engaging story with lots of characters and locations to explore. The puzzles are tricky and from an older generation where you have to use your brain to progress and sometimes you may find yourself a bit stuck after being used to the spoon-fed style of modern gaming.

One problem I do have is that whilst it is nice to be able to carry around a version of the game in your pocket the old fashioned save system is still employed so if you only have 15 minutes to play, save and quit out, then you will be dumped back at the beginning of your current dungeon on some occasions which is a little annoying. I recommend a lot of use of the 3DSs sleep mode.

Overall Ocarina of Time is a fantastic game that really shows the power and potential of the Nintendo 3DS. The original game is one of the most beloved games of all time and in many ways this version improves on it. Game of 2011 already?
9.5/10

Child Of Eden

Child Of Eden is that latest game from the creators of old school classic Rez and is a music based on the rails hypnotic shooter. There is a mumbo-jumbo story of a girl being trapped in a future Internet and its your job to defeat the system and free her, or something (the intro movie looks pretty gorgeous). The game is pretty simple to play but difficult to master and probably best played with Kinect as the motion tracking works really well and makes you feel like a conductor of a trippy orchestra. The game is split into a series of levels and you have to work your way to the end shooting away in time with the J-Poppy tunes. Its a lot of fun to play and looks stunning with some of the most psychedelic visuals you will find on the 360. Its a shame there is only a handful of level each lasting around 10 minutes but you can replay to try and increase your highest score and unlock various bonuses. Child of Eden is fun to play and a virtually unique experience and definitely more of a "proper" game than many of the Kinect titles available.
8/10

Lego Star Wars 3: The Clone Wars 3DS

I have dabbled with the Star Wars games. They are a nice distraction from hardcore gaming. You cannot lose and can be played when you just want to unwind. This is the first Star Wars game on the 3DS and it does a great job of capturing the spirit of the big Console version of the game. Gameplay as usual consists of moving through levels based around the Film/TV series and using the powers of each Star Wars character to solve the puzzle and collecting various Lego pieces. Its good enjoyable basic fun its just a bit of a shame the levels take a reasonably long time to complete and there are no mid-level saves, which is a bit of an oversight on a portable device where short sharp gaming is king.

On a whole Lego Stars Wars 3 is a solid game for the 3DS with some good 3D effects and is a good time waster for any 3DS owner to have.
7.5/10

3DS Game Review Roundup

A catch-up on some of the launch titles and first phase releases for the 3DS

Pilotwings Resort – A great technical demonstration of what the 3DS can do with lovely graphics and stunning 3D. Pilotwings is fun but also frustrating to play as it is not a game you can truly love as it is broken down into couple of minute missions and therefore feels a little bitty. A good launch title and worth having in your collection 7.5/10

Super Street Fighter IV:3D Edition – A very comprehensive version of Street Fighter IV which looks stunning on the 3DS and is a great game to show off to mates. All the classic SF gameplay is there and the game is packed with characters and options. It even plays well online. 7.5/10

Ridge Racer 3D – A racer for the 3DS and whilst looking good in 3D the game itself feels very old tired and basic. The drifting mechanic is a bit silly and racing games have moved on a lot. Still if you fancy a racer for your 3DS this is probably the one to get. 6/10

Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D – A stripped down version of the console Pro Evolution Soccer which is a solid football game. The only problem is the normal camera view for playing looses much of the 3D effect and the only way to play in decent looking 3D is an over the shoulder player view which makes the game very tough but also a bit sickly with all the swishing camera moves. 7/10

Steel Diver – An interesting and unique game which again feels more like a technical demo of the 3DS’s visuals than a fully rounded game. There are several game modes to keep you interested and all are fun but somehow the game feels a little light on content but worth having if you fancy a different sort of game. 7.5/10

Coming Soon... The Legend Of Zelda : Ocarina Of Time 3D review

Duke Nukem Forever Review

There was a review embargo on this game until day of release in the UK. I had the game on Pre-order because I was a big fan of the original Duke Nukem games and as my order entered shipping the Reviews begun to come out. And they were terrible, proclaiming this game one of the worst of the year. I regretted my decision but the game came the next day and I thought it was best to make up my own mind so I installed it on my 360 hard drive and gave it a go. I'm glad I did and I'm glad I exercised my own opinion and its not as bad as the critics would have you believe.

This is a traditional old school First Person Shooter with little in the way of nuance or craft. Its a series of corridors and rooms where you have to clear out the waves of bad guys and move on. The graphics aren't the best, it feels old and very shoddy compared to modern games. Theres a point near the start where you are in a lift and you can see your reflection in a mirror and if you jump you can see a laughable reflection of Duke Nukem lifting his legs up in a comedic animation. Levels are very blocky and lacking in texture. Its very disappointing but somehow seems to fit the old fashioned style of gaming. Is this a strange homage?

Gameplay is pretty basic but fun and when you get down to it fun is what its all about surely? This game will win no awards. It feels half baked and out of touch with today's games but again, I have played it and I have enjoyed it. I cannot quite put my finger on why it keeps me playing but it does. I suggest renting or waiting till it hits bargain bins (probably in the next week) and check it out. If you look beyond its failings there is a half decent FPS in here.
6.5/10

L.A. Noire Review

L.A. Noire comes from Rockstar games, the people who brought you the Grand Theft Auto games and whilst it shares many similarities with GTA those expecting a GTA experience will be in for a surprise as the game has a whole different feel and purpose.

L.A. Noire is set in 1940's L.A. and you play the part of a beat cop on return from the war and the game tracks your progression from normal cop through to detective and beyond. The game is broken down into cases and each case involves investigating various crime scenes looking for clues and gathering evidence, questioning suspects and witnesses and also chases and shoot outs. It is a game that tests your brain more than your ability to waggle a joypad. You have to pay attention to the evidence, the twitches of the people you interview and fit together the case so you can charge the correct person. This part of the game feels totally new and fresh and is very entertaining.

Though the game is set in the massive sprawling city of L.A. it is not as "sandpit" as the GTA games. Beyond driving around the city to get to crime scenes there is little to do in the city apart from discovering some famous landmarks and finding hidden cars. This takes some adjustment after the fun of causing chaos in GTA, but as I have said before, this is not a GTA game.

The game looks and plays lovely. The facial capture technology is the best I have seen in a game and each character comes to life with great voice acting (you'll probably recognise a lot of the cast from Mad Men and other TV and films).

L.A. Noire is a great game but I can't help thinking it just falls slightly short of being an amazing game. I wish more was made of L.A. as a whole and there were more interesting things to do in the city. The game does have a unique feel and mode of play and this will keep you hooked and you will enjoy it a lot but there is just a little bit of something missing to take it to the next level but this game is still highly recommended.
8.5/10

Brink Review

Brink is a marmite game. You will either love it or hate it. There doesn't seem to be a point in between, it is love or hate.

Brink is an online team based First Person Shooter in the same vein as Team Fortress or Shadowrun (one of my favourite games of all time). You pick a side and then pick from one of the 4 character classes and jump into the action. Gameplay at first feels a bit lumpy and slow but once you get used to it the speed and movement is just about right. Brink has a couple of new features such as the ability to "free run" around the level and your character can leap across large gaps, grasping for railings and scale walls and hop over stuff. It makes for much more dynamic gameplay.

The game itself is spread over 8 or so maps as you can battle from either factions perspective and each map consists of a number of objectives. There are no Deathmatch games here. It is all about team work and working your way through a map destroying objectives, protecting certain areas from attack or protecting VIPs. I think the Modern Warfare crowd find this part of the game the hardest part to come to terms with. Modern Warfare is more about solo, rapid-fire, spawn, dash, kill and move but Brink is much more mission based and team work is essential to win each map.

Brink has many customization options. You can completely design your character and even your weapons. There is a level progression system that allows you to upgrade your character and get new skills. The level cap is currently set at Level 20 which is quite easy to hit after a couple of weeks but hopefully that will be increased in a future update.

When I first bought Brink I wasn't sure about it. It didn't feel right. It was way too complicated and I felt lost. But I gave it time and continued to play and then it clicked. Brink is a brilliant FPS. It is something different from all the other online FPS out there and it is an acquired taste but once you acquire that taste you will fall in love with this great game.
9/10

Review Roundup (Portal 2,Dragon Age 2)

Portal 2 - When this was announced I wasn't sure if I should get this. I had completed the original Portal and really enjoyed it but for some reason I couldn't get excited about more puzzles. I play games to relax and unwind, not to get frustrated with complex problems. But for some reason as the release date for Portal 2 approached I started to get more and more interested and excited and eventually threw caution to the wind and decided to order it. This was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Portal 2 is simply a stunning game.
The basis of the game is the same, you move from one puzzle room to the next, but the design and characterization in the game has gone to the next level. There is a proper story in here with interesting and funny characters. The game is virtually perfect, with puzzles just pitched at the right level where you have to flex your brain matter a bit but all solvable and within reach.
With addition of a great Co-Op mode and all the other enhancement's this is simply one of the best games I have ever played and an instant classic that will have you puzzling and laughing all at the same time. 9.5/10

Dragon Age II
I love the RPG's from Bioware and Mass Effect 2 is one of my favourite games ever, however I didn't really get into the original Dragon Age. It was a bit fiddly and none of it compelled me to continue on beyond the first couple of hours of gameplay. I had high hopes for Dragon Age 2. DA2 is an improvement but is still not quite there for me.
The mechanics of the game have been improved and its a lot more fun to play and feels a little less chaotic in battle and the inventory and attributes section have been streamlined a bit so you are not fighting them as much as the monsters but the game itself still has lots of issues which stop it from becoming a great game. The story feels a bit low key and unfulfilling and you soon become bored of the internal racial politics of the world and just want an epic story but most of the game is wandering around the same city doing the same tasks over and over again. When you do leave the city you tend to find yourself in identikit cave systems, fighting the same battles, and then juggling which items you'd like to keep and which you have to drop.
It had a lot of potential and I do enjoy the game in small doses but the whole thing lacks the polish I like from a game. It feels like development was rushed out, which is a real shame as some of the characters in the game are very engaging but overall the game is lacking and could have done with another 6 months in development, some tweaks to the system, and also a more Epic storyline. 6.5/10