Games reviews
Nov 20 2008 by Ross Wilkinson, The Journal
MIRROR'S Edge on PS3 adds yet more spark to a gaming season already brimming with top titles, in the run-up to Christmas.
It’s a corking first person action adventure, with a twist that has to be seen to be believed. Meanwhile, Call Of Duty: World At War is another top-notch WWII shooter on Xbox 360, while Football Manager 2009 is statistical sporting heaven on PSP. What’s Cooking? Jamie Oliver puts a virtual recipe book into the cartridge slot of your DS, and World Heroes Anthology on PS2 is a retro trip down fighting memory lane.
GAME OF THE WEEK: ADRENALIN-PUMPING ACTION
Title: Mirror’s Edge
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £49.99
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This is no ordinary first-person title – let’s make that very clear from the start. And that alone should send you shooting to the shops to snap up this instant classic from EA. Your character is Faith, a ‘runner’ in a world where communication channels are highly monitored and the movement of information is closely watched. Be prepared for a bumpy ride as one of these high-octane, adrenalin-pumping couriers.
From the off, you’ll see first-hand how the incredible perspective and pace of movement push this game to the limits. Find yourself on the edge of the city and the wrong side of the law, as you attempt to discover the truth behind your sister’s wrongful framing for murder. Superb chases, intense combat – this is an awesome, high-flying experience.
TURN BACK THE CLOCK WITH THIS HISTORICAL SHOOTER
Title: Call Of Duty: World At War
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Shooter
Price: £49.99
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After a fantastic foray into present day, the Call Of Duty plunges back into more familiar territory – World War II – and forces players to survive the final climactic days of a world at war, to thwart the advance of Axis powers on multiple fronts from Europe to the Pacific.
Play as a US Marine or Russian conscript across a variety of European and Pacific infantry, vehicle and airborne missions. This game delivers just the kind of shooter experience we’ve come to expect.
A first class WWII recreation.
BECOME A VIRTUAL FOOTBALL TYCOON
Title: Football Manager 2009
Platform: PSP
Genre: Football Management
Price: £39.99
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There’s nothing more frustrating than having to keep your stat-crunching, life-sucking virtual football management career confined to a PC desktop. But fear not – now you can lose yourself in all those tactics, transfers and numbers, numbers, numbers whether you’re on the bus, train or maybe sneaking in a pre-season friendly under the desk at work. What’s more – for the first time on PSP, the series now features a 2D match engine with two camera angles, allowing you to view the full match or zoom in on the action. You can also run up to four playable divisions at any one time. Addictive, engrossing, football entertainment.
FIGHTING CLASSICS ARE WORLD WEARY
Title: World Heroes Anthology
Platform: PS2
Genre: Fighting
Price: £19.99
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Another one of gaming history’s most famous franchises is bundled up into this bumper collection, pulling together the 2D fighting classics of World Heroes, World Heroes 2, World Heroes 2 Jet and World Heroes Perfect.
Battling through history in a tournament facilitated by a time machine, many of the games’ dozens of characters are based on actual historical figures, providing an interesting twist to the combat.
Aside from that, though, it’s pretty much what you’d expect from a now ageing fighting series – slightly dodgy graphics, limited special techniques and strange English translations. Big fans of World Heroes will enjoy the trip down memory lane, but everyone else should probably pass.
WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT
If you’re new to the MMORPG genre and planning on getting your teeth into World Of Warcraft: Wrath Of The Lich King this month, you might want a little helping hand. So what perfect – even spooky – timing for BradyGames to release their official strategy guide. A staggering 352 pages will give you everything you need to know about the new continent, from in-depth information on quests, bosses and treasures, to a full guide to all the new character-customisation options. A perfect playing partner, out now for just £16.99.
In the charts this week, Gears Of War stormed into the top spot, keeping FIFA 09 rooted in second place and sending Fallout 3 tumbling down to third. LittleBigPlanet entered the chart at four, with WWE SmackDown Vs RAW 2009, and Professor Layton and the Curious Village close behind as the other new entries at five and six.
GAMES CHART ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE
1.(-) Gears Of War 2
2.(2) FIFA 09
3.(1) Fallout 3
4.(-) LittleBigPlanet
5.(-) WWE SmackDown vs RAW 2009
6.(-) Professor Layton and the Curious Village
7.(9) Mario Kart Wii
8.(7) Quantum of Solace
9.(5) Pro Evolution Soccer 2009
10.(3) Wii Fit
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd
