Assassins Creed 2

Assassins Creed 2

Format Played

: Xbox 360 (also available on PS3 and PC)
Players: 1 player
Difficulty: Easy to get into, but later fights/puzzles can become rather taxing.
Gametime Needed: The story is a fair length – 12 hours or so, with a few more needed to reach 1000 GP.

Now THAT’S more like it!! Assassins Creed 2 is a PROPER sequel – thank goodness. Having failed to get to the end of the original Assassins Creed, I bought the sequel purely because so many sources had reassured me that the countless faults had been rectified. The original had so much potential, and the game engine was actually pretty decent. But the layout and design of the game was simply lazy. As well as there being far too many things to run around collecting, the main gripe I had with AC1 was the unforgivably repetitive story. Arrive in city. Find clues. Get enough clues to identify target. Find target. Kill target. Leg it. Report back to head honcho. Arrive in city. Find clues. Get…….. . That was it. Unless you wanted to traverse the large open world looking for flags. And then you had the annoying stealth system that meant you’d be spotted if you weren’t walking in the right manner.

To summarise, AC1 should have been great. But after the first mission, you realise it was a case of ‘should have been’, and with 9 missions of pretty much identical content, I didn’t make it to the end.

Fast forward 2 and a bit years and Ubisoft have obviously listened to the many critics, because AC2 takes everything that’s wrong with it’s predecessor and improves them into a very decent, well presented and above all ENJOYABLE game.

Ezio and friends do battle in an attractive Piazza in Florence

Rather than focussing on the Crusades, AC2 takes place in 15th Century Italy. The story picks up right after the rather confusing end to the original, and the strange ‘modern-day-bloke-is-plugged-into-a-machine-to-extract-memories-from-ancestor’ plotline. I still don’t think the series needs all this guff with the Animus (the machine your modern day persona uses to access the past) but fortunately, AC2 has a lot less cut scenes from the present day, and let’s the beautiful historical setting of Renaissance Italy do the talking – you’ll spend 90% of the game ‘in session’, and that’s without running around trying to get all the collectables.

You play as Ezio – a Florentine assassin whose story is well worked into the action, as you meet many influential Italians (including Leonardo Da Vinci, who acts as a sort of Q for the Renaissance to your historical Bond) – and your tale is one of destiny, revenge, action and adventure. It’s much more gripping than before, and you engage far more with Ezio than you did with the mysterious (well, indistinct) Altair.

The main difference in the game for me was how much more varied the missions are this time around. Yes – the end result is the same, but the plot is much more interesting, and by carrying our many different tasks for your allies, you get to progress through the story in a more varied, interesting way. There’s even a cart chase and a bit of fun with Leonardo’s prototype flying machine, so it’s much better than finding the clues in exactly the same way for each individual assassination mission.

Ezio soars above Venice in Leonardo's latest experiment

One of the best things I found with AC2 was the first time the city of Florence loaded up in front of me – the landscapes are stunning. The authentic settings in the first game (and the free and easy way to leap around them) have been touched up a notch or two for the sequel. All the cities are huge, but never too samey, and the urge to simply climb up to the highest points and leap around is strong, such is the strength of the visuals. The cities themselves also have much more of an individual feel (particularly Venice) so you certainly feel like you’re in a different place as you travel between locations. One problem I did find with the visuals was the camera – often in combat, the view will shift behind a building, blocking off the fighting. This was also apparent when running away from danger over tight spaces etc. Another problem was the final level in the game. Without wanting to spoil too much, let’s just say that it’s set in another Italian location, one that I have always loved more than any other city, but that level is extremely linear and you don’t get the freedom to explore it at all. Maybe that will come, but in the form of DLC? I certainly hope so.

Another annoying trait of the original was the snail’s pace you had to walk around populated areas, as if you bumped into anyone, the guards would be onto you double quick. Not any more, though obviously, if you’re seen in restricted areas or leaping from roof to roof, the guards will take a stricter approach. But mainly, you’re able to run around the streets, which helps in such vast levels.

Diving into the water in Venice - always a good method of escape

The combat isn’t too different from AC1, but personally, I didn’t mind that. The fighting was never one of the weaker points of the original, and the main idea is the same. There are one or two fantastic new moves though – downing two enemies at once with a dagger in the throat is satisfying, as is pulling an unsuspecting enemy into a bail of hay, but my favourite new move is the ability to pull foes off ledges – especially in Venice where they land in the water below. You do have to adjust the various combat methods more than before, and it makes the game more enjoyable as a result. If I was being extra picky, I could say that the combat is a bit ‘button bash-y’ but even so, some of the counter moves look impressive and feel satisfying.

There are a LOT more weapons at your disposal, but I noticed that I didn’t get the full compliment of moves until after I had finished the main quest, and had to ‘buy’ them in the form of a training exercise at the Villa Monteriggioni – the HQ you use in the game once you’ve completed the original mission in Florence. More hints in-game to tell me I could use ‘long’ weapons to knock bad guys off their feet would have been useful, particularly during a tense, frantic battle towards the end of the game.

For the achievement whores out there, a feature of the first game saw you travelling across the kingdom looking for flags. Depending on how meticulous a gamer you are, these were either a taxing challenge for those trying for 1000GP, or a complete time-consuming pain in the arse for the more casual gamer. Luckily, there aren’t as many things to collect this time around. There are many feathers lurking in similar sorts of places to the flags, and they too can be time consuming, but I didn’t find them as much of a hassle as the flags. They’re in no way integral to the plot, and I’m currently trying to locate them all even though I’ve finished the story mode. There are also ‘glyphs’ to find, located on important buildings such as churches etc. Each glyph comes with a small puzzle you have to try and solve. Once you’ve found all 20 of these, you unlock a ‘secret’ about the animus, and a previous ‘user’ of it. Again, this is a side quest and not essential to the main game, but it’s a bit more interesting than simply collecting a flag.

Home - the Villa Monteriggioni

Overall, Assassins Creed 2 is an enjoyable, classy, well polished title. It’s as much improved from the original as any other title I can think of, and in a series that promised so much, it’s quite a relief. I don’t think it hits the heights of Batman: Arkham Asylum (though the story mode is longer in AC2) but that’s not to say it’s not a fine game in its own right. On the contrary – Assassins Creed 2 is a fine game. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Animus, and unlike the end to the first game, I can’t wait for the next instalment.

Ian's Score: 8.9

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360)

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Format Played: Xbox 360 (also available on PS3 and PC)

Players: 1 player in campaign, 1-2 players in spec ops and the rest of the world in multiplayer!

Difficulty: The campaign mode is pretty straightforward in regular mode, though veteran remains taxing.

Gametime Needed: Regular can be beaten in around 5 hours, so add a few more hours for hardened or veteran levels. Spec ops might take a bit longer, but multiplayer has literally months of gameplay time to enjoy.

It's FINALLY here. It seems to have been an age between the groundbreaking prequel to Modern Warfare 2 (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare). Yes, we've had the excellent World at War to keep us going in the meantime, but after 2 matches on team deathmatch on MW2, I didn't miss the aged weapons from the 1940's, and certainly didn't care about the lack of tanks in Infinity Ward's new masterpiece. Yes - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 actually lives up to the ridiculous hype.

I'll start with the campaign mode, which starts 5 years after the events of Call of Duty 4. There are plenty of familiar faces returning this time around, with the obvious exception of the terrorist leader, Zakhaev, gunned down in the finale of the previous game. Instead, a new threat has emerged - Vladimir Makarov. Unfortunately, if Zakhaev could be considered a bit iffy, Makarov is nothing less than a shit. An evil shit at that. The storyline - whilst wholly unrealistic - is full of drama, explosive scenes (both metaphorical and literal) and more plot twists than a whole season of 24. No doubt many critics will look past the already-controversial airport scene (now is not really the time to get into that debate, but I'll summarise it by saying a cut scene maybe should have sufficed) but that aside, it's certainly a gripping storyline.

Enemies coming from the left, the right, above below - it's all rather chaotic

It's arguable that the campaign mode is the weakest element of MW2. Yes, it looks great. Yes, it's fun. Yes, you get to blow cool stuff up and try to save the world. But it's still short which will come as a blow (although hardly unexpected) to anyone who hasn't got access to xbox live. I finished the campaign on regular in less than 5 and a half hours. It's also rather linear, Halo fans certainly have the upper hand when it comes to the campaign modes, with their expansive, open worlds. That's not to say the campaign mode in MW2 is poor - far from it - just don't think for one moment that it's the main selling point of the title. Because it's certainly not. It's also the only part of the game that falls short of COD 4's high standards (and that's only because they failed to reproduce the brilliance of the ghilly weed sniper level in Chernobyl.)

So - on to a new mode in MW2 - Special Operations (or Spec Ops for short). I would say it's a little bit like Nazi Zombies, but rather than facing hoards of angry (and one would argue prepostorous) zombies, MW2 plays out much more realistic scenarios, some based on the main missions of the campaign. Others owing a huge amount to the influence of COD 4 (remember the mention of the ghilly weed sniping level...? It may be missing from the campaign but there's a treat awaiting you in Spec Ops.....). But the good thing about Spec Ops is that it's 2-player co-operative, both over xbox live and split screen on the same system. It plays excellently, and try to play on veteran mode and the life span is increased. Some levels are VERY taxing. Spec Ops is also varied. One mission sees you piloting a AC-130 whilst your buddy tries to take the enemy base on foot beneath you. Another sees you working together via stealth on foot. Timing and communication are vital, and one feels a great amount of satisfaction once a mission is accomplished.

A view from the AC-130 in Spec Ops mode

If you're having a bad night on multiplayer, it can be good to take the plunge into Spec Ops with a mate, and try to beat your best time, or maybe score some stars (completing the challenge on veteran earns you 3 stars - there are 69 to aim for in total) for some lovely achievement points.

Spec Ops is an excellent, welcome addition to the franchise, one I'm sure we'll hear plenty from in the future - possibly forming part of the DLC that is bound to follow?

So - on to the main feature. Multiplayer. It took me around 15 seconds of my first game to understand one thing - multiplayer is better than it's ever been. Coming from someone who amassed 7 days solid on COD 4 and over 9 whole days on World at War, that is some accolade.

MW2 would still have sold by the bucketload if Infinity Ward would have tarted up the multiplayer mode on their previous game and added a few new quirks and new maps. But they've done more than that - multiplayer has changed dramatically enough to warrant a whole new game. There are more perks and hence challenges than ever before. There are more guns (and therefore, a lot more options and set-ups) than before. There are new incentives. Having a bad round? You get to activate a bonus feature - a 'death streak' - to help you get going a bit. Having a GOOD round? Lucky you - improved kill streaks now include improved rewards, from helicopters (previously the best reward you had) now joined by Harrier jump jets, controllable, armoured helicopters, the AC-130 and even a nuke (that subsequently ends the game) the choice is vast. You have to choose which perks to use. There are 3 slots, and the more you 'rank up', the more choice you have.

I haven't even mentioned weapons yet. There are more weapons, and each weapon has far more challenges and attachments to unlock. I'm currently on level 30 in multiplayer and I STILL haven't totally finished all the upgrades on my first assault rifle. This time, the maximum rank is 70, so stepping up through the prestiges will take a lot longer (COD's top rank was 55, WaW's was 65). Which is no bad thing!

Explosions, bullets, smoke. In multiplayer mode on the 'Favela' map

So - content wise, we have a much improved package. It's bigger, it's better, it's louder, it's far more detailed. So how have the visuals/sounds come on since Infinity Ward's last offering?

Again - they're improved. COD 4 wowed fans and critics alike with it's astounding graphics and realistic sounds. MW2 improves further. You'll notice small things, like a rogue tin can rolling down the street, to chickens flapping wildly in their cages in the market levels in urban Brazil. Even the papers that spew out of the pockets of downed soldiers looks incredible.

As for sounds - again, a huge variety. All weapons sound authentic, and have quite a huge range. My favourite is the 'popping' noise of a silenced sniper rifles. Every sound effect is spot on. Then there are the explosions. The campaign mode in particular is home to some of the most OTT explosions in gaming history. A surround sound system will love you - your neighbours maybe less so.

I have only encountered one problem with multiplayer - the chat function. Infinity Ward has decided to enforce a 'no party chat' rule on multiplayer games, so online t**ts are unfortunately encountered much more than normal. Still, the mute button still works so it's not a total disaster. I can understand the change for games such as search and destroy, when downed soldiers can still help out their squadmates from beyond the grave via party chat, but for simple team deathmatch when all I want to do is a have a natter with some mates, it can be a bit irritating to have to mute everyone else.

A multiplayer match on 'Highrise'. 3 against 1 here - the 3 should win this one..

If you haven't guessed yet, I love this game. Even though I've been playing it for less than a week, I just know that Modern Warfare 2 will spend more time in my xbox throughout 2010 than any other game. It's incredible. All of it - it looks, sounds, feels, plays and immerses you like no other game has managed to do. Despite an all-too-short campaign mode and the enforced game chat in multiplayer, there is very, very little to get frustrated about here, unless you're a bit new to the franchise and find yourself dying much too often at the hands of pre-pubescent brats (who - let's face it - shouldn't be playing this anyway, especially that airport scene).

The launch of Modern Warfare 2 set all kinds of records. The events held dwarfed any other video game launch, and the number sold in the first week have appeared to justify that. It's an epic game, one that will be spoken about for years to come. And I daresay it will still be played in those years as well. Not just a contender for the best game of the year, but it's right up there as my favourite game for the xbox 360, and possibly of all time.

The best just got better. We have a winner.

Ian's Score: 9.7

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves


Format played: PS3

Players: 1 in campaign mode, up to 3 in co-op multiplayer, up to 12 in competitive multiplayer

Difficulty: Medium, though bloody tricky on later skill levels

Gametime Needed: Roughly 10 hours on normal, a bit more on hard, slightly more on crushing. Then an extra few hours to go back for all the treasures. Then multiplayer! In short, plenty.

There comes a time when a game comes along that you have to try really, really hard to find even the slightest hint of a problem with. I've recently completed Naughty Dog's Uncharted 2 - the sequel to the best selling Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, one of the flagship games for the PS3. And do you know what? I actually think I might have found a negative point. Well, possibly. If you're being REALLY picky. I shall come to this minor, minor problem later. But it's not really worth worrying about so don't think it's a deal breaker if you're not sure about purchasing this game. Because if you own a PS3, NOTHING should stop you buying this absolute masterpiece.

Uncharted 2 starts off with real drama, as Drake is suspended in midair, hanging to the seats of a train which is in turn hanging off a cliff in the Himalayas. No cushy tutorial is needed here, and you need to get used to the frantic pace and sudden, heartstoppingly gripping drama right from the off, because the pace never relents, the drama never ceases.

Drake clings on for dear life - and this is just the starting sequence

The story is fantastically well cut, with flashbacks a-plenty until you finally reach the present day, and rejoin an exhausted Drake spread eagled over the snowy ground at the top of the mountain by the wrecked train. But in between this frantic opening and the moment you start to explore the snowy landscape around the wreck, you'll have experienced many magnificent environments both rural and urban, and have killed a wide variety of bad guys. You'll also have been introduced to your new companions, Flynn - a wise cracking Brit - and the eye candy of Uncharted 2, Chloe. You'll also bump into some familiar faces along the way. The voice acting is superb, the cut scenes perfect. In fact, they're so good that when they blend back into the action, I have literally been unable to tell that I'm back in control of Drake. Yes - Uncharted 2 is visually incredible. I may have rabbitted on and on and on about how great Prince of Persia, Batman and Killzone look. But none of them can hold a tee to Uncharted 2. There were occasions where I stopped playing for a few minutes just so I could take in the surroundings. The level of detail is truly breathtaking.

The scenery from the top of the hotel in urban Nepal - staggering

This screenshot isn't from a cutscene - this is simply a typical view of the excellent level in urban Nepal. However, what it doesn't show you is the intricate platforming skills required to reach this vantage point, nor the gun battle with loads of bad guys, not to mention the adrenelaine pumping fight with a helicopter over the rooftops.

Uncharted 2 isn't just a one trick pony though. Like Arkham Asylum (and, naturally, like it's predecessor, Drake's Fortune) there are plenty of puzzles to solve, where you'll get a welcome break from shooting things and instead need to use a bit of intelligence. The puzzles are varied enough not to get tiresome, and are probably just about the right mix of difficulty and longevity. Oh, and they ALSO look impressive, and make the plot that little bit more exciting. Sometimes, you can't wait to see what's behind the door you're about to unlock. And almost every time you do, you're blown away by the visuals yet again.

The majority of Uncharted 2 takes place in Nepal, but unlike games such as Tomb Raider (or even Arkham Asylum) there is little evidence of repetition in the surroundings. Without wanting to give too much away, a simple trip up a mountainside is enough to display breathtaking surroundings of varying content. Buildings, villages, vehicles, greenery - it's all magnificent to look at, and never becomes monotonous.

"Behind you!!"

The combat plays out is much the same way as the original Uncharted, except for the added bonus of the new stealth mode. Creep up behind a bad guy and press square, and he'll be taken out Batman-style. If done properly, no other enemies will be alerted. It certainly adds yet another aspect to the game, and means you can negotiate certain levels in slightly different ways, without using up precious ammo. Otherwise, combat is very similar and still feels as fun as ever. Headshots still feel extremely gratifying, and there is a decent assortment of weapons to use.


Another new feature in the sequel is the multiplayer mode. A quick glance would have you believe that this is nothing more than an add-on, bunged on the end of a solid single player game. Wrong. The multiplayer mode more than holds its own, even incorporating a levelling-up system not too dissimilar from Call of Duty. There are plenty of game modes, from simple team deathmatch to objective based games, such as King of the Hill, Elimination, etc. You're still able to use your character to jump around the scenery as you do in campaign mode, and as you progress and earn money, you can unlock more characters to play as. Also, the more you level up, the more perks you earn. It's quite a steep learning curve, but even someone playing against you who has reached level 40 is 'killable'. I think it rewards you enough for reaching the higher levels without making you invincible.

The maps on multiplayer are pretty good - the fact that you can climb around the scenery helps, as now you're having look all around you to find out where your enemy is lurking. Once you get the hang of the layout, there are some ingenious hiding spots.

Multiplayer mode - if you see someone red - shoot!

Could Uncharted 2's multiplayer mode be a COD beater? Hmm, not quite, at least - not for me, but it certainly doesn't disgrace itself. I would say it is better than the multiplayer offerings of Gears of War, and that is no mean accolade. A hastily rushed add-on to the main game it certainly isn't.

But if you don't want to jump in against the world (who may be significantly better at the game than you), there are other game modes to enjoy with friends. There is an excellent co-op mode, where you and up to 2 friends can tackle a length section from the 1-player mode together which - if there are only 2 of you - is really quite a challenge. There is also a 'treasure trove' mode, in which you are faced with wave after wave of bad guys as you try and retrieve a piece of treasure - located in various parts of the map - and bring it back to your base. Team work and communication is important here, and it's bloody good fun!

Overall, you're getting a LOT for your £40 here. And that's even after you've finished the superb campaign mode. It's a shame there are no trophies to aim for in the multiplayer modes, (a criticism I have often said about COD so it's nothing new for me!) but that's not enough to keep you away.

Uncharted 2 certainly looks better than the vast majority of it's peers, and plays beautifully. The levels are wonderfully crafted, the storyline paces along nicely with some decent twists along the way. Drake himself is actually quite a likeable character, as are the vast majority of the supporting cast (with the possible exception of the VERY stereotypical main bad guy). Oh yes - that one weak spot. Sometimes, the levels look so gorgeous and are so detailed, the next place to jump to/climb up isn't always very clear. That is honestly the only thing I could criticise about this fabulous, fabulous game - and it's one borne purely through the super-realistic visuals.

This game is an absolute joy to play, from start to finish. Anyone with a PS3 MUST buy Uncharted 2. Anyone without a PS3 MUST buy one, simply to be able to play Uncharted 2. The bar has been raised in the video games industry, and now that we've seen what can be achieved, the future for gaming fans looks very exciting indeed. Magnificent.

Ian's Score: 9.5

Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3)

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Format played: PS3 (also available on xbox 360)
Players: 1
Difficulty: Medium
Gametime needed: Not too many - probably less than 10 hours though challenges can keep you going a bit longer







What on earth?! A licensed game that is actually GOOD? And not just good, more like absolutely outstanding. How many times have we seen film tie-ins and the like fall way short of expectations? Lord of the Rings games, Transformers, Bond (well, Goldeneye excepted of course) - all have seen huge success in the Box Office, but all the games play like a damp squib. But tag an 'official' label on it, and it'll still sell. It's clever marketing - spend less time and effort on a game because it'll sell regardless of how good it is.

I've kept a close eye on Arkham Asylum over the last few months. I love Batman - so iconic, so cartoony, so much fun. The Michael Keaton films did their job and pleased me, and after two poor follow-ons, Christian Bale has brought the character and Gotham City back into the limelight.

However, Arkham Asylum isn't based on the film universe - instead, they've gone to the best source for true Batman fans - the DC comics. And boy have they got it spot on!

Batman looks on over Arkham Asylum

As the title suggests, the whole game is set on Arkham island - home of the infamous Arkham Asylum, where the most notorious and demented of Gotham City's criminals are housed and monitored 24 hours a day. The story sees Batman return Gotham's most dangerous villain - The Joker - to Arkham. However, Joker has a plan, and as soon as he's through to the holding cells, all hell breaks loose, and it's up to you as Batman to thwart Joker's evil plan. Joker isn't working alone though - his devoted sidekick - Harley Quinn - also plays a large part in the well crafted plot.

The Joker is brilliantly voiced by Mark Hamill (of Star Wars fame)

The controls are extremely easy to pick up, and you're soon thrust into close hand-to-hand combat with the first bunch of goons Joker sends after you. The combat is extremely satisfying - it's not too difficult to chain a decent combo attack together. Although the combat sections are arguably a bit of a button masher, you will need practise and skill to get the BIG combos (20 +) to unlock those more taxing trophies/achievements.

One of the best features of the game for me was without doubt the 'stealth' sections. Again, you have to take out the goons sent after you. Except these guys are armed with guns. Batman is handy when charged at with a metal pole, but ranged weapons require a different approach. Tapping the L2 button brings up what's called 'detective mode' in which clues as to which secret passage/shortcut to take to the required destination. But it also shows you exactly where your enemies are, and if they're armed or not. A blue shape indicates an unarmed enemy, red indicates an armed enemy. Using the environment is essential to take out these armed goons. You could use the batarang to knock them out, but that might alert other goons. You could sneak up behind them and press triangle for a silent take down. Or you could hoist yourself up onto a vantage point, wait for the unsuspecting goon to walk underneath you and truss him up like a chicken onto the ledge you've just been occupying. Or, if you want a bit more carnage, you could attach exploding gel to a fragile looking wall, jump to a safe point and detonate it remotely, knocking the poor fellah out through the debris. Put simply, there are MANY different and fun ways to get your kill count up, and all of them have different consequences on the rest of the enemies around you. It's fantastic stuff - you really are in charge.

Detective mode - Batman hides from 3 armed goons - marked out as red

As you travel around Arkham island (which is a pretty big place by the way) you will come across new tasks. It might be that Joker has blocked off your route (he's always around you via the TV links on the security monitors spread all around the island - Mark Hamill's superb voice acting means you're never annoyed by his presence - on the contrary - it's great wondering what he'll say next!), or you might meet some other deranged inmate or even some of the guards who need your help. Whatever your current task, it's not just the same sort of task every time you encounter someone. It's varied, yet all challenges feel fun and don't detract too much from the main story. Because rest assured that a boss fight will always be just around the corner.

No Batman game would be complete without a vast array of gadgets. Luckily, Arkham Asylum hits the spot. As you progress, you'll unlock more and more clever gadgets, and even upgrade existing ones. By the end of the game, Bats will be pretty formidable. From the batarang to the batclaw, from exploding gel to the security codebreaker, the variety is commendable. They're great fun to use - especially when your batclaw is strong enough to pull unsuspecting goons over a ledge.

Batman's batarang primed and ready

Another great little touch to the game is the countless bonuses you can pick up as you go along, presented in the form of riddles set by The Riddler himself. Although you never actually see The Riddler, he has left around 250 things for you to find, from small trophies (with a question mark on top), to interview tapes of various famous inhabitants of the asylum to actual riddles where you have to find a certain object in a certain room using only the cryptic poser The Riddler gives you. Some are quite obvious, some devious. But it's a nice touch and one that you can go back to if you've completed the main quest. After all, riddles = trophies/achievements that boost your gamerscore.

Several goons charge Batman - they'll wish they hadn't.....

Speaking of featured characters, I think Eidos have got it spot on with the number of featured enemies. The Batman universe is so big now that it would be impossible to include ALL his better-known foes and do them justice. Joker is absolutely superb as I've said, but also keep a look out for Killer Croc, Bane, Poison Ivy and the quite magnificently spooky Scarecrow. Scarecrows' levels are set in Batman's mind, as Scarecrow's hallucinagenic dust affects his deepest, darkest fears. It's brilliantly done, both graphically and atmospherically. The Scarecrow reminded me of Freddy Krueger by the way.... Just don't expect to see The Penguin, Catwoman, Two-Face et al. Maybe there's a sequel. We can hope, eh?

The story mode is a pretty decent length. It's not a huge, scrolling GTA/Oblivion type world, but there are enough twists and turns in the plot to keep you hooked. If you're someone who looks for quality rather than quantity, Batman: Arkham Asylum is just the game you're looking for. You should get through the story in under 10 hours, admittedly not the longest but the quality never recedes.

Then you have the challenge modes - as you move through the story and collect some of The Riddler's goodies, you'll unlock special levels selectable at the main menu. These are either hand-to-hand combat battles in 3 bouts. The aim is to achieve a certain number of points by beating your opponents to a pulp using the longest combos possible. PS3 owners can even play as The Joker on these levels via an exclusive download on PSN. The other challenge is a stealth challenge, as I described earlier. Take out your opponents using whatever apparatus you have in as quick a time as possible.

This game is quite superb - as I keep saying, it has variety and the high quality is evident from start to finish. It looks amazing, the voice acting of the highest standard, the sound effects perfect. Any faults? If I was being picky, I could say the length could have been longer. Otherwise, the only thing that springs to mind is a poor save system. All you have is an autosave, and as the save points are so seamless, it's hard to know when it's safe to turn the machine off after a few hours' play. But it doesn't hamper the quite exceptional experience that is Batman: Arkham Asylum. A quite brilliant game, and one that finally makes use of a license brimming with potential. No jokes, no riddles, this is a must-buy game.

Ian's Score: 9.1

Killzone 2 (PS3)

Killzone 2

Format played: PS3
Players: 1 on campaign, up to 32 online
Difficulty: Medium/Hard
Gametime needed: 20+ hours, and plenty more via online multiplayer









Much was expected of Killzone 2 when it was first unveiled as one of Sony's great hopes even before the release of the PS3. The stunning set pieces wowed the public and game critics the world over, but many were sceptical as to whether Sony could replicate such heights for the actual game.

KZ2 was the first game I bought for my PS3. I was already very impressed with the interface of my new toy, but I hadn't yet been able to test any software for it until I bought KZ2. So, I loaded it up and WHAM. The graphics hit me. Let's not beat about the bush here, you won't find a better looking game probably anywhere. It's breathtaking - like watching a film. The first thing you're shown is quite a maniacal looking dude ranting Hitler-style at his memorised minions. I don't think you're supposed to like him - this is Visari, the big bad guy and leader of the Helghast - the evil, wicked, horrible and naughty inhabitants of the planet Helghan. The entire game is set on Helghan, and it really ain't a nice place. War torn is putting it mildly. Think of Millwall on a match day.


The plot isn't exactly original, but neither are the plots for KZ2's closest rivals, namely Halo 3 and Gears of War 2. Yes, there's a war on. You're playing as one of the goodies, there are lots of explosions and it's not a good idea to go running into the middle of it like a madman. You play as Sev, and there are plenty of sections of 'going it alone' as well as fighting alongside your fellow ISA (Interplanetary Strategic Alliance) troops. Unfortunately, some of your closest buddies who stick with you throughout most of the game are bloody annoying, and the urge to turn around and unleash a clip into them is quite strong at times. Especially bloody Rico. Tit.

There's not really much point in going into the plot too much - you're a goodie, the Helghast are evil (they've got red eyes for a start). You have to kill them and accomplish certain missions. It's not rocket science, it's not original but you've not bought this game to play anything other than a good old fashioned blaster, right?

Gameplay - it's enjoyable. Just walking around marvelling at arguably the most impressive visuals seen in a game is rewards enough. Gun fights are frantic and cut scenes dramatic. The Helghast look like pretty mean chaps, the explosions incredible, the weapons look great, as do the vehicles. So far, so good. But here comes (for me) the main 2 flaws of the game.

The Helghast - red eyes + large weapon = bad guy. In case you hadn't already worked it out.

Although the missions you undertake range from powering up deserted power supplies to bloody revenge against the Helghast, the way you accomplish them is almost exactly the same from the first to the last levels. The weapons might look nice, but nothing beats the rifle. It's either the rifle is too good or that the other weapons are unimaginative and too weak. There are a few nice sniping points, but it's hardly the exceptional Chernobyl level from Call of Duty 4.

Another problem is the severe lack of enemy. Bog standard Helghast cannon fodder is pretty much it, save a few evil droids and some super-armoured Helghast with rocket launchers. Where are the big bosses? Where are the giant creatures? Very disappointing indeed. Even Halo's Covenant have varying forms. The Helghast seem to be clones of each other.

If you hadn't guessed, 85% of this game sees you versus bog standard Helghast warrior version 1, using the assault rifle.

Killzone 2 can get quite tricky at times, and clearing an area does feel like quite an achievement. The levels are well thought out, but never once did I think 'hmm, I wonder what's behind THAT door?'. More like 'hmm, a door for Helghast to burst through. Time to take cover and flush them out with my assault rifle'.

But my main gripe unfortunately takes a lot of the fun out of the extremely promising multiplayer mode - it plays so unbelievably sluggishly. Yes, I have amassed a ridiculous amount of time on Call of Duty over the past 2 years, but I also loved Halo 3, both Gears of Wars games and am basically a fan of the FPS genre. But Killzone 2 handles very poorly indeed. It feels unresponsive and clunky. A major gripe is when I've locked on to an enemy, and R2 (shoot) is being hammered down to the plastic. But the bugger just doesn't drop. Then he turns around and kills me with one single shot. VERY frustrating. And I've found it's worse in multiplayer.

I don't want to take anything away from the thought put into Killzone 2's multiplayer modes. The game types are excellent, varied and well structured. It's also HUGE - 32 people per game. A good idea is the bots that make up any team not filled with the full 16-man compliment. It holds up fairly well too - the maps are gigantic, with plenty of scope for sniping and close combat. But if it plays so sluggishly, what's the point? Ah well, at least grenades look good and are guaranteed a few kills if you managed to chuck them in just the right place.

Multiplayer mode

To summarise - it's very, very frustrating. Killzone 2 could - and perhaps should - have been one of THE great games of the current genre. Visually - it's without doubt the most stunning game I've ever seen. The sound is also excellent. Watching it on a nice, big tv with surround sound would - I imagine - be quite an experience. So why oh why did Sony ruin all this with a very clunky, unresponsive control system and a samey campaign mode?

I hope that the inevitable Killzone 3 learns from their mistakes, because this franchise truly has so much to offer.

Ian's Score: 7.2

Prince of Persia (xbox 360)

Prince of Persia

Format played: xbox 360
Players: 1
Difficulty: Medium
Gametime needed: Around 12 hours. Double that if you want all the achievements/trophies available.





Prince of Persia - a title that has been around as long as the early games consoles. I had an early PoP game for my Megadrive back in the early 1990's - the general idea remains the same - some platforms to cross, some puzzles to solve, some bad guys to kill. However, times have changed. Whereas the Prince once looked like this:

He now looks something a bit more like this:


I guess that's what they call 'progress'.... And yes - that is an actual in-game screenshot. It looks fantastic.

Anyway - onto the 2009 version of the game Basically, it's your standard 'leap from wall to wall' platformer with a nice bit of combat thrown in. Your character - The Prince (I don't quite 'get' why it's still called Prince of Persia. Sure, the main dude is called the Prince but otherwise it's a bit of a headscratcher. Maybe I haven't reached the point in the game when all is revealed) is helped by a mysterious Princess called Elika who has some pretty nifty moves. Elika is with you right from the start and is your constant companion - difficult jumps can be solved by pressing 'Y' midjump, and she has her own individual combat style. So the Prince won't get lonely. You won't die in PoP - if you incorrectly judge a jump, Elika's hand plucks you out of the air and returns you to your last safe, sturdy bit of ground.

Basic plot - some evil, dark demonic-style bloke has arisen from the depths and the whole world - once sumptuous and verdent is now covered in horrible, dark, hellish matter called 'corruption'. Elika is a sort of tree-hugger who can heal all the world one by one (once healed they are called 'Fertile Grounds'). The idea is to turn all the separate worlds back into Fertile Grounds. Each world has a boss character waiting, kill them and Elika can do her stuff. Once she's healed the worlds, there are 45 energy balls called light seeds. Collect enough of them, and you can unlock new worlds. Easy.

But be prepared to spend a LOT of time either scaling walls, wall-running, jumping to ledges and posts etc. But that's not a bad thing, because it's bloody good fun. The prince is a nimble little bugger, his moves seamlessly blend together and you look extremely cool to any observer as you pull off grab after slide after leap after roll etc. The levels are pretty big too, so it makes for some excellent little trips from one side of a world to another. And it's all seamless - unless you teleport from one world to another, there are no loading screens and I'm yet to experience any slow down in between worlds as a result.

Onto the good - it looks absolutely incredible. Many people don't like cel-shaded graphics but it works a treat here. Some of the best visuals I've seen in a game. Corrupted worlds looks spooky, empty but atmospheric, and healed world are marvellously coloured, fresh and full of life. The characters look excellent too, with superb animation throughout. The visuals are probably the stongest part of the game.

The combat is quite satisfying, though I do think it's a bit of a button basher. You don't actually partake in as much combat as you'd expect, but put together a few combos and it can become quite fun.

The Prince regretted offering to cut Daisy's toenails

Now the bad - the main character is probably THE most annoying character I've ever played as in a video game. Quite why Ubisoft saw the need to cast a stereotypical yank as the prince I don't know. His dialogue is shockingly bad, corny, and just plain irritating. Elika isn't quite as bad, but she too grates after a while. Unfortunately, as 80% of the game is just the two of them traversing the landscape, it's inescapable. And you end up sometimes hoping the bad guys win just to shut him up. But of course - you can't die with Elika around (it's not like it makes it that easy - if you're fighting a bad guy and he knocks you about enough for Elika to intervene, the enemy just recuperates some energy. It works quite well actually).

Elika

Overall, I was impressed (especially for a tenner). My new TV makes it look bloody lovely on 720p, and leaping around is rather good fun once you get the basics right. There are many similarities between Prince of Persia and Assassins Creed (they're both made by Ubisoft so it's hardly a shock) and whilst I think AC is the better game, you could do a lot worse than PoP to enhance your game score and show off how amazing your 360/PS3 can look. Like it's middle-eastern-based cousin, Assassins Creed (which probably suit the title 'Prince of Persia more) repetition can and will set in. The formula of 'find world, traverse world, find boss of world, kill boss, heal world' is pretty much it. Luckily doing all that can be pretty good fun.

Ian's Score: 7.5

Welcome!

I play plenty of games, but never really find the time to discuss them, so what better way is there for me to ramble on about them than via the t'interweb?

Whenever I get chance, I'll give my thoughts on my games collection and give them a score out of ten.

Why not, eh? It'll be fun.