Saturday, August 11, 2007

Persona 3 Reviews (Ps2)


Supernatural role-playing game about a group of high school students, caused a stir at E3 and apparently justified with a score of 88% from 15 reviews on Metacritic.com The Ps2 just keeps on giving.

Reviews Summary
Compelling story and addictive gameplay
Definitely a game only for the true RPG faithful
An engaging title that truly pushes genre conventions in an exciting way
Steps outside the bounds of normality, a story telling masterpiece.
Games like Persona 3 are the reason we play games
P3 proves RPGs don't need big budgets to be all-around awesome
At times shocking and always intense, Persona 3 is not a game you are likely to forget

Persona 3 Official Website
Persona 3 Walkthrough from Gamefaq
Sample Review from Gamespot
Screenshots (104) from IGN
Wallpaper on Rendered Beauty

Clickable inkies

Fatal Fury Battle Archives Volume 1 (Ps2) Review


Originally set for release on August 7th in US, but seemed to have gone MIA, with no reviews upped until 16th August last. This compilation includes four classic Fatal Fury games: Fatal Fury 1, 2, 3 and Fatal Fury Special.

Reviews Summary

Gamezone 69%
Simply put, this collection is true to the first four 2D fighting games but somehow the series just doesn’t hold up as well as it did back in the day.

IGN 68%
A neat collection, but the games themselves aren't the best around. But if you're a diehard fan of 2D fighters, we recommend picking it up. In the meantime, you'll have to excuse me. I'm going to go practice my Burning Knuckle

Gamespot 6.5/10
If you're an SNK devotee or a serious fighting game connoisseur, you might enjoy the collection as a nostalgia piece or as an opportunity to revisit Fatal Fury Special.


Mini preview from Gamespot
Screenshots from IGN



Clickable inkies

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Boogie Reviews (Wii) and Soundtrack


Released 7th August in US and 31st in Eu. Boogie is a music/rhythm-based game that takes full advantage of the Wii-mote. Customize different characters in the game to best show off their dancing style and karaoke skills. The retail release of Boogie also includes a microphone to sing along with the game. So far:

Gamepro raved about it (80%) as did
Nintendo Official Magazine (81%)
Games Radar were less than ecstatic (70%)
Gamespy
had issues (60%)
Gamespot
showed no mercy (55%)
1up
rubbished it (30%)
Average 62.66%

Boogie Official Website (requires latest version of Flash)

Soundtrack:
And I'm sure your also wondering (humour me here!) just exactly what songs you'll be dancing, singing and cavorting to, take a peak at the full list on IGN


Clickable inkies

Bioshock Review


Average Score from 13 Reviews 98.5%

Reviews so far
warning! Full reviews will have spoilers


Official Xbox Magazine (UK) 100/100
"Amazingly written and beautifully constructed, it's a complete emotional rollercoaster which we can't drawn any parallels with...You'll be playing this game for months to come, exchanging story elements to build up the bigger picture, and arguing about what it all means."

Eurogamer Review 10/10
"It takes the tired, worn-out FPS genre by the scruff of the neck, reinvents and bends it out of shape in such a breathtaking fashion that it's going to take something very special to top this in the months and years ahead."

Gameinformer 10/10
"It’s ingenious, enthralling, and a masterpiece of the most epic proportions. In terms of delivering chilling atmosphere, dynamic combat, and startling revelations, games just don’t come any better than BioShock."

Gametap 10/10
"BioShock is one of the few games that I’ve reviewed in my entire career that I feverishly want to go back through and play again"

1up 10/10
". . . . . an experience that's richly and utterly complete, and one that engages the player in a constant dialogue, BioShock is virtually unassailable."

Games Radar 10/10

"A mesmerising masterpiece of horror, the only glaring weakness we can find in BioShock is that it may be too unusual, too original, too artistic and too genius to be embraced by the general public"

GamePro 5/5
"It leaves its mark on a genre that has its fair share of memorable titles and it does it with style and panache. It is easily one of the best games of the year"

Gamespy 5/5
"An unparalleled achievement. No other game comes even remotely close to it in terms of raw emotional connection."

UGO.com A
"There's nothing which will make you ever want to stop playing; you'll simply curse under your breath and get on with killing Splicers and hunting Little Sisters."

IGN 9.7/10
"BioShock stands as a monolithic example of the convergence of entertaining gameplay and an irresistibly sinister, engrossing storyline that encompasses a host of multifaceted characters. This is an essential gaming experience."

Teamxbox 9.5/10
"It's inventive and entertaining, with a number of twists and unexpected situations that'll have you on the edge of your seat...It's rare to find a game that has both quality in its engineering and quality in its gameplay."

PC Gamer (UK) 9.5/10 ( as upped on games radar)
"Succeeds so Stunningly on three fronts: narrative, emergence, and a sense of place. If another game did just one of these as well as BioShock, it would immediately qualify as a classic. When a game comes along that does all three, we can only be baffled and thankful."

Xbox World 360 9.4/10
"It's a gruelling game of resource management, and as the ammunition dries up, you end up having to improvise. And more often than not, Bioshock will reward you heavily for thinking outside the box."

Average Score from 13 Reviews 98.5%

Due August 21st in US and on shelves for 24th in Eu

Update!!!
Bioshock Walkthrough links
Unlock Hidden Hard Mode in Xbox 360 Demo
Bioshock Artbook PDF for Free Download
Bioshock Faceplates on ebay
Xbox360 demo mini review on Pro-Gamer


see all "Bioshock posts"on elderly gamer

Clickable inkies

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Metropolismania 2 (Ps2) Preview



Sequel to an apparently successful, if unheard of Ps2 title called MetropolisMania, MetropolisMania 2 sees you with the task of creating and maintaining an entire anime style city!

You must create a city that attracts new residences, while at the same time keep your approval rating in good standing! To do this you must interact with each and every citizen of your town. Some of your citizens have other ideas, so you’ll have your work out how your going to make everyone happy!

• Hundreds of unique businesses and residential houses to build, as well as
railroads and freeways!
• Each member of the city has his/her own unique personality and wishes!
• Customize your own character and build your own house!

Set for US on August 14th, no word on a European Release. Rated E (10+) because of Alcohol Reference and Mild Suggestive Themes. . . . the mind boggles.

Hands on Preview from IGN
Screenshots Gamespot

Clickable inkies

Sunday, August 05, 2007

Saturday, August 04, 2007

James Hawkins Concept Art




concept artist for Gears of War.

James Hawkins Website


see all "Concept art" posts

Clickable inkies

Heavenly Sword Trailer



vid upped by grampl

IGN's E3 winner for technological excellence and Best Artistic Design and runner-up in categories "Best Action Game", "Best Graphics" and "Game of the Show".

Nariko, a fierce, red-haired warrior whose clan is the holder of the "Heavenly Sword", a sacred blade of immense power that slowly drains the user's life-force. King Botan, obsessed with the Sword, embarks on a campaign of destruction against Nariko's people in a ruthless quest for it. In a final act of desperation and retribution, Nariko takes the Sword to exact vengeance upon King Botan and his army before the Sword kills her.

Set for release September 12th

Hands on Preview from IGN
Heavenly Sword Website
Screenshots from Gamespot
Developers Blog
all "Heavenly Sword" posts on elderly gamer

Clickable inkies

Halo 3 Hands on Preview


Having been deluged with Halo 3 information for the last 3 years, I must admit to not particularily caring whether this makes it onto to my xbox360 or not. But even my over saturated little brain, couldn't help but be drawn to the following exclusive hands on preview by 1up

1up hands on preview

Halo 3 Website

The game is set for release on September 25th US and 26th Europe and there will be three, yes three retail packaging options for you to purchase on the day.

Standard Edition: which contains the game disc and a manual;
Collector's Edition: contains the game disc, manual, interactive Xbox 360 bonus disc with several featurettes
Legendary or Beastarum Edition: contains the game disc, manual, interactive bonus disc, Beastarum ( a "hard cover, bound collection of information and art covering the species, cultures and civilizations of Halo 3) and Legendary DVD containing special content exclusive to the Legendary Edition, and a scale replica of the Master Chief's Helmet as a case for the three discs.

Clickable inkies