
Dante’s Inferno
One way ticket to Hell and back

Remembering… System Shock 2
With the imminent release of Bioshock 2, we take a look back at the series’ spiritual forefather, System Shock 2.

The Value of Nostalgia
When we praise an older game, the impulse to qualify whatever statement we’re making is often strong. Instead of leaving our assessment to be, it’s tempting to preclude it with “perhaps this is just the nostalgia talking” or follow on with something regarding “rose-tinted specs”. Sometimes, yes, nostalgia can influence… Read more »

Last Bronx
Last Bronx has an interesting premise. Mutants have invaded New York and filled the sewer system with a toxic substance called Gamma Green. The radioactivity of this goo is slowly turning everyone in the city into ravenous, flesh-eating zombies, and Mia Miyazaki – the last true decedent of the Wolf… Read more »

Darksiders
Playing Darksiders over the Christmas break, I couldn’t help feeling somewhat of a Scrooge. Its protagonist, War, is one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and isn’t keen on partaking in any celebratory festivities. A world away from the cheery chubster that loves to bring joy to children across… Read more »

No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle
Three years. That’s how long it’s been since Travis Touchdown became the world’s greatest assassin…and vanished without a trace. It’s ironic. You’d think someone as socially inept as Travis would revel in his hard-earned glory. But he left it all behind, and no one knows why. Maybe he got bored;… Read more »

Mass Effect 2
The original Mass Effect was something of an enigma when it came out in 2007. Then an Xbox 360 exclusive, Bioware’s tried and true Knights of the Old Republic character development formula mixed with an action-oriented shooter setup. You could spend time grinding, and yet it still boiled down to… Read more »

Mass Effect 2
Bioware’s original Mass Effect was praised by many for its engrossing narrative, captivating cast of characters, innovative and fluid dialogue system and the emphasis on your decision making and the way your choices would affect the superb sci-fi universe and those around you. It should have been one of the… Read more »

Assassin’s Creed II: Battle of Forli
Late last year when downloadable content was announced for Assassin’s Creed II I was definitely excited. The second game in the franchise was a vast improvement on the original in nearly every way, and earned its place as one of my games of the year for 2009. Both pieces of… Read more »

PixelJunk Shooter
The mission has failed. Deep below the surface of Apoxus Prime something has gone terribly wrong. An S.O.S. has been received but no-one knows exactly what has happened to the mining colony. As a pilot aboard the responding ERS Pinita Colada, it’s your duty to rescue the mining crew, and… Read more »

Hyperballoid HD
Hyperballoid HD’s greatest enemy could well be its timing. Had it appeared seven or eight months ago then it would have been an easy sell, its simple and earnest presentation and mass of content appealing to Breakout and Arkanoid fans and its styling echoing earlier PopCap Games output. However, the… Read more »

Crunch Time
“It’s only the work experience kids that get to sit around playing videogames all day. Most of your time is spent discussing the layout of your article within the magazine, and writing your piece within certain legal boundaries”. That was a quote from a staff writer at a videogames publication,… Read more »

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reflex Edition
It’s been an additional two years in the making but Activision have finally given Wii gamers the chance to play the much loved Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. However, have they destroyed an epic title in the process of porting it to the Wii? The campaign mode is a direct… Read more »

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena
It’s ironic really that - five years after its original release - the star of The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is its predecessor, Escape from Butcher Bay. Although Riddick’s second game outing is a solid FPS with excellent atmosphere and visuals, you can never quite shake the… Read more »

Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter
Are you bored of modern shooters and their emphasis on the latest high-tech weaponry, Middle-Eastern conflicts; the brutality of war and plot twists you can see coming from a mile away? Well, Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter might just be the game for you. There’s no story, no characters… Read more »

The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road
At the turn of the twentieth century it must have been difficult for L. Frank Baum to foresee his seminal work, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz being adapted into a Nintendo DS game, let alone a JRPG. Given the genre’s penchant for ragtag groups of travelers who meet by chance… Read more »

Farewell Nintendo
Nintendo is gone. Well, not gone as in vanished or destroyed entirely, but gone as in changed – transformed. Gone is the company that shaped the industry as we currently know it. Gone is the company that pioneered ideas that have become integral to the way we play games. And… Read more »

Gangstar: West Coast Hustle
It’s hard to avoid the comparison: Gangstar: West Coast Hustle feels like a portable version of San Andreas with an added Spanish flair. That ought to be considered a high compliment, as San Andreas is held by many to be the pinnacle of the ever popular Grand Theft Auto series…. Read more »

Bayonetta
Bayonetta is a very generous game. Past the 14 hour run time, through the epilogue, final credits and beyond, it never stops giving, providing plenty of surprises and spectacular moments that are sure to leave you picking your jaw up off the floor time and time again. Emerging from the… Read more »

