In short

Final fantasy XIII-2 offers a few new tricks that the developer incorporated into the gameplay to keep the battles flowing. While the new additions are certainly not ground-breaking or extensive, these additions were a welcomed edition to the trademark turn-based fighting system. The series is known for the ‘fantasy’ storylines, and XIII-2 delivers beautifully here. The game is typical to its origin – quirky, elaborate, dramatic and the dialogue doesn’t always make perfect ‘Western’ sense – and I absolutely love it.

Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Distributor: Megarom Interactive
For fans of: Final Fantasy series, turn-based J-RPG’s
Reviewed on: Xbox 360
Also available on: Playstation 3
If we had to give it a numerical score: 9.0 out of 10

Overview

Since the series is largely about driving the rich, fantasy storyline, I will not spoil it for you by giving you every last detail. There are loads of surprises for the series’ followers, and newcomers can catch up on the story by reading up and extensive tutorials (all available in the menus).

Final Fantasy XIII-2 is a direct sequel to FFXIII and while Lightning is a big part of the story, her younger sister Serah takes centre stage. New characters will be met and old characters are again welcomed back. Final Fantasy’s most beloved creature –the Mog makes a return to the series by leading the way at times, or helping you find things and generally guiding you.  The Chocobo (Ostrich looking bird) returns to help you speed through areas without being attacked by foes.

Gameplay and Features

As briefly touched on – the series is renowned for its turn-based battle system, something fans of the series have always loved. It’s not about button mashing, more about strategically defending and attacking in turn. You will take hits and so you will need to work out your defence, and then you attack in turn, with an abundance of options to evolve on to suit the various enemies. The Japanese game style of RPG is very distinct so it came as a bit of a surprise to see elements typical of a Western game incorporated in the battle system for XIII-2. Cinematic Action attacks have been included, so during the battle you will need to sequentially hit different buttons to engage the action which normally deal more damage than your average attack. The rest is as it was but with tweaks here and there, making the battle-system one my favourite in the series.

You have ‘Paradigm Shifts’ which can be customised as usual to suit your attacking and defending. These shifts are either focused attacks or defences and can be generated automatically or you can customise them yourself. Another new addition to the battle-system is the ability to add monsters as allies to your team, and incorporate them into you Paradigm Shift. Once you capture the monster at a certain level of the game, the monster joins your ranks by being chosen. I personally did not think much of this, as outside the battle, the monsters are not pro-active and pretty much useless. That said, these monsters do come in handy in the bigger battles, particularly in defensive paradigm shifts. You could set your normal character and ally to defend and some monsters can be set to attack while you are defending. Unfortunately they will also need healing and a ‘Phoenix Down’ to revive them, so they do take up precious reserves.

As is common with RPG’s, you will need level up your character in an enormous amount of departments, customising the character to lean towards brut, ravager, magic, or a combination. The RPG element will please the most ardent of RPG fans, and thankfully newcomers can learn the ropes with extensive tutorials.

One of the major improvements over the predecessor was the dropping of the fairly tedious linear missions. Final Fantasy XIII-2 will certainly please long-time followers, as while there is still a path to follow in order to drive the main story; the world is again an open one that rewards those who explore as there are countless fragments scattered around the worlds which open up time-gates for you to travel through. There are platforming bits as well as some puzzle solving making this the most diverse Final Fantasy yet. You need to travel across time through the ‘Historia Crux’, visiting areas hundreds of years apart, either solving side quests or driving the main storyline. Once unlocked, it is possible to jump back and forth in time or areas.  The story is beautifully fleshed out across time, wonderfully tangled with Paradox’s which must be overcome to drive the main story.

Sound and Graphics

In the sound and graphics department is where the Japanese-style games are most distinct, and the Final Fantasy series never falters. The series’ design is true to the ‘fantasy’ genre the title suggests. The scoring, the sound and visual effects are well-suited to the game’s world and epic, ‘fantasy’ stories.

The scoring and sound effects are like something straight out of an arcade of old and that’s because the arcades of old were filled with Japanese games. The sound effects are quirky, somewhat humorous, they are distinct and a far cry from the realistic flavour found in typical Western titles. In my opinion this is part of the charm, you will never forget that this is in fact… a game.

The design of the sound of Final Fantasy XIII-2 was excellently put together, a continuous flow of digital sounds and melodramatic sounds effects. The dialogue, again typically Japanese, is like something straight out of a good anime film, again true to the ‘fantasy’ genre and again, melodramatic.

The presentation is typical to the series, and while it works a dream, it has never been to my liking – I find Japanese games in general to have an old-school sort of looking presentation. That said the menus are a breeze to work through as are the deep in-game menus.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 is made up of bright, vivid colours filled with flashes of visual effects. The visuals, like most of the design, are rich and vibrant, heavily detailed which makes for an absolute treat in this department. The game’s world is well detailed, despite consisting of various eras and across fairly large areas.

The characters look like typical anime characters, perfect and somewhat outrageous looking. The dress decor is like nothing you would see in a Western counter-part, again perfectly suited to the genre and wonderfully memorable.

Overall the sound and graphics design and quality is of the highest calibre. There absolutely no visual flaws thanks to the highest standards in this department. Final Fantasy XIII-2 is splendid feast to the senses, and so escapism at its very best.

Final thoughts

The latest games in the long-standing series might not evoke the interest it once did – some of the chapters in the series might even have lost their way. As far as Final Fantasy XIII-2 goes; it is one of my favourite in the series thanks to the incorporation of many of the aspects that charmed me to the series, as well as some nice new additions.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 corrects the issues most of us had with the previous title while sticking with the elements that make up a great Final Fantasy game. In true Japanese game-crafting style, Final Fantasy XIII-2 delivers a near faultless and rewarding RPG experience that should certainly make feel you that you got your money’s worth.

Zombiegamer rating:

Read about our ratings here.

Woo-hoo. Zombie Studios made an FPS for Microsoft’s Kinect on Xbox 360. It’s entitled Blackwater and yeah it’s named after a real-life (albeit the names have been changed – PR stunt much?) private military or guns-for-hire group. Now they are known as ‘Xe Services’… if you’re looking to commit some genocide (secretly pointing at rich people and Beber fans). Well I’m going to head off and play this bad boy but I’m sure it’s gonna be awesome – I mean come on Zombie + Kinect + FPS = (has to be 360 degrees of awesome worthy of high 505’s all round right?)… famous last words.

In the meantime…

Developer: Zombie Studios
Publisher: 505 Games
Distributor: Apex Interactive
For fans of: Kinect; Time Crisis; Cheesy Scripting & Kicking your toe against your coffee table.
Reviewed on: Xbox 360 Kinect (exclusive)
If we had to give it a numerical score: 5.5 out of 10

What I liked

• Close-quarter shotgun sequences
• Marvelling at yesteryear’s graphics
• Switching arms in a gun fight
• Kicking enemies
• Throwing grenades
• Switching to my handgun to bust some caps!

Not so much

• Repetitive – oh so repetitive.
• Having to restart sections
• Klunky motion capturing
• Rehashed dialogue scenes… with rehashed dialogue that they kept repeating at different times to say the same thing but make it seem like they were saying more, when they really didn’t. I think the word here is redundant and overused.

So I’m back and phew my arms are sore (thank the Guardians of Owa I read the hint to switch arms during play to avoid tiring one because now they’re equally @£$%ed).

Blackwater is an on-the-rails-shooter that essentially follows four ficticious and specially trained soldiers from an actual military organization into a ficticious area of Africa, where you have to kill ficticious enemy. Truth is… well who cares man, even Time Crisis and CoD ripped off cheap narratives of world domination and kidnapped victims (Mario much?). Basically you play as each character (close-quarters, mid-range, gunner and sniper classes) to move through sections.

The graphics are fairly poor throughout the game, not quite previous generation but rather Modern Warfare 1 or even before. The script of repetitive and recycled mini-scenes became abundantly annoying. My largest complaint however is the massive space between save points, leaving you to rehash 10 minutes or more of game time just to try out a new section… bleh!

That being said I think the real question is how it plays and more so how it plays with kinect? Thankfully they ommitted the Ghost recon ‘open-your-hand-everytime-you-want-to-fire and say hello to arthritis’ motion and replaced it with a hover-over-your-target till the circle is complete and watch them die movement… logical… strange at first but you kinda get use to it.

What really does keep the game interesting here though is the extra movements. Firstly there are cover options (lean left, right and duck to enter cover) that work quite well especially if you’re handy at switching aiming hands. Then there are the awesome (frustrating at first) grenade options which have you flinging satisfactory hell all over your enemies. Sure you get to climb through windows, jump gaps etc too but you can even switch weapons.  Switch to your pistol for a cool headshot if you run out of ammo or just wanna look eh… cool but then again this is kinect so you’ll mostly look like a penguin on acid flailing his flippers (so much for diving behind your couch right? –damn marketing gimmicks!).

If you really want to, you can switch to your controller but it’s still a rail shooter and not as much fun.

The storyline isn’t that long but as I mentioned, the length between save points will keep you playing for ages, while the arcade/time trial and score-based play will give you tons of oppertunities to watch your friends look like morons while you take the time to master the art of looking like a Navy Seal… uhm penguin.

Final Thoughts

It’s definitely worth a buy if you’re a huge kinect fan and loved Time Crisis but I’d say rent it or loan it from a buddy for a day before you commit. See you on the leaderboards but until then I gotta check out my guns in the mirror – tight!

Zombiegamer Rating:

Game DLC for me is generally a hit and miss affair.  Some have been spectacularly brilliant (Red Dead Redemption Undead Nightmare) and some have been nothing more than an excuse to milk the fan dry.  The latter are usually overpriced outfits that are released too late to matter to those who’ve completed their first playthrough.  Saints Row The Third is just as guilty as Dead Rising 2 of doing this, so when the “first mission pack” was released I had hopes of more over-the-top anarchy I so enjoyed of the game.  ‘Genkibowl VII’ certainly has its share of silly outfits, but there is a little more action than a simple cat walk…

Developer: Volition Inc.
Publisher: THQ
S.A. Distributor: Ster Kinekor Entertainment
For fans of: Saints Row The Third.
Reviewed on: Xbox 360
Also available on: PS3 and PC
If we had to give it a numerical score: 6.0 out of 10

What I liked

• Still ridiculously mad.
• The cat is actually pretty cool.  Even though he says nothing.
• Destruction!  Mayhem!  Chaos!

Not so much

• Not that much to do in the DLC.
• Controls frustrate at times.

Overview

‘Genkibowl VII’ pits you – the awesome leader of the Saints – in a series of activities from the mind of the big, psychotic cat.  Over the four activities you can experience the familiar mascot killing, a new take on escort missions, panda gliding missions and a ball of yawn.  I mean yarn.

Gameplay and Features

Apocalypse Genki:
Pretty much like S.E.R.C. from the game, but a little tougher and a little more thrilling because of the settings.  Still like a loony Japanese game show with mascots to kill, but there’s also a great white lying in wait to take a nibble from the contestants.  As you can imagine, tossing mascots in his direction is completely delightful.

Super Ethical PR Opportunity:
The tabloid headline grabbing mode.  Or ‘Escort’ with collateral damage.  Lots of collateral damage.  OK, only collateral damage.  Take the good professor (whether Genki is one or not hardly matters) on a wild ride which usually requires the roasting and killing of pedestrians with the flamethrowers (YES!) attached to your car.  Then proceed to cause a few dollars worth of damage to other peoples motor vehicles while avoiding the attentions of over-zealous fans.  Again, the destruction and chaos is absolutely delightful.

Sad Panda Skyblazing:
Almost exactly what it says on the tin.  A panda (relatively sad due to the situation we would assume), a sky and some blazing through said sky.  Hit checkpoints, kill mascots (again) and wonder what the hell it’s really all about.  The controls maybe took away from the few minutes of enjoyment this rather unique activity should’ve brought.  Almost delightful.

Sexy Kitten Yarngasm:
Now, had this been what it said on the tin, it would’ve been orgasmic.  Sadly, it proved to be a little bit of a letdown.  Guide a ball of (sexy kitten) yarn on a trail of destruction.  It’s a big ball meant to cause big damage.  Pity the controls frustrated as much as they did.  Not nearly as delightful or orgasmic as it should’ve been.

Visuals and Sound

The visuals and sound keep with the more than decent standard set by the game.  Some of the activities are introduced with the game’s typically over-the-top and tongue-in-cheek attitude to cutscenes.  Introductions are like a cross between a Japanese game show and American sports commentary and are a definite highlight.

Final thoughts

Overall, the DLC carried on the brilliantly unhinged theme that Saints Row The Third introduced, but sadly, if you’ve already finished the game, this is not the sort of DLC that will bring you back to the game.  It’s too short and not nearly meaty enough.

If you’re keen to see what we said about the game itself, head over here.

Zombiegamer rating:

Well, it’s not very clever is it?  Getting me to review a chess game I mean.  What I know about chess would not fill the back of a postage stamp…

Developer: Targem Games
Publisher: TopWare Interactive
S.A. Distributor: Apex Interactive
For fans of: Chess.  Or someone looking for something other than shooters
Reviewed on: PS3
Also available on: Xbox 360, PC, Wii, DS and PSP
If we had to give it a numerical score: 7.0 out of 10

What I liked

• Prettiest chess game ever.
• Good fun for the whole family.
• Best played with a companion next to you.
• It taught me how to play chess… I still suck.

Not so much

• More decapitations next time please.
• Still can’t say I love chess.

Overview

It really is chess.  However, you can go all in and enjoy a variety of modes that would make purists baulk at what’s happened to “their game”.  There is still a good old “Classic” chess option to go along with the modes like “Battlegrounds” and “Slasher”.

Gameplay and Features

Chess – and I quote – is “a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid.  Each player starts with 16 pieces either black or white and…”

Woah.  Ran out of postage stamp space there.  If you’re familiar with chess, then you can jump right in and play without wading through the game’s tutorials.  I found myself spending more time in the tutorials than time spent being annihilated by the AI.  Even on easy.  Hey, I’m a chess n00b OK?

Once you’re done with simply playing the game as Kasparov intended, you can try out the more ‘violent’ modes.  ‘Violent’ might be a step too far.  With an age restriction of 12, the game is intended for family participation, so there are no bloody limbs or fatal decapitations.

There are two modes under ‘Battlegrounds’, each offering a take on hand-to-hand combat.  ‘Slasher’ pits the two armies against each other in a battle arena – that’s the chess board – where they are still moved traditionally until they battle each other.  The game then allows you to use a fast attack, a strong attack, dodge or block.  This attempt at beating seven shades of ivory out of a pawn was actually quite entertaining.  Absolutely nothing at all like chess was played back in the day however.  ‘Duel’ is a one-on-one, side-view battle using Quick Time Events to determine the winner.  This was not so entertaining, even though it was reminiscent of a crude beat-‘em- up.

There are also a number of mini-games available to play.  Essentially a sequence of puzzles, but I found myself left more than a little puzzled by them…

The game also has two campaign modes – one for each colour – which is basically 15 rounds of chess over different boards.  My chess prowess meant I managed no more than two missions for each campaign and I eventually resigned myself to the fact that the only way I was going to win enough games was to challenge someone of lesser skill than me.

Step up… ‘The Wife’.  Err.  Where’d you learn to play that?  Give the controller to the dog please…  The game is good fun with someone else for sure and is the best way to play and experience the game.

Visuals and Sound

The game is not running on the latest Unreal Engine, so don’t expect Gears of War level graphics.  However, it is a pretty game and some of the boards are set in lovely backgrounds.  There is sound, but to be honest, you can mute the TV as it’s not really relevant.

Final thoughts

Not one for “I-wanna-kill-zombies” gamers, but one for the family.  Or one for the “I-wanna-kill-zombies” gamer, if only to get them to stop the genocide.  And to add a little culture to their lives…

Zombiegamer rating:

In short

Rayman Origins will be familiar to all old-school gamers; it’s like something straight out of the era when 2D platforming ruled the gaming world. Origins is a comical new title in the accomplished series, and in short, it is the best yet. Go at it alone or up to four people co-operative style. It’s a stylish, charming, comical and flawless 2D platforming experience that should win favour with any avid gamer.

Developer: Ubisoft, UBlart Montpellier

Publisher: Ubisoft

Reviewed on: Playstation 3

Also available on: Xbox 360, Wii

For fans of: Rayman series, old-school 2D platform games

If we had to give it a score: 9/10

What I liked

• Outstanding design levels
• Platforming perfection
• Comical characters
• Scoring
• Graphics
• Replayability
• Co-op

Not so much

• Not a single thing wrong with this one

Gameplay and features

Rayman Origins reminded this old-school gamer of various games that formed this gamer. Games like Mario Bros. and Wonder Boy (or Islander), so simple at first glance, but once you get into it you learn that these actually require more co-ordination and finesse than many modern hi-tech games that almost allow you to stumble your way through. The level design is particularly outstanding with Origins, starting off with requiring simple and timely jumping, and then as you progress so too does the difficulty of the level designs.

Like any good 2D platforming game there are the obstacles along the way – from the malicious monsters (a strong word to describe the antagonists) to some witches. Then like all platforming titles, you can fall off the level by missing the next platform, or get caught by the spiked-flower trappy thingy’s. There’s the obligatory collectables that you need to collect, the more you get the more percentage of the level you finish. The main collectables are little yellow singing bugs or electoons that also give you energy. There are special pink ones that give you bursts of speed.

Each level consists of two stages – the first play through the level is aimed at collecting as much as possible, and the second round is a timed one against preset times. The combined efforts of your ‘collecting’ and ‘timed’ rounds add to the overall percentage you get in the round, which in turn contribute to unlocking new levels.

Sound and visuals

Rayman Origins’ world is lush, vividly colourful and inviting – the design is simply gorgeous and refreshingly flawless. Don’t mistake the simplistic, 2D design for simple, as it is clear that considerable thought was taken with the design and the crafting of Rayman and friends’ new playground. From the menus to the loading screens, from the characters to the levels designs – all were stunningly put together, never deviating from the game’s light-hearted and humorous theme.

The stunning visuals are perfectly complimented by the sound effects and scoring, which is amongst the finest this year. Both the sound effects and the scoring continue with Origin’s sense of humour and are simply exquisite in design. Every last bounce, thud and pop is complimented by a brilliant sound effect, comical in design. The sound design and execution is crucial with a game from this genre – and top notch in Rayman Origins.

Fun for the whole family

While my four year-old daughter is not allowed to even watch me slay a dragon in Skyrim, I actually want her to play Rayman Origins and she was happy to oblige. Raymin Origins is not just perfect with its light-hearted theme, but it’s engaging thanks to the exquisite design. I think the young (and old) can learn from the rhythmic gameplay and timely decision making – I see this as good and I certainly want my daughter playing it. With the young, I think the sound and visuals playing a more primarily role – and Rayman Origins is an absolute treat and therefore a magnet in this department.

Then while my wife was also born into the ‘Atari era’ and was totally obsessed with Space Invaders, Mario Bros. and such, she missed some gaming generations and is often overwhelmed by modern titles and so not willing to take the time out to come to grips with many modern titles. I remember demonstrating to her what you can do with Ezio in Assassin’s Creed, she was blown away but overwhelmed too. Enter Rayman Origins and out comes that young gamer that used to fight her sister for the controller… and this is a reason I took a little longer than normal with this review.

So from me, the most fervent of gamers, to the indifferent gamers that are my wife and my child, Rayman Origins had everyone arguing just why it was their turn.

Final thoughts

Rayman Origins is not so much about the plot or storyline as it is about the flawless platforming gameplay. Think Mario Bros. in a modern, super-stylish package, and like Mario and Luigi, the characters are loveable and memorable.  One of the more engaging and entertaining titles this year.

Zombiegamer rating:

Read about our ratings here.

Some games are like watching someone get kicked in the nuts – there’s no real finesse in the act itself but it sure is funny to watch.  The rear (you’ll see what I did there…) of the Saints Row The Third box implores you to “strap it on” so you know for sure there’s a kick in the nuts on its way…

Developer: Volition Inc.
Publisher: THQ
For fans of: The abovementioned schoolyard antics…
Reviewed on: Xbox 360
Also available on: PS3 and PC
If we had to give it a numerical score: 8.5 out of 10

What I liked

• Fun.  Fun.  Fun.  And Funny.
• With giant dildos.
• Destruction!  Mayhem!  Chaos!
• Insane character customisation.
• Nice gang variety with lunatic characters.

Not so much

• Starts to get a little boring after a while.
• City doesn’t feel ‘alive’ like GTA IV managed.

Overview

Saints Row The Third is a genuine surprise.  Especially as I really didn’t like the first one – playing it but finding it mediocre at best.  I then bought the second one only for it to still be on my shelf unplayed.  This third third-person open world game is not simply a humorous GTA knock-off.  It is fun, funny and totally irreverent.  Nothing’s sacred and in all likelihood if you can’t have a laugh you will land up being offended.  And I’m sure the game wouldn’t want it any other way.

Gameplay and Features

While it is sadly predictable to do so – the easiest point of reference is GTA.  Mixed with Dead Rising 2.  And an S&M club.  While a Reality TV crew follow you around.  With huge purple dildos.

Yes, the game is that manic.  It plays like pretty much all the third-person open world games you’ve ever played, drops the reality of most and introduces some of the most over-the-top sequences and humour ever introduced to a videogame.  From the hilarity of the opening sequence where an actor follows members of the Third Street Saints – who are now superstars of the (gang) world – on a manic bank robbery as research for his role in a movie about them to the activity known as Professor Genki’s Super Ethical Reality Climax (really), the game is insane.

The game follows the Saints as they leave Stilwater – the setting of the first two games – and head to a new city called Steelport where they try to rebuild and profit while fighting factions of the gang organisation known as the Syndicate.  This is done by increasing your influence in portions of the city via main missions, side missions and activities.  Most of this is done by means of mass destruction with bullets and explosions – which includes Saints Row’s nod to Call of Duty’s drone.  Some of the activities should be familiar to those who played the previous games – Insurance Fraud being a particular favourite – and a few new ones have been added too – the aforementioned Professor Genki’s S.E.R.C. being a highlight.

Steelport’s gangs and characters are a truly colourful bunch.  There’s the European influenced Morning Star, the Mexican wrestling crew called the Luchadores, the hackers known as The Deckers and (later) the paramilitary crazies called… erm, STAG.  Then there are also the entertaining members of each organisation you meet during your crusade.  Your first meeting with a new associate called Zimos involves a cart (you read that right) chase with Zimos dressed in bondage and pulling you through the streets of Steelport.  Consider that image for a moment… yeah, awesome isn’t it?

Unlike the previous games, the mission sequences are pretty linear, but at least it helps drive the storyline along – although you can partake in the destruction of gang members as you come across them and as the whim takes you.  There are some missions which end with a choice, which do appear to marginally affect the plot of the game when you move on to the next gang to enter your sights.  You also get to upgrade your abilities, vehicles and strongholds (or cribs if you want to be gangsta) as you earn some respect points and money.

The game has a highly entertaining single player campaign which is amplified if you find the perfect (read: “equally as deranged”) co-op partner either over split-screen, system link or over the world-wide-web.

Visuals and Sound

The game looks decent.  I’m loathe to try and pretend it’s a glorious looking game, because it isn’t, and doesn’t try to be.  It’s a colourful world which looks great while travelling at high speed and while everything is being blown to smithereens, but is pretty functional when you’re simply taking in the sites.  Objects look a little rough from a distance – but that’s most noticeable while flying and subsequently flinging yourself from said plane.

Generally, the voice acting is good – especially considering there are multiple options for the main character.  The various – and sometimes ludicrous – characters (see Zimos above) are brought to life by the voice acting.  A special note should be made of the radio stations – they are varied and entertaining and the news reports add a nice recap of your deviant deeds.

Final thoughts

I would generally have no problem recommending the game to everyone… however, if you don’t, can’t or won’t accept the slightly (at times) crass humour, sexual innuendo, manic mayhem and general lunacy, you will hate the game.  I loved it.  I mean, it has gimps and dildos… what’s not to love?

Zombiegamer rating:

In short

The Elders Scrolls V: Skyrim is a rich, powerful story about dragons returning to the lands of Skyrim. You, the ‘Dragonborn’, are one of a select few that can shout the language of the dragons.  Only the dragonborn can vanquish a dragon as only dragonborn can devour a dragon’s soul, ridding them in absolution. Nothing is groundbreaking in Skyrim, but the RPG elements that make a good RPG were so brilliantly designed and put together, that this equates to one of the very finest RPG experiences you will find.

Developer: Bethesda Game Studios

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

For fans of: If you have ever enjoyed a Western RPG game, this is not to be missed

Reviewed on: Playstation 3

Also available on: Xbox 360, PC

If we had to give it a numerical score: 9.0 out of 10

What I loved

• Powerful stroryline
• User interface
• Character classes
• Characters of Skyrim
• Customisation options and variety
• Weapons
• RPG elements
• Skrim’s picturesque lands
• Combat
• Slaying dragons
• Musical Score

Not so much

• Visually buggy here and there
• Animations

Gameplay and Features

As with the previous Elder Scrolls title, Skyrim gives you total freedom of choice on how you tackle the campaign. Skyrim gives you the choice of more than enough classes and from there you can further customise your character in both features and attributes. You can create a magically powerful character, or a powerful warrior, or a combination of the two aspects. The choice and direction you can take with your characters and their attributes or strengths is staggering.

Once you have created your (truly) unique character and set off on your epic adventure, you are introduced to the brilliant user-interface. The design managed to simplify the most complex aspect of an RPG game, and for someone who is often overwhelmed by RPG titles’ interfaces, I had absolutely no problem navigating through the extensive menus. To further simplify your experience you can ‘favourite’ any item for quick access. The map is also simple to navigate and read, and pleasing on the eye. At first the map looks small as you need to find areas before they appear on the map. Once in areas, you can switch to local map for the allocation of everything within the town or area. So as a whole, the interface is easy to come to grips with, that does not mean it’s not deep – ardent RPG fans needn’t worry, there is plenty of substance here.

Bethesda is also known for great combat design, and Skyrim features the most fluid design yet. This aspect evolves and improves as you progress and ‘level up’ the countless attributes. These attributes are basic in design when upgraded at first, and then you can delve deeper into how you can allocate points through the masses of options. The basic attacks, with weapons or magic, look good enough to not bore you through your endless amounts of battles. Then there are the slow motion, dramatic finishes and big magical attacks that will have you in awe. The battle is not turn-based in true Western RPG style and flows, pleasing the action seekers. As you clock in the hours you will learn what strengths, be it magical or brut, will be needed in taking down the various enemies.

Weapons and magic continue with the design theme of starting off with a few basic categories and then evolves to countless possibilities of strengths and combinations. You can add potions to your weapons to give them unique strengths.  Weapons include daggers, maces, battle axes and great swords to name but a few – the weapons fall into both single and two-handed weapons. You can also bolster your weapon for various bows with various arrows available.

As I said in the beginning of the review, nothing is groundbreaking in Skyrim, nothing surprises with the gameplay, especially to those that have played a Bethesda title. So besides the combat there is the usual  gameplay – from brewing potions to crafting equipment, from enchanting weapons to combining items. The gameplay is deep and progressive, requires hours on hours of the most satisfying of RPG adventures. So while most RPG titles will feature most or a combination of the above mentioned aspects – it’s the outstanding design and even better execution of the gameplay that gives Skyrim no true equal.

Sound and Visuals

While the technical charms of Skyrim are amongst the finest, the visuals were a bit of a mixed bag for me. While the game-engine does a better job than with previous titles, for me Skyrim still suffers from the same let-downs that the previous titles did. I mean the gaming world of Skyrim is beautiful, from the mystical forests and mountains to the breathtaking skies – Skyrim is most certainly bewitching.  And in such a massive gaming world, the texturing and detailing of the game’s world is more than apt. The character’s design and animations that let me down though – I can certainly understand that there were so many characters that needed to be designed and put together, but some animations and close-ups were very below par, or just plain off.

There are also a few flaws or glitches in the visual departments – from characters sometimes walking just above the ground as opposed to on it, to inconsistencies and frame-rate issues as you navigate through the game’s world. Again, because this is such a massive gaming world these aspects are easily forgivable and forgotten thanks to the rest of Skyrim’s charms. I began playing the game after the first patch, and got to the second patch before the reported game-breaking visual issues. So apart from some bizarre small glitches and the inconsistencies, I have nothing ‘game-breaking’ to report on the notorious PS3 version.

The scoring was an absolute highlight throughout the extremely long adventure. The scoring is well suited to the games’ theme and really uplifts the experience. The scoring is dramatically eerie, peaking at all the rights moments and building up and progressing with the story beautifully. The voice-actors also did a splendid job with delivering the dialogue that is again perfectly suited to the game’s theme. From the graceful ‘Greybeards’ to the mystical ‘Elves’, all the characters have distinct speech that is common to their kind. The villages are believable communities thanks to the talking amongst each other, almost in a natural manner. The conversations you have with those you interact with flow and aren’t as generic or forced as is common with RPG titles.

To conclude the sound review is the polished sound effects, from the dragon’s powerful roar as then set the countryside ablaze with the fire breathing attacks, to the metallic clanging of the weapons striking one another – the sound effects were carefully crafted.

Final thoughts

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an engrossing RPG title that will draw you with all its charms. It highlights Bethesda’s undeniable talent in crafting some of the best Western RPG games available. Skyrim encompasses all that the studio has been illustrious for from their previous titles, but without many of the frustrations. To top off the brilliantly designed RPG elements and the game itself, Skyrim’s gaming world is as enchanting as it is large.

Zombiegamer rating:

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Ten years on from its original release, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary takes us back to where it all started – replete with a new skin but the same old Master Chief.  But that’s not necessarily a good thing…

Developer: 343 Industries
Publisher: Microsoft
For fans of: Master Chief.
Reviewed on: Xbox 360
Also available on: Xbox 360 Exclusive
If we had to give it a numerical score: 7.5 out of 10

What I liked

• Seeing where it all began – in HD.
• The soundtrack is still epic.
• Pistol still the best weapon in the world.  Ever.
• Old skin… new skin… old skin… new skin…

Not so much

• Still looks dated.
• Vehicle controls (still) suck.
• Can’t we rather have Halo 4 already?

Overview

Almost without so much as an in-game introduction, jump into the shoes of one John-117 – or Master Chief as his friends call him – one of the only genetically enhanced Spartans left to save the human race from itself the Covenant.  These alien crazies are a bunch of religious fanatics, but all you need to know is that you need kill anything that isn’t human.  Pretty much exactly what you did ten years ago if you played the game when it released on the original Xbox.

Gameplay, Visuals and Sound

Let’s cut to the chase.  I hated Halo: CE when I first tried it (a little late) in 2003.  I thought it was an utter load of toss.  There… I said it.  I mean really, this was the game that made First Person Shooters work on the console?!  Never.  Ever.  Give me a mouse and keyboard thank-you-very-much.  However, a few years later I bought an Xbox 360 – PC upgrades were starting to cost an arm and a leg – and pre-ordered Halo 3.  I didn’t fall in love, but my less cynical side swallowed its pride and admitted Halo: CE had a very important role in shaping the console First Person Shooter.

Generally, the issue with “classic” games is the attached nostalgia that is likely to cloud one’s judgement.  To a large degree that was not the case when I sat down to play Halo: CE Anniversary.  At its heart is a ten year old First Person Shooter that shows its age even with its new skin.  One of the best features of the update is the ability to switch between the ‘classic’ graphics and the new look in-game.  While this is wonderful for reviewers and those suffering with pangs of nostalgia, most will simply leave the game in the new look after their first curious look just to see “how far graphics have come.”  I found myself mesmerised by the feature however – much to my own demise as the switch is not completely instantaneous and caused momentary disorientation leaving me firing my still beautifully overpowered pistol into the air.

While it’s clear that 343 Industries tried to lovingly bring the game up-to-date, I still found myself thinking that while the old skin made it look like a ten year old game, the new skin made it look slightly newer… but at least three years old.

The soundtrack remains epic, and I can almost appreciate the slightly soulless acting in the cutscenes as that has been one of the true developments to have occurred in gaming over the last ten years.  The weapons – and as I’ve mentioned before, specifically the pistol – feel better than in any other iteration of Halo.  They’re unfussy, but absolutely satisfying to fire.  A feature that latter day Halo’s brought to the party is the ability to swop weapons with comrades-in-arms.  This was not added to Anniversary, and while I respect the developers for wanting to retain the core mechanic of the game, it really is one of the features I feel would’ve helped the game feel less dated – along with better vehicle controls.

The oddity of it all is that the campaign remains completely true to the original’s roots (except for the updated skin, the addition of online co-op and the addition of skulls and obligatory Kinect features which we will try to review elsewhere), but the multiplayer is set up to run on the Halo: Reach engine.  Both multiplayer and Firefight opens the Halo: Reach menu interface and runs all the updated maps in the Halo: Reach engine.  No need for disc swops thankfully, but it does make one wonder why the campaign wasn’t simply run using the Halo: Reach engine rather than the Saber3d engine.

The multiplayer modes are very much – as always – love it or hate it.  I have never really put much time into Halo’s multiplayer, but I have a real soft spot for Firefight.  Both these modes remain largely unchanged from Halo: Reach’s versions, so if you’re a fan of either mode, you will find plenty to satisfy you.

Final thoughts

Strangely, even through what some might perceive as a fair amount of negativity, I still enjoyed my revisit and my 2003 reaction has been largely reversed.  My main concern with Halo: CE Anniversary is who will want to buy and play the game.  Halo fans should be satisfied with their purchase, but I do think most others should steer clear of this game as you may not really ‘get it’.  Rather pick up Halo 3 if you want to meet Master Chief for the first time or Halo: Reach if you just want to see what the Halo world is about without John-117.

For now, this is the closest we will get to Halo 4 which will probably set the next standard for Sci-Fi First Person Shooters featuring fanatical aliens hell-bent on the destruction of humankind.  Again.

Zombiegamer rating:

Ratchet & Clank All 4 One is the latest game out in the Ratchet & Clank series. It tries to do something different, by offering the player the opportunity to do either same screen or online co-op gaming with three people. The game was clearly designed to be played with friends (thanks for stating the obvious) but alas, this reviewer had nobody to test out that feature of the game with. Thus, this review will focus on the game, solely from a single player perspective.

Developer: Insomniac Games
Publisher: SCEA
For fans of: Platformers, co-op gaming
Reviewed on: PS3
Also available on: N/A
If we had to give it a numerical score: 6.5/10

What I liked:

• The co op element
• The slapstick humour in the story
• The variety of weapons

What I disliked:

• The game is not very challenging
• The inability to save within a level. You either have to complete the level, or restart from the beginning.

In short:

This is most certainly a game that only needs picking up if you are going to play through it co operatively with a friend. If not, give it a skip. You won’t be missing anything special.

The game:

The game kicks off with you having a battle against your arch-enemy. Once completed, you and your arch enemy are captured by a new enemy. This kicks off the “everybody-needs-to-band-together-to-overcome-this-new-enemy” scenario, and sets the tone for the adventure.

Each level tasks with you the normal R&C approach of collecting bolts and killing baddies. However, to progress in each level, you will have to work with your new team mates to solve puzzles, defeat hordes of enemies and cross huge chasms.

As you progress through levels, you start to unravel the mystery regarding this new enemy, and why the duo of Ratchet & Co (see what I did there?) need to save the world.

Luckily the game makes use of a checkpoint system. So should everybody die, it’s back to the last checkpoint. The game is not shy with checkpoints, so should you perish, you will never be sent too far back. This is not Dark Souls after all. My greatest irk was that you cannot save at a specific point in a level, quit out, and re load back there. You either have to finish the level, or restart it completely. This system felt a bit archaic to me.

At various spots during levels, you will be able to purchase new weapons, and upgrade existing ones. There is a wide variety of weapons, and with the introduction of each new one you are greeted with a comedic ‘cinematic’ detailing the weapon and its abilities. Each weapon has a set amount of ammo, but again, the game is not shy with ammo reloading stations. So there is never any need to conserve ammo.

The voice acting is not the best, but the cut scenes are decent. They inject additional humour into the game, and I enjoyed them.

The level and puzzle design is also designed with co-op in mind. Thus playing the game on my ace, I felt ‘alone.’ With three other players, I can imagine the game will be a lot more fun, as co-op gaming always is. This game, I would think, is aimed at the younger gamer or family-with-4-controllers. It’s not challenging, and I found myself breezing through levels with ease.  Bosses also do not pose too great a threat.

Final thoughts:

It’s a fun, no brain required platformer indeed. However, as stated at the beginning, only pick up if you are going to play through this with friends. It’s not something that will hold your attention on a solo run.

Zombiegamer rating:

In short

Assassin’s Creed Revelations is the most thorough package in the series which features the great storytelling and engaging gameplay the series is known for.  Great new gameplay features and activities surprise and delight, and now include multiplayer modes.

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal

Publisher: Ubisoft

For fans of: The series, platforming, parkour

Reviewed on: Xbox 360

Also available on: Playstation 3, PC

If we had to give it a numerical score: 9.0 out of 10

What I loved

• New gameplay
• Narrative better than ever
• Cinematic bits
• Most interesting story in series

Not so much

• Still not my favourite interface

Overview

Assassin’s Creed Revelations delves deeper into Desmond Miles’ link with the Animus and follows lead assassin Ezio Auditore as he walks in the footsteps of his legendary mentor, Altair. Revelations’ main story focuses on Ezio in his quest to recover five ancient seals that hold the keys to the future of the Assassins brotherhood. The story’s setting is the gorgeous, ancient Istanbul which was known as Constantinople in the centuries before. You will need to recruit assassins and even train some to battle the ever growing army of Templars that threaten to destabilize the region.

Gameplay and Features

A Constantinople resident and fellow assassin, Yusuf becomes you main ally and even teaches Ezion a new trick or two. Yusuf will teach you to create bombs that will help with diversions, disorientating of enemies and tactical attacks. Bomb ingredients are scattered throughout the land and you will need to find set venues where you can create the three types of bombs. Yusuf also gives Ezio a new ‘hook-blade’, a welcomed new addition to the assassins’ core weapons. The hook-blade allows you to make longer jumps, propels you up buildings quicker, and features some unique combat aspects and my new favourite edition – it allows you to zip down ropes or lines from building to building.

The famed gameplay and mechanics return with a host of new additions – the parkour aspects are enhanced by the hook-blade and there are a host of new, small additions to the gameplay and combat which make this department the most refined in the series. The combat in Revelations has more substance to it and seems more brutal than I remember with previous instalments. There are a collection of new finishing moves, depending on your weapon, that are more visceral and violent than before. The countering abilities have also evolved, depending on the size of weapon your enemy is using and the level of enemy, you can either swiftly counter and dispatch them. Alternatively you will need to take a more tactical approach to take them down – like the high level enemies require you to knee or kick them before engaging them. The ‘Eagle vision’ has evolved to and comes into play more often than previously – it will help in activities from detecting targets amongst the crowds, to finding hidden clues to finding hidden paths to the usual scanning of areas from a bird’s eye view to map out areas.

You will need to recruit assassins throughout the city and these recruits can be used in any situation by summoning them. Whether you are faced with an overwhelming battle or you just need to divert the attention from you, summon the assassins and they aptly help in the situation. You will also takeover assassin dens where you can produce your bombs or send assassins from on battles. These assassins used in battles level up depending on the success of the activities the carry out, delegated by you. You will need to allocate the skill points as these assassins level up.

Ezio and his recruits are battling for power in areas by taking over dens and towers which incorporate some light RTS gameplay. You basically command assassins in a designated area to withstand attacks, to overpower the faction in that area and ultimately give you control of that den. The RTS aspect allows you to create barracks and assign various types of assassins to face the attacks. Should you win that den becomes controlled by your faction of assassins. These dens are contended again and you will need to take time off the primary storyline to go and protect your dens. Another nice new way to take over small areas is by using your eagle vision to seek out the head honcho in the area, take him down and then climb a tower and set it alight – announcing your new found control of that area.

Previous activities were also included in Revelations – from buying banks, tailors and other landmarks which earn you revenue. You accumulate your earnings from your owned landmarks and from missions and can even withdraw from banks, this accumulated fortune, which you can again use on upgrading your weapons or armour.

Assassin’s Creed Revelations’ missions are more diverse than ever which kept me driving the story more often that taking the time out to gain areas and recruits. The story is engaging, hugely interesting and folds out progressively keeping involved with Altair, Ezio and Miles. There is less repetition than I found with previous instalments, and the missions have you partake in brawling, platforming and puzzle-solving amongst others.

Unfortunately my Ubipass code did not work and at time of publishing and I am waiting for Ubisoft to send me a new code.  We will publish more on the multiplayer at a later date.

Visuals and Sound

The user interface is as it was in the previous games with a wealth of new icons for the new features. All are explained within the first hours as is the new gameplay features – which are optional tutorials that you can practise at any time. I have never been a fan of the shortcut design in terms of assigning weapons to your d-pad, and with the added bombs and weapons you constantly need to go to the selection screen to equip the items. It is a small issue I have with the series but not a serious one as at the end of the day it does work. That said, the presentation is neat and user-friendly incorporating the new editions well, and to further aid you there is the tips in the loading menus which allow you to pause your mission and practice at any time.

While the Assassin’s Creed series has always been famed for its beautiful visuals and picturesque settings, at this stage in the current generation noticing a grand improvement in visuals is difficult. What is noticeable is the near flawless graphics with only the frame-rate dipping every now and then being the only (small) negative that I noticed. The animations and players movements did seem smoother and more evolved than ever without being a great jump forward. Constantine, like the cities before, is beautifully textured with bright coloured bizarres and flora breaking the sandy stone buildings that are common to the era’s desert region. The inhabitants are dressed in the rich coloured textured common to the era and region. The narrative is superior to that of the previous games and further complimented by the cinematic scenes which frequent. More action scenes thrill and delight the visual experience with clever use of camera work.

The voice-actors return to play their characters and the again do a superb job, really helping you connect with the stars of the story. There are the rich Constantine and Italian accents and dialect to enjoy, again which is suited to the era and regions. The scoring is typical Eastern in flavour put together by the series stalwart, Jesper Kyd’s who again does a stunning job of creating a city that is alive with sounds.

Final thoughts

I have always enjoyed the series, the gameplay and interesting design coupled interesting storylines has always appealed to me. While I played through the previous Assassin’s Creed games happily, none of them were as gripping as Revelations. Whether it was the new gameplay or the best narrative in the series or the dramatic cinematic sequences, something or the combination of everything kept the hours flowing in a gripping manner.

Assassin’s Creed Revelations is one of the strongest singleplayer experiences this year – a year filled with great singleplayer titles. There is the multiplayer mode for those looking for a more social experience, but ultimately the singleplayer experience is worthy of the price tag all on its own.

Zombiegamer rating:

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