Reviewer’s Note: I’ve inserted the write up, which is everything I mentioned in the video review, for those who’d prefer to read it than watch it. Please let me know what you guys think of the video portion. I’ve been wanting to do a video review for a long time, and if it goes well I wouldn’t mind doing some more. Enter your date of birth to access this video. Review The Darkness II, developed by Digital Extremes, is the sequel to 2007′s The Darkness. Based on the popular comic books The Darkness II follows Jackie Estacado two years after the events of the first game. He’s managed to contain The Darkness deep inside and has been living a normal life as the Don of the Franchetti crime family. After a failed attempt on his life that leaves him severely wounded, The Darkness rears its head and starts to persuade Jackie into letting it out. Trying to fight for his life, Jackie finally gives in and The Darkness is unleashed once more. Presentation The Darkness II looks significantly different than it’s predecessor; this is due to Digital Extremes decision to go with a Cel-shaded look to be more like the comic. Enemies in the game are outlined in black, which allows them to stand out from surrounding objects, making them easier to spot against the strong color palette. The move from realism to a more comic book style doesn’t detract from the experience at all, in fact it works very well to compliment the story that is being told. Story Jackie is still haunted by the loss of the one girl he cared about, Jenny, and once The Darkness is released he starts to see visions of her pop up at random moments, and begins to question whether or not it’s really happening. Shortly after the attack, Jackie finds out the identity of the group that tried to kill him, they are The Brotherhood and they want The Darkness. Jackie enlists the help of an old friend, named Johnny Powell, who turns out to be pretty knowledgeable when it comes to the occult. After all Johnny is the one who helped Jackie suppress The Darkness in the first place. Gameplay Gameplay is where The Darkness II really shines. In most first person shooters, it’s having a big gun that makes you feel like a bad ass, but in this game it’s the power of The Darkness that makes you feel invincible. Digital Extremes has introduced a new feature to this game called Quad-wielding which allows you to not only dual wield your firearms, but also use both Darkness arms as well. This allows for some interesting gameplay styles. The left arm allows you to grab objects and people, while the right arm slashes, depending on which direction you swing the right analog stick. Some of the objects you grab with the left arm can be used as a shield, which can be very handy when fighting multiple enemies. Not to mention impaling people with said shield is awesome as hell. Another change this time around is the skill tree wheel where you can unlock certain abilities as well as upgrade other aspects. Each segment of the wheel caters to the gameplay style you have; if you love using guns then upgrade your ammo capacity. Do you want more health when you perform an execution? Buy that trait. Though in order to progress up each path you have to unlock an earlier ability. Some paths branch off and lead to separate abilities with their own upgrades. Luckily you’re able to re-spec your abilities which restores your ‘Dark Essence’ the currency you spend to unlock each trait, though you won’t receive the full amount back that you’ve invested. Don’t worry, Dark Essence is easy to come by, as you get it from everything you kill. However the amount you get is based on HOW you kill someone, so get a little creative. Missing from the first game however is the gun-kata. While there is an ability that carries the name, it doesn’t do at all what you’d expect. I miss walking up to a guy and suddenly becoming Christian Bale in Equilibrium, but that’s me. Another change is moving away from the open world model the first game had. Which is fine, as it allows the games pacing to be stronger, and move you along. The breaks it does have are purely story related. There is also a coop multiplayer mode, that allows you to team up with some friends and carry out side missions together. Each character you can choose from has a unique Darkness weapon and ability at their disposal. These side missions are fun, and actually serve a purpose since these characters are employed by Jackie, and the missions tie in to the main story. The downside to this mode is that if you want to tackle it on your own, the game doesn’t scale to fit one person. So you might find certain segments challenging by yourself. Verdict The Darkness II is a fun game. It makes you feel empowered, in a way most games fail to do, while still giving you a challenge. It is not a perfect game however, there are plenty of times when the facial animations of side characters can seem a little off while they’re talking. It’s nothing too jarring, but it is noticeable. The story also seems to progress in the same way the first game does, not that it’s bad, but I was able to predict a lot as it played out, not to mention the ending felt a little too open. The Darkness II also seemed pretty short. Even though I played it on the hardest difficulty I felt that by the time it was done I had gotten through it rather quick. Though once you’re finished with the game you can always jump into multiplayer and have some fun there. If you’re a fan of the first game, I’d say pick this one up. If you’re new to the franchise and curious, I’d say pick it up as well. Review Pros Cons Great gameplay, Fun multiplayer, Looks great Short single player campaign, Same plot points as the original, Ending is a little too open Rating 80% This review is based on a PS3 edition of THE DARKNESS II developed by DIGITAL EXTREMES.

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[Video Review] The Darkness II

To quote the game’s vernacular, Skyrim isn’t a flawless game, but it certainly is legendary. I’m utterly amazed by how it consumed my life for nearly two months. I’ve been meaning to write the review for a while, but the game offers you so much to do that I couldn’t help but to think I was missing something that should be here. I’m confident enough now; I’ve platinum’d the game, completed nearly all quests and side quests I could find, and replayed most quest lines with a second character. Skyrim is an incredible game, but it has more flaws than anyone would care to admit. However, the most impressive achievement of the game is being one of the most enjoyable experiences in video game history, regardless of any shortcomings. I tried to condensate this review in a simple post as I usually do, but there’s too much to talk about and it would get confusing, so I’m dividing everything in tabs, some generic and others more specific to RPGs. I don’t think I need to tell anyone that Skyrim is awesome, as that’s pretty much settled after winning just about every big prize in the business for 2011, so I hope my more in-depth comments shed some light for those of you who haven’t experienced it yet. Since most people have already beaten the game, just feel free to compare to your personal journey. Gameplay In a game this big, it’s always a challenge to balance every aspect of it into a control scheme that feels simple, yet deep enough, to offer more elaborate aspects of gameplay to the less casual players. You should keep in mind Skyrim isn’t exactly an action RPG or a hack n’ slash game, so mechanics are less elaborate. There are no combos or intricate combinations of buttons pressed that will make you unleash the wrath of the gods unto your foes, but this does not alter the fact that this was a very well thought-out part of the game. With the push of a button, you can burn down your enemies with fire coming out of your hands, chop their heads off with a giant battleaxe, or, perhaps, headshot an incoming bandit from a mile away with your bow. You can change between any of those with ease, thanks to a well placed favorite menu that can be accessed with the D-Pad. Of course, this isn’t everything you can do; run, jump, ride horses, chop wood, mine ore, mix potions, craft a dagger, enchant it, use it to silently kill an unsuspecting guard that is at the wrong place at the wrong time, etc. All of that can be just as easily done and you won’t even notice you’re doing something completely different than you were a minute ago. After a very short tutorial, you’re free to brave the world as you see fit. There are no obligations whatsoever, which can make some feel a bit overwhelmed, but that’s the beauty of it. You’re placed in a huge landmass that you don’t know anything about, discovering its nooks and crannies and looking for riches and power is your what makes you go forth. To me, this game has only one objective, get out there and have fun. When I was about 20 hours in, I realized I had only completed 5 quests and my unfinished tasks list was huge. Roaming the world without a goal might seem like a silly thing to do, but Skyrim gives you an opportunity to find something interesting anywhere you go. This game is as much about exploration as it is about killing monsters and saving the world, and it’s simply astonishing how rewarding this experience is. Anywhere you go, doesn’t matter how far to the northern iced sea or into some deep forest or even on the top of an unreachable mountain, there’ll be something waiting for you, and you play for theses moments. Fortunately, for everyone, there are just so many; I don’t think I’ve seen half of it. I don’t personally believe that any game can be fun if it doesn’t offer you enough challenge as an incentive to move on, but I’m not everyone. Skyrim’s difficulty can be easily adjusted and will please your personal preference. Novice (easy) makes you feel like you’re the finest warrior ever born. Master (very hard) makes you squeal like a little girl when faced by an Ancient Dragon that will tear you apart. I found the sweet spot for my playthrough to be the Expert (hard) difficulty; not too many grueling deaths and enough action to keep me awake, but I feel like less dedicated character builds (mine was strictly a tank warrior) might have to contend with Adept (normal). Don’t forget, this is still an RPG, even though it changed a bit to please a broader audience, so leveling plays a big part in the game. However, there are no stats (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence and whatnot). Every time you level up you get two points, one to be placed in stamina (raises carrying weight, running and melee endurance), health, or magicka (raises “mana”) and another one to activate a perk. Perks are special abilities tied to each Skill. Each one has its own skill tree; unlocking a different perk will give you diverse abilities and will greatly empower your character. It’s a fun system, new to the Elder Scrolls franchise, that plays an important role in building up your character and also shaping your play style. Interface RPGs are known to be the most time consuming games on the market and everyone will tell you that a good portion of that time will be spent managing your inventory & Skyrim is no exception. Menus are possibly the best I’ve seen implemented for an RPG; they’re clean and elegant, slightly transparent but mostly black and white. They are all very easy to navigate, but might feel awkward at first, as some “basic rules of modern games” are not applied, like the fact the “O” button will close anything open instead of backing out a single stance. This was the only thing that bothered me at first, but the overall ease of use is such that that you’ll soon be going through it like it was the first thing you’ve ever done in your life. I liked that different things are on different menus, so there’s no need to look at stuff you don’t need. This seemingly simple thing will save you so much time that I was amazed by how fast I could completely rearrange my inventory. Interfaces are so well done in the game, that I doubt it wasn’t one of the design pillars of the game. Skill trees are a work to marvel at. Instead of looking at some numbers, you’ll be looking at the skies. Each constellation is a different skill, and every star represents a perk that can be chosen for that skill, and it is beautiful. It also works perfectly as well, and it’s a great solution to make these less immersive moments a lot more enjoyable. Another aspect that is exceptionally well done is the map. Fully rendered in 3D, you can look at it from different angles and it’s the best way to plan your journey to the far ends of Skyrim. The terrain here is filled with huge mountains and rivers so its a good way to make sure you’re taking the best route, instead of walking for miles and miles just to find a wall of rock separating you from your objective. Every important location discovered will have an icon added to it and after you’ve been there you can simply fast travel back, instead of walking all the way. I missed a filter option so not all markers would show at the same time (because there are A LOT of them), especially after 120 hours of exploration. Graphics Skyrim won’t be making the best looking game of the year list, but it still looks impressive. Mostly because of the extremely well done art style. Up close environment textures might look a bit blurred and low res. I understand part of it is supposed to be the PS3 “fault”, but I was very much satisfied with the graphical capabilities of the game and it didn’t bother me at all. Weapons and armor don’t suffer from the same problem and look great. They’re beautiful and, at the same time, threatening, each showing off the particularity of its type, material and origin. Going out in the world, it’s easy to become amazed by the beautiful settings of Skyrim. Huge mountains covered in snow, cities built on top of cliffs, incredible ruins waiting to be braved. Everything looks impressive and unlikely diversified. In a world this big, I was surprised by the fact I rarely felt like I was going through the same place over and over again, one of my biggest problems with Oblivion. Dungeons are no exception. With about four prominent art styles, each feel unique and worth exploring. Even though the graphics of Skyrim aren’t prize worthy, the art style completely makes up for it. Every bit of this northern land is rich with details and feels like a place of legend and history. One of the most memorable moments for me was when, after going up a hill, I faced the two gigantic moons in a star packed and colorful sky. I felt like I was in one of those fantasy paintings and not playing a video game. Sound I believe sound design is one of the most important things in any game, and it completely helps immersion. I tend to play with high quality headphones and I’m and audiophile, so I do pay a lot of attention to details and I was impressed by it. The score is simply epic, as most have probably heard by now, since there are various cover songs and Youtube videos that borrowed some of its greatness. I believe it’s very important that the music played during a game is adequate to each situation and, at the same time, exciting. Most great games I’ve played in my life have great songs that, to this day, I can easily remember, Skyrim could be one of these. Sound effects are also very well done; the clash of weapons, the roar of Dragons and the whispering wind inside caves always do the part and should make you feel like you’re battling all kinds of evil yourself. Unfortunately, not the same can be said about the voice acting, as is the case in most extensive games like this. The most noticeable problem is the acting itself. It often feels forced and not natural like it should. It’s also weird that every character in the game seems to be from a different place in the world and accents often vary greatly (sometimes even when the same person is speaking!). One good thing is that every line of speech in the game is dubbed, but this will quickly start to annoy you because every vendor says the same 3 lines over and over again. That is obviously major problem #2. In a game this big, with so many hours of content, repetitive lines are not welcome, combined with the fact that two very different people sitting next to each other could have the same voice and you’re in for a real weird fest. Content Content is perhaps the most astonishing aspect of Skyrim. This is a game that you can easily play for over 150 hours and still have a bunch of things to do. Besides the main plot, you also have the choice to complete four faction quest lines that are about as big as the main one. This, alone, has the potential to keep you going for a good while (well over 60 hours), but it’s only the tip of the iceberg. The game has at least other 4 lengthy adventures for you and literally hundreds of side quests and miscellaneous objectives (that more often than not turn into side quests of their own) for you to complete. The amount of directed content is indeed amazing, but simply roaming around is also a great adventure of itself. Every discovered location is worth a good deal of time to explore and appreciate; details and treasure are everywhere, as are enemies waiting to be gruesomely slain. Another interesting aspect incorporated in the game are the “radiant quests” random shores that will, most of the time, direct you to locations where you haven’t been in search of a trivial objective. This is a good way to explore every location in the game. With enough content to keep you going for a really long time, it’s also important that a feeling of fulfillment permeates the game. I believe your actions have some impact on the world, especially when side quests are completed. NPCs will treat you differently and dialogues will change. Oddly enough, the main quest line has little influence on the behavior of Skyrim’s citizens. At least you’ll get powerful that killing the strongest beasts will be your number one concern. Design I believe one of the most defining features of Skyrim is the excellent game design Bethesda has put into it. This isn’t the best looking game out there, it doesn’t have the best gameplay mechanics ever created, and the story sure isn’t anywhere near unforgettable, however, the way that all that came together just might be one of the most successful combination of elements in video game history. One thing you’ll notice is how well elements work together, things like casting spells in one hand while slashing enemies with your sword, interacting with an NPC while keeping an eye out for local movement, solving puzzles inside poorly lit dungeons, etc. Everything works perfectly together and makes for an unforgettable experience. The stories told are very much connected to the happenings of the game and the structure of the society and events are also believable and interesting. It’s also noteworthy that every race, band, or faction has their own way of behaving, talking and reacting to your character and, even though it’s not incredibly deep, it feels right and helps you to experience this world like you’re really part of it. Skills Possibly the most important aspect of any RPG is the way it handles Skills. I’ve seen great games fall due to messy systems and otherwise unattractive games blossom because of it (hey Borderlands, I’m talking to you!). The developers took a big risk by completely changing the Elder Scrolls formula in this installment of the series, and I can say that, while it may not be as deep as some would expect, it is a decent evolution of the beaten down point system. I must say, this is perhaps the freshest attempt to overhaul skill and attribute handling in an RPG I’ve seen in a while. By completely taking out all attributes, the evolution of your character is now completely bound to your experience and the way you play the game. There’s no need to pump strength to maximize melee damage; just make sure you’re using your weapon of choice. The same works for spell casting, crafting, sneaking and every other skill in the game. While this isn’t exactly new to TES games, Perks are a new addition to the series and hopefully here to stay. In Skyrim, the key to your character’s development is to allocate points gained when leveling up in these special abilities called Perks. They will make your skills stronger and often provide special abilities and effects when they’re used. For example, casting fire magic is a lot of fun; who doesn’t like to burn down a bunch of overly confident bandits? But how about dual casting the same spell for a more powerful version of it? That’s one perk. Not enough? Then add a stagger effect to this already destructive spell and the baddies won’t even be able to reach you. Combine that to halved magicka use and you’re set. These abilities are all perks tied to the Destruction Skill Tree, and this system is equally satisfying for all the other skills in the game with very few exceptions. Even though this works out for the best, I did find it a bit frustrating that making a more spread out character is slightly more difficult to create. This happens because you’re dependent on Perks to adequately face enemies, and sometimes, if you’re not especially strong in any of the various skills, this could mean you’ll be less efficient. However, do not worry. It is completely possible to create hybrid characters. Just don’t try to make a Tank Mage Thieve Enchanting Blacksmith… oh wait, I did that and it wasn’t so bad! Just make sure you’re investing on the right perks. Equipment Not unexpectedly, this is the only point of Skyrim that didn’t live up to my expectations. As a big time hoarder, I found the restricted quantity of weapons and armor in the game a slight letdown, especially when you consider the fact that very few enchanted goodies are found while questing and that the ones found are utterly garbage. Not unlike other TES games, there are few different materials and products made of those, which is cool in the beginning, but after you’ve wore the same Daedric armor for 20 hours straight, you start to feel like there should be something else. The biggest problem here is that top notch equipment is easily accessible by crafting methods (blacksmith and enchanting) by investing a few points in it and, honestly, there’s no other equipment in the game capable of replacing custom built weapons and armor. Don’t get me wrong, this is awesome and I love my Legendary Daedric Armor with 2 immensely powerful enchantments, but I wish there was a way I could find something better. This would definitely keep me interested in the loot drops and chests. While this hasn’t been the focal point of this game, I can’t help but to think how incredibly beneficial it would be if Skyrim had a “Diabloesque” loot system where you can get different levels of gear with a varied amount of enchantments imbued in it. In no way does this aspect of it lessen the experience, but I keep wondering what could’ve been. Problems I’ve already discussed some of the minor issues I had with Skyrim, but there are a few bigger problems that are deserving of a special mention. As most know, it’s extremely rare these days to have a game launched without any problems, especially when the scale is anywhere as huge as in this game. I believe this could be related to the fact an enormous world filled with choice and consequences requires a gigantic amount of variables and scripting, which sure is a recipe for disaster. I’ve played and loved Fallout: New Vegas (a game developed by Obsidian and published by Bethesda), but I just couldn’t finish the game until a decent patch was released about 6 months after I purchased it. While NV made me immune to just about any non-game breaking problem in a video game, I can honestly say Skyrim is a huge step forward and the experience is many times better. So much so, I haven’t actually crashed a single time in over 150 hours I’ve played this game. “Hey so what are the problems?” you might ask. To your question the answer is “the infamous PS3 lag”. This is perhaps one of the biggest flaws of a AAA game I’ve played. Nobody is sure about the reason behind it; it does not occur to everyone nor does it occur at an exact point in the game, but you can be sure, if it happens to you, so far there’s nothing you can do about it. What really happens is everything starts to stagger until eventually the whole game simply drops to a FPS rate beyond unacceptable, and the game becomes unplayable. Resetting the game might work for a little while, but you’re eventually fated to face the same problem over and over until you decide you’ve had enough. I can’t say that it was a huge reason of rage to me, because I was fortunate enough to have only experienced it after 120 hours in my first play trough, and since at that point, I had done just about everything important. I simply decided to start over and do the rest with a new character. In no way am I OK with this, and it was one of the lowest moments in video game history I’ve ever experienced. After so much time and effort put into a game, it’s sad to see it all go because of some stupid lag. Apart from that minor bugs like textures not loading correctly, every once in a while, backwards flying dragons and a few scripting dead ends do happen, but they’re nowhere near as terrible as the lag and don’t really hinder your experience much. If you’re looking for some tips to avoid these problems, I recommend turning Auto-Save off (which also decreases loading times significantly) and try not to mess with environments too much. Clean up after yourself (always loot everything dropped on the floors) and don’t toss unwanted gear on the ground, look for a dead body or chest. Closing doors also seems to help. I really can’t say for sure if those precautions really help, but it is what I did and I consider myself lucky to have run into the lag problem very very late in the game. Conclusion The Elder Scrolls V : Skyrim is the epitome of video game freedom and it offers anyone willing to take it on the opportunity become anything (but not everything) you’ve always dreamed of in your medieval fantasy. The possibilities aren’t endless, but you probably won’t even notice because they’re aplenty, to say the least. This is not a game I’d recommend to everyone, but if you’re into feeling like you’re the most powerful person alive, then you should consider getting this. The journey from being a deadbeat prisoner to becoming a multipurpose monster killing machine rewards you with a satisfaction that is extremely difficult to describe. Skyrim will have been the last game I play in 2011 and I can honestly say this is my choice for GOTY. If you’re even slightly interested in trying this out, don’t feel scared by all the bugs and glitches. They won’t mess your experience too many times and I’m confident this is a game that many will recall fondly and go back to for a long time to come. Review Pros Cons Enormous game with almost too much to do Incredible design creates a perfect atmosphere Great variety of content and possibilities An epic experience that is extremely hard to come by these days Efficient and beautiful interfaces Minor and major bugs occur every so often AI needs a lot of improvement Role Playing was dumbed down for a wider audience Rating 96% This review is based on the PS3 edition of The Elder Scrolls V : Skyrim developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks.

Original post:
[Review] The Elder Scrolls V : Skyrim

Before I begin, I’d just like to briefly introduce 4Gamers – a UK based PlayStation Approved accessory brand. 4Gamers have been developing quality console accessories for over 6 years, and have since established themselves as a quality brand whose products can be found in every gaming establishment, supermarkets and online stores within the UK. 4Gamers are an Official PlayStation Approved Accessory developer, so you can have the peace of mind that you are buying a product which has been carefully designed and pieced together, and has met the seal of approval from the big cheeses within the Sony corporation. Their products range from affordable PS3 and the more recent PS Vita cases to headsets and packaged kits which appeal to the more prominent gamer. Currently their products are not available in the US, however this is about to change very soon! I was recently invited to the 4Gamers UKHQ to see their products first hand, and I’m still wondering how I can share with you everything that I saw and had the opportunity to play with. I met with Tony Walton, Product Development Manager for 4Gamers – the genius behind the product design. We sat down in the main board room, where the walls were covered in numerous accessories they’ve developed over the years. After a brief introduction, Tony advised me that I was about to see products which currently are in the public domain, and some which have only just been approved by Sony themselves and haven’t yet been revealed to the outside world. Although I would love to share with you everything that was presented to me, today I’m going to focus on one particular piece of kit which I feel is the must-have kit for any PS3 gamer, new or old. so, without delay – let me present to you, the COMM-PLAY Performance Gaming Kit! What’s Included In The Box Presented in a very sleek box, the package includes the following products: – 4Gamers Stereo Gaming Headset – Dual Charge ‘N’ Stand, with 2 lengthy USB cables – High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet 4Gamers Stereo Gaming Headset The headset looks VERY sleek – it sports a leather strap across the headband, it’s extremely light, comes packed with some nice and tidy cables – and the major plus for me, a noise cancelling microphone. Before I go into specifics I’d like to mention that I currently own a set of Turtle Beach P11′s – and I couldn’t help myself but compare the 4Gamers’ headset to the P11′s – due to both being very similarly priced. The first and most obvious difference I noticed between both headsets were the volume controls. Whilst the P11′s controls aren’t all that bad, the 4Gamers’ headset’s controls just look and feel far superior – with the solid sliders giving you more control over the volume levels. The headset’s controls were very robust, and had a solid feel to them. Whilst playing with the P11′s controls, I felt like I’m 8 years old again, back in the 80′s playing around with the volume control dial on my Sony cassette player/Walkman. We’re in the 21st Century and to be honest, we should be moving away from circular dials regardless of the feature it controls. The other noticeable difference was the shape of the earcups. The P11′s consists of oval/eggshaped earcups, whilst the 4Gamers’ headset consists of round earcups – with both headset’s cups nicely padded, making them very comfortable to wear. Next up was the noise cancelling microphone offered by 4Gamers. This is a mega plus point, whereas my P11s unfortunately do not offer a NC mic. If you’re wondering what noise cancelling is all about, here’s a quickie from the Wiki: “A noise-canceling microphone is a microphone designed to filter out ambient noise from the desired sound, especially useful in noisy environments.” The mics on both headsets are different in length – with the 4Gamers’ mic being shorter. When testing the 4Gamers headset via an online session of Battlefield, although I hadn’t told my friends I was donning a different headset, they had obviously noticed the difference by telling me I actually sound much clearer. Both headsets sport a metal adjustable arm on the mic, making it nice and sturdy and ensure the mic doesn’t drop from it’s adjusted position. How often do you feel that there’s just too much cabling between you, your headset and your PS3? I get this all the time with my P11s. Although the P11s offer a generous 3.7m of cabling, it quite annoys me that I have to interconnect quite a few cables to then connect upto my PS3 – making the floorspace in front of me look like a mess. OK – so sue me, I’m complaining about the wiring in front of me. Let me put it this way, I have my P11 headset, connect the headset to the USB slot in your PS3 and then to the audio splitter cable. You then connect the audio splitter cable to your PS3 A/V cable which is then plugged into the back of the PS3. So, all in all you have to connect multiple cables each time you want to use your headset – it can be a pain when you’re trying to get online quickly. I thought this was one of the better features of the 4Gamers’ headset. No extra cables to interconnect, the headset had one 4m cable, consisting of a USB and A/V plug – which were adequately spaced out and seperated, which. All that was required was to plug the headset into your PS3 and got on with your gaming. Easy peasy! Finally, the most important feature of any headset – the audio quality. I must say my ears have been put through quite a lot over the years and although this is the case I can confidently say they are still in mint condition. Although I tend to tune out of my wife’s nagging – that’s a special skill that doesn’t take long to learn, my ears were picking up all the little sounds you would normally miss when you’re playing your games on your 42″ TV! I noticed very little difference in terms of audio quality. The P11′s had a slightly higher level of bass, but this for me wasn’t the dealbreaker. The 4Gamers’ headset on the other hand, was crystal clear! I was exceptionally happy with the sound quality generated by the 4Gamers headset. Once I was involved in my game, I didn’t really care about the bass levels – I was more bothered about whether I could hear opposition creeping up behind me, or the tank taking me out from my right hand side – and it didn’t let me down in that department. Dual Charge ‘N’ Stand I’ve occasionally found myself with 2 USB cables just dangling out of my PS3 with 2 gamepads lying in the middle of the room, charging whilst my wife gets her daily dose of Come Dine With Me. For folks across the Atlantic, Come Dine With Me is a reality show where 4 or 5 individuals cook for each other over a span of 5 days and they then score each other on how good the food was and how their evening went – it is quite amusing! The winner takes away with them £1000 GBP. However, the 4Gamers Dual Charge ‘N’ Stand doesn’t have any functional features. Although there’s no major added value to it, I love the way it adds a little style to your TV unit/PS3/room. To charge your pads, if not already done so, simply sit your pads onto the stand, plug your USB cables into your pads and let them recharge themselves without worrying about someone tripping over the wires! High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet If you’ve not yet switched over to HDMI, then you’re missing out on a fantastic trick. Once you’ve played your PS3 in HD, you will never go back to A/V! The HDMI cable included in this pack offers the following: – Support for 3D games and movies – 4K resolution – Gold plated connectors – Nickel plated cable heads – High quality triple shielded 2 metre cable The cable itself consists of a robust build. The one feature that stood out for me was the triple shielded covering – it looks solid! When a few of my friends saw the cable, they instantly wanted one as they do look very nice, and like they will last for a loooong time. Overall Verdict I’m VERY impressed with the quality of the goods developed by 4Gamers. It’s no surprise they’re receiving raving reviews for their products. If I need another headset, this package would definitely be on top of my shopping list. The package itself is certainly value for money. The quality and build of each of the products is of a high standard, and as they’re PlayStation Approved – that gives me peace of mind and comfort knowing they will have been through some thorough testing before Sony will have rubber stamped their approval for mass production. For those that reside in the US, although these products are currently not on sale within the States, 4Gamers are working very hard behind the scenes to bring their products to you very soon. The next time you’re in a games store – keep an eye out for some 4Gamers gear – you may just find a 4Gamers COMM-PLAY Performance Gaming Kit sitting on that shelf! Last but not least, keep your eyes on this site – we’re going to be giving one of these packages away to ONE lucky winner! Please note: Dualshock Wireless Controllers are not included in the package. 4Gamers Website: www.4gamers.net Twitter: @4GamersElite

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We Introduce To You, 4Gamers

For the first time in series history the fifth installment to Namco’s Soul Calibur franchise moves the story forward significantly. Set seventeen years after the events of the fourth game, Soul Calibur V introduces long time fans of the series to a fresh new, younger cast of characters while keeping the right mix of familiar faces around. With this edition of Soul Calibur Project Soul ( the developers behind the series ) took several bold steps with the fighter as an attempt to attract new players but was it enough to keep the soul burning? Story Welcome back to the stage of history . The story in Soul Calibur V is told differently than previous installments. No longer do each of the game’s 24 main playable characters ( not including guest character Ezio Auditore da Firenze or Patroklos’ and Pyrrha’s alternate forms ) have individual story paths. In the new story mode -which is actually called Story 1607 A.D.- you’re mostly in control of nineteen year old protagonist, Patroklos Alexander, the new wielder of the Soul Calibur sword. Patroklos is in search of his long lost misguided sister Pyrrha, who wields the evil blade Soul Edge and serves as the story’s deuteragonist. Patroklos and Pyrrha are the children of series veteran Sophitia. In story mode most of the returning cast now play a supporting role while others are no where to be found. The engaging tale of brother versus sister unfolds not only through battles against numerous AI opponents but with an anime style narrative combined with instances of CG as well. The compelling story was told rather well throughout the 20 Episodes. While the new story mode did a good job of introducing us to Patroklos and his family struggles at the same time it left too many unanswered questions for other fighters. As someone who enjoys following the plot of the series I personally found it disappointing that new characters such as Xiba and Viola weren’t fleshed out. Xiba obviously has some form of relation to franchise veterans Kilik and Seong Mi-na but exactly how wasn’t explained. Viola could be Amy, Raphael’s missing adoptive daughter, however since this wasn’t explained we’re left up to our imagination until the next installment, hopefully. Modes Soul Calibur V features five offline modes, Arcade, Quick Mode, VS Battle,Training and Legendary Souls . When you’re not playing online, Quick Mode and Legendary Souls Mode will keep you busy. In Quick Mode you battle against different AI controlled characters who you must defeat in order to gain new titles. You’re given the option to select which character you want to fight against however depending on your choice the AI can either be a push over or extremely challenging. Quick Mode is also where you’ll find special non playable character, Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada. Harada uses Devil Jin’s fighting style, and as a high ranked character, is pretty hard to beat. When you do conquer Harada you’ll be rewarded with his title and a trophy for your collection. In Legendary Souls mode you face off against seven AI controlled bosses across as many stages. Your Soul Calibur skills will be put to the test as the difficulty level of the enemy’s AI increases with each boss. After nearly an hour of trying I only made it to the fourth boss, the pirate Cervantes. I can attest that a lot of skill, luck and well placed ring outs will be needed in this mode. And if you give up at any point during Legendary Souls you’ll have to start over from the first boss, Kilik. In both Quick Mode and Legendary Souls you’ll be rewarded with points needed to level up in the game. As you increase your level you’ll unlock new weapons, items and stickers to be used in Character creation mode. A look at one of my edited versions of protogonist Patroklos. First featured in the third installment of the series Character Creation mode has a lot more to offer in Soul Calibur V. Players can change every characters’ outfit in the game ( with the exception of Assassin’s Creed II star Eizo ) and edit their appearance from their hair down to their underwear with numerous unlockable goodies. You can also create a character from scratch and dress him or her with many of the same items. While you can choose from any of the game’s default characters’ fighting styles to base your created character off of ( again, with the exception of Eizo ), it would have been a nice touch if styles from characters not found in SCV ( i.e Zasalamel, Talim or Yun Seong ) were selectable. You can also create a weaponless character that uses the moves of Tekken’s Devil Jin. Once you’re done editing you can save your character on any of the 50 customizable cards and show them both off online. Soul Calibur V has three online modes; Ranked Match, Player Match and Global Colosseo . The first two modes are self explanatory if you’re familiar with online fighting games. Global Colosseo is Project Soul’s attempt at creating an in game social experience with Soul Calibur V. In this particular mode players-represented by their custom cards located onscreen-can take part in tournaments, talk to each other ( via voice chat or text ), spectate or challenge one another to random battles all without waiting in rooms. If I could rate Soul Calibur V based on its online netcode I’d give it a 9.9. After the online mess that plagued Tekken 6 right out of the gate it was refreshing to see how Project Soul managed to create a near perfect online experience in Soul Calibur V. Of the 30+ online sessions that I’ve played I didn’t experience an ounce of lag. However there were several instances when I’d loose connection with the other player. Thankfully when this happened I was sent back to the same room I had been in and not the online lobby. When you join an online room you can watch others duke it out and chat away with whoever else may be waiting for their chance to pumble the winner of the current match. The online search method in Soul Calibur V is also well thought out. Not only can you search for matches or rooms by region but you can also search by pre-selected cities. This will help players locate people closer to them which will result in a lot less lag. In the US New York is the city where you’ll find the most people to fight against online. Another new online feature in this game is Soul Link. Players can use this to monitor the status and activities of up to 3 different players. And in Replay Mode you can save replays of matches via a separate file on PSN then upload it to YouTube for the world to see. Gameplay To keep the series fresh Project Soul made some major tweeks to the gameplay in Soul Calibur V. Sidestepping your opponent by double tapping up or down on the direction arrows allows your character to avoid certain attacks leaving the other guy exposed. This form of maneuvering has become extremely important in Soul Calibur V. For defensive play a new feature called Just Guard has been implemented. If timed correctly with your opponent’s attack players using Just Guard will obtain a brief yet strategical advantage over the match as it can also be used against unblockable attacks. The newly implemented cinematic attack called Critical Edge will unleash crucial damage on an unsuspecting rival.These attacks are cool to watch even if you’re on the receiving end of one. Some Critical Edges can be blocked if you catch them in time.Combos are also important in Soul Calibur V. Launch an opponent into the air or unleash an attack that temporary stuns them to kick off your combo. While Soul Calibur V features 27 stages only four of them are multi-tiered.The second portions of these stages can be accessed by ringing a player out or by other requirements. The multi-tiered stages are a nice addition however they aren’t as well executed or as flashy as those found in Tecmo’s Dead or Alive series. The stages themselves are well detailed but they aren’t much different than the ones found in previous games despite the activity taking place in the backgrounds of certain stages. 2012 will likely be one of the biggest years for fighting games and Soul Calibur V gets thing started with a medium sized bang. While Project Soul went the extra mile with certain aspects of the game there’s still much that needs to be done with the series to help it stand out from the crowded pack of fighters. With that said, Soul Calibur V is an excellent edition to the series that no fan of the genre should miss. Review Pros Cons Stellar graphics Impressive online play Very deep character customization Dual audio Fun, fast gameplay Too few fighters Forgettable soundtrack -only Eizo’s Assassin’s Creed Remix is worth mentioning Lack of new moves for returning characters Rating 85% Disclaimer This review is based on a PS3 edition of Soul Calibur V provided by NAMCO Bandai Games.

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[Review] Soul Calibur V

After already playing Sam and Max Save The World (Season One) on Wii, Sam and Max: Beyond Time and Space (Season 2 on PC) and Sam and Max: The Devil’s Playhouse (Season 3) on PS3, I find myself asking… myself: how fun is the Season Two release on PS3? Let’s find out, one episode at a time! This episode changes things around a bit, and you can immediately tell that by the way the intro is handled. There is an underused group that should have been given the spotlight many, many years ago. For some reasons, developers have not been returning their calls, and now they must work where work is given to them. Their presence in this game will surely expose them to a bigger audience, so don’t be surprised if they start popping up in other games as well. Who are we referring to? Why, to Zombies! There seems to be a new Zombie infestation going on, and Sam and Max must find the source of this problem so they can nip the bud, count the cards and close the hub. But wait, there’s more! As an added plot-twist to it all, Abe (good old Abe Lincoln giant head) and Sybil have separated after the events from Episode 2, as it seems that Sybil doesn’t take lightly to some very obvious flirting on Abe’s side towards that sexy Moai head we all lust over. How does Sybil take them lemons and make lemonade? She holds an open call for suitors! Very formal like and all. With forms. There is also a new driving section this time around. The engine has been rebuilt from the ground-up to provide you with the most exciting virtual driving experience you could ever imagine. Now with more colors and a Paperboy inspiration! Blast those zombies by using a new flying weapon that has been specially designed to fly in a straight line, hoping to hit them hard enough to end their non-existence! Your adventure will eventually take you to Sttutgarr, home of the Zombie Factory. Not really what you think. The place is run by Jurgen. Kinky vampire. Emo vampire. Prick of a vampire. Vampire. Sam and Max must stop Jurgen before it is too late to stop him, and they must use everything they have at hand to do so. How far are our dynamic duo willing to go to achieve this? How about Sam and Max on a rap duet? Yes, that is a bit odd… even for them. Night of the Raving Dead improves over the first two episodes of Season 2, and leaves us wanting more, more, more. Jurgen is an interesting character that will hopefully be brought back in later episodes, since he fits right in with all the other crazy/magical/illogical/kosher characters we’ve come to love and deeply care for after so many adventures together. Review Pros Cons More fast paced than Episodes 1 and 2 New Locations to visit A bit shorter than the other episodes Rating 90% Published by Telltale Games Cost – $19.99 (Full Season) Zombie attack! Droves of undead are converging in the streets. Now Sam & Max must confront their leader – a Eurotrash vampire with a style all his own. Are the Freelance Police cool enough to outsmart this emo before his flesh-eating army usurps the western world? Disclaimer Total amount of time played: 1.5 hours. Love me some Sam and Max. Own all 3 seasons, the Anniversary DVD Boxset AND the limited edition Hardcover signed by Steve Purcell. This review is based on a copy of Sam and Max: Beyond Time and Space provided by Telltale Games.

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[Review] Sam and Max Season 2: Episode 3

A rumored LittleBigPlanet Kart game was the talk on a few gaming websites based on a tweet made by a Canadian games retailer called Future Shop , who claims that they were shown the game at a PlayStation event in the US. According to Future Shop, the title is in development by United Front Games the “studio behind Modnation Racers”, and it will feature some kind of Move compatible wheel that has not been reveled yet.

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LittleBigPlanet Karting Leaked

Warner Brothers has graciously given us a Lord of the Rings: War in the North Collectors Edition to give away to one of our lucky members! This giveaway is only for those with an address in the USA or Canada due to shipping costs for such a large item. The Collector’s Edition includes: * The War in the North PS3 game * Ranger of the North quiver case with Map of Middle Earth Tapestry * War in the North Art Book * Inside Look: The Music of War in the North BluRay. Includes interviews and footage of composer Inon Zur at Abbey Road Studios and the E3 2011 concert event. Also includes three tracks from the game as a bonus. * Digital content: War in the North wallpaper, fonts, icons, and more. Make sure you check out Pedro’s review of War in the North here , and then check out all the ways you can enter to win after the jump! Please like & follow The Lord of the Rings: War in the North on Facebook & Twitter. It’s because of them we are having this giveaway! So show them some love. Follow @warinthenorth [Worth up to 5 Entries] Purchase Lottery Ticket for 150 Points for a entry into the lottery. Here are all the possible ways to earn points . [Worth 1 Entry] Like the giveaway post on the lottery page (not the actual post itself) via Facebook. Then post a comment to your facebook wall from the lottery page. [EARN 35 Points] [Worth 1 Entry] Follow @ps3blogdotnet on Twitter. Then there will be a tweet button. You just have to click that & tweet the exact text in the pop-up . Then a notification will pop up saying your entry was successful. [EARN 35 Points] [Worth 1 Entry] Use the Google +1 button on the lottery page (not the actual post itself), then share on your Google+ profile to complete your entry. [EARN 35 Points] [Worth 1 Entry] First, be a fan of our our Facebook page . On the left sidebar, there is a [Giveaway] link. Go there and at the bottom there is a “Enter Contest” button you can click for your Facebook PS3Blog.net Fan Page entry. Note: Make sure you’re logged into PS3Blog.net before you click the button. [EARN 10 Points] [Worth 1 Entry] Subscribe to our YouTube Channel . We will post a bulletin. Follow the link & it will count as your YouTube entry. Note: Make sure you’re logged into PS3Blog.net before you click the link. [EARN 10 Points] [Bonus 3 Entries] After you have purchased at least one lottery ticket you are eligible for video entries. Make a video saying why you want to win. It can be funny, unique, strange, etc. Have fun with it. Include PS3Blog.net and the name of the item being given away in your video & in the title of the video. Then use the button above to submit your video for review. Also leave a comment below with a link to your YouTube video. [EARN 30 Points] Here are the most recent YouTube video entries for all giveaways on PS3Blog.net with the most recent ones displayed first.

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[Giveaway] Lord of the Rings: War in the North Collectors Edition

An invite today turned up in my inbox stating an event on March 6. Now March 6 happens to be during the middle of the Game Developers Convention, so there is no doubt this will be some kind of viral event for the game. Medal of Honor showcased a tight single player campaign not seen by today’s shooters. Very direct and straight to the point, not overly done. It looks like the elite members of the Tier One squad, members on Delta, DEVGRU (SEAL Team 6), and 24th Special Tactics, are coming back with Medal Of Honor 2. Are you excited about the next installment? What are your thoughts? Let us know!

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Medal of Honor 2 Details Coming March 6

Ubisoft confirmed a collectors edition of their upcoming third person tactical shooter, Ghost Recon Future Soldier . The only problem is: This collectors Edition of the game will be exclusive to Australia and New Zealand ! Australian retailer JB Hi-Fi priced the CE at $126 (Australian Dollars). On the other hand, US gamers will get the signature edition from Gamestop , which includes a few in-game DLC. Here is whats inside your Collectors Edition Australia: • The Game • Limited Edition Packaging • Embossed Steelbook Case • Compressed Pack T-Shirt • Hardcover Artbook with Exclusive Artwork • Alpha Short Movie DVD • Lithographic Prints • In-Game ULC Content Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Future Soldier is due on 05/22/2012 . Are you a Ghost Recon fan? What do you think of these region exclusive collectors editions? Let us know in the comments below.

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Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Future Soldier Collectors Edition

Lord of the Rings: War in the North is a hack and slash game based on the fantasy created by J. R. R. Tolkien. This story takes place during the same period as the books (or movies), but in the game, the tale told is that of another group of adventurers. There have been many attempts to translate the rich world of LotR into video games, and many have failed. However, while still not the definitive Tolkien experience, I’ll agree with the bold statement made in the cover: “this is the best LotR game yet”. After the movies came out (2001, 2002 and 2003), everyone started looking at this universe differently. Peter Jackson really raised the bar when giving life to Tolkien’s stories, and I was glad to see this represented in the game. Environments are rich and varied; weapons and armor also have a very unique feel to them. Character models are simple, but you’ll certainly note the resemblance of some of the known characters, like Elrond, Aragorn and Bilbo. Effects are few, even when casting spells or using special skills, but this works out for the best because it does not get in the way of your view of the battlefield, which gets really busy at times. Textures are decent, but what really upped the visuals a bit was the lighting. Animations are the only thing that disappointed me a little bit, but only during cut scenes (and there are many), because combat looks really good and fluid. Like most action games, it’s really simple to switch between weak, strong and ranged attacks. Special skills acquired through leveling are just as easy to use and can change the tide of the battle. You’ll play as one of 3 classes (ranger, warrior or mage), each has its own strengths and weaknesses, but since they’re always together it doesn’t really matter which you choose. Just make sure it’s the one more suited to your play style. The ranger (based on Aragorn, a.k.a. Strider) is more of a DPS character and a great archer. His bow and arrow skills are extraordinarily useful, but he also handles close combat pretty well (unless surrounded by stronger enemies). The warrior (a dwarf that looks a lot like Gimli) is your tank character, with a bunch of war cries that will boost your party’s stats. Finally, the mage (which doesn’t resembles much any of the members of the fellowship) is an elf with some great control abilities and also works as the healer and ranged defender. You can play as any of these characters (and change in between major checkpoints if you feel like it) while the computer (or someone else) controls the other two. Working together is the key to overcome the biggest challenges. Based on the epic score of the movies, I was expecting the soundtrack to be more remarkable, but it ended up being a bit repetitive and otherwise uninteresting. Sound effects are good and do justice to the fun combat. Unfortunately, not the same can be said about the voice acting, which is very inconsistent. In a game with as many cut scenes as this, you’d expect more, especially since Nolan North lends his voice to the ranger. However, the dialogue does not sound like Tolkien, which only serves as aggravation. The story has you running after a sorcerer by the name of Agandaûr to prevent a massive attack at the North ( ! ) while helping those who are somehow hindered by his evilness along the way. I thought it worked fine for the game, and while it might not be as epic as Frodo’s journey, it certainly didn’t feel out of place or sounded unbelievable in the overall scheme. Please note that I’m a fan, so don’t take this lightly. Like many action games, combat can get a bit tiresome at times. Fortunately, you can switch between characters and mix it up a little bit by trying different play styles every once in a while. I only wish you could do this on the fly right in the middle of fights, instead of having to quit and reload to do so. Co-op is certainly the way to go, since your AI partners aren’t really bright and don’t usually take orders that well. I also enjoyed having a New Game + option, since, for some reason, I always appreciate starting the game more and more powerful (however, at least 3 playthroughs on increased difficulties are required to platinum the game). Overall, I was pleased with Lord of the Rings: War in the North. It certainly scratched my itch for something related to the subject and it was really interesting to see something new created for this rich universe, even if it’s not nearly as good as the original. A hack and slash RPG with solid combat and placed in the best fantasy world ever created; this is how I’d describe it. A great time for anyone interested in one great cooperative game or just looking to revisit Middle-Earth. Review Pros Cons A Lord of the Rings game! Solid and rewarding combat Fun co-operative experience Lots of loot to hoard and secrets to uncover Bland soundtrack and voice acting Overly complicated menus make it annoying to switch characters and manage equipment Story is fun, but fails to deliver a true LotR feeling of epicness Rating 87%

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[Review] Lord of the Rings : War in the North