c0mmander

Possibly the best game in the Ace Attorney franchise and a great adventure game. While the first game in the package ‘The Great Ace Attorney Adventures’ at times stumbles with overly long cases or a couple of areas where the game doesn’t quite blend the mix of investigation phase with Trial phase as well as it ought to, it still is a good game on its own. When paired with the payoff that comes in the form of ‘The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve’ which is also part of this package it becomes all the more compelling. Some of the character writing, twists and cases in this second game are some of the best in the entire series. On the gameplay front little changes between the first part ‘Adventures’ and the second part ‘Resolve’, but what does change is the execution and level of restraint shown with the new features such as the Jury and Deductions. Where these at times fall flat in the first entry they feel like an inspired choice in the second game and build into the overall plot and character of the game. If you like Ace Attorney there is absolutely no reason not to play this. If you are looking for a couple of at times zany, mysterious but always heartfelt stories then this is a worthwhile package of games to checkout even if it did take many years to get a western release, its finally here and its fantastic.

Graphics 7.5: The art direction here for the most part is inspired, though with little deviation from Telltale's previous titles over the last couple years there is some animation within the within here and there that feels janky and disconnected. Longevity: The episode lasts just above 2 hours, I do not rate longevity of episodic games until the full package has been released, but what you get here is sizeable enough assuming Telltale can keep to their release schedule, this is a nice appetiser. Gameplay 8.0: The gameplay is most reminiscent of The Walking Dead season 2, The gameplay is a series of button presses, quick time events and choices. Telltale is certainly at the top of their field with adventure based licensed properties and that's very much the same here. Presentation 8.5: For the first time in a Telltale game, my playthrough had absolutely no stutter between decisions and animations. This is a huge step for the developer and means that my overall experience with the title felt smoother. The story here is presented very similar to other Telltale games, but the seamlessness of character story transitions is to be admired. Whilst the story that is told here is slower in comparison to Telltales previous premieres it is still, nonetheless, one with an extremely promising start and an epic conclusion. Overall Score: 8/10 - A promising start to the series, with weighty choices from the start and a conclusion sure to shock many players.

Whilst some may find the 10/10 surrounding thus game hyperbole, and they are in some ways correct it is still very deserving of its 10 nonetheless. There are hundreds of other user reviews on here but what I want to deliver is my critique of the game and what despite this being a masterpiece could have had significant improvement. So The Last Of Us at first appears a typical post-apocalyptic zombie story with all the tropes to prove it, burning buildings, panic and quarantine zones. But at the heart of the story is something more profound a story that in its trope filled plot has a deeper vein that tells an altogether more important story than anything before it in this medium. It is a narrative that from its first 15 minute intro engrosses the player into the game and has you controlling events that would usually be relegated to the work of only the CG. These 15 minutes are poignant, poetic and thought provoking just as the final 15 minutes of the game are too this story is about humanity's decline from what once was and most of all the relationships that form in these situations, those who have never known anything outside of this 'dying' world. Though the word 'dying' might not quite fit. Building structures appear heavily damaged cars ravaged by nature and yet without spoiling the plot nature continues to live on past the remnants of humanity's previous luxuries. But whilst the story does all these things there are certain immersion breaking moments that can take you completely out of it in gameplay. The gameplay can at times feel frustrating with the occasional check point that spawns you right in the middle of combat being shot at or the loud footsteps of Ellie as you stealth kill a clicker. Whilst these aren't completely game breaking they are issues that could have been addressed. Of course the gameplay for the most part has some of the best survival gameplay of any game so far and there are certain areas in the game that are scarier than the last 3 RE games. This is survival as you craft together the items you need in real time, change weapons in real time and bandage yourself up in real time. The real time (seeing how many times I can say it in a couple of sentences!) elements are extremely effective and give a sense of panic as your pistol runs out of ammo and you need to switch gun but the enemy is coming straight at you, it means deep, tactical combat both in multiplayer and in single player as you find the right time to craft items or change weapons for certain situations. Another issue for some might be the pacing. The game is split into chapters which are then split into 4 distinct sections Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer. However the first section of the game is undoubtedly the slowest. It starts off at an extremely fast pace with many plot elements but towards the middle of this initial section it might feel too slow for some despite being at a nice steady pace which allows for characterisation and development. From here on in the game picks up the pace in more short and distinct sections that allow the player to still explore but also throws in more unique situations for the player to deal with. Finally the AI from the game is a bit strange because although for the most part it is seemingly quite intelligent there are certain parts of the game where you will wonder why the AI performs a specific action, though these are rare they can be frustrating to see. Although hardly happening to me the friendly AI occasionally shot in sections when I wanted to stealth the enemies and it lead to disaster in a situation that could altogether have been avoided. Although again there was only two occurrences with this it is worth noting still. Also enemies will occasionally see a body and not even question its presence there and at other times are so smart they can deduct your position like they are using a GPS. In conclusion the Last Of Us then is a Masterpiece but not one without some issues as Uncharted, Mass Effect, Ocarina of time and other greats are not without their issues, The Last Of Us stands as one of the best games of the last 7 years (this console generation) and deserves its time at the top of the charts and its critical acclaim. It is a game which undoubtedly cements Naughty Dog as one of the best AAA development houses in the world, and one of the biggest assets Sony has acquired in the last decade. Gameplay 9.6 Sound 10 Story/Plot: 10 Lasting Appeal: 10 Presentation: 10 Overall: 10/10 Masterpiece, If you have a PS3 you owe it to yourself to try this out even if it isn't your cup of tea!

Tekken 3D is little more than a showcase of how to get a game to run a 60 FPS in 3D. From the start I was hesitant about this due to the rumored sized of 3DS cartridges being quite small I initially though a game being included was a bit much. I was in fact right and the only way to describe this game is all style no substance. I had Tekken 6 on the PS3 and PSP and can say if the PSP can fit so much into a game and run well why then can't more adavanced hardware?! It feels somewhat lazy the fact that Bandai Namco have only bothered to put one mode worth bothering with and even that is lackluster (Its a survival mode). As soon as you boot the game up and enter into the game section of it (not the movie) you begin to see the cracks form as this game becomes nothing more than an act of self-pleasure as Bandai Namco look at the graphics and say 'oooh pretty graphics!'. But its not all bad. The 3D effect is good and the combat hardly slows down, giving the fast, fluid combat Tekken players are used to. But in the end this just feels like another port of Tekken 6 and stripped of features that even the PSP version included its extremely lazy. Gameplay: 4 -Good for a couple of hours at most but you'll get bored extremely fast unless you have friends online to play with or locally. The lack of game modes is truly unforgivable and the customisation the series has gained momentum with is nowhere to be seen. Graphics: 7.5 The graphics them self are great for a 3DS game but are certainly nothing magnificent considering the cutting of multiple modes to make it look nice. Presentation: 3 Menus are extremely boring and dull to traverse through and there just really is nothing special or eye catching about the way its presented as a whole that hasn't been done before. Lasting Appeal and Longevity: 1 Unless you are the most diehard Tekken fan ever who must train everywhere they go avoid this game. Or better yet if you have a PSP, PS3, Xbox 360 or hell even a PS2 to boot up a Tekken on do not get this edition as it brings nothing new to the table and lacks content which should be there, they tried to bake a cake but failed to add the eggs. P.S. The film is decent at most I would say give this a rental if you don't have a PS3 (If you do get Tekken Hybrid which is bundled with the much better Tekken Tag Tournament and Tekken Tag Tournament 2 prologue.)

This game is absolutely superb. You get this game for the story and the atmosphere created and the choices you have to make along the way. Virtue's Last Reward on the Vita boasts an expansive narrative which can be completed in multiple ways with a set of puzzles which range in difficulty and are scalable. If you love a good puzzle game this is certainly it. The game is split about 60 -40 with 'Novel' sections which involve a building up of the narrative and allowing you to make choices about certain characters fates making up the larger chunk. So if you don't like a story which is quite large I wouldn't suggest this game if your the type who likes to jump straight in. However for those who love story based games this game wields an extrodinary narrative that deserves to be highly commended for its well written plot and well done voice acting (although this EU edition only has **** Dub with Eng Sub) the quality is high, with the story revolving around the 'Prisoner's Dilemna'. A complicated idea to tackle. Two members of a criminal gang are arrested and imprisoned. Each prisoner is in solitary confinement with no means of speaking to or exchanging messages with the other. The police admit they don't have enough evidence to convict the pair on the principal charge. They plan to sentence both to a year in prison on a lesser charge. Simultaneously, the police offer each prisoner a Faustian bargain. If he testifies against his partner, he will go free while the partner will get three years in prison on the main charge. Oh, yes, there is a catch If both prisoners testify against each other, both will be sentenced to two years in jail, This is the prisoner's dilemna and Virtue's Last Reward presents the psychological element of this brilliantly. Never before has a story affected my mind so much in a way that psychologically I'm always questioning the decisions I've made. The aim of the game is quite simple however it is to escape esentially a prison which you have been forced into confinement with by some one who calls themself 'Zero Sr.' however the catch is Zero Sr is amongst the other 8 prisoners and nobody knows which one of them it is. From this point on the story begins to unravel as death, betrayl and mystery are scattered throughout this rich narrative. The 40% of the puzzle sections are also done really well with puzzles being solved by interacting with environment around you as you piece together clues to get a 'key' which will allow you out of a 'game room' which Zero has created for each contestant and forces them to participate in. For the most part these puzzles are large and require quite a few steps to complete ranging from sliding block puzzles, to logic puzzles and beyond. In summary, VLR is a must have for any Vita owner that loves being absorbed in an engrossing story, particularly because it is perfect for playing in the palm of your hand. (Note: Game also available on 3DS, Vita animations and graphics appear visibly smoother and more high res as well as having the inclusion of trophies however some might prefer to use the two screens for easier navigation on the 3DS.) Gameplay: 9 Graphics:9 Presentation: 9 Lasting Appeal and Longevity: 9.5

When I heard a kickass RPG was coming to the Vita I was ecstatic, especially since it is an area that needed filling in the Vita's library. I watched reviews, felt the buzz of the USA and of the Japanese audience; then finally I gave in and imported it and this is my review of the game. Will it be Golden or will it be the coal in your stockings? The Verdict: Persona 4 Golden takes one of the best RPG's of all time and makes it even better, adding hours of bonus content for the player to enjoy. This is a highly recommended purchase and is one of the most enjoyable games of the last year. It is definitely worth buying for those dedicated Vita owners. Over 80 90 hours for the first play through of the game, which is great for those who search for longevity in a game, but it might be daunting to those who wish to sink in less hours as the game has a quite slow start. Interesting Combat that keeps your mind constantly thinking of how to stratergise. School life has never been so fun Great Voice acting, Witty Dialogue and effective social links and stories. Addictive, be sure you haven't forgotten to go to work or school ! Not enough explanation of the fusion system for beginners Great, catchy tunes to nod along with as you play GAME STATUS: MUST BUY Game Score: 10/10 GOLDEN

The game is a fun game that allows for a multitude of combinations for various different combos in combat , its always thrilling when that SSS is on the screen for the whole fight ! This game in essence I think is great and really captures the essence **** action game and should not be so throughly deteste by fans of the original Devil May Cry (2001) it is a solid entry and does its best to encoporate some of the combat elements of the original whilst reinventing itself. Why would Ninja Theory reboot it if they weren't going to change anything it would be absolutely pointless. Nonetheless there are a multitude of Pros and Cons for the game but overall I think this game is a well rounded game with a strong combat style, art style and will appeal to teenage audiences especially due to its new angsty thematics. Gameplay: 8.5 - Fluid (although not 60 fps) and fun combat with a nice variety to the way you can take the enemies out, it might not be the hardest game in the world but that's why you should aim for the top in terms of scores. Graphics and Presentation: 9: The new graphics and presentation style prove themselves to not just been some gimmick tacked on, as the world around you effectively becomes a part of the overarching narrative, and even if the story isn't perfect the voice acting is of a higher standard en general than in the previous devil may cry games. Lasting Appeal: 8.0: The game will last you an adequate amount of time in between all its challenges, score chasing and your first proper run through of the story to unlock stuff it will last you a long enough time if you let it! Summary: DMC offers a fresh take on a much beloved franchise, but I can't help but feel if these gameplay was implemented into a Devil May Cry 5 with the original Dante that this would have a higher user score - story aside and character design aside this is one of the best in the series... period.

This review is mostly pasted from my PS3 review however thats an acheivement for Vita in itself as all the functionality of the PS3 can be found here and in some instances the Vita actually does it better than its big brother counterpart. The Vita version is particularly great due to the online working so well from it as I've actually had more successful matches faster on Vita through WiFi than I have on my PS3 through Ethernet which is to say something of the Vita version. The game weighs in at 1.6GB compared to the 5.9 of its PS3 counterpart but lacks hardly any of the punch apart from slightly worse graphical power. However this game is an impressive feat and the cross play I cannot stress enough is really god fun especially when its frame for frame the same as the PS3 version and Cross buy. That's why this game pushes slightly above the 8.5 (or 8 on Metacritic scale) I gave the PS3 edition the portability is great and the touchscreen makes navigating faster. Pasted review below with updated Vita scores: An superb take on the brawler genre! Whilst it does have its problems including character balancing issues (Kratos in particular is still a bit of a nuisance.) and at times it feels as if all the skills you've learned in the trial modes don't quite pay off online, as a whole its a great games. Now there are obvious comparisons to SSB but I suggest that's where you stop with artistic concept. The gameplay mechanisms are so different that to go into this expecting SSB is a big mistake. Unlike the team Sora's title this game tries to find a middle ground between party brawler and serious fighter, which leads to its distinctiveness but also it's downfalls. As stated above learning a full set of moves and how to implement combos might work out effectively for the most part, especially in 1 V 1 but not so much with 4 brawlers on the screen, which is disappointing but not the end of the world as they will still come in handy when your not pelted to the other side of the screen. Finally to get my last to 'bad' points out of the way, the presentation of the game defiately lacks finesse. Bare menus, often WTF VO's for the intro and a slapdash approach to many of the rival battles is slightly disapointing and is a low note. The 'Last boss' is also very disappointing, fair enough I didn't want a boss as hard as Seth or Shao Khan but I did want a boss which wasn't just a collection of fighter from the game it is quite underwhelming and I belive it might have been better to take the Seth approach in having a single boss with the move set of a few of the characters from the game, it just seems like a missed opportunity. With all of this said the game really shines with its seamless cross play functionality and cross save functionality which run flawlessly (albeit without cross trophy support currently). Also some of the deeper depth is great and whilst I moaned a bit about it earlier its certainly nice to have some deeper skill under the hood the the mechanics. The roster is nice and varied and actually I find the close ranged characters better despite many complaining about the long rangers. But most of all its great fun especially in MP, and if you have a whole group of your friends in a party on Vita and PS3 it is an absolute blast to play. Presentation: 7.5 Gameplay:8.5 Graphics: 8.5 (on the PSV scale of graphics as the graphics are not better than the PS3 but are so close) Longevity: 9.5 Overall: 9

An superb take on the brawler genre! Whilst it does have its problems including character balancing issues (Kratos in particular is still a bit of a nuisance.) and at times it feels as if all the skills you've learned in the trial modes don't quite pay off online, as a whole its a great games. Now there are obvious comparisons to SSB but I suggest that's where you stop with artistic concept. The gameplay mechanisms are so different that to go into this expecting SSB is a big mistake. Unlike the team Sora's title this game tries to find a middle ground between party brawler and serious fighter, which leads to its distinctiveness but also it's downfalls. As stated above learning a full set of moves and how to implement combos might work out effectively for the most part, especially in 1 V 1 but not so much with 4 brawlers on the screen, which is disappointing but not the end of the world as they will still come in handy when your not pelted to the other side of the screen. Finally to get my last to 'bad' points out of the way, the presentation of the game defiately lacks finesse. Bare menus, often WTF VO's for the intro and a slapdash approach to many of the rival battles is slightly disapointing and is a low note. The 'Last boss' is also very disappointing, fair enough I didn't want a boss as hard as Seth or Shao Khan but I did want a boss which wasn't just a collection of fighter from the game it is quite underwhelming and I belive it might have been better to take the Seth approach in having a single boss with the move set of a few of the characters from the game, it just seems like a missed opportunity. With all of this said the game really shines with its seamless cross play functionality and cross save functionality which run flawlessly (albeit without cross trophy support currently). Also some of the deeper depth is great and whilst I moaned a bit about it earlier its certainly nice to have some deeper skill under the hood the the mechanics. The roster is nice and varied and actually I find the close ranged characters better despite many complaining about the long rangers. But most of all its great fun especially in MP, and if you have a whole group of your friends in a party on Vita and PS3 it is an absolute blast to play. Presentation: 7 Gameplay:8.5 Graphics: 8 Longevity: 9.5 Overall: 8.5

Don't wanna spoil anything for anyone who is going to purchase or is thinking of purchasing this. This final conclusion pretty much summarises the highs of the series as a whole. The pacing is just right and the acting for the most part is spot on. There are few games that shock me or connect with me emotionally but The Walling Dead not just in this episode but as an entire series has been great to experience. This is one of the strongest episodes,particular as it doesn't have nearly as many bugs as some of the other episodes and while at some moments you might think that would have been more logical? The game carefully intertwines with your previous decisions to deliver a climax not too fuelled on being the next Michael Bay film but about human nature and looking after those you care about. I rarely give 10's and I would rather give 9.5 but on this metacritic scale its closer to 10 than 9 - The best chapter in the entire series in my opinion.

I would love to give this game more than a 7, but sadly I just can't. The reason why is not because this isn't a solid RPG or its just an average game but its because Gamefreak continue to play it safe. Out of these 'Version 2's' I expected something more innovative, new and fresh. The game has a nice presentation style and graphics package for a DS game but the problem is with the same tried and tested formula which although is very solid for many fans others will be less satisfied. Sadly I'm one of those who are less satisfied which is dissapointing as this is a franchise I love. But above all else the same tried and tested formula doesn't excite me anymore. + If your a diehard fan of the franchise this game will still be a solid, and long enough experience + Nice presentation style for a DS game + RE-introduction of some staple mainstays. - Not deviating enough from the formula of Black and White +/- Same old Pokemon In summary a solid game that has hours of content but never really reaches the levels of excitement and fun seen in previous Pokemon titles and feels a bit like a retread through Unova. Still worth a buy if you love Pokemon though.

The MGS HD collection loses very little from its console counter part (I'm gonna pretend peacewalker wasn't in the console version) The transfarring abilities (The ability to transfer data between the PS3 version and PSV version) is pretty cool especially since you can double up on trophies. Graphics: Graphically the games are just find - MGS 3 HD may have more visual fidelity out of the package but overall there is enough polish here for it to be called and 'HD' edition. 7.5 Gameplay: The game plays just as fantastically as it does on any console excellently. The only irritant I had in the conversion to the PSV was the fact that to do the chin ups in MGS2 I had to get finger cramps from having to pinch in and out repeatedly on the rear touch pad. Other additional touch controls ass little to the experience, however they are not all useless as the peeking around the corner with the rear touch proves good when trying to sneak around. Whilst MGS3 may be a technically better game in most ways for new comers it is definately advisable that MGS 2 should be played first as it is an easier access point and there is a lot of fun from various modes packed in with 2 that are absent from 3. 9.0 Presentation: The menus and UI are generally well thought out and fit the vita system quite well especially the new mini-touch menus for choosing weapons and items when traversing around the map. 8.5 Lasting Appeal: There is enough to do between the games and they fit well for the handheld with their length. You might get around 20 hours gameplay between the two games - which both have seperate trophy sets to boot. Not to mention MG1 and MG2 are included in the MGS 3 HD package so there is enough to do in the game for it to last a while. 9,0 In conclusion whilst the HD edition on Vita is fantastic in most aspects there are some problems at times with the controls and the abscence of Peacewalker HD gets rid of the online aspect getting rid of potentially 10 more hours of fun roughly.

I know a game is good when I can't put it down, then when it's completed I just what more. That's exactly how it unfolded with KH:DDD. Gameplay: 8.5 - This game has improved on so much in my opinion from previous KH games and the addition of flowmotion while hit and miss is certainly an interesting addition and one which I personally enjoyed, if you liked previous titles in the KH series particularly BBS you'll like what you get here! Also worth a mention is the new 'dreameater' monster collection to round off your team which is again hit and miss and sadly whilst it was enjoyable at many points still didn't leave me saying 'please include this in KHIII'. Graphics:8 - Whilst it may not jump leaps and bounds over BBS in every graphical aspect it fares well on Nintendo's handheld as one of the better looking releases which can be said of almost every KH release as the artstyle can adapt to many platforms. Also worth mentioning is the 3d effect as being not too overpowering but nice to have. Lasting Appeal: 9.5- There is a lot to get here if you really dig deep including playing through a new mini-game called 'flick rush' which is a mini-game that is very similar to Pokemon in approach. Story: 8 - Yeah, the KH story is extremely convoluted and a lot will probably go over your head there's no denying it's told well enough (Minus some cringe moments at bits of the script) the world of Disney and Square Enix does well here and the All-Star voice cast really holds together making you engaged enough in the story. In summary, this is an altogether great experience and in the ways of m new rating system as of now I dare say: MUST BUY! (Especially for KH fans and Action- RPG fans!)

I Previously reviewed this game and gave it a 7 due to various problems with how the game handled and the longevity of the game being cons and the pros being style and for its general substance. However I now feel this game is substantially better than it was upon its intial realease as Fun Bits Interactive have repeatedly updated the game to be in a much more playable and enjoyable game than all style not enough fun approach it had before. I now thoroughly enjoy this game as the ddevelopers have gravely improved it even releasing some great DLC to improve the longevity of the experience that was previously quite short in the form of free DLC in an update and DLC which was for a limited time juse £0.21 which was great! So my updated scores are as follows; Gameplay: 8.5, Graphics: 7.5, Presentation: 9 , Lasting appeal: 8

Journey is nothing less than an astounding piece of art. The fluid animations and crisp graphics are amazing, if you thought Uncharted 3 looked great you've yet to see Journey. Whilst Journey will have a certain acquired taste and many will say its not a 'game' I thoroughly disagree as at the core of this piece of art is an encapsulating world which is created so wonderfully around you that you'll be absorbed for long stretches. Many make the point that the game is short and doesn't justify a £9.99 price tag and while it could stand to be cheaper, you can see that this is a game with high production values around every corner, there was certainly no cutting corners. Also exciting is the seamless online integration where another random Journey player who is also connected can jump in and out and help you out however to communicate you can only simply use what I call 'beacons' which will look unique to yourself and the other player and make different sounds. Reminding me that the music to accompany the games is nothing short of the most soothing music at times and a wild orchestra at others a masterpiece. Presentation: 10 Graphics: 10 Gameplay: 10 Sound: 10 Lasting Appeal: 8.0 Value for money: 10

The gameplay itself is fine but with little to do it will feel like so much more could have been added maybe even a short story mode which SoulCalibur usually prides itself on. It feels as if the game need some TLC which it didnt receive and therefore you are left with what feels like anothing more than a training mode to its console counter part.

The Vita really does justice when it comes to fighting games this is proven by UMVC3. With shiny and fluid graphics and animations, a big roster (2 DLC charcters still though which should have been included) and for me personally one of the best D-pads ive used, this game compliments the vita really quite well. The problems will come with the touch screen addition (Which I mainly used to see character endings for characters i couldnt be bothered to use myself.) The touch screen mode is rather dull and takes the real challenge that is marvel vs capcom and makes it feel too minute, turning a fighting game into more of an interactive animation. Also although the heroes and heralds mode is present a few new additions would have been welcomed. Graphics: 8 Presentation:9 Gameplay:8 Lasting Appeal: 7.5 A real treat for fighting game fans, and an almost perfect translation of its console counter part for better or worse: Would give 7.5 but limited to round it up to an 8.

Soulcalibur V is nothing short of excellent and takes its crown of one of the most systematically marvellous fighters of this gen. While there is a depth to other fighters, the Soul Calibur series has commonly been seen as the scape goat for methods to implement in the Tekken series. Soul Calibur V not only completely obliterates this theory it proves itself to be a game to be marvelled at and is not just leaps and bounds above Soul Calibur IV, it is also leaps and bounds above any 3D fighter currently on the market. However thats not to say there aren't problems with the game. The single player modes are too far and few between and it feels like the single player experience has been cut dramatically from SCIV, the biggest hinderance on the single player time is the reduction of a Story Mode for each character. Instead the game has switched to a single story path which mainly follows new characters Patrakolos and Pyrrah. While this story line is extremely weak it is good enough to plug the holes between each fight and adding a bit of substance, however the narrative as a whole falls flat on its face. Again this is a step by Namco Bandai in one of their leading fighting game franchises which should not have been made. A similar fate beheld Tekken 6 which attempted to change the story structure and again fell more than flat on its face, this is one of the reasons why Tekken 6 was a dissapointment to many. Moving away from the single player experience in story mode, there are also the 'Legend of Souls' mode, which is a bit like a challenge mode, an arcade mode which is standard and a quick battle mode which again is standard. But where this game excells is not in its modes but in the fighting system they have created for Soul Calibur V. The system really excells in every way taking a cue from the Street Fighter series and adding special moves resembling those found in the earlier mentioned series. The system is fast and fluid and takes into consideration the high, low and mid attacks and makes them a main function of surviving in a battle. We also have the critical guard system and many other systems to engage even the most hardcore Soul Calibur fans. Now the roster. The roster features around 27 characters (I believe) and between this set of warriors the variety is fantastic with those characters which are more technical to those which are simply slow, but power houses. They've added new characters which mostly stick to the same fighting styles as characters of old however some like viola introduce new fighting styles to the series. All in all the roster is not bad but is not the best roster in fighting games either, it feels just about good enough but is still very befitting for players with enough variety to keep players wanting to learn the tricks of each style. As usual creation is back, however it is not the best creation mode we've ever seen in the Soul Calibur series. It lacks some finesse that other creation modes as in 3 (Particuarly) and 4 had. However again it is fitting and gives many different styles of creating your character from that cool ninja outfit to that not so cool Viking helmet. There are other modes such as an online mode and the usual multiplayer modes to explore as well which again as with many fighting games is where the game truly excells, giving all players a chance. Gameplay: 9.5 Graphics: 8.5 Presentation: 8.5 Lasting Appeal: 8

While Final Fantasy 13-2 will still not be everyone's cup of tea it is far superior to its predecessor. Final Fantasy 13-2 mostly sticks to the same battle system utilised by its predecessor, however it is different enough to make it feel a lot more fun. Combat is much faster and more fluid on the whole, the paradigm shifts have no slow down as exhibited in 13 and the game in general is more about enduring the battle than a dungeon (Same as in 13 in this way). Speaking of endurance in battle 13-2 brings in the 'wound' system which makes enduring battles harder as some enemies caan wound you and make your maximum lifebar lower and lower, therefore making just healing injuries slightly more obselete. Now the next new thing in the combat system is rather hit and miss with its implementation, 'Cinematic Actions' or QTE are used at various points in battle. While the mention of QTE within a JRPG may sound ludicrous I personally found it to further expand on the fast system and add a nice layer of depth to the battle system, rather than just using auto-battle or using the paradigm shift most of the time. The gameplay is enjoyable and really thought through by Square Enix this time around most will enjoy it albeit those who thoroughly disliked the initial system in 13. Another important point to take into consideration which is new to the final fantasy series is the addition of monsters which round up the count of your party members to three. During your travels through the game you will encounter various monsters, some of which turn into a crystal and join your party during the duration of the game. There are a few main types of monsters each with their own unique job assigned (which cannot be changed through paradigm shift) for example you may put a Behemoth on your party who fulfils the commando role. Before battle however you must set your paradigms, which includes setting a specific monster to each, so that when you activate a battle during a paradigm shift the type of monster can be changed. An example of this is say you have a team of Serah (RAV), Noel (Rav) and Zwerg Scanaroid(RAV) but you want 2 Medics and a commando you could paradigm shift so the monster appropriate to this condition is within that paradigm Serah (MED) Noel (COM) Cait Sith (MED). Again within battle the monsters have a Limit Break like technique called a 'Feral Link' which can be used during battle to use a special attack which is unique to each monster, However the feral link bar must first be filled. Finally we move onto the actual equipment and levelling up system. This time around we ditch the previous crystarium system in which everything was on a set stemmed path and take up the new crystarium system, which using crystogen points received for winning battles allow for upgrades of each job seperately until you reach a bonus. Once a bonus is reached the player decides what to do with the bonus, common options include; Upgrade job bonuses (Get more HP etc... for each step taken on crystarium scale), Unlock a new job which was previously locked to the character, increase ATB gauges. This system feels much more comfortable and a lot less confused than the levelling up system that was included in the predecessor. To level up monsters the system is essentially the same except your limited to levelling up their specified job and instead of using crystogen points to level up they use special items. Next up is equipment which is mostly the same except for the fact that A) Weapons no longer have to be upgraded) and B) Accessories take up a set amount of AP for each character which can be raised by choosing this as a bonus within the levelling up system. Now away from all this technical stuff is the need to say that the linear paths seen within 13 are mostly gone and the open areas within the game definately allow for exploration to find new items or to find fragments and artifacts (More on this later). The enviroments are diverse in general although the first few are all pretty dull in the sense that they are ruins, although this is intentional as they are mostly the same location in different time zones (More on this later). NPC's are also back and really give a feeling of life in the game, they also offer up side missions which are really useful to carry out. There is also a feature commonly seen in MMO of a tab at the bottom left of the screen which has all the text of what the NPC's are currently communicating. Then there is a new system called the 'Live trigger' system which allows you to talk to NPC's in a new branching conversation and decisions way (As seen in Mass Effect). There are also new systems like the Historia Crux which allows travel to various locations within the game provided you have the key to going to these locations in the form of an artifact which can be found. Would write more but got no characters left. Gameplay: 9 Graphics:8.5 Presentation:9 Lasting Appeal:9 Story: 7.5

All I will say is there is far better out there. In fact to be on the harsher side i'd say keep pressing x on your ps3 controller and you'll already have purchased yourself a better game than this. It is really a shame that this game couldn't have turned out better as it looked to be very promising and the concept was fantastic. The problem, the entire execution. Graphics: 3 Gameplay:2 Presentation:3 Lasting Appeal: 1

While Skyrim proves itself to be a game with huge strides forward for the RPG genre Bethseda have really let themseles down by releasing an unfinished product and they must be penalised for it. While for the most part the game is playable and does seliver on the promise of a stunning world it is appaling that the bugs left are so evident. This would have been a 'masterpiece' had it not been for the various problems associated with the game. Looking at the highs of the game there are some extremely good settings and npc's which are all voiced and fun to interact with as was in oblivion. Speaking of Oblivion, this game is on a much grander scale however it it far less polished in terms of the bugs. The longevity of this game is outstanding there's so much to see and do that even with the bugs you'll still battle your way through the latest quest. There are so many factors to consider when reviewing a 'broken' game (especially for PS3 consumers). Having played both versions of the game it is clear that as with Oblivion Bethseda has not learned from its mistakes and even though there are bugs in the 360 version they ae significantly magnified on the PS3 edition. Although an update is promised, the glitches and bugs should have been ironed out in the beta stages, it is shocking this game got through the alpha and beta stages wihtout the design team noticing, it is possible this is due to less testing than pehaps other games. At the end of the day what could have been a 9 in terms of satisfaction becomes far more dissapointing. However I will not go as far to say this is bad but rather only above average due to the problems arising, as many aspects in the game are still solid. My review score will be changed if and when many of the bugs have been ironed out in updates etc... Graphics: 8 Gameplay: 5* (*Hindered by various bugs) Presentation: 8 Longevity: 10 (if your patient, with some of the issues)

I thought it was over for Rayman. I'll be honest and blunt. I thought it was a franchiseon its way out - with the latest being in the Raving Rabbids party series and Rayman 3D (See my review). However Rayman Origins has the shock factor and is exceptional in almost every way, an ideal platformer with plenty to give to not just gamers but an example of how platformers are done. Rayman Origins takes the successful elements of pprevious Rayman's and adds a huge layer of depth to the beloved franchise. This 2D platformer should not be judged by it's cover, many I have spoken to about commented on the artstyle not looking like Skyrim or Uncharted, SO WHAT. The artstyle is amazing in this game and should not be taken lightly a true delight o see that in an age where there are GOW3, UC and Crysis that even 2D platformers shine with their artstyle and shock gamers with the fluidity of their presentation. Gameplay:9, Graphics: 9, Sound: 9, Presentation:9, Lasting appeal: 9.5

There was a reason this was free and should have stayed that way. The game is utterly underwhelming in many aspects. You've heard the word classic but let me tell you this is anything but a 'classic' experience. Gameplay:3 Graphics:4 Presentation:2 Lasting appeal: 1

Had a lot of fun with this game despite plenty of issues the game is a stable entry into the PSP collection. Graphics: 6 Gameplay:7 Presentation:7 Lasting Appeal: 6

Gameplay:9- The gameplay is fantastically well executed and fits the controller well although doesn't boast the move features of the Wii which is why it loses a mark in gameplay but don't let that put you off this is an absolute gem in the Nintendo Wii library. Imagine a hack and slash game that requires a level of depth enough to get the player involved fully. Presentation: 10- There's no denying the presentation style is fantastic one of the best presentation styles to be found on Wii. Graphics:10- The charm of this artistic Japanese game will mesmerise with the colours extremely effective in creating a BEAUTIFUL setting. Lasting Appeal: 7.5- While the game is a masterpiece in itself there's not much to come back for although two separate story lines and wanting to better yourself on separate playthroughs add to the lasting appeal.

Zelda Ocarina of Time 3D is a true gem which along with other titles released after it (Super Mario 3D Land, Super Mario Kart and for me tales of the abyss) that truly makes the earlier discontenting 3DS a joy to own it reinvents a classic and does it well with some of the best looking 3D graphics reproduced on the handheld so far, my main issues are actually with the going above expectations when delivering 'NEW' content which wasn't expected of every Zelda fan. We've seen master quest and boss fight modes in the past it would have been nice for an extra that was more intruiging in terms of individuality from other Zelda games. This does not cloud my judgement too much though as I had never completed the original this was the first time I had beat both the main and master quest. As expected of a Zelda game the design is fantastic and Grezzo should be proud of the way in which they've created this game. Graphics: 9 - Some of the best on the system. Presentation: 10 - The presentation style from menus to within the game itself in it's hud are impeccable. Gameplay: 9.5 - The gameplay in this game is tweaked to a high enough extent that it maintains a fresh feel through new control schemes such as use of gyroscope and touch screen. Lasting appeal: 9 - As with the original the memory of the awesome design and gameplay choices within this game will stay with you.

Super Mario 3D Land is far and near the most pivitol point so far in the nintendo 3DS' life and it shows that love and care clearly went into this game. However that is not to say this game is flawless. Within the game there are many fan based levels which I won't divulge as they could slightly spoil the ambience of playing the levels for the first time. However it feels like Super Mario 3D Land doesn't appear to know the correct point to stop easing the player into the game with levels only getting gradually more diffivult from world 6 or 7. However this does now damage the fun that is Super Mario 3D land much and with the addition of another set of worlds once you clear the game there's certainly a lot of content. The presentation and graphic style although not the best on the system is certainly stunning with this being a game which the 3D effect compliments so well. Gameplay:9 Presentation: 8.5 Graphics:8 Lasting Appeal: 8.5

Battlefield 3 at its core is successful in its biggest shot yet at a better more diverse multiplayer but is the first person shooter market too densly populated? Graphics: 8.5 - The new frostbite engine gives off some stunning visuals not to be taken lightly but not groundbreaking on the console versions as they are on PC in other words not in the batch of 'best' looking games on console. Presentation: 8 - New menus and altogether some new implementation in place the presentation within the game is fantastic. Sound: 8 - Sounds fantastic with the sounds of buildings crumbling around you truly feeling immersive and the sounds of the guns at a high quality. Gameplay: 7 - Hugely let down by its single player attempt it feels like a high production film with a low production writer. In other words the single player to be blunt feels confused among the gameplay values and in a single player experience which should be sensational its a little disappointing the features of the multiplayer weren't implemented enough into the single player because the multi-player is great. Lasting appeal: 7 - In the densely populated market of first person shooters and the single player not being one with huge replay value it really depends on how dedicated the player is to the multiplayer. Overall - 7.5/8 possibly.

Very short one this time just highlighting key points. Graphics: 6.5 - Certainly not the best on the console anymore, somewhat dated but new engine makes things a bit more sleek. Presentation: 6 - Quite well presented but there is a lot of room for improvement again. Gameplay: 7 - Keeps the gameplay fresh with the addtion of new modes and some additional features but nothing groundbreaking in the slightest Lasting Appeal: 7 - Depends on the player, personally the series has become to formulaic and needs a fantastic reboot to help the series make that groundbreaking step of modern warefare this is also applied to why graphics gets a 6.5 its not far enough from nodern warare 2. This game is very frustrating to any fan of the series as it does not innovate but simply reiterates the series formula activision fail to take a risk and end up paying for it through the fans critical analysis of the game.

Uncharted 3 is certainly a game to be reckoned with. This game is sensational in most aspects and that truly makes this threequel shine through. Naughty Dog. So here are my scores and the reasoning. Presentation: 10 - This games layout and presentation style is exceptionlly well designed Graphics: 10 - The game looks smooth and crisp, with freeflowing animations and amazing lighting effects to boot, one of the best looking games of this gen of consoles. Sound: 10 - The sound is crisp and the music and voice acting quality within the game is well deserved of a full 10 although not perfect its near Gameplay: 9- The gameplay is not perfect within the game by a long shot, howver with theatrical tidbits added throughout and the new combat system this game still has impeccable gameplay, that has definately evolved from Uncharted:Among Theives Lasting Appeal: 10- With a well rounded single player and a heavily evolved multi-player to boot this game will last you a long while. Additional content trophies and bonuses also add to the lasting appeal. This games is definately a defining moment for not just the PS3 system but for all current gen games.

This Review will not be lengthy, I will just have a line on each of m marking factors, when rating games. Presenation: 9- Everything is set out in the game efforlessly and the presentaion style is truly fantastic, especially as compared to the first (only on Xbox) the presentation is greatly improved. Graphics: 8 - The graphics are for the most part fantastic, but some of the grphical hiccups cannot be avoided such as jagged edges and very occasonal pop up. Sound: 10 - The sounds, music and sfx sounds within the game are truly amazing and really contribute to the atmosphere desired and the story told. Gameplay: 8 - The gameplay is engaging and the speech system and choosing between paragon or renegade actions is fantastically implemented. The reason this section is marked down is due to various gameplay glitches which occur in every version of the game be it PC or PS3. Lasting Appeal: 10- You'll remember how great an experience this was long after its over, and the main playthrough can weigh in at a substantial amount of hours especially if you want a perfect ending.

Batman Arkham City is everything it should have been and better. In 2009 Rocksteady set an amazing bar for action games and arguably set the highest bar ever for superhero adaptations to games. Arkham City builds on the success of Arkham Asylum and againsets a bar that is higher than almost every action game to date. Arkham City has an expansive world that allows for plenty of side missions and an array of collectibles and secrets, the map is not too big but it's not too small either so arguably rocksteady have created a fantastic world to explore intricitly detailed and never dull. The presentaton and graphics in this game are fantastic some of the best seen, however occasionallycan be quite jaggedy here and there. The sound and voice acting in the game is impecceble, with the likes Mark Hamil reprising his role as the fantastically interpreted Joker. Although the Joker is certainly the stand out act the Dark knight himself and other voice acting within the game from various charaters more then meets it's intended target. Pros: Expansive Enviroment, Intricitely designed, new gadgets add variety, catwoman sections add further depth and variety, hand to hand combat mechanics unrivalled by any other game on the market, excellent voice acting and story telling mehtods Cons: Sometime getting around Arkham City can be a clunky, dull affair, Occasional Grpahical issues but not that noticable, Feels like some of the villans characters within the game were under developed Presentation: 10 Graphics: 9 Sound: 10 Gameplay: 9 Lasting appeal: 9

Arkham City is simply STUNNING. Expectations were high for this follow up to the critically acclaimed arkham asylum. Rocksteady have gone above expectations with a fantastic campaign that is varied in it's elements, an amazing open world in which to explore and a fantastic free flowing battle system. The game builds on everything that made the 1st game successful and added more. Playing as Catwoman for example is a fantastic change up from playing as the Dark knight as she has fantastic combat differences. I won't go on but here are my scores for the things I've taken into consideration. Graphics: 9 Gameplay:9 Longevity: 9 Presentation:9 Overall: 9

Dissidia Duodecim is a true God send for both final fantasy fanatics and for fans of the action- RPG genre and Fighting games. This game stands out as one of the best games ever developed for the PSP. WHY?. It adds multiple additional features from it's predecessor Dissidia. With brand new fighting mechanics including assist characters and additional characters to the existing roster Duodecim builds onto an already amazingly well developed game. The sound is as to be expected fantastic with music being remixed or introduced from final fantasy 1 through to 13, the sound track is stunning. The gameplay mechanics themselves are very deep and you can tell Square Enix put a lot of thought into character balancing etc... Also the Longevity of this game is astounding with the main game consisting of around 8 new chapters along with the fact after beating the new twelfth cycle (which revolves around the story of the additional characters) you unlock the entire 13 chapter campaign from the original Dissidia. But that's not all they've also added a challenge chapter for once you've completed the main Dissidia campaign. The camera angles within the game could greatly be improved as within the stages they often cause a problem however minor it may be. Another downer is the no online fighting aspect which would have been awesome for this game in particular. With this game so packed with features it would take a while to explain all of them, what can be said is this game is a real treat. Graphics: 9 Presentation: 9 Story: 8 Gameplay: 8 Sound: 9 Longevity: 10

Star Fox 64 3D is a fantastic game at it's base however this remake feels like it could have added so much more. The gameplay itself is tight with great controls and an N64 or N3DS alternative for controls you can't go wrong with how the game itself plays, It's Star Fox 64 but better. Implementation of 3D and new presentation and graphics makes this game look colorful and fantastic with explosions here and there really complimenting the graphic style. Now where the problem comes in is with the lack of additional functions within the game, such as an online mode or additional time attack modes etc.. The game has added local multiplayer which is extremely fun and a pleasure to play with a set of friends, however this feature falls flat if you don't have friends with a 3DS system which is disappointing. Graphics: 8 Presentation:8 Gameplay: 7 Longevity: 6 Sound: 7

Rayman 3D is well Rayman 2. The question that needs to be asked is if this can be called the definitive version. While Rayman 3D has a neat 3D effect and works really great with the button set not much sets it apart from it's predecessors and this doesn't mean the game is a complete traversty because Rayman 2 was a fantastic game for it's time and still is. However the aging visuals and the aging gameplay mechanics kept here cannot be forgiven. Rayman 3D doesn't fix any of the problems of it's predecessors but keeps them exactly intact. The Camera angles are awful, some of the game like camera control should have been implemented on to a basically useless bottom screen within this game. Rayman 2 is a classic however this port of a classic merely adds a 3D tint. Graphics: 5/6 Presentation: 5/6 Gameplay:6/7 Longevity: 6

The graphics of them game are generally very attractive and is one of the best looking games on the Nintendo 3ds thus far. The gameplay is fluid although the addition of the touch screen input for combos becomes more of a hinderance than a perk when playing the game competitively it is better to use the buttons and nub which work quite effectively and fluidly with the game. The 3D effect is quite solid within the game, however this is hindered by frame rate problems which won't greatly ruin your experience unless playing online, frame count drops from around a sleek 60 to around 30 - 40 fps. Which is not ideal. The modes themselves are great and although the narrative isn't the best within the story it is still very effective at adding play time to the game itself. There is also a few other modes like arcade, time attack, survival , training and an online mode respectively. The real challenge within the game itself comes from the tag mode which towards the end requires real skill to pass the challenges. There is the use of streetpass and spotpass within the game, these features are very solid with the streetpass giving ghost data to fight against and spotpass giving challenges and new costumes for characters. The final problem with the game however is it's online mode which is very inconsistent and may take you ages to find a game. More often than not once your connected there may be some minor lag which is not at all good for a 3D fighter which plays at this pace. Graphics: 8 Presentation: 7 Story: 7 Gameplay: 7 Longevity: 10

Yeah this game has it's pitfalls but it doesn't deserve such awful press, ok it's not up to the standard of some other RPG's out there or even the other final fantasy titles. But after playing this on both the xbox 360 and the PS3 I feel this game does more right than it does wrong, the storyline has engaging moments although they do occasionaly fall through due to a bit of cheesy voice acting or the under development of some characters. The autobattle system takes away some of the thinking on your but the paradigm system more than adds an intruiging twist to the gameplay. The crystarium system is not a highlight of the game although there was some promise there. I agree the game is very linear and this took a point off my score. The game has stunning visuals and open enviroments and has a stellar cast of characters and as before stated the paradigm system adds a layer of depth hopefully issues and more depth will be added with xii-2

This game is still one of the best RPG's ever made, let alone one of the best games ever made. A fantastic narrative, with a story line that builds up enough tension to warrant continuing to play through the rest of the fantastic campaign that this game is based around. Some of the people below who gave it 0 are abosolutely ridiculous and they clearly don't know what makes a well developed game. As someone who is studying game development I know what I'm talking about and the design aspects are fantastic. Someone below in their review talks about 'no voice'. Voice acting doesn't make a game and also consider the time this masterpiece was made back in 1997 for the rise of the playstation home console system. NOT at all overrated an absolute gem everyone should try, now just need a remake :)