It has been five months since the American release of Rock Band but finally we have it in our hands here in the UK, but was the wait worth it and more importantly can you really justify paying out the cost of a new console just to get it?

Rock Band is the ultimate music/arcade game, it is the perfect way to play in a band without having to be in an actual band, lugging heavy equipment around and learning new songs and instruments.

Before purchasing the game you have to decide what package is right for you, if you want to play everything and get the ultimate experience then the band in a box is the obvious choice, coming as it does with the drums, a guitar and a mic, unfortunately though EA have omitted the actually game from this package, making this one expensive shopping trip. For those on a more modest budget you can also purchase the guitar, mic and drums separately, meaning you can choose how you wish to play or even spread your purchase out a bit, though ultimately this would be a more expensive way of doing things. The added bonus is that Guitar Hero is always on the cheap, so you can pick this up along with the solo version of Rock Band and experience both great games using the same guitar.

The guitar included with Rock Band has the 5 coloured fret buttons at the top and the same at the bottom of the neck. The buttons at the bottom of the neck are used for the solos, more on that later. The guitar portion of the game is very similar to the Guitar Hero series. A coloured bar will scroll down the screen, all you have to do is hit the right button when it hits the bottom part of the screen. There are also a couple of great additions to the guitar sections of the game which Activision probably wish made it to Guitar Hero, the first of these is the guitar solo mode, if using the Rock Band guitar you are able to press the buttons on the lower part of the neck in time without strumming, with the aim of trying to get 100% on the solo, also some songs have a rock out ending, where you thrash away at the frets and strum bar and hit the final combo to get a large point bonus. These additions really make you feel like you are contributing to the song, sucking you in more than Guitar Hero ever did.

Singing is like a metal version of Singstar. The lyrics will scroll along the bottom of the screen, when it passes the marker you have to sing the correct lyric at the right pitch, there is an arrow that bends to your pitch, which can really help at times as it can be tough to match on some of the harder songs. Due to the nature of the rock song and the eternal guitar solo there are points that you will not be singing, so to keep you involved in the game there are tambourine and cow bell segments, where you can bash the mic in time to gain more points. The mic supplied with the Band in the Box version is great to use, however you are also able to use most standard USB mics, as well as a standard bluetooth headset and though the quality is not as good, it still works a treat.

Drumming is probably the most original and most anticipated of the three instruments, you have four colour co-ordinated pads and a kick pedal. It is made of a very sturdy base and looks like it can take a beating. The on screen layout is similar to the guitar mode, bars will fall down the fret board and you have to hit the corresponding note in time. As with the other instruments, easy mode uses a couple of pads to let you get the hang of the rhythm, whilst the harder settings use all of the pads and really test your speed and timing. Being a drummer myself it takes a bit of getting used to the size of the kit and plastic pads, but after a few songs you learn to adapt and before you know it you are hitting some awesome drum riffs.

That’s the instruments dealt with, the game itself has plenty of modes to keep you occupied, you have a Solo Career for each instrument and much like Guitar Hero you will play through set songs at different locations, as you progress you earn cash which you can spend in the Rock Store, buying new equipment and clothing. Where the game really shines however is in the multiplayer modes, you have Band Quickplay, where you go online and join up to three other aspiring musicians, you also have Tug of War and score attack for two players . The four player mode is great, however it is best played with the mic muted due to the annoying lag that you will get most of the time, making it impossible to follow. During play the game screen shows all four players frets and lyrics, making the screen a little busy and confusing at first glance, however once you get over this it really is great fun and pretty addictive.

The crowning glory however is the Band World Tour mode. Here you can make up a band over a local network. The aim is to build up a fan base by playing at various gigs all over the world. Each venue has a selection of single songs to choose from, and also a few set lists, these can be a variety of self selected tracks from your music list (disc based and downloaded), random or chosen by the game. This part of the game is huge and a lot of thought has been put into it. The only problem is that this is offline only, so you need a few friends around to make the most of the game or if your feeling a bit hardcore, try singing and playing drums or guitar at the same time, it takes a bit of getting used to and a knowledge of the songs help, but it is fun. There has been chat on the internet that they are looking into making this part of the game online but don’t hold your breath.

The track listing is truly astounding, with over 60 songs from the go, there is a good mix of classic rock and metal to more modern greats. Bands include Metallica, Faith No More, Fall Out Boy, a rocky Police number and Nirvana. There are a few songs that have already been covered by Guitar Hero like the Killers but don’t worry as the note structure is different so you will have to learn them all over again.

In addition to the great online modes you also have a music store that is linked to Xbox Live, here you can use your MS Points to purchase more songs, both single tracks and pre selected packs are available, and full albums will soon follow (though there are a couple available now). The tracks are well priced when compared to Guitar Hero tracks, there is a load to choose from and you essentially get three games out of the one track so there is plenty of use there.

Graphically the game looks fantastic, before the game begins you are introduced to your rocker and then bam, the action begins. During guitar solos the camera angles will change and zoom in on the guitar, giving the game a really music video feel, each band member usually gets sometime in the spotlight too, in fact if you were not too busy playing, it may be just as entertaining to watch the song while the band play in the background.

Although I have spoken highly of this game so far, I have also experienced a bit of bad luck, the kick pedal for the drums failed on me, however this issue is probably limited to only a few people so please don’t let this put you off. Rock Band, even at the full £150-£170 price range is a truly great game and one that must be experienced by anyone with even the slightest interest in music, it is essentially 3 games in one, as well as including the ability to play as part of an online band, if there is one game out there to tear you away from GTA IV then this is it.

Overall Rating : 9/10

Iron Man the movie has been quite successful and so a videogame conversion was bound to hit the PS3 soon after the films release. Now if you read our Wii review of Iron Man recently then you will no doubt know what is coming even before you begin scrolling through the paragraphs below, however we will continue.

Iron Man on PS3 basically follows the same story as the Wii version, you play as Tony Stark as you don the Iron Suit and take out all in your path. The story is pretty basic and at the beginning sees you imprisoned by a group of militants who have captured your industries weaponry and are determined to make you build them the ultimate weapon, however with the help of your fellow inmate you construct a powerful suit that will help you escape from their grasp.

The first few missions are basically a tutorial which will help you get used to the game and the controls, however once these are out of the way the fun (or lack of it) begins. To help your in your quest against the terrorists you armour comes armed with a nifty range of weapons such as a repulsor ray, missiles and a powerful chest cannon, these should help you tear through the enemies easily enough and hey, if they aren’t powerful enough for you then you also have the option to pay to upgrade these, which can be achieved by completing certain objectives within the game to earn cash.

Controlling your character is probably what lets this game down most, everything about the layout of the controls just feels awkward and wrong. First off it’s hard enough to fly, using the left trigger you can send your character into the air, however it is hard to find the perfect balance as pushing the trigger all of the way in will send you way up in the sky, meaning that you then have to let go of the trigger until you descend to the correct level and then try to hit the left trigger again until you get to where you want to be, sounds complicated doesn’t it? As if all this wasn’t enough just wait until you try to actually moving whilst in the air, there is no real set speed you go way too slow or way too fast thanks to the suits afterburners, it’s just awkward and rather annoying.

Unfortunately the combat doesn’t make things any better, you are constantly bombarded by Tanks, Helicopters and Ground Troops, none of which seem to have any real intelligence other than to figure out who you are and blast at you with their weapons. To make matters worse the controls for combat are again quite suspect, to aim freely you are required to hold the right trigger halfway down, or to lock onto the nearest enemy pull the trigger all of the way down and then gamble as to what enemy it has actually locked onto, be warned half the time it won’t be the one you thought it would.

One bonus is that once you eventually manage to get a grip of the controls you should be able to blast your way through the enemies fairly easily, even your non upgraded weapons can cut through nearly every enemy without much fuss, the only resistance you will come across is when you face the end of level bosses, which at least provide a decent challenge.

Graphically the game is a big letdown, the cutscenes although voiced by Robert Downey Jnr are completely awful, the levels feel featureless and do not provide any type of interactivity, in fact the only saving grace in this department is that Iron Man looks quite good, however that is hardly going to save this game from mediocrity.

Perhaps it will come as a surprise to no-one that yet again a movie to videogame conversion has once again failed to provide any level of entertainment, perhaps one day someone will get it right, but I tell you one thing for sure, I ain’t holding my breath.

Overall Rating: 3.7/10

Well its finally here, the next part of the Grand Theft Auto series has finally made it to the next gen, but does this new Liberty City have any interesting sights, or should we pack our bags back to San Andreas?

In this incarnation of GTA you play as Nico Bellic, who has just arrived in Liberty City to meet up with his Cousin Roman who has been telling him about the money and women he has had since arriving himself. Upon your arrival it appears that Roman was not totally honest and in fact runs a small cab firm and is constantly bullied by the local mobsters. When you arrive, Roman’s life is taking a turn for the worse mainly thanks to his gambling debts and you just seem to make things worse. That is as far as I am willing to go with the story line as it will spoil the game for you but I am happy to say that the story is gripping and well told, it will also keep you second guessing and is enjoyable all the way through. The cut scenes are superb and the supporting cast really make this game even better with great acting and a solid script.

Nico himself is quite a lovable character, he has some deep secrets hidden away but basically he wants to get on with life, however nothing ever seems to go as smoothly as he would like it to. So to the game itself, the controls of Nico are the standard GTA fare, left stick to control movement, right for the camera, Y to enter vehicles and A to run. The LB is used for interaction with computers and people. The targeting system has been changed and although it works a lot better than before there are some new problems. Holding LB full-on will lock onto a target, with the RT you can fine tune the aim and change the targets, if your half press the LB you can also free aim, allowing for precision aiming, however holding this at half aim takes some getting used to and is not the ideal position to hold you fingers in for a long time. The melee combat has also been improved with the addition of block, duck, disarm, kick and a few punches, making up some neat combos along the way, once you have got used to the slight delay of each punch you are able to kick some serious tail. The gun fights and melee combat segments are particularly brutal with blood spurting all over the place and realistic movements depending on where you shoot people, it all adds up to quite a gruesome experience. The main frustration with Nico himself is how slow he moves, unless you press the sprint button you will go everywhere at a snails pace.

Of course it would not be GTA without the cars. There are a few classics like the Ballista that show up and plenty of new motors, like the mean looking Zombie bike. Each has their own handling and it will take you a while to get used to the cornering of each one. The radio stations are still present and you can select them with the d-pad, as usual there are plenty of stations to choose from, meaning that there should be a good enough selection of music to please everyone’s taste, and if it’s not music you are after then there is the usual choice of chat shows, often with hilarious DJ’s. A cool little touch is that once you have left a car, you can still hear the radio in the distance, a bit nerdy to pick up on that but this game is full of little touches like that. Most cars also have a GPS that links to your map and tell you the way to your next waypoint, either by voice or by plotting a line on your map to help find your way. Vehicles still take damage and will buckle with bits falling off the more you bash them, hit another car head on and chances are the other driver will be dead on the wheel when you pull them out, gruesome but cool. It also seems a lot harder to blow up your car than in previous incarnations.

The newest and probably the best addition to this game is the mobile phone, this little gizmo will help organize your game with ease. With the press of up on the d-pad you will bring up your phone, from here you can call friends you have met for missions or favours and also arrange dates with girlfriends or drinking buddies. It can also receive text messages with mission updates or reminders. Not only can you use the preset numbers but also free dial some of the numbers dotted around the city for a few cool extras, hell, you can even call 911 and nab the cop car when it arrives at your “emergency”.

As well as the supporting cast, the city itself plays a massive part of the game. Liberty City is not really the place you would go to queue up for a copy of a much wanted game at midnight. From the dark slum like areas to the well lit city, the environments are truly stunning. One thing I am really happy with is the size of the map, San Andreas was just too big, impressive but too thinly spread. With 4 islands to explore it will not take long to get from one side to the other but the amount of stuff that is in between is amazing. I am talking a well represented living city, there are loads of vehicles all of the time, people walking the streets who react to you, shops that you can visit from clothes stores, underground weapons shops, food outlets, bars, clubs and a few entertainment areas for games of bowling, pool and darts.

On top of the main story you also have the side missions, and these are just as good as the main game, girlfriends make a welcome return, where you have to dress right and take them to the right places to progress. You even meet up with other contacts who you need to do small favours or just socialise with, which often ends in you getting drunk (a very cool visual effect is used here), and once they like you they will offer you a service, like free pickups or a bombing service. There are also vigilante missions. In previous games I rarely touched this part of the game but the new changes are excellent. Once you steal a cop car you can go into their computer and either select someone from the most wanted list or go to a current crime in progress, each one will be marked off on you map and you have to get there as quick as possible and take them down for a nice bonus. The method of picking who you want to go for is great and is a system that rivals the mobile phone.

WIth so much going on in this game it will take ages to see it all, and for a change I really want to, however there are a few little problems, the targeting I mentioned earlier, but also the graphics, they look amazing but there are areas that are just too dark, you can use the options screen to tidy this up but it does affect the day/night time feel of the game. Also worth a mention is the loading of areas, sometimes items will just appear from nowhere, this has only happened a few times but it is noticeable, sometimes it can just be a texture for a wall but other times it has been a whole staircase.

There is just so much to do in this title, reach 20 hours of gameplay and you still won’t have scratched the surface. I haven’t even mentioned the other items that can be found during the game as I don’t want to go into too much detail about include the fully working mock Liberty City Internet Cafe where you can check out emails and get new ringtones for your phone, as well as the fully working TV’s which stream content. This game has been a long time coming and now that it is here, I can’t even think about playing anything else, it’s that engrossing and easily the best game of the series and the year.

As previously mentioned the mobile phone is your way of connecting characters and storylines together and this keeps it all in a very unobtrusive and familiar menu system rather than having to press the start button all of the time. However what I did not mention is that this is also the main portal to get to your online gaming fix. Yes that’s right, GTA has finally gone online.

Rather than just a few of the usual deathmatches (yes they also are there), Rockstar have really pulled out all of the stops to make the online experience the best possible, and for a first time out, this just can’t get any better.

There are loads of different modes to choose from and each one can be played ranked, unranked or on party mode where you can gather your friends together to play against another group. Ranked allows you to earn cash for all of your kills and mission achievements, and at certain amounts you will rank up, this will open up a few extras along the way. Most of the games offer up to 16 players, with a few capped at 4. In the main lobby, if you are the host you are able to choose which area to play the game in and there are also a few other options to make the game more interesting, depending on what mode you play. All of the modes have vehicles available to hijack and use as you see fit, as a getaway or as a weapon. I have found that turning up the traffic , especially on the Cops N Crooks game makes for a more interesting game as you are not running around so much trying to escape, and also there is nothing more satisfying than unloading a full clip into an oncoming car, watching it get riddled with bullets and crash with an online friend slumped at the wheel.

When you begin multiplayer you have a tutorial which takes you through the basic controls and a few of the modes available, this is very helpful for newcomers. Whilst the controls are similar to the single player mode, there are a few extras, like holding down on the d-pad to bring up the current game rankings. You are also able to alter your character, at first you can only choose from a select few faces and clothing, but there is enough variety as to not have the same characters running around shooting at each other, also as you rank up more will become available so you can pimp your avatar as much as you like.

Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch are your classic online modes, up to 16 players run around the city shooting at each other, the highest amount of kills win. The map in the bottom right will have coloured dots that indicate a player, this makes the game more fast paced and does not allow for any sneaky hiding, whilst many people will not like this, I find it refreshing as the size of the city can easily allow for players to snipe a few kills and hide away to win the game. The map also shows the location of nearby weapons. All of the weapons from the single player are there, the sub machine gun and rocket launcher are very satisfying to use in a crowded area.

Mafia Work and Team Mafia Work involves calls being made from Kenny Petrovic to all of the players, here he will give orders like complete a hit, steal a car or collect and deliver some goods. The area will be marked on your map and it’s up to you to get there by any means possible. This makes for some very aggressive fights as you are all playing for the same goal.

Car Jack City and Team Car Jack City has Kenny Petrovic wanting some new cars, they are marked on your map, your job is to steal them and deliver them, however, at any point another person or team can hijack you, making for some great moments (ever been hijacked by a maniac with a sub machine gun on a moped?)

There are a few racing modes to play through as well, Race Chase allows you to choose your car from the group selected by the host and race through checkpoints, there are plenty of car groups and boats to choose from, race cars and the police vans being my favourite at the moment. GTA Race is similar to Race Chase but this time weapons are involved, grab a weapon and cause severe damage to the car in front, take out the wheels for a real advantage. Whilst these modes are OK, there are problems with the size of the city, if you are on a larger course and get knocked off the road, it is very hard at times for you to get back into the race, also miss a checkpoint and there is a lot of hassle of reversing or turning around, essentially taking you out of the race.

Cops N Crooks is by far my most favourite mode of any game, here you have two teams, one playing the Cops, the other playing the Crooks. It is split over two rounds so you will each get a go. There are two game modes to select from here, All for One and One for All. In All for One the cops have to take down a mob boss and the crooks have to protect one of their randomly selected mob bosses who is highlighted with a cross. In One for All the cops have to take down all of the crooks, thankfully you start off in groups in a police car so you can each perform drivebys and get to the targets quickly. The crooks all have to get to the escape point, usually a helicopter, by any means possible. Here you can steal a car, swim across a river, run over rooftops, just as long as you are not shot down. The cool part of this game is that as long as there is a crook alive and still on the run the game will not end, so if crooks left someone behind, it is up to them to save their escapee before the cops get to them. This mode will really benefit from the party play option and I hope to see plenty of clans pop up over the next few months. I really have not had this much fun online since Counter Strike on the PC all those years ago.

There is also a free mode which allows a group of players to just hang out in the city and do whatever they feel like.

Overall the online experience is amazing, there are a few niggles, like when the action gets really heated there are points that the game will freeze up and jump, I think this is more to do the with servers and the other players ping rather than the game though as I have had a few local games and it ran perfectly. The other problem is the players themselves, even though this is a new game, there are loads of know-it-alls that get upset if you take a wrong turn or make a mistake, making themselves heard all of the time, hopefully after a while these players will go back to Halo or whatever and leave this top game for the rest of us to enjoy.

Overall Rating: 10/10

Words by Dan Pearson

Well it’s that time of year again where all of the football fans get ready for another high class tournament, however this year most of us are a bit stuck as none of our teams made it past the qualifying stages. You could all go to the pub and watch the games there, crying into your pint, dreaming of what could of been, or you can stay at home and make sure your team wins a few and even bring back some silverware.

UEFA EURO 2008 is an updated version of the FIFA 2008, usually games such as this that are linked to major tournaments do seem to fail, mainly due to them feeling like more of an expansion than a new game. Thankfully though Euro 2008 has changed that trend and offers plenty of new choices for offline and online play as well as more fluid and faster moving gameplay.

As always the offline Single player mode offers plenty of choice should you be playing solo, Kick-Off has one off exhibition matches, Be a Pro allows you to take on your opponents from the players perspective and you are also able to take part in penalty shoot-outs (just don’t choose England as you may miss a few). UEFA EURO 2008 allows you to choose your team, even one that didn’t qualify and play from the qualifiers all the way through to the finals themselves. The biggest and most exciting addition to the game though has to be Captain Your Country, here you are able to choose and play as a player from the B side and prove your skill on the pitch, eventually captaining your team in big games.

The road to qualification is riddled with dangers, lower opposition will deliberately play from a draw while more established nations will pound your goal from beginning to end. Throughout each game you are always kept up to date with the latest goings on elsewhere, which does make for some tension when you find yourself needing that last minute goal. It’s great stuff and feels quite realistic, which can only be a good point.

Online is where most of the work has been put into the game, a cool new addition is the Battle of the Nations, EA servers upload your gaming stats daily and add points in a league. Here they are able to crown Champion Gamers and also the Nation of Euro 2008. So even if your team did not get to the Finals in real life, they can still win some tournaments. You score will join all other gamers who have selected the same country as you, playing low ranked teams and defeating high ranked teams will earn you more points. Even if you play as Sweden, as long as you choose your home nation all of the points will go to you own nation. There is also a Euro online knockout cup where you join a 16 team cup battle.

Graphically the game isn’t really a big step up from FIFA 2008, while the on screen action looks fantastic and runs smoothly, some of the animations do look quite strange when examined a bit closer.

The commentary is great, constant. Clive Tyldesley and Andy Townsend constantly through the game, this plus the great crowd participation and look of the stadiums really give this game some atmosphere. The cut shots of celebrations and managers shouting form the sidelines make it feel like you are watching a live game on TV rather than playing yourself.

UEFA Euro 2008 is a great game and offers a insight into just how good FIFA 2009 could be. If the game has any problems it is that it is too expensive for what it is, after all it lacks the club teams and the other extras which make FIFA such a great package for value. If you want to take your team all the way to UEFA Euro 2008 then this could be for you, however if you all ready own FIFA 2008 then we suggest practicing on that until the next version comes along.

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Lightgun shooters have always been an arcade pastime, many companies have tried to bring them to consoles before but only with limited success, however this hasn’t stopped Namco from trying again, this time with Time Crisis 4 for Playstation 3.

When I received this game for review I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I opened the box, I had heard about the new GunCon but had no idea how this would work, thankfully then it was quite simple to set up. Included in the box are two sensors, each of which are attached to a leather strap with a weight on the end, these are placed on each side of the TV and then connected to the PS3 via USB, the gun itself which it has to be said feels very well built, also connects to the TV via USB.

Once all the pleasantries of setting the game up are complete it is finally time to get started. Time Crisis 4 provides you with a few different gameplay modes to keep you occupied, first up is Arcade mode which sees you play as a member of the V.S.S.E, which is a taskforce set up to stop the terrorists know as W.O.L.F from destroying the world with their secret weapon. The gameplay in Arcade mode sees you go through each level on the rails while taking out all the enemies in your way. During each mission you are able to switch between the weapons you have in your possession, these include a handgun, machine gun, shotgun and grenade launcher, although only the handgun has unlimited ammo, meaning that you will need to shoot the men in yellow coats in order to reload your other weapons.

As well as being able to blast your way through the enemies you are also able to take cover, this is done by releasing the fire button, so if one of those pesky rockets are coming towards you then you know what to do. The secret to winning in the Arcade mode is to balance the cover system with the combat, once you manage this then you will find yourself cruising through the levels. Just to add a twist to Arcade mode each section is also timed, take out the enemies before the clock runs out and you will be fine, if you don’t then you will lose lives, which may seem harsh but at least it keeps you on your toes. There are quite a few twists during each level to spice things up and challenge you, however I will let you find these out for yourself.

The new GunCon includes two analogue sticks and for good reason, not until you start the Complete Mission mode will you make use of these, this is because it includes both the gameplay from the Arcade mode but also a new FPS mode which helps fill you in on the story. The first of these missions allows you to get used to the general feel of this new mode as you take control of Captain Rush who has been send out to investigate what the evil terrorists are up to. During this mission you will make use of every button the Guncon has to offer, you will be changing weapons with the LB/RB buttons which are situated at the back of the gun, you will also be looking left and right with the rear analogue stick as well as moving the Captain with the front analogue stick. Captain Rush is also able to duck, jump, open doors and of course take down the enemies with his numerous weapons.

The main difference to this part of the game is that you can explore each environment, allowing you to collect items and equipment on your way. The Complete Mission mode actually works really well, mixing the V.S.S.E arcade elements with Captain Rush’s FPS modes certainly helps fill the game out and adds the depth which is otherwise missing from the Arcade mode.

Time Crisis also includes plenty of mini games for you to play once you have completed the games two main modes, which means that there is plenty of replay value to be had here. The mini games will test your accuracy and reaction by having you take down set targets within a specific time limit. This mode also includes Crisis Missions which have you pick enemies out from a crowd or take down a set amount of enemies within a set time limit.

Graphically it is hard to find any complaints with Time Crisis 4, the environments all have their own unique look and the enemies and main characters are all well detailed. There are a few points during the FPS modes that some slowdown will occur however this is quite limited so doesn’t really turn out to be a major issue. As far as the sound is concerned, the voice acting is of a decent standard though not spectacular and the same can be said of weapon effects which do what is needed but no more.

Time Crisis 4 is the first Lightgun shooter for the Playstation 3 and in that respect it sets a decent standard, the GunCon itself is very well build (although it would have been nice if it was wireless) and the game offers plenty of depth and replay value. Fans of the lightgun genre will certainly not be disappointed, it’s a decent effort and therefore worth purchasing if you like this type of game.

Overall Rating: 8.2/10

Dark Sector has been a long time in the making and any glimpses that have been shown of the game have been looking pretty impressive, however with lots of other shooters on the market does this game do enough different to stand out from the crowd?

In Dark Sector you play as Hayden Tenno who is on the trail of someone called Mezner, the bad guy who is intent on infecting everyone with a virus he has managed to get hold of. The thing is this is one nasty virus, you will first experience it in the first level where you will meet for the first time, Mezners bodyguard who is one tough cookie and has a rather nasty blade to match. Without spoiling too much when you do meet the bodyguard you also meet Mezner and you don’t come out very well, as you eventually end up being infected with the virus you are trying to put an end to.

The game plays in the guise of a Third Person Shooter, throughout you will find yourself ducking and rolling around for cover as this is essential for taking out enemies, the environments are fragile though so bullets will soon take down any crates or other breakable items you have used for cover.

The first level itself is quite unusual in that it takes part in Black & White, only when you have killed a few enemies, stolen their weapons for yourself and then took down a helicopter will you then meet the bodyguard, go through the scene mentioned above and then start to see things in colour.

As well as starting to see things in colour once your body is infected with the virus you begin to change, no longer are you able to hold enemies weapons, well not for long anyway because they are fitted with a sensor and will deactivate after a short time should they be used by one of the infected, later on you will also gain some rather good abilities such as being able to turn invisible or use a telekinetic shield, however by far the coolest thing about being infected is your Glaive.

The Glaive appears in your hand soon after being infected, the best way to describe it is to call it a giant shuriken which acts like a boomerang, so in other words throw it at the attacking enemies and watch it cut through them before coming back, cutting through them again (providing they don’t duck) and returning to your hand. The glaive is quite simple to use, pressing L1 to aim and the R2 to throw makes things easy, you can also press R1 instead of R2 should you wish to stick to more conventional ways and shoot at your enemies with your handgun.

As you get more into the game, the more powerful you and your glaive will become, allowing you better moves and even giving you the ability to pick up items, such as weapons or equipment simply by aiming the glaive at the item you are after. There are many other things you can do with the weapon as you progress which are really inventive, however I don’t want to spoil things too much by telling you what they are. One of the features of the glaive I do need to mention however is Aftertouch, this gives you the ability to follow the glaive in slow motion and direct it to your enemies neck using either the right stick or Sixaxis motion, although other games on the PS3 using this feature have been criticised, it does seem to work quite well in Dark Sector once you get used to it.

During the game you will find cash lying about on tables and elsewhere, you can then use this to upgrade and purchase new weapons, allowing you access to Uzi’s, Shotguns and more. Of course all of this makes you one hard bloke, with your glaive in one hand and a magnum in the other those enemies better watch out.

The gameplay in Dark Sector works really well, throughout you will be constantly learning new moves and tearing your enemies apart and although it can get a bit repetitive, it does keep you challenged and gripped long enough to make sure you do not lose interest. There are a few flaws such as the frustrating melee combat which has you slashing at nothing half the time due to the angle of the camera and you will also have this issue when swinging at the ammo crates you will find lying around, in fact at one point I must have slashed at a crate four times before eventually being able to hit it, however there are ways around this, and hey maybe it was just me being rubbish.

Dark Sector also includes a multiplayer mode, this is actually quite fun and comes in the guise of two modes over five maps. First up is the infected mode, here one of the players is Haden and the others the guards, the objective is to be the first to take down Haden and then become him yourself. The second mode is called Epidemic, this divides players into two teams with one player taking the role of Haden on each side, again anyone killing Haden will become him. The multiplayer mode is really good fun, however I wasn’t much good, it seems that the people I was playing with had much more practice than me.

Graphically I was quite impressed by Dark Sector, the name describes it perfectly really because it is a very dark game, all the environments seem to be constantly cast in a shadow, however they do look great, as do the finishing moves during melee combat. The only criticism I have as far as graphics go are for cutscenes, to me not as much effort has went into these as the rest of the game.

Dark Sector is quite an impressive game, it is no Gears of War but it does offer an interesting take on the Third Person shooter, oh and the Glaive is fantastic. If you are in the market for a new game this month you won’t go wrong with this as it is great entertainment, it’s just not perfect that’s all.

Overall Rating: 8.1/10

The much flaunted PSP debut of God of War is finally with us here in the UK and it has certainly felt like a long time coming, but does Chains of Olympus live up to the hype that has generated around it? Read on to find out why this game is about as crucial to your PSP as the battery.

God of War: Chains of Olympus follows the story of Kratos as he tries to save the world from certain destruction. At the beginning of the game you find yourself in Attica helping to defend the city against the invading Persian forces and even at this early stage you begin to realise that this game could indeed be something special.

Some of action even at the start is quite impressive, one minute I was fighting against some army forces and then the next thing I knew a huge beast burst through the door, such was the scale of this beast on the PSP screen that it really took me by surprise, however this beast was nothing compared to the battle with the basilisk at the end of the first level.

Once you have taken care of the Persians, this is when the story starts to get really interesting, without giving too much away, Kratos eventually ends up in the land of the dead, where he must rescue the land from total destruction, some of the things you will see during these levels will leave you wondering why games this good haven’t reached the PSP before now, but that’s a different story entirely.

There is a lot that is impressive about Chains of Olympus but perhaps nothing more so that the control system, everything move and combo is so simple to pull off that fighting and using magic seems to come naturally, and if you do happen to forget a move then simply pressing the start button will remind you of each ability that you have access to at the time. Most of the combat and magic moves use a combination of L2 or R2 and the corresponding face button, while you can dodge by pressing L2 and R2 together, this is a fantastic way of doing things because it is simple and means that you will find it hard to mess up the move you are trying to pull off.

Generally the game will lead you through its chosen path, although occasionally you will find hidden rooms that contain items to increase and restore your magic and health. Most of the game though revolves around combat, which is just as well because this is were the game really excels, often you will find yourself blocked in a room with magical barriers and the only way out is to kill everything that spawns in front of you, this however is a brilliant experience due to the smooth combat system and the sheer amount of combos that you can pull off.

The enemies that you will face come in all shapes and sizes, and while a lot of them appeared in previous game in the series, this still does not take away from the sheer challenge of trying to defeat them as each have their own strengths and weaknesses, meaning that you cannot just bash one button and hope for the best. In order to best defeat an enemy you must work out for yourself the best way and then use a combination of your magic and fighting abilities in order to take them out, especially so for the larger enemies that you will face.

Another good point to Chains of Olympus is that even when you are not fighting, you are usually always on the go, be this solving many of the various puzzles or trying to find out how to move on from where you are, there is certainly plenty here to keep your brain ticking, from simple things like having to find a wall to climb to more complex situations like lining up sunbeams and then reflecting them with your shield in order to progress. In fact some of the puzzles that you will come across can be very challenging, while at the same time being obvious and therefore will probably make you feel just that little bit silly once you figure them out.

Throughout the game you will come across new abilities and weapons, these can be upgraded by finding the red orbs which can be found in chests and are also rewarded for killing enemies, each upgrade will request a certain amount of orbs for you to sacrifice before you will be able to make your magic/weapons more powerful, however this is certainly worth it as the effects can be quite devastating. Your health and magic bars can also be upgraded by finding a certain amount of set items which are spread throughout the game.

Graphically God of War Chains of Olympus is the best looking game on the PSP yet, everything about it is just classy, from Kratos and the very atmospheric environments, to way the gameplay stays smooth throughout. The cutscenes are also pretty impressive, adding a real cinematic feel to the game along with the excellent background music and the beautifully created voiceovers.

So with all of this graphical prowess under it’s belt you would think the game would take forever to load, however this is not the case and it’s fair to say that it has perhaps some of the shortest loading times the PSP has seen yet, and if that is not enough to convince you to buy this game then I have no idea what would be.

God of War: Chains of Olympus really shows what the PSP is capable of, so if you own a PSP then this game is essential, simple as that.

Overall Rating: 9.5/10

Is it a demo, is it a game of its own? Whatever it is Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is certainly causing a lot of debate, and it has to be said selling a lot of copies, in fact it has been reported that almost 1 million pre-orders of the game have been made, which is pretty impressive.

The Gran Turismo series is the best selling series on Playstation so when a new game comes along everyone who owns the console takes notice, thankfully then the people who have shelled out for the game are not going to be disappointed.

There are plenty of racing games around at the moment, but most of them seem to be on the Xbox 360, leaving the Playstation crying out for a realistic racer like Gran Turismo Prologue, though it seems the wait has been worth it because this could be the most realistic of them all.

Gran Turismo Prologue is presented in glorious 1080p, meaning that it is without doubt the best looking racer around, there are some fantastic moments in the game graphically as you are blinded by the realistic glare of the sun when coming out of a tunnel or when you driving through the shadow laden streets of London, both these moments really make you appreciate the effort gone into this game. There have been some complaints already however in respect of the graphics so it’s best not to ignore these. Occasionally there will be dips in the frame rate , there is also no collision damage, meaning cars remain unscratched even in the most violent of crashes, there is also no marks left on the road even when you skid around corners at full speed, so yes it isn’t perfect but it still looks fantastic.

The game includes six tracks (twelve if you count the fact that you can drive the mirrored versions too) they are all very detailed and include the Eiger Nordwand, the Daytona International Speedway, the London City Track, the Fuji Speedway, Suzuka and the High Speed Ring, the London City track especially sticks out for me as all of the landmarks you would expect are present, along with the tight corners and tall buildings which practically block out every ray of sun.

As well as the tracks Gran Turismo Prologue also includes an impressive 71 cars, obviously they all vary greatly, when you start off you are given around £36,000 to spend, using this I purchased a Ford Focus which seems to be a good all rounder and although this purchase never left me with much money I was able to enter enough events with the car in order to earn money to buy another. Of course all of the cars in the game look fantastic, from the Dodge VIPER GTS to the Ferrari F40 all of them are detailed with jaw dropping precision.

The events are split into three classes, A, B and C, you start off racing in class C, and within this class there are quite a few events to take part in, although some of these are restricted to certain manufacturers/car types so you will need to be careful which car you buy at the beginning of the game.

Handling the cars while driving has never felt so good or more realistic, you can feel the speed in this game more than any other racer especially so when you are in one of the more powerful cars, it’s fair to say that approaching a corner at high speed or trying to get past that elusive opponent really does make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

The main flaws to the game come in the fact that you need to work your way through the events in order to unlock the games main cars, competing in class A will eventually gain you access to these power houses, however this will take a good few hours of gaming, similarly you are unable to tune your vehicle until you reach class A, which is a bit of a let down.

Back to the good points though and these come in the guise of the multiplayer options, offline you have the ability to play split screen against another player, which is a great addition, sure it doesn’t look as good as single player but it sure is fun. The main addition to the game though has to be the online mode, Sony must really be pinning their hope at this working and in most cases it does, there are plenty of different options to allow a bit of variety with scheduled events and time trails the order of the day, obviously you can also create your own races and take part in others also. The only issues at the moment involve the usual lag and slowdown problems associated with online gaming, however I am sure that Sony will soon tackle this.

Also promised in the future are more additions to the new Gran Turismo tv, a feature which allows you to watch trailers/programs via the game. At the time of writing all that is on there is a trailer for the game, however we are promised some episodes of the popular Top Gear at some point, which is sure to keep the car enthusiasts happy.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is certainly not without its flaws, however you will not find a more realistic looking and handling racer around at the moment, well until the full version pop’s it head up anyway.

Overall Rating: 8.9/10

Everybody’s Golf has always been quite a popular series on the Playstation, this is probably thanks to it’s cute looks and easy to pick up and play nature, so now that Everybody’s Golf: World Tour has hit the next generation, does it still have the same appeal?

As well as bringing everything we love so much about the series to the PS3, World Tour brings us so much more, including a fantastic new advanced shot system and the sublime online mode which is up there with Call of Duty 4 in terms of perfection, but we will get to that later. The advanced shot system which has been introduced allows players to have better control over their shots, it allows you to focus on the swing and power that the golfer is using rather than just staring at a power bar, this is done by making you judge the swing and how far you need to draw back your club in order to get the power you need, once you have selected how much power you wish to use, you will then need to hit the ball as the club swings and approaches it, mis-time this and you will end up cutting the grass instead.

The new advanced shot is a really great system and allows for a much better way of playing a console based golf game. The only issue that I personally have with the new system is the frustration I felt when trying to putt, judging how hard to hit the ball to get to the green is one thing, but trying to work out the precise power for putting is another, however practice makes perfect and I have a feeling that I will be getting plenty of practice in this game. You certainly shouldn’t be put off by the new shot system because you still have the option of using the old power bar should this not be for you, this basically allows you to select the power you need for your shot depending on the distance, it is a lot easier to use as well, just not quite as authentic.

Should you be feeling ambitious you can even add topspin, backspin or hook and slice the ball by pressing the relevant button on the D-Pad, depending on how accurate you shot is you will either pull it off or end up in the drink, however once you push the button it is out of your hands really. The option to add more advance moves such this though is yet another example of the level of authenticity that those gamers looking for more than just a simple golf game will find.

World Tour is certainly a game which should keep you occupied as there is just so much to unlock, as well as all the characters and their unlockable abilities, you will also gain access to new courses, clubs, balls and clothing. There are many ways to unlock new items, this can be done through character loyalty (basically using the same character instead of switching for each game), by winning tournaments or by beating challenges.

The game offers six courses in all, you will also find yourself playing mirrored courses are well, however at the beginning of the game you will only find one course unlocked, to unlock the rest you will have to play your way through each tournament and by coming in at first place, then if you are lucky when you choose your prize it will be a new course, otherwise you will probably end up with a new club or one of the other unlockable items mentioned above. It has to be said that the courses look fantastic, the Highland course and the all the courses that follow offer plenty of hazards to test you and all have a very authentic feel, while still remaining true to the arcade nature of the game.

When you begin the game you start out with two characters and as you advance you will soon unlock a lot more, they all have their own unique personalities and it can be quite amusing during local multiplayer games while your opponent is lining up a shot to press the button a few times to hear what your character has to say, well I found it funny anyway, I’m not so sure the second player found it quite as amusing.

It really is difficult for me to find anything bad to say about the single player experience of Everybody’s Golf, I have had great fun paying the different tournaments and unlocking new courses and characters, the only issue I have had is that I have yet to find a way to quit during a game without resorting to turning the console off and on again, but maybe that’s just me?

I mentioned earlier that Everybody’s Golf could be one of the only games to compare to Call of Duty 4 when online, this may seem like some statement to make but I make no apologies for this. Before playing online you are required to create a character (much like a Mii on Nintendo’s Wii to give you an example of what I mean) , this character then represents you online in the lobby, there are many different lobbies to enter in the game so if one is full then it isn’t really too much of a problem. Lobbies are presented in the form of a clubhouse with many different floors, depending which floor you choose you will enter a room, each with their own theme, here you can interact with up to 50 other different people, chatting to them using a keyboard or any of the shortcut words which have been assigned to the control pad, the best way to describe this part of the game could be that it’s like a miniature version of Playstation Home, although voice support doesn’t seem to be there at the moment, but this could come at a later date.

As well as hoping around the lobby and chatting to other users you can also take part in tournaments with up to 50 other users, the way this works is that each player has a certain time to finish each hole, this means that you are not really left waiting around, unless of course you are a wizard and finish long before everyone else. When playing although you will see other players they do not interfere with you, all you do is play as you would in the single player mode rather than waiting for everyone to take their shot, it’s a great system and it works well.

The way the tournaments are booked is also quite unique, each tournament has it’s own timeslot allocated to it, this enables you to book your place up to 12 hours in advance meaning that you can decide when you want to play and then come back just before it starts, although be warned that you will need to unlock some of the courses and characters before you will be able to enter the majority of the tournaments due to them all having entry requirements.

While online you can also create your own games, this allows you and up to eight players to play at the same time, meaning that you can invite your friends to a game and set your own rules. Setting up your own games is quite simple and gives you the benefit of earning bragging rights over someone you know, should you win of course.

The Playstation brand is renowned for providing gamers with easy to play, innovative games and nothing describes Everybody’s Golf: World Tour better than that, this is one of the best games that has been in my PS3 since launch, offline or online and to be honest I don’t think I will be pressing the eject button for quite some time.

Overall Rating: 9/10

We reviewed Army of Two on the 360 earlier this month, however Salem and Rios also appear on the PS3. The game play and looks are identical to the 360 version, with only a few differences to separate them which are mentioned later in the review.

I have been looking forward to Army of Two for some time, the whole idea of a proper team up game off and online has been a long time coming. And now that it is here it does not disappoint, in fact it even throws in a few unexpected surprises along the way.

Army of Two has a unique feature that many other games do not bother to offer, and that is the two very different ways to play the main campaign, on your own or with a friend. On you own is a real treat as the AI of your partner is well controlled, he will always do the right thing, you control his main actions with the D-pad, telling him to hold position, cover, go ahead or stay close, you are also able to tell him to go Aggro, which then makes most enemies concentrate on him, enabling you to take out some of the tougher opposition. Two player is really what this game is all about though, with the ability to plug in another controller or even take it online, here use of the voice chat is equally as important as knowing when to dive for cover, communication in the team will make some of the tougher enemies much easier.

Each level is split into smaller checkpoints, so if you do die there is not too much to replay. With a press of the select button you are able to see the HUD, which will show which direction to go in and also the mission objectives along with their price for completion. Each mission also has 3 briefcases to find, which gives you a cash boost, there are also additional missions as the game plays through. These missions range from taking out a chopper before it gets away to finding a POW or disabling vehicles.

There are a few little touches in this game that really separates it from the rest, going Back to Back at certain points of the game really emphasise the team work, the game play will slow down and both of you will have to shoot as many bad guys as possible as you are being surrounded. You also have some tandem parachute segments, where depending who you play will have to control or shoot a clear line to safety. Level design is also a welcome change as there is a lot of variety on offer from seemingly open-ended levels to narrow corridor fighting. One of my favourites is the aircraft carrier with enemies coming from all sides, and the final run to safety as it all goes horribly wrong is one of the best gaming moments I have had in a while.

Its seems EA have done to the weaponry what they have done to their cars in the Need for Speed franchise, by including plenty of customisation. Each weapon you purchase can be upgraded and pimped in many ways, some weapons can have larger ammo capacity and even silencers. Machine guns can have an alternative fire, like a mounted shotgun and even a shield. This makes for some great combinations. At certain points of the game you are able to go to the shop and swap weapons and upgrades as long as you have the cash.

Online play is well worth a look as it brings something different to the tried and tested formulas of other games. One of my favourites is the mission mode, where you have two teams of two, each team is shown an objective and its up to you to complete it before the other team. You are able to upgrade and purchase new weapons at certain points of each level and with each kill and successful mission you earn more cash. The missions range from taking out NPC characters to blowing up a vehicle or sabotaging computer equipment. As well as the other team to contend with you will also have a few computer enemies to contend with, making this a breath of fresh air from the usual death matches.

If you are one of the lucky few who have both next gen consoles, then a difficult choice is ahead of you. The Xbox 360 has the achievements and also a rumble facility whereas the PS3 has free internet gaming. In the end if a choice had to be made, I would go with the Xbox version solely due to the achievements which give you more reasons to play this title and to go back for more action once completed.

Overall Rating: 8.5/10