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Rayman Origins – The Verdict

Rayman Origins – The Verdict

In 1995, when the PlayStation was released and the gaming world was marvelling at the possibilities it held, 2D platforming looked like a doomed genre. Developers were working frantically on how to perfect a 3D platforming game and both Crash Bandicoot and Super Mario 64 were on the horizon.

2D platforming needed a hero and they got one – a guy with no limbs and a face that was two-thirds nose. His name was Rayman and his début game went on to be the biggest selling on the PlayStation. He then starred in a couple of mediocre sequels before the franchise spiralled out of control and spawned the Rabbids. Since then Rayman fell on hard times, shoved to the sidelines by the obnoxious Rabbids that were once his sidekicks.

Rayman Origins is a nod to the days when Rayman was on top of the world; it’s a lovably nostalgic blast back to the glory days of 2D platformers.

Digger Simulator 2011 – The Verdict

Digger Simulator 2011 – The Verdict

Excalibur Publishing has over the years become something of a running joke within the realm of the simulation genre. Abandoning the usual staples of military simulation, their partnership with the German developer Astragon has instead decided to concentrate on the more obscure and mundane side of vehicle simulation.

Mario Kart 7 – The Verdict

Mario Kart 7 – The Verdict

The Mario Kart series has been a firm favourite with Nintendo fans ever since Super Mario Kart was released on the SNES back in 1992. Its (then) unique blend of manic racing action and weapons both offensive and defensive has since become the template for all other mascot-based racing games to base themselves upon – everyone from Sonic the Hedgehog to the M&Ms has had a finger in the kart-racing game pie in the last twenty years – which isn’t…

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Batman: Arkham City – The Verdict

Batman: Arkham City – The Verdict

Back in 1997, R-Kelly sang that Gotham City was a City of Justice, Love and Peace (for everyone of us.) I’m not sure he was talking about the same city we all thought he was at the time, if the menagerie of crooks, criminals and villains that inhabit the part of Gotham where the events of Batman: Arkham City take place is anything to go by…

Skyrim – Our Thoughts

Skyrim – Our Thoughts

Skyrim has come along and taken us off to an amazing world full of dragons and adventure, I think we are all agreed that it is a ‘Red Mist’ title, and definitely a Game of the Year contender. I am sure though that you want to know more about it than that, thus a few of us here on The Reticule have come together to share ‘Our Thoughts’ on this amazing title. Hit the jump to read our words.

Assassin’s Creed Revelations – The Verdict

Assassin’s Creed Revelations – The Verdict

Assassin’s Creed Revelations is precisely the kind of product that makes you question if it’s worth reviewing game sequels. Even though the asking price troubles the comparison, intentionally missing out on playing Revelations would be like missing out on the latest episode of a TV drama – you’re only not going to play this game if you’re planning to rage quit on the entire series. And aside from a somewhat lacking sense of forward momentum in the series right now…

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Saints Row The Third – The Verdict

Saints Row The Third – The Verdict

It seems rather alien now, to think that at one time the Saints Row series had somewhat of an identity crisis. An exclusive early 360 title, it was often – with good reason – compared to Grand Theft Auto, with a larger focus on gang warfare and a little more cartoonish than it’s most obvious rival. By the second game, Saints Row had firmly established an identity of it’s own, deciding to go down the silly OTT route, throwing faeces…

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Super Mario 3D Land – The Verdict

Super Mario 3D Land – The Verdict

So it would seem that the wait is finally over. Yes, after eight months of third party software – the quality of which has been extremely erratic – and some admittedly good remakes of classic N64 games from Nintendo, the 3DS finally seemingly has that killer-app that makes owning Nintendo’s newest foray into portable gaming so worthwhile. Indeed, it certainly goes without saying that any platform game starring Mario is by very definition going to well and truly exhibit itself…

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Magicka – The Verdict

Magicka – The Verdict

This weekend, Paradox Interactive announced a free-to-play weekend on Steam for their insane action adventure classic Magicka. After placing a ridiculous oversized hat on my head and reaching for my copy of the Necronomicon, I’m finally prepared to tackle the crazed fantasy world of wizards and goblins, giving those who skipped it the first time round a chance to see what they’ve missed. 

WRC 2 – The Verdict

WRC 2 – The Verdict

The traditional form of rally driving in the World Rally Championship has lost of a lot of its’ mainstream appeal since the days of Colin McRae and Richard Burns, especially here in Britain. This demise in popularity can be observed with the changing dynamics of rally games, the original Colin McRae Rally was a true to form rally game with a focus on traditional point-to-point stages, the series continued in this vein until DiRT first appeared. Since then, classic rally…

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