For Christmas I was lucky enough to get a new monitor for my PC, a lovely 24-inch BenQ affair. One of the big bonuses about my monitor upgrade? It has an HDMI input, it may sound like a small thing, but it is changing how I actually play games, both on my PC and with my consoles.
Final Fantasy XIII split fans and critics down the middle, while many loved the change in direction for the series some hated it just as much. Reviewers were scoring the game at around 8 or 9 out of 10, praising the combat system and the production of the game while fans were upset by the lack of freedom and the slog to get through the first third of the game. Die hard fans of Final Fantasy will never like change, and yes from the days of FFVII -IX which was a personal favourite time for me, the game has changed and advanced a lot, but it wouldn’t it be somewhat foolish for a company to bring out thirteen or so games that were near exactly the same.
As a long term fan of the Final Fantasy games I can see just how much they have changed over the years bringing in all kinds of new aspects and abilities for each new game and revisiting and improving the parts we know and love. Square Enix has promised that Final Fantasy XIII-2 will be an huge improvement on its predecessor and it’s clear to see that they are determined to make some major developments, so much so that it has all become a little overwhelming. But just what have they changed for the new game and will it be for the better? Decide for yourselves after reading my hands on impressions from the demo and all the inside facts.
I am a big fan of wrestling, so it was with great expectation that I purchased WWE 12 just after Christmas looking forward to a game which would let me feel the thrill of all the big hitting in-ring action in my own home once again. For the most part it is a very enjoyable title with some of the best customisation options around, everything from characters to arenas and story lines can be created in the game. It is…
We aren’t quite done with our ‘Our Games of the Year’ piece as three riders in the night have appeared ready to supply their thoughts on the best games of the past year. Hit the jump to see what Steph, Nick and Andrew had to say.
The Harry Potter books and films re-imagined as LEGO games, great combination, I’ll give it a Headshot, everyone can go home happy.
I think we can all agree that it has been quite a year for games with a heap of great titles appearing on our computers and consoles over the past twelve months. It is only fitting then that a few of us here from The Reticule share our Game of the Year lists. Hit the jump to find out what we have loved this year.
The Back to Karkand DLC for Battlefield 3 hit the PC and 360 yesterday while PS3 owners got it last week. (damn exclusivity deals) If you pre-ordered the game you will get free access to the pack which re-imagines four maps from the brilliant Battlefield 2 and also throws in a handful of new unlockable weapons and some new vehicles to play with. If you didn’t pre-order you can get the DLC for £11.99. A steep price, but quite possibly worth it. Hit the jump for some thoughts.
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.
At the Eurogamer Expo, Michael and I attended a developer session on Hitman: Absolution which blew me away. This new trailer has reminded me of how good this game might be. I’m hoping though that we don’t need to go in all guns blazing like in this trailer, I want to see some more of the sneaky sneaky action.
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…