Platinum in The Force Unleashed

Just a few moments ago I unlocked the latest Platinum Trophy on my PSN account in The Force Unleashed. It was the best of games but it did have some high points. Not the most satisfying Platinum though. The Trophy list only shows 64% complete because they include DLC Trophies in the list. Very annoying not to see the magic 100%.

Assassin's Creed 2 - Platinum Trophy Unlocked

Ezio

Until recently I wasn't that bothered collecting Trophies in PS3 games. On top of that I also wasn't that interested in playing Assassin's Creed 2 (AC2) either. I had played the first one but only for an hour before I was so bored by it that I stopped playing it, for good. However, I do like a good bargain and I picked up AC2 cheaply in the US back in May.

When I started playing it a few weeks ago, it immediately sucked me right in. I enjoyed the story, the missions, the environments and the fighting system. Everything about the game was polished and very, very enjoyable. As a bonus the Trophies keep unlocking without me aiming to get them specifically. By the time I beat the game I had 92% of the available Trophies. 

It was only the last two that I had to actually grind out but I wasn't going to leave the game that close to 100%. It didn't take long to get the remaining Trophies and that 100% looks so good on the Trophy list. Now that I've done that I feel like I want to go and earn more Trophies. I started a few games in the last day or so - Ghostbusters, Super Street Fighter IV and Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time. I think it will be the latter that I will stay with to get some Trophies. And enjoy the game.

Wipeout HD [PS3] - Review

Wipeout HD is the first installment of the iconic racer on the latest Playstation console. It has been a long, long time in coming but it has been worth the wait. Having been in development for well over a year (a long time for a downloadable title) and dogged by epilepsy test failures it finally hit the PSN store a couple of weeks ago. The game takes the best tracks and the teams of the last two Wipeout titles on PSP and gives it a HD polish.

Wipeout has been around now for 13 years and not much has changed gameplay wise. Anyone who is familar with the series will be thankful for that. The player pilots their hovercraft around large complex courses at high velocity trying to gain speed boosts and weapons. All the while trying to avoid opponents, walls and opposition weapons. The opposition AI will provide a real challenge and are actually very aggressive. The feeling of immense speed is here and I think this is the fastest of the Wipeout games that I've played. The controls will take time to get used to for those who haven't played before but perseverence is worth it. Once you get a handle on the left/right airbrake system you'll be flying around the track mere millimetres from the wall.

The one addition to the gameplay has been the addition of barrel rolls. Performed while in the air they will give you a speed boost when you land but they do cause damage so sparing use is essential. The most obvious improvement here is the graphics which are produced in full 1080p HD, hence the name. The game runs at a very solid 60fps and even at its fastest the game is silky smooth. The track design is very impressive with plenty of background details and vertigo inducing loops. This game is easily the equal of any other racing game this generation.

The sound is a very important aspect of any Wipeout game and this version hasn't stumbled here. The sound effects are very impressive. There are some good music tracks too from recognisable artists but the soundtrack is not as strong as previous games. This may be due to the fact that a budget for a downloadable game doesn't stretch to licencing more expensive artists. This isn't a problem though as custom soundtracks are supported so you can play music stored on the HDD of your PS3. One cool thing I noticed is that the sound of the music will distort if your ship is hit or if your going through a tunnel the sound will change to suit that. Very impressive.

I've mentioned that this is only a downloadable game but do not let that you put you off. There is simply a ton of content here. There are 8 tracks (which can be played in reverse configuration) and many different race modes - time trial, single race, tournament, speed lap, zone mode and online racing. There are also 12 teams and ships to master. The zone mode is something that has been in previous games and is a fan favourite. You race along and the game gets progressively faster and you just have to stay alive as long as possible. The music playing will affect the visuals on screen with the track and backgrounds flashing to the beat of the music. Very cool stuff. Throw in trophy support and this is a very substantial package indeed.

The online component works superbly and supports up to 8 racers. It is easy to find a race and one that suits your skill level. I have experienced no lag while playing the game and that was with the full 8 players. Worldwide leader boards will also have people coming back to try and post faster times. Put simply this is a must buy title for owners of a PS3. The game is only €17.99, which is an absolute bargain. Great gameplay, amazing graphics and a lot of repayability. Go and buy.

Graphics
Simply stunning. The graphics are produced in full 1080p HD resolution and it looks amazing. Equally impressive is the fact that it runs at 60fps making for a silky smooth visual experience.

Sound
Music has always been a trademark of the series and the sound here doesn't disappoint. Great sound effects and some good tunes combine to enhance the Wipeout experience. Plus there is support for custom soundtracks.

Controls
Very responsive controls and there are a number of control schemes on offer. Sixaxis controls are perhaps not as good as using the tradition dpad. Control is given over input sensitivity so there can be no complaints over control of your ship.

Verdict
Quite simply this is a must buy. Excellent graphics, sound and gameplay. There is a lot of content and the online component will have you coming back time and again. Only €17.99! Buy now!

Everyday Shooter (PSN) - Review

I may have said this before but I'm not a big fan of arcade style shooting games, which is kind of strange as this is the third one I've posted a review for after Assault Heroes 2 and Flow. I downloaded Everyday Shooter from the PSN store last week after reading many good things about the game. Most notably the role that the sound design plays in the game. The creator Jonathan Mak recorded an all-guitar soundtrack for the game and with a really distinctive sound it helps to set it apart from other games of this type.

The game is dual-stick style shooter like Geometry Wars on the XBLA so it will be immediately familiar to fans of the genre. On first impressions it may seem like any other shooter but after playing it a couple of times you will notice some finer details that set it apart from the crowd. Firstly, each level brings with it a new technique to set off chain-reactions of explosions to kill the enemies. The key to progression and high-scoring is to figure out how to set-off these chain reactions because without them you will soon be overwhelmed by the enemy. Another difference is the way in the scoring system works. You will have to work harder in this game to get a high score than others because just shooting the enemy does not count. You have to collect the icons that the destroyed enemies drop in order to score points. This adds a little bit of strategy to the game because when shooting you move slower than when not shooting. So should you try to zoom over to those points without shooting and make yourself vulnerable? Or should you go in guns blazing but slow and risk the points disappearing before you get there?

The sound design requires another mention as it goes deeper than just a guitar soundtrack. The players actions determine the overall sound of the music as shooting one type of enemy will generate a guitar note or riff while other enemies generate different samples. These sounds all go together well with each levels theme to create a very good experience. This idea will probably sound familiar to fans of Rez.

Long-term playability has always been an issue for me with this style of game but Everyday Shooter goes further than most to combat this complaint. The points you collect in the game can be used as 'unlock points' in the unlock menu. From here you can unlock extra lives, play specific levels or unlock a shuffle mode. There is also the ability to play specific levels with the 'Single Play' option. So if you never get to the later levels at least you can unlock them and get to try them out.

Graphics
The graphics are nothing but functional really apart from the odd background effect that impresses.

Sound
Fantastic sound design helps to push the overall quality and enjoyment of the game higher.

Controls
Simple dual-stick controls that are nice and responsive. Nothing to complain about.

Verdict
The best arcade shooter that I have played on any platform. The frantic gameplay coupled with the great soundtrack make for a fun and addictive gameplay experience. It is a difficult game but the unlock system brings with it many rewards that will help to provide good value for money. I'd recommend it for fans of the genre and anyone looking for a good budget game on PSN or Steam.

Flow [PS3] - Review

Flow is a very difficult game to review. In fact, it is difficult to even class what type of game Flow is supposed to be. It most resembles a traditional 2D shooter but without actually shooting any enemies. You control a worm like organism and you guide it around the water to eat other smaller organisms. The more you eat the more you grow and evolve the shape of your creature.

Most of the creatures you eat are defenseless and you just have to aim your mouth at them and swallow them up. Other creatures can fight back and you need to decide on the best way to approach these creatures to eat them without getting harmed. By eating red particles you can travel to deeper, dark and more dangerous waters but you can also return to safer waters by eating the blue particles. It kind of sounds like The Matrix's red-pill, blue-pill choice.

The most interesting aspect of Flow is the unique control scheme. The direction and movement of the creature is controlled with the Sixaxis. All the other buttons have the same function, to increase your speed. The controls work well and quite responsive, certainly one of the best implementations of the Sixaxis I've encountered. The unique controls, nice graphics and really beautiful music provide you with a nice experience as you play. Just how much you will want to play is up for debate. I think of it as a game to jump in and play for a few minutes rather than something you will spend hours playing.

Graphics
Nothing spectaular but the characters all move smoothly and there is a nice 3D effect as you move to different waters.

Sound
Not much in the way of sound effects but the music is amazing.

Controls
Nice implementation of the Sixaxis and easy to get to grip with.

Verdict
The main goal of the game is supposedly to help you relax and if (please excuse the pun) you go with the flow then you might just find yourself relaxing. I can't see much use for it in the long-term but it is a cheap enough game on PSN.