NAVIGATE FREE! PLUS! Issue 21 | November 2008 RESISTANCE 2
Hands-on Preview
PFree Magazine3 For PlayStationZine 3 Gamers.Read it, Print it, Send it to your mates…
SHOUTING LARA LARA LARA REVIEWED!
Bioshock
Massive review inside REVIEWED!
REVIEWED! REVIEWED! GUITAR HERO
WWE SmackDown WORLD TOUR Far Cry 2 Fallout 3 vs. Raw 2009 Definitive review CONTROL NAVIGATE |02 The latest & QUICK FINDER Welcome DON’T MISS! greatest titles Every game’s just a click away This month’s highlights... on PS3 50 Cent: The Chronicles of Riddick: toP3Zine Blood on the Sand Assault on Dark Athena Eat Lead: Wheelman Titles are coming thick and fast now that the The Return of Matt Hazard Sacred 2: Fallen Angel X-Blades Resistance 2 festive seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas Burn Zombie Burn Guitar Hero: World Tour fast approach and this issue we have full Mortal Kombat vs. Tomb Raider Underworld reviews of no less than five Triple-A titles. Fallout 3 DC Universe Far Cry 2 Super Street Fighter II Fallout 3 Ms Lara Croft kicks things off with her latest Full and frank review Turbo HD Remix Bioshock Underworld adventures but we also have full and frank reviews of Guitar Hero World Tour, Bioshock, Far Cry 2, Fallout 3 and SmackDown MORE FREE MAGAZINES! LATEST ISSUES! vs RAW 2009. Resistance 2 is also shaping up nicely, so don’t miss our hands-on report of the current Tomb Raider multiplayer beta, and finally we have previews of 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, Eat Lead: The Underworld Return of Matt Hazard and X-Blades. Exclusive review Enjoy the issue...
MAGAZINE Dan Hutchinson, Editor FEEDBACK! DON’T MISS ISSUE 22 SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE! Click here to [email protected] tell us what you think of WARNING! MULTIMEDIA DISABLED! the magazine If you are reading this, then you didn’t choose “Play” when Adobe Reader asked you about multimedia when MEET THE TEAM you opened the magazine. There’s nowt they don’t know about PlayStation Resistance 2 Shaping up nicely Without the multimedia playing, the magazine will look correct, but you will be missing out on all of the extra content built into each issue, like videos, animated screenshots, annotations, quizzes, competitions and more. We recommend you close and re-open the magazine and select “Play” when Richard Melville Steve Hill Chris Schilling Far Cry 2 asked about the multimedia to enjoy the magazine as intended. Wrestling with Ready and waiting Living it up with the SmackDown vs RAW for Resistance 2 latest from Lara Out of Africa 2009 CONTROL “B , P P ” - E -
PLAYBACK OPTIONS:
Coming December 5th
© 2008 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Based on Prince of Persia® created by Jordan Mechner. Ubisoft, Ubi.com, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries. Prince of Persia is a trademark of Jordan Mechner in the U.S. and/or other countries used under license by Ubisoft Entertainment. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. the playstation family logo,, “playstation” and “ps3” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
CONTROL
, “playstation” and “ps3” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. of companies. the playstation family logo, “playstation” and “ps3” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group countries used under license by Ubisoft Entertainment. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group
trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries. Prince of Persia is a trademark of Jordan Mechner in the U.S. and/or other trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries. Prince of Persia is a trademark of Jordan Mechner in the U.S. and/or other trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries. Prince of Persia is a trademark of Jordan Mechner in the U.S. and/or other
© 2008 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Based on Prince of Persia® created by Jordan Mechner. Ubisoft, Ubi.com, and the Ubisoft logo are © 2008 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Based on Prince of Persia® created by Jordan Mechner. Ubisoft, Ubi.com, and the Ubisoft logo are © 2008 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Based on Prince of Persia® created by Jordan Mechner. Ubisoft, Ubi.com, and the Ubisoft logo are
Coming December 5th
- E -
”
, P P “B P3Zine NAVIGATE |04 Previews Eat Lead: The Return
Publisher: D3Publisher Developer: Vicious Cycle of Matt Hazard Heritage: Dead Head FIRST Fred, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords Self Awareness +1 LOOK Link: www.eatlead videogame.com What’s the story? ETA: Q1 2009 Matt Hazard is a fictional washed-up videogame character who appeared in loads of games in the Eighties, but hasn’t been around for some time. Think Duke Nukem with neuroses and you’ve just about got A zombie emerging from a Portal? the measure of the man. Anyway, he’s been given the chance to make PREVIEW Eat Lead is clearly going to pack in a new-gen return to battle all the enemies he once faced off against. FEEDBACK! a lot of gaming references. Click here to tell What do we know? us what you “Eat Lead’s mechanics are The comedy third-person-action genre isn’t exactly a crowded one, think of Eat Lead but elements of Eat Lead will feel very familiar, as its mechanics – quite essentially nabbed from other appropriately, if a little cheekily – are essentially nabbed from other games. Gears of War with games. Gears of War with funnies is the vibe we’re getting, with the game using a similar cover system and the now de facto standard funnies is the vibe we’re getting” stop-and-pop mechanics. Solid rather than spectacular seems to be the order of the day so far, but if Eat Lead’s humour can maintain the level of inventiveness shown by its first trailer, then this could be a very enjoyable actioner. And it has You’ll see splatters of code at least one inspired idea – the environments when you punch enemies. will radically change throughout owing to Matt’s enemy ‘changing the game’s code’. When do we get more? Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard is due for release in the first quarter of next year. Anything else to declare? The game’s two main leads will be voiced by Will Arnett of 30 Rock and the resurgent From sci-fi through to westerns, Neil Patrick Harris, both of whom are talented it seems no-one is safe from Eat actors with great comic timing, which should Lead’s scabrous sense of humour. hopefully make the game even funnier.
CONTROL PLAYBACK OPTIONS: ��������
�������������������®� ��������������������
© 2002-2008.Take-Two Interactive Software and its subsidiaries. Developed by 2K Boston, 2K Australia, 2K Marin and Digital Extremes. BioShock, 2K Games, 2K Boston, 2K Australia, 2K Marin, the 2K logo, the 2K Boston logo, 2K Australia logo, the 2K Marin logo and Take-Two Interactive Software are all trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Take-Two Interactive Software. Digital Extremes and its logo are trademarks of Digital Extremes. “Playstation,” “PLAYSTATION,” and “�” Family logo are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Windows, the Windows Vista Start button, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. All other marks and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved. CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE |06 Previews FIRST X-Blades LOOK
Publisher: Southpeak Swords and sourcery Games Developer: Gaijin What’s the story? Entertainment X-Blades tells the tale of Ayumi, a clothes-hating Croft-alike who is Heritage: Adrenalin, hunting an ancient artifact which apparently holds the fate of the world Oni Blade in its grip, as these things tend to do. What’s perhaps unusual about Link: www.x-blades.com Ayumi – apart from her reluctance to put a warm cardie on in these ETA: 9th January 2009 cold, dank lairs – is that she’s after harnessing the power of said orb for her own gains, hoping to gain fame and fortune by nabbing it before anyone else does. PREVIEW The art style is pleasingly colourful, FEEDBACK! while anime heroine Ayumi moves Why should we be excited? Click here to with impressive fluidity. Our scantily-clad heroine is a bit handy with her two swords, using both tell us what to hack - and, indeed, slash – her opponents to ribbons, as well as the you think of hordes of creatures she encounters on her way to the mystical artifact. X-Blades The X-Blades of the title are pretty powerful weapons, and Ayumi also This is Ayumi’s dark form – you “You’ll be able to has magical powers to call upon when beasties require more than just definitely don’t want to mess with upgrade both weapons sword-based smackdowns. Gameplay-wise it’s not a million miles away her when she’s in this kind of mood. and spellcasting powers from something like Devil May Cry, though the fluid movement of the heroine brought Heavenly Sword to mind. You’ll be able to upgrade both as you progress” weapons and spellcasting powers as you progress, spending cash earned through killing enemies on new abilities. When do we get more? After an initially vague ‘Winter’ for the game’s release, it’s now going to appear on January 9th. Anything else to declare? Publisher Southpeak recently From what we’ve launched a fan art competition, seen of X-Blades, asking people to submit their it moves incredibly drawings of Ayumi. The three smoothly. winners will have their entries included in the art book package with the Royal Edition of the game.
CONTROL PLAYBACK OPTIONS:
CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE |08 Previews 50 Cent: Blood
Publisher: THQ FIRST Developer: Swordfish on the Sand LOOK Studios Heritage: World No, wait! Come back! Championship Rugby, Cold Winter Link: www.50blood What’s the story? A victim of the recent industry trend for mergers and acquisitions, onthesand.com Blood on the Sand has been picked up by Saints Row 2 publisher THQ. ETA: Q1 2009 Naturally there’s a cover Rather appropriately as it turns out, because BotS could be another system in place, and also the surprisingly good sandbox game, after Fiddy’s original venture into option for a second player to gaming territory, the mediocre Bulletproof, hardly set anyone’s pulses PREVIEW jump in and out of a game. racing. This looks much better, though. FEEDBACK! Click here to Why should we be excited? tell us what The plot is so ludicrous it beggars belief – suffice to say that you’ll be you think of “It offers run-and- playing as Fiddy and his G-Unit crew, gunning down hoodlums on your 50 Cent: Blood way through a warzone to pick up payment from some kind of evil on the Sand gun blasting, but crime boss. It offers run-and-gun blasting, but you’ll also be able to take you’ll also be able to on opponents with your bare fists, while the game also offers online take on opponents co-operative multiplayer, and will feature a whopping 18 brand new rap tracks from the maestro of mumble (don’t tell him we called him with your bare fists” that). Vehicles? Yes – you’ll be able to drive through the desert should you feel the need, while you can also engage in aerial battles as you The third-person gunplay take to the skies in (presumably) blinged-up choppers. is pretty familiar but remarkably solid. When do we get more? The game is tentatively set for release in the first half of next year, though some US retailers have a January launch date, so hopefully it’ll arrive sometime in the first quarter. Colour us faintly surprised, but Fiddy’s latest is Anything else to declare? a really good- Fiddy’s lending his vocal talents for a more looking game. authentic avatar, while the game uses the Unreal Engine 3 and looks all the better for it.
CONTROL © 2008 Activision Publishing, Inc. Activision and Call of Duty are registered trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners. ‘�’, ‘PlayStation’ and ‘PLAYSTATION’ are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Windows, the Windows Vista Start button, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies, and ‘Games for Windows’ and the Windows Vista Start button logo are used under license from Microsoft. NINTENDO DS, Wii AND THE Wii LOGO ARE TRADEMARKS OF NINTENDO. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved. Activision makes no guarantees regarding the availability of online play, and may modify or discontinue online service in its discretion without notice, including for example, ceasing online service for economic reasons due to a limited number of players continuing to make use of the service over time. CONTROL
VISCERAL CALL OF DUTY EVER!” PLAYBACK OPTIONS: “THE MOST - Xbox 360 The Official Magazine WWW.CALLOFDUTY.COM WWW.CALLOFDUTY.COM Available November 2008 P3Zine NAVIGATE |10 Previews The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena Publisher: Atari | ETA: 2009 tarbreeze Studios, creators of the Sexcellent original Riddick game INCOMING on the Xbox, return to the game Another secret six heading your way… which made their name, with this follow-up that also includes a remake of the original. So the first game in HD clothes, an additional full-length Mortal Kombat vs. campaign and an online multiplayer DC Universe mode? Could be the best value Publisher: Midway | ETA: 21th November package since The Orange Box. ortal Kombat vs DC Universe should hopefully Msate the needs of those looking for a good beat- Wheelman ’em-up to fill the gap before Street Fighter IV arrives. Publisher: Midway | ETA: 13th February 2009 With a host of multiplayer modes plus a single-player nother Vin Diesel vehicle, Diesel plays Milo Burik, adventure, it’s not going to be lacking in content. Aa driver-for-hire who gets caught up in various criminal shenanigans while trying to infiltrate an underground gang Super Street Fighter II in Barcelona. With plenty of cinematic Turbo HD Remix sequences and Burn Zombie Burn Publisher: Capcom | ETA: TBA thrilling stunts, we’re till no concrete release date for this, one of the most itching to get behind Publisher: Pinnacle Software | ETA: Q1 2009 Seagerly anticipated PSN titles since the service the wheel of this one. Smash TV-style old-school top-down shooter, Burn Zombie Burn started. It’s a hi-definition take on one of the greatest Ais yet another reason to get excited about PSN next year. The idea 2D fighters of all time, and is simply to kill as many of the titular brain chewers as possible, with an advance word is very positive. Sacred 2: Fallen Angel interesting risk/reward mechanic – setting them on fire increases your Assuming the finished game Publisher: Koch Media | ETA: Q1 2009 multiplier but immolated zombies will move faster. Plenty of stages, a can live up to the hype this n action-RPG offering two very different pleasantly low price and multiplayer options should make this indie will be worth downloading… Acampaigns of light and shadow, Sacred 2 makes shooter a great value proposition. whenever it arrives. the journey from PC to console in fine fettle. Key among its features are its seamless game world. DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY QUARTER 1 2009 And with no limits to the IN THE level you can reach, the PRINCE OF PERSIA LORD OF THE RINGS: CONQUEST KILLZONE 2 ALIENS: COLONIAL MARINES real hardcore will be kept PIPELINE SINGSTAR ABBA RED FACTION: GUERILLA ETERNAL SONATA ROCK REVOLUTION busy for quite some time.
CONTROL �������������
PLAYBACK OPTIONS:
CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE |12 Previews There’s plenty happening on the periphery of the action to make the game feel like HANDS ON a small part of a huge conflict – alien motherships block out half the sky, while Publisher: SCEE smaller ships flit past overhead. Developer: Insomniac Games Heritage: Resistance: Fall of Man, Ratchet and Resistance 2 Clank series Link: www.us. Extensive hands-on play with the online beta playstation.com/PS3/ Games/Resistance_2 ETA: 28th November he original Resistance was a campaign that seems far more decent launch title for the PS3, epic in scope and scale, with better Tthough over time its flaws pacing and greater variety. Yet that’s became more evident: the single- nothing compared to its online side, player game taking some time to and it’s the latter that we’ve been get going and rarely truly impresses, spending quite a bit of time with while the online multiplayer offered recently, with a sizeable portion of 40-player matches which were the multiplayer game available to to this crack cabal to recapture them. yourself. It seems a bit strange to chaotic but not quite as solid nor those with access to the online beta. It’s a class-based system, so you’ll run out of bullets only to magically as well-balanced as its peers. Yet First up was the co-operative have a specific role to play within produce a pack from thin air and its issues could be forgiven thanks mode – one level of an entirely the team, whether you’re sniping then collect it yourself to top to Insomniac’s inexperience with standalone campaign, designed enemies from a distance or getting up your total, but at least you’re “Medics can the hardware – and let’s be honest, to be played by eight players up close and personal with heavy not stuck with an empty gun. few launch games wind up being simultaneously. Set in Orick, weapons. Medics can hurl medikits Though you’ll likely be hurl medikits among a console’s best. California, we enter a forest location at colleagues low on energy, while running low more often at colleagues Yet it looks like the Ratchet as part of a special ops team named you can also revive downed team- than you think – ostensibly low on energy, developer has learned from its SPECTER – the Chimera have seized mates. You might even have to a tactical strategic mode, mistakes – offering a single-player areas along the US border and it’s up supply ammo to others – or even Resistance 2’s co-op, if this while you can level is anything to go by, is also revive Each area seems to blisteringly intense, fast-paced downed have its own distinct and chaotic throughout. You’ll colour scheme. face off against huge waves team-mates” of Grims, followed by well- armed standard Chimera troops and much larger behemoths who take several minutes of constant blasting to kill. While the game suggests near-constant communication and players taking responsibility for their
CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE |13 Previews “On certain stages the Resistance 2 continued maximum number of players has been own role within the squad, the best ever, and on certain stages the raised from 40 to 60” tactics seem to involve blasting and maximum number of players has retreating, stopping only to heal any been raised from 40 to 60. There’s team-mates. It’s certainly exciting only one single-player deathmatch – some pitched battles filling the arena featured in the beta, and it’s screen with enemies as shots zip set in San Francisco, in the Sub Docks back and forth between both sides area. With just 10 players involved, it’s – but while it’s too early to suggest a smaller map than most of the rest, the other stages will be like this, but offers plenty of places to hide, it does all seem a little one-note. as well as some vents which shoot That said, it’s a generous addition you up to higher areas. Graphically to have an extra mode which takes it all looks very orange, but it’s an place away from the solo campaign, interesting map which gives you and so it seems a little churlish to some fast-paced deathmatch thrills. Resistance 2 offers temporary complain too hard about its faults. You can also return to Orick, ‘berserks’ – special abilities powered As for the more traditional which has four different areas, with up when you gain experience, and competitive modes, there are more Gray Territory the biggest of the which can turn the tide in your favour. options and battlegrounds than bunch, as that’s the only 60-player
In the multiplayer modes at least, the action gets incredibly intense, with many enemies rushing you at once.
Resistance 2 is certainly better- looking than its predecessor.
CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE |14 Previews
Resistance 2 continued map available in Team Deathmatch. if late players can join the game… Again, with that many players it can and that’s before you choose your seem a little too hectic, though as character and his accessories (you long as you’re prepared to be shot can even choose the design of his every few seconds during the initial water canteen and backpack). bedding-in period, then you’ll have For our money, Resistance 2 feels a lot of fun. Elsewhere, the alleys almost like it’s trying too hard at and subways of Chicago provide a times, admirably trying to provide backdrop for online Skirmishes, and quantity but at the slight expense the Core Control mode rounds out a of quality. It occasionally feels a little pretty comprehensive package. unpolished and loose, compared And that’s before we get to with the tighter, more balanced What we’ve seen of the single-player the array of options you’re able to multiplayer experiences of some of suggests a leaner, yet more epic tweak to create or join a game that its peers. Though it’s certainly not experience, increasing the scale while truly suits you. You can choose the without its charms, and for those ensuring stages don’t become bloated. number of lives, whether to show who fancy fighting battles which feel “Resistance 2 enemies on the map or not, the more like a war than a small-scale feels almost like amount of damage weapons cause, skirmish, Resistance 2 more than it’s trying too The game’s weapon set in the main whether health can be regenerated, delivers on that front. hard at times” will be familiar to those from the first game, but we expect more new guns in the finished game. Let’s hope there are no Leviathans in the multiplayer – the mid-sized enemies take enough hits to die, so we dread to think how long it would take to finish one of these off!
P Zine PERCENTAGE COMPLETE FIRST IMPRESSIONS 3 95% 85% Bigger and better, but can the solo campaign cut it?
CONTROL PLAYBACK OPTIONS:
CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE |16 Reviews INSTRUMENTAL Guitar Hero World Tour The peripherals that will rock your world Striking the first blow in the battle of the bands
Publisher: Activision t seems quite some time since and stolen Rock Band’s thunder, as Developer: Neversoft Guitar Hero was thought of Guitar Hero World Tour is no ordinary Heritage: Guitar Hero III: Ias the king of rhythm action Guitar Hero game, providing a Legends of Rock, Tony Hawk games, Harmonix having long since band experience that easily rivals Link: www.guitarhero.com established Rock Band as a format its musical opponent, with better ETA: 7th November on its own, creating and building peripherals and a recording studio a community through regular to boot. Packed with features and downloadable content – dozens options, World Tour can at least of tracks from dozens of bands temporarily regain its throne – with Rock Band 2 still to arrive in Europe, Get on Axe to grind We bang providing the soundtrack to many if it establishes its own following, the mic the drums rock fantasies lived out through Harmonix could forever be playing this multiplayer masterpiece. Yet “Packed with catch-up in this territory at least. with the release of its sequel rather It’s a game that shows its late to the party, and host to a features, World developer has well and truly bedded GetAxeWe bang onto grindthe the mic drums TheWorld microphonerubber Tour’s pads guitar andperipheral is cymbalsundoubtedly is offerpretty a standard,betterpleasing bet amount really, than the but of Rock bounce,it fulfils Band its number of small tweaks rather than Tour temporarily in – more confident in its approach purposeStratocaster.returning more the It’s sticksthan satisfying adequately.to the playerto hold, Singing and a genuine making is generally pleasurerapid beats rather to play,and forgiving, it’s a wholesale reinvention, it seems regains its crown” and presented with a swagger that onlybeenfurious offering tweaked fills that a toreal much near-perfection challenge simpler. on Again, Expert in terms it’s difficulty sturdily of its features, –constructed even pretty and it’s as if Neversoft may have nipped in proves Neversoft definitely knows averagewireless– another vocaliststo quality boot. should peripheral. breeze through Hard. what it’s doing now, something which was suggested might not be Most of the familiar guitarists return true after Guitar Hero III disappointed – joined by a few new faces – and many with lacklustre note charts and Even the less glamorous you can create your own rocker, too. among us can become abysmal ‘boss battles’. The former virtual rock stars with Guitar have certainly been improved Hero. It’s just sad when you beyond all reasonable expectations have to see yourself play… – rarely adding extra notes where there are none to be played, and seemingly much more rhythmically sensible. It’s difficult to overstate P Zine how important this is, and while the 3 guitar parts aren’t always perfect, the drum and bass patterns are
CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE |17 Reviews These linked notes can be played by Creating a new song is easier in sliding up and down the touch-sensitive Jam mode – then you simply have lower part of the guitar peripheral’s neck. to fine-tune things in the studio.
“The drums are something else – the rubber pads a note, but it’s less noticeable this are both bouncy time round. Meanwhile, the drums are something else – the rubber pads and sturdy” are both bouncy and sturdy, and Guitar Hero continued even sensitive to velocity. During fills excellent. Meanwhile, there are only offers the full band experience that to hold and play, with a touch and finales, the harder you hit them, two guitar battles, which eschew the Rock Band seemed to have made sensitive portion of the neck allowing the louder you’ll sound. The loose rather silly power-ups from Legends its own. Yet World Tour has an ace you to slide rather than tap to play kick pedal is the only downside – it of Rock and using a style akin to the up its sleeve in Activision’s deal with certain solos, a longer whammy that can move around quite a bit during Face-off mode – offering a call-and- peripheral maker Red Octane. Simply can be reached more easily, and a song – but it’s a quirk you learn to response mechanic which is more put, these instruments are on an a tweaked strum bar which is also work around. entertaining and makes more sense. entirely different level from those of its longer but a little quieter. There’s still The soundtrack is a curiously Naturally, this isn’t just a showcase rival – the guitar is solid and satisfying the satisfying click from having played eclectic mix once again – a few of for virtual axe-wielders either, as you’ll no doubt already be aware that this FREEZE FRAME Going from zero to hero in five easy stages…
10 MINUTES 1 HOUR 4 HOURS 8 HOURS 15 HOURS You’ll likely start on the Playing your first Blasting through the Starting the Studio mode Applying the finishing drums because they’re new multiplayer gig (after a few Career mode – and and starting to sketch out touches and uploading – and great fun, too. practice sessions, obviously). enjoying every minute. your own rock epic. your tune to share online.
CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE |18 Reviews PULSOMETER Signs of life These drums can take Unlocking Creating your some punishment! some classics own rock opus The graphics are rather gaudy and garish, but that’s always been Guitar Hero’s style.
What song’s that New stuff from then? And that one? GHTunes? Awesome No rocker would be complete without some bizarre facial fuzz or an unusual haircut. Naturally there are plenty of wacky options to choose from. “It’s the amazingly well-featured studio Guitar Hero continued that offers the biggest generally forgiving enough to allow your disposal to create your own the songs will be unfamiliar to most, for quite a few mistakes to be made, song and upload it to the dedicated surprise in World Tour” though it’s actually quite gratifying so humming an approximation of GHTunes service – songs can be to see some fairly obscure tracks the tune could well be enough to created through loose jam sessions nestling amid the more obvious pass. with band mates and then tweaked anthems – and the beauty of Guitar It’s the amazingly well-featured in the studio, or painstakingly crafted Hero is discovering something studio that offers the biggest from scratch note by note. A host of different you weren’t previously surprise in World Tour, though. A amp settings allow you to tailor your aware of. Besides, the vocals are quite amazing array of options is at sound to your own requirements – from Britpop to hard rock, your created songs can cover a range Zakk Wylde offers a challenging of genres. It’s going to take some guitar battle which is much time to make your own musical more entertaining than the masterpiece but the tools are all examples in Legends of Rock. there – and the tutorials are detailed yet accessible, easing you into the process gradually. Huge changes It remains to be seen whether P3Zine – all for the good Rock Band 2’s many small tweaks can make a difference in this particular Eclectic face-off, but this is a masterful Verdict soundtrack reinvention of a series which should A rock renaissance 90 make the battle of the bands that – Guitar Hero is Superior peripherals much tighter. For now, at least, Guitar back in a big way Hero is back on top.
CONTROL � Sing along using the mic and infuse your own style into the music
Re-designed for the ultimate playing experience, including: � Neck slider for nailing the most intense solos � Dedicated star power button and re-designed controls for improved gameplay � Interchangeable faceplates for customising your look * � Also compatible with Guitar Hero® games for the Xbox 360® The most authentic drums available, including: � Quiet surfaces so you can hear the music � Pressure-sensitive pads allow creation of a wide range of sounds � Authentic arrangement of the pads to mimic an actual drum set with raised cymbals
Create your own rocker, choose from your favourite Guitar Compose, record, edit, and share your own music online. Rock out solo, with another guitarist or with a band. Kick it Hero icons or take the stage as the biggest rock stars around. Download and play community-created content for free! ** up with 4 vs. 4 Battle of the Bands play. **
COMING AUTUMN 2008
*Additional faceplates sold separately **Some features may be limited in the Wii™ and PlayStation®2 Guitar Hero World Tour games PLAYBACK OPTIONS:
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ WWW.GUITARHERO.COM ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������ ��������������
CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE |20 Reviews
s one of gaming’s most walls and crumbling the furniture. Tomb Raider prominent characters, it’s Then we go into reverse, the camera Aquite a shock to see Lara panning outwards until it’s revealed Croft seemingly turn to the dark side. that Lara herself is the architect At the outset of her latest adventure of this destruction, setting off an Underworld you see Croft Manor burning, its explosive via a handheld detonator. interiors being gradually consumed It’s a shockingly iconoclastic intro, Norsey but nice by licking flames, scorching the particularly if you’re familiar with the
CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE |21 Reviews TOOLED UP Tomb Raider continued What’s new in Lara’s world “While you can tweak series and the mansion in which – Underworld is very much Lara everyone’s favourite archaeologist sans assistance – you’re left to your options to make has made her home. own devices pretty much entirely combat easier, the core After a brief jaunt through the throughout, with little but a PDA mechanics are tougher collapsing mansion, dodging flames giving you a map and the occasional than Anniversary” Publisher: Eidos Interactive and getting accustomed to the oblique hint to help you if you’re Developer: controls, we flash back to one week really stuck. Not that either are much Crystal Dynamics earlier in an attempt to find out what assistance – the former is pretty options to make combat a little Heritage: Tomb Raider exactly is eating Lara Croft. As it turns difficult to read effectively, while the easier and more forgiving – with Legend, Project Snowblind out, some of the problem is her latter offer suggestions that range adjusters giving Lara more energy Link: www.tombraider.com obsession with discovering the truth from the blindingly obvious to the and her enemies less, for example ETA: 21st November behind the mysteries surrounding truly unhelpful. We know we have – the core mechanics are even her parents. It leads her down a to find an item, just don’t tell us that tougher than Anniversary. It’s not Grab Swim Shoot dark path, to the degree where she’s when we’ve got a gigantic ruin with that Lara’s particularly difficult to potentially putting the world at risk about 20 massive rooms to explore, manoeuvre (far from it) but that merely to find out what happened, as it’s really, really irritating. finding where to go and what to do forcing conflicts even with friends is less obvious than it was before. It’s SwimShootGrab Zip and Alister. Hardcore uproar entirely intentional of course, with LaraTheLara’s combat spends grappling mechanics more hook time is have underwater a multi-purpose been tweaked than tool,ever slightly usedbefore, – for Lara’s but swinging, oftenadrenaline she’ll Not that you’ll be spending This is one hardcore game, make each level delicately constructed so comemeterwall-running, up is back against and and sea allows often life herforthat someto isn’t both kindvery target offriendly. environmental enemies If you’re more moreeffectively of a much time chatting to those two no mistake. While you can tweak that in theory there are a number pacifist,andmanipulation. also you’llto slow wantFor time, the to which mostuse your partlooks tranquilliser it’s particularly used to pull gun cool or or when twist spears she’s levers, to take of ways to approach a given puzzle, outbackflippinggears foes. and Sharks switches through can to be the activate tricky air, firing to the hit thoseancient with famousbullets, mechanisms twin which pistols movewhich as more she though invariably there’s one route slowlygoes.drive theYou through game’scan also the c nowomplex water fire thanpuzzles. while the hanging knock-out from darts. a ledge. which seems noticeably easier than the others. But you’ll no longer find Lara’s head nodding towards a handhold, ledge or beam – it’s up to you to find your own way around. In some respects this works very well – it increases the immersion and atmosphere by making you feel truly alone in your world. It’s as if Lara has to face off against a you’re finally discovering what it’s like Kraken early on, though this to really be Lara, and find your way isn’t just a hackneyed boss fight around these ancient ruins without but a more elaborate puzzle. everything being telegraphed. In Lara’s quest takes her to some memorably lush locations.
CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE |22
Reviews There’s a consistency to the game’s logic that avoids the incongruity of some puzzles in the earlier games.
You have to search each location thoroughly for the items you need – and exploration is rewarded with collectable artifacts on each level. “There are some devilishly constructed Tomb Raider continued multi-room puzzles” some cases, it makes the exploration spanning several areas. The fact that and puzzle solving incredibly these sights are really something to satisfying. There are some devilishly behold undoubtedly helps through constructed multi-room puzzles, the trickier parts, too – the lush with one of such beautiful intricacy foliage, the gorgeous underwater that it brings to mind something sections and these detailed, These rain effects like Ico with its astounding castle fantastically constructed archaic look stunning when environs and enormous devices mechanisms are all terrific to the game’s in motion.
Animation is seriously impressive throughout, with There’s an impressive level of just the occasional glitch to detail in the environments. blot the graphical copybook.
CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE |23 Reviews
Lara’s wall run isn’t required too often, though it’s often use- ful if you want to get somewhere in a hurry.
The colours are enough When the pace is slowed a little and to make you puke. you’re merely dealing with puzzles as opposed to platforming, you won’t “All the game’s have problems with the camera. cleverness is almost Tomb Raider continued undone in a single stroke by the game’s camera” look at, while Lara’s animation seems the game’s camera. We’re not as this does – but it completely smoother and more fluid than ever. exaggerating when we say it’s ruins some sections. Generally Unfortunately, there’s a caveat, absolutely atrocious. It’s perhaps a whenever there’s a tight space to darker territory quite frequently, and it’s a really big one at that. All by-product of the level design – the move around you’ll have issues. and is probably what will inspire this cleverness is almost completely simpler Legend certainly didn’t have Find yourself in an alcove and it can most players to continue past those undone in a single stroke by anywhere near as many problems take several seconds just to find a sticking points. A little more work spot where you can see what you’re on the camera and this could have doing. We often found ourselves been Lara’s greatest adventure to jumping completely blind because date. As things stand, it raises hopes the camera simply wouldn’t move for the next game, while sadly just to show where Lara was about to failing to live up to Croft’s two most leap to. Couple that with the high recent outings. difficulty of some of the puzzles and you’ve got a recipe for frustration which just about kills the game Sprawling, stone dead at certain points. P3Zine gorgeous levels Persevere, and you’ll find some of the best Lara moments yet – not Satisfying just in gameplay terms, but the story, Verdict when it works which is surprisingly accomplished. Flawed, with 79 Many of Lara’s past adventures some glimpses Awful camera have been fairly light-hearted and of brilliance throwaway, but this ventures into
CONTROL Coming November 2008
PLAYBACK OPTIONS:
ULTIMATE EDITION ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE
© 2008 Atari Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved. Developed by Eden Games SAS. Marketed and distributed by Atari, Inc. in North America and Atari Europe SASU in Europe. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE |25 Reviews WWE SmackDown
Publisher: THQ Developer: Yuke’s vs. Raw 2009 “Fans need not worry, Heritage: The as SmackDown vs. SmackDown series SmackDown is back, and fighting fit too Link: www.smackdown Raw 2009 is easily vsraw.com the best game in the Pause, rewind, save. Then OUT: November 7th he SmackDown vs. Raw series with slightly baited breath, but upload for the world to see. has been getting a lot of stick you should worry no more, as series so far” Tin recent years, and not always SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is easily without reason. After slipping into the best game in the series so far. the old rinse-repeat method of First and foremost, one of the churning out sequels with very few biggest bones of contention with changes, the series has been starting the WWE games has always been to tilt itself in the right direction the story mode. After the failed over the last two iterations, with experiment that was WWE 24/7, the dual analogue control system, this year we’ve been treated to the and the fighting styles adding a lot greatest story mode since Here more depth to what was otherwise Comes the Pain, in the form of the becoming a stale series. With that in Road to Wrestlemania. While people mind, we could easily forgive WWE will instantly balk at the idea of only fans for awaiting this year’s game being able to guide seven wrestlers through three months of storyline, the new focus on individual personalities has led the game to be able to mirror its real-life counterpart a lot more accurately. Feuds are carried over, old relationships often come to boil, and several storylines are real nostalgia trips for life-long Tag team matches have seen a fans, with nods back to Evolution, huge overhaul this year, including DX and even the original ECW. the ability to make ‘hot tags’, and receive huge momentum boosts.
CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE |26 Reviews Things don’t look good for the Undertaker. He’s about to be sucked into Edge’s mouth.
“Another great feature in this The prospect of DLC wrestlers year’s game is Another great feature in this year’s has us pretty excited. the Create-a- game is the Create-a-Finisher option, which when combined with the Finisher option” slightly update Create-a-Wrestler, SmackDown continued should help keep your in-game You’ll progress from week to week it, you could unlock anything from from the menu and view the last 30 creations up to date with their real- by winning your matches, following CAW parts, to WWE Legends. seconds of match over again, this life counterparts for ages to come. a tightly knit, branching storyline Carrying on with the new features, time with free reign over the camera. It lets you string together up to 10 that takes you through three months one of the best – but also sadly Once you’ve chosen the angle, and moves and then give it a suitably of action, from the Royal Rumble to overlooked – ones this year is called chosen where and when to cut, you devastating name (including several Wrestlemania itself. The story may the Highlight Reel. Much like in Halo can create a DVD boxart for your real world, non-WWE finishers). be heavily scripted, but there’s still 3, upon pausing the game you can clip and upload it to a central server, It’s a lot of fun giving your custom plenty of variety, both in terms of select the Highlight Reel option where the whole world can view it. character a custom finisher, and matches and narrative, with plenty of spit and polish. In a nice touch, the commentators actually discuss FREEZE FRAME the implications your match could The science of violence… have on your storyline – referring to events that you’ve just played through, giving everything you do that much more meaning. Even better, in many matches you’ll be provided with an optional goal – from winning in a certain amount 1 MINUTE 10 MINUTES 30 MINUTES 60 MINUTES 90 MINUTES of time to putting your opponent Jump to an exhibition to Start your thrilling Go and make your own Venture online with your Go into career mode, and through a table, and if you achieve check out the new roster journey on the Road wrestler. And now your new creation. And lose. It build your stats. It’s a long of fighters you have. to Wrestlemania own finisher! gets easier, though. way to the top…
CONTROL
P3Zine NAVIGATE |27 Reviews PULSOMETER Signs of life The likenesses seem to The new roster’s But no Create a Moving on to the get better every year. great… Belt! Meh Career mode
…and so’s the Road to Unlocking rewards in the Wrestlemania mode Road to Wrestlemania
Tommy Dreamer’s having a bit of an ‘undead’ moment here. “This update is a huge improvement on the SmackDown continued styles making their triumphant them take something of a back previous years” return, albeit in a slightly more seat seems like a bit of a step in then setting him lose on the world watered-down form. This is the wrong direction to us. to maim and disfigure. something of a disappointment to Also disappointing is the lack of The in-ring action’s been refined us, as we really enjoyed the fighting the Create-a-Belt option, which has as well this year, with the fighting styles in last year’s game. Seeing apparently been removed due to ‘lack of support from fans’. We know we used this feature a lot, and we’d imagine plenty of you did too. If you did, why don’t you write in and maybe we could get it back next year. All in all though, this year’s SmackDown game is a huge improvement on the previous years, if only for the revamped story mode, which has to be one of the greatest yet. With a surprisingly up to date Road to roster, new CAW parts, the Create- P3Zine Wrestlemania a-Finisher mode, the Highlight Reel, is brilliant and hundreds of other nice little Excellent new touches, everything comes together Verdict modes There are so many divas on to make SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 A polished return 87 the roster this year, you won’t feel like a labour of love once again, to form for No Create-a- Belt option know where to stick them. and certainly not just another SmackDown annual update.
CONTROL Project1:Layout 110/8/0810:09AMPage Tomb Raider: Underworld © Eidos Interactive Ltd. 2008. Published by Eidos, Inc. Developed by Crystal Dynamics Inc. Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider: Underworld, Crystal Dynamics, Eidos and the Eidos logo are trademarks of Eidos Interactive Ltd. All rights reserved. "PlayStation", "PLAYSTATION" and "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Windows, the Windows Vista Start button, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies, and 'Games for Windows' and the Windows Vista Start button logo are used under license from Microsoft. Wii and Nintendo DS are trademarks of Nintendo. ©2006 Nintendo. The rating icon is a registered trademark of the Entertainment Software Association. CONTROL
PLAYBACK OPTIONS: P3Zine NAVIGATE |29 Reviews THERE WILL BE BLOOD “The world of It’s gore galore with VATS Fallout has clearly Fallout 3 been a labour of love to Bethesda” Apocalypse how? Publisher: Bethesda Softworks s you emerge from Vault 101, The world of Fallout has clearly Yet the game itself is far from Developer: Bethesda your home for the first 19 been a labour of love to Bethesda perfect – the third-person camera Softworks Ayears of your life, blinking and – venture into ruined villages and might as well have not been Heritage: The Elder Scrolls twisting into the light, you’ll gaze what impresses most is the attention included at all, for all the use it is. The series, Star Trek: Legacy out onto the huge vista unfurled in to detail throughout, as the true missions just aren’t as consistently Link: http://fallout. front of you with a mixture of shock horrors of the nuclear war that has interesting as Oblivion’s. The VATS bethsoft.com/index.html and awe. It’s Fallout 3’s version on destroyed the world hit home. combat sometimes looks extremely Distance Target Pieces of OUT NOW the moment in Oblivion where you Fallout 3 is a bleak, sombre, affecting silly, while realtime shots that clearly first come out of the sewers into experience at times, and the hit their target but fail to register over time practice hate Cyrodiil, and it’s every bit as effective irradiated wastelands that become – even at short range – just don’t as the first time you do it, if not your new residence offer the most look and feel right. We understand more so given the horrific nature significant emotional punch of the that the statistics-based TargetPiecesDistance ofpractice overhate time of your surroundings. Fallout experience. nature of combat means that PressingThingsIf you can, can R2 it’s get engages wise very to messytreadVATS mode.very with carefully close-upThe Vault through kills. Assisted As the the Targeting wastes view switches– Systemdon’t allowstoworry, third-person, theyou game to select won’tblurs from leta little anyou enemy’s walkand the very body action fast parts, anyway slows displaying down,– and aim you the for can percentageseehigher heads ground, explode chance which ofand enablesa successfuleyeballs you fly to hit insee and glorious, enemies the energy gory earlier. leveldetail. Picking of It’dthat up a Seeing a child’s playground lying in particularbesniper presumptuous rifle limb. is a must, Again, to as say you it canraisenever take the gets out chance boring, enemies of abut perfectfrom we a were distance, shot still if your or at ruins is really rather sobering – it’s statsappreciatingleast softenare higher them the – up. killsdoing As with long minor worrying as questsyour accuracy relish for experience in rating the latter is boostshigh, stages. that is a is.must. these images which will rattle around your head after playing. Outdoor vistas are spectacularly desolate.
You can take conversations in different directions with your unique skills.
CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE |30
Reviews You can take conversations in different directions with your unique skills.
Build up your Stealth skill and you can sneak fairly close to enemies without them noticing – generally though, most are fairly alert and will spot you easily.
“Fallout 3 is quite old-school in intriguing – one of the better quests its role-playing involving what appear to be human elements” vampires may well throw you for a loop, as it reveals that the lines Fallout 3 continued between good and evil have been inexperienced characters are bound is key to everything, it constantly to the original Fallout games. Certain well and truly blurred. to miss, but when you’re unloading a drags you out of the game. characteristics affect dialogue It offers more dialogue options full clip into someone’s head from a Having said that, Fallout 3 isn’t choices which affect missions which than Oblivion, making conversations few feet, and blood-spatter evidence meant to be like Oblivion. It’s affect other events… the game can more interesting, but the game suggests insta-death, to see your quite old-school in its role-playing play out very differently depending opts for the rather static, awkward opponent immediately return fire as elements – the focus on building on where you go and which way talk mechanic, which ensures that if entirely unaffected is jarring. In a statistics, developing skills and the you decide to take your character. the chat lacks the dramatic kick world like Fallout’s where immersion world responding accordingly is true Some of the moral choices are very necessary to make you care for FREEZE FRAME How to survive a nuclear winter
30 MINUTES 1 HOUR 3 HOURS 12 HOURS 30 HOURS It’s your birthday! It’s here Finally venturing out Wandering into cities and Mopping up a few It’s game over, so if you you’ll get the ever-useful into the wastes – time getting your arse kicked sidequests before getting want to explore some more, Pip-Boy 3000. to get walking. – Fallout is tough in places. back to the story. you’ll have to start again.
CONTROL
P3Zine NAVIGATE |31 Reviews PULSOMETER Signs of life You’ll see some horrific sights Terrific vault Trudging around when wandering across the opening s-l-o-w-l-y Can’t I play on? The city areas can sometimes Capital Wasteland. lead you up blind alleys, while the underground network of tunnels all looks a little samey.
That view Vampires, mutants and brutes. Oh my!
“While it’s not without its problems, Fallout 3 is difficult Fallout 3 continued to dismiss” the characters. You’ll more likely take dangerous group of bandits some it’s always best to keep a few others to canine pal Dogmeat – assuming distance away, only for Dogmeat handy in case of the occasional you find him, which is by no means to run up to attack, getting himself freeze or glitch. certain – though he’s more awkward killed in the process. And once he’s While it’s not without it’s problems, to interact with than your four- gone, he isn’t coming back. Fallout 3 is difficult to dismiss. It’s legged friend in Fable II, and his ambitious, has tremendous scope, it tendency to disobey instructions can Hit and miss offers a number of paths to go down get you and him into trouble. On So it’s very hit and miss in places (and a series of endings to match) and one occasion we told him to venture – you’ll adore the freedom the proves hugely compelling despite the back to Vault 101 when spotting a game seemingly grants you to roam flaws. And you can’t deny you’re not the nuclear wastes, but then you’ll getting your money’s worth – while wander into hugely overpowered the main quest can be completed in enemies without any warning about 10 hours, you’d be missing out who’ll tear you to ribbons. Given on a wealth of sidequests and other the funereal pace at which you pursuits that can extend that play Compelling move, you can be exploring for time well into three figures. P3Zine storylines upwards of half an hour, only to Perhaps our expectations were too lose your progress when this sort of high, but whichever way you cut it, Plenty of chills thing happens. Prior knowledge is this is a slight disappointment. That it Verdict and thrills certainly helpful, so be sure to save still manages to entertain and enthral No Oblivion- 80 often. You’re afforded an autosave for the most part is testament to how beater, but an epic, Same old flaws at certain points – usually when much Bethesda has got right. involving RPG entering or leaving an area – but
CONTROL PLAYBACK OPTIONS:
LegendaryTheGame.com
© 2008 Spark Unlimited, Inc. LEGENDARY is a trademark of Spark Unlimited, Inc. All rights reserved. Used under authorization by Gamecock Media Group. © 2008 Gamecock Media Group. The rating icon is a registered trademark of the Entertainment Software Association. PlayStation, PLAYSTATION and PS Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Windows, the Windows Vista Start button, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies, and 'Games for Windows' and the Windows Vista Start button logo are used under license from Microsoft. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE |33
Reviews This plasmid allows you to freeze certain enemies – once fully iced, a shot will shatter them into bloody pieces. “Bioshock is full Bioshock of hidden secrets and depths” Underwater love Publisher: 2K Games Developer: 2K Marin, t’s taken quite some time for The answer has to be no. While 2K Boston, 2K Australia, the PlayStation 3 to get its first Bioshock might never have been Digital Extremes Itaste of Rapture, Ken Levine’s the out-and-out masterpiece some Heritage: Dark Sector, wonderfully crafted undersea claimed at the time, it remains a Pariah utopia-gone-wrong. Since Bioshock thoroughly compelling trek through Link: www.2kgames.com/ landed on the 360, we’ve had one of the most immersive gaming bioshock/ps3/us/launch.html other first-person shooters which universes yet created. OUT NOW have broken new ground (Far Cry 2), masterfully realised dystopic A second chance seem as repetitive or linear, while environments (Fallout 3) and games Your correspondent may have been time spent luxuriating in Rapture’s offering more flexible and interesting a little harsh on the 360 version atmospheric splendour – and with moral choices (Mass Effect, Fable II). of Bioshock first time round. A fore-knowledge of the rug-pull the So does that mean that Irrational’s second playthrough reveals that the game introduces in its final, divisive seminal adventure is – just one year game, like its world, is full of hidden act – proves it’s almost as clever as on – already starting to look a little secrets and depths. Played away those initial critical raves would rough around the edges? from the hype, its mechanics don’t have had you believe.
Little Sisters were supposedly the emotional hook, but it’s the Big Daddies you’ll sympathise with most.
It’s not a Dead Space kind of horror, but a few moments will insidiously worm their way into your head, possibly to resurface in your nightmares.
CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE |34 Reviews It’s best not to play the game on Easy mode – the lack of Bioshock continued challenge removes the tension from some encounters. Moreover, a repeat play allows certain plasmids weren’t quite so you to take in your surroundings a overpowered more people would little better, to listen to the dialogue have tried to experiment, but the in a different context, even to choice is always there – it’s just up completely change your approach to you to make it. to the game’s combat. Most players Speaking of choices, the decision – including this reviewer – used whether to harvest the life- one or two plasmids to soften up improving Adam from the zombie- opponents before finishing them off eyed Little Sisters now seems a little with a gun, thus letting skirmishes insignificant in the light of virtually get dull before the end, simply all the games we’ve mentioned in because it seemed the easiest way the intro, pretty much all of whom to finish off those splicers. But then have done this kind of thing in more again, it’s up to the player to mix subtle and interesting ways – the things up to create more interesting disappointing diptych of endings – the lumbering behemoths you’ll territory, impinging upon their own and exciting encounters. Hurling turning you into either a saint or a see on the game’s box. More than private little routines as they stomp wasps at enemies and seeing them force of shuddering evil. But, more the first time, we felt as if we were through the ruined city, there only scrabble around madly before than ever this invading their to protect their scampering charges. smacking them with a wrench, time, we or hacking security turrets before felt sorry “More than ever luring foes into your neatly laid for the Big trap is hugely satisfying. Perhaps if Daddies this time, we felt sorry for the lumbering Big Daddies” FREEZE FRAME A whole new world…
10 MINUTES 30 MINUTES 3 HOURS 5 HOURS 10 HOURS A crash and a splash and Sadly for you, the medical Lies of Arcadia – fetch Frolicking good freaky Twist and shout – the the world is yours. But pavilion isn’t particularly quests aren’t our favourite fun to be had now as you ending might make you Full of freaks and mutants, Rapture isn’t who are you? And, more that good for your health. thing, but thankfully it’s witness Sander Cohen’s scream, but you’ll be very a pleasant environment to be in, despite importantly, where? Enter the splicers… not a pointless one. ‘masterpiece’. glad you played. the faded beauty of its art deco interiors.
CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE |35 Reviews PULSOMETER Signs of life Two Big Daddies Telegraphed twist and Compelling opening in one fight! weak boss-fight ending
Less freeform than you Fort Frolic is a Though the game’s climax disappoints, may think twisted delight the journey there is a fascinating trip Stealthy tactics can be used more into the heart of darkness. often than you think, though a few sections won’t open up until you’ve “Bioshock feels killed all the nearby enemies. like a game likely to RAPTUROUS RECEPTION influence others than Bioshock continued Space. Indeed, the comparison Three aspects that make Bioshock a very with that title is a pertinent one be influenced by them” different kind of shooter They might be scripted rather than – both are fairly linear journeys reactive, but the moments where through worlds gone pear-shaped, you hear one wail and bang on a both offer intense and intoxicating wall, searching in vain for the waif- atmosphere, and both hold their fair like creatures that are their raison share of scares. But Bioshock feels a d’etre, brings to mind the guilt felt little more like its own game – more standing by the corpse of a slain likely to influence others than be Colossus. influenced by them – even if playing It would be nice to think that the it so close to Fallout 3 shows how PS3 version has had a number of much it owes to the predecessors tweaks given the lengthy delay of of Bethesda’s latest. this release, but there’s essentially With most of the new stuff still to Gene and Hack and Say Cheese nothing new at all. It still looks come – a series of chambers which tonic splash great – artistically more so than test your genetically enhanced technically, though things still move skillset due to be made available Incredible pretty smoothly, and it still tops as downloadable content later in P3Zine atmosphere GeneHackSay cheese andand splashtonic quite a few more recent games, the month – Bioshock can’t have GeneThereWhen tonics areyou machines find are the split camera,in into Rapture several you that can categories, you’ll use it be to able take but to theyshots bypass all of improve yourfor different so it’s not showing its age just yet. the same impact as its debut. But Verdict yourbenefits.enemies character’s toIt’s find not justoutskills morethe in security some about way. systemstheir Combat genetic you’ll tonics enhancements, be able increase to tap your into, which but in The sound design is still out of this if you’re a PS3 owner who has long Fascinating strengthvendingturn rewards machines and youquicken with and yoursafes,bonuses reflexes, too – – like the Physical beinglatter usuallyable gene to tonics containdeal out allow particularly increased you world – approaching the very best coveted this inventive, mature FPS, This will have story… 85 tovaluabledamage boost againstyouritems. general You those can abilities, foes,pay to or avoid to and nab theEngineering extra process, gene but tonics otherwise allowfor yourself. youyou’ll to videogaming has to offer, and just then Bioshock is well worth the newcomers in hacksimplyYou can’t into have shootRapture’s to switch and securitysnap some at tiles the systems sameto create more time a continuouseasily.though, obviously. pipeline. falling short of the majestic work investment in a trip somewhere total Raptures …which ends badly from EA with recent horror Dead beyond the sea.
CONTROL PLAYBACK OPTIONS:
CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE |37 Reviews DIAMOND GEEZER Pal up for a buddy for extra benefits “There’s around 50 hours of gameplay Far Cry 2 for those who like to explore” Safari so good… Publisher: Ubisoft Developer: Ubisoft ision blurring from malaria, It’s one hell of a welcome to And if they don’t, then you’ll have Montreal you’re taken through Africa Far Cry 2, an Africa that’s been to do plenty of blasting on the way Heritage: Assassin’s Creed, Vby a taxi driver jabbering beautifully realised by Ubisoft in – each road has plenty of checkpoints Rainbow Six Vegas away ten-to-the-dozen, as a plane amazing detail, 50 square miles of manned by armed guards who Link: www.farcry2.com passes by full of people escaping which provides the backdrop to a tend to shoot first and ask questions OUT NOW the madness of the region you’ve series of missions set to lead you later. Yet the combat itself is only Friendly fire Trouble Rescue just been driven into. Collapsing back to your nemesis who you must limited by the player’s imagination from your illness just as you arrive at assassinate to end all this chaos. – the weapons and tools you’re maker mission your location, you’re woken by the given allowing you to change your man you’ve been sent to kill – the Environmental damage approach as often as you feel like infamous Jackal, a weapons dealer Its world is Far Cry 2’s trump card, a injecting some variety into the TroublemakerRescueFriendly mission fire who is arming rival factions in a war wonderfully immersive environment rhythm the game settles into. AI is WhileBuddiesYour first Buddies can buddy get often isinto chosen causetrouble from you on toone occasion, go of out the of andcharacters your you’ll way have youat their didn’tto return behest, choose all the being fought across the jungles. which carries you through its smart, gunplay works nicely, and you’ll theyfavoursas your can avatarthey’ve help you at done the out outset. for in ayou tight They’ll – there’s spot phone – awhen Trophy you downed, toin offerit for ifalternativeyou you’ve should built waysyou up be a friendshipsuccessfulto complete inwith missions,saving anyone them, often they’ll so subverting it’s appear not all in bad.the front objectives And of it’syou, likely pulling entirely. you’ll you Buddies want up and to Scrambling outside as pockets of weaker moments – like the missions struggle to find any serious glitches. firingsavetend them,to off provide a few too shots–backup some while inyou a youfirefight,will staggerform thougha genuine to your they’re feet, attachment notwith always some to, soandenemies helpful it’s fighting get closer, you fall to the themselves. Both story-based quests The repetition is the only real issue. havingupsetting– you’ll beensometimes should shot theyby have your fall to pal. in use battle. your health-giving syrettes on them. floor once more, eventually revived and other inessential tasks generally With around 50 hours of gameplay by someone who just might be your require you to travel somewhere to for those who like to explore and new best friend in this hellhole. kill someone or destroy something. tackle sidequests, an incredibly complete map editor and a robust multiplayer mode, you’ll certainly get your money’s worth with Far Cry 2. Enemies will often The game’s dynamic chase after you in fire is impressive. cars if you run away – sometimes it’s best just to stay and fight. Wonderful P3Zine atmosphere Varied Verdict gunplay One trip abroad 85 you won’t Repetitive soon forget missions
CONTROL P3Zine NAVIGATE |38
Column Hopefully positive word of mouth will help shift LittleBIGStruggle? plenty of units. It’s won over the critics, but can LBP be a smash hit with the public?
t’s undoubtedly one of the most hoping to attract with the game. In “There’s no important releases of the year, theory, its cute-but-still-cool lead escaping the fact Ifor many reasons. LittleBIGPlanet character should have universal and that’s to support it. Buy the marks a huge step forward for appeal – particularly given the that LittleBIGPlanet game, play it, and do your best to user-created content in gaming, number of ways you can customise is not a universally create something. Inspire others Chris Schilling bringing level construction to the your Sackboy and make him more accessible game” with your efforts. Get friends and Chris is the proud masses in a dazzling and totally expressive, which is one aspect likely family members involved, and show owner of all three unprecedented way. Well, in theory to appeal to casual players. Yet for them that with a little effort they can ‘next-gen’ consoles. at least. LBP undoubtedly represents some it’s still going to appear a little for most people. It’s genuinely create something rewarding, even Every issue Chris will a bit of a gamble for Sony, and it’s wacky, a little too ‘gamey’. It’s not difficult and time-consuming if it’s only a gigantic Sackboy cutout chart the progress of betting the farm on it being a huge quite got the kind of inoffensive to create something decent in made from sponge and cardboard. PS3 and commenting success. Sackboy has been adopted simplicity – some would say LittleBIGPlanet. A fun plaything Stick with the game and help the on Sony’s latest and as a mascot for the PS3, the game is blandness – that makes Nintendo’s or your own personal take on an community thrive. Talk about it greatest initiatives. being advertised in magazines like Miis so hugely popular. existing level might not take too incessantly to workmates and other Heat and FHM as much as in the long, but making something that acquaintances until you’ve got them The release specialist press, and it’s been hyped Serious issues everyone can enjoy is painstakingly interested enough to give it a go. delay means that beyond belief for so long that it The other issue is a little more hard work. Of course, you can always LittleBIGPlanet deserves to be a LittleBIGPlanet is surely can’t fail to be a sizeable hit. serious, as there’s simply no escaping just rely on the content created by monster hit. Let’s all do our bit to coming up against sure-fire hits Guitar Or can it? While Sony has been the fact that LittleBIGPlanet is not a others who’ve mastered the creative make sure that’s the case. Hero: World Tour and successful in communicating its universally accessible game. It may tools. But then again… Gears of War 2. appeal to gamers, it may find things be riotously colourful, fantastically The problems with the servers in more difficult when it comes to inventive, full of delightful little the first few days since its US release the wider audience it is clearly touches and bags of humour. It may are worrying for a game which is so have some amazingly thorough reliant on its online side. Factor in the and surprisingly enjoyable tutorials enforced delay thanks to the furore voiced by the wonderfully charming, about those Muslim-offending lyrics Its unique visual style and sense of witty and eloquent Stephen Fry. It in one of the game’s songs, and you humour will surely may offer a toolset that’s as simple start to wonder if the game might be find favour with as it could possibly be, given what cursed before it’s even truly arrived. plenty of open- Media Molecule wanted players to But enough negativity. There’s minded gamers. be able to create. But those tools still something we can all do to ensure aren’t going to be accessible enough that LittleBIGPlanet is a big success,
CONTROL NAV IGAT E |39 Subscribe toP3Zine FREE! EVERY MONTH! The world’s best PlayStation 3 mag! DON’T MISS OUT AGAIN SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE! Over 45,000 pe o p le have alre ady chosen to subscri b e to o ne o r mo re of o u r G amerZi ne s an d now re ceive noti fica ti o n of e ach new issue a s so o n a s i t’s publ ishe d. Why not j o i n them an d ensu re yo u never m iss another issue a g ai n?
www.gamerzines.com CO N T RO L P3Zine NAVIGATE |40 Next Month Issue 22 Out 4th Dec! P3Zine Issue 22 In MORE FREE MAGAZINES! LATEST ISSUES!
DON’T MISS ISSUE 22 SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE! WARNING! MULTIMEDIA DISABLED! If you are reading this, then you didn’t choose “Play” when Adobe Reader asked you about multimedia when you opened the magazine. Without the multimedia playing, the magazine will look correct, but you will be missing out on all of the extra content built into each issue, like videos, animated screenshots, annotations, quizzes, competitions and more. We recommend you close and re-open the magazine and select “Play” when KILLZONE 2 asked about the multimedia to enjoy the magazine as intended. Exclusive preview and screens Cranberry Publishing Limited Contributors: Chris Schilling, Richard Melville PLUS! www.cranberrypublishing.com All rights reserved. This publication may be copied in its entirety without modification for non-commercial purposes, for example but not limited to copying Publishing Director: Dave Taylor to CD-R for a friend, but it may not be offered for download from any website or Email: [email protected] similar without the prior permission of the copyright holder. You are free to, and Call of Duty: World at War encouraged to, link to the original file for download from our website and you can Editorial Director: Dan Hutchinson find help on doing so here. While the greatest care is taken in producing this guide, Email: [email protected] we do not accept responsibility for the loss of any data or any other damage caused by following the instructions in this publication. We always recommend that you Resident Evil 5 Commercial Director: Duncan Ferguson keep a backup of your hard disk data and ensure that you check all files for viruses Email: [email protected] before installing or using any new software. None of the information in this guide is intended as legal advice. All articles are for information purposes only. Websites Resistance 2 Telephone: 0117 986 6550 mentioned in this publication are not affiliated to or controlled by the publisher. We are not responsible for the contents of these sites or any changes made to them. Call Duncan to discover how e-publications can work for you! All contents © Cranberry Publishing Ltd 2008 Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Company registration number: 4987058
CONTROL NAVIGATE |41 You’ve reached the end of the main magazine. What would you like to do? Exit this issue and go and download another magazine?
Exit this issue and subscribe FREE for future issues? Want more Exit. Read this month’s Xbox 360 Magazine. PlayStation3? CLICK HERE TO THE WORLD’S BEST CONTINUE TO 360ZINE, OUR XBOX 360 SOCIAL NEWS SITE MAGAZINE FOR GAMERS!
http://www.n4g.com/
News 4 Gamers is a news website written by platforms including PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, gamers for gamers. Each story is submitted Wii, PC, DS, PSP and more. by a member of the community and ranked When you read a story on N4G, you can by popularity. You can comment on each click to go straight out to the full story article, and even if you’re not a fully fledged source, making this the ultimate gaming writer, you can submit news tips for items news site, because it gives you access to the you’ve seen elsewhere on the web! stories from all the games sites on the web, The site has sections for all gaming rather than just its own.
CO N T RO L