Video Games- A Temporary Distraction

Posted by Simon Rowson in Video Games on August 31, 2010 | No Comments

PS3 Review: Mafia II

The streets teem with people, while apartment building hallways house loitering couples, snooping landladies and cops banging on doors. From the stunningly-designed neighbourhoods which brim with diverse character, the staggering attention to detail paid to everything from street signs, clothing and vehicles...

Posted by Simon Rowson in Video Games on August 20, 2010 | No Comments

PSP Review: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona

Atlus’ added makeover may not be the full facelift it could have used, but the necessary nips and tucks mean that Western fans of the series are finally getting a great game in its complete and faithful form, and one well worth their time...

Posted by Simon Rowson in Video Games on August 15, 2010 | No Comments

Hands-On Preview: Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep (PSP)

It remains to be seen whether the game’s plot will come together cohesively to form a satisfying whole, but so far Birth By Sleep is proving to be exactly what fans should want: a new Kingdom Hearts game that entirely captures the spirit, magic and gameplay of the first two games they played and loved...

Posted by Simon Rowson in Video Games on July 19, 2010 | No Comments

PSP Review: Persona 3 Portable

Persona 3 has always been heavy on lifespan and replay value, with its epic, dense 100+ hour story, all the social link stories that you didn’t choose the first time around and all those calendar-specific quests and requests you missed. P3P bafflingly manages to find even more value and rewarding...

Posted by Simon Rowson in Video Games on June 28, 2010 | No Comments

PS3 Review: Tales of Monkey Island: Season One

Some minor issues and a comparatively weaker first couple of chapters keep the game from reaching the perfection of the beloved original games, but Telltale have still thoughtfully crafted a gaming experience that’s crammed with more fun and rewarding puzzles than you could shake a splintered peg leg...

Posted by Simon Rowson in Video Games on June 28, 2010 | No Comments

PS3 Review: LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4

LEGO Harry Potter is, without a doubt, the most wildly fun, immensely charming, wonderfully layered and addictively involving entry in the series yet...

Posted by Simon Rowson in Video Games on June 11, 2010 | No Comments

PC Review: Doctor Who: The Adventure Games – Episode 1

A wealth of care and attention has clearly gone into ensuring that Doctor Who: The Adventure Games is more rewarding and entertaining than the average game adaptation cash-in, and with energetic voice acting, a fun, involving story and some clever touches, there’s a lot to like about the game, but...

Posted by Simon Rowson in Video Games on May 23, 2010 | No Comments

Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse: Episode 2 – PS3 Review

Though it slightly fails to reach the near-perfect heights of the opening chapter, it’s a testament to the sheer quality of Telltale’s work and the series’ impeccably hilarious writing that even a mildly disappointing chapter in Sam & Max’s adventures is still a dizzyingly funny...

Posted by Simon Rowson in Video Games on May 13, 2010 | No Comments

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition – PS3 Review

Due to some unfortunate glitches and awkward controls, it’s a perfect game imperfectly re-released, but The Secret of Monkey Island is still a sublime work of genius worthy of revisiting for fans and newcomers alike...

Posted by Simon Rowson in Video Games on April 25, 2010 | No Comments

Yakuza 3 – PS3 Review

Yakuza 3 at its core is a brutal, fun and wildly entertaining brawler with a lengthy, involving and satisfyingly woven story. Not content to leave it at that, though, Sega have heaped on a staggering wealth of mini-games, sub-missions and enough added fun fun to keep almost any gamer happy for weeks on end....