Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3)

Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3) Review

Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3) Overview

What does the American Dream mean today?

For Niko Bellic, fresh off the boat from Europe, it is the hope he can escape his past. For his cousin, Roman, it is the vision that together they can find fortune in Liberty City, gateway to the land of opportunity. As they slip into debt and are dragged into a criminal underworld by a series of shysters, thieves and sociopaths, they discover that the reality is very different from the dream in a city that worships money and status, and is heaven for those who have them and a living nightmare for those who don’t.

Beginning with the 1997 release of the original Grand Theft Auto, the GTA series has been one of the most prolific, controversial and down right entertaining franchises in video games history. This pedigree of success guarantees that the highly anticipated eleventh game in the series, Grand Theft Auto IV, will garner at least as much attention if not more.

Return to Liberty City.

The dream as Niko expected it. View larger.

There's always a catch. View larger.

But some skills are international. View larger.

The Plot
Grand Theft Auto IV is a brand new adventure in the GTA universe following the experiences of Nikolai "Niko" Bellic, a new immigrant from an undisclosed eastern European country whose troubled pa st and the persuasion of his cousin Roman have brought him to the fictional Liberty City. Unfortunately, Niko’s search for the American Dream and a much needed fresh start, hits an immediate snag when the rags to riches story Roman spun to pique Niko's interest is exposed as not only a complete fabrication, but a ploy to enlist Niko’s well-known skills as a tough guy against the ample list of enemies clamouring for Roman’s debt-ridden blood.

Because Roman is the only person Niko knows in Liberty City he begrudgingly accepts his role as Roman’s protector despite the deception. But as time goes on Niko comes into his own, and his experience on the wrong side of the tracks proves more valuable than he could have ever imagined as he fights for survival and later supremacy on the crime ridden streets of Liberty City.

Game Environments
Based on several of the boroughs of New York City and parts of New Jersey, Liberty City, familiar to players of previous games in the series, has been entirely redesigned for GTA IV. Players can expect visible detail down to the weeds growing in the cracks in the sidewalk, cars and buildings of visibly different ages and a much greater level if verticality in the buildings and bridges that they are able to explore as Niko moves through the city streets. In addition, pedestrians in GTA IV are much more realistic. No longer simply moving cardboard cut-outs, these NPCs are intelligent, modern, human representations that laugh, cry, eat, drink, use cell phones and ATMs, and talking amongst themselves regardless of Niko’s interaction with them.

Gameplay
Historically GTA games have focused heavily on mission-based play, requiring successful completion of fixed tasks in order for players to progress through the game, but this has changed to a great extent in GTA IV. Players will experience an entirely new and exciting emphasis centred on the blending of on-mission and off-mission play, resulting not only in an increased sense of realism, but more interesting and unrestricted gameplay.

Features
Aside from the car jacking and a detailed city environment here are the new features for GTA IV:

• Improved combat system - Now you can use cover and also a target lock system, which allows you to take out targets with greater ease and accuracy. Plus, you can engage in some hand-to-hand combat if you can't get your hands on a piece quick enough.
• Cell phone - Not just for basic phone calls anymore. Use your in-game cell phone to receive missions via SMS, snap photos, and ZiT (tag) songs that can be downloaded exclusively on Amazon.com/mp3.
• Free time - In between missions you can take advantage of "me" time. There are gentleman's clubs, comedy clubs, bowling alleys, and bars, which all house unique activities.
• Take a break from the storyline - A variety of side missions allow you to help run a car service, "borrow" cop cars, assassinate targets, help solve problems for those on the street, or take to the air with stunt jumps that are scattered all over the city.
• Control your own fate - Throughout the game choice moments will arrive causing you to make a decision that will affect relationships and money.

Multiplayer
Give Niko a rest and create your own multiplayer "hero." GTA has added multiplayer modes allowing you to take your creation out to play online in competitive, co-op, and free form modes. Competitive mode has you fighting against the cops, jacking cars, or racing to finish odd jobs. Co-op challenges you and your friends with various tasks including Hangman's NOOSE where you are responsible for escorting a wanted kingpin to a safe extraction point. Freeform lets you and 15 others lose on Liberty City. Use this mode to hit up the bar and play virtual darts versus each other or head out to the streets and set up your own drag races. If you can dream it, you can do it in Freeform mode.

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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Nov 29, 2010 06:05:51

Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing (PS3)

Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing (PS3) Review

Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing (PS3) Overview

In a frantic battle to the chequered flag, Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing sees Sonic and friends speed around tracks set in mediaeval castle ramparts, lush rainforests and bustling cities, all taken from the visually rich and varied universes of Sonic and SEGA. Fan favourites such as Dr. Eggman, Tails, AiAi, Amigo and many more will join Sonic in their custom built vehicles, revving their engines and jostling to stay ahead of the pack. Each character will race around the track in cars, planes, motorbikes, and in AiAi's case a banana mobile! Secret short cuts, swift handling and avoiding strategically placed obstacles are certainly the best way to get to the top of the podium. And winning is only part of the fun in Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing! Each character has a specific All Star move such as Super Sonic, Banana Blitz and Tails Tornado, allowing a quick way for competitors to get back into the race! Power ups and weapons can also be collected around the tracks and used against the opposition to ensure they don't become a threat to that number one position Players can battle it out in single or multiplayer mode, allowing up to four friends to race in frantic split-screen action, or up to eight players to compete online in the ultimate racing showdown.Can Amigo scramble Dr. Eggman? Will AiAi say bye-bye to Tails? Are you gonna be faster than Sonic? The race will start in 2010

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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Nov 25, 2010 06:35:56

Eye of Judgment (PS3)

Eye of Judgment (PS3) Review

Eye of Judgment (PS3) Overview

Includes:

The Eye of Judgement Game
Playstation Eye Camera

• A revolutionary new way to use the PS3 system, based on traditional trading card games and given a new dimension in 3D by next-generation technology.
• Developed in collaboration with Hasbro and its Wizards of the Coast subsidiary that produces Magic: The Gathering.
• Four ways to play - player vs. PS3, player vs. player offline, player vs. player online, PS3 vs. PS3 using players own deck.
• High Definition 3D animated characters and vehicles come to life seamlessly into the on camera view of your tabletop.
• The Eye Of Judgment will be bundled with PlayStation Eye, 9 Fields mat, stand, a starter deck of 30 cards, and a booster pack of 8 cards. More than 100 different characters and spells will be offered via additional booster packs and pre-constructed decks

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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Nov 22, 2010 07:10:09

Time Crisis Razing Storm - Move Compatible (PS3)

Time Crisis Razing Storm - Move Compatible (PS3) Review

Time Crisis Razing Storm - Move Compatible (PS3) Overview

Compatible with Playstation Move controller - not required

Join an elite task force on a mission to ctach the most feared warlord in South America. Set your sighhts on trigger-happy justice with PlayStation Move.

• Compatible with PlayStation Move
• 3 games on one Blu-ray disc! includes: Time Crisis: Razing Storm, Time Crisis 4 & Deadstorm Pirates
• Intense shootouts for 2 players offline or up to 8 players online
• Get your name and highscore onto the online leaderboards
• Fire like a pro with the PlayStatiion Move Gun Attachement (sold seperately)

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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Nov 22, 2010 06:23:01

Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction (PS3)

Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction (PS3) Review

Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction (PS3) Feature

• In Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction, you must go to the far ends of the universe to confront your enemies! The player can fire disco balls thanks to his Groovitron, which will leave his opponents dancing to disco hits against their will, and stop others in their tracks with the Transmorpher in this futuristic universe.

Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction (PS3) Overview

In Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction, you must go to the far ends of the universe to confront your enemies! The player can fire disco balls thanks to his Groovitron, which will leave his opponents dancing to disco hits against their will, and stop others in their tracks with the Transmorpher in this futuristic universe.

Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction (PS3) Specifications

Insomniac Games has overhauled its proprietary PS3 engine technology to create the most visceral Ratchet & Clank universe yet, overflowing with exotic creatures and flying vehicles.

The PS3 system's superior power enables Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction to bring vivid worlds to life with increased draw distances, enhanced lighting and shadowing, and more fluid and exaggerated animations.

Discover an all-new galaxy spanning vast worlds such as a majestic cloud city and a space-age amusement park.

Encounter an entirely new cast of expressive characters (and some old favorites) as well as the introduction of a variety of new alien races and life forms.

Experience a more emotive Ratchet with nearly as many animation joints in his face as PS2 Ratchet had in his entire body. This joint density applies to many of the characters featured in Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction, enabling more detailed, personable and expressive characters.

Clank returns as a playable character, and Ratchet will have new enhanced abilities.

Fire a fully stocked arsenal of all-new weapons such as the Plasma Beasts and Tornado Launcher, which uses the Sixaxis controller to direct tornadoes that suck up enemies and whip them around with debris.

Use the Sixaxis controller to maneuver, destroy enemies and solve puzzles.

Upgrade and customize weapons with a new system that provides greater power and flexibility. Players also will have the ability to upgrade Ratchet's armor.

Utilise Ratchet's new supply of consumable "on-demand' combat devices, such as the Groovitron, which causes enemies to dance uncontrollably to '70s disco hits.

Gadgets gameplay returns as Ratchet and Clank will have more gadgets at their disposal to help them bounce, fly, evade and defy gravity.

Pilot Ratchet's ship through asteroid fields while trying to destroy enemy fleets in a complete redesign of classic Ratchet & Clank space combat gameplay.

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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Nov 19, 2010 05:42:54

Lair (PS3)

Lair (PS3) Review

Lair (PS3) Overview

(Region free, Full English language, will play on any PS3 console system)

Deliver destiny with the power of a beast.

In a world ravaged by endless conflict and natural disaster, a call for peace turns into a bloodbath of betrayal and deceit. You are Rohn, a warrior riding a voracious dragon trained for deadly aerial and ground combat, capable of scorching, clawing, and smashing thousands of enemies. You have the strength to defeat countless armies, but do you have the courage to save an entire civilization?

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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Nov 12, 2010 09:27:51

Soldier of Fortune: Payback (PS3)

Soldier of Fortune: Payback (PS3) Review

Soldier of Fortune: Payback (PS3) Overview

• Built to harness the power of next generation - Features the most outrageous modeling system of any of the previous Soldier of Fortune installments, allowing for shocking damage. Enemies will not only react to the specific area they`ve been hit but also to the power of the weapon they`ve been hit with and will continue to fight until a final blow has been delivered.
• One of the most lethal collections of weapons ever assembled - The impressive arsenal includes an array of more than 30 weapons including sub-machine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, projectile explosives, weapons attachments and cutting-edge tactical weapons.
• The world`s most dangerous hotspots - Players will find themselves thrown into authentic mercenary situations in real world hotspots around the globe. Players will need to survive an ambush and rescue a diplomat, infiltrate a terrorist organization, go on a search and destroy mission and much more.
• Enemies around every corner - High intensity combat situations where players will need to take down over 15 unique enemies including terrorist, mobsters, insurgents, enemy soldiers and more.
• Compete online - Play your favorites including death match, team death match, elimination, and team elimination, capture the flag and more. Additional online options include maps tuned specifically for multiplayer action and many server settings for online play.
• Compelling new storyline - When a routine escort mission goes horribly wrong, players find themselves battling an insidious enemy that knows no boundaries. As mercenary Thomas Mason, players will need to uncover and terminate an extremist plot aimed at throwing the world into global chaos.

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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Nov 09, 2010 08:35:47

Jak 3 (PS2)

Jak 3 (PS2) Review

As i said, this game is fantastic and well worth buying but it quite a bit easier than Jak II. Which is sort of a relief after pressing retry about 1000 times, but also a bit of a dissapointment. I found Jak II hard wth a strategy guide it took me a long time. With Jak III i don't have a strtegt guide, and well, the percentage seems to be going up rather quickly.

I thinjk one of the most fantastic things about this series is no loading times. You really appreciate it after playing games with long waits and i think this makes it a lot more enjoyable.

The storyline is fantastic as usual, and keeps you wanting to play on just to find out what happens next. I thought the wasteland and spargus was a fresh new idea that has made the Jak series so much better, and although Haven cty is fun with all the metal heads, i love the missions when you get to go back to Spargus.

The graphics if you know this series is fantastic, probably the best part and the character animation amazing. The game is so much bigger than Jak II, wth the whole of Haven cty, new areas in Haven city, Spargus and the massive, massive wasteland.

There are bad things though. It is not as hard, although that doesn't mean the game is easy, its Jak! Some of the missions are boring and repetitive (we've seen this all before type missions) and there is too much action, too many new guns, too many guns in general and not enough platforming. A few more platforiming levels would be nice.

Anotherr great idea for Jak III i thought would be for Jak to 'lose' or not have his gun for 10 missions or so. This would let people see the moves of Jak that we had such a long time ago (first in the series) that made it so great.

As you can probably see from this revgiew, the goods outweigh the cons and with it going PLATINUM 10th June this cannot be missed. Just remember to buy a PSP and play the spin off 'Daxter' when it comes out. Long live Jak (and Daxter!)

Jak 3 (PS2) Overview

In these days of endless sequel after sequel it's quite a surprise to find out that a successful series like Jak & Daxter is coming to an end of its publisher's own volition. But--although the characters may well appear again in some other form--Jak IIImarks the end of the epic storyline that is now over three years in the making.

The first Jak & Daxter game was a fairly straightforward Rare-esque platformer, but the second game expanded the concept considerably to become a sort of cartoon style Grand Theft Auto. This third game removes some of the more unnecessary diversions of Jak II to become a more enjoyably focused action adventure. The actual story follows on directly and sees Jak and Daxter banished to the Wastelands--a massive game world more than five times the size of Haven City from the last game.

Although they are less prevalent than last time there are a dozen different vehicles to pilot and plenty of upgradeable weapons. Perhaps the most important new gameplay feature though is Jak's new light eco form, to balance out the dark eco powers from Jak II. In light eco form Jak grows a pair of angelic wings and gains the power to regain lost health and even freeze enemies in time (and yes, it does work a bit like bullet time).

For fans of the series, or those just looking for a fun, modern-thinking platformer, this series is definitely going out on a high. --David Jenkins

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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Nov 06, 2010 06:37:38

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (PS3)

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (PS3) Review

I'm not one for FPS games: I don't like the perspective, the controls always baffle me, and I always end up being shot by someone I can't even see, but this one was a really pleasant surprise. There's lots of sneaking around and being stealthy, which is quite fun, and lots of time when you don't even have a gun so you can't rely on just blasting your way through your enemies. The story is half-decent, and it doesn't go on for too long, so you get a nice Riddick story without too much distraction. I'm only giving it 4 stars because if it had been a third person game I think it would have been better.

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (PS3) Overview

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena brings the hit first-person shooter to a new generation of consoles. The action-packed game, a hi-definition re-imagined version of The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, Assault on Dark Athena features an entirely new chapter in the Riddick Saga and for the first time, intense online multiplayer combat.

The Chronicles of Riddick series of games takes the player deeper into the universe of Universal Pictures' films The Chronicles of Riddick and cult classic Pitch Black, which first introduced Vin Diesel as enigmatic anti-hero Riddick. In Assault on Dark Athena the player takes the role of Riddick using stealth and action to overcome the merciless crew of the predatory Merc-ship Dark Athena which awaits its prey in the dark reaches of space. Cheating death through a series of spectacular battles and events, Riddick will fight for his life amid a storm of malevolence and horror.

• Multiple forms of combat: Unique blend of first-person range and melee combat with stealth kills and counter-attacks.
• Atmospheric and cinematic first person shooter: Great story telling in Sci-Fi environments handled with AAA Hollywood treatment for an immersive journey through Vin Diesel's blockbuster universe.
• Multiplayer modes: Variety of fast-paced multiplayer and online options available for the first time in the Riddick franchise.
• Bonus material: Escape from Butcher Bay has been re-mastered and will be included along with The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena.

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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Nov 03, 2010 06:24:25