Whether you loved it, hated it or simply weren’t bothered by its glossy shimmer, Final Fantasy XIII was essentially a flamboyant corridor with a room at the end of it. Granted, the room at the end wasn’t half bad, but the seemingly endless slog that preceded it undoubtedly soured the final hours. By then many had become bored of point-to-point mechanics and Japanese hyperbole.

With XIII-2, Square Enix hve done a questionable thing by continuing the story of its predecessor. The god-awful supporting cast à la XIII are mostly absent, but the continuation of the arc and the similarities in presentation are still enough to secrete that disappointing taste on to your tongue buds.

This is a shame because XIII-2 corrects some of XIII’s biggest issues. Strict, relentless linearity has been left behind in favour of a far more open structure even though the world lacks connectivity. With freedom and exploration comes more to do but these additional activities feel like they’re included to tick a box, to please the people that XIII should’ve won over first time around.

You play as Serah, the younger sister of XIII’s lead emo, Lightning. Lightning has appeared in Valhalla, an area outside of discernible time. It’s there that she encounters Caius, a hair-dye-obsessed bad guy hellbent on continuing her sulk. Amidst the endless chaos, she also encounters the time-travelling Noel, whom she tasks with travelling back through the void to find Serah and bring her to Valhalla. Simply put, Noel is like Arnie in Terminator 2 and he’s going to stop at nothing to finish his mission.

It sounds complex but XIII-2 is bogged down by labyrinthine storytelling that fails to mask the simplicity of its tale. The objective of ‘find and save Lightning’ is enough to keep you progressing but with little expansion or evolution upon this – let alone the absence of a satisfying finale – XIII-2 feels disparate from the deep, interwoven yarns that series veterans have rightfully come to expect. This is a game that says nine words when three would’ve sufficed.

Captivation is not the cast’s strong point, either. Serah is not the abysmal fairy that Vanille was, but she lacks the personality to be a memorable leading lady. Noel is similar, retaining likeability but missing any trace of greatness. Without other dominant protagonists you’ll find very little else to concentrate on. The heavier focus on just two characters was a chance to increase personal bonds, but the good-not-great leads are impossible to connect with.

Connecting to the world is something you may find problematic, also. It’s beautiful, basking in stunning artistic variety, but the disjointed form created by the Historia Crux – your central time travelling hub – removes any sense of true exploration. It feels like you’re just witnessing various points in time, rather than inhabiting a world. Side quests, optional activities and the earned ability to revisit various points in time are all enough to keep you busy for well over 40 hours, but the magic of discovery is something that’s left to small, arena-like worlds rather than a sprawling metropolis of wondrous existences. Disappointing, especially considering the endless opportunities that time travel provided.

While the open structure improves but doesn’t fully resolve problems, combat still remains strong. The segmented action gauge returns, while paradigms and other complex options have been tweaked to speed up the action. Taking control of only two humans allows you to really focus on your load outs, experiment with tactics and perfect your approach without dealing with upwards of five party members. Tamable monsters add a new level of depth too, successfully lighting a fire in the heart of collectors and completionists everywhere. These critters serve as the third addition to your combat party and can be customised and upgraded like the two main heroes.

Other additions like conversation wheels and QTEs attempt to push the presentation into a more player-influenced territory, but the result is contrived. Annoying on-screen indicators are pointless, and it’s almost as if Square are shouting out that they’ve made changes for us to admire and applaud.

For all their efforts, there’s no doubting that XIII-2 is a better game than its better-forgotten father, but improving on such a huge disappointment isn’t a glorious triumph. XIII-2 feels like it’s treading over covered ground. It improves some issues and fully resolves others, but still has its fair share of troublesome flaws. It’s archaic and unapproachable, lacking narrative pull when it should swim in it. As a game it’s more than commendable, but the Final Fantasy staple demands more than a strong combat system and fancy visuals. Depth of story, pace and the intricacy of character relationships are the foundations that Final Fantasy is built upon. Sadly, much like its father, XIII-2 feels like it’s ready to subside.

6/10

Words by Sam White

The best bits about The Elder Scrolls 5 are the surprises. The places I haven’t found yet, the people I haven’t spoken to, or the mysteries that I am yet to uncover. These unmentioned activities are going to make Skyrim your own unending adventure. Your personal, potentially perilous quest through the northern wastes, plotting a path that is 100% yours. On top of everything purely incredible about Skyrim, this immeasurable freedom is what makes it the best game of this year; one that I will be playing long after the curtains have fallen on 2011.

As with previous Elder Scrolls, Skyrim is a solely single player experience. With the absence of a multiplayer, intrigue and curiosity are your constant companions. What’s in there? What happens if I do this? Where will this seemingly irrelevant side quest lead me? These kinds of questions are rife in Skyrim. They’re the reason you can play for days and days without feeling an ounce of staleness. From the minute you step out into the sprawling landscape, you’re immersed into a world so deep and so richly packed with content that it can be hard to initially fathom what to do. Only by following your eyes and ears will you start to realise how much there is to do, but more importantly, how excellent everything is.

Other than the mighty flying dragons, much has been kept quiet about Skyrim’s main plot and for good reason. You start off like every other entry in the series, a prisoner, this time sent to die for a crime left mostly unexplained. After a dramatic introduction, Skyrim lets you loose into the Nordic highlands. From there it’s up to you where you go and what you do. If you want to follow the main quest, you’ll be lead on a gripping story, following the mystery of the dragon’s return to Skyrim. Key to your involvement is the ability to channel the souls of these beasts as the ‘Dragonborn’, a human with the soul of a dragon deep down in their bellies.

Being Dragonborn isn’t just a case of having a cool title. Paired with the legendary name, you have the ability to learn various different ‘Shouts’. Shouts are basically spells earned by finding ‘word walls’ scattered across Skyrim. With each wall you find, you learn a different shout. Sadly for you, things aren’t as easy as just reading your way to the top. To put these Shouts into action, you need to defeat Dragons and absorb their souls.

Fighting dragons is an important but relatively small part of Skyrim. The encounters are thrilling, putting you to the test as you muster every single offensive move while still keeping a defensive stance to ensure victory. The fire-breathing lizards can show up wherever and whenever, ready to burn you into a smouldering Khajit-crisp. They are the game’s biggest bosses, and watching them circle above you while you carry out your daily tasks is an awe-inspiring sight.

When you’re not slaughtering these hulking beasts in order to expand your hefty collection of Shouts, Skyrim has you covered with a staggering wealth of content elsewhere. Quests will accumulate in your journal while you’re kept busy with the constant stream of interesting new armour or dangerous looking weapons. What’s so impressive is that almost everything is interesting and fun, never dipping the quality or letting dull side stories get in the way. You could go on a sword-swinging adventure with the Companions to usurp a rival group, or engage in the ethereal deeds of the College of Winterhold in their magical haven. Sound a little too above board for you? Get involved with the underground covenant of the Thieves Guild as you slyly snitch pockets or join the ever-murderous Dark Brotherhood as you carry out the will of the Night Mother.

The myriad of quests and objectives will send you across the entirety of Skyrim. From the snowiest peaks of the tallest mountains to the barren tundra and all the way to the far forests and beyond, Skyrim is a stunningly beautiful world that encapsulates fantasy. Taking a welcome departure from the stereotypical landscape we were treated to in Oblivion, The Elder Scrolls V feels more like its own characterised universe, a never ending tale of surprises that has its own incredible history.

Across the nine major cities and hundreds of other locations sprinkled across the wilderness, you’ll witness a huge variety of art styles and architecture types that enforce the richness of the world, the believability of the culture and the all-encompassing nature that is so synonymous with The Elder Scrolls. Dungeons and caves are now entirely more interesting, with puzzles and mysteries contained within every one. No longer is it a case of finding an area, delving inside and coming out feeling like you had seen that environment ten times before, instead luring you in with the promise of new and exciting things.

To get through these dangerous places with yourself intact, you’ll need to slash, cast, sneak and bludgeon your way to safety. Bloody slow-motion finishing moves mix up the hack and slash mayhem and a drastic improvement to the third-person perspective allows you to see your character in all his suited and booted glory. You can now freely mix up your weapons, too. The right trigger controls your right hand, while the left trigger controls your left hand. Want to equip an axe while keeping your left hand available for your helpful healing spell? Go for it. Skyrim doesn’t just let you loose into the world, it lets you mix and match on the fly. The magic system has received a similar overhaul with a lengthy list of spells and curses available to keep the magically minded of you fully entertained.

A major change in character creation is the removal of a class system. Now you simply choose what race you’d like to be and how you want to look. After that, all your actions pool experience towards your next level. Seemingly pointless skills like athletics and acrobatics have been removed since Oblivion, making way for new skills like smithing to pair up with the new jobs you can acquire from towns folk. With each level you progress, you earn a boost to your health, magicka or stamina, as well receiving as a perk point. Perks are skill-specific, allowing you to really craft your own unique persona as you work your way through each skill tree.

Alongside everything you’ll get up to, the one almost constant thing is the beauty of the world. Skyrim looks gorgeous, with magnificent vistas and an all around sense of place that keeps the word alive. Texture issues are noticeable up close, but at a medium and far distance, Skyrim is one of the best looking games around. Bugs, glitches and screen tear do sometimes distract, but it’s only a brief time before you’re wowed by something else. The more serious issues like environmental pop-in and slow-down have been vastly improved since Oblivion, so it’s an exemplary achievement to put so much detail on screen and have it run so smoothly.

On top of the visual delights, you’ll also be treated to one of the best soundtracks in recent memory, as well as a plethora of top-notch voice acting. As a game, Skyrim does its hardest to keep you fully immersed; this presentation wholly compliments that bold ambition. And that’s where I leave you, fully immersed. Etched deeply within my excitement for The Elder Scrolls V, I had a reserved fear that it wouldn’t live up to the impression that Oblivion left with me five years ago.

Staggeringly, Skyrim managed to blow my expectations out of the water. Despite not being a true revolutionary step in the franchise, Skyrim is the closest thing to it. It’s arguably the best open world game ever made, and I’d go pretty far to ensure that argument is won. Skyrim will eat away at your mind for hours upon hours, and even when you think you’ve done everything there is to do and seen everything there is to see, it will somehow astound you by introducing something new, fresh and exciting. Go explore.

10/10

Sam White

Ten years ago, I was ten years old. Apart from making me realise how quickly time disappears before your eyes, Halo Anniversary is a testament to just how good Bungie’s masterpiece was back in 2001. A vision of brilliance and the superb introduction to one of today’s most recognisable protagonists, Combat Evolved contributed massively to the FPS genre and is responsible in part for the plethora of similar games you see today.

However, despite its importance, many of today’s gamers have not played Master Chief’s first adventure. It came in a time before wireless controllers, HDMI ports, Call of Duty or online gaming. Without the latter, Combat Evolved relied on a stellar single player and the ability to endlessly replay with your friends, either split screen or via the archaic system network link.

Thankfully, the Combat Evolved staples are all left perfectly intact. A ridiculously over-powered scoped pistol brings endless satisfaction, while the gorgeous pop of the assault rifle will make you realise why its absence in Halo 2 caused such an outrage. Even if you’ve assaulted the control room, repeated that fateful encounter with the Flood or fought valiantly through the endless maze of the library a thousand times, Master Chief’s journey across the surface of Installation 04 is undoubtedly the series’ best.

From vast open battlefields littered with enemies and driveable vehicles, to tight-nit corridors that require you to think fast and on your feet, Anniversary has a variety of level designs to keep you on your toes. An incredible arsenal of powerful weapons, great enemy AI and a simple yet alluring story hold the entire campaign together perfectly, resulting in a game that may feel like the standard day-to-day FPS but is representative of something more.

As if it didn’t need improvements, the HD upgrade and remastered soundtrack make it that little bit better. Character animations are more fluid and details more crisp, but the incredible improvements to the environments are what make Anniversary so awe-inspiring. At the simple touch of a button you can whisk back to 2001, to view the game in all its flat-textured glory. It’s incredible to see the comparison, to witness the development of both the franchise and games as a whole over the last decade. A few frame rate issues arise, with drops occurring in busy areas, but for the most part Anniversary is wonderful proof of how good looking the game was for its time, and how HD treatments can enhance an experience when done correctly.

Where Anniversary lets down is in its multiplayer. It doesn’t offer a remake of the timeless competitive play seen on the original disc; you’re only treated to Halo Reach multiplayer, a component that’s arguably tainted by the test of time. Multiplayer nowadays isn’t what it used to be and I was disappointed to be unable to recreate the addictive experiences I had with my childhood friends ten years ago. If only the ‘don’t change anything’ approach had been applied to the multiplayer, then this would be one of this year’s best online experiences.

Despite the omission of a proper multiplayer port, the campaign is spectacular enough to keep you coming back for more, whether it’s on your own or with a co-op companion. Anniversary slightly lacks the dirty presentation and unforgettable character that made Combat Evolved such a magical and memorable outing, and veteran Halo fans will notice that minor touches have been lost in the transition, but if you haven’t experienced the original, or you want to relive your time spent on Installation 04, this is the best way to do so on your Xbox 360.

8/10

Sam White

The lovable charm is here in bucket loads but ,for some, so is the overbearing familiarity. Such is the same with Harry Potter Years 5 – 7, a delightful mini-figure adventure that rounds up the second half of the titular series. For some, its downfalls are undoubtedly all to commonplace to ignore,but for a game that thrives on the building blocks of young creativity, Lego Harry Potter Part 2 is a fitting end for your favourite trio of wizards.

Years 5 – 7 takes you from The Order of the Phoenix right the way through to the climactic episode of The Deathly Hallows Part 2, with each vital sequence faithfully recreated in Lego form. The narrative is slim as ever, with the omission of voices requiring you to already know the stories to be properly aware of what’s going on. Despite its lack of any notable dialogue, you’ll still be captured by the cute characters and splendid cut-scenes, which perfectly convey the light hearted flavour. Even the dark tone of the last few books doesn’t stop Years 5 – 7 from putting a wide grin on your face at every opportunity, sapping the depressive threats of Voldemort and his gang of Death Eaters, turning them into almost-likeable buffoons.

In play, Years 5 – 7 stays very close to the traditional Lego formula and somewhat suffers because of it. Progressing through each level, you’ll build bricks to solve puzzles, save friends and unlock secrets hidden throughout the alluring setting of Hogwarts. Combat is simple yet effective, varying from ranged spell attacks to classic hand-to-hand. The targeting system can take a little while to get used to, especially when you’re cluttered with enemies attacking you, and aside from the fun factor it never becomes particularly smooth to use.

Despite the slightly clunky nature of controls trying to dismantle the action, the addictive art of collecting studs and items remains wholly intact. Trinkets and treasures are scattered throughout every level, enticing you to take your time in finding mysteries and uncovering unknowns. As is customary to the series, a myriad of playable characters fill out the experience, providing a reason to go back and replay in Free Mode, or to take advantage of the easy-to-use use drop-in/drop-out co-op mechanics that make playing with a buddy an effortless breeze.

To complete the each of the four storylines, buy every character and find every secret will take a chunk of time, and it’s impressive to see such a simplistic game packed with such a large amount of content. However, while the game boasts both the ingenuity of Lego and the rich lore of the famous wizard’s universe, it doesn’t offer much new for those less in tune with either of the two. For them, Years 5 – 7 will likely just feel like another Lego game that’s come to shower you in studs and collectibles, without offering any revolutionary mechanics or a considerable challenge.

In truth that’s exactly the case, but despite never truly progressing the series forward, the numerable strengths easily outweigh the familiar flaws. Years 5 – 7 is a wonderfully funny adventure that offers magic that most have failed to recreate with such success. It allows you to play on your own or with a friend, with a child or a parent and be consistently amused by the witty transformation of the famous films into endearing little plastic figures.

The charm has never been more endearing, the content more plentiful and the experience more authentic than it is in Years 5 – 7, making it a definite for any Lego fan or Harry Potter buff.

8/10

Sam White

To many, the answer will be a resounding and unmatched ‘yes’. To someone less involved in fan boy wars, like me, the answer is a smaller affirmation, but an affirmation nonetheless. Modern Warfare 3 delivers a bombastic, absurd single player that I loved as well as the same addictive multiplayer that it did last time around, yet sadly offers nothing wholly new to win over those who dislike the franchise.

Of course, the multiplayer component is the main attraction. Call of Duty boasts the assets to keep players online for weeks, months, even years if they want to. The community is large enough that you can play continuously, never breaking your perfect rhythm of killing dudes online. It’s this constant feed of options that makes Modern Warfare 3 an incredible competitive experience.

Key to the multiplayer addiction is the persistent progression system. Leveling up is a never-ending stream of rewards as you’re gifted guns, perks and additional goodies to keep your arsenal interesting. Switching load outs is as easy as ever, with the new weapon specific perks allowing you to diversify your character more than ever before.

Once you’ve honed your character to best suit your needs, the mayhem begins. New game modes accompany the familiar ones while an array of new maps host the apocalyptic spectacle. Fresh additions like ‘Kill Confirmed’ mix up the formulaic proceedings of a Team Deathmatch game, now requiring you to retrieve the dog tags of your fallen enemies in order for your kills to register. Another new game type, called ‘Team Defender’ is essentially King of the Hill in the Call of Duty universe, where double points are awarded for each kill when holding a specific point of the map. These are small additions in the midst of the features unmoved from previous iterations but they’re welcome nonetheless.

Similar touches are seen elsewhere, ones those less competitively adept players will definitely appreciate. Dubbed ‘Support Strike Packages’, they essentially harness your kills without the need for a consecutive streak. The rewards given are less aggressively devastating than the ones in the Assault and Specialist packages, which require consecutive kills to earn, but the essence of rewarding players of all skill levels is something I, an inept CoD player, found immensely rewarding.

When you’re done with battling others, Modern Warfare 3 returns the Spec Ops mode from previous games. Some minor changes have been made here too alongside the existing objective-based missions that can be played with a friend. Survival mode – essentially Horde/Firefight – sees you fighting off wave upon wave of AI opponents that do their damn best to kill you at any opportunity. I personally found Spec Ops relatively underwhelming, especially having been wowed by the recent Horde mode seen in Gears of War 3, however the option to play with a friend without murdering other real life players is a notable positive.

Of course, behind all the excellent multiplayer action is a disappointingly short single player campaign that many may overlook as they dive headfirst into the multiplayer pit. Despite its brevity and the ridiculousness of the plot, the campaign is made great with excellent depictions of some of the world’s most recognizable landmarks. It’s truly awe inspiring to see an all-out war in downtown Manhattan that isn’t caused by aliens, just as much as it is to ride a runaway tube train through the London underground.

Amongst the nonstop gunfire there are some attempts to cause real emotion, along with a poor way of trying to spark a little controversy to perhaps live up to the notorious airport sequence seen in Modern Warfare 2, but none of this succeeds. The characters are distinguishable amongst the war torn wreckage, but you never connect with them and you don’t particularly care what happens. You play this campaign to be impressed at the scale and to witness the epic culmination of the franchise, not to engage in loving conversations with your comrades.

The entire thing is displayed at a wonderfully consistent 60fps, while the now-dated engine tries valiantly to keep the visuals afloat. It doesn’t look bad by any stretch of the bullet-riddled imagination, but compared to current releases it has to be said that Modern Warfare 3 is up to 2011 standards. Luckily, the game scrapes through and manages to keep you shell-shocked enough with its solo spectacle and addicted to its online mayhem so to ignore the graphical shortcomings.

In all, Modern Warfare 3 is everything you expected with little extras sprinkled here and there, in order to bolster the action. It wont convert anyone who decided they dislike the series back in 2007, but for those willing to move straight from Black Ops to the next big FPS, Modern Warfare 3 is a godsend. It encompasses a ludicrous plot, an endless competitive experience and the precise controls of its predecessors. Simply put, it’s the best game in the franchise since Call of Duty 4, and that’s not a bad achievement is it?

9/10

Sam White

It’s getting dark earlier, the moon is getting brighter and we can all hear the distant howling of blind drunk zombies and vampires that have eaten too much candy. Yep it’s everyone’s guilty pleasure, Halloween! Time to cover ourselves in gruesome make up, don a wig, eat sweets until we’re sick and party like we are the living dead! Fake blood, scream masks, fishnets, fangs, Linda Blair, that puppet from Saw, slutty ‘dead’ bunny girls, pumpkins, skulls, Hocus Pocus, Thriller, Film4’s fright nights, dead celebrities, warehouse parties, green cocktails, Haribo (a lot of Haribo), pound shop decorations and trick or treaters that make no effort ( a mask and a hoodie does not deserve sweeties!)

Disorder loves October 31st! This week we have found you some great parties, hilarious outfits and places to visit for a frightfully good Halloween weekend. Most importantly on your list of things to do is finding the best Halloween Party! We at Disorder have found four of the best for all music tastes, hardcore costume wearers and people who would rather a t-shirt and some fake blood.

First up is one for all you filthy East London club kids; Trailer Trash presents Hallogreen @ XOYO on Sat 29th October. Resident Batty Bass DJ’s Hannah Holland and Kill Em All along with special guests have a feast of techno, industrial trashy for you all to vogue too. Entry: £10 adv. £13 door, Nearest Tube: Old St, go to www.xoyo.co.uk for more deets.

For all you Snowboarding, Skiing and extreme sports enthusiasts there is Urban Nerds & Snowbombing Halloween Special at 7-9 Crucifix Lane SE1 on Fri 28th October. Offering grime, dubstep, funky house and many more special guest DJ’s. Entry: £10 adv. £15 door, Nearest Tube: London Bridge go to www.urban-nerds.com for all the details.

If you fancy some trashy, lady boy, cheesy pop disco fun with a room excitingly named The Erection Section then Guilty Pleasures Halloween Horror Ball at Koko is just the right ticket! With Bestival rivalling costumes and the best in cheese, disco, pop princesses and more gay men than you can shake a stick at this looks set to be a totally lush night. Entry: £13.50 adv, £15 door, Nearest Tube: Mornington Crescent go to www.koko.uk.com for all you need to know.

Saving the best for last, if you are prone to a bit of latex, trannies, burlesque, dominatrix and good old fashioned fetish fun times then you will adore Torture Gardens Halloween Ball and even better its a weekend special! With a strict dress code of costumes only and no cameras allowed it is a secret cave of sexual deviance, great music and probably the coolest people ever. Entry: £25-28 members, £30-35 no members. For details of both venues and dress codes go to www.torturegarden.com, not for the
faint hearted.

Costume time now, where to get the best costume to rival all the other creative Londoners. If you have lots of money to spend then Disorder suggests Angels in Shaftsbury Avenue that has costumes available for hire and purchase which will have everything from Bram Stoker’s Dracula to The Wolfman.

Another good one is So High Soho in Berwick St, who have an Aladdin’s cave of dressing up wonders, great for wigs and the added extras to your costume. But here at Disorder we personally love getting creative and making your own, its much more fun and you can be much more original!

So why not try hunting in some retro shops and some haberdashery for that Teen Wolf look or check out Borovick fabrics in Berwick St for some sequins and feathers for Strictly Come Dancing gone wrong! Have fun and look really gross!

I recently visited the amazing Wah! Nails for a little treat and the lovely girls there informed me that they are going to have special Halloween designs soon, so get down there and get some spectacular nailart, ranging from £20-£40. I think all the Disorder ladies will be straight down there to get some!

If you’re looking for some super hot Halloween make up then the ones for the job are none other than Illamasqua, the make up for your alter ego. This hard hitting make up brand does not hold back and is for men, women and misfits alike, definitely book yourself a make over!

There’s 3 blockbusters hitting the screens at the end of this month and yep, they’re all super scary! Mexican horror master Guillermo del Toro brings us Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, it’s got kids and jumpy bits, a guaranteed sleepless night for the watcher. More of a thriller (based on true events) story is happily named Texas Killing Fields; the name leaves little to the imagination! Going to be a gore fest! Saving Disorder’s favourite till last but yep its back again Paranormal Activity 3! Exciting and terrifying it’s guaranteed some screams! Enjoy!

For more awesome Halloweenie goodness…

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Words by Alexandra Oliver

Since 2006, when the original Gears of War stormed onto our relatively new Xbox 360 consoles, the guys at Epic games set a high bar for themselves. With the release of Gears of War 2 back in 2008, they raised the bar that little bit higher, proving that the formula could be improved and refined.

Now, almost half a decade after the original release, Gears of War 3 is finally set to explode onto your now-dusty 360s in full-fledged fashion and, while lacking ingenuity, it’s one of the best games of the year and a title that gives you a hell of a lot of bang for your buck.

Humanity is on its last legs. I know you think you’ve heard this one before, but the Gears universe portrays desperation and survival in a fantastic way. The Locust Horde has all-but-defeated the human race in their brutal offensive to claim the planet of Sera as their own. Only pockets of civilization still exist as each survivor does their best to avoid discovery by the bloodthirsty horde. Meanwhile, Marcus and his band of brothers are holed up in the makeshift fortification of Ravens Nest. Having almost defeated the Locust twice previously, things are looking grim for the gang as they begin to accept that a victory is perhaps impossible.

After a more-than-surreal introduction, Marcus learns that his father is alive and in danger. Having already served a lengthy prison sentence for attempting to save his father in the line of duty, Marcus quickly begins the long and treacherous road to find him in the hope that he has a solution to the Locust threat.

Those familiar with the series will be completely in-tune with the cheesy dialogue lines and almost-cringe worthy attempts at real character connections, however, there remains enough substance to still be evocative. This is the most personal, emotional Gears of War to date and the pacing of the campaign is practically perfect. Huge boss encounters make way for impressive spectacle scenes, while more emotional sequences let the campaign breathe at a rate that feels just right. The first act paves the way for some of the most incredible scenes seen in a Gears title.

More impressive is how Epic has managed to create such variety throughout the campaign while still keeping it rooted in how a Gears of War title should feel. New characters are also a welcome inclusion. On a couple of occasions you actually play different protagonists to Marcus, diverting the attention to various other parts of the Seran struggle. The bigger emphasis on a more female presence is also hugely appreciated and opposes the otherwise overpowering masculinity that the Gears franchise is known for.

As ever, the whole experience is brought to life with unparalleled visual fidelity. The package is unbelievably well put together.Lighting effects are crisp and sumptuous, particle effects create atmosphere and ambiance to make everything pop. Animations, character models — especially the enemy variants — and cut scenes are also beyond comprehension. The increase in colour palette is also a huge improvement on past Gears games and you really feel as if you’re seeing more of Sera than ever before.

The audio presentation is just as good, if not better. Voice acting is consistently brilliant, guns sound unique and powerful, enemies roar with terrifying ferocity and the musical score compliments the entire thing perfectly. It’s also worth noting that the game runs without any real technical problems, a remarkable feat considering its technical prowess.

Where Gears 3 really earns its stripes is outside of the single player, boasting a jam-packed array of additional content. Arcade and co-operative campaigns will keep you and up to three point-hungry friends busy for an additional twelve hours, if you want to replay it. I did. I might even play it again for a third time. It’s that good.

Horde also makes a second appearance after its resounding success in Gears 2, receiving a strategic overhaul with the addition of tower defense options that allow you to build various structural enhancements like turrets and barriers between each wave of enemies. There are 50 waves in total, with boss waves occurring every 10th round. This mode is utterly addictive and features progression trees, medals, difficulty levels and other little goodies that could keep you and your buddies busy for a ridiculous amount of time. It’s also hugely challenging, especially on the harder difficulties, and it will become more and more frantic as you progress towards wave 50.

Taking influences from Horde mode, Epic also built a completely new feature called Beast Mode. Beast mode is essentially Horde turned upside down. You play as the Locust, tearing through your human opponents in the traditionally gory Gears way. Each new level you earn in Beast Mode unlocks you new Locust species to play as until you can eventually play as some of your most formidable enemies from the rest of the game, providing you have the in-game cash to spend on more expensive spawns. Beast Mode is one of my favourite parts about Gears 3, yet I can imagine it being overlooked by the masses in favour of more conventional means of play. You should definitely try it out, you’ll likely be surprised by it.

Last but definitely not least is the competitive component of multiplayer. With a strong set of six game modes and an array of maps, competitive play in Gears of War 3 is the best it’s ever been in the series. Old favourites like Warzone return while new modes like Team Deathmatch expand the entire experience to appeal to a larger audience. I particularly enjoy the new Deathmatch mode, simply because it removes the tedious waiting times you usually face with the other game types. All of these multiplayer components, as well as your single player experience, feed into a single overarching level system that tracks your every action throughout the game. Achievements, medals and other stats are always readily available and easily accessed.

Gears of War 3 is a resounding success. It culminates everything that the franchise has achieved over the last five years and then some. Its only true failing is its familiarity and its inability to convert true Gears haters but Gears 3 has a hell of a lot to offer gamers both hardcore and casual.
Forget paying £40 for an 8-hour single player experience when you can pay the same amount and get so much top notch content on one disc. Gears of War 3 is a definite must-own to begin 2011’s gaming season.

9/10

Sam White

Here it is. The grandiose circuit that is Monte Carlo stretches out ready to be attacked with relentless precision. Every turn is a struggle, a mental barrier that you, the driver, has to overcome in order to avoid collision with the physical barriers that lie only a few meters either side of you. The moments of calm you get are brief occurrences where you can quickly collect your senses before being hurtled into another turn.

F1 2011 gives you the opportunity to do as the big-boys do from the comfort of your own living room. Everything about this sequel is well and above its predecessor, despite essentially being an “upgrade” to the last game. Handling improvements, additions to multiplayer, and an overall increase in audiovisual presentation render F1 2011 as a must-own for any racing fan, however the casual audience may be reluctant to part with their cash, considering the recycled nature of this sequel.

That’s not the developer’s fault, though. Codemasters Birmingham has done a remarkable job of creating a believable F1 world on a plastic disc; they are just limited to the changes that occur in real life. This time around, the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) and the Drag Reduction System (DRS) are the main additions to the sport, along with the new Pirelli tires. These three features add new strategies into the already-thrilling racing experience. The new tires add a completely new layer to the sport, allowing you to experiment with different approaches at each race.

KERS and DRS are more direct changes to the gameplay, adding to how you race from the cockpit. KERS is basically a boost button you hold down to give you a power increase. You only have a limited amount per lap, which then replenishes after crossing the start/finish line. Learning each track and mastering where is best to use KERS is a real challenge, completely changing the way you analyse the track. This is especially true of qualifying, where every millisecond counts as you attempt to put in the fastest lap you can to get as far up the grid as possible.

DRS is a mechanical feature that allows the driver to open his rear wing. The feature makes passing less arduous but it has to be earned. After two racing laps, the DRS becomes available to the drivers, and can be activated when they’re one second or less behind the car in front at the point of measurement on the track. After opening your wing, you immediately gain speed down the straight before braking, where the wing will close shut. In qualifying, the DRS is available anywhere on the track, coupling with the KERS to create an intense learning curve in order to master the art of posting hot laps. You have to be careful, also, that you don’t open the rear wing on a corner, or you’ll meet a messy end with the loss of downforce and grip into the corners.

Of course, new features wouldn’t be notable if the racing itself wasn’t great. Luckily, F1 2011 has no such problem, building on the excellent mechanics that were so prevalent in F1 2010. The sense of speed is still incredible, however the handling has changed considerably, with cars now supporting a real suspension model. The almost-ridiculous physics from the 2010 game are gone, this time replaced by cars that really feel as if they’re turning into corners as you fight with the back end of the car. The dynamics and the sense of weight create a more organic racing game, instead of an experience where the cars never felt attached to the track.

If anything, the only thing at fault with F1 2011 is the off-track approach to life in the paddock. Repetitive interviews, boring text updates about your rivals and other minor flaws detract from the main attraction. While better than what we saw in 2010, these aspects of the game are definite weaknesses. They won’t ruin your experience, they’ll simply impede you from getting on to the next race as quickly as you might like.

Aside from the career mode, F1 2011 supports co-op championship. The co-operative element is excellent, pitting you and a friend against a grid of 22 other AI drivers, as well as putting you head-to-head with your human companion for the number one slot within your team. The feature was something I wasn’t 100% sure about when I first heard about it, however having sat down with a friend to play across Xbox Live, I can completely see the appeal; it’s fantastic. My only gripe was that it only supports races, with no sign of co-op qualifying; a shame for those looking to best their friends on the time slots.

Competitive multiplayer has also received some welcome changes. Now supporting up to 24 car grids, with 16 human drivers and an additional 8 AI opponents, F1 has never been so hectic in an online experience. Multiple modes, excellent wheel-to-wheel racing and a constant challenge keep F1 2011 at the head of the pack when it comes to proper online driving. The matchmaking system is also a world apart from the first game, eliminating the painfully long lobby times that were so regular in 2010. It’s a shame, however, that a few people are still determined to ruin your fun, namely by driving you off the road in a Destruction Derby-style fashion.

All this looks better than ever thanks to the less saturated visuals that prevented the colour of 2010 from really coming through. In 2011, everything looks pristine, from the scarlet bonnet of a Ferrari to the reflective chrome bodywork of a McLaren Mercedes. Tracks look better, the weather effects look better, and even the frame rate is better than what we saw in F1 2010. The attention to detail in the sound design is also second-to-none. Tires screech as you lock up into a heavy breaking zone and the entire thing rumbles when you roll over a chicane. Between the available platforms, 360 and PC look far better than the PS3, so I would advise picking up either of those if you’re lucky enough to have the choice.

So there it is, the finish line. As with everything F1, it’s been a struggle to reach the checkered flag. Improvements are definitely here, but you’ll be hard pushed to convince anyone who isn’t a true F1 buff that the changes are worth their £40. That’s a shame though, because F1 2011 is one of the best racing games in the business, and undoubtedly the best Formula One game we’ve ever seen. It’s authentic and completely unreserved in its challenge. You shouldn’t expect an easy ride when stepping into one of these beasts. Just as in real life, the entire thing is a sensory bombardment that many will struggle to get to grips with. If you do take the plunge, and I definitely recommend it, make sure you’re wearing your crash helmet, you’re going to need it.

9/10

Sam White

I never felt a connection to the story or the characters in the past two games. I enjoyed the massive scale and the ambition of each one was clear to appreciate, but I simply couldn’t enjoy them. With that in mind, Resistance 3 completely surprised me. You play as Joe Capelli, the man responsible for killing previous Resistance protagonist Nathan Hale.

Four years after the events of Resistance 2, Joe is living with his family alongside other survivors in a desperate attempt to avoid being found by the Chimera. The majority of the human race is either dead or infected, and only very little human military opposition still remains. On top of the continual genocide, the Chimera have begun terraforming the planet to suit their own needs. Not good. Not good at all.

When the familiar face of Dr Malikov shows up, your relatively peaceful married life becomes impossible. Capelli is given the opportunity to travel to New York City in a final attempt to strike a blow to the Chimera by destroying a giant tower that has appeared above the city. Realising that the planet is almost completely lost, Capelli begrudgingly accepts and begins the long, dangerous road toward the desolate Big Apple.

(via justpushstart)

The story here is awesome. It perfectly captures the bleak atmosphere and solemn vibe that was absent in the two previous games.  There were several moments playing through the game where I was genuinely moved by the actions of the characters and the overall situations they were in. Sadly, the plot isn’t without its problems though and the ending left me feeling both disappointed and unsatisfied. I think that developer Insomniac could have done more to conclude the plot, especially considering the poignant moments that are delivered so well in the other portions of the game, so it’s a shame that the game ends the way it does.

Resistance 3 also sees a marked improvement in the visual presentation. Whereas previous Resistance games have lacked the visual flair seen in other high budget exclusives, this title looks gorgeous. Details both micro and macro help to create a real sense of place that really increases the involvement of the player. Texture work is pretty good but minor points like the flurries of snow through the wasteland and the constant flow of leaves and dust across the screen are the real deal, creating an immaculate atmosphere. The cut scenes are also spectacular, adding a cinematic edge to the delivery of the story that results in a beautiful campaign experience.

As we are all well aware, though, a beautiful game doesn’t make a great first person shooter. Luckily, this is a brilliant FPS. Armed with an arsenal of excellent weapons, Resistance 3 is fully equipped to provide an impressive experience. Familiar guns like the Bullseye make a welcome return alongside new faces like the brutal Mutator, which literally causes enemies to transform into walking pustules in front of your eyes.

(via videogamesblogger)

Weapons are also now upgradeable, deepening the experience further. There is no player influence involved in improving your weapons, but the upgradeable add-ons are awesome across the board. These upgrades also pair perfectly with the secondary fire abilities that are so synonymous with the Resistance series, returning here to impress yet again.

Resistance 3 also comes with a formidable multiplayer offering. It may take influence from many of today’s first person shooter experiences, but Insomniac has made the online portion of Resistance 3 feel fully-fledged. Many will be disappointed that the player count has been dropped from the whopping 60 seen in Resistance 2, to a minute sounding 16 in Resistance 3, however I much preferred the more personal, concise feel of the multiplayer here. The game modes themselves are also pretty expansive and provide a balance between objective based game types and mindless killing in solo and team deathmatch. There are also perks, upgrades and dozens of unlockables that will keep fans online for months to come.

In all, Resistance 3 serves its purpose as a wonderful single player experience and a worthy contender for the multiplayer-addicted masses. The tighter focus on a more personal campaign is a definite improvement from the disjointed feel of the two past games, and as a result I found myself completely engrossed. Apart from the disappointments with the ending, I think Insomniac has done a wonderful job portraying the harrowing tale of humanity at its final push. Better visuals and an ever-expanding arsenal of weapons also make the entire experience that little bit better. Then, on top of everything already great with Resistance 3, the multiplayer proves itself yet again. It may not be the greatest game of the season, and 2011 is still set to give us some incredible games, but Resistance 3 is still a game well worth purchasing if you’re lucky enough to own a Playstation 3.

 Words by Sam White

8/10