Trials Evolution - Hands on Review

This is the follow up to Trials HD which was released August 12, 2009 which was a huge success and I have no reason to believe trials evolution will be any different. This sequel actually is better for a number of reasons

The overall feel of the game has stayed the same with some devilishly difficult tracks, it also has the thin line between success and failure which can be frustrating for novice gamers but a major challenge for seasoned gamers, the main objective of the game hasn't changed it still is go from start to finish as fast and as careful as you can and the controls are that simple anyone could play this which is a very good plus point.

First of all game modes are single player, multiplayer which is new and track central, we will first look at single player.

Single player comprises of a progression mode as you gain licenses by building up your medals which also gains you money to spend on different gear ingame, there's the usual mini games which break up the progression mode and are very addictive. You gain bikes as you go along which help you when you're repeating tracks which you will definitely do to get that last gold medal or to beat your friends time.

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Ghost Recon Future Soldier Multiplayer Beta Impressions

When I first heard that there was a new Ghost Recon being released, I got very excited.  I have very fond memories with the original GRAW (Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter). Spending many a late night playing multiplayer as a team with my new online buddies left me with some of the most satisfying shooter experiences I have to date.

For those who don't know Ghost Recon Future Soldier is a third person cover based shooter from Ubisoft due for release in May 2012.

Here at AG we have been lucky to be able to get access to the multiplayer beta for Ghost Recon Future Soldier.  As soon as it had downloaded I jumped right in (with a few other on my friends list), and after a few friendly fire flash bangs I soon got used to the controls and I felt like a teenager again.  Because a lot of the beta multiplayer reminded me of the good old days of GRAW, where playing as a team counted for something, and sprinting around and mindlessly shooting everything that moved doesn't always work (yes that was a COD jab, there may be more to come).

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Wrecked Revenge Revisited

This is the sequel to the successful 2004 game mashed which was a top down racing game with weapons to use, this carries on with Wrecked.

First of all we’ll start off with the single player mode, it’s basically made up of challenges than actually racing which is a disappointment but is still fun and gives you an opportunity to get used to the controls and the camera angle which we will come to later.

Next is the multiplayer mode, which includes local and online play, we’ll start off with local play, this allows 4 player multiplayer with your friends which is the most fun you’ll have with the game but online multiplayer is fun too.  It can be very frustating in multiplayer as to try another track you have to go back, select another track and start all over again.

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I Am Alive Review

I Am Alive is part of the XBLA House Party Collection for 2012.  Before starting this game I wasn't very aware of what I Am Alive was about.  I knew the game had been in development for a very long time, and it was gaining a lot of interest and excitement in the gaming industry.  I found myself intrigued.  I am all for developers creating games that break the norm for XBLA games, but this is one I wish I hadn't tried.

I found the majority of the game (that I actually played, I had to stop playing about half way through, due to fear of breaking something in my house) dull and frustrating.  For a game that had so much potential and so much development times, for me it falls flat on nearly every front.

The beginning of the game you are introduced to the main character through a video on a camera.  He lets you know it's been a year since 'The Event'.  This event has apparently plunged the world into a dusty, apocalyptic wasteland with earthquakes being an annoyance of everyday life.  I Am Alive shows humans at their most vulnerable, fending off others for their own survival, some with groups of others, and some on their own.  You will find yourself scouring the dreary setting for rations and supplies to keep you going.

Because of the setting for the game, graphically you are met with a colourless, grainy world which is dull on the eyes.  Ubisoft (the games developers) were trying to create an atmospheric world and a huge sense of aloneness (is that a word? today it is).  And while I did get the feeling of an empty world and being alone, I didn't really feel the atmosphere that I believe the game was trying to portray.

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Nexuiz - A Hands On Review

First thanks must go to the Xbox live Community Network for giving us the opportunity to review Nexuiz on Xbox Live Arcade.

Nexuiz is an FPS (First Person Shooter) which is part of the House Party Pack available on Xbox Live for all Gold members. And yes, yours truly had the opportunity to play the game and provide you with a hands on review.

Lets start of with abit of the basics and expectations.

When you hear of a game that’s a first person shooter, what comes to mind? Games like Call of Duty and for those of you who are PC gamers, Counter Strike amongst others as well. Now, me being me, when I got the opportunity, I looked it up and saw that it was a different kind of FPS. One that I haven’t seen on the Xbox or PS3 at least (in my last 6 years of gaming). An arena based FPS. OK, so some of you are asking, what’s this? Have you seen or played Quake? Or Unreal Tournament? Those are Arena based FPS’s. So that’s what made me take up the opportunity to play this game. As on the PC I absolutely loved Quake and Unreal Tournament!

So far on the Xbox ive always and only played the Call of Duty games on and off and as most of you know, im absolutely terrible at them. However, was still optimistic about this one though.

Right, so down to the game, gameplay, menus and everything else you’d probably expect from a game review. Knowing that the game uses a modified version of the Quake engine so graphics wise I was expecting the same if not better.

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Alan Wake's American Nightmare Review

Alan wake if you didn't know already was a full game released in 2010, a physiological horror game, well this carries on in this vein and doesn't disappoint.

The story is set in the alan wake world but isnt a sequel, which is slightly confusing but should become clear as you play it, he is essentially stuck inside a script he wrote "Night Springs".

There are two game modes, story mode and arcade mode, we'll start off with the story mode, there is a few slight differences in this standalone game than Alan wake has, first of all it's not as long but it's enough for a xbla game, secondly it's more reliant on the action side of things instead of a psychological approach like Alan wake 1 which was a slight disappointment but I enjoyed it none the less.

Another interesting difference is the collectible manuscripts have become an incentive to collect as it allows you to gain extra weapons, which are scattered through the entire game in flashing black cases, there some new enemies in the game with splitters that break into two after shining your flash light on them, spiders, giant creatures with chainsaws and taken that turn into birds to try to swoop down and surprise you.

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