Remember Me - Launch Trailer

Remember Me is out tomorrow on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC DVD. Just in case you forgot!

Retro City Rampage finally gets a release date

After a long long wait, Retro City Rampage is here (Well, at least in North America). The official Press release states:

"Retro City Rampage is finally launching October 9th on PS3 and PS Vita in North America and on PC / Steam / GOG worldwide. The European PS3 and PS Vita releases will follow later this month,with the other platforms 99.9% ready to go and to follow ASAP.


I made the decision to release the game on each platform as soon as it's through certification rather than delay it any further in an attempt to achieve an absolutely simultaneous launch. I'm just one man doing everything!


For a chance to play Retro City Rampage even sooner, head over to your nearest GameStop. The PS Vita version will be playable across
the United States starting this month, hopefully by the time 
you're reading this!"

Along with the news of the launch comes this brand new launch trailer.



Brian Provinciano has been working on this game on his own since 2002, when it was just an 8-bit de-make of GTA III. Now it has evolved into something much much more. It captures as many genres and styles of games from the 80's and 90's and also is filled with the kind of pop culture referencing that made the GTA games as great as they are.

If this doesnt convince you perhaps this will....

Lego Batman 2 - Now with added... er Words?

Yes, Bat-fans that's right. For the first time ever in a Lego game, you will hear a mini-figure talk. Not just one the whole cast of heroes and villains will be speaking stuff through their plastic mouth whole.

Not forgetting the open world enviroment and the chance players to play as classic Batman characters and also other DC Superheroes. Including Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, Green Lantern, Superman, The Flash, Martian Manhunter, Black Canary, Aquaman, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Cyborg, and Wonder Woman. Current speculation suggests there will be over 70 playable characters.



Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes launches next Friday 22nd June for all platforms.

After the launch of Lego Batman 2 though, I am not sure if the Lego gaming franchise has got anywhere left to go...



Oh! I stand corrected!

Rayman Origins (360) - Review

A long long time ago, back in the mid nineties. I had abandoned consoles, for a PC with more mature and fantastical gaming. I spent my days revelling in Doom 2, Rise of the Triad, X-Wing and Wing Commander. I remember that what I was missing during those days was a decent console platform game like the Sonic games I played so much previously. Then, I was introduced to Rayman on the PC an enhanced version of Sony PlayStation game released in 1995.

I fell in love with the game straight away - the art style, the level design and the gameplay. Most of all, it was the character of Rayman himself. He was so full of expression and life. The game itself was pretty unforgiving and one of the hardest platform games I remember persevering with. The game was a success on all platforms it was released on. The second game jumped into the 3D platform genre along with it's contemporaries. It also raised the bar for 3D based platform games at the time as well.

The years passed and Rayman seemed to become a back seat passenger in his own franchise, with the introduction of the Raving Rabbids. They took over and soon Rayman had disappeared altogether.

Well, I am happy to report that.... He is back! In his own game and going back to his roots as a 2D platform game. The game is set as a prequel to the other games and details how Rayman got all of his powers. His friend Globox is on hand to help.. and they set off to fight the Darktoons, evil Mr Dark and the Livid Dead. Rayman must travel across the land collecting Lums and Electoons in order to defeat the Darktoons and help the Fairies of the Forest restore order to the land.

The first thing that grabs you right from the start menu is the amazingly beautiful and vibrant graphics. The wonderful hand drawn characters and art are incredible to see in motion. The game feels more like a living cartoon rather than a video game. Every level is a visual delight and contains a strong theme in each. The game starts in the Jibberish Jungle which is very similar to the opening level of the original Rayman - A mixture of lush green plateaus and Rushing waterfalls. As the screenshots show it looks amazing, but to see the game move at the pace that it does is incredible. The game moves to the deserts littered with musical instruments and notes. My favourite level has to be the Frozen Tundra complete with Icebergs containing various frozen food stuffs. Halfway through the level you descend underground to a Lava world complete with Mexican cooking theme.

After each world ends Rayman has to travel to the next land. This involves jumping on the back of a friendly mosquito and enjoying a quick shoot em up level. For every Medal you receive at the end of a level for rescuing Electoons and collecting lums. you open treasure levels that let you chase a living treasure chest down in order to collect its prize Skull Teeth. Collect enough of these to unlock the final secret level.

It all sounds bizarre, and it is, and that is part of the charm of the game. It is off the wall and highly entertaining. The music and sound effects are really good and really help the games character. The actual game itself is a very quick paced classic platform affair. It doesn't innovate the gameplay as much as the earlier Rayman games, but it almost a celebration of the classic platform games.


More importantly, Rayman Origins allows for co-op play for up to FOUR players. This has meant for the first time ever my eldest gamer, LadyBG has been playing on the Xbox. She has played the game with me and on her own. She loves the game and the characters. Although, the difficulty is a little steep for a four year old and I do have to help her out. Past the first main world though, we only play in co-op (with Daddy doing most of the work). It has been really nice for us to play on the Xbox together and I think we shall be playing this for a while. It makes her laugh and that always makes everything worth it.

This is easily the best looking 2D game on the current generation and possibly the best looking platform game ever. It is really worth a look as the game is just fun on a disc. If you have kids it is a must have game. just make sure you take the time to play it with them.  Rayman Origins is going to be memorable game for me, just as the first one was all those years ago.

This time though, it is because it is the game in which my eldest little gamer unlocked her first ever achievement! Sniff, sniff... it was an emotional moment for this gaming Dad, I tell you!

Verdict: 8 out of 10






Thanks to Emanate PR for the review copy.

New Xbox 360 Dashboard out today

The new Xbox dashboard is out today and it's quite a change. Adopting the "Metro" interface that is currently used on Windows Phone 7 and the soon to be released Windows 8, Microsoft are attempting tie the front ends together. I have been on the Beta program for the last few weeks and there are bits I like and a few niggles.

The new interface is quite a change yet again. I had actually forgotten the original "blade" design of the original Xbox 360. This time around you can tell that the experience is designed for Kinect. Gesture driven menu's and voice recognition commands are great, if you have a Kinect. I don't have a Kinect (Hint Hint Mr. Claus) and I find navigating the new dashboard with a controller a little frustrating. With the NXE dashboard I could flick to where I wanted quickly, but now things seem to be buried much deeper in menus. Although, I love the look of the new dashboard in its default look, I am not sure about the dashboard themes if work as well with this design.

Bing has been added to the dashboard and allows you to search for games, content and media. Take the example results window above. Searching for X-Men brings up anything X-Men related. It does work very well and I hope that it will capabilities will extend across to the new apps. There is a new app marketplace section as well from here you download new apps for social media and Video services. That's right! We in the UK are finally going to get some video services on our ageing 360's. As of the update today the UK can get LOVEFiLM through the Xbox and the initial signup includes a 30 day free trial. Later in December 4oD and 5 On Demand will be available. Also, there are several other internet video services, with YouTube leading the way. All of this content will be available to Live Gold subscribers. In Early 2012, BBC content will be available to Live users for free! I have not been able to test any of the apps, as they have not been made available to the beta programme. 

The Social tab has improved with a simple change. It is next to the initial home tab and not the furthest one away as in the NXE.  The new interface allows you to quickly browse your friends and join them in games and parties. The layout makes it simpler to compare games. The newest feature here is Facebook integration and beacons. You can now let all of your Facebook friends know when you have unlocked and achievement, by sharing it on Facebook. Alternatively you can set a beacon to tell all of your Live and Facebook friends that you want to play certain games online (see below). It notifies you when friends are playing the game you have set the beacon to.

All in all it is a huge update for the Xbox and keeps it ahead of the pack again. It should be commended that Microsoft has been able to implement three Dashboards in the 360's life span. It is incredible to think back to what we started with and the tools we have now. This update really does change the Xbox 360 from simply a games console to a media hub.