Summary: A jRPG that jettisons swords and dragons to keep a fresher, more modern setting on board.

Setting: The fictional town of Inaba, Japan 2011.

Systems: PS2

Genre: RPG

Mood: To name only one would paint the game one-dimensionally. The mood can be bright, dark, tense, leisurely, humorous, or romantic.

Read the full review by Eric Venezia.

Summary: A broken FPS with an interesting premise, cool scripted scenes, and a so-bad-it’s-good story.

Setting: Mostly New York and London.

Systems: Xbox 360, PS3, PC.

Genre: FPS.

Mood: So cheesy, there’s less cheese in all of Switzerland.

Read the full review by Max Salnikov.

On the heels of Purpleblob’s review of Quantum of Solace for the Playstation 2, I figured I’d lend a hand and share some thoughts on a few of the other versions of the game, having played it on both the Wii and Xbox 360 (the latter of which is comparable to the PS3, as well).

While the PS2 port of the game sported a third-person interface, the “next-gen” varieties used first-person gameplay, with occasional romps into third-person for cover-based shooting and button-press quick-time-events when taking down enemies in a stealthy fashion. The graphics and collision are certainly a bit smoother than the PS2’s version, with none of the wall-bumping problems that Purpleblob mentioned running into (it’s too early in the morning to know if I intended that pun or not, so I’ll just let it go).

QoS on the Wii also features two different control schemes that, although very similar in overall gameplay, do vary the experience slightly. You can use the two-handed, Wiimote + Nunchuck controls that we are all familiar with from Zelda, Super Mario Galaxy, and other such games, or you can plug those two controllers into your trusty Wii Zapper and move around light-gun style. While having the option is cool at times, and at least gives the illusion that there was some variety in the control design, the game is more simple with the basic control configuration, as leaning both arms just to look around the area can get a bit taxing when playing through the entire campaign (rather than just the hand holding the Wiimote).

Online play is another function that was absent on the PS2’s version of Quantum, and while I could take or leave the numerous game modes, the system works fairly well and drops you into a game quite fast (depending on how many players are online, of course). I didn’t notice any lag or stutter when playing on either the Wii or 360, though I did have a few “WTF?” moments, which comes from being unceremoniously dropped in the middle of a game that had already started. Too much of the Halo fan in me, and not enough Call of Duty I suppose (which is where most of the game engine and online function were taken from anyway – hey, Activision can steal their own stuff, it’s cool).

As Purpleblob said, if you really need your Bond fix and you only have a PS2, by all means, pick up that version. If you have options for which console you’re planning to play, though, I’d definitely recommend the Wii for its control scheme and the 360 for its graphics (and the achievements… must… get… achievements…).

Grades: Xbox 360 - 8.6/10, Wii - 8.2/10. Good controls, better graphics, and online functions. Still not a great game, but worth playing, especially for fans of the franchise.

(All screens are from Xbox 360/PS3 versions.)

Chuckle at witticisms with Rafael Gamboa as he takes a look back at the game that served as the one shining beacon in the pathetic handful of titles that launched the PS3 several years back. Back then it looked like a killer shooter that was a complete marvel of graphical engineering. But how about now?

Summary: The new James Bond game for the PS2 works ok as a solid third person shooter, but unfortunately fails to go beyond average.

Setting: A few private estates, a burning hotel, an exotic Latin American country, a casino, several women’s beds - standard James Bond fare.

Systems: PS2 (reviewed), PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PC, DS

Genre: Third Person Shooter (rather than FPS with some third person thrown in that the other consoles feature).

Mood: I’ll use the word “James Bondian.” Screw you Miriam Webster!

Read the full review by Purpleblob.

Summary: A deeply immersive sci-fi survival horror game about kicking major undead arse in space. Dead space.

Setting: The USG Ishimura, a giant mining space vessel.

Systems: PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3.

Genre: Survival Horror.

Mood: From-inside-the-coffin-dark.

Read the full review by Max.

Summary: Prince of Persia without a prince or time control powers… and I don’t think it’s ever officially confirmed to be Persia either.

Setting: Supposedly Persia; deserts and old palaces for the most part.

Systems: PS3(reviewed), Xbox 360

Genre: Action Adventure

Mood: Spectating. A good game to watch your friend play.

Read the full review by Ben.

Well looky here! We’ve got a review before a game’s actual release date, for a change! Goes to show you even us regular folk get lucky sometimes Read on to find out why Killzone 2 deserves to have your hard earned cash on the morrow.

Summary: If you don’t buy this game when it comes out then you suck.

Setting: Helghan, home of the Helghast forces and your inevitable death by their hand.

Systems: PS3

Genre: FPS

Mood: Oh, it’s just one big tea party really.

Read the full review by Brad.

Summary: A multiplayer game about shooting zombies in the face.

Setting: Zombie Apocalypse.

Systems: Xbox 360, PC

Genre: First Person Shooter

Mood: Dark, gritty, and with lots of claws and teeth.

Read the full review by Max.

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Summary: Ubisoft roll out a superb game which straddles the admittedly limited genre of Africa-based shooters like a true colossus.

Setting: Africa, or, more specifically, a West African republic so far up the shit Zambezi without a paddle they’re already practicing their Henry Livingstone impressions.

Systems: Xbox 360, PS3, PC

Genre: FPS

Mood: Unrestrained savagery.

Read the full review by Meirion.