 |
FIFA 12 (PS3)
by chris018
So the next Fifa game has been released with a string of new features, included an entirely new tackling system and the introduction of the impact engine to simulate real life injuries. The new tackling system is a good addition as it takes much for skill to defend well than it did in the previous game as now you have to time your ... tackles like you would in real life. However the impact engine isn't quite as successful. It is flawed in the fact it can make plays just fall over at random in important possitions and often plays collide and fly accross the screen for no reason! However it does work well for the injury simulation aspect. Career mode has also been revamped for a much more enjoyable experience. I enjoyed this fifa and it is an improvement on the previous title, but nothing groundbreaking special to set itself apart from other titles. Yet again I would place ths title above its rivals though, due to the unique features it has to offer. One of these is pro clubs. This enables you to play as your own virtual pro which you can create on the game with your own identity. You are then able to play with your virtual pro in club games, under the pro clubs menu. This can involve games of up to 11vs11 and is thoroughly entertaining. A word of warning however about the whole online community on FIFA 12 is that all the games are hosted on EA game servers and these are known to crash frequently meaning sometimes these online features are available. On the topic of online features, the game now requires the use of an online pass to play online. It is a unique code that can be entered on one console or computer and allows use of the online features. This means the game cannot be shared among players if they wish to play online which will deter some people. My favourite feature of FIFA 12 though has to be the addition of a game mode called "Head to head seasons". In this game mode you play as any team of your choice and play a league type system in which you can earn promotion by achieving a certain number of points. You start in division 10, and work your way up to division 1 which can provide literally hours upon hours of challenging fun. I really enjoyed the title FIFA 12 but it does have its flaws, notably the impact engines failings.
Read the complete review |
 |
Skate (PS3)
by BobbySweetTooth
This game, some 5 years, later - alongside Skate 2 and 3 - is perhaps the most realistic skate sim ever! The reason for this review, even some years after the games original release, is to guide those gamers who are looking for a great budget game!
The story mode, whilst not being the most solid in terms of an actual story ... line, is very fun because you have the ability to pick and choose between what levels you play. For instance you can choose between playing a friendly game of S.K.A.T.E or you can choose to complete photoshoots first, providing these missions are available.
The game-play is simply superb and as an occasional, and very amateur, skateboarder I can say it is akin to real life, especially in terms of not being able to pull of monumental chains of tricks like you would be able to in other notable game series. Whilst is realistic there are some elements, like massive drop-ins, which wouldn't be possible in real life purely for entertainment.
The ability to customize your character is welcome, so if you're fond of a particular brand, you can skate for them, and have them as your sponsor, which is pretty cool because it makes the game all that more engaging.
The soundtrack to this game also gives it an added depth of realism as this is the music which would grace the street skaters iPod. It is a lively soundtrack adding character and upbeat and chill enough to cater to different skating styles, and as it's customizable you can listen to upbeat when you fancy career mode and somewhat chill music when you want to free skate.
Although I own the other two, and later releases, of the series I come back occasionally and play this because the map is gigantic and it's always fun to skate different spots and come up with different lines. It's always enjoyable.
Overall, if you enjoy other skating series you'll undoubtedly enjoy this one, and if you're looking for a budget entry into skating games this is the way to go!
Read the complete review |
|
|
Shaun White Skateboarding (PS3)
by aleximusprime
Shaun White has already featured in his own videogame, 2008's "Shaun White's Snowboarding", but not content with just one foray into extreme sports gaming, he also features in "Shaun White's Skateboarding". However, this game sees Shaun kidnapped right at the start, by 'The Ministry', an organisation out to turn its ... city's population into a citizenship of grey, ambitionless, average Joes. You play Shaun's only hope, a skateboarder who must set out to free Shaun from captivity and release the city from the clutches of The Ministry and everything it stands for.
As promising as the storyline sounds, the game never fully lives up it. Graphically its beautiful. The gameplay itself is based on a system called Flow. The more tricks you earn, the more Flow you earn. This flow can be used to convert civilians, open new parts of the terrain, and destroy enemy structures and defences. When you use Flow to change something in the game, a burst of colours jumps out from under your board, which when you first start out looks impressive. However the novelty soon wears off and you get sick of the sight of random colours bursting out while you're concentrating during a tricky mission.
The gameplay is disappointing. Instead of being a fun, fast-paced adventure, you end up frustrated. Controls are unresponsive and a bit fiddley, you'll find yourself trying to pull off a trick, only for the game to not pick it up or not respond how you'd like. Jumping on and off rails isn't as easy as it should be (I found myself stuck on rails, unable to get off as much as I ollied!) and using halfpipes and QPs gets frustrating when you seen to lose all your built up momentum for landing a little crooked.
Then you come to the missions. I found them uninspiring, annoying, and got in the way of any real enjoyment to be had from the game. One particular mission finds you grinding on high rails to destroy video cameras. If you fall off a rail (or if you try to jump and the game doesn't pick it up correctly) you end up falling to the floor and having to start the mission all over again as there's no other way to get back up there.
I grew up playing the early Tony Hawk saga, which in turn got me into real skateboarding. Although unfortunately had I played this game now, I think it would actually put me off the sport. A disappointing game
Read the complete review |
