Gamecca Magazine December 2013

I S S U E 5 4 / Vo l . 5 December 2013

w w w. g a m e c c a m ag . c o m

Call of Duty: Ghosts Need for Speed: Rivals LEGO Marvel Superheroes WWE 2K14 XCOM: Enemy Within and more...

Incoming!

Prepare yourself for PS4, South Africa!

Street Fights Need for Speed returns with some new Rivals

...And your Dog! Call of Duty: Ghosts reviewed

Cold War...

Back to the battle with Killzone: Shadow Fall

Free Online Mag

Turning to biology for power solutions

Nature-power

Is SA Internet hampered by poor planning?

R evi ews i ncl udi ng Asus, S ony , T r i tton, R a z e r , S a m s u n g , T o m t o m a n d m o r e . . .

Next Generation

Free

The PS4 is almost upon us...

I S S U E 3 8 / Vo l . 3 December 2013

www.gladgetmag.com

‘Tis the Season

Your Christmas shopping security check-list

Online Mag

Simplicity in information!

www.gladgetmag.com

Inside 6 From the Editor 8 IDoubleDQD A fond farewell 10 The Cold War Killzone blasts onto the PS4 with Shadow Fall 16 Previews 6 upcoming video game titles 26 The Soapbox Difficult decisions 28 Console General We need a hint...

30 Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow The PS4 takes Sony’s gaming prowess even further 38 Reviews 15 video games under the microscope 70 Ramjet’s Rantality We need some clarity here 72 A Year in Games 2005 had some very memorable moments...

74 Hardware Stuff you want under the Christmas tree!

86 Game Write A medium, not a genre...

THIS MONTH’S COVER Kilzone enters a Cold War...

See our feature on page 10.

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Competitions 71 SteelSeries Frost Blue Gaming Set 87 Tritton Kunai Headset

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Previews Reviews

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Titanfall

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Dark Souls II

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Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

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Driveclub

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Rambo: The Video Game

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Dragonball Z: Battle of Z

GAMECCA Vol. 5 Issue 54 December 2013

Editor: Walt Pretorius walt@1337-media.com

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Call of Duty: Ghosts

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Need for Speed: Rivals

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Spongebob Squarepants: Plankton’s Robotic Revenge

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LEGO Marvel Super Heroes

Writers: Alex Scanlon Charlie Fripp James Francis Lein Baart Nthato Morakabi Pippa Tshabalala Rob Edwards Sarah Snyman Suvesh Arumugam Tauriq Moosa Walt Pretorius

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WWE 2K14

Letters: letters@gameccamag.com

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XCOM: Enemy Within

Competition Entries: competitions@gameccamag.com

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Wonderbook: Book of Potions

Newsletter Subscriptions: www.gameccamag.com

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Just Dance 2014

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Invizimals: The Lost Kingdom

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WRC 4: FIA World Rally Championship

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Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy

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Air Conflicts: Vietnam

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Angry Birds Star Wars

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Wonderbook: Walking with Dinosaurs

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Sonic: Lost World

Design & Photography: 1337 Media cc Marketing Contact: Katia Taliadoros katia@1337-media.com

Taking fun seriously!

All rights reserved. No content may be reproduced, copied or transmitted without the express permission of the publishers. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editors and publishers. All Trademarks and Registered Trademarks are the sole property of the respective owners.

GAMECCA is published by 1337 MEDIA

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Copyright Š 1337 Media CC 2009 - 2013

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One Last Thing...

by Walt Pretorius

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From the Editor

nd so the last month of a truly exciting year is finally upon us. In just a few weeks we’ll all be popping champagne corks and wishing each other best for 2014, with many of us doubtlessly stating with all authority that it will be better than 2013. That sentiment always seems to come up when New Year’s Eve rolls around. But, in all honesty, 2013 wasn’t all that bad. In fact, there were some pretty awesome things that happened through the course of the last year, and still one awesome thing to come.

I am speaking, of course, of the South African launch of the PlayStation 4, which will take place on the 13th of December, 2013. Usually, at this time of year, things are winding down, and the biggest titles have all already hit the shelves. But the launch of the PS4 is relatively late in our gaming calendar, meaning that there is still one massive event

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(and the associated games) to look forward to. If everything goes as planned, our January 2014 issue will have lots of information about the PS4 and available titles – good timing for those not lucky enough to get a PS4 before the end of the year… and if rumours are to be believed, most of the units coming in to South Africa have already been sold out through pre-order.

Something else that will be appearing in the first issue of next year is our annual awards article. There has been some debate already about which games deserve which awards.

The funny thing is, though, that most of the best games of 2013 came out earlier in the year. While the last quarter is traditionally a time that sees the finest titles released, this year has been less inclined to stick to that idea. Sure, we have seen a number of really great games hitting the shelves in the last two months, but there was a far more even

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spread of gaming goodness in 2013. This is partly due to the delays of certain key titles that were meant to be available for the PS4 and Xbox One launch window (with the latter being the ones we will have to wait even longer for, as no release date for the Xbox One has been announced for South Africa yet). Perhaps game developers wanted to hold back a little because of the Next Generation launches. Stranger things have happened.

So, all in all, it’s been a great and exciting year for us here at Gamecca, and we’re pretty sure that 2014 is going to get even better. But first, it’s time for some rest, and catching up on some extra gaming.

I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of myself and the entire Gamecca Crew, to wish you a Festive Season that is happy, safe, relaxing and, above all, crammed with great gaming.

See you in 2014! g

The Long Goodbye

by Sarah Snyman

IDoubleDQD

The views expressed in this column are not necessarily those of 1337 Media or Gamecca Magazine.

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’ve been running for miles. I’m filthy and the cops are hot on my heels. All I can see in my path are a collection of sandy dunes and construction vehicles. I have to get away.

“I take a sharp corner behind a particularly precarious looking pile of rubble and sprint as fast as my limited adrenaline reserves will carry me.

Suddenly, I see salvation.

Shots are being fired at me, but these cops seem to have less aim than sense. They know I’m getting away. How could they not know?

“Today, salvation has come in the form of a vehicle I have never driven before. I’m a sucker for a drop-top anything, but today, I’m going big. I climb up the ladder and shuffle into the driver seat… and by shuffle; I mean that I threw the

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previous occupant to his sandy death by shoving him out the other side.

It’s a gigantic yellow earth mover and I’ve never been more excited to move earth and other things, like cops.

I lean forward in my seat and start driving. One cop.

Two cops. Three cops and four cop cars.

Driving down the highway, listening to a talk show about crack cocaine and its positives, everything is right in the world. I swap cars with a less than willing gent who didn’t seem to appreciate my gifting of an earth mover in exchange for his SUV. “I pull into the driveway of my swanky but tasteful mansion, parking the stolen SUV next to a convertible owned by whatever European fitness instructor is currently trying to seduce my wife inside. I find her and

the Italian next to the pool, its yoga this week.

After attempting some stretches, I leave them alone and watch the news.

“There is a blonde controlling my behaviour. I know she’s there because I have never been this goddamn clumsy. She calls herself IDoubleDQD and she’d incapable of driving down the highway without killing a pedestrian. She makes me play with dogs, walk to my locations and get my hairstyle changed weekly. We used to rampage together; we used to see the sun come up over the Horizon together, from the couch for her, from the driver seat for me.

“Nowadays it’s a weekly visit that barely lasts and hour. I’m starting to miss her less and less, my cars last longer now and my heart couldn’t take that many cop chases anyway.

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I pour myself a whisky and salute the broad out in the most honourable of fashions. Goodbye IDoubleDQD, may your tits and terabytes live on and may you rediscover the joys of finishing every game that lands in your lap again soon.

“So now I wait here, in the driver seat of a mustang stolen from a grouchy looking man.

Listening out for the start-up sound on her PlayStation, the sudden jerk of my foot down onto the accelerator and the impending collision with another, even more expensive car. So long IDoubleDQD, may the corporate life release you soon, back into the arms of consoles, columns and gaming catharsis.”

It’s been an epic win from start to finish Gamecca, adios and farewell for now!. g

The Col Feature

The result of a long war is ten

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ension in Killzone: Shadow Fall gamecca54

by Walt Pretorius

ld War

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become the series’ mainstay.

First-person shooters on console were, for many years, ridiculed by the PC-enthusiast gamers out there. It all came down to a matter of control… how could a first-person shooter be effectively played with a controller that didn’t necessarily allow for pin-point precision and acceleration? It wasn’t until the PlayStation 2 came out that firstperson shooters were considered even remotely viable for console gaming.

That’s all different now, though; brave pioneers during the PlayStation 2 defied often-commonlyheld sentiment and went ahead, pushing boundaries and creating games that resulted in what we have now: a burgeoning FPS presence

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n the world of gaming, where iconic titles and characters abound, rare is the series that can lay claim to defining a genre. Rarer still is the series which, having so thoroughly eclipsed everything around it, has had its very name become synonymous with everything even remotely related to it. Grand Theft Auto has become the byword for open world games, and even titles that share only a vague similarity to it are inevitable weighed and measured according to the standards it sets. Now, with GTA 5 beckoning on the horizon, once again the gaming community is readying itself to plunge with heedless abandon into the heady world of decadence, crime and corruption that has

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on consoles. One of those pioneers was a Dutch development outfit called Guerrilla Games, and their contribution was a franchise called Killzone.

Now, with the release of the PS4, they have stepped up to the plate again‌ With the release of Killzone: Shadow Fall, Guerrilla games will have released five major games in the franchise, across three console iterations and on one handheld platform. That’s a pretty impressive feat for both the developers and the game. The Killzone trilogy has stood the test of time in this way, with fans returning again and again to the unique setting that Guerrilla created for their popular sci-fi first-person shooter series.

First published in late 2004, Killzone brought

a whole new world to the PlayStation 2. In this world, a human faction calling themselves the Helghast (after their home planet Helghan) attack their nearest neighbours, another human faction living on the lush and resource rich planet Vekta.

After having been defeated in the First Extrasolar War, the Helghast bided their time before taking this outer colony, which (along with Helghast) makes up the two habitable planets of the Alpha Centauri system.

While the game presented the player with tons of action, it carried several deeper undertones and commentaries about imperialism, colonisation and war.

2009 saw the release of the second major title

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The war effort of Helghan had gone wrong when the third instalment of this franchise landed.

Although the ISA had achieved many of their goals, they were forced to beat a hasty retreat from their enemy’s planet‌ and that was the environment that the player found themselves in. Released in 2011, Killzone 3 managed to further the improvements set out by the second game and, although the reception of this title (in terms of score) as a little lower than the second, it performed admirably in a market that had advanced significantly in the two years between it and Killzone 2.

The closing scenes of KIllzone 3 set the tone for Killzone: Shadow Fall. Some decades after the

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in the series (with Killzone: Liberation adding some more to the universe on PSP in 2006).

Following the plot set out in the original game and in Killzone: Liberation, Killzone 2 took PS3 players to the Helghast homeworld. With the war between Vekta and Helghan in full swing, Interplanetary Strategic Alliance (ISA) leaders decide that the Helghan leader must be captured, and send troops to Helghast to do just that.

Killzone 2, now at home on the PS3, performed much better in the eyes of critics than the first game did, and it received much critical acclaim.

The game also introduced online multiplayer, which was received very well by fans.

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surface of Helghan was rendered uninhabitable, half of the planet Vekta is inhabited bi Helghast refugees. A massive wall separates the two societies, but tensions still exist after the brutal conflict they had engaged in. It is into this setting that the player will step, amid the uneasy truth and mounting cold war brewing between the two factions. The new title promises tons of tension and a higher degree of covert action, compared to the first four Killzone games.

It also promises a number of technical improvements. These include elements like fully customisable multiplayer experiences, with up to 24 players taking each other on in eight different modes. Naturally, the increased power of the new

platform – not to mention tons more RAM – will see some dramatic changes to the way Killzone: Shadow Fall looks, feels and plays.

The entire game has been re-engineered from the ground up to ensure that it takes advantage of everything the powerful new PlayStation 4 has to offer. This includes a claimed native 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second throughout.

Although the game has already been released overseas,(to some mixed critical reception) South Africans will need to wait around two more weeks to get their hands on this next chapter. One thing is for sure, though – whether in single player or multiplayer, tons of tense action awaits those who revisit the conflict between Vekta and Helghan. g

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Previews Highlights 18 Titanfall Making a mech of things!

20 Dark Souls 2 Harder than a diamond...

22 Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Closing the story 23 Driveclub It’s all social and stuff...

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here are no more games to preview for 2013. Odd, isn’t it, that this exciting year is almost over already...

But there are good things on the horison, like tons of new PS4 awesomeness, and Xbox One coolness (when it gets here, of course).

In the meantime, while publishers get their 2014 ducks in a row, here are six upcoming games for you to take a look at... g

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Titanfall

Bumping Mechanical Uglies Meching a mess of the enemy

by Charlie Fripp

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employs mechanics that Infinity Ward fans might not be familiar with, in the sense that the first-person shooter video game makes use of online multiplayeronly matches. The title revolves around players on a war-torn planet who have to fight off enemies with the help of mech-style Titans and their pilots.

The studio said that with Titanfall, they want to bring “scale, verticality, and story” to first-person shooter multiplayer gaming, and added that players will get to see many elements traditionally reserved for single-player campaigns incorporated into the game.

While there might not be a solid plot as with single-player titles, the general goal is for players

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n what was probably one the most highlypublicised gaming industry walk-outs of 2010, former Infinity Ward employees Jason West and Vince Zampella left the game developer after being accused of “breaches of contract and insubordination”. To cut a long story very short, the pair went on to form Respawn Entertainment, to develop their own titles.

Three years after their dramatic exit from Infinity Ward, gamers were salivating to see what they have been working on, and at Microsoft’s E3 2013 press conference Respawn announced their debut title, Titanfall.

While it’s not a revolutionary step, the title

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g a m e c c a r ev i ew • i s s u e 1 7 • N ove m b e r 2 0 1 0

to complete team-based objectives as free-running pilots or inside agile mech-style Titans. Players will also be able to choose their faction – fight with the Interstellar Manufacturing Corporation (IMC), or be a rebel and join the Militia.

But players won’t simply be able to start the match in a Titan; they need to work for it. A time will be displayed as to when a Titan will be deployed, but if players manage to kill the opposing forces, the timer will reduce – spawning a Titan much more quickly.

Players will get to choose their Titan at the beginning of each map, and it has also been revealed that there are multiple types of Titans,

each with unique abilities and animations. It is sure to make a huge difference in the game, especially since Titans can be hijacked by enemy players.

But with all the chaos there has to be a bit of order, and the matches are over when a team reaches the other team’s evacuation dropship.

Titanfall is sure to change the way in which single-player and multiplayer games are developed, as Titanfall took over 60 awards at its E3 2013 reveal, including a record-breaking six E3 Critics Awards. It might not be everybody’s cup of tea, but fans have been looking forward to Titanfall since its announcement – and there is no stopping the excitement. g

AT A GLANCE: First Person Shooter

Mechs are very popular, and Titanfall shouldn’t disappoint.

Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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Respawn Entertainment Electronic Arts EA South Africa

Mar 2014

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Dark Souls II

Difficult is an Understatement There is no other game like it

by Charlie Fripp

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The title has become so popular that From Software announced a sequel to the action role-playing open world Dark Souls, with Dark Souls II set to launch in March next year. The Japanese are no strangers to horror, having been responsible for some of the most horrific titles and films, and they will be at the helm again.

Although Hidetaka Miyazaki served as director for Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls, he will not return as director for Dark Souls II, but will instead act as a supervisor and the game will be directed by Tomohiro Shibuya and Yui Tanimura. In what is also a bit of a surprise to fans of the franchise, Miyazaki stated that there will be no direct connection between Dark Souls

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he original Demon Souls has become notorious as one of the most difficult games franchises to play in recent memory.

The titled lacked the traditional check-point system where players can revert to the beginning of a section w they died. Instead, the title had a minimal amount of check-points, and if the player perished, it meant losing hours of valuable experience and hard-fought battles.

But that is also the reason why the title became popular in its own right – it was the incredibly difficult mechanics that kept users coming back for more.

Even if it was just to prove that they can beat the game.

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and Dark Souls II. Just like the emotional and involved plot of Demon’s Souls story, the plot for Dark Souls II will see a cursed character trying to find a cure for their agony, but no specifics have been made known yet. While Miyazaki explained that the two titles are linked, he said that “if the first game was set in the North Pole, this one would be in the South Pole; that sort of contrast.”

Players of the previous title will also be happy to learn that co-director Tomohiro Shibuya said that the studio has no intention of changing the control scheme and gameplay mechanics will be similar to its predecessor.

A number of changes will naturally be incorporated into the title, and one of them will be a change in how

Covenants work. The aspect allows players to align with different factions, and this time around it will be made easier to understand and more accessible to players.

It has also been revealed that the game world be about twice the size of the first Dark Souls, with the beginning of the title being a bit more accommodating to new players, as they might not be familiar with the full scope of the title.

This will prove to be an invaluable tool, as they title will continue with the franchise’s challenging gameplay.

“We do not plan on having an Easy Mode since we are creating this game with a thought that challenge and difficulty are core elements of the game,” Tanimura said. g

AT A GLANCE: Role-playing game

Continuing with the difficult gameplay, players are in for an epic battle Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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From Software Namco Bandai Games Megarom

Mar 2014

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Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy

Third Strike Out? Return of the protagonist

by Lein Baart

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AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Role-playing game

With its singular character focus, action orientated gameplay and stunning graphics, fans of the saga have plenty to look forward to.

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Square Enix Square Enix Megarom

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quare Enix is a company well known for its persistence, as a brief purview of the list of Final Fantasy games will easy show you. While idioms featuring dead horses and whips don’t quite apply, with a roster of over thirty titles all bearing the Final Fantasy name it’s fair to say that Square Enix have invested a decent amount of time in the franchise. The crazy thing though is that even after 26 years the series continues to sell in the millions, and while XIII-2 may not have being met with quite the same enthusiasm as its prequel, the conclusion of the saga, Final Fantasy: Lightning Returns, has generated a fair amount of excitement from a crowd one would think jaded by now.

Part of this eagerness stems from the fact that Lightning Returns will forgo one of usual staples of the series, throwing out party play in favour of focussing exclusively on the eponymous heroine. To this end the Paradigm system of the first two games is being discarded, with equipment choice taking centre stage instead as various weapons, armour and clothing will all unlock different moves for Lightning to use, and will be swappable in combat.

The plot, in which Lightning awakes five hundred years after the events of the second game only to be told she has thirteen days to save the souls of the world, will have a direct effect on the gameplay, as the clock is ticking and only through the completion of quests can it be extended. It’s an innovative and intriguing idea, though one that should be handled with care lest players feel too pressurised. g

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Driveclub

Racing Gets Social Taking the fight to the track

by Charlie Fripp

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AT A GLANCE: Racing

From the developers of MotorStorm, racing is going on-track instead of off.

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Evolution Studios Sony Ster Kinekor

TBD 2014

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acing titles are extremely popular on the PlayStation console, and when the new PlayStation 4 was announced, naturally a host of racing titles made their way onto the lips of car enthusiasts. The MotorStorm franchise was one of the first on PlayStation 3, and now developer Evolution Studios is set to be one of the first again.

Their new title, Driveclub, was announced during the PlayStation 4 announcement in February, and immediately the studio explained that while it is on a new console, the fundamental difference is that Driveclub will take place on road racing rather than off-road – like MotorStorm.

But before fans think that publisher Sony is taking on a new Gran Turismo title, Driveclub will rather be in direct competition with Codemasters’ Grid 2. For a unique twist, players will be able to manage racing teams and incorporate the PlayStation Plus network and PlayStation 4’s “share” features to further enhance the experience.

While the title promises to be something truly special, it hasn’t been without its problems. The title was originally scheduled for release this year, but in October the studio announced that it would be pushed back to early 2014. “Driveclub will be a truly innovative, socially connected racing game, but the team requires more time in order to deliver on their vision - and I’m fully confident the game will surpass your expectations,” explained Sony’s Shuhei Yoshida.

According to the developers, the title aims to “bring to life the heart and soul of car culture” while letting gamers feel the “exhilaration of racing the most powerful and beautifully designed cars in the world.” Having been developed for the PS4, naturally players can expect stunning graphics. g

Rambo: The Video Game

Not Dead Yet… Can nostalgia win the day?

by Walt Pretorius

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AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Shooter

What should be a rather simple title at its core, lots of work needs to be done before the game hits the shelves Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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Treyon Reef Entertainment TBC

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hen Rambo: First Blood hit cinemas in 1982 it shocked and divided audiences over its stark portrayal of a man torn apart by his experiences of war, struggling with demons that have left him alienated from the world around him. It was as much a psychological thriller as it was an action film, and to this day is lauded as one of the most memorable films of the ‘80s. The next two sequels… well not so much. And while you might think that franchise is as dead as Richard Crenna, publisher Reef Entertainment and polish developer Treyon are determined to resurrect it for at least one more gore-soaked outing.

Rambo: The Video Game aims to take players through the major events of the first three films, from the mountainous terrain of Hope, Washington to the arid deserts of Afghanistan.

While the game will ostensibly follow the narrative of the films, the trailers show a title that isn’t likely to be focussed on strong plot delivery.

Just how Rambo will be played is a bit of mystery. Resembling nothing more than a railshooter in the style of Time Crisis or Virtua Cop, albeit with comically large heads, the official website promises to mix things up with “fixed-perspective infiltrations”, “mini-missions”, “multiple paths” and the ever incurable “thirdperson, quick-time-events sequences”. How this will all mesh together is an unknown, but expect a liberal accompaniment of blood.

While nostalgia is often a powerful force in the market, it’s fair to argue that some things are better left to the rose-tinted past. Whether Rambo holds true for this remains to be seen, but Treyon needs to give the game some serious polish before its release next year. g

PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Dragonball Z: Battle of Z

Goku & Friends Return!

More transformations, more power and it’s over 9000!

by Nthato Morakabi

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AT A GLANCE: Fighting

The Z-Fighters are back for more Dragonball Z action, fighting through all the chronicles leading to a new enemy that pushes them to new limits.

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Artdink Namco Bandai Megarom

Jan 2014

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he Z-Fighters burst back into action with yet another action packed saga that sees Goku and friends face off against a new enemy, one that is sure to push the Z-Fighters to whole new levels.

Play through the entire Dragonball Z storyline, from the threat of the Saiyans and the defining battle against Frieza straight through to the Majin Buu saga. Experience other side chronicles based on the Dragonball Z movies featuring characters such as Frieza’s brother Cooler, Goku’s father Bardock and the Legendary Super Saiyan Broly. Face off against a roster of over 70 familiar characters from the Dragonball Z universe, including fighters from the recently released movie Battle of Gods.

Battle of Z will introduce a new battle system that allows up to eight players to face off at once in a four versus four battle, or fight against gigantic foes in an intense four player team bout reminiscent of the Dragonball Z anime. Players will be able to team up for special techniques, such as launching continuous team attacks against the enemy or offering up energy to bring a fighter back into the battle, or ki to power up a fighter for one last ultimate move. With four different battle types for the characters - Fighting Type, Ki Blast Type, Support Type and Interference Type - this new battle system means players will have to rely on one another to take down foes, utilizing all of their abilities in both ground and sky battles to be victorious.

Dragonball Z: Battle of Z looks to bring something new and fresh into the genre with the unique team battle feature and various game modes that will be available to play. g

One or Four?

by Suvesh Arumugam

The Soapbox

The views expressed in this column are not necessarily those of 1337 Media or Gamecca Magazine.

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ight now, if you are any kind of gamer (hard-core or casual), you won’t be able to go through your social media newsfeed or make it past the office water cooler without someone asking you whether you’ll be buying an Xbox One or a PlayStation 4.

I’ve been thinking about this, and I’m pretty sure that there wasn’t this amount of backslapping and inquisition when the previous generation of consoles was released.

Well, this was partly due to us never seeing console releases coincide like this before, but also because very few regular folks could actually buy consoles on release. And I think that hasn’t changed much.

With PS4’s pre-order pricing for SA ranging

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between R6800 and R7000, that’s just a whole lot of Randela’s out of your Christmas budget for a personal perk. While some may have the luxury of charging it to their Amex card, most people would have been saving diligently in the hopes of raising the necessary cash. But when families are crying for holidays, presents and bonuses – it’s a pretty tough task to find a kink in the budget to cover R7k. And that’s just the console – you still need games! While it looks like there may be only a slight increase in game prices – it’s not likely that we’ll see many platinum or budget titles just yet. So to get the bare minimum i.e. one fighting game, one racing game and one adventure, you’re looking at another R2500 – we’re

close to an even R10k now.

Then we need to talk accessories. While the console does come standard with a PS4 camera, you’re gonna need another controller – so add on another R900 bucks or so. The truth is forking our R11000 is most likely going to cause a few credit cards to melt and a few parents to take second jobs for 2014. I can’t imagine that Xbox One is going to be any cheaper.

I can’t help but wonder if Sony and Xbox have just got it all wrong. We live in an age where stuff should be getting cheaper.

Laptops, cameras, gadgets and broadband are all getting cheaper and cheaper, but gaming consoles and games are getting more expensive

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in real terms. With loads of free Facebook and Mobile games on Android and iOS, should console makers be offering more value to consumers to stimulate game purchases? I can’t help but fantasise about Ouya’s business model becoming the standard – with a modestly priced console as a start-up purchase, and then a range of free to midpriced games to really get more people gaming without breaking the bank.

Hopefully the direction the rest of the world is headed in will finally take with core technologies like gaming consoles (or at least console makers will find ways to throw in more value like free Netflix membership for life) to help us working stiffs get in on the gaming. g

Mushroom Nation...

Console General

by Montgommery Paton

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nd so the initial launches of the PS4 and Xbox One have taken place, and we here in South Africa still need to spend just a little under two weeks salivating and daydreaming while reading information on the internet about what awaits us. The PS4 will be here on the 13th of December, 2013, and it will be a glorious day for us all. And those that are grumbling may well have their feelings soothed by the fact that Japan (of all countries) will have to wait until the 22nd of February, 2014, before they can experience the same.

And then the Xbox One will be here… well, we still have no idea. We don’t know when, and we don’t know how much. There isn’t much sense in getting all irate at Microsoft South Africa either because, from what I have heard and gleaned, the local representatives are fighting to get the Xbox One here as fast as possible, for as low a price as possible.

But they are fighting against

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all hope, possibly, because the big bosses over at Xbox have made their decisions, and they’re sticking to them.

We are, ultimately, a small territory in their eyes, and we probably don’t add much to their bottom line.

Still, it smacks of overconfidence on their part. Either they simply don’t care enough, or they believe that the Xbox One will still perform well when it eventually does get here.

It probably will, when all is said and done, but one has to remember that, while we have a large number of Xbox fans here in South Africa, this country is still, by and large, a proPlayStation territory. We need something – anything – from Microsoft for Xbox adherents to cling to.

The real problem here is one of perception. Microsoft seem to be showing that they only care about money, while their rivals over at Sony (by getting consoles out to the world as fast as possible, even leaving their home territory for last)

are showing that they care about gamers. In truth, Sony care just as much about money as Microsoft do, but it is the perception that they are creating that is actually going to benefit their bank account when all is said and done. And it’s something that has been going on since the start of the console war for this generation; Microsoft has come across as telling gamers what they want, while Sony has the image of giving gamers what they want.

I am not trying to start any fights here, nor am I pointing fingers. I am just calling it as I see it. And I would, for the good of South African gaming as a whole, love to be able to issue an impassioned plea to Microsoft’s bosses.

Please let us know what is going on. For the sake of gaming – and your reputation within what many in the international game industry believe is a very powerful emerging market – let us know

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something, anything about when we can expect the Xbox One, and how much it will cost us. Because if you don’t, the damage may be enough to set Xbox back further in the South African marketplace. And nobody wants that. Besides, people may literally have to fit the purchase of an Xbox One into their budget, and need a bit of time to prepare.

But if that information doesn’t come to light (I would caution the Microsoft bosses) don’t blame South African gamers if things don’t go well for the Xbox One. We are a keen, enthusiastic people, but we don’t like being treated like afterthoughts. South Africa has a very loyal group of Xbox fans… don’t punish them for their devotion.

Hopefully there will be some news for us before the end of this year. But, with December already here and people getting ready for vacation time, that’s pretty unlikely. Let’s hope for some word in early 2014... g

Y E S T E R D AY, TO D A Feature

A brief history of PlayStation

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AY, TO M O R R O W

n‌ and a look at the future. gamecca54

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t’s painfully clear … your eyes aren’t set up to look at a screen all day.

On the 3rd of December, 1994, the world changed. It was on this day that Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. launched a video game console that would become so pervasive that it would almost become synonymous with video games: the PlayStation. With the initial release only in Japan and international releases happening around a year later, the PlayStation was set to become a video game legend. It formed part of the fifth generation of video game consoles and became the first console to ship more

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than 100 million units worldwide.

Although this lofty goal took 11 years to achieve, it was a sign of things to come.

The original PlayStation was powered by a 33.8MHz processor and games were played from a CD-ROM (an extremely novel idea to gamers back then, who were used to the idea of games coming on cartridges). The popularity of the console resulted in sales extending well into the lifetime of its successor, the PlayStation 2… it was finally discontinued six years after the PS2 officially launched.

The PS2 showed significant progress over the original console. As part of the sixth gamecca54

generation, it had to compete with the likes of the Sega Dreamcast, Microsoft’s Xbox and Nintendo’s GameCube.

To this end, Sony delivered a machine that was significantly more powerful than the original.

On the 4th of March, 2000, the PlayStation 2 – powered by a 294MHz CPU and 32mb of RAM – hit the market. Later models featured an upgraded CPU that delivered 299MHz of performance.

This new console provided players with a much improved experience. It also became an easy way to enjoy the increasingly popular idea of watching movies on DVD, which

was a fairly new standard at the time and was being eagerly adopted by numerous movie studios as a replacement for VHS. Although speculation, many believe that part of the PS2’s success stemmed from the fact that it could be used to play games and watch movies on DVD… and in some territories (like South Africa) it proved to be the cheapest option for DVD players for some time.

The fact that games could now be played from DVD disks also changed the user experience.

The more powerful hardware and added capacity of the disks meant that PS2 games were miles ahead of their predecessors. The

console proved extremely popular, and once again sold well into the lifetime of its successor. In fact, here in South Africa the PS2 has proven to be extremely popular, even with the PS3 on the market.

Production for the unit was discontinued in January 2013, with more than 155 million units sold during its long life span.

When the PlayStation 3 launched in 2006, the word was no longer talking about processor power in terms of MHz. GHz was the new terms, and the PS3’s 3.2GHz cell processor not only sat in line with general tech progress, but it also outstripped the PS2’s processing power significantly.

With 256MB of system RAM, gamecca54

256MB of video RAM and a much more powerful CPU, the PS3 was lightyears ahead of the PS2 in terms of power. But there were other changes that Sony worked in to their offering, too. For the first time storage on the device came in the form of a hard drive, rather than the memory cards used by the first two PlayStation iterations. These hard drives ranged in size, from 20GB right through to 500GB (admittedly in later models). The inclusion of the hard drive not only made saving games easier, but it opened up a whole new world of possibilities for gamers. One of these was online multiplayer gaming, something which Sony

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PS4 Launch Titles The following games are retail launch titles for the PS4. Their availability in South Africa will be subject to confirmation. Additionally, there are numerous titles distributed via PSN not listed here.

Angry Birds Star Wars Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag Battlefield 4 Call of Duty: Ghosts FIFA 14 Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition Just Dance 2014 Killzone: Shadowfall Knack LEGO: Marvel Super Heroes Madden NFL 25 NBA 2K14 Need for Speed: Rivals Skylanders: Swap Force

The following games will be available within the PS4 “launch window”, which closes in March 2014.

Once again these are retail titles – there will be several more games (not listed here) available via PSN. DriveClub infamous: Second Son Thief

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Wolfenstein: New Order

had never really concentrated on before. But the PS3 had to offer this functionality, what with Microsoft’s Xbox 360 being very oriented towards the concept.

PSN because the network that would facilitate this, with Sony offering users free access (in contrast to Microsoft’s paid services).

Another new feature came from a different direction, and was possibly a reaction to what the other Japanese gaming giant, Nintendo, was doing with their new Wii console. While Sony didn’t go the full motioncontrolled route that the Wii followed, the PS3’s controller was motion sensitive, using a

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technology called Sixaxis. Later this movement control would be taken further, when the PlayStation Move system was released in 2010.

In addition, the PS3 was to Bluray what the PS2 was to DVD. Once again, in certain territories, some of the PS3’s success was attributed to the fact that it was a very affordable Blu-ray player that could also play games.

The PlayStation Eye has also had quite an overhaul for this iteration, and will offer numerous new functionalities, including voice recognition. Sony don’t seem to be concentrating on this later aspect too much, but the functionality is there. gamecca54

A revamped PSN will also await players, but the service will become a paid one in future, much like Xbox Live. This will undoubtedly not sit well with some PSN fans, but will likely help Sony deliver an even better experience than before.

With so many new features, the PlayStation 3 proved extremely popular, sparking a stiff competition between PS3 and Xbox 360. The Wii, in the meantime, outpaced both competitors, with significant sales world-wide. Despite the success of the Wii, the PS3 has sold over 15 million units worldwide (as of November 2012) and, if history is anything

to go by, will continue to be produced and sold well into the foreseeable future.

But the time has come for this significant console to take a back seat – the PlayStation 4 has been launched in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Brazil already. It will launch in South Africa on the 13th of December, 2013. While this has caused some complaining from local PlayStation fans, South Africa is not the only country that is seeing a later release of the console; Korea, India and South East Asia will also be getting the PS4 during December. The Middle East release corresponds with the SA release, and other countries

will have to wait even longer.

Honk Kong gets it on the 17th, Taiwan on the 18th, Singapore on the 19th and Malaysia on the 20th of December, 2013.

Most surprising of all is that Japan – traditionally one of the first territories to have a new PlayStation released) will have to wait until the 22nd of February, 2014 for their PS4 consoles. That should make South Africans feel just a little better about having to wait a few short weeks before they can get their hands on one of the most highly anticipated devices of the year.

Why exactly it is so highly anticipated is easy to see. In terms of specifications, it is far gamecca54

beyond anything we have seen thus far. An 8-core CPU will deliver the processing, and unified RAM will take care of system memory and graphics - 8GB of unified RAM. Additionally, storage will be provided by an upgradeable 500GB hard drive.

The controller has also been updated – it is now larger and features new design and tech elements, including improved triggers and a touch sensitive pad.

But the real excitement is more about what the PS4 will be able to do. For some months now we have been seeing videos and screen shots of the first batch of games that will be available for

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the PS4. We even got to see it in action at rAge 2013. And it is these hints that have really brought excitement to a fever pitch. Additionally, reviews from overseas have been whetting our appetites via the Internet. “The PlayStation 4 serves up dazzling graphics, runs on a simplified and logical interface, and boasts a fantastic controller,” is what Cnet.com had to say about it. “We may not review game consoles every day, but we know a good one when we see it. This is just the beginning with PlayStation 4, and it’s a hell of a start,” was Endgadget. com’s take. “It’s a powerful console with understated and

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forward-thinking designs applied throughout, and though it won’t win awards for innovation, it’s an impressive next-gen gaming console, and a big step forward for the PlayStation brand,” was what Gamespot.com summarised their lengthy review with.

With all the hype – including the fact that the PS4 sold over 1 million units within the North American region within 24 hours of launch – it’s difficult not to get excited. But there are a few things that we need to remember about the PS4’s South African launch… a little foresight can help avoid disappointment, after all.

The first thing is that rumours gamecca54

would have us believe that the larger part of the initial shipment to South Africa (to be launched on the 13th of December) has already been sold out on preorder. While we could neither confirm or deny this, it might be prudent to take the approach that finding a PS4 on-shelf in a store before early next year may be difficult. Our best advice is to get to the stores early… if they have any, the early birds will certainly snap them up.

Secondly, there is a Day One update required. The PS4 will apparently play games without it, but online services (including multiplayer gaming) will not be available without it. It’s just over

300mb in size, so it shouldn’t prove to be too problematic… possibly just time consuming.

This update may or may not be preinstalled with our slightly later versions of the consoles, but being prepared to go through it is a safe bet.

The third thing to remember is that it will take a little time for game developers to come to grips with the new hardware. In other words, don’t expect too many miracles in the first few game releases. After all, the truly tremendous games of the PS3 stable were released in the last few years (we’re talking games with awesome technical values, like The Last of Us, Beyond:

Two Souls and Tomb Raider, all released this year). That’s not to say that the first titles will be bad… a glance at the release list at the end of this article will provide a lot to get excited about.

But truly great games take time and experience to create, and in this case experience with the PS4 will be crucial.

And what about the PS3? As said before, history shows that previous consoles have served as entry points to gaming during the lifetime of their successors. So it would be safe to assume – based on past events – that the PS3 will still be around for a while, and will continue to enjoy the support of game developers for some years gamecca54

to come. It will likely become the new entry point for PlayStation gaming which, in all honesty, is still a pretty impressive place to start.

The local launch for PS4 is less than two weeks away at the time of publishing. To avoid any kind of disappointment with this initial launch, getting there early, expecting updates and being realistic about games is crucial.

That said, it is still an incredibly exciting time, and one that begins a whole new era of console gaming. With initial reactions from territories that already have their PS4s being generally positive, it looks like we have a lot to look forward to. g

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Reviews Highlights 40 Call of Duty: Ghosts All the action, and a dog too!

44 Need for Speed: Rivals Social street racing action 48 LEGO Marvel Super Heroes The best LEGO game yet?

50 WWE 2k14 Smack talk and attitude...

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t this time of year, we normally resign ourselves to the fact that all the good game have already been released...

But 2013 is different for South Africa; the PS4 is still coming!

Until then, why not get to grips with the 15 games we investigate in this issue... g

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Call of Duty: Ghosts

Dog Days There are new ghosts in town

by Charlie Fripp

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and Black Ops being the first three. So from that aspect, the developer already had a great basis to work from.

In terms of plot, the Ghosts are an elite squad of fighters who go in undercover to do the military’s dirty work. When a former Ghost returns to the scene, they soon realise the he is out to eliminate them all – and he must be stopped.

Making use of the familiar general mechanics from the entire franchise, one thing that Ghosts does add is a playable dog named Riley. While he doesn’t feature as a main character, it is the first time that gamers will be able to control a non-human to fight in battles.

Riley, a German Shepard, has the ability to sniff out enemies and viciously attack them – clearing the path for the player to proceed – all controlled by the player. He has a number of other gadgets strapped to his body as well, which will help players spot and track enemies.

Review

he entire Call of Duty franchise is one of the most successful in the gaming industry. So much so that it is almost a given that any new title will be well-received. Call of Duty Ghosts managed to make more than US$1-billion in the first 24 hours of being on sale, but is it as good as the previous titles?

Gamers can ridicule all they want, but one fact remains true – Call of Duty is incredibly successful, and that isn’t about to change. Sure, there are laughter and jokes about new versions only being expensive map-packs, but developer Infinity Ward has added a whole bunch of new features to their latest title, Call of Duty: Ghosts, to keep players coming back.

The Ghosts aspect of the title is a new direction for the franchise, taking the series into a fourth direction – with the original World War II games, Modern Warfare series

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In terms of graphics, returning players to the franchise will notice a significant boost to the visuals, yet be familiar with the graphical style from the previous games. The same can be said about the control scheme, and that is also something that draws players back into the franchise – the familiarity.

The controls have pretty much stayed the same since the last iteration, a tried-and-tested formula that players know absolutely works. It all comes together with a gripping plot, but while the controls and graphics stayed almost the same, at times there are some exciting set pieces in the title and it will provide for a number of hours of action-packed fun.

But no game is perfect, and Ghosts certainly isn’t immune to that idea. A problem that plagues almost all shooter titles is the linear way of telling a story and forcing the player to be at specific points during battle, or to trigger a set-piece.

Players will often be forced to return to a previous spot

if they have wandered too far ahead of the non-playable characters (NPCs).

This is also evident during scripted dialogues, as the NPC characters will block the path of the player – forcing them to listen to the conversations. It is not always a bad thing, but it sometimes feels like the secondary characters in the title have no sense of urgency.

It’s not really a major issue, but Infinity Ward also decided to depart from the usual mini-map in the corner of the HUD for player to keep track of enemies and to orientate themselves. It can cause a bit of confusion sometime, as most FPS title still incorporate this aspect.

For players on lower difficulties, there is usually a snapping function for aiming at enemies, but in Ghosts it seems to be a bit shoddy. The player will snap to an enemy’s last location, and if the enemy is moving around, it will mean

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hours.

The multiplayer for Ghosts consists of a rather unique set of new aspects and mechanics. Taking a page from rival Battlefield, areas of maps in Ghosts can now be altered or destroyed, and new weapons have been added.

The multiplayer experience can be divided into three separate categories: the main Multiplayer section; Squads; and Multiplayer. The main multiplayer section is exactly what players would expect, as it houses popular modes such as Team Deathmatch, Search and Destroy and Domination, as well as new ones like Search and Rescue, Cranked and Blitz.

Squads is a mode that can be describes as an offline yet online multiplayer mode. Gamers will be able to form squads with AI characters and train with them through a number of modes and maps. A squad consists of ten different customizable characters, and will join the

Review

that the snapping will always be slightly off.

The lack of a mini-map and enemy-snapping that is not entirely accurate can cause a bit of frustration for players, but as mentioned Ghosts is at heart and soul exactly what the Call of Duty franchise has been all these years.

There are some sections that are incredibly tough to get through, but once completed, it feels like it was all worth it.

Minor issues aside, Call of Duty: Ghosts should be on the shelf of every Call of Duty fan. For those who have yet to play any of the CoD titles, Ghosts is an excellent place to start.

While the main single-player campaign is not very long, clocking in at just over four hours if players game at a steady pace, the real value for money lies in the multiplayer modes, which is sure to keep gamers busy for

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player in tackling other online players and their squads.

While gamers still have to be online to access the main multiplayer section, Squads can be played by gamers against an entire bot squad – offline.

Within Squads there are also different modes, such as Squad Assault, Safeguard, Safeguard Infinite, Squad vs Squad, and Wargame – all requiring different tactics and weapons to execute. Some of the modes can be a bit confusing and repetitive, but it’s a great learning experience for new players. And anything that players do in multiplayer, be it Squads or Extinction, contributes towards their online rank.

Extinction is a new multiplayer experience where up to four players band together against various types of aliens in a base-defending survival style map. Players won’t be thrown into the deep end, as they will be able to

choose from four different class types, with unique traits and customizable loadouts. As with the other multiplayer modes, it also contributes towards their online rank, and players can level up their classes, unlocking more weapons and equipment for their loadouts.

While Squads is a bit redundant and Extinction is a welcome distraction, the main grit of the multiplayer will always be in the sanctioned part of the experience. It’s where the traditional multiplayer lies, and it will be the mode most visited by players.

The entire package for Ghosts is as solid as the franchise, and it’s refreshing to see that publisher Activision has the foresight to add a new concept to the series. Players of previous titles will truly enjoy Ghosts, while there is no better place to kick off a new experience. g

AT A GLANCE: First Person Shooter

Reviewed on:

X360

Taking the franchise in a new direction, things are about to heat up.

Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Battlefield 4, Spec Ops: The Line.

Local

2

Network

Online

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Infinity Ward Activision Megarom

Parental Advisory

16+ gamecca54

8

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

Platforms

Genre:

PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

80 43

Need for Speed: Rivals

Meeting the Need?

Does Rivals fill the gap for the franchise?

by Walt Pretorius

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has spent almost half of its life trying to clamber back up the ranks of driving simulators to the lofty position it once commanded.

It hasn’t been an easy road, not by a long shot. The most recent two releases (before Rivals) were The Run and a Most Wanted reboot that both failed to impress… particularly in the case of the former.

But the valuable name of Need for Speed is something that publisher EA will keep fighting for, and this year’s release, Need for Speed: Rivals, does a lot to reverse the flagging fortunes of the series.

Rivals is, like the Most Wanted reboot, an open world racing game with strong nods towards Hot Pursuit. Players can take on the role of either racers or cops in a game that seamlessly integrates single and multiplayer gaming. With a fairly large world to explore,

Review

he Need for Speed franchise has been around for almost twenty years now. First released in 1994, this series has always been about driving awesome, fast cars. And then in 1998, when the third title was released, it started a trend that would change the franchise forever – the introduction of the Hot Pursuit concept, in which players could take the part of either racers or cops, and try to catch (or escape from) each other.

This initial flirtation with the wrong side of the law grew into the release of things like Underground and Most Wanted, which proved wildly popular. But then around 2005 (when ProStreet was released) the franchise began declining. Although there have been moments of greatness in the interim (the 2010 reboot of Hot Pursuit springs to mind) the franchise

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players can cruise around looking for races, time trials or other kinds of trouble. Playing single player can be unforgiving, as the game presents the player with steep challenge curves interspersed with easier plateaus. The AI relishes these changes, and the player may often find themselves outclassed, leading to a lot of frustration.

The game’s currency is a large part of where the frustration comes from. Instead of money, racers earn speed points, which can be spent on new vehicles and broadly-categorised upgrades. The problem is that if the player is bust by cops, all their speed points are lost. Getting bust after a long chase and losing a good amount of “money” hurts, and not in a good way. The cops who take these speed points don’t use them as much – they get new vehicles for free.

The player can bounce between being a racer or a cop

at will. The open world multiplayer nature of the game means there is no pausing, but changing alliances and other activities can be done at either hideouts or mobile bases (depending on the faction) dotted around the map.

So does Need for Speed: Rivals manage to get the franchise back to where it needs to be? Not entirely; it is great fun to play and the protracted chases can lead to some pretty awesome moments. But the lack of depth in things like upgrades and the fact that events soon get repetitive – not to mention that there is a lot of grinding to do to get anywhere in the game – all manage to knock it down a few notches. It is great fun to play, particularly in multiplayer, and it looks great to boot, but it certainly isn’t the Need for Speed game fans so sorely want. g

AT A GLANCE: Racing

Reviewed on:

It may come closer than previous games, but Rivals still does not return the Need for Speed franchise to its former glory.

Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

NFS: Hot Pursuit, NFS: Most Wanted Local

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Network

Online TBC

Ghost Electronic Arts EA South Africa

Parental Advisory

7+ gamecca54

0

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

PS3 Platforms

Genre:

PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

79 45

Spongebob Squarepants: Plankton’s Robotic Revenge

Childish Antics Ahoy!

Mash those buttons, mash ‘em good!

by Nthato Morakabi

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Spongebob and friends embark on an adventure through Bikini Bottom with the intention of getting the keys back before Plankton can, thereby foiling the luckless antagonists’ plans.

A spinning whirlpool transports players into their adventure with a choice of playing as the popular characters Spongebob, Patrick, Mr Krabs, Squidward or Sandy. Each playable character has a unique style of play, attack move set and flair but unfortunately it’s all really just the same.

The difference is the uniqueness of their moves, animated so that it captures the personality of the characters, such as the acrobatic dive bomb for the tentacled Squidward or the painful Spongebob belly flop. Spongebob also utilizes his legendary karate foam-glove to smack foes around and it’s unfortunate that the other characters don’t have similar quirks to their attacks.

Review

pongebob Square Pants is a name that oozes childishness and nonsensical cartoon humour that only kids would consume and the game follows along in that pattern. Not to say the game is not fun to play; its zany and energetic and good, easy fun.

The story begins when a boat accidentally drops batteries into the sea and they fall conveniently outside the Rust Bucket where antagonist, Plankton, runs his rather unsuccessful restaurant. Not wasting any time, his computer utilizes the batteries to build him and his plankton family a set of giant robots. Plankton then proceeds to the Krusty Krab in his giant robot, to his arch-nemesis Mr Krabs and proceeds to steal the safe that holds the Kraby-Pattie formula - Mr Krabs’ secret ingredient. Plankton also manages to get the location of the keys to the safe and heads out to obtain them.

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The game starts off slow enough for you to get an idea of how to play, which means breaking a number of wooden barrels here and there and facing basic, non-threatening robots. The control system isn’t complicated which means most of the time its repetitively pressing the same buttons to quickly dispense of enemies. The game does become harder as you progress and the enemies come at you faster, and do more to defeat you… which requires constant movement, button mashing and utilizing everything you can.

The game’s currency is sprockets, found through defeating enemies and breaking barrels; these sprockets can then be used to get and then upgrade various comical weapons called gizmos, one of which is called the Pickle Blaster – you can imagine the wild times.

The enemies are easy enough to dispatch even as they grow in number and intensity – even boss battles are

predictable but considering the game’s target audience, this will be a fun challenge. The game is somewhat forgiving in that the health bar is two-fold thereby giving you a chance for a comeback by way of the many health chests scattered around each level. Where the game kicks you down, though, is through the sprocket reset when you die. After breaking tons of barrels and belly flopping countless robots, collecting truckloads of sprockets and being ready to upgrade a gizmo, an unexpected death means that they reset back to zero.

The levels are true to the cartoon in terms of design and look, with variation between the three main stages, though it can be frustrating being unable to control the camera and have to rely on the in-game camera to rotate for you when it’s supposed to.

Overall the game can be quite fun and challenging and the humour is much like the cartoon. A fun way to unwind. g

AT A GLANCE: Action-Adventure

Plakton finds the means to steal the Krabby Patty formula from Mr Krabbs and its up to Spongebob and friends to get it back.

Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Ratchet & Clank Local 00

Network 00

Behaviour Interactive Activision Megarom

Parental Advisory

7+ gamecca54

Online 00

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

Reviewed on:

X360 Platforms

Genre:

PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

75 47

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes

Marvellous!

More heroes than you can shake a hammer at!

by Walt Pretorius

D

influences from the various movies that have been made.

The result is a combination of influences… Spider-man, for example, looks more like the comic version (complete with the odd resting poses), while Hawkeye is undeniably influenced by the Avengers movie. There is even a LEGO version of Stan Lee that pops up in unlikely places from time to time.

As always, this particular title offers a wide roster of unlockable characters, whether heroes, villains or support characters. Most of the game’s attention is given to characters that have featured in films: Iron Man, Captain America, Spider-Man, Hulk and so on. There are so many characters available, though, that it is inevitable that even some of the comic publisher’s more obscure characters will also make an appearance. This is the largest roster of characters that Traveller’s Tales have fielded to date, but the

Review

espite one or two minor lows, one can pretty much safely say that Traveller’s Tale’s long running series of LEGO games have gone from strength to strength. From Star Wars and Indiana Jones, through Batman and Harry Potter, and even Pirates of the Caribbean, these games have poked fun at a whole bunch of well-loved properties. But it was LEGO City Undercover that truly defined the potential for open world activity for the series. That potential has been partially explored in the latest LEGO game, too – but it doesn’t need all that much freedom, because it’s crammed with LEGO version of Marvel Super Heroes, and that more than makes up for a little less running around.

Instead of following a particular movie franchise, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes takes on the world presented by the comics. That said, the characters all show very strong

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incredible size of the Marvel universe makes that possible.

The game dynamics do not stray far from the LEGO staple.

This game contains tons of platforming, lots of action and generally simple, location based puzzles – as well as lots of LEGO building to do. Each stage will also have numerous items and things to do that only specific characters can do.

More accurately, only characters with specific power sets can do… certain characters get “upgraded” as the game progresses. As an example, Iron Man cannot access certain things until he gets an upgraded suit, at which point he gets new abilities, and players can revisit completed levels with him to gain access to the previously inaccessible. Sometimes the game is a little unclear, though, as to which characters can access which thing. For example, certain items are only accessible to “web slinging” characters, but Hawkeye’s rope arrows and Mr Fantastic’s “rubber” arms will do just fine.

This is one of the areas that indicates a lack of polish that creeps in to the whole affair. The game can sometimes be unclear as to what it expects from the player, and sometimes other poor design elements like mistimed dialogue creep in.

They can be annoyances but, for the most part, they do not detract from the main aim of LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: to have fun.

And this title delivers fun in truck-loads. Whether it is the addictive action, experimenting with different characters or just chuckling at the irreverent lampooning that is a series staple, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes has it all. It provides a large playground and tons of activities with great LEGO versions of very popular characters. The franchise has generally improved the time and, despite a few minor quibbles, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes stands as one of the finest LEGO games ever made. g

AT A GLANCE: Platform

Reviewed on:

Despite one or two minor unpolished elements, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes is one of the finest games ever in this long running franchise.

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Traveller’s Tales Warner Bros Ster Kinekor

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PS3 Platforms

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PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

89 49

WWE 2K14

It’s Wrestling Time!

A trip down memory lane.

by Nthato Morakabi

N

Wrestlemania. This game mode is all about reliving every Wrestlemania main event through the ages, beginning at its initialisation and working right through the years leading up to its third decade. Each fight features a list of objectives that one can complete and the objectives are related to the actual fight itself and what moves the particular wrestler used during that bout. There are also button prompt events known as Wrestlemania Moments that are a retelling of a defining moment in the fight that either turned the tide around in the fight or caused some sort of drama in the ring; an aspect that remains true to the proceedings that occur as seen on TV. The animated crowd adds much to the atmosphere as the wrestlers do and there is variety and enough detail in the crowd that it doesn’t look like a cut and paste job; the little details in the crowd, such as the hand-drawn signs,

Review

he lucrative world of professional wrestling has always been an interesting one, infused with adrenalin pumping action, heart-wrenching drama, and enough cheesy clichéd dialogue to appease 90’s action fanatics. And it has grown considerably through the ages, with each generation of fans fervent in their support for their favourite wrestler, cheering with each win and weeping with each loss – a truly gripping experience. WWE 2K14 seeks to capture the essence of the WWE through the generations, highlighting one of the most iconic events in the industry, Wrestlemania, and it has done a fantastic job at it.

The amalgamation of real-life footage, in-game depiction of the event and everything leading up to it, helps create the atmosphere and the tension of Wrestlemania in the main story mode, 30 Years of

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complete the impression. Other than that, the game is pretty much like its predecessors in that the wrestlers movements seem stocky and unnatural as they move about in the ring, the animations seem a bit improbable and things like a table falling apart from a mild throw is unrealistic.

The fights themselves do bring out the beauty of the game with a variety of grapples that each fighter can perform. It’s a fun exercise to try and figure out all of the different grapples one can perform, knowing that each one damages a specific part of the opponent. Finisher moves are just as stylish and impressive as the real thing and the OMG moments are the icing on top.

The controls are easy enough to understand and it’s less button mashing than it is timing and countering. This makes fighting more of a challenge as countering isn’t

the easiest thing to do and each fighter targets specific areas to attack. These aspects can be the deciding factor between victory and humiliating defeat.

A wide roster of fighters is available for use right in the beginning and playing through the Wrestlemania mode unlocks more of them, including the wrestlers of yesteryear. It is also possible to create your very own Super-Star for use in the various game modes, with the option of using existing fighters as templates.

The WWE Universe offers some fun match customisation, setting up of rivalries and other little gimmicks that allow you to make the game be exactly what you want. There is also the intense online mode to push players past AI fights and see how they fair on the online leader boards, while levelling up to be the best of the best.

WWE 2K14 is a wrestling game of note..g

AT A GLANCE: Fighting

Reviewed on:

Experience the hard-hitting, chair grappling action that has made WWE such a huge phenomenon.

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Score

85 51

XCOM: Enemy Within

Another Bug Hunt Or is that the same bug hunt over again?

by Walt Pretorius

W

be in the same boat. So when I feverishly jammed the disk into my Xbox 360 and waited for the desired turnbased strategy goodness to start, imagine my surprise when I realised that, on the surface at least, Enemy Within is pretty much the same thing as last year’s Enemy Unknown reboot.

Not that I would mind replaying Enemy Unknown, mind you… I thoroughly enjoyed it, warts and all. But the thought that this “new” release was pretty much the same thing was a little aggravating. As it turns out, though, it isn’t quite the same. The main thrust of Enemy Within is, yes, the same thing again, but there are new elements added to the game that give it a lot more depth and scope.

Perhaps the publishers should have been clearer (or maybe I should have paid better attention). But normally,

Review

hen XCOM: Enemy Unknown came out last year, I was particularly chuffed. I have long been a fan of the XCOM franchise, and a chance to return to the XCOM universe. And, like many other XCOM fans, when The Bureau: XCOM Declassified was released, I felt various degrees of enjoyment and disappointment. Mostly the latter, because the game just had too many inconsistencies to fit smoothly into a setting that has been around for just short of two decades.

Now I will admit to the fact that I was surprised to hear about another XCOM release so short on the heels of The Bureau… when I heard that XCOM: Enemy Within was going to hit shelves, my excitement got a little too much, and I didn’t do enough research.

Think what you will, but I suspect others fans may well

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when a game gets rereleased with a bunch of expansions (like the various Game of the Year editions that spring up after awards have been given) it’s made pretty plain that this is the case; the game certainly doesn’t get a new name, which is what happened here. Enemy Unknown.

Enemy Within. They south pretty different to me.

However, I am not trying to slam Enemy Within here – it’s a great game, particularly if you haven’t played the previous one. Even if you have, Enemy Within offers enough new content to make it feel fresher. For example, soldiers can now be genetically modified, or be fitted with cybernetic limbs that allow them to interface with battle mecs. There are a few new sub-plots, as well as a whole new enemy faction in the form of EXALT, a group of humans who want to work with the alien invaders.

All of these elements add a lot of depth to the title,

and getting things going smoothly is even trickier than before. When you get it right, though, the enhancements given to your soldiers really make a difference, even when you run into the two new alien types contained in Enemy Within.

What it comes down to is this: if you like turn based strategy and haven’t played Enemy Unknown, skip it and move straight to Enemy Within. The enhancements here have resulted in a lengthier, deeper experience.

Even if you have played Enemy Unknown, Enemy Within will provide a fresh experience, despite the fact that both games share pretty much the exact same primary plot line. It may prove to be an expensive exercise, but replaying this game with all the enhancements is great fun for those who like their strategy games thought provoking and meticulous. g

AT A GLANCE: Turn-based strategy

Reviewed on:

In truth, it’s a new version of Enemy Unknown, but with more options and extras... and that’s not a bad thing at all.

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Firaxis 2K Megarom

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Score

89 53

Wonderbook: Book of Potions

The Reality of Magic Cash-in, gimmick or game?

by Lein Baart

A

reviews. Now with Book of Potions out just in time for the Christmas rush, once again we are to be sucked into the magically altered world of the Wonderbook.

Anything relating to the Harry Potter universe is bound to create a stir among its massive fan base, but Book of Potions goes to considerable lengths to create a worthy addition to the franchise. Like Book of Spells before it, the game transforms the humble Wonderbook into a magical text, a seemingly perfect match for the actual design of the peripheral. It is quite literally the ultimate pop-up book, and the self-awareness that game demonstrates should see you enraptured throughout the eight hours or so of game time.

The story, in which you take up the role of a Hogwarts student competing in the Wizarding Schools Potions Championship, all the while aided Zygmunt Budge (the author of the Book of Potions), is a simple, light-hearted tale

Review

ugmented reality has, by and large, been a miss rather than hit affair when it comes to gaming.

Despite the appeal of injecting pixels into the world around us, a desire any gamer can relate to, most implementations have been poorly disguised cash-ins designed to ride the hype that any tech like this is bound to produce. That’s not to say there haven’t been some genuine attempts, with relatively recent hardware releases such as the Wii U showing a lot of promise for the future, but mostly augmented reality remains a gimmick rather a genuine alternative method for gaming.

The Wonderbook, however, has already proven an exception to the rule. Despite no games releasing for the accessory in almost a year (i.e. the Nintendo marketing approach), both of its launch titles, namely Book of Spells and Diggs Nightcrawler, were met with surprisingly good

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that captures the innocent, enthralling tone of the first Harry Potter book almost perfectly. The narration in particular is excellent, creating an almost fairy-tale atmosphere as Zygmunt alternates between surprised admiration for your accomplishments and smug superiority for his genius.

The gameplay though is just as well-designed, and is no small part supported by the excellent visuals the game presents. From the get-go Book of Potions makes fantastic use of the PlayStation Move controller, and will see you use it as wand, a spoon and a knife, to name a few activities.

The interaction with the Wonderbook is equally impressive, both in terms of creativity and technology, and small touches such as transforming the book into a cutting board or rotating it to get a different view on a plant all add to the magical reality of the game. It’s a captivating, intuitive experience, and one that Harry Potter fans of any age will

love.

The game is not without its flaws however, but almost all of them are of a technical nature, with most due to the setup required for the PlayStation Eye to operate effectively. Bright lighting is imperative, as the game will quickly lose track of the Wonderbook otherwise, and getting the book into the correct position can be a bit tedious. Once configured though Book of Potions rarely stutters, and it should be a hassle free experience for most of the time.

Book of Potions then is a magnificently designed title that should do more than merely entertain your kids (and probably you) for the entirety of its play through. With its uncomplicated gameplay and enchanting atmosphere, this is a game that should in little time become a firm favourite of the family. g

AT A GLANCE: Adventure

Reviewed on:

A title that any Harry Potter fan will love, Book of Potions is a well-crafted, delightful game well worth your time Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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SCEE SCEE Ster Kinekor

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PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

83 55

Just Dance 2014

The Crazy Uncle It doesn’t take itself seriously at all…

by Walt Pretorius

I

experience. The dance routines are often off-the-wall and even strange, where other games might try to emulate whatever is fashionable at the time. Ride your dance partner like a pony? Why not, says Just Dance 2014… as long as it is in the name of good, clean fun.

And that’s the key here. Just Dance 2014 is not about getting together with a bunch of other people and trying to out-dance them. It is about getting together with a bunch of other people and dancing like you’ve just had twenty tequila shooters, whether you actually have or not. It’s a game that will leave some feeling embarrassed at their zany antics, but what’s better than being part of an entire group feeling the same way in these situations?

It’s the crazy party next door to the dance studio, and it knows it.

To this end – this maintenance of fun over anything

Review

f you are keen on becoming a top dancer with moves that rival even the finest stage performers out there, don’t play Just Dance 2014. There are other dancing games that can actually help you improve your dancing skills – Just Dance 2014 doesn’t fall in to that category. But if you’re less worried about looking like a pro and more concerned about having a blast, then you should most certainly consider this latest iteration in Ubisoft’s ever expanding Just Dance franchise.

If other dance games are the guys on the dance floor that everyone is impressed by, Just Dance 2014 is the drunk uncle dancing on a table with a lampshade on his head that everyone remembers. This game never gets to the point where it takes itself seriously and, as a result, it leads to players having a fantastic, fun-filled

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else – Just Dance 2014 is a pretty forgiving game. Even if you are a buffoon with two left feet and the grace of an inebriated hippopotamus, you’ll be able to not only enjoy this game, but even progress through it. The game is very forgiving, raising some questions about its tracking and scoring systems. Particularly in the case of the latter, the game is pretty vague on how it assigns score to performances. But the only real concern about scoring is that you can unlock new levels, which needs to be done if you’re really going to enjoy that full, unbridled party experience.

In terms of presentation, this iteration sticks to that zany, crazy feel that has permeated the series for a while now. Dancers on screen wear a wide variety of crazy things, and the settings are equally strange at times.

With 47 hits spanning almost 4 decades, Just Dance

2014 has something for almost everyone (who enjoys pop music, of course). Artists like Abba, Bob Marley, David Guetta, George Michael, Gloria Gaynor, Lady gaga, Nicki Minaj, Rhianna and Robie Williams provide the soundtrack for the dance party. The visuals add the spice, and the players – who certainly need to be comfortable enough with their egos to stand the risk of making themselves look really foolish in front of their friends – provide the fun.

It certainly is not everyone’s cup of tea – no dance game ever is. But even those that take their dancing titles seriously will find the whimsical nature, undemanding game dynamics and almost nonsensical approach of Just Dance 2014 to be outside of their taste range. However, as far as getting a party started goes, there is little that Just Dance 2014 doesn’t have to offer. g

AT A GLANCE: Dancing

Reviewed on:

The series has come a long way, but still hasn’t found a way to take itself seriously... and that may be a good thing.

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Ubisoft Ubisoft Megarom

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PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

79 57

Invizimals: The Lost Kingdom

Christmas Cash-in?

From the small screen to the big screen…

by Lein Baart

C

Kingdom debuts as an action platformer, the current genre of choice in the kid’s gaming market.

Problems abound for The Lost Kingdom right from the start though. Before even loading the opening screen the game slaps you with a compulsory 2.6 GB patch, a hefty update for a country still limited to low speed Internet. Once the game does finally deign to run The Lost Kingdom thrusts you into the role of Hiro, a boy transported to the realm of the Invizmals where he will aid in defeating a rampaging robot army. While the plot is never particularly important for a title aimed at children, even by the standards set by its contemporaries Invizimal’s story is particularly cringeworthy, delivered in a style reminiscent of early ‘90s shows such as the original Power Rangers.

The game play of the title suffers as well, most noticeably due to poor controls and dodgy design decisions. The core

Review

hild orientated games are an awkward review for most gaming journalists. That’s not to say they’re inferior to their more “mature” brethren, as games such as Skylanders and Disney Infinity have shown, but rather you’re dealing with a product that was never designed nor intended for you to play. This means that most of the usual rules are thrown out the window, and technical aspects such as control schemes and frame rate take a backseat in favour of vibrancy and fast-paced gameplay, all of which is designed to dazzle rather than immerse.

Invizimals: The Lost Kingdom marks the fourth entry in a series that has up until now been a handheld exclusive.

The move to PS3 though has necessitated that the most unique feature of franchise, the augmented reality Pokémon-styled gameplay, has fallen away, and The Lost

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mechanic revolves around Hiro’s ability to transform into 16 different Invizimals at will, all of which have a unique set of abilities that will allow the player to navigate the admittedly varied environments of the game. Being a platformer at heart, there’s plenty of running, climbing and swimming, but too often this turns into a trial as the game simply fails to respond to button presses at times. This isn’t helped at all by the lack of camera control, as The Lost Kingdom plays from a fixed perspective that will frequently see you sprinting headlong off cliffs and ledges. The game is extremely forgiving at least, both in movement and in combat, and any death will see you instantly transported to the last autosave, which the game provides in copious amounts.

The saving grace for the Lost Kingdom though lies in its visuals, despite the clunky environments and occasional

frame rate drop. The world itself is bright and colourful, with an almost cartoonish style that should sit well with the game’s target audience. Likewise, each of the Invizimals are uniquely designed and generally well animated, with small touches and flourishes that should delight any child.

Coupled with some surprisingly good voice acting and generally solid audio, The Lost Kingdom works hard to create a charming atmosphere that goes a long way to mitigating some of its more glaring flaws.

Ultimately, Invizimals: The Lost Kingdom is title that never really manages to capitalise on the potential that shines through every now and again. It’s a game meant for children, but clunky controls, lacklustre combat and questionable design mean that more often than not The Lost Kingdom disintegrates into a frustrating experience, and frankly there are better games out there for your kids to play. g

AT A GLANCE: Action Platformer

Reviewed on:

While it will undoubtedly entertain your kids for a couple of days, The Lost Kingdom is game that never really rises above mediocre Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Skylanders, Disney Infinity Local

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Magenta Software SCEE Ster Kineor

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7+ gamecca54

4

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

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PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

61 59

WRC 4: FIA World Rally Championship

Hairpin Left!

A better attempt from Milestone this year…

by Walt Pretorius

R

from the beginning again. Thankfully, Milestone have seen fit to make the beginner portions of the game much shorter, getting the player into the bigger rally classes sooner than in previous iterations.

As before, the player signs on with a team of their choice, as well as picking a manager. The team choice will determine the car that the player will use during a particular rally event, although the player can switch teams between rallies. Each rally, obviously, is made up of a number of special stages, so the player will spend at least a few special stages in each vehicle they choose.

The choice of manager is little more than widowdressing, as each manager will pretty much do exactly the same thing… praise the player and “find” them new offers.

The game presents the player with numerous settings around the globe as they work their way through the rally

Review

acing games are always a hotly contested genre.

This even counts for sub-categories of the racing genre, which generally includes games dedicated to specific motorsports disciplines. OK, maybe not all of them are hotly contested – the more specific games have fewer developers chasing the top spot. Rally racing really only has two competitors worth mentioning: DiRT and WRC. DiRT clings to the top spot, despite becoming more arcade-like in its approach. This leaves WRC to play second fiddle to a degree, but developers Milestone are doing everything in their power to improve their offerings.

WRC 4: FIA World Rally Championship returns the player to yet another season of intense rally racing.

The thing is… if you played the previous game, your progress there won’t matter here. You’ll have to start

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championship. With these different settings come different road conditions (ranging from tar through to icy back roads) and varying weather conditions. The sad thing is that the impact of these different elements isn’t as great as it should be on vehicle performance. The cars simply feel too similar on different surfaces, and the hair raising moments one would expect from driving on an icy track are never fully realised.

That said, the cars handle pretty well. Part of this stems from the fact that they perform predictably. If you tap the handbrake through a hairpin, you know that the car is going to step out it’s back end the way you want it to… once you’re used to the games dynamics, of course.

A big improvement this year lies in the area of graphics.

While individual graphic elements still leave something to be desired, the overall effect is much improved. The

tracks look great and the cars are faithfully recreated. The crowds are livelier as well, and add a sense of realism to the game – although the individual models leave a bit to be desired.

In terms of control, WRC 4 is (as said before) fairly predictable, and therefore reliable. The game is a bit twitchy when it comes to resetting the driver, though; just a little deviation may result in a reset, rather than affording the player to try and correct their mistake.

With a lot of driving action and a fairly competent (if boring) co-driver, as well as decent controls, good graphics and a dynamic that, if not perfect, is at least in the realms of ‘not bad’, WRC 4 will prove to be a fun experience.

Drivers in this game may want to take a slightly more forgiving approach, but it certainly is better than last year’s version. g

AT A GLANCE: Racing

Reviewed on:

While the franchise still has a way to go, WRC 4 delivers a much better experience than the previous title did.

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Milestone Bigben Apex Interactive

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Score

79 61

Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy

Puzzling Puzzles.

Every difficulty faced can be overcome with a puzzle.

by Nthato Morakabi

W

Each area visited is aesthetically unique with fantastically designed sceneries that capture the various societies scattered around the fictional world that the story is set in; rustic fishing colonies, frozen cities, mushroom jungles and many other unique places are available for exploration. The integration of animated scenes that tell particular aspects of the story and the stereoscopic in-game graphics work well together, though it would have been great to have main events being told specifically in animated scenes while ingame exploration used the in-game graphics. This does not lessen the experience of the game however, even with the somewhat predictable storyline.

Game play involves the use of the touch screen for exploration and movement between areas. There is no use of the game buttons as everything relies on the touch pad, making the control system any easy system to use. This

Review

hen Professor Layton and his assistants receive a message from a renowned archaeologist, that he has found a frozen, living mummy, the Professor travels to the frigid terrains of Froegland hoping to solve the mysterious puzzle. On his arrival, he finds that another mysterious group is also in search of the mummy and after some impressive deductions and puzzle solving, he finds the renowned archaeologist and the frozen mummy. It turns out the mummy is an emissary from an ancient civilization known as the Azran and it is time to pass on their ancient knowledge.

An intriguing storyline sets the path for a worldwide adventure that sees the Professor and his assistants visit various locations around the globe, in search of clues that would reveal the truth of the Azran civilization.

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makes the focus of the game more on the storyline and the puzzles rather than button mashing or complicated button systems. This also allows further exploration of the 3D background that has hint coins and puzzles hidden within.

The puzzles are the main attraction in this title as everything revolves around them, whether it be the battles against the bad guys or a random stranger who is withholding information about an investigation and can only justify providing answers if a puzzle is solved. The puzzles are a brain-bending challenge and offer great variety, from riddles to logic to arithmetic. As the story progresses, the difficulties of the puzzles increases; these puzzles require more than just sliding panels and pressing buttons. Solving a puzzle gives you a score and if you can solve the puzzle without using hints, you gain a certain amount of Picarats, which is the score counter for the solved puzzles. There

are options to use hints should the puzzle be too difficult but the catch is that the amount of Picarats gained for that puzzle becomes less and it requires hint coins to claim hints.

A series of mini-games are also available to play, unlocked through solving certain puzzles and speaking to particular squirrels to unlock. These include Dress Up, which sees Professor Layton and his young assistant Luke attempt to make suitable outfits for the ladies met during their travels, and Blooms and Shrooms, which is all about bringing gardens back to life. These fun little distractions don’t add anything to the main arc but they are fun.

This is the last Professor Layton title - it can be a fun, enjoyable experience with puzzles galore, a riveting storyline, quirky characters, assorted regions and some good ‘ol British-ness thrown in for a well-rounded title. g

AT A GLANCE: Puzzle

Reviewed on:

Professor Layton and his assistants are called out to investigate a frozen mummy their discovery sends them across the world solving the greatest puzzle ever.

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Level-5 Nintendo of Europe Core Group

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3DS Platforms

Genre:

PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

80 63

Air Conflicts: Vietnam

Touchy Subject

Exploring the Vietnam war is not very popular with game makers…

by Walt Pretorius

T

strikes as being a little odd is that the operation area for missions is pretty small. That means the player doesn’t have a hell of a lot of manoeuvring room, particularly when it comes to dog fights. Still, the jet combat missions are fairly fun.

And then the choppers come into the mix. Their controls are a little twitchy, to say the least, and these engagements can get extremely frustrating. A particular mission in which the player takes over as the door gunner in a chopper was particularly frustrating, because the game leaves very little room to breathe in some of the more tense situations.

There are other missions, too, which touch on some of the more controversial practices that the US undertook during this long and difficult (and quite possibly pointless) war. Flying a large prop plane low over forested areas

Review

he Vietnam War isn’t exactly a popular destination for video games. We have seen a few, but none have met with particularly great responses. However, setting a combat flight simulator in the Vietnam War era is actually something of a nifty idea. This war saw the first major implementation of helicopters as combat vehicles. So producing a game that takes the full spectrum of the war for the skies over that beleaguered country is, on paper at least, a really good idea.

That’s what Air Conflicts: Vietnam tries to do. Initial missions are an interesting mix of jet-based dogfights and bombing runs, with the player laying down groundwork for later offensives. It is at this point – right in the beginning of the game, really, that the arcade nature of the title comes to the fore. Another thing that

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while dispensing a substance that the game has renamed Agent Purple (seriously?) leaves a bit of a bad taste in the mouth, but not because these missions can be brutally difficult.

The whole package manages to produce a lot of frustration. Many of the missions – particularly when the player is not granted the break-neck freedom of a jet – simply get too difficult. This is made even worse by the fact that the controls can get extremely finicky at times.

Replaying missions is something you’ll do a lot of with Air Conflicts: Vietnam.

One area in which this game manages to truly shine are the recreations of the aircraft. These are painstakingly detailed renderings of a large number of military aircraft that took to the skies over Vietnam. Enthusiasts may find a lot of appeal in that, but they will likely shy away from

the small mission areas, controls that just don’t quite feel right, and the huge amount of frustration that certain missions (which end up feeling like mini-game puzzles because of the accuracy they demand) result in.

When all is said and done, Air Conflicts: Vietnam is a valiant attempt to take on a subject matter that not many people like thinking too much about. While many atrocities happened on the ground in this brutal conflict, exfoliation agents and napalm strikes – two of the most controversial tactics used by the US – came from the air. But the title doesn’t manage to rise above mediocrity in terms of game dynamics or plot. Sadly, this is an opportunity that has been wasted, as Air Conflicts: Vietnam is a game that would have benefitted from a little more polish. If you can look past its weaker elements, it can be fairly enjoyable, but it won’t be breaking any records. g

AT A GLANCE: Arcade Flight Sim

Reviewed on:

A game that potentially could have been great, Air Conflicts: Vietnam is dragged down by numerous design elements that could have used more polish.

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Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII Local

1

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8

bitComposer Kalypso Silver Screen

Parental Advisory

16+ gamecca54

8

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

X360 Platforms

Genre:

PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

63 65

Angry Birds Star Wars

Flying Force Fury.

The Angry Birds make it to console…and every other platform.

by Nthato Morakabi

Review

A

66

AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Puzzle

Reviewed on:

The Angry Birds make their big appearance as Jedi knights and Sith Lords, hurtling their way to the hordes of Clone Pigs.

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ngry Birds Star Wars is exactly what it is; angry Rebel birds and Jedi fowls launching themselves on primitive wooden catapults towards clone pigs and precariously balanced structures with conveniently placed T.N.T boxes… all happening in a distant planet in a galaxy far, far away. As one imagines such a scene, it’s easy to see the humour and fun that such a title can bring, as a Jedi birdie soars through the air and slashes his light-sabre at a conveniently placed box that causes the glass-and-wood structures to fall and crush the evil pigs all in one fell swoop. An enjoyable game indeed.

The first thing that popped up were the game play mechanics. They were slightly off on the controller and getting the right angle for the perfect shot required precise thumb action which can be off-putting to some. These shots become a regular thing if you are aiming for a perfect score, especially when progressing through to play the more difficult stages; expect many replays.

Progressing through the levels reveals new birds to hurtle through the air, offering new abilities from Light-Sabres to Force Push and more with each new fowl. The stages become more difficult as you progress further into the galaxy visiting well known areas including the Death Star. Each level has creatively designed puzzles, though in the end it does become somewhat repetitive and that might be a good thing for some.

The game does offer many other challenges and unlockables from bonus levels to hidden badges and Golden Droids, all adding to replay value but the game does appeal to its own and some may find that it’s not their cup of tea. g

PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

78

g a m e c c a r ev i ew • i s s u e 1 7 • N ove m b e r 2 0 1 0

Wonderbook: Walking with Dinosaurs

Age of Titans The past rediscovered

by Lein Baart

E

67

AT A GLANCE: Edutainment

Reviewed on:

PS3

An impressive product that should keep kids (and you) entertained for a good many hours Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Wonderbook: Diggs Nightcrawler Local

1

Network

Online

0

Supermassive Games SCEE Ster Kinekor

Parental Advisory

7+ gamecca54

0

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

Platforms

Genre:

PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

78

Review

ducational gaming, or edutainment, is not an oft heard term in gaming circles. While the idea has actual merit, as several studies have shown, those titles that have specifically been designed to teach rather than entertain tend to suffer from a number of drawbacks, such as low production values and lack of funding, and as such are generally dismissed by the public.

Wonderbook: Walking with Dinosaurs is facing an uphill battle then, which is only exacerbated by the fact that it also serves as a movie tie-in to the film of the same name that should be releasing just before Christmas.

The Wonderbook, which launched at the end of the previous year, has yet to see serious development time put into it, but Walking with Dinosaurs goes a long way to transforming the rather modest-looking PS3 accessory into a legitimate peripheral. Designed to work in conjunction with PlayStation Move and Eye, the game aims to take players through several different ages, from the Triassic through to the Cretaceous, focussing on a set number of species and the world they lived in.

Walking with Dinosaurs puts the move controller to good use, employing a variety of creative activities which will see your kids (and more than likely you) hammering away at virtual bedrock, X-Raying various creatures and engaging in QTE fights. Effort has been made to bring the world of the game to life, both through the impressive visuals as well as mini-stories that accompany each chapter, and while there a few moments that can spoil the experience (lack of bright lighting in particular can make the game difficult to play), overall Walking with Dinosaurs is a solid, immersive and most importantly informative experience. g

Sonic: Lost World

Not the Quickest Perhaps Sonic’s age is slowing him down…

by Walt Pretorius

S

resides. Comparing Sonic: Lost World to older games in the franchise is necessary, sure, but taking into consideration the games that it is currently competing against is also important.

In Lost World, Sonic once again takes on Dr Eggman, who is trying to turn all things sweet and fluffy into a robotic army. But this time around Eggman is aided by the infernal Deadly Six, who grudgingly serve the mastermind. When they rise up against him, though, Sonic and Eggman must enter into an uneasy alliance to save the world.

So it’s pretty much the usual kind of plot for a Sonic game (with maybe that alliance being the biggest difference). But Sonic is hardly about plot; this is a platform game about interesting levels, enemies to bop and speed. The speed, as said before, is a little lacking,

Review

onic the Hedgehog has been around for a long, long time. His presence has spanned multiple console generations, and will probably span a few more. But his latest adventures, made for the 3DS and Wii U, have taken quite a bit of criticism, and have had what can only be called a mixed reception from critics the world over. This brings up an idea that many may not agree with, but does have some validity.

Sonic: Lost World is the blue hedgehog’s first trip to the Wii U. After playing it, some have said that it lacks the pace of older Sonic games. This is true – Lost World doesn’t feel as break-neck as other Sonic games that have come in the past. But one would be remiss to not consider that the format of the game has necessarily had to change because of the new hardware, as well as the market in which it currently

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but the levels are wonderfully challenging and there are enemies aplenty. What really sets Lost World apart from previous Sonic titles is the combination of traditional 2D and 3D levels. These have been interspersed with gay abandon, so the player will often jump between different layout types while playing through any particular stage.

This is probably why the game has a slower pace – the 3D sections can get a little tough at fast speeds.

Graphically, the game is pretty much what you’d expect from a Sonic title, although the colour palette has been toned down a bit. It’s still bright, but the eye-popping hues of previous titles aren’t quite there. The character designs and animations remain largely unchanged, although some of the Deadly Six characters don’t quite feel as though they fit into the world.

Another area in which Lost World lacks a little is in terms of controls. They feel just a little too twitchy, and Sonic will sometimes go exactly where you don’t want him to, if you’re not careful. Jumping, particularly in the 3D stages, can also get a little tricky, but a handy “lock on” mechanism for Sonic’s jump attacks can be used to make sure you go exactly where you need – provided there is an enemy nearby.

So, when all is said and done, does Sonic: Lost World live up to the other titles that have come before in this particular franchise? No, not really. But that doesn’t mean that it is a bad game, overall. In fact, Lost World is a rather competent 3D platformer, and will provide hours of fun and challenge. It still requires quick thinking and lightning reactions… which are things that also define the franchise. g

AT A GLANCE: Platform

Reviewed on:

It might not be the greatest Sonic game ever, but Lost World is a competent platformer none the less.

Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Sonic Generations, Sonic Unleashed Local

2

Network

Online

4

Sega Nintendo Core Group

Parental Advisory

7+ gamecca54

0

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

Wii U Platforms

Genre:

PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

79 69

Be Specific!

by Ramjet

Ramjet’s Rantality

The views expressed in this column are not necessarily those of 1337 Media or Gamecca Magazine.

I

think it’s time for a few distinctions. Seriously, I do. Because I have grown tired of “gamer” being a catch all for anyone who even walks past a console in their local mass retailer. I think – and I am obviously right, because, well, I am – that we need to start making some firmer definitions. Like, for example, we could say “console gamer”. Or “PC gamer”. Maybe even “allround gamer” for someone who plays on consoles and PC. Then what term would we use for someone who plays board games and card games? Those are games. Are people who play them not gamers?

See, my problem comes from a particular point.

I met someone who was this world class player of Battle of Duty Field 514, or something like that.

This person is, like, superawesome at the game.

They can shoot the anus

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out of a digital pigeon at a hundred yards and get stealth knife kills like a hyperactive ninja on PCP. And they call themselves a “gamer”. But here’s the thing… Battle of Duty Calling 799 is the only game they play. The only one. Ever. They never even look at other games.

I don’t believe that makes them a gamer, not at all. It makes them a “Calling Battle Duty 911 player”. A damn good one, sure, but that’s all they are.

How awesome are they at a strategy game? Or a racing game? Or any game other than Duty Battle Call Field 90210? They would probably suck. So, by my own patented and twisted logic, that makes them a “not gamer”.

Other sports have distinctions. I bet if you bumped into Lionel Messi in a downtown pub and asked him what he did, he wouldn’t say “sportsman”.

He would say “footballer”, or whatever the equivalent is in whatever language he speaks. Le footballister, or whatever. You get my point, right?

The thing is that if you’re going to get specific in your gaming, get specific in the way you describe yourself. Someone tells me they’re a gamer and then turns down a challenge to any game but the only one they play… sorry, nope. Not a gamer. It makes them a “very-specific-game-that-Istick-to-because-I-suck-ateverything-else player”.

And what the hell is a gamer, anyway? The term is so freakin’ loose that it could mean someone who throws dice in a back alley for crack fixes. To me, a true gamer would be someone who likes all kinds of games. Video games, card games, board games, real roleplaying games, table-top

gamecca54

war games and so on.

Not sports, necessarily, but games. I know a few people like that. I am one of them. It’s a game, I will play it. That simple. That makes me a gamer. A true gamer, because I play lots and lots of different games.

Are you a gamer? Or are you a video gamer (if you play all kinds of digital games)? Maybe even a console gamer?

How about a first-person shooter gamer. Or are you an “I-play-this-gamebecause-it’s-the-only-onethat-can-solve-my-selfesteem-issues gamer”?

It doesn’t matter what kind of gamer you are… what matters is that you get a bit more specific, a bit more descriptive, a bit more honest about what it is that you actually do.

Probably won’t matter to anyone else, but it would make my dark and twisted world a better place. g

a SteelSeries Frost Blue Gaming Gear Set! Courtesy of Megarom TO ENTER: Send an email to competitions@gameccamag.com Tell us who distributes SteelSeries in South Africa.

Insert “Frost Blue” in the mail’s subject line Subscribe to www.gameccamag.com Become a fan on Gamecca’s Facebook Page

Competition closes 31 December 2013. Gamecca subscribers only. South African residents only. Prizes may not be exchanged for cash. Competition closed to employees (& employee’s family) of 1337 Media CC and Megarom.

The judges’ decision is final. co mp e t i t i on • c o mp et it io n • c o mp et i ti on • com pe ti ti on • com pe ti ti on • com p etition •

com p e ti ti on • com p e ti ti on • com p e ti ti on • com p e ti ti on • com pe ti ti on • com petition • c omp et itio n • c ompetition • co mpetition

WIN

God Of War

The Matrix Online

K

ratos stands above his gaming peers for many reasons. First, GOW was practically a genre unto itself. Second, those developers sure knew how to make the PlayStation 2 sing. Third, no game has ever made relentless, gratuitous, biker-mental violence as satisfying as this.

T

his game was not a classic by any measure. In fact, it stank so much that it still gets a mention here. Indeed, it stank so much that we all tend to rather remember the two movie sequels. And yet it didn’t stink enough to trump the Matrix video game.

That one we all just want to forget.

Psychonauts

S

Resident Evil 4

A Year in Games

o here’s the funny thing about gaming: there is no shortage of gnashing teeth when it comes to the anaemic flow of original titles. Yet even a classic like Psychonauts crashed and burned at retail.

Then everyone goes out and buys the new Call of Duty.

All pedestal, no follow through.

B

ands change. They modify their sound and keep on going. Like U2 or The Beatles (but curiously not AC/DC). Game series do that as well it’s often a total disaster of enraged forum fandroid proportions. But everyone thinks RE4 was probably as good as it got for the series.

A YEAR IN GAMING

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2

Lego Star Wars

Shadow of the Colossus

W

hile we patiently wait for a Lego James Bond game, let’s reflect that it has already been eight years since the first title in the now-legendary Traveller’s Tales Lego games was released. How we used to threaten our co-op partner with severe punishment and certain death. Good times.

B

eause there is absolutely no need to motivate this choice, here is a big gap of nothing:

F.E.A.R.

F

Darwinia

.E.A.R.’s horror was really creepy, thanks to borrowing ideas from the Ring movies. But the real reason why everyone loved this game? Those damn enemy squads with their flanking and grenade flushing and cover fire. Not since Half-Life did we actually have to shoot AND think.

G

uitar Hero didn’t make the list because of Darwinia. This fantastic indie strategy game had to take its bow, for many reasons. Yes, it was a little demanding, so not many people took to it. But sustenance comes in fast food and gourmet. Darwinia was not the number 2 with a large chips.

2005 gamecca54

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by Walt Pretorius

patible com

Tritton Pro Plus True 5.1 Surround Headset for PC / Mac

PC

ic e cho fro

m

S S

Review

O

A

The

urround sound… does it actually make a difference? There are those that swear by it, and those that feel that stereo is enough.

That debate isn’t for here; but if you are one of those that demands sound coming at you from all kinds of directions, Tritton has a very good option for you.

Last month we took a look at the Tritton Pro+ Headset for use with consoles (and, quite frankly, anything that can handle an optical cable). This time around, it’s the same thing… but this particular Pro+ is aimed squarely at the PC market.

The two different models are virtually identical up to a point. Like the console version, the PC headset offers 5.1 surround sound delivered by way of 8 speakers – four in each ear-cup. That means each ear-cup houses a 40mm driver for sub and three 30mm drivers from centre, front and rear sounds. The

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result is quite remarkable, and the user definitely can pick up sounds coming at them from different directions.

Those not used to 5.1 headsets may even find it a little disconcerting at first.

Like the console version, this version offers a comprehensive in-line volume control, with the user able to adjust overall volume, or specific volume channels.

The headset can also be muted via this control, as can the detachable mic. In addition, users can employ the SVM voice monitoring system, so that they can hear their own voice as captured by the microphone.

Just like the console version, this PC version is bulky, yet surprisingly comfortable. It is solidly constructed and delivers great sound. It does require a 5.1 capable sound card (either on-board or an actual card) which interfaces with its USB powered amplifier. Four 3.5 audio jacks and one USB jack lead from this unit, which

gamecca54

Option

the headphones then plug in to.

Handily, this headset can also be used as a secong headset with the Pro+ Decoder Box (which comes with the console version) as a secondary device. And that’s where the major difference lies. The Decoder Box may have limited input options, but it does work with an optical cable. Optical cables work with the PS3 and Xbox 360… and most PC motherboards too. So, theoretically, the console version is much more versatile, and includes PC use as well.

If you don’t have any consoles, and want a Pro+ Headset to use just with your PC or Mac, this is the best solution. However, if you want a setup that has a little more versatility (despite the need for cable swapping) the console version may be a better bet.

Either way, you’re pretty much guaranteed of great surround audio, no matter which way you go. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

If you’re only going to be needing surround sound from your PC, this option makes a lot of sense.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

gamecca54

Great audio Comfortable

8 drivers True 5.1 surround Full function in-line control Detachable mic No driver required

Tritton Comet Computing www.c ometc omputing .c o.za

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

PC use only

Score

87 75

Review

The perfect home file sharing solution

Thecus N2520 Intelligent NAS

Sharing the

76

gamecca54

by Alex Scanlon

I

Life

I

t wasn’t all that long ago that the idea of a network-attached storage (NAS) device was closely associated with the work-place. After all, who needs a place to share files at home? Right?

Wrong. The modern home often has multiple computers in it, and files like media (including those illegally acquired movie and music files) are often shared. In fact, numerous reasons exist for a home NAS. Thecus understands that, and have produced a device perfectly suited for the home environment.

That’s not to say that the Thecus N2520 (or “Intelligent NAS”, as it is called on the packaging) isn’t at home in an office. The two hard drive bays (easily accessible through a door built in to the front of the unit) can provide a lot of storage, with the right hard drives fitted, and the 1.3GHz CPU, supported by 1GB of RAM, delivers files quickly via a network.

But there is simply too much happening with this device for it not to be perfect for the home. As a media server, particularly, this device is awesome. It even has an HDMI output. That means, quite simply, that you can connect the N2520 directly to your TV (or media viewing device of your choice) and play back a variety of media types. It’s almost like having a media player and NAS in one. File and device management can also take place via the attached TV. And then there’s the fact that you can upload, download and stream files and media from Android and iOS smart devices to and from the N2520. That’s pretty nifty, particularly in a home environment where sharing of embarrassing family photos between various devices may well be a priority. And if certain family members start turning in to space hogs, a handy user quota system will limit them from taking up all the HDD room.

The N2520 has numerous other features which make it a very sensible choice for home file storage and sharing (and office, yes…). As an added bonus, it’s pretty small, when compared to other NAS units on the market, and it runs remarkable quietly. The drives can also be easily accessed and swapped out (with a little extra work beyond a plug-and-play procedure to get them prepared) thanks to that front access door. The only downside here is that the door cannot lock; that’s not too much of a problem at home, but may cause some to think twice before saving sensitive data on the device in an office environment.

As far as personal “cloud” storage solutions go, the N2520 from Thecus is a fantastic option. It’s numerous added extras (including integrated antivirus software and much, much more) make it an excellent choice for those wanting a little more out of their network. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

The N2520 is the perfect solution for networkattached storage at home... and it doesn’t slough in the office, either.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

gamecca54

Excellent home NAS solution Direct TV connection

1.3GHz CPU 1GB RAM HDMI output SPDIF output 2 USB 2.0 ports 1 USB 3.0 ports 2 drive bays

Thec us Sy ntec h www.sy ntec h.c o.za

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

No Locks

Score

96 77

Review

Asus Rampage IV Black Edition Motherboard

Black is Beautiful

A

78

A

fter you see a lot of motherboards, they can start looking quite similar to each other. And that’s a massive problem for consumers, because picking the right board gets really confusing when you see all those specifications and technical jargon. Once in a while, though, a board comes along that stands head and shoulders above the competition in various ways. For Asus, that board is the Rampage IV Black Edition Motherboard, which sets itself apart as an overclocker’s dream, thanks to great components, solid design and a few very nifty ideas thrown in.

Before we start, it is pretty important to note that if you want one of these great motherboards, you’re going to have to be quick – they’re a limited edition, which adds bragging rights in yet another sphere.

The board itself is, as the name implies, a black affair, with numerous red trims. It looks pretty much like it means business visually, and that idea gets further enhanced when you see it in action. This really is a great motherboard. The Digi + III Engine it utilises, along with superior quality components, means that the power goes exactly where it is needed. The result is a board that performs smoothly and efficiently.

On top of that, it adds in a little bonus for overclockers. A special overclocking “command centre” device ships with the board; it can be fitted in the case, or used externally. This gizmo allows extreme amounts of control on the fly, with single button switches between normal and overclocked modes. It provides numerous custom overclocking profiles, and places all the information and control right in the user’s hands. The command centre is, in case you were wondering, a physical control panel that can stand on the desk, or be fitted to the outside of your PC case.

Another extremely nifty feature is Asus’ Wi-Fi Go technology, that not only delivers improved Wi-Fi performance, but allows you to set up your PC as a Wi-Fi hotspot, without the need for as extra router.

There is a lot more that could be said about what is a really remarkable motherboard. But as much as we could bang on about it, the proof certainly is certainly in the pudding with this device. If you are lucky enough to get hold of one, the options and versatility it presents the user with are excellent. Even if you aren’t going to overclock (which would be something of a sin as far as this device is concerned) you will end up with a motherboard that is fast, reliable and efficient. It may cost a bit more, but the Rampage IV Black Edition really is worth every cent. g gamecca54

..

d nd looks goo

Summary

Tech Specs:

This limited edition motherboard is worth every cent; added features and extras help make it truly exceptional.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

gamecca54

Great added extras Efficient Reliable

• • • • • • •

Intel X79 chipset SLI and Crossfire compatible Supports up to 64GB RAM Socket 2011 8 USB 3.0 ports Wi-Fi Go technology Extended ATX form factor

A sus A sus www.a sus.c om

Pros • • • • •

. o to

by Walt Pretorius

some Perform e an Aw ce a

Cons • • • • •

Limited edition (we can’t all have one)!

Score

98 79

siz e,

& Go!

o

d

Smal

l in

SteelSeries 3H V2 Gaming Headset

S S

Review

g bi

un o s n

teelSeries are a company that has a reputation for getting things done without too much fuss.

They’re all about substance over style, and shy away from increasing manufacturing (and therefore retail) costs by adding extra features that really aren’t necessary. What’s most important to this peripheral manufacturer is how well a device does something, not how it looks while doing it. All you have to do is take a look at their 3H V2 Gaming Headset to see those principles in action.

At first glance, the 3H V2 is nothing exceptional. It is a small, foldable headset that is remarkably portable, considering that it uses an over-ear ear-cup design. This portability is further enhanced by the retractable mic arm, which is housed in the left ear-cup.

What proves the statement above is that the 3H V2 delivers excellent audio quality. Despite its small size,

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the sound range (from full bass notes through to crisp highs) is beautifully created by the diminutive SteelSeries headset.

In addition, the idea that stereo should provide enough audio stimulus for gaming is carried on in this headset.

There’s no surround sound here. While many may feel that this just isn’t enough, numerous top gaming clans aligned with SteelSeries seem to agree with the manufacturer that a great stereo delivery is better than a poor surround sound one.

To ensure comfort, the 3H V2 features well-padded earcups and a suspension-style headband. The overall build, though, feels a little flimsy, as though a little too much pressure on any of the parts may cause damage. Added to that is the fact that the headset may be just a little too small. I had to extend the ear-cup supports to their full length to get a good fit.

gamecca54

by Walt Pretorius

That means that it might not be a perfect headset for everyone. Or it means that I have a big head. Either way, this is the one downfall of the 3H V2. On the upside, that excellent audio quality cannot be denied, and those who can fit the headset easily will certainly not be disappointed by its performance.

As an added bonus, there is an adaptor which allows the headset to be compatible with mobile phones and tablet devices, too. The cord could have been a little longer, but it does feature a simple-yet-effective in-line volume control.

Shortish cord and size aside, the 3H V2 delivers what it promises, in the form of a comfort and good sound. It may not suit everyone’s needs, but the added versatility of smart device compatibility makes it more than just a portable gaming headset; it is, quite simply, a small and effective personal audio solution for those that want great sound on the go. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

It may be a little small for some, but the 3H V2 delivers absolutely excellent stereo audio and comfort for a variety of devices.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

gamecca54

Great sound Easy to transport

Foldable Stereo Retractable mic boom In-line controls New generation drivers

SteelSeries M eg a rom www.meg a rom.c o.za

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

May be small for some Feel fragile

Score

78 81

Transformer

Mad Catz R.A.T. 7 Gaming Mouse

A

Review

82

‌ t can be exac a h e t t l b yw se o t u ha t t o you need i m gamecca54

T

by Alex Scanlon

T

here are lots of different ways to make a mouse. Some of those ways use a lot of flash and dazzle; others strip matters down to bare essentials.

There is a third approach, too, which offers customisation that really matters. Is it important to be able to change the colour of your mouse’s LED lights? Not really… that won’t make you a better gamer, or make the mouse more comfortable for any other kinds of tasks. Is it important to be able to change weight and panel positions? That’s an entirely different story. And that’s the kind of customisation that Mad Catz have built in to the R.A.T. 7.

It looks like a rather mean rodent, when all is said and done. There are gaps and gizmos all over the R.A.T. 7, making it appear to be more of a work tool – something at home on a garage work-bench – than a gaming mouse.

But this serious looking peripheral is all about gaming, and exceptional gaming performance.

With a DPI of up to 6400 (and starting at 100) the R.A.T. 7 offers a wide range of sensitivity, which can be adjusted on the fly with a handy button. The user can switch between four selected DPI settings of their choosing, which adds a lot of versatility both in and outside of games.

The R.A.T. 7 features six buttons which are fully programmable, as well as three different modes – that makes a total of 18 options. And yes, the LED colours do change accordingly, so the user can, at a glance, see what’s going on.

The lightweight aluminium frame is tough, but doesn’t add too much weight. This can be adjusted by up to 30 grams, in 6 gram increments. Further comfort customisation comes in the form of a repositionable palm rest and a thumb rest that can be moved forward or backward. Additionally, there is an alternate palm rest, and two alternate pinkie rests (one which has added support).

That’s a lot of customisation, but it would mean squat without performance. Thankfully, Mad Catz are aware of that. The R.A.T. 7 is not just super comfortable, thanks to all the tweaks, and versatile, thanks to all the programmable buttons… it is also fantastic to use. While the precision available from this mouse, as well as the responsiveness, is not necessarily immediately apparent when using more “everyday” applications, getting this baby going in a game is truly something to behold.

The R.A.T. 7 presents a mouse that can be exactly what you want it to be; with its wide range of options, it becomes a device that you can trim and tweak to your heart’s content, and delivers excellent performance to boot.. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

With all the options it offers, you can tweak the R.A.T. 7 to be exactly what you want it to be.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

gamecca54

Extremely customisable Great performance

6400 DPI max 6 programmable buttons 3 modes Fully adjustable Corded

M a d Ca tz Comet Computing www.c ometc omputing .c o.za

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

...all of which comes at a price.

Score

96 83

T T

Review

Razer Atrox Arcade Stick for Xbox 360

here is a lot of nostalgia in the relatively short history of gaming (as there would be with any well-loved pass-time), most of which seems to come from feeding a seemingly endless stream of coins into machines in a dingy arcade. But it’s not just the nostalgia that was an important gift to gaming from the heyday of the arcade era… one of the biggest genres today was conceived for play on an upright machine: fighting games.

Fighting games made the expected transition onto gaming consoles easily enough, but there are many out there who believe that the control system used by arcade machines suits these games much better. Arcade controls were (and still are) largely produced by a company called Sanwa Denshi, and it is these Sanwa style controls that many fighting game enthusiasts crave.

Razer have produced the Atrox Arcade Stick range. We got to look at the Xbox 360 version and, quite honestly, it was well worth it (for nostalgia’s sake alone). Needless to say, the Atrox doesn’t only work with fighting games – it can be used with platform titles and anything else. But the feel that it gives while playing a fighting game is undeniably great.

The main controls are made up of ten Sanwa buttons and an eight-direction Sanwa joystick.

This joystick can either be used with the traditional ball top, or a slightly more modern, elliptical bat top. Both are provided, with one being housed in the body of the Atrox. Yes, you can literally get under the hood of this device… more about that later.

A special control panel adds numerous other buttons to the mix, with large Sanwa-style buttons on the side providing “start” and “back” functionality.

When you pop the Atrox open (with a button at the front of it) you don’t only find the alternate joystick head and a handy tool, but also gain access to the guts of the controller.

This allows for easy modding, and the player will be able to set the controller up just the way they like it. This extends to the housing of the unit as well, which features a honeycomb base for easy screw-attachment to any surface, and interchangeable face plates.

Connection to the Xbox 360 is via a long, removable cable, with a jack positioned at the front of the unit for a headset while playing online.

The Atrox is a wonderfully responsive controller, and the control configuration not only reminds on of arcade machines, but is also very sensible for fighting game fans. It takes a bit of getting used to, but once you’re familiar with the Atrox, it really is a great controller to make use of. g

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Time

in he golden ag t m e e of ga liv e e d a a r c R

g

by Rob Edwards

Summary

Tech Specs: • • • • • • •

Those that love the ‘‘oldschool’’ feel when playing games will love the Atrox!

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

Ra zer Corex www.c orex.c o.za

Pros • • • • •

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Great control system Customisable

Interchangeable joystick heads Ten Sanwa buttons Detachable cable

Cons • • • • •

Bulky

Score

90 85

Just Games...

by Tauriq Moosa

Game Write

The views expressed in this column are not necessarily those of 1337 Media or Gamecca Magazine.

T

here are many things I care about: my cats, Breaking Bad, combatting unfair discrimination against people based on their sex, race, sexual orientation, and many other things. One of these is video games.

Most of us are annoyed by the common perception of games viewed as genre, not medium: consisting only of explosions, gritty men holding guns, walking forwards on the box.

Children are at risk, people swear, media claims of death and destruction.

Many gamers, of course, do little as players and creators to combat this misperception – resorting to childish attacks on creators, on each other, on writers, on journalists, for the slightest dissent.

Games are a medium that has moved me more than film or books in the last few years. And that’s their purpose: to, like any artistic medium, instil awe and wonder and fulfilment. This doesn’t mean childish joy or wonder, but a sense of

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the numinous nonetheless.

Silent Hill 2 yanked my spine and spat in my eyes, rubbed its disgust and horror and pain into any open wounds of sympathy it could find – but it’s an experience I will forever cherish.

There’s a place for gritty Modern Duty of Warfare 3000 as there is for the rhythmic clarity that is Journey. The Last of Us remains as thematically potent as any William Faulkner book, and equally apocalyptic.

The medium is still struggling and fighting its way out the parental clutches of older mediums, like film and literature; you can see it in the way we speak about it, in the way creators like David Cage make games, in the use of cut-scenes and hiring actors for cameos, not actors like Rockstar to “perform”.

Video games aren’t films, aren’t books, aren’t anything other than video games. And we love different games, as we do

different books, films, etc.

When it comes to those things that we are creatively passionate about, we have often encountered appeals to stop taking them seriously, since they aren’t “serious”.

Poverty is “serious”.

Violence is “serious”.

Shooting digital people isn’t.

Presumably no one would say to a Shakespearean scholar, to a person who owns a copy of a first edition War and Peace, that these things aren’t “serious” and therefore are not worth one’s adult time. While I am not a fan of literature departments, I am a supporter of literature – as we should all be.

But medium jealousy happens often. Parents who sigh and fold their arms, as their children slump on the couch letting bright colours and flashing lights dance on the screen, moan: “I wish they’d read more”. Presumably they don’t mean read anything: they mean good books.

No one was brought to

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intellectual climax by Twilight or the Dan Brown’s Further Adventures of American Guy Doing Something Vaguely Related To Great Literature.

For every Twilight there is also a Breaking Bad, which is television. For every Dan Brown there is The Last of Us or Bioshock. Of course, the reverse is true and that’s the point. Mediums aren’t genre or individual titles, they’re just mediums to tell a story, provide an experience, etc.

We can now devolve into discussions of subjectivity: who is to say The Last of Us is better than Twilight?

Of course, my experience isn’t everyone’s and truth isn’t dependent on democracy.

If you enjoyed Twilight more than The Last of Us, you’re actually only proving my point – not disputing it. You’re showing that instances of a medium moved you that didn’t for others; and so on.

Mainly, we need to stop sanctifying medium as all bad or all good.. g

a Tritton Kunai Headset!

Courtesy of Comet Computing TO ENTER: Send an email to competitions@gameccamag.com Tell us who distributes Tritton in South Africa.

Insert “Kunai” in the mail’s subject line Subscribe to www.gameccamag.com Like Gamecca’s Facebook Page

Competition closes 31 December 2013. Gamecca subscribers only. South African residents only. Prizes may not be exchanged for cash. Competition closed to employees (& employee’s family) of 1337 Media CC and Comet Computing.The judges’ decision is final. co mp e t i t i on • c o mp et it io n • c o mp et i ti on • com pe ti ti on • com pe ti ti on • com p etition •

com p e ti ti on • com p e ti ti on • com p e ti ti on • com p e ti ti on • com pe ti ti on • com petition • c omp et itio n • c ompetition • co mpetition

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