Gamecca Magazine October 2013 by Gamecca Magazine

I S S U E 5 2 / Vo l . 5 August 2013

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

GTA V Puppeteer Killzone: Mercenary Rayman Legends RomeII:Total War and more...

Off the Wall Addictive platforming in Rayman Legends

Life of Crime Dominate Los Santos in GTA V

Ancient Battles Total War takes on the Roman Empire... again

Console Terror! Diablo 3 on Xbox 360 and PS3

Age of Innocence

The magical world of Pupeteer

Hollywood Games Delving into narrative in Beyond: Two Souls

Free Online Mag

Inside 6 From the Editor 8 Got Mail More reader feedback! 10 IDoubleDQD Does it have to be important? 12 Choice, Consequence and Cinema Beyond: Two Souls takes narrative to new levels. 18 Previews 6 upcoming video games 30 The Soapbox WHere the money’s at! 32 Console General An open letter to parents 34 Reviews 13 game reviews for your consideration 62 Ramjet’s Rantality Gagging the trolls 64 A Year in Games 1997 - much of awesome! 66 Hardware Hardware for all tastes 80 From the Basement Over-worked...

THIS MONTH’S COVER Will Beyond: Two Souls elevate video game story-telling? See our feature on page 12.

Competitions 63 Pay Day 2

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Previews Reviews

Watch Dogs

XCOM: Enemy Within

Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy

Skylanders: Swap Force

The Crew

Earth Defence Force 2025

GAMECCA Vol. 5 Issue 52 October 2013

Editor: Walt Pretorius walt@1337-media.com Writers: Alex Scanlon Charlie Fripp James Francis Lein Baart Nthato Morakabi Pippa Tshabalala Rob Edwards Sarah Snyman Suvesh Arumugam Walt Pretorius

GTA V

Diablo 3

Puppeteer

Letters: letters@gameccamag.com

Rome II: Total War

Competition Entries: competitions@gameccamag.com

Rayman Legends

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of The Shadows

Killzone: Mercenary

Lost Planet 3

Pay Day 2

Flashback

Leisure Suit Larry Reloaded

Tales of Xillia

Asterix Megaslap

Newsletter Subscriptions: www.gameccamag.com 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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Almost There... by Walt Pretorius

From the Editor

am sitting down to write this with thoughts of kicking back with a good Irish whiskey when I am done. The process of creating a magazine like Gamecca is an intense one that we go through every month, and with the games that have been released over the last few weeks, it’s been rather time intensive. But when I do kick back and relax for a few hours, my mind will inevitably wander to the remainder of the year. We have officially started the fourth quarter of 2013 now, the last three months as the year winds itself towards the inevitable parties and well wishes… with everyone telling each other that the next year will be better than the last. A time of relaxation and celebration that we all richly deserve, to commemorate our little blue planet making another valiant, break-neck trip around the sun. But there are three months between now and then and, to mangle a Dickens quote somewhat, they will be the best of times and the worst

of times. See, the video game industry really does hold back for around nine of the year’s twelve months in general, cramming most of the major game releases into October and November. Yes, the maths doesn’t add up, but that’s because there are other release spurts that come up during the rest of the year. But none will live up to November, not ever. You would think that after spending a long time doing this I would be used to it by now. But there is a degree of intensity this year that we don’t normally see, thanks to the fact that there are two new consoles hitting the market very, very soon. That won’t be felt to the degree that people will experience it overseas, because we are being given the backwater treatment by Microsoft… our Xbox Ones will arrive late. But the PS4 will be here in early December, and that is going to be intense enough, thank you very much. In a way I am glad that we have a gap between

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the releases. Sure, we’ll all have to put up with a lot of grumbling, but realistically we will all also have a bit of breathing room. We will be able to enjoy our PS4s before the Xbox One rolls around, and when it does it will bring a truly massive launch line-up with it, as we catch up with the rest of the world. The Gamecca crew and I are preparing ourselves. We are bracing for the toughest issues of the year. That’s not a complaint, mind you, but it would be unrealistic to say that it is all, if you’ll excuse the statement, fun and games. What we are faced with are interesting, exciting times – the first time in history that the video game industry (which doesn’t have that long a history comparatively, but anyway) will be seeing such a big splash in a fourth quarter. Hell, who am I kidding – I am down-right excited for what’s coming. But in the meantime, I am going to go into credit with the rest and relaxation. I think I might need it… good times lie ahead! g

Got Mail Send us a letter and let us know what’s happening in your head, your games or your community. Found It! To the Editor It think it all started in April this year. I was bored out of my mind, my one-year-old Xbox was gathering dust and I had massive trouble finding a new game to play. There are just too many “great games” on the market. I had just bought the April issue of NAG and while scanning through the DVD that came with it, I stumbled across a PDF issue of your Gamecca magazine. I had no idea what the name was linked to or even if it existed. Curiosity soon overcame me and I clicked it. Now, thanks to you guys, I am happily downloading EVERY issue of Gamecca since it’s debut in 2009 and reading them. Your reviews actually gave me ideas on the good, the bad and the ugly. And since the issues are free, my wallet is slightly less dented than usual. Keep up the awesome stuff! ;) Kind regards Reuben

Hi there Reuben,

Ed Nasty! Dear Ed I’ve never really been good at trying out new things. Almost every game I wanted to play had to let me run into a certain area with guns blazing everywhere. This “sneaking around” aka stealth idea didn’t really appeal to me at all. That was until a friend recommended me to play Dishonored. Immediately one side of my brain was telling me to keep away from it. The other was like “Well, why not? Couldn’t hurt, could it?”. He bought me the game, but instead he brings a...(shudder)...PC version. Big problems: I’m a die-hard Xbox 360 fan and my PC wasn’t exactly the most powerful machine around. Grudgingly I thanked him (would have been a waste of money), took it home, installed it and braced myself for what ever horrors awaited on the monitor. How wrong I was. I ended up playing the game for 5 hours in one sitting,

Letters

This is the kind of letter that every editor loves to get. A large part of why we produce Gamecca Magazine is so that we can help people out there - be they hard-core gamers, casual players, even parents - understand what is out there in terms of games and

hardware. Reading that our efforts have helped you with making some of your gaming choices is personally very gratifying to me. It is a very full, very competitive market and games are expensive. Helping folks make the right choices for themselves is important to getting the industry to grow in the right, healthy kinds of directions that it sorely needs here in South Africa.

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Send your mail to letters@gamecca.co.za. Letter of the Month writer will win a prize

Letter of the Month Dear Editor I have been noticing more and more that people don’t seem to pay attention to what games their kids are exposed to. A friend recently (proudly) told me that he bought GTA V for his 13 year old son. I am a gamer, and I am a parent. I am also aware that people blame games for the things their kids do. But they don’t take a look at what those games are, and don’t take responsibility for their children. I think it is time for people to stop shifting the blame, and start being responsible parents! Best, J Theron

Hi J,

Sponsored by Gioteck & Apex Interactive.

grinning like an idiot. The controls took a while to get used to, there was lag everywhere but I was still having a blast. That got me thinking, why do we sometimes restrict ourselves to only one type of genre? Maybe we should really dip our toes into new areas. In my case, a console gamer ended up trying out PC gaming for the first time, plus different type of game genre and enjoyed it. Happy gaming! @kangaroobz

Hi @kangaroobz, Doing what I do means that I have to play all kinds of games across a wide variety of genres. That’s one of the reasons why I cannot understand the mentality that some people have, sticking only to one thing. There is so much enjoyment to be drawn from trying out different things... and just because one game in a particular genre doesn’t meet someone’s fancy doesn’t mean that the whole category is flawed. In other words, I agree with you totally. In order to be a “real” gamer, in my opinion, you must be able to appreciate a wide variety of games on all platforms. But that might just be me... Ed

There has been quite a lot of rumbling about kids playing GTA V on the Internet. I think that as gamers we need to help build awareness of what games are about with parents. That way, hopefully, we can keep enjoying our passion without having to suffer the criticism of the uninformed and irresponsible. It is really easy to blame shift, particularly when the target is something that they don’t understand... or are too lazy to learn about. The only ones who can do this, though, are those of us that understand the necessity for it. It really is up to us... we shouldn’t hand the responsibility off to others. Perhaps you can explain to your friend why his son shouldn’t be playing GTA V. In this matter, every bit most definitely helps.

Our Letter of the Month writer will be recieiving a set of Gioteck X 05 Multi Wireless Headphones, courtesy of Gioteck and Apex Interactive.

* Prizes for South African residents only. gamecca52

Stop Making Games Beneficial! IDoubleDQD

by Sarah Snyman

recently cracked an invite to speak at the #WiredWomen conference in October. I was ecstatic to be invited and accepted the opportunity immediately! I’m going to be sitting on a panel made up of a guy in matric who is an avid gamer and has spoken out about gaming’s influence on leadership, a PHD candidate and lecturer in the game design course at Wits and finally, me. A blonde 20-something Digital Advertising Specialist who games for pleasure due to extremely high stress levels. The subject of the panel discussion: gaming and its influence on leadership skills, how gaming is going to be a central aspect of our future leaders. Don’t get me wrong, I love that gaming is responsible for this kind of attention. I have read up on the gamefication ideology and we use it in our work in online user behaviour analysis. It’s amazing how many positive attributes

gaming has and it’s great to see this kind of work published and publicised so readily. But I cannot help but feel a sense of let-down. A sense of nostalgia and longing for a time long ago. It’s the same kind of emotion I get when one of my favourite hidden gem bands becomes a commercial hit and loses an element of their integrity. The same feeling I get when I see kids calling themselves “emo” and confusing the powerful movements that were goth and punk and spitting out some horrific monstrous child of their union. Coupled with a healthy pinch of modern day overprotective parents and too much study into antiseptic hand wash. Their music is washed out and uninspiring to me. It doesn’t break any norms and destroy any rules. When I think about listening to Combichrist “agortech” beats in my car as a misguided teen with

black hair and too many piercings, I think about rebellion and an agenda and intelligence and hardconversations. When I think of kids listening to dashboard confessional in designer skull covered shirts and on-trend boots, I think of replication, conformity and bland expression. The feeling that this rise in gaming as a tool gives me is almost identical. I miss the days, that somehow now seem to be slipping away from us, when games were hardcore, violent, edgy and considered dangerous and experimental by all those good religious folk who picketed at metal concerts. The days when you installed Doom 1 on multiple stiffy disks that were copied 3 times over. When you had to know something about computers, networks and cabling in order to play at a LAN party. The days when people who gamed seriously all had PCs and metres of LAN cable at all

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times. When cheat codes were something that didn’t come up on a Google search. I miss being one of the tiny number of people playing World of Warcraft. These days are flying past me and now I have fallen out of the loop, because the loop has started running on a much wider circle, leaving the veteran gamers with error 42 and 10 year olds calling them n00b. So now I go into this conference not sure that I want the world to know how amazing gaming can be. How much the original gamers gained from the intellectual stimulation of playing all day and all night. Do I really want these people to start encouraging their children to play Guild Wars for 21 hours a week? It’s like your parents introducing you to Cannibal Corpse. Will this destroy underground gaming, or will we all just get a bit dirtier, a bit harder, a bit faster and even further underground?. g

Choice, Con AND Cin Cin Feature

The Art of th

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by Lein Baart

nsequence& nema nema

he Narrative

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digital form of “Choose Your Own Adventure”, with a button press at the end of a clip determining which video would play next. Barely considered games, they still created considerable excitement in their time, though it wasn’t until the advent of full motion video, which allowed video of characters speaking dialogue to be layered over 3D environments, that the genre begun to emerge as a credible class of games in its own right. More adventure games than anything else, FMV titles included some of the greatest classics of the day, with the likes of Phantasmagoria, Gabriel Knight 2 and the Tex Murphy becoming wildly successfully. True 3D gaming quickly made these games obsolete however, and as FMV faded from favour, so was the interactive movie genre buried and forgotten. Or at least this would have been the case had Quantic Dream not come along with Fahrenheit in 2005 (released

Feature

hen it comes to interactive movies, few can dispute that French developer Quantic Dream practically is the genre. While actually older than you may otherwise think, with a slew of full motion video (FMV) titles released in the early nineties technically falling under the same banner, the genre has been transformed singlehandedly into an almost unrecognisable state by the efforts of David Cage and his team. To understand though why the gaming community is so hyped up for the release of Beyond: Two Souls one needs to look at where it all begun, and the revolutionary steps Quantic Dream took to blur the lines between game and cinema. The term interactive movie describes the early forays of the genre to a tee. Made possible by the invention of the laserdisc, they were essentially a

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as Indigo Prophecy in America so as to avoid confusion with Fahrenheit 9/11). It was a game that dared to be different, eschewing the popular conventions and genres of the time by shifting its focus almost entirely to its plot. A supernatural thriller set in New York, Fahrenheit attempted to take players deep into a world of personal horror as it told the story of man whose life is ripped apart by a series of brutal murders. While the game had its flaws, the most notable being the punishing quicktime events and a hurried ending, the use of a branching narrative, multiple point-of-view characters and an adventure styled gameplay combined with an immensely cinematic atmosphere to create a game that was and still is unique and compelling. While Fahrenheit was a fantastic game in its own right, arguably its most important contribution to the gaming world lay in the foundations it set for the follow up title,

Heavy Rain. Everything that had stood out in Fahrenheit was expanded and improved upon, making for one of the most immersive and intriguing titles to ever grace the PS3. Again multiple playable characters were featured, weaving a story of the desperation of a father trying to save his child from a taunting serial killer. The control scheme was revised, with actions on screen mimicked by the movement of the analogue sticks, designed to eliminate barriers between the player and the character. But by far the biggest and most radical advancement was that no poorly executed QTE or missed item would end the game, not even if it resulted in the death of one of the four main characters. It was a mind-blowing concept, a feat that had only existed in the imagination of the gaming community up until then, and lends true weight to the term interactive storytelling. Never before had such an organic plot, evolving depending on the

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normality that Jodie faces. Plot details are scarce, as one would expect with a title that relies so heavily on its narrative, but David Cage has been quick to assure that one of the greatest features of Heavy Rain and Fahrenheit will be present, and Beyond’s story will evolve depending on the choices players make. There will be no reloads or game overs, and even the death of Jodie will not stop the game. What will happen should this come to pass is a fascinating question, but Cage has stated that “it’s definitely not a black screen.” Despite the general lack of info, what has been revealed, mainly in form of gameplay trailers, has shown that Beyond will feature a palpable sense of cinema. The clips alone have been rich in emotional drama, as laid bare for instance when Jodie goes to a party for the first time. To enhance this, Hollywood actors Ellen Page and Willem Dafoe will take lead

Feature

choices made in the game, been realised, and from it the moniker interactive drama was born. Now, with Beyond: Two Souls’ release due in just a few weeks, the gaming community at large has turned its collective consciousness towards a title many are awaiting in breathless anticipation, and for very good reasons. Once again delving into the world of the supernatural, Beyond will tell the story of Jodie Holmes, a woman who since birth has been connected to a mysterious, ethereal entity simply known as Aiden. Forced to become a criminal on the run, the game will span the course of 15 years as you take Jodie from the age of 8 through to 23 as you play out key moments in her life. Storytelling, as is usual for a Quantic Dream title, will feature above all else, with every other element (be it gameplay or otherwise) designed to further immerse you in the struggle for

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roles, the former as Jodie and the latter as scientist and substitute father Nathan Dawkins. Aiden though will also be a distinct character in his own right, and to this end players will take control of both Jodie and Aiden at various times. Able to pass through walls and manipulate objects, the videos have shown him as key to the progress of the plot, and not merely a tool for Jodie to manipulate her environment. The control scheme will be important to the game as well, and as seen in Heavy Rain will aim to imitate whatever action you choose to make. While it hasn’t been fully clarified as to how it will work, already it is obvious that Beyond will be more interactive than titles that came before it, with more direct control given to players. Quantic Dream have taken pains to reach out to players (i.e. casual gamers) who might otherwise not consider buying the game, and as such have created

a mobile app that will serve as a substitute controller, though Cage has warned that experienced gamers will feel likely prefer the Dualshock controller. Recent times have seen a number of titles released with the plot as the prime focus, most noticeably Spec Ops: The Line and The Last of Us. None of these games, however, have yet to match the single-minded focus Quantic Dream lavish on their narratives. They have proven themselves masters of their craft and expectations are running high for Beyond: Two Souls to be another enrapturing experience. It will not be a game for every player, and those gamers that don’t care about plot or found themselves put off by Heavy Rain’s unique controls and reliance on QTE’s will likely face the same issues here, but for everyone else Beyond: Two Souls looks to be an incredible and involving tale of change, hope and self-acceptance. g

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Previews Highlights 18 Watch Dogs Stealth-hack! 20 XCOM: Enemy Within The aliens return 22 Skylanders: Swap Force More kid-crack! 23 The Crew A new race

ith the PS4 and Xbox One launching in South Africa over the next few months, things really are looking exciting. It seems, though, that a number of titles still need firm release dates and so, because we like to be as accurate as possible, we will hold off on those previews. Additionally, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a little too early to talk about XO games. We want a first date for the console first. So, in the meantime, here are a handful of upcoming titles to salivate over... g

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Watch Dogs

Overwatch

Nothing is safe when it comes to technology by Charlie Fripp

Set in a highly-technological version of Chicago, the city is one of a number of sites that host a supercomputer known as a “CtOS” (Central Operating System). This system plays an important role in the running of the city, but it also contains information on all of the city’s residents and activities – which naturally leads to things going haywire. Playing as Pearce, players will be able to hack into almost any aspect of the city to gain access to important information, track suspects and even control the traffic lights at intersection to complete objectives assigned to him. Ubisoft has described Pearce as a highly skilled hacker described as a person who uses both “fists and wits” to get the job done.

Preview

hile a host of great titles will be released in the next couple of months, most gamers are looking forward to Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs. The action-adventure stealth video game is set in an open-world, and will see players assume the role of Aiden Pearce, as he tries to set the world right from its wrongs. In terms of plot, the title involves the growing aspect of information warfare, and the real consequences that they can inflict on a highlyconnected world. The game takes a closer look at the world’s increasing use of technology, and tries to answers the ultimate question: who exactly runs the computers they depend on?

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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

But it’s much more than traffic lights and tracking, as gamers will be able to gain access into “people’s phones to retrieve bank data and steal funds, triggering malfunctions in equipment to distract other characters and hacking into traffic lights just to cause collisions. Players can also receive information on civilians via augmented reality feeds, providing the player with information on demographics, health and potential behaviour.” The title also has a very interesting multiplayer elements to it, in the sense that two players will be able to join a game, but only one players will know about it. While Player A is busy with their single-player campaign, Player B will be able to seek into Player A’s

game and steal information from their smartphone. Once Player A has been alerted to the virtual security breach, they will have a number of options available to them, which involves hunting the hacker down, killing them, or putting as much distance between themselves and the hacker. The concept of being able to hack just about anything in a hyper-connected world is what will attract players to the title, and the thrill of witnessing the consequences. Ubisoft has been world on Watch Dogs for some time released a number of trailers, so players pretty much know what they will be hacking themselves into – and it’s going to be great. g

AT A GLANCE: Action-adventure

Hacking into almost anything should prove to be lot of fun Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft Megarom

Nov 2013

Platforms

Genre:

ETA

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

XCOM: Enemy Within

Evolving the Armoury

MEC, meet thin man. Thin man, meet rocket powered fist by Lein Baart

AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Turn-basedStrategy

Enemy Within is looking to provide a deeper, more strategic experience than its predecessor, quite a feat considering how brilliant Enemy Unknown was. Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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Firaxis Games 2K Games Megarom

ETA

Nov 2013

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Preview

n the flurry of reboots that marked 2012, few games stood out as strongly as XCOM: Enemy Unknown. It was the rare gem that actually managed to negotiate the treacherous waters of revamping a classic while staying true to the original, enrapturing a generation that had never even heard of the 1994 game. True to form then Firaxis is reviving a mode of release seldom seen nowadays, and XCOM: Enenmy Within is looking likely to enthral and thrill once again. For an expansion Enemy Within seems to be decidedly meaty. Besides the predictable new weapons, equipment and multiplayer maps (8 to be precise), there will be 47 new campaign maps and a host of reworked maps from the first game. New to franchise is a collectible alien resource known as Meld, which will be central to Enemy Within’s story and unlock the most exciting of the new features: a new mechanised soldier and genetic modification. MEC’s (short for Mechanised Exoskeletal Cybersuit) have been created specifically to battle a new enemy unit, the Mechtoid, a mechanised Sectoid vastly tougher than its cannon fodder counterparts. Upgradeable through three tiers and recruited from existing non-rookie soldiers, MECs are likely to be the powerhouse of your squad, packing an arsenal that includes a jet-assisted punch, a flame thrower and a grenade launcher. Other units aren’t to be left behind however, as genetic modification allows a host of new powers, such as the ability to leap to rooftops, health regeneration or mind control protection. It’s a formidable array of new capabilities that will have players itching to come up with novel tactics and uses, and should boost the gameplay value of an already immensely impressive title. g

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

Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy

The Final Chapter Professor Layton and company’s most ambitious outing to date!

by Nthato Morakabi

AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Puzzle Adventure

Travel the world, solve mysterious puzzles and uncover the secrets of the Azran’s in Professor Layton’s conclusive adventure. Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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Level-5 Nintendo Core Group

ETA

Nov 2013

Platforms

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he Azran Legacies is a remnant artefact of an ancient civilization, one of great power and one that is fervently sought after by various organizations. One of these organizations goes by the name of Targent and their goal is to utilise the Azran artefact for themselves. Jean Descole, rival to Targent, is also after the mysterious object and with these two organizations gunning for the relic conflict rises, setting the stage for this final chapter in the Professor Layton series. The story follows Professor Layton, his assistant Emmy Altava and his young apprentice Luke Triton on an investigation in the frigid landscapes of Snowrassa, when a mysterious letter claims that a living mummy has been discovered. The living mummy turns out to be a young girl named Aurora, a remnant of an ancient race known as the Azran’s. This discovery sends them across the world on a grand adventure aboard an airship, travelling to various places around the world such as the United States of America, Russia and South Africa. As they travel, they begin to uncover more about Aurora, the Azran’s and the artefact known as the Legacies. Using the stylus and the touch screen, players will have to explore environments, searching for clues that will see them progressing through the game. Over 500 new exciting and challenging puzzles await players, more challenges than the previous title offered and yet with the same fun and style that the Professor Layton series is known for. It has been announced by Level-5’s CEO Akihiro Hino, that this is the last Layton title to feature Professor Layton as protagonist but the title promises to be the professor’s most ambitious outing to date. g

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

Skylanders: Swap Force

Crack for Kids Now in 256 different flavours

by Lein Baart

AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Platform Adventure

While its success seems inevitable, there is enough new content to actually make it worth the unavoidable horde of new toys you will be buying. Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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Vicarious Visions Activision Megarom

ETA

Oct 2013

Platforms

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ctivision has been called many names in the past, not all of them complimentary, but one thing is undeniable: they know how to publish stupidly successful games. The list of best-sellers is daunting, and of late each year seems to bring yet another tale of broken sales records as the inevitable Call of Duty/Diabo/StarCraft title hits the shelves. There is however one more franchise to add to this most esteemed list, one that has been largely ignored by the hardcore gaming community but has nonetheless managed to sell over $1.5 billion in the two short years since its inception. With the third major release just around the corner, and a whole new set of miniatures to match, Skylanders: Swap Force will once again have parents desperately shelling out to appease their crazed, frothing-at-the-mouth little tykes. This time though Swap Force is actually adding enough new features for you to get excited about. For the first time (except for the 3DS release) Skylanders will be able to jump, a mechanic that the series has practically screamed for since the original game. Just how they move will become important as well, as certain minigames will only be available to characters that hop or teleport around, for instance. What this game will really be about though is the new miniatures, specifically the 16 swap force miniatures. Each will have disconnectable top and bottom halves, allowing you to mix and match miniatures for a total of 256 different playable characters. Old characters will still be compatible, though with the series 3 rereleases Swap Force is likely to turn your kid into a raving Skylanders junkie once more. g

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

The Crew

On the Road Again Taking the road race across the country by Charlie Fripp

AT A GLANCE: Racing

Taking on the EA franchise, Ubisoft might have a fighting chance. Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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Ivory Tower Ubisoft Megarom

Q1 2014

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

Preview

acing titles are big money in the gaming industry, and a number of games have squarely cornered their respective markets. In the arcade racing genre, Electronic Arts’ Need For Speed franchise has seen players racing against opponent for many years. But Ubisoft seems to be willing to take EA on for the top spot in terms of racers, as the development studio will be releasing The Crew. The title has been seen by many as Ubisoft’s attempt to compete with EA’s open-world, crosscountry offering from last year. Just as EA’s offering, The Crew will see players race for the ultimate prize of glory and riches as they speed across the United States, from coast to coast. Ubisoft has also revealed that it will take players around 90-minutes of non-stop driving to reach the other coast, while the single player campaign should be around 20-hours in length. In terms of a plot, not much is known at this stage, but players will have to infiltrate criminal groups in order to progress. It was also revealed that the title will have no in-game loading screens and that the title also can’t be paused, which will make for really interesting racing sessions. There will also be a multiplayer mode, although it is not separate from the single player experience. Missions can be played alone, with friends, or with online co-op matchmaking, while players will be able to form “crews” to race together. In what has become a common occurrence in gaming as of late, is the launch of a companion mobile application – and The Crew is no different. Ubisoft revealed that an iOS and Android app will be launched, with players can use to customise their cars. g

Earth Defence Force 2025

Let the Carnage Begin The ravagers are back for another round

by Lein Baart

AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Third-person Shooter

Don’t expect too much from this game, and EDF 2025 should have more than enough to keep you entertained Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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Sandlot D3 Publisher TBC

ETA

Feb 2014

Platforms

Preview

or those that have never played an Earth Defence Force game, try to imagine what the offspring of Serious Sam and Starship Troopers would be like, and you should have a good idea. It’s pure B grade action, a mindless slaughterfest of stupidly huge bugs and robots designed to make you cackle like a maniac as you level yet another city to stop an alien infestation. Now, with the Earth Defence Force 2025 set to hit western shores early next year, once again humanity is to be hurled into the breach in a desperate effort to repel yet another invasion. As the fourth entry into the series, 2025 isn’t looking to muck about with standard formula of the franchise. Absolutely everything that’s been revealed by D3 Publisher, from the cheesy voice-acting in the teaser trailers to the nearly insane amount of carnage you can wreak on environment and enemies alike, shows 2025 is here to feed you more of the same wanton carnage that EDF is known for. That’s not say they aren’t changing things up a bit. Like Insect Armageddon, 2025 will feature four classes, each designed to inflict mass death in their own unique way. The ranger is the most recognisable as your typical grunt, but with the inclusion of wing divers (exclusively female jet pack wielders), air raiders (specialist in calling in air support) and fencers (essentially your heavy militia), there should be enough variety to justify multiple playthroughs of each level. Throw into this mix 700 available weapons, multiple difficulty levels, offline and online multiplayer and fully destructible environments, and 2025 should have plenty to keep you sated for a long time to come. g

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

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Show Me the Money The Soapbox

by Suvesh Arumugam

e always look to Hollywood for the big dollars. The jaw dropping salaries, the famous celebrities, cutting edge production value and just a general wow factor that transports us from the real world into our favourite fantasy. The recent release of Grand Theft Auto V smashed this myth into irretrievable little pieces, by proving that the big bucks are still up for grabs. By selling over $800 million on it’s first day of release, and more than $1 billion in just three days, GTA V sales rate is the fastest money spinner in entertainment history, surpassing any film, video game or entertainment product. It was just 30 years ago that veteran actor Marlon Brando shocked the world by demanding

$3.78 million dollars (plus 11% of the films gross takings) to appear as JorEl in Superman. The actor worked a total of 13 days and filmed just over 15 minutes of screen time to earn the today equivalent of just over $14 million. This put Brando into the Guinness Book of Records as the highest paid actor of all time. Although Sylvester Stallone eventually held the honour for many years for being paid over $15 million for Rambo 3 (which also made the record books for being the most violent movie with over 100 on screen killings), Brando’s incredible payday still stood out. That was then, nowadays, this is small change for big Hollywood stars. Keanu Reeves earned an estimated $150 million for his role in the Matrix trilogy in salary

and profit participation percentage. And the list goes on. While GTA V may have shocked many by not featuring any big name celebs in major roles or cameos (previous versions features big stars like Ray Liotta, Samuel L Jackson, Ricky Gervais, Jenna Jameson and many others), there is little doubt that production costs (over its five year genesis) paralleled the game’s incredible revenues. Other top grossing games continue to bring big Hollywood names though, like the Call of Duty franchise which has attracted big names like Gary Oldman, Kiefer Sutherland and Sam Worthington – Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 also opened to record sales, clearing $500 million

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dollars on release. So is the real money in the video games or the movies? It’s really hard to tell these days. Pretty much every successful movie has a video game component to its release and marketing plan, like any of the Harry Potter, Marvel Universe or Lord of the Rings series. Similarly, every major game release at some point generates rumours of an eventual movie release. Many, like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, have become franchises in their own right. What is clear is that the cross-genre platforms are bringing new fans to games and movies alike, and it can only mean greater production value (and big name studios, producers and artists) for both in the future. g

An Open Letter Console General

by Montgommery Paton

Dear parents It is quite likely that, at some time during your life, you played video games. They have been with us for more than forty years now, so that assumption is more than likely accurate. You most likely played them as a youngster, at a time when games were more innocent, and the biggest concern our parents had was that we were spending too much time in front of the old cathode-ray tube TV, instead of playing outside like they did when they were young. That was when I started playing games. Like me, many of you may still play video games, but I suspect a far greater number of you don’t. You may hold on to the false belief that video games are only for kids and, like your parents before you, your biggest concern is about how much time your kids send playing the, and not what it is that your kids are

playing. But like those of us that still play games, games have also grown up. With adults now playing game, game creators know that some of the titles out there need to meet the demands of adult tastes. And so there are games available that deal with or depict adult ideas, or subject matter that adults are equipped to cope with. Violence, bad language, drug abuse, sex, prejudice and more can be found in games. Most often these things are not gratuitous; like movies, these elements are incorporated in to games because they support or further the narrative. This is something that Hollywood has been doing for decades, and it has become something of an expected part of modern entertainment. Games are part of that entertainment. They aren’t just blips and beeps any more. In fact, games tell stories that are often more

complex than movies these days, and the involvement of the person experiencing the game is far higher than that of someone watching a movie. The question really is this: are you aware of what your kids are playing. Because there are games aimed at adults out there, you need to think about this. Perhaps even play the games with your kids. At least pay attention to the age restrictions – they aren’t there for decoration. Because, quite frankly (and I think that I speak for the vast majority of game playing adults out there) I am tired of hearing games blamed for society’s woes when, quite honestly, parents treat the video game console like a baby sitter. Letting your kid play whatever because it keeps them out of your hair after a long, tiring day is not OK. It is irresponsible, absentee parenting. Letting your kids play a game because all their friends are playing

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it, or because they told you there’s nothing “bad” in the game… same deal. Of course they are going to play games that they shouldn’t. That’s part of being a kid – pushing the boundaries. But blaming games for having a negative effect on your kids is like leaving a razor lying around and then pointing fingers at the blade when your baby cuts itself… rather than taking care of the dangerous object in the first place. I am an adult, like many other gamers, and I like to be able to choose how I entertain myself. And I don’t want one of my choices negatively affected by your poor parenting. Just saying. In other words, if your under-18 kid is playing GTA V, you need to relook at how you do things. If you’re not willing to do that, then you forego the right of complaining about the games. Kind Regards MP g

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Reviews Highlights 36 GTA V Big city, bright light, loaded guns... 40 Diablo 3 The Lord of Terror on console! 42 Puppeteer A heady adventure 46 Rayman Legends No arms, no legs, still awesome! 50 Killzone: Mercenary Kills for cash on the small screen

here is some awesome gaming on the horizon... and there is some here right now. Not only do we have the return of Killzone and the debut of Diablo on console in this issue, but we look at the long awaited GTA V. This title has, since release, become the fastest money earner in the entertainment industry ever. But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not all violence and crime in this issue, what with the beautifully crafted Puppeteer (and a whole lot more) on review. Enjoy! g

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YouTube and the YouTube logo are trademarks of Google Inc. Intel, the Intel logo, and Intel Core are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. “2”, “PlayStation”, “PS3”, “ ” and “À” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

The F1 FORMULA 1 logo, F1 logo, F1 FIA FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP logo, FORMULA 1, FORMULA ONE, F1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX and related marks are trade marks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula One group company. Licensed by Formula One World Championship Limited. All rights reserved. All other copyrights or trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are beingused under license. Developed and published by Codemasters.

© 2013 The Codemasters Software Company Limited (“Codemasters”). All rights reserved. “Codemasters”®, “Ego”® and the Codemasters logo are registered trademarks owned by Codemasters. “Codemasters Racing”™ and “RaceNet”™ are trademarks of Codemasters. An official product of the FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.

OUT 4 OCTOBER 2013

VISIT:

F O R M U L A 1- G A M E

F O R M U L A 1- G A M E . C O M

GTA V

Los Santos! I am in you!

by Pippa Tshabalala

would be an understatement – it’s massive! In yet another innovative move (because let’s face it they needed something good to be able to compete), you get to play as three different characters, all pretty much simultaneously. There’s Franklin, the boy from the hood who’s just trying to make a buck. Michael, the rich guy with a sinister past, and Trevor, the crazy, drugged up hillbilly who doesn’t give a rat’s ass about anything, but will happily shoot you in the head while he’s shagging your girlfriend. When you switch between characters you won’t find them where you last left them. For example if you switch from Michael to Franklin and the last time you were playing as Franklin he was standing outside his house, don’t expect to find him there, or indeed even find him in the same clothes. The characters are dynamic in their own

Review

love GTA. All of them. I love everything about the world, the franchise, the characters, the mechanics, the rampages, the missions, the radio stations… need I go on? That might be a perfect place to end this review, with just, “Buy it, it’s awesome!” but I suppose you actually want to know why. Let’s start at the beginning. You return to probably my favourite city in the franchise, Los Santos. For anyone who played San Andreas, you’ll find familiarity, but also a sense of disorientation. This is San Andreas, twenty years on. The city has expanded, it’s grown up, it’s become more debauched, and much like the real life city it’s based on, urban sprawl has taken over. In fact the city is more than five times the size of the map of Red Dead Redemption, previously Rockstar’s largest game. To say that it’s huge

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way and the experience of Los Santos is only enhanced by this feature. Each character has their own strengths as well. While the ability to build up your stats has made a return, and practicing a specific skill will up your abilities significantly, each character has their own set of unique talents as well. You can invoke this special power, (Trevor’s for example is his ability to take less damage for a limited time while causing double), whenever you want. The success of a mission will also depend on which character you’re playing as, and if they’re particularly adept at performing certain tasks. As always the main story missions are well thought out and construct a vast and intricate narrative, but the joy often comes from the side missions, which are generally more quirky and random. This doesn’t detract from the

main story however, which also involves Ocean’s Eleven type heists where multiple characters are employed to commit a heist and then take a cut of the profits depending on their skills and experience. Speaking of heists, let’s get into gunplay. The auto aim feature can be toggled on and off, so you can aim and shoot at your targets more quickly and easily if you’re not overly concerned with combat, but if you like more of a challenge, turn off that auto aim feature and make life way more difficult (but decidedly more satisfying) for yourself. I am ecstatically happy that Rampages have finally made their triumphant return to GTA V! I was extremely sad when this feature was removed, and I almost leapt to my feet in joy when I spotted my first rampage. The only thing missing now is “Kiiiiiiiiiiiill Frenzy!” As challenging and bloodthirsty as ever.

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pretty. Whichever console you’ve got the game on handles them well (I’m playing on Xbox FYI). I haven’t spotted many glitches as yet, and the ones I have aren’t deal breakers, in a world of this size they’re bound to exist. I am however going to go slightly more in depth with regards to radio stations simply because this is a feature that I’ve always loved about Grand Theft Auto. They were first introduced in GTA 2, and have been one of the strongest features of the game since then, providing you not only with regular news updates within the game world (often of your exploits), but with an awesome soundtrack to boot. I inevitably have my favourites, but it’s worthwhile exploring all the stations in order to discover genres that never interested you before you associated them with your favourite mission. It’s not a flawless experience sadly, with one of my major

Review

Expect to see familiar locations as well. Without giving too much away you’ll make a return visit to Grove Street to find a location that has changed, although I can’t necessarily say for the better, with the times. Indeed this is where GTA V really plays on your sense of nostalgia. While the new city is substantially bigger, you’ll find these pockets of familiarity that look and feel as though they’ve aged twenty years. It’s wonderful and depressing at the same time. As always the city has hidden gems, ranging from the amusing chatter of the passers-by, to the shop signage and the NPC character design. If you take some time out to discover what the city has to offer, your experience of the game will be that much better for it. I’m going to skim over graphics for the simple reason that they are everything we’ve come to expect. They’re

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bug bears being the connection to the Rockstar Games Social Network and the taking of photographs which is inherently flawed. Each character is equipped with a smartphone on which you can snap pictures (and even selfies if you so choose). This has always been a feature I’ve enjoyed and so the lack of functionality irks me incredibly. Having to first sign up and then connect online just to save out a picture only to have it announce that the servers are down is particularly tiresome, and I’m hoping that an update that allows offline saving of photos will be forthcoming. At the time of writing, GTA Online is not yet available, although it will become so in October. I’m hoping that this deserves an entire review of its own. Grand Theft Auto V is a rich, mind blowing experience that has been expertly handcrafted by Rockstar Games,

and I am as in love with the franchise as I always have been. Interestingly while many critics love it there’s also been a fair amount of criticism levelled at the game for the fact that it’s no longer cutting edge and provocative but more content to maintain the status quo. This is perhaps a fair judgement. We’ve come to expect shock tactics and controversy from GTA, but while the story is expertly crafted, the gameplay is much as it’s always been. That said, there is comfort in familiarity and there is nothing wrong in going with a winning formula. There are enough new features to keep old fans enthralled and new fans excited and coming back for more. Every time a new GTA is released, we always wonder, what more can they do? How can they top what they did last time? Well played Rockstar, well played. g

AT A GLANCE: Action Adventure

The GTA universe is a familiar but still infinitely satisfying one. It’s not perfect, but damn close to it. Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Grand Theft Auto IV, Saints Row IV Local

Network

Online 16

Rockstar North Rockstar Games Megarom

Parental Advisory

18+ gamecca52

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

95 39

Diablo 3

The Big Shift ..and an incredible result!

by Walt Pretorius

numerous changes here that make the game extremely enjoyable, and incredibly well suited to the more casual play-style presented by a game pad. On the downside, the graphics have taken a bit of a knock, basically to stay in-tune with console hardware. It may be a little disconcerting at first, but forgiving players (and newcomers who have never played the PC version) won’t have any problems. Things are still clear, lively and very visually enticing. PC gamers may well want to slaughter me for saying this, but the transition onto consoles has been the best thing to happen to this franchise in years. Now we have a game that is slicker, faster paced and even more appealing than the PC version. And it’s not just the more generous drops. There are a number of reasons for this game to be superior to the PC version.

Review

t was only a little way into my first play-through of Diablo 3 on Xbox 360 that the item drops started getting rather generous – at least compared to what I was used to in the PC version of this massive action adventure epic. But more generous item drops are just one of the tweaks that have accompanied Diablo 3 onto console – something which many people believed could (and should) never happen. The truth is, though, that this version of Diablo 3 is an absolute joy to play. Not only has the genre transitioned beautifully onto console platforms, but Blizzard took the time and effort to ensure that the game runs beautifully, and offers at least as much enjoyment as the PC predecessor. The story, characters and settings in Diablo 3 on consoles is identical to the PC version. But there are

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Dodging… there’s a good example. Now, with a flick of the right analogue stick, the character will dodge out of harm’s way. This makes fights feel more visceral than the toe-to-toe bashing of the PC version, and adds a dimension of instant-action strategy to the title that was absent before. Treasure gathering is also much improved – obvious treasure like gold and potions are instantly scooped up, while other treasures require the quick press of a button. This deposits them into an inventory system that seems clunky and awkward at first, but actually works beautifully when you get used to it. And the combat? Well, it’s beautifully tuned. A general direction on the left stick will allow the game’s auto-aiming to take out enemies. A wide number of attacks and skills can be mapped to the controller’s buttons, and that silly

restriction of using one skill per skill-class can be avoided when playing in elective mode – making for a game that grants the player more control over their character. Blizzard have, with this release, once again proven that – even though they sometimes do things we don’t like – they are a company that is very aware of the quality of their offerings. Diablo 3 could have taken the form of a lazy port from PC to console, but instead the developers took the time to make sure that it is everything but. It may be a slightly arguable point, but there are many out there (myself included) that find this version of Diablo 3 to be superior to the PC version in a great many ways. Everything about the console version of Diablo 3 screams “quality” and “fun”, all in the same breath. If you haven’t played it yet, this is the version to get. Even if you have played it, this is the version to get. g

AT A GLANCE: Action Adventure

Reviewed on:

The move from PC to console has resulted in a version of Diablo 3 that is arguably superior to that on the PC. Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Diablo, Diablo 2 Local

Network

Online

Blizzard Blizzard Megarom

Parental Advisory

16+ gamecca52

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

90 41

Puppeteer

Innocent Delight Appease your inner child

by Lein Baart

follows the story of Kutaro, a boy whose soul has been kidnapped by the evil despot Moon Bear King and forced into servitude as a headless puppet on the dark side of the moon. Aided by the jaded moon cat Ying-Yang, the feisty sun sprite Pikarina and the conniving witch Ezma Potts, Kutaro must regain a magical pair of scissors called Calibrus with which he can defeat Moon Bear King and return to earth. It’s an enchanting fairy-tale, rich in fantastical creatures and locales that’s designed to make your inner child squirm with glee. There’s an innocence to the story that cannot fail to make an impression, revelling in a world an adult may be tempted to dismiss as foolishness, but nevertheless captures the mind to send it soaring on flights of fantasy. The mystery and wonder of the story is perfectly represented through its presentation, which takes the form

Review

n the world of modern gaming true originality is a rare quality, particularly when it comes to mainstream markets. It’s understandable, as not only does it make sense financially to stick with what you know, but artistically most games are inspired by titles that came before them, meaning that innovation rather than true creation rules the day. Those few studios out there that do attempt to do something different are generally confined to the indie community, meaning that too often those precious few titles that have the potential to change the accepted standards are undercut by low budgets. Puppeteer then is an exception to the rule, a title utterly unique in concept and design but backed by a major publisher, in this case Sony Computer Entertainment. Developed in-house at SCE’s Japan Studio, Puppeteer

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of a puppet show in which you have a front row seat. Red curtains open and close as you move from scene to scene and act to act, while props and backgrounds pop into place supported on mechanised arms. There’s an ethereal, almost surreal beauty to the game, with amazing character design and stunningly imaginative levels to suck you even further. From a dark castle to windswept seas to a chilling mountain top, Puppeteer can leave you breathless in its variety. This is supported by flawlessly grandiose voice acting, with the narrator of the show and the main cast bringing the game to life, despite Kutaro being a silent protagonist. The actual gameplay of Puppeteer is that of the humble platformer, but even this has been transformed beyond the mere ordinary. By and large a 2D game with a sprinkling of 3D sequences, most levels have you hopping and cutting along a mostly linear path. Calibrus plays an important

role, allowing you to essentially fly around stages as long as there is a paper cloud or a piece of cloth to snip. Being a headless doll, a vital part of the gameplay revolves around collecting heads, which both act as lives as well as providing various enhancements to Kutaro’s abilities. What combat there is does tend to get a little repetitive, and you’ll rarely be challenged, but the boss battles are awesome in their scale as you battle the twelve generals of Moon Bear King. Puppeteer is game that is unreservedly different from anything that has come before. It exudes a palpable sense of theatre, and majestically sweeps all who play it into a magical realm of youthful delight. Be you child, teen or adult Puppeteer cannot fail to enrapture you, and you should have no regrets spending hard earned money on this exquisitely crafted adventure. g

AT A GLANCE: Platform

Reviewed on:

There is nothing quite like Puppeteer. Beautifully imagined and superbly told, this is a game you really should consider buying Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

LittleBigPlanet Local

Network

Online

SCE Japan Studio SCEE Ster Kinekor

Parental Advisory

12+ gamecca52

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

91 43

Rome II: Total War

The Second Empire A return to the days of togas, orgies and knives in the backâ&#x20AC;Ś

by Walt Pretorius

the player deal with every controlled city on an individual level, Rome IIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s territories are grouped into provinces. Each province has up to four cities in it, and the player manages all four at the same time. It feels a little less hands-on, perhaps, but it does make overall management moreâ&#x20AC;Ś well, manageable. Each province has a capital city, which is the only city in the province that has a wall (thereby cutting down on all those lengthy sieges we experienced before). Each province also has limited growth potential, and the player will need to balance development carefully to meet the demands of their armies, and the populace. Finally, when all the cities in a province are controlled, the player can issue province-wide edicts to further the advantages gained from controlling the territories. Armies and fleets must now be controlled by a commander, in the form of a general or admiral. The player

Review

he Total War series has been around for more than a decade now, and has managed to rise to new heights throughout its long history consistently. In this latest iteration, Creative Assemble take a step back in history to revisit one of their best settings to date: the ancient Roman Empire. Rome II: Total War manages to introduce a number of new ideas to the franchise, making for an arguable slicker experience. It still follows the formula of playing politics on an overview map and zooming in for tense, strategically detailed real-time battles, but there are a few aspects that make the overall experience that much easier to manage. The first of these is how territories are handled. The map is vast, as to be expected, and crammed with potential management headaches. But instead of making

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only has a limited number of these, granted according to the number of controlled provinces. This system has numerous advantages to it, not least of which is adding a level of challenge, but there are also one or two downsides. Principal among these is the fact that reinforcements cannot simply be sent out to meet waiting armies – they need to be taken by one of the commanders. This can complicate matters somewhat, particularly when you consider that each army can contain a maximum of 20 platoons. Thankfully, though, cities now have their own garrisons, composed of platoons gained from various buildings. It is therefore possible to successfully defend a siege without a general in sight. When it comes to the battles themselves, Rome II offers the same high degree of strategy, as well as great looks. There are hundreds of different unit types, and zooming

right in on the action – standing among the troops, as it were – can be quite thrilling. While Rome II is, on the whole, a much improved title, there are issues that still plague the franchise. Some of these go back right to the series’ beginnings. Probably the most annoying is the inconsistent AI. AI opponents will alternate great battle strategies with absolutely silly moves, and the player will be able to find exploits that remove some of the game’s strategic realism in RTS battles. That said, there is still no finer franchise for exploring the intricacies of ancient warfare. Rome II goes a long way to retaining that title, and it provides the player with a massive, challenging series of campaigns at the head of some of the ancient world’s most notorious warrior nations. Strategy fans will love it, even with the few warts it has. g

AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Strategy

Reviewed on:

Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Rome: Total War, Shogun II: Total War Local

Network

Online

Creative Assemble Sega Ster Kinekor

Parental Advisory

16+ gamecca52

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

Platforms

Rome II manages to build on Total War’s sterling reputation, but some of the series’ longstanding quirks have still not been addressed.

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

Score

84 45

Rayman Legends

Platforming Pleasure!

Rayman and co return for a yet another legendary adventure! by Nthato Morakabi

graphics. The background depicting aesthetic visuals of castles, mountains and foliage moving with the characters creates realistic in-game depth. There are also points while playing in which you bounce from either foreground to background or visa-versa, utilising the visual depth superbly. Along with its aesthetic value, there is much in Rayman Legends that is downright weird and creepy such as the multiheaded bird like creatures that attempt to peck the heroes to death, not to mention ogres, dragons, pirates, giant centipedes and a host of characters and creatures that bring the Rayman to life. A wide roster of characters will be available for play, most of which have to be unlocked through collecting Lums. The playable characters look, feel and play like their personalities including Rayman in his usual attire or his “alter ego” hidden below a knight’s helmet. Even playing as the other unlockable

Review

he large nosed, limbless warrior returns for yet another legendary adventure that sees him team up with Globox, the Teensies and friends for an epic excursion across various regions, kicking, punching and leaping to action for yet another rescue mission. The tale begins during the heroes’ century long sleep, when Bubble Dreamer’s nightmares begin to formulate and grow in strength and number; the resulting consequence is a mass imprisonment of ten of the princesses of the land along with numerous teensies, by the nightmares and 4 of the dark teensies. Murfy, a friend of the heroes, wakes the sleeping warriors up and informs of them of the predicament requiring some hero initiative. Visually, Rayman Legends is stunning. The crisp, colourful, HD graphics combined with the impressively hand drawn sprites creates a brilliant amalgamation of 2D and 3D

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characters feels different and yet similar enough that it’s not like learning to play the whole game again. You can also play through co-operatively with four other players and that in itself is a challenge, especially if a friend isn’t platform adequate. Those familiar with the previous Rayman titles will be familiar with the controls, franticly cruising through the levels while those new to the platformer might have to adjust to the pace and dynamics of the game. These dynamics include the collecting and rescuing of Lums and Teensies while occasionally fending off whatever is in your way, escaping enemies or speeding through time-constrained levels; epic boss battles in stunning 3D are sure to test your mettle. A feature specifically for the Wii U version, now implemented with the other consoles, is the controlling of Murfy – a green flying character from a previous Rayman title. Murfy is only usable at certain areas of the game and is

controlled with a single button; quite a manoeuvre when you are running, jumping and pirouetting through level. Murfy’s job is to assist Rayman as he speeds through the levels such as helping him cross over certain areas by moving platfroms, cutting ropes, poking the eyes of creepy looking nightmares or tickling enemy creatures to lower their defences. Once you get the hang and timing right, controlling Murfy isn’t as hard as it seems though it does become quite a challenge in progressing levels. A variety of game modes are open for play from the frantic local-multiplayer soccer mode, Kung Foot to an unlockable Return to Origins that takes you through rehashed levels from the previous title and competitive online play in various daily and weekly challenges. In conclusion, Rayman is a frantic, fast-paced game, visually stunning and fantastically fun. g

AT A GLANCE: Platform

Reviewed on:

Bubble Dreamer’s nightmares have bubbled up to the surface, kidnapping princesses, capturing Lums and Teensies. It’s up to Rayman and friends to save the day. Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Rayman Origins Local

Network

Online 10

Ubisoft Ubisoft Megarom

Parental Advisory

7+ gamecca52

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

90 47

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of The Shadows

Back to the Shadows Some things are better left undiscovered

by Charlie Fripp

Review

AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Action

Reviewed on:

X360

While they still might be cool, the title doesn’t help their reputation Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Charlie Murder Local

Network

Online

Red Fly Studio Activision Megarom

Parental Advisory

10+ gamecca52

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

Platforms

nybody that grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s will have a very good idea of who the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are, and might even have had a themed birthday or two around the crime-fighting, pizza-loving characters. While there has been many products and titles that revolved around the Turtles, for some reason the downloadable Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows attracted a fair bit attention when it was announced earlier this year. But sadly, no matter how cool the entire franchise was (or is), the title just doesn’t live up to the expectations. Players will be taking on the role of a selected Turtle as they hit, stab and kick their way around the city invested with thugs and crime. While the plot and mannerisms sort of stay true to the original franchise, the main issue with the title is the control scheme. The button combinations are incredibly simplistic at times, but there also seems to be a bit of a delay when entering into combos, causing the Turtle to push away like a maniac while there is nobody left. The title might be better suited towards the younger folk who are old enough to grasp what is going on, but who won’t complain too much about the Turtles completely changing bodily appearance between cut-scenes. In essence it is a button-masher in combat with few combos that will make it worth it. In terms of graphics, it has its moments but it’s oddly erratic. And yes, Raphael’s neck width did change during cut-scenes, while Leonardo’s head strangle shrunk in relation to his shoulders at one point. g

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

Score

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

Killzone: Mercenary

Cash for Kills …any pretty much everything else, too.

by Walt Pretorius

Everything is about the money and the player’s character, Aaran Danner, will work for whoever has the deepest pockets. And the game never lets you forget it. Everything in Mercenary is rewarded with a cash bonus, from killing an enemy to getting a sweet stealth kill. Even scavenging ammunition has a small cash reward, but getting killed will cost the player a small amount in life insurance, as will changing equipment load-outs in the field. This economic system is one of the most enticing aspects of the game. The player can purchase new weapons and equipment between missions (there are 24 weapons in two classes available) or can do so during missions by accessing special black market stores scattered through the levels. Getting a 50% bonus for a headshot over a normal kill will motivate players to perform well, and gathering the cash is a big part of the

Review

ony’s PS Vita has had something of a rocky history, and has had a very mixed bag of games on offer. What it hasn’t had, up until now, is a decent first-person shooter. There have been forays into this mainstay genre, but nothing has ever delivered an experience that is satisfying. Even the Sony exclusive Resistance: Burning Skies, while possessed of a few great moments, wasn’t quite what it should have been. The saviour of FPS on Vita is also from a Sony exclusive franchise: Killzone: Mercenary. This game, which take the player back to the gritty sci-fi battle against the Helghast that we have visited three times on PlayStation consoles, manages to prove that the Vita is a perfectly viable platform for high action FPS gaming. In this title, the player plays both sides of the massive war between the ISA and the Helghast as a mercenary.

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title’s fun. Naturally there are certain limitations for an FPS title on the Vita, particularly when compared to consoles like the PS3. Almost all of them are related to controls. However, the developers have managed to craft a very smooth, responsive control scheme here, which still has a few limitations, but doesn’t feel overly hampered by the fewer buttons that the Vita has. Thankfully their solution wasn’t to get all crazy with the numerous other control options on offer. The player will need to make use of touch screen controls when performing melee attacks and such, but for the most part everything can be done using the analogue sticks, face buttons and shoulder buttons. Mercenary looks surprisingly good too, but one again one has to remember that the platform is capable of only so much. There are occasional frame drops, but these are

quite rare. Other than that, the looks are crisp and clear, even allowing long range hits on targets with non-sniper weapons. Supporting the good looks is a decent level of voice acting. The script is on the cheesy side, but that’s part of the entire franchise’s charm, so we can forgive it. The only real downfall here is that the single player campaign is just far too short. It features nine surprisingly challenging missions, and can be completed (with lots of skill and a bit of luck) in around five hours. There is a multiplayer component as well, allowing up to eight players access to three game modes across six maps. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but the multiplayer portion of Mercenary is actually tons of fun. Killzone: Mercenary is a lot of fun to play, and manages to be an extremely competent FPS title… a welcome change to the genre on Vita. g

AT A GLANCE: First-person shooter

Reviewed on:

Killzone: Mercenary will go down in history as the first great FPS title made for the PS Vita... we hope to see many more. Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Resistance: Burning Skies Local

Network

Online

Guerilla SCEE Ster Kinekor

Parental Advisory

18+ gamecca52

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

PSV Platforms

Genre:

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

Score

82 51

Lost Planet 3

Return to the Ice Age

Frigid landscapes, killer aliens and dark secrets unravelled. by Nthato Morakabi

arduous task. Lost Planet 3 has an interesting story-line, propelling forward by mystery, intrigue and more side-missions than you can shake a rig at. Those who have played previous instalments know that NEVEC is usually the antagonist in past series and so seeing them as the good guys in this “prequel” shows you where it all started. Quite a bit of action awaits you on Lost Planet, even more once you play the harder difficulties with the weaker enemies taking more than a standard shotgun shot to obliterate them. However in the end it becomes a similar pattern when taking down the enemy Akrid. The large glowing portions of alien anatomy screaming “shoot me” make it quite clear which part of the creatures is their weakness and once you get the hang of diving out of the way, taking enemies down becomes a matter of

Review

n older and wiser Jim Peyton reflects back on all the mistakes he’d made in the past, things he wishes he’d rectified and dark secrets he wishes he didn’t know. With the last of his strength he begins to divulge to his granddaughter, Diana, all that he’s been hiding, beginning with the first expedition that NEVEC (Neo-Venus Construction company) took to the planet known as E.D.N III. Back then NEVEC sought to colonise and secure the planet, seeking to harvest the energy found there, T-Energy (T-ENG), as a new energy source. However, the younger Jim Peyton begins to find that there is more to the colonization than he thought, and more to the planet than just ice. Aliens, known as the Akrid, have also called the planet home and these vicious creatures along with the extreme conditions make the mission on the planet an

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patience and timing. Using the rig is a fun way of taking down enemies as you grab them with your claw and drill into them using the rig’s standard attachments. Unlike previous instalments in which you used a vital suit, the rig is the suit’s predecessor; Lost Planet 3 is a prequel after all, hence the “downgrade”. This, however, doesn’t take the fun out of getting into a rig to watch bright goo spew all over the place from a good drilling. The icy, snow covered environments you explore capture and create an atmosphere of a planet undergoing extreme conditions though after a while it becomes a repetitive saunter through similar looking frozen landscapes. A few other areas (such as the Akrid breeding cave) match the suspense of explorating an alien planet with good visuals. However there isn’t much to explore in the game, regardless of various discarded

machinery parts and randomly scattered audio and text logs that reveal much about NEVEC, its complex history, its employees and various tips on what and what not to do. There isn’t much to do in regards to the multiplayer, offering standard game modes such Team Deathmatch, Extraction (collection of T-ENG), and Scenario mode. A better and more fun game mode is the Akrid Survival mode that pits you against both the other players that are attempting to hold an area until the timer runs out, and the vicious alien Akrids that seek to decimate any and all in their way. For a prequel, Lost Planet 3 is okay and the storyline is the main pull rather than the amazing graphics or fun gameplay; a title that had potential but that has fallen a little short in the end. g

AT A GLANCE: Third-person shooter

Return to E.D.N III as the young Jim Peyton, exploring frigid landscapes, fending off alien attacks and unravelling new truths about the dangerous planet. Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Lost Planet 2 Local

Network

Online 10

Spark Unlimited Capcom Ster Kinekor

Parental Advisory

16+ gamecca52

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

70 53

Pay Day 2

Professional Crime Nothing says we are here to steal stuff like masks.

by Nthato Morakabi

Pay Day 2 has decent enough graphics and the levels are detailed enough that you can appreciate and distinguish the different shops, clubs and restaurants. Small details such as opening cash registers, breaking glass cases and the like, create the desired effect that this is a robbery, however that’s about it. A few bugs do become an annoyance during gameplay. A few times a security guard has walked up onto a table no one seems to notice and that’s just one of the few bugs of many bugs. Also the civilians look more like actors waiting for the director to shout action than customers in a shop. Playing offline is hardly ever an option as the A.I does nothing more than follow you and shoot at the cops, when what you need is a team that will steal loot, contain civilians and move the loot out on their own– no such luck here.

Review

allas, Wolf, Hoxton and Chains stage a come back to the crime world that is sure to rock police precincts all over the virtual world. With contracts coming fast, these criminal veterans have their hands full and it’s time for them to hit the big leagues. A quick crash course acquaints players to the world of Pay Day 2, introducing them to Bain the main contact and the safe house. From here you connect to Crime.net, a map network that lists all the heists available. Apart from a connection to Crime.net, the Safe House is a place to practise skills and see what is needed during a typical heist. Progressing in game, allows you to test a few more things but you will be spending more time logged into the network then in the safe house.

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The main pull of the game is in the online mode in which you view the map and get to choose a hit, all listed with varying difficulties and expectations. The selection of missions vary from single day jewellery store robberies to 3 day art-gallery heists and even the odd escort missions for the cartel. The game relies heavily on team-work and communication as lone-rangers tend to be incarcerated first. Much can be said regarding online play, team work and being a good team player but all of it adds to the excitement of the action. Although not impossible, the chances of pulling off a heist without getting the cops involved is low, as most times a civilian will hear you or see you with your mask on alerting the police. Cool little tricks can be used such as answering a knocked out guards pager to sway the cops from coming or deploying EMPs to disable security cameras but much

planning and tactics is need for this. Pay Day 2 offers much customization ranging from different types of weapons to varying masks and mask colours, textures and materials, to skill abilities. Naturally your skills improve the higher you level up, unlocking better skills and getting bigger pay outs for the more difficult jobs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; these bring in better tactical options for more successful hits. Unfortunately a lot of the unlocks have to be randomly found at a lottery system at the end of successful missions. Even then it takes a lot more high-pay missions to gain enough capital to buy the unlocked attachments, weapons and mask customization options making the first few hours frustrating. In the end Pay Day 2 is an enjoyable online multiplayer title. g

AT A GLANCE: First-person Shooter

Reviewed on:

X360

Step into the shoes of one of four hard-core criminals on the lookout for big heists and adrenalin filled action leading to their pay day. Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Pay Day Pay Day Local

Network

Online

Overkill Software 505 Games Apex Interactive

Parental Advisory

18+ gamecca52

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

70 55

Flashback

Back in a Flash Some things are better left forgotten

by Charlie Fripp

Review

AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Platform

Reviewed on:

X360

While the original was good for its time, the remake is not on the same level. Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Flashback, Fade to Black Local

Network

Online

VectorCell Ubisoft Microsoft

Parental Advisory

6+ gamecca52

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

Platforms

f memory serves, the original Flashback from 1992 was pretty good, with many gamers claiming that it could have been a title that defined the platform genre – or not. But enough gamers still love the title so much, that original game designer Paul Cuisset decided to approach Ubisoft about making a remake – which he did. But players of the original Flashback might be a little disappointed when the download the remake from their chosen digital platform, as it doesn’t live up to the glory from the first title. Maybe it is just a question of timing and probably the age of the game, but the format doesn’t seem to work quiet as well with today’s well thought-out games. The title retained its platformer roots, and maybe that is where things go wrong. Sticking to the original way of doing things, players will more often than not be sent on a wild goose chase around the levels, talking to people, fetching things, talking to more people and fetching more things. Nothing in Flashback is simple, as the people that needs to be talked to and things that need to be fetched, are usually (no, actually always) at least 2 train stations apart from each other. Players will probably spend more time travelling between stations than what they do an actual missions. In terms of graphics, the title isn’t bad for a downloadable title, and it’s of course much better than the original from ’92, and the control scheme is manageable, with some hiccups here and there. In short, players of the original might still enjoy the remake, but be prepared for a lot of grinding and doing things that don’t make sense. g

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

Score

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

Leisure Suit Larry Reloaded

Return Of The Lounge Lizards Larry is back and looking uncharacteristically sharp

by James Francis

AT A GLANCE: First Person Shooter

A smooth and welcome remake of the original, LSL shows why adventure games belong on touch devices. Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Broken Sword, Monkey Island Local 00

Network 00

Replay Games Replay Games Android Play/iTunes

Parental Advisory

10+ gamecca52

Online 00

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

Reviewed on:

Android Platforms

Genre:

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

Score

Review

ince the first Battlefield 3 announcement It was thanks to Larry Laffer that many of us were educated about condoms, gambling and that there ever were things like leisure suits. Released in 1986, Leisure Suit Larry or LSL was an unlikely hit. Mature, innuendo-laden games are still a rarity in the industry - perhaps speaking volumes about its average consumer - but they do happen. Larry’s adventures have long been a kind of gold standard for this brand of interactive sexploitation, though later iterations became just plain awful. But Larry makes a great comeback on smart devices, fittingly doing so with the first and arguably best game in the series. Reloaded is an exact remake of the original, but with a few extra touches added - enough to smooth over some older design flaws, but without offending original fans. Larry is in the city of Lost Wages, looking to lose his virginity. There are numerous women to seduce, which with Larry is harder than it ought to be. The guy is just a stone-cold loser, as the fun and wry commentator often likes to remark during the game. So, to find love Larry needs to jump through the elaborate and wacky object puzzles typically found in an adventure game. Being point-andclick, adventure games like this work perfectly on a smart device. LSL is no different. The graphic overhaul looks great and the writing is still timeless. Even for the premium price tag of $4.99, this is worth every cent both for genre fans and newcomers. And the first area is free, so you can try Larry’s lurid adventures before you buy. Hint: turn on the tap. And buy some protection - we don’t want our leisure suit to catch something... g

Tales of Xillia

The Art of Artes Pure JRP gold

by Lein Baart

avatar in the world of Rieze Maxia, and the story will shift to accompany your choice. The plot device may be a tad stale, with a superweapon threatening the destruction of humans and spirits alike, but the exploration of several weighty themes lends the story real depth. Through an assortment gorgeous but sparse animated scenes, ingame cutscenes and character skits, each of the eventual six party members are given a chance shine, showing real character growth and development. This combination means that Xillia’s plot is magnificently told, and alone provides incentive to give the game another 30 plus hours of your life. Combat is another of the game’s highlights. At its core, Xillia’s system resembles a brawler more than a traditional RPG. By combining straight attacks with artes, essentially magic spells, the combat is fun and frantic affair. Throwing

Review

apanese role-playing games are often given short thrift in the western world. There’s a stigma about them that goes deeper than the obvious aesthetic differences to western titles, with a persistent belief held by many gamers that JRPG’s cater to a niche market only. Whether the stereotype holds true or not is a matter of debate, but one thing that cannot be denied is that this perception generally means that many games never make the crossing to the west, robbing us of some truly amazing and innovative titles. Conversely, what this also means is that those few games that do get localised are often the cream of the crop, as is exactly the case with Tales series. Tales of Xillia tells the story of Jude Mathis and Millia Maxwell, the former an awkward but talented medical student and the latter the lord of spirits. Right from the off the game requires you to choose who will be your

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linking into the mix, which allows two characters to share certain passive abilities and skills, adds immensely to depth, lending serious impetus to master the system. The only issue is that grinding features prominently, but this is avoidable by weaving past the various monsters on the map. Levelling is likewise as strategic. Using a lilium orb, players can unlock both skills and artes by creating quads in a graphical display that resembles nothing more than a spider’s web. There’s a huge, even daunting, amount of customisation available, allowing you to tailor each party member as you see fit. This can skipped through the auto-level system however, leaving you free to brawl to your heart’s content. Complimented by a simple but well-handled shop system which allows you to gain access to more gear by investing in a particular type of merchant, it’s a competent system that should give RPG fetishists

more than enough to play with. Practically the only fault of the game lies is in its graphical presentation, though considering its two years old this is forgivable. The environments and backdrops are gorgeously rendered, but the characters themselves, particularly when it comes to facial animations, tend to fall a bit flat. Thankfully the superb voice acting goes a long way to mitigating this, bringing each character to life in a very human way. The Tales series has always been considered niche, but for those that are willing to try new things, there is a lot here to reward you. It’s a world in which you cannot help but become immersed in, not least because of the loving attention lavished on it. Tales of Xillia is a must for any JRPG fan, and everyone else should really consider giving it a go. g

AT A GLANCE: Japanese RPG

Reviewed on:

PS3

A magnificently crafted, well told game that deserves any player’s consideration. Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Any Tales game, Final Fantasy Local

Network

Online

Namco Tales Studio Namco Bandai Megarom

Parental Advisory

16+ gamecca52

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

86 59

Asterix Megaslap

All Slap, No Punch Hitting Romans is fun, but unless you’re Obelix it gets old

by James Francis

Review

AT A GLANCE: Genre:

First Person Shooter

Reviewed on:

If this game didn’t expect you to pay up front, it would have made more sense and been more fun. Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Buritto Bison, Toss The Turtle Local

Network

Online

BulkyPix BulkyPix Android Play Store/iStore

Parental Advisory

3+ gamecca52

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

Android Platforms

ver half a century has gone past since Asterix and his gang of gauls made their debut. This says a lot for the evergreen quality of the franchise, despite resisting the temptation to do spin-off comics or dabble in new styles. For example, nobody has ever tried to give Cacophonix his own animated series… There has, though, been quite a few movies, theme parks, t-shirts and, of course, games. Asterix Megaslap appears to be the Gauls’ first appearance on smart platforms and is, mostly, a faithful addition that fans will enjoy. The concept tackles a familiar theme in the Asterix universe: the dramatic punching of a Roman legionnaire. Though sadly lacking the famous unfurling sandals, it’s nonetheless an artistically accurate representation of the series. Unfortunately the excellent style cannot hide the lack of substance here. Similar to the fantastic Flash-based Burrito Bison series, you have to smack your Roman as far as possible. Yet that is only part of it - the game has a challenge list that favours accuracy over brawn, such as bouncing off a prescribed number of Roman heads or using certain items a number of times. This distraction works, but like the looping scenery it soon starts feeling tired. After a few hours Asterix Megaslap’s depths are fathomed. But at least ‘paid’ means no micro-transaction badgering, right? Alas, the game has a collectible card system that you need to entertain if you want to get every item. So you pay for the game, then need to pay more if you want to ever complete it. It’s at best exploitive and actually makes you wish it WAS a free game. That way at least the short-lived experience and nagging “buy!” screens would seem justified. g

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

Score

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

Gag Orders... by Ramjet

Ramjet’s Rantality

The views expressed in this column are not necessarily those of 1337 Media or Gamecca Magazine... or even those of a sane, rational human.

am fundamentally opposed to censorship. You might have figured out that I say what I like, when I like. I will choose what I experience because I am a responsible adult, and because I do not believe any kind of government institution has the right to tell me what I am allowed to experience. But there is, boys and girls, a flipside to that coin, too. See, freedom isn’t something that you just have, and just get to fling around. There is a responsibility that comes with it and (you may not believe that I am saying this) a need to respect other people. Without those, it just doesn’t work. Now you may be saying stuff like “whoa, wait a minute, two months ago you had no respect for me in your poxy column” and all manner of things like that. Well, yeah, sure, maybe I hurt your itty-bitty feelings with one of my generalised complaints… but that’s what it is. A generalisation (and if you haven’t figured out that I am poking people with sticks to get reactions

yet, maybe it is time you do). I don’t attack people specifically. So when I say that Millennials are a nogood, narcissistic bunch of whiners, I don’t mean YOU. I mean that generation in general. There are always exceptions. Maybe you are one of them. OK, wait, I am getting away from my point. Where was I? Right. Censorship. I don’t like it. But… The Internet has been all a-buzz of late with the news that several websites – including YouTube and a handful of big gaming sites – are either revising their comments policy, or disabling comments entirely. And I was very happy (that doesn’t happen very often which is why I am writing this column). Over the last few years, the Internet has become more and more unpleasant, thanks to a combination of anonymity and low self-esteem in many users. These wastes of space have been, in their millions, passing comments that break one of those laws of free speech. They have been directly attacking the dignity of others. And their

statements have had no relation to the thing that they are commenting on. They have been attacking others simply because they can. That’s the thing with being allowed to say what you want. It needs to be intelligent, it needs to be relevant, and it needs to be part of a compelling debate. Calling someone a nasty word and wishing all kinds of harm on them is not intelligent; it is hatespeech, and it is indicative of a lack of intelligence. Throwing out a comment like that while other people are trying to have a debate fuelled by logic and careful consideration marks you as being a moron. And I am glad you’re going to get gagged. Just because no-one can see your face doesn’t mean you can do what you like. It’s not against the law, sure, but it is utterly indecent. And it is moronic. Gagging is what you’ll get, but it’s far too light a punishment, in my book. Sure, the rest of us may suffer a little. It can be quite exhilarating to have a

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charged, intellectual tussle online, and that option may well fade or disappear entirely thanks to this move. But I can live with that. I like to surf and search around the Internet like anyone else, and, quite frankly, the comments in question have made it an unpleasant experience. So if I need to sacrifice the ability to voice my opinion in order to have a better time digging around the Web, so be it. Yes, I am angry that it has come to this. Yes, I don’t like the fact that things will be censored. But it’s like having a sick limb chopped off to save the whole body. I can live with it. The ability of the many to voice their opinions has been ruined by the few. I can live with that, too. But if we ever meet, in a nice bar maybe, over a few drinks, and I find out that you were one of those trolls who, through your utterly selfish and absolutely moronic actions brought this about, I will punch you in the face… in a manner that doesn’t destroy your dignity, of course. And I won’t do it anonymously, either. g

a copy of Farming Simulator Courtesy of Apex Interactive TO ENTER: Send an email to competitions@gameccamag.com Tell us the name of one of the four main characters in the game. Tell us which platform you would prefer (PS3 or Xbox 360) Insert “Payday” in the mail’s subject line Subscribe to www.gameccamag.com Become a fan on Gamecca’s Facebook Page Competition closes 31 October 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 Apex Interactive. 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

Star Wars: X-Wing vs. Tie Fighter

reviously there were individual Tie Fighter and X-Wing games, but they finally met and settled the whole debate of which is better. With cutting edge graphics and physics systems, it became the best in the series, never to be matched again.

Blood

ew games ended up using the Duke Nukem engine, but Blood was certainly the finest. A mix of action and horror, it included weapons like a voodoo doll and the ever-reliable aerosol-can-lighter combo. As the name suggests, this was not an All Ages experience.

Theme Hospital

Fallout

A Year in Games

unning a real hospital will never be as interesting as this game, where exotic diseases included something that turned people into Elvis impersonators. This game, though, has never been cloned or copied, because if it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Theme Hospital itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just not the same...

n a world overrun by hordes of mutated fantasy fans, Fallout was a big breath of fresh air. Travel the wasteland, kill bandits, raid radiation shelters and generally make a menace of yourself. Though revived in 3D, the 2D version remains a high point in gaming history.

A YEAR IN GAMING

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Grand Theft Auto

Age Of Empires

efore the series was reinvented as a 3D marvel, GTA players would look down from the top. The rest remained the same: criminal insanity, hapless pedestrians, gun fights with cops and a really awesome soundtrack.

ore paced, contemplative real-time strategy games werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t around until this massive hit arrived. Build your stone-age village and raise your people to the top of classic civilisation. Mainly by getting them to break rocks. Well, somebody had to do it.

Quake II

Oddworld: Abeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Oddysee

uake changed the way the world thought about first person shooters, but Quake II made them look pretty. Discarding its predecessorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love for fifty shades of brown, the sequel was more vibrant and more detailed. It also introduced the legendary and lethal railgun.

he makers of the Oddworld series came from Hollywood and wanted to make games. They would eventually give up and go back to movies, as that proved less frustrating. Still, the series managed several Oddworld games, of which the first is the most loved.

1997 gamecca52

Spotting nefarious spam

For the Picking

Is SA ready for the Internet boom?

In the Mail

R evi ews i ncl udi ng Asus, E p son, H P, Ca no n , L o g it e c h , T r it t o n a n d m o r e . . .

Digital Toy Box

Free

Disney unleashes Infinity...

I S S U E 3 5 / Vo l . 3 September 2013

www.gladgetmag.com

Online Mag

Simplicity in information!

www.gladgetmag.com

Review

Specifically designed for killer gaming

Asus G750 Gaming Notebook PC

Tuned

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by Walt Pretorius

T T

he struggle for dominance in any market is always tough. But when you get to a market that is as finicky and picky as the video gaming market, it gets even more difficult. And when you get to a concept like gaming notebooks, that a large number of South African gamers are at best reticent about, well, that just adds another level of challenge to the mix. There are numerous perceptions about gaming notebooks that seem to pervade consumer thinking. Some of them are true, while others are not. The first is that a notebook cannot handle gaming. This fallacy is legacy-thinking; based on experiences of the past, many people still struggle to believe that a notebook can deliver the kind of performance required by games. That is particularly true for the ever-more-demanding modern games out there. But that idea changed quite some time ago, and now we have more than a few options for very powerful notebooks, specifically designed to deliver top notch gaming performance. Another perception is that notebooks cannot keep up with the upgrade demands that gaming places on PC owners. That, to a degree, is true. Most notebooks do feature at least a small degree of upgrade potential, but certain components, like the CPU and graphics chip… well, you’re going to be stuck with those. The truth is that upgrades don’t need to be done quite as often as some would have us believe. But, once an upgrade does become necessary, it might be a case of replacing the whole machine, rather than just essential bits. That said, the same happens for desk top PCs too. It’s rare that a single component upgrade will be enough. The third perception is that gaming notebooks are expensive. This, unfortunately, is completely true. To get the power you would need in a machine like this means that you may well be paying more than you would for a comparable desktop rig. It may not always be the case, but it is a distinct possibility. But that extra cost buys something that people using bulky desktop rigs don’t have: convenience. Anyone who has attended a LAN – which are still pretty prevalent here in South Africa – has seen the players lugging in big boxes and monitors, generally accompanied by a rucksack to take care of controllers and other peripherals. With a device

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like Asus new G750 Gaming Notebook PC, your whole rig will fit under your arm. You might want the rucksack, but you’re probably going to manage the headphones and mouse that you may be using with it without the need for extra luggage. What makes a system like this worthwhile, in addition to that convenience, is the amount of power that Asus have crammed into it. The result is a notebook that is really rather big, not to mention heavy. It’s still easier to move around than a desktop rig, though, and the specification attached to the G750 will have you doing some time in the gym to make sure you can carry it around. It might be a monster in terms of size, but it’s a monster in performance too. Powering the whole affair is a rather chunky Intel i7 4700HQ processor. We’re talking speeds of up to 3.4GHz here, which is blazingly fast. It will certainly hold its own with any current and near future game thrown at it, and will probably last well past that too. Supporting the CPU is 16GB of DDR3 RAM, which is a really generous amount. For the foreseeable future, any more than that will be something of a waste, and having such a large amount in a notebook is almost unheard of… unless it’s a gaming notebook, of course. And it’s got enough room to upgrade that to 32GB, if you choose. Speaking of big, the G750 offers the user storage in the form of a 1TB hard drive, supported by a 256GB SSD. Using the SSD for OS and essentials, and the HDD for storage is the best approach of course. And let’s be honest, 1 TB is quite a bit. It might not be enough for some, though, which is one of the weaker aspects of notebooks in general. You will be able to upgrade the drive, true, but you may also end up with a lot of stuff stored on an external hard drive, too. Using a machine like this requires a decent degree of storage management. That shouldn’t be too problematic, thanks to the four USB 3.0 ports that the G750 comes equipped with. In addition, it also has a card reader, LAN port, audio jacks and display outputs in the form of DisplayPort, HDMI and VGA ports. You might not want to use an external monitor, though, because the 17.3 inch anti-glare monitor does the job beautifully. It gets provided images via a rather nice GeForce GTX780M GPU, which has a whopping 3GB of VRAM at its disposal.

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And then there’s the sound… handled by Asus’ SonicMaster technology and served through an integrated headphone amplifier, it’s pretty awesome. You’re only going to get stereo out of it, which may be a problem for some, but the audio really is great quality. The list of great features continues, and includes things like extended battery life and optimised gaming LAN technology. It makes it an extremely tempting purchase, despite the rather hefty price point. With all that and more on offer, it is almost unimportant to consider how the G750 looks. But Asus haven’t skimped there either, producing a stylish machine. The chicklet-style keyboard is full, with offset directional keys and gaming response optimisation. Below it is a generous track pad, slightly offset to the right (although most people will probably only ever use a mouse with this monster). And the whole affair is finished in brushed black metal and durable matt black plastic. It is easy to recommend the Asus G750 Gaming Notebook PC as a great option for those in the market for a gaming notebook, but it does have a few downsides. The size and weight really are… well, large. And so is the price. It’s performance, though, is really exceptional, and if the cost isn’t going to cripple you, it is a very decent option. If a product like this suits you, it really is right at the top of the competition. g

Summary

Tech Specs: • • • • • • •

It’s an awesome machine, all told... but many may find the price prohibitive.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

A sus A sus www.a sus.c om

Pros • • • • •

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Very powerful Beautifully designed Generous spec

3.4GHYz CPU 16GB RAM 1TB HDD 256GB SSD GTX780M GPU 3GB VRAM 17.3 inch screen

Cons • • • • •

Heavy Pricey

Score

90 73

The Direct Line

OCZ RevoDrive 3

T Review

Storage straight to the source…

he way we store things on our PCs is changing fast. The days of noisy hard disc drives spinning away in our cases (and sometimes delaying us slightly because they need time to spin up) are fast coming to a close. Not only has HDD technology come a long way, but the advent of solid state drives – probably the smartest thing since sliced bread, really – means that data is accessed faster via devices that are more stable, due to a distinct lack of moving parts. These were really just a matter of time, as devices like flash drives and SD card drove storage technology to new heights. SSDs are fast. There’s no denying it. But they still sit behind something of a bottle-neck, because they need to be accessed via cables and ports. Sure, we’re talking fractions of seconds, but in the world of computing, a fraction of a second is a massive thing. There is another

option, though, that is even faster. You don’t hear a lot about it, because everyone is bleating on about SSDs, but devices like OCZ’s RevoDrive 3 make a lot of sense. Essentially, this is an SSD drive. It does everything that an SSD drive does – it stores data, and allows much faster access to it. It also allows for more stable operation, generates less heat, and doesn’t lose data if moving parts fail (because, once again, it has no moving parts). The major difference between the RevoDrive 3 and a ‘traditional” SSD is that this device won’t sit in any kind of drive bay. And that is because it is a PCI-Express compatible card. Wait, what? Storage on a component card? Yes. It makes absolute sense. The connection to the motherboard is far more direct, for one, and it helps keep the case interior free of cables – because it doesn’t need any. It plugs directly in to the

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by Walt Pretorius

motherboard, via a PCI-E port. It makes perfect sense, particularly when you consider the fact that most people don’t make much use of their PCI-E ports these days. With almost everything provided on motherboards, the need for sound cards and the like is greatly diminished. Making use of the space with one of these makes great sense. The RevoDrive 3 is a power-user’s dream. It really does clip along very quickly, and has built in systems to minimise CPU load, among a host of other features. It is extremely simple to install and use, and makes a lot of sense for those who need that extra ounce of performance from their PC. There are various size options too, so those interested in this kind of device will have some choice. It might not be for everyone, but those that need it will love it. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

An extremely sensible option for power users who demand a lot from their data storage solutions.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

gamecca52

Very clever idea! Fast Less cable clutter

PCI-E card Bootable drive SMART data monitoring TRIM support

O CZ Sy ntec h www.sy ntec h.c o.za

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Consumes a PCI-E port

Score

96 75

On the

Review

MSI Z87I Motherboard

A great mini all-rounder!

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by Walt Pretorius

Scale W

e have seen quite a few mini-ATX motherboards over the last few months, most notably from Asus, who have options that range from every-day to gaming-capable. The idea of a smaller PC overall still being able to perform all those tasks that a big box tower can do is gaining a very wide appeal, particularly for gamers who transport their cases a lot, or for people looking for excellent media PC options… or even just those people who want a more discrete PC. With MSI’s Z87I, thing can be even more discrete and uncluttered, thanks to one of its features. This feature also makes it an excellent board to use with a media PC… Wireless Display technology, or WiDi for short, comes from Intel, and it allows the wireless streaming of audio-visual data from the PC to a compatible monitor or TV. Complete with 1080p resolution and 5.1 surround sound, WiDi means that effective sound and image transmission takes place, without the use of any cables. And that’s awesomely discrete. In fact, if you make use of a wireless mouse and keyboard set up, the only cable you’ll potentially need for the Z87I motherboard is the power-cable. Providing, of course, that your audio is handled via your HDTV or monitor. Those that prefer the reliability of a wired connection can make use of the HDMI, DisplayPort and DVI ports built into the board, as well as the on-board 7.1 surround sound ports. As far as the expected level of quality goes, this diminutive motherboard runs the same types of components that you would expect on other MSI devices. That means Military Class 4 components, which include Hi-c CAPs, Solid Ferrite Chokes and Solid CAPs, to mention a few. In addition, the board features humidity protection, high temperature protection, electrostatic damage protection and EMI protection (which helps keep things stable after long periods of operation). As far as ports and the likes go, the Z87I provides users with six USB 3.0 ports and four USB 2.0 ports. That’s pretty generous, considering the form factor. The Z87I is a fantastic option for those who want a more generalised PC while keeping to a smaller size. It might not have some of the features of the gaming specific mini-ATX board we have seen, but as an allrounder, it really works well. Excellent performance is the order of the day, and while users may need to make some compromises in moving to a smaller form factor, this MSI option will give them the confidence to do so. And it even incorporates MSI’s OC Genie 4 system, fo those that want to squeeze a little more out of their machine. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

If you’re looking for a fantastic all-round miniATX motherboard, here’s a great option for you.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

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Very stable WiDi Excellent allrounder

Intel Z87 Express chipset DisplayPort HDMI port DVI port 6 USB 3.0 ports 4 USB 2.0 ports WiDi support

M SI Corex www.c orex.c o.za

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Smaller form factor means some compromises

Score

85 77

Right on Tar Logitech G500s FPS Laser Gaming Mouse

performance th r e t an the last one… et b A

L Review

ast month we had a look at Logitech’s G100s gaming mouse and we didn’t like it. The mouse itself was fine, for a middle-of-the-road twobutton affair. Labelling it a gaming mouse, though, is a big stretch, no matter how scientific the surface coating may be. We called foul. This month we have the G500s, and the picture is very, very different. Where the G100s felt like a marketing ploy to flog a cheap, standard mouse as something it wasn’t, the G500s is very definitely a gaming product. There was a time when Logitech was a definite leader in this field, and it looks like they’re trying to recapture the title from the likes of Razer and SteelSeries. That’s going to be quite a fight, but the G500s is a great weapon in the battle. First of all, it has a very wide DPI range, from 200 to

8200. It might not be the most sensitive we have seen, but such a wide degree of variance makes it extremely adaptable to the needs of gamers. DPI can be changed on the fly, too, with very sensibly placed sensitivity buttons just to the side of the main left button. This customisation is further enhanced by the fact that the weight and balance of the mouse can be adjusted – something which we really don’t see often enough. The weight can be adjusted by up to 27 grams… it doesn’t sound like much, but it does make a difference. Those two aspects alone make it stand out among other products. But it has a number of other features that add massive amounts of value, too. It has ten programmable control inputs (buttons and the like) which can be stored as part of on-board profiles that the mouse itself saves. Some profiles may need the support of the optional Logitech Gaming Software, though, so

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rget!

by Walt Pretorius

not every profile will work as a plug-and-play solution. Even the scroll wheel has multiple options, either with a specific click function, for precision, or as a freespinning wheel, for speed. The G500s is a right hand only device, but it is quite comfortable. In addition to that, it is sturdily constructed and featured a hydrophobic palm surface, dry grip side panels and fingerprint resistant buttons. Those buttons are graded up to 20 million clicks, which is pretty impressive, and the low-friction polytetraflouroethylene (say that fast five times) feet have been durability tested to 250km. Sure, it’s a higher grade mouse, but the thinking behind the G500s and the G100s are chalk and cheese. Unlike the smaller model, here we have a device that truly deserves to be called a gaming mouse, and one that gamers can buy with confidence. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

Logitech gets things right with the G500s, which is a great gaming mouse all-in-all.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

gamecca52

Nice feel Adjustable weight and balance Great DPI range

10 programmable controls 2m cable 200 – 8200 dpi On-board profile

Log itec h Log itec h www.log itec h.c om

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Not ambidextrous

Score

88 79

Stressed Out! From the Basement

by Pippa Tshabalala

am pretty stressed out around this time of year, and in 2013 things have combined to make for a particularly sleepless and stressful period. I have a full time job. I have multiple freelance writing jobs. I have a family. I’ve recently taken on the launch of a new magazine. And I still invest a substantial amount of time in my gaming habit. While on some levels it’s a combination of these projects that have me working until the early hours of the morning, not getting much sleep, (and still getting up at 7am every day) the real challenge is balancing the games. I know right? Who would think this is what I would be complaining about? To be fair I’m not really complaining about the games themselves, but there are just so many

new titles on the horizon and I’m already snowed under, that I’m beginning to wonder how I’m actually going to manage it all. How do you play through all the great titles and finish all the work and do all the things? Because I want to do all the things, but I don’t know if I’m physically capable! With rAge creeping up on me somewhat unexpectedly (it was aaaages away, then it was a month away, and suddenly it’s a week!) combined with long hours spent playing GTA (luckily both for pleasure and for review), combined with work, combined with writing deadlines and a family, I wonder how there can even begin to be enough hours in the day. I never really understood that saying until I took on so many different projects that it suddenly became a

reality. Sleep? Sleep is for pussies! (*cries* I love my sleep…) Want to know the worst part? The gaming season is only beginning… I’m excited, 2013 is going to be a gamer’s dream come true! But I’m also starting to think of those deadlines and dreading the amount of work I know will need to be done in order to get through it. As game journalists this is probably one of our busiest times, and the impending launch of PS4 and Xbox One has intensified this significantly as the gaming industry is awash with expectation and speculation over the coming gaming season. Developers are rushing to release their current gen games that have been in development for years, before the advent of next

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gen in order to cash in before they’re left behind. Alternatively they’re holding off on releasing games so they can capitalise on the December holiday spending spree as people the world over spend their hard earned cash on consoles and games for their loved ones. What this amounts to for the journos is a market awash with not just mediocre titles, but in 2013 some truly excellent titles! More importantly it comes down to deadlines, deadlines, deadlines. Opinion pieces on next gen capabilities. Reviews of next gen consoles. Reviews of launch title next gen games. Previews of the glut of next gen games that are approaching. Games. Games. Games. We love them. We hate them. We can’t live without them. g