Gamecca Magazine September 2013

I S S U E 5 1 / Vo l . 5 September 2013

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

Saint’s Row IV Splinter Cell: Blacklist Disney Infinity The Bureau: Xcom Declassified and more...

Crazy Days Saint’s Row IV loses its mind

Kill Shot

Splinter Cell: Blacklist hits the mark

No Limits?

Disney Infinity is crammed with possibilities

Bad to the Bone Get ready for Grand Theft Auto V...

Free Online Mag

Inside 6 From the Editor 8 Got Mail Letters from our readers 10 IDoubleDQD Take the crit, man!

12 Dirty Deeds GTA V is headed our way!

18 Previews 15 upcoming titles for you to consider 44 The Soapbox Left out in the cold?

46 Console General Complain, complain, complain...

48 To Infinity and Beyond Disney enters the collectable toy game market 56 Reviews Ten games investigated 82 Ramjet’s Rantality A stunningrealisation 84 A Year in Games ‘89 was a great vintage!

88 Hardware A handful of hardware awesomeness...

94 From the Basement Keep it to yourself, please...

THIS MONTH’S COVER The next GTA crime wave is almost upon us...

See our feature on page 12.

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Competitions 47 Splinter Cell: Blacklist 83 Farming Simulator

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Previews

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Gran Turismo 6

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Knack

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Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain

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Killzone: Shadow Fall

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NBA 2K14

30

Sonic: Lost World

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Wii Fit U

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Rocksmith 2014

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Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers

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WWE 2K14

36

Pokémon X/Y

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The Sims 3: Into the Future

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Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

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F1 2013

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Toukiden

GAMECCA Vol. 5 Issue 51 September 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 Letters: letters@gameccamag.com

Reviews

Competition Entries: competitions@gameccamag.com Newsletter Subscriptions: www.gameccamag.com

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Saint’s Row IV

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Splinter Cell: Blacklist

66

Disney Infinity

70

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified

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Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

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The Sims 3: Island Paradise

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Painkiller: Hell and Damnation – Uncut Edition

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Arcania: The Complete Tale

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Charlie Murder

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Prince Of Persia Classic

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

Taking fun seriously!

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

GAMECCA is published by 1337 MEDIA

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Copyright © 1337 Media CC 2009 - 2013

5

Keeping Busy...

by Walt Pretorius

From the Editor

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he old saying is wrong… the true mother of invention is procrastination. Necessity has nothing to do with it. I have come to this realisation because there has been a massive amount of procrastination on my side when it came to writing this Ed’s Note. I invented tons of stuff for myself to do to avoid it. Hence my conclusion about the saying…

But when you have cleaned all your game controllers and consoles twice, defragged and error checked every drive you have (including external HDs and even USB flash drives) scrubbed your monitors and cleaned your keyboards (removing all the keys to do so, of course)… well, you just have to bite the bullet and get down to the task that really should be consuming your time. And at least I have a wonderfully clean keyboard to write this on.

It has been a few rough months for the folks working on Gamecca… you can see it in the general grumpiness that has crept into the columns particularly. And I firmly

believe (because I have gone through a similar difficult period) that is has to do with the lack of games. Well, that drought, at the time of writing, has officially pretty much ended. Yes, the glorious flood of end of year games is incoming!

One of the games that is coming – this month, in fact – is on our cover: Grand Theft Auto V. We are all extremely excited about it, and it looks like there are going to be more than a few arguments over who gets to review it.

But aside from all the excitement that GTA V is generating here at the Gamecca office and almost everywhere else where you can find gamers, we realistically need to prepare for yet another storm around the controversial aspects of the game, the franchise and gaming in general. Every time a new GTA game comes out, there are questions about violent video games causing violent behaviour, about the influence of video game content on youngsters, and a host of other things like that. And the horde of video

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gaming critics and haters will be climbing all over it, without a doubt. At very least things have been quiet for a while, so this won’t be fuel thrown onto an already blazing fire. Rather, more like fuel thrown onto embers. Good thing that ambulance-chasing Jack Thompson isn’t around anymore.

I could, of course, launch into a tirade about how people need to wake up to the fact that the numbers just don’t add up, and that responsible parenting is more important than stricter controls, but it has all been said before, and I really don’t feel like getting in to it right now. I am really so over that debate. Besides, I have more important things to do… I think the tile grout in the bathroom needs cleaning…

Maybe I should quickly go take care of that before I finish writing this…

… g

Got Mail Send us a letter and let us know what’s happening in your head, your games or your community.

Gaming Aggression...

To the Editor I recently found your magazine online and I must say that it has made my job as a parent easier. The way in which you present your articles is easy to understand. I am trying to get a better understanding of my son’s love for gaming, and I believe that Gamecca Magazine is helping me to do so.

I have written a letter asking this question to a few people, because my research into the matter is giving me confusing results.

I hope that by asking this of you and other people in the industry I can get a better picture of what is going on. I have found that my son, who is 12, seems to be more aggressive after playing games. Is there a link between gaming and aggression? I have found lots of information on the internet, but everyone seems to be defending their viewpoint rather than giving people the facts. I hope you can help by giving me your opinion.

Kind regards Mrs T Barnard

Ed

Letters

Hi there Mrs Barnard

In the almost two decades that I have been working as a video game journalist, this issue has come up time and again. And, somehow, evidence of either argument has never been solidly produced. Personally, I believe that a certain amount of logic needs to be applied.

Certain studies have found that people are more aggressive for a short period of time after playing games. That makes sense, because of all the excitement and so forth. In my individual experience I have found that overall games keep me calmer.

Also, there is no causal link between video games and violent behaviour, but that doesn’t mean that some people won’t be negatively affected by video games. There are far too many factors and influences involved for this to be a cut-and-dried, black and white situation.

It is obvious that you are a concerned and responsible parent, and that’s exactly what is required. Monitor what your son plays - even try the games with him. Explain why some games may not be appropriate. It is my opinion that a balanced lifestyle with a variety of activities and entertainment offers more to a growing mind than simply being obsessive in one direction.

After all, a balanced kid can be more responsible than an obsessed one.

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Send your mail to letters@gamecca.co.za.

Letter of the Month writer will win a prize

Sponsored by Gioteck & Apex Interactive.

Letter of the Month Dear Ed I quite enjoy reading Ramjet’s Rantality in Gamecca. I used to read his column in NAG magazine, too. He can be pretty grumpy, and usually he talks a load of funny rubbish, but last month’s column was all about something that I and many other women are concerned about.

Sexism in gaming is all over the place. It is not just in game development. It goes beyond the industry and affects many women on different levels.

The situation has become quite serious. I have had friends threatened online. I have personally been insulted in the most vulgar way. I have heard of women who have even given up on gaming because of the sexism out there.

I believe in equality. That means that everyone should get the same treatment. And yet it seems that in out society men are forgetting how to respect women. It is almost as if they are reverting to behaviours that went out of style decades ago. It is almost like watching an episode of Mad Men, with women being treated as second rate citizens more and more often.

And it is not just the aggressive and nasty stuff, either. I am a girl gamer. I enjoy playing lots of games and I believe that I can give any guy a run for his money in a wide variety of games. But most guy gamers assume that I only play the Sims.

I hope that things start getting better as awareness of the situation is raised online and in the media. But I am worried that they may get worse first.

Best, GameGirl

Hi GameGirl, Yes, this is a very disturbing trend indeed.

I often chat to Pippa and Sarah about it, or to one of the many women that work in the South African game industry.

And I have come to see that the problem does, indeed, stretch from the ridiculous to the serious. But perhaps the ridiculous is where it starts... thinking that girls who play games aren’t as good, as competitive or as skilful as guys. From there, a small seed of disrespect can grow.

Our society has become extremely insular and anonymous, thanks to the internet, and that could (I am no psychologist) lead to a decrease in social skills and an increase in insecure feelings. Maybe that’s it. Maybe we need to go outside for a while, and remember how to treat people. Either way, the idea that real men know how to treat women respectfully rings true.

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

Ed

* Prizes for South African residents only. gamecca51

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Deconstructing Constructive Criticism IDoubleDQD

by Sarah Snyman

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In my industry and everyday life, criticism is a real thing.

Despite years of feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt when faced with judgement, punishment or questioning, I have become numb, yet open to all sorts of criticism from people who feel that their position provides them the insight to give me shit about my work. You become rock solid against the abusers and willing to learn from those you respect. This is a human skill that we all have to learn, the perfect balance between confidence and humility.

Now please answer this baffling question for me.

Why are game producers and developers dismissive of criticism? Oh, and let’s not forget the creatives, because those guys love nothing more than a 13year old gaming devotee telling them that their environment was not believable or consistent.

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As gaming writers, we have permission to berate releases as we see fit. Sure, sometimes our editors decide to please the distributors by adjusting our commentary so that they don’t stop letting us play their releases because certain blonde, busty writers decided to review a game after a break-up, 2 bottles of wine and a rough day at work with little to no co-ordination and emotion control, but there is a decent amount of freedom of speech.

I have grown to accept feedback like most normal people. I will agree to adjust the score for a certain Japanese title because I “unfairly insulted the developer’s intelligence because I didn’t like the fact that the heroine looked a lot like my arch enemy and I was not in the mood to see that bitch’s face after five days of staring at her in meetings.”

But developers and creative are not like us normal people. They do not play well with others and they DO NOT take criticism well. Now before you tell me I’m stereotyping a group of innocent people who do not deserve my abuse, I have done my research.

Between friends and colleagues, I have lived and worked with devs and creative for seven years.

Try telling one of them that there code is excessive or messy, that you don’t know why they took so long to write that function, or that their logo design is strikingly similar to that of a large corporation in the states, and they will sulk, cry or fight for their decisions.

I recently had a battle of words with a gaming fan online. He must’ve been about 12 but I still like to claim the victory on this one. He was of the opinion that developers devote

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their lives to a game and insulting a decision they made in its creation is paramount to sleeping with their mother. I reverted to this with “Just because I spent a magical night with Diablo 3’s lead level designer’s Mom, does not mean that he didn’t have to try a little bit harder on the damn spider level.”

I know that it cuts deep to receive criticism and abuse from gamers on a release you’ve spent years making, but put your bigboy pants on and run the Beta for longer. Listen to your fans, check out the conversation on Reddit and be humble.

Take a lesson from PS4, leak some info about a controversial feature, watch the internet explode into a fit of anger and hatred, then publish a press release saying that the rumour was never true and that you would never jeopardise your fans like that. Well played, Sony. g

Feature

Dirty D Virtual crime is 12

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by Lein Baart

Deeds s big business... gamecca51

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

The first Grand Theft Auto, released in 1997, was a world apart from the franchise we know today, and for more than just graphical reasons. Originally meant to be nothing more than a multiplayer arcade racing title called Race ‘n Chase, the eventual game that was to found the series was nearly cancelled due to production issues.

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What Rockstar North (then known as DMA Design) did eventually release was a 2D top-down viewed game radically different from what they had envisioned that laid down the core fundamentals which have become hallmarks of the series ever since. With a barely a story to speak of, and in stark contrast to the twist-filled plots of the modern games, GTA threw players into the first iterations of Liberty City, Vice City and San Andreas, all open worlds in which any vehicle was potential transportation and the sole intent was to cause enough mayhem and destruction to advance to the next city. The game was a resounding success, despite many lukewarm responses from critics, and, in what has become a common occurrence, stirred media and parents to outrage with its graphic violence.

GTA 2, released in 1997 on the heels of two expansions to the first game, did little to move the series beyond the foundations laid in the original, instead introducing a number of refinements to the peripheral gameplay. Players could save at any time, if they had the cash, and engage in any number of “side-missions”, such as taxi driving. The

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plot was still paper thin, but now consisted of three gangs in each area that provided missions (some laughably memorable) provided the player had the required reputation. Finally, GTA 2 also the introduction of police assisted by SWAT, special agents and eventually the army as the player’s wanted level rose, and the now infamous Kill Frenzies made their first appearance.

All this culminated in what would eventually become GTA 3, the game which catapulted the series to mainstream consciousness and fame. Rendered in stunning 3D graphics for the first time, GTA 3 reintroduced players to the seedy world of Liberty City, following the trials and tribulations of Claude, the last voiceless protagonist of the franchise. More important than the graphical improvements, perhaps, was the expansion of the open world mechanics of the previous two games. Liberty City was a massive (for the time) landscape itching to be discovered, and the nearly limitless freedom that was offered was aided with small incentives to keep exploring that alone could keep players tied up for days. Plot took

a massive step forward, introducing a dark, thrilling world of gang wars and criminal activity that set the tone for the series ever after. Controversy, however, stirred to new heights in the wake of its release as horrified parents railed against the moral bankruptcy of the game, and lawsuits piled in alleging acts of horror inspired by the game.

Rockstar, thankfully, stood firm amidst the storm to release GTA: Vice City in 2002. Following the story of Tommy Vercetti’s ascension to a crime lord in the drug addled Vice City (an 80’s styled rendition of Miami), the game did little to improve upon formula of GTA 3, but was nevertheless enthusiastically received by gamers and critics alike. Its imitation of 80’s culture, backed by a hugely impressive voice cast, was fantastically implemented, and despite accusations of racist overtones Vice City further established the series as the master of open world action.

2004 saw the release of GTA: San Andreas, the last main game in the series set in the so-called “3D

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universe”. Whereas Vice City had only introduced minor improvements, San Andreas reworked several systems that ultimately provided a much deeper experience than before. The most noticeable of these was the introduction of RPG mechanics, which differed from just about everything else out there by actually requiring the player to maintain his skills by performing activities such as working out and eating right. A host of new features were added, such as the ability burgle houses, customise cars and take territory, but above all else the sheer size of the game, which included three different cities, was mind boggling. The plot, which saw Carl “C.J.” Johnson re-establish his old gang in world ruled by corruption and violence, was lent serious gravity through the re-enactment of several real world events such as the LA Riots, and as such was hugely praised by critics.

2008 was a time of much excitement for gamers, as, after a four year wait, Rockstar finally released GTA 4.

GTA’s first debut on the now current-gen consoles was

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an instant classic, in subtle but profound ways improving upon nearly every facet of the open world genre that the series had by then become synonymous with. Niko Bellic, the new protagonist, now had the ability to take cover, and the wanted system saw a change designed to create greater realism. Numerous small additions, such accessible internet cafes with over a hundred fake websites, made the world come alive, enmeshing players in the life of Niko and his struggles in Liberty City. The plot, like the games before it, was gritty and ruthless but brilliantly told, with genuinely emotional moments that the expansions (The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony) built upon to create a complex and epic storyline.

Now, fifteen years after GTA made parents dizzy with bellowed outrage, Grand Theft Auto 5’s imminent release has many breathless with anticipation. From everything Rockstar North has revealed thus far one thing is clear, as usual the studio isn’t content to rest on its laurels and ride on past success for an easy profit.

Numerous improvements over the mechanics of GTA 4

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have been promised, with everything from the combat system to driving physics have being reworked, all in an effort to create the “the ultimate open-world game”.

Revisiting the state of San Andreas, albeit it this time only the city of Los Santos, the map size, according to Rockstar, will apparently be larger than San Andreas, Red Dead Redemption and GTA 4 combined, creating a staggering amount of explorable real estate. Dynamic missions from Red Dead will also make an appearance, further immersing you in a world that Rockstar clearly wants you to be utterly sucked into. The biggest reveal, however, and by far the most drastic change, will be inclusion of three playable characters, namely Michael, Trevor and Franklin. In a style that smacks of Tarantino, the overall plot will have these three characters’ stories interconnect, though to what end remains to be seen.

Rockstar have promised that all three characters will be playable at any time for almost the entire game, creating the possibility for intriguing scenarios as the three are drawn together to pull off a string of heists. Still

more enticing however is the reintroduction of an RPG system, albeit one that doesn’t tax the patience like San Andreas did. Each character will have nine skills, eight generic and one specialised, which will improve through use, meaning that true customisation is now actually within reach.

The hype around GTA 5 is massive, and for a series that has yet to deliver a bad game, the pressure on Rockstar North must be unimaginable. Grand Theft Auto has never failed to impress, consistently defining and then redefining the open world genre with each subsequent release. From what tantalizing titbits Rockstar has chosen reveal, GTA 5 certainly looks up to the challenge laid down by its forebears as a myriad of promised improvements should push the bar to new heights. For those that thought we had seen the greatest this console generation had to offer, GTA 5 should put paid to those thoughts, and if the news of the game hasn’t had you slavering for its release just yet, now is an excellent time start. g

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Previews Highlights 20 Gran Turismo 6 The Ps exclusive driver...

24 Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain Return of Snake...

26 Killzone: Shadowfall Back to the battle 40 Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze The big ape comes to Wii U

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ith fifteen games on preview for this issue, it is apparent that 2013 is getting a lot hotter. And the great games will keep rolling into 2014, too, thanks to the new consoles that are on the way. We will even be seeing one of them - the PS4 - here in South Africa this year. All in all, the future for gaming is pretty awesomely bright right now! g

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EX-05 Multi

PS3 Essentials Pack

XBox Essentials Pack

available at leading retailers Distributed Exclusively by Apex Interactive Tel: (011) 796 5040 www.apexinteractive.co.za Email: sales@apexinteractive.co.za All rights and trademarks and logos are copyright of their respective owners.

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Gran Turismo 6

A Grand Affair Taking a high-speed tour in style

by Charlie Fripp

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iteration introduces a host of new tracks and cars, and will also feature a revised user interface. As with almost all franchise title, a game needs to evolve in order to progress, and Gran Turismo in no different. To be able to deliver on their promise, and to perhaps unseat Forza, a completely new game and physics engine has been developed for the title.

During the official announcement of GT6, it was revealed that the title will feature over 1200 drivable vehicles. GT5 unpopularly only had a small selection of premium cars, while the bulk of the models where low-detailed versions of their real-life counterparts. It’s still unknown how many of the vehicles in GT6 will be premium.

But having over 1200 cars to choice from, players will

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tretching back as far as 1997, the original Gran Turismo racing title sparked an interest in fast cars for many PlayStation fans. Fast forward to 16 years later, and game developer Polyphony Digital can confidently claim that the GT franchise has sold over 70 million units worldwide. With that success behind them, Gran Turismo 6 (GT6) is the 6th major release and 12th game overall in the franchise.

Going neck-and-neck with the hugely popular Forza franchise from Microsoft, Gran Turismo 6 will be building on the long-standing franchise, and will be the spiritual successor to Gran Turismo 5, which was released in 2010.

Punting itself as the Real Driving Simulator, the latest

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need a great deal of track to drive them on, and GT6 doesn’t disappoint. It was revealed during the launch announcement that tracks will span 33 locations and feature 71 different layouts. In addition to all the tracks, players will be able to create their own with an updated Course Maker.

But drivers will also be able to test their mettle on the Goodwood Festival of Speed hill climb course, as it was revealed that it will also be available in the game. The track is only 1.86 km in length, but feature nine turns and some of the world’s most well-known drivers have completed it.

“I have always been a huge admirer of the Festival of Speed. I love the incredible range of cars on display –

from the priceless, rare and exotic, to the latest family hatchback and full on racing cars – I love the challenge of the Hill Climb and the rally stage. Goodwood represents every type of motoring and motor sport which very much mirrors what we aim to achieve with Gran Turismo and so it is very special that we have forged this partnership,” said series creator Kazunori Yamauchi.

While some courses have been revealed, not a lot is actually known about the title when it comes to specific cars and race tracks. At the recently concluded GamesCom in Germany, it was revealed that Brands Hatch would be one of the tracks, and it was also revealed that vehicles such as the Pagani Huayra, Fisker Karma, and BMW Z8 would be making their appearance. g

AT A GLANCE: Racing

Changing many aspects from the previous title, the sixth game should be just as good.

Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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Polyphony Digital Sony Computer Entertainment Ster Kinekor

Dec 2013

Platforms

Genre:

ETA

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

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Knack

Iron in the Lungs Let the powers of nature combine

by Charlie Fripp

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AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Action

Taking elements from popular games, Knack should be tons of fun Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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SCE Japan Studio SCEE Ster Kinekor

ETA

Nov 2013

Platforms

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aving your name attached to games like Killzone 3, God of War III and Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune is no small feat, but that is exactly what game designer Mark Cerny has done throughout his career. So when Cerny announced his latest game Knack as a launch title for Sony’s upcoming PlayStation 4 console, the gaming world took notice.

Throwing in elements from his previous games, Cerny himself said that action video game Knack is “a little bit like Crash Bandicoot and Katamari Damacy, with a touch of God of War”.

Throughout the game, players will gain the ability to incorporate ice, metal and other substances into their character’s body, giving them new abilities throughout the various levels.

The name of the game comes from the slang term “knack”, meaning to have a skill or talent for something.

Not much is known about the game at this early stage, but in terms of the plot, but goblins, led by Gundahar, has brought against mankind. During all the chaos, a human doctor figures out a way to bind ancient relics from a long lost civilization together and give them consciousness.

The results of his experimentation is Knack, a creature that is able to incorporate all the relics and their powers into his body. According to online descriptions of the title, Knack will be able to transform from a three-foot tall creature into a gigantic wrecking ball.

But as with all good things, they have to come to an end, and the doctor soon learns that not all is as it seems - an even bigger threat than the goblins are threatening the human population and their very survival. g

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

Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain

Snake Charming Stealth gaming redefined

by Lein Baart

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of secrecy that were undertaken by Kojima to keep the game hidden.

Following on directly from Peace Walker, The Phantom Pain will once again see Snake (a.k.a. Big Boss) cast in the role of protagonist. After a mission goes disastrously awry, Snake lapses into a coma only to awaken nine years later to find the MSF completely destroyed, setting the stage for Snake to form another mercenary band in his quest for vengeance. Race and revenge act as the central themes behind the plot this time, with Kojima stating that past exploration of other themes (gene, meme and scene) all ultimately lead to this. Regardless though, if the past is any indication The Phantom Pain will be riddled with enough plot twists to

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hen it comes to gaming royalty, you don’t need to look much further than Hideo Kojima. In an industry dominated by corporate logos and development studio brands, the fact that merely attaching his name to project can wrench it from utter obscurity into the headlights of media says enough. His most enduring legacy though still stands in the form of the Metal Gear series, and the announcement of anything Metal Gear related usually sends the gaming community into a flat spin of heated debated and speculation, all the while slavering until the moment of release.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain has proven no exception to the rule, despite the various layers

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turn any mind.

The core gameplay will still lie in stealth, as befitting the series that pioneered the mechanic. To this end, and probably the most exciting aspect of the various revelations, MGS 5 will be going open world in an effort create a “real stealth simulator”. The idea behind this is to give gamers a nearly limitless amount of choice in approaching each mission, allowing the player decide his own path rather than being shoved down a predetermined course. With this mind, real time night and day cycles will be present, along with an episodic plot structure that will allow players to choose the order of the missions they undertake. It’s a daring move to say the least, but given Kojima’s past successes we

may be looking at a change to how stealth games will be designed in the future.

With this much anticipation and change all wrapped up in single package, The Phantom Pain will no doubt be breathlessly awaited by the gaming community.

Extensive gameplay trailers have shown that even at this relatively early stage MGS 5 is looking polished to the nines. Powered by the stunning Fox Engine, which has been promised to deliver nearly the same quality as seen in the videos, this should be a superlative title to behold and play. In a series which has consistently delivered amazing quality through nearly ever iteration, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is a title no gamer will want to miss. g

AT A GLANCE: Action, Stealth

The Phantom Pain is looking stunning even now, and should more than live up to the exacting standards it has created for itself Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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Kojima Productions Konami Ster Kinekor

Q1 2014

Platforms

Genre:

ETA

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

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Killzone: Shadow Fall

Peace at a Price A return to Eden-like Vekta City

by Nthato Morakabi

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as the Shadow Marshals. Players will experience the amazing Eden-like planet of Vekta from the eyes of Lucas, taking players back to the setting of the first Killzone title. The story will revolve around Lucas and his bid to keep the peace between the two opposing forces and players will be thrown into various intense missions that will either require stealth infiltration or an all-gunsblazing attack.

As a next-gen title, players can expect stunning visuals, aesthetic environments and fantastic in-game detail, which capture the atmosphere of the level, character and story. As a PS4 exclusive title, the developers of Killzone will have assuredly pushed the game so that it runs, plays and looks like a next-gen title worthy of getting.

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t has been thirty years since the cataclysmic events on the planet Helghan have come to pass and now the planet has been left devastated and desolate, the war between the two colonial factions seemingly over. However, as with any post-war period, fights still break out between the two opposing factions; the Helghast and the Vektan. Still, even within the midst of this conflict, a truce has been called between the two factions and Helghast forces now live within the planet Vekta as refugees. Standing between the refugees and the apprehensive natives is a colossal wall – the dividing line that keeps the fragile truce in check.

Lucas Kellan is the protagonist of Killzone Shadow Fall, a member of the military intelligence unit known

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The title is set to feature actor David Harewood of TV series Homeland as the character Sinclair, the director of the Vektan Security Agency. Actress Jamie Gray of True Blood is said to play Echo, an intelligence operative for Helghast.

A big plus that players can rub their hands in anticipation for, is the Multiplayer mode. Players will be able to make their own custom Warzones or browse custom Warzones in which they can set the rules of the match from the number of lives players have to the number of players that can play. Match rules, mission modes, classes, abilities and weapons can also be customized for each team, allowing players the freedom to create the ultimate challenge. There will also be

Official Warzones that players can participate in, each one with its own theme. Combat Chaos, Apocalypse and many other game modes have been revealed to be available for play including expansion packs to bring in more content. The whole idea behind customizing a game mode so players will be able to “Play by your own rules”.

Rather than experience points, players’ progression will be marked by challenges and there will be over 1500 increasingly difficult challenges to accomplish. As one of the titles big features, developers have promised to support the multiplayer modes long after launch and plan to release free DLC multiplayer maps for everyone to enjoy. With that kind of dedication, Shadow Fall should be a title worth looking out for. g

AT A GLANCE: First Person Shooter

Lucas Kellan is a Shadow Marshal and it’s his job to make sure peace settles between the Vektan and Helghast before another war breaks out.

Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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Guerilla Games SCEE Ster-Kinekor

Nov 2013

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NBA 2K14

To the Hoop Scoring 3-pointers with America’s best

by Charlie Fripp

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AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Sports

Great tracks and famous ball players.. pretty much what you’d expect...

Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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Visual Concepts 2K Sports Megarom

ETA

Oct 2013

Platforms

Preview

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asketball is one of those sports that enjoys a limited following in South Africa, but is absolutely huge in the USA, Canada and some Asian countries. So keeping that in mind, South Africa will see the release of NBA 2K14 a bit later this year – where it will no doubt be garner support from the locals.

Developed by Visual Concepts, it is set to be a launch title for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, as well as all the other popular consoles.

Starring Miami Heat player LeBron James on the box art, players will be able to take their favourite team through all the tough matches to win the ultimate crown.

While all the franchised teams from the USA’s National Basketball Association will be included, a number of rather obscure international teams will also make their appearance. It has been confirmed that Germany’s Alba Berlin, Russia’s CSKA Moscow and Turkey’s Anadolu Efes Istanbul will be some of the international team added to the roster.

Basketball and hip-hop also go hand-inhand, and naturally the game will have a rather impressive soundtrack. LeBron James has also had a hand in selecting the tracks, as he served as music curator for the title.

Tracks such as Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams’ Get Lucky, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ Can’t Hold Us, and Kanye West ft. Rihanna’s All of the Lights will just be some of the tracks included in the title.

NBA 2K14 is sure to provide basketball fans with all the action that they are accustomed to from the big leagues – playing as their favourite teams and scoring some big air with their favourite athletes. g

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

Sonic: Lost World

Return to Form The revitalisation continues

by Lein Baart

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AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Platform

Sonic once again looks to be in high form in Lost World, with classic and simplistic gameplay that should have you hooked for hours.

Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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Sonic Team Sega Ster Kinekor

ETA

Oct 2013

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Preview

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ostalgia is a powerful force in gaming, and nowhere is this more evidenced than in the Sonic series. Kept alive by a generation of gamers old enough to remember the days of the 16-bit console, the franchise was reduced to a pitiful state through the release of one rubbish title after another.

Sonic Colours, released in 2010, changed this however, and now Sega is once again looking to draw a new generation to the delights of fastpaced platforming.

If there is any title that could do this, Sonic: Lost World certainly seems up to the challenge.

As has become standard fare for the franchise, Lost World will once see the intrepid hedgehog battling to save a world from the clutches of evil, though this time with the help of Doctor Robotnik. The story isn’t going to win any awards, but it’s a convenient excuse to give us what we really want, the insanely addictive, ridiculously fun gameplay that has once again become a hallmark of the series.

Drawing inspiration from Colours, Lost World will blend 2D sequences with 3rd person sections, and like Colours will feature wisp powers, with some powers unique to either the 3DS or Wii U. The control scheme has been overhauled, and now Sonic will have the ability to vault over obstacles and run up walls automatically. Multiplayer will likewise make a return, with Lost World featuring Off-TV Play, interconnectivity between the 3DS and Wii U and the Sonic Simulator, once again drawn from Colours. All this will be wrapped up in the customary colourfully cartoonish presentation of the series, and for the first time the 3DS will feature full 3D gameplay. g

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

Wii Fit U

Fitness for You Who knew exercise could be both fun and challenging!

by Nthato Morakabi

N

AT A GLANCE: Fitness

Wii Fit takes one step up in this exclusive title, utilizing the power and technology of the Wii U for even better fun while training.

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Nintendo EAD Group No. 5 Nintendo Core Group

Dec 2013

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Preview

ii Fit U looks to kick it up a notch for all who enjoyed the blend of gaming and fitness that the previous Wii Fit titles provided. This exclusive Wii U title will be offering new work-outs and fitness exercises to players, bringing new body training prospects that will be both fun and engaging. As the title is made specifically for the combined use of the Wii U and the Balance Board, players can expect whole new ways to reach their desired fitness levels and without always relying on a TV. Some of the new exercises that the Wii Fit U title will have include Dessert Course, which will have players take steps on the balance board to deliver desserts while balancing the Wii U gamepad like a tray. Trampoline Target puts players on a trampoline level where pushing on the balance board will prompt the onscreen character to leap up into the air and while the TV displays how high the character has leapt, the Wii U gamepad will give a birds-eye view of the trampoline and a bulls-eye. Players then will adjust their weight to try and land on the target. Core Luge will get players steering down an icy track, manoeuvring their onscreen character by sitting on the balance board and tilting their weight to navigate.

Another feature that will take the fitness outside of the house is the Fit Meter, a pedometer that tracks how active a player is throughout the day and the results can then be added to their Wii Fit U profile via infrared.

Fans of the Wii Fit series will be in for a treat in this next level of fitness training. g

Rocksmith 2014

More than Just Guitars Rocksmith is about to become a lot less lonely

by Sarah Snyman

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AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Music / Rhythm

The same features you know and love, with jamming and violin added in for good measure.

The 2014 edition is said to allow any electric instrument!

Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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Ubisoft Ubisoft Megarom

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Oct 2013

Platforms

Preview

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hen I first played Rocksmith at an event last year, I was blown away!

Having some vague ability to play and a family that was more musical than well behaved, it was a great fit. We were all blown away by the sheer tech that runs this game and the possibilities it could introduce, but then there were the mandatory limitations. For someone very experienced, the auto-difficulty feature made for a frustrating sprint through to the level which you actually find challenging.

And for the novice, the game acted like an over-eager parent forcing you up the rungs before you’ve mastered a simple chord.

The 2014 release is said to have scrapped this feature in its entirety. Rocksmith Recommends is going to be a similar feature that suggests songs at your level, your choice entirely.

But the most exciting element of this game will definitely be the “any instrument” functionality in session mode, allowing any electric instrument to jam. The instrument won’t work in the main game but this feature is still a huge step forward. The other complaint of latency (the note you play only appears on the screen with a bit of delay) has been dealt with by Ubisoft and is said to be down to 20 milliseconds.

And for the experienced players, there is always master mode, allowing you to learn a song by heart and play it without assistance.

It is always inspirational to see developers and producers taking the user complaints to heart and making their release speak to these needs. Bravo Ubisoft, now please teach government about this skill. g

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

com Š 2012 Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc. (VTB, Inc.) All rights reserved. Turtle Beach and the Turtle Beach Logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of VTB, Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective companies and are hereby acknowledged. Distributed Exclusively by Apex Interactive Tel: (011) 796 5040 www.apexinteractive.co.za Email: sales@apexinteractive.co.za All rights and trademarks and logos are copyright of their respective owners.

www.apexactive.co.za

Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers

Anime Fighter One for the fans?

by Lein Baart

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AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Fighting

Colourful animations, over-acted voices and fast-paced combat hopefully means Brave Soldiers will add up to be an enjoyable, if probably obscure title Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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Dimps Namco Bandai Megarom

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Nov 2013

Platforms

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or decades there has been a distinct rift in gaming development, with literally hundreds of titles made for eastern markets never even glimpsing western shores.

The explosive growth in the popularity of all things Japanese in recent times has seen this gulf close somewhat, to the point that games with previously abhorrent features like subtitles are now starting to trickle into western markets, no longer the anathema they once were.

Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers is just one of those games, and heralds from one of the most popular animes of the eighties. Developed

by Dimps, Brave Soldiers is set to be a 2.5D fighting game that will allow gamers to play through all three major arcs from the series with over fifty playable characters available.

Considering that Dimps co-developed Street Fighter 4 there’s some considerable pedigree behind this title, and despite a general lack of information, what Namco Bandai have shown looks promising. There’s a great visual flair about the game that is very reminiscent of the show, and the actual combat looks colourful and frenetic. Co-op and online play will both be supported with up to 5v5 battles, and an online roster available to remind you just how pathetic you are.

Considering that the English localised version will features subtitles only, Brave Soldiers is in no doubt squarely aimed at fans of the series.

That’s not to say it shouldn’t be considered by those that have never watched Knights of the Zodiac however, as what little that has been shown has certainly been enough to intrigue.

If you’re a fan of fighters, Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers may prove to be an unlooked for surprise. g

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

WWE 2K14

On the Ropes Body-slamming another wrestling game

by Charlie Fripp

W

AT A GLANCE: Sports

The first WWE game since the end of THQ, it will be interesting to see what the latest iteration delivers.

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Yuke’s and Visual Concepts 2K Sports Megarom

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Preview

restling, and by extension professional wrestling, is one of the most followed franchise in the world when it comes to entertainment sports. As with all things extremely popular, there will always be a video game attached to it, and the wrestling franchise is no different.

The annual WWE titles have entertained many gamers over the years, as they try to emulate their favourite wrestlers or settle old scores.

With the latest iteration, WWE 2K14 promises to deliver a better experience than before and to change things up a bit. It will also be the first title in the WWE 2K series, as the first game published by 2K Sports since Take-Two gained the license from THQ. Developed by Yuke’s and Visual Concepts, the tile will feature two distinctly different modes.

For players who want an authentic wrestling experience, they will be able to set up an exhibition mode where they will be able to select their favourite athletes to compete.

Much of this mode has been updated or redone, and includes a new mechanic that allows for fluid walking, running and dragging, and a whole host of new strikes, throws and animations have been added.

For gamers who know there history of wrestling, WWE 2K14 will include a new 30 Years of WrestleMania mode. In this mode, gamers will start their single-player campaign by wrestling through the last 30 years of wrestling actions.

It spans over 45 matches, includes classic WWE footage and many of the legendary wrestlers will all be present. WWE 2K14 may be the start of a new franchise, but the action of WWE have been engrained in many players – and this title shouldn’t disappoint. g

Pokémon X/Y

A 3D World Awaits!

What Pokémon fans have been waiting for… and more!

by Nthato Morakabi

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AT A GLANCE: Genre:

RPG

Explore the region of Kalos as the new protagonist and embark on an epic Pokémon adventure.

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Game Freak Nintendo Core Group

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Oct 2013

Platforms

Preview

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xperience the fantastical world of Pokémon now in full glorious 3D in this upcoming Nintendo 3DS title. Choose from three new starter Pokémon in the classic set of Water, Fire and Grass type and travel with your partner through the new region of Kalos, battling, catching and working to become the greatest Pokémon trainer.

Pokémon X/Y is the sixth generation in the Pokémon series, featuring many new Pokémon, new legendaries and the introduction of a new species of Pokémon – fairy. Some of the Pokémon from previous series will also fall under this new species such as Jigglypuff, Marill and a new Eevee evolution has been introduced, Sylveon. Also new to the series will be the Mega-Evolved Pokémon. These Pokémon will not be new evolutions but temporary in-battle transformations that could turn the tide in the players favour or against it. A few Pokémon have already been revealed to have Mega-Evolutions such as Ampharos, Absol and the legendary Mew-Two. A new organisation, Team Flare has sprung up in the region of Kalos, causing some commotion and as the hero/heroin, players will encounter this organization during their adventure. There will also be four other trainers that players will have frequent interactions with, friends, that are also on their own journeys.

Pokémon X/Y introduces a lot of new features, additional gameplay options as well as a greater amount of things to do and now in full 3D. From riding on Pokémon to fighting an entire horde of Pokémon to epic battles in the sky. Players will even be able to connect at any time with other players either locally or online for trades and battles. Pokémon fans are in for a treat! g

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

The Sims 3: Into the Future

Time Travel The Sims have gone futuristic. Again.

by Sarah Snyman

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AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Simulation

Sims 3 takes a step into the future with time travel, tech-savvy living environments and jetpacks. But be careful, you could cause Dystopia with the wrong personality.

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Sims Studio Electronic Arts EA South Africa

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Oct 2013

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he Sims is a tried and tested recipe for unnatural addiction and devotion. Even the hardiest amongst us gamers has to admit to at least one indulgent Sims session that we just couldn’t pull ourselves away from. Despite there not being a legitimate goal or path to completion, the Sims franchise keeps rolling out expansions and their audience keeps playing them. In the latest addition to the series, time travel and jet packs become a huge part of your sims’ lifestyle.

And if you get your hands on the limited edition quantum pack, you can ever start exploring cryogenics by putting your sim on ice. Apparently this can pause their aging and put those annoying needs on hold indefinitely. This is probably a feature I should get hold of; I’ve had way too many need related deaths in my sim families.

One thing that intrigues me about this release is that your actions in the past affect your future. This is very theoretical physics and my debating mind could have a field day with this concept. Your sim has a time machine/portal and the future is purely affected by the actions of the past, you along can cause dystopia or utopia.

And in turn, that utopia could, as the sims producers are saying, cause your SIM to get ill from all the happiness and retch up rainbows. But if it all gets a bit much for your sim and his/her multitude of needs, just make a plumbot (complete with personality) to act as your future-proof slave. No seriously, you can get them to wash the floor for free. g

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

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

When Arctic Meets Tropic More fun than a monkey in …a…barrel…of ice?

by Nthato Morakabi

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AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Platform

The jungle is invaded by frigid Vikings intent on taking over and only Donkey Kong and friends can prevent the hostile takeover.

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Retro Studios Nintendo Core Group

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Nov 2013

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he famous Nintendo gorilla and his ape compatriots return for more side scrolling, barrel-blast hopping, hair-flying, jet-pack zooming fun in this upcoming Donkey Kong Country title, Tropical Freeze.

Players take control of Donkey Kong, the head ape on Donkey Kong Island after the island is overrun by Viking animals that chase the inhabitants off the island. This leaves Donkey, Diddy and Dixie Kong (Dixie appearing for the first time in a main title since 1996!) to fend off the creatures from the frigid country and claim the island back along with its banana hoard.

Game play will feature the famous ape as the main protagonist swinging on vines, riding on carts and jumping on enemies while traversing the levels by flying through the various barrels that propel players forwards, sideways and even into the levels with the illusion of depth.

Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong will be playable characters in co-op gameplay but will mostly be co-protagonists, helping the players. Diddy Kong’s jetpack will give Donkey an extra boost to leap over longer gaps while Dixie will use her ponytail to give Donkey the extra height in mid jump. The swimming game mechanic has also been refined to allow players the ability to attack while underwater which was not possible before.

A breathing bar will be present next to the health bar and players will have to find bubbles when they are running out of breath.

Various levels will be available for gameplay from underwater areas to frozen landscapes, explored while traversing the five different islands, each with their own unique set of stages.

The title will be the first in the series to feature HD graphics. g

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

F1 2013

Around the Bends Speed is the name of the game

by Charlie Fripp

A

AT A GLANCE: Racing

Putting on a classic spin, players will now be able to journey back in time.

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Codemasters Codemasters Megarom

Oct 2013

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Preview

lthough it’s slightly under developed in South Africa, the international circuit of Formula One racing is massively followed around the round – including in South Africa. Gamers and enthusiasts alike gather around their television sets each Sunday to see the fastest in the world make laps around the courses.

And just as the annual championship enthral the spectators, so too does the annual iteration of the F1 video game titles – and this year is no exception with the release of F1 2013 developed by respected game makers Codemasters.

To be released in October, the title will once again feature all eleven official teams with their respective drivers, which will total twenty-two and who are all competing in the official 2013 season. In addition to drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso taking to the tracks, nineteen circuits and Grand Prix will also be drivable.

The franchise will also be going in a slightly different direction with the new title, as the latest iteration will introduce a classic mode.

Players who enter this mode will be transported to days gone by, as they will be able to drive, race and compete with era-specific cars from the 1980s and 1990s, as well as race on tracks from those periods.

In terms of a single player experience, gamers will be able to step into the shows of their favourite driver and compete for the most coveted trophy and dragging rights in the FIA calendar. Players will be able to join single races, create a full season, or customise the season the way they want it. g

Toukiden

Saviour of the Vita?

Monster slaying makes it way to the West

by Lein Baart

42

AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Action

A gripping game that has already proven its merits, if you own a Vita keep a close eye on the release date of Toukiden Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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Omega Force Tecmo Koei Silver Screen

ETA

Dec 2013

Platforms

Preview

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n the tussle for dominance that marks the current handheld generation, Sony’s flagship console, the PS Vita, has not exactly met with resounding success. A high initial price point, coupled with relatively few major titles after launch, has meant that the Nintendo 3DS’ grip on the market has gone largely unchallenged, despite desperate efforts

by Sony. Change is afoot however, as the last couple of months have seen a string of titles launch in Japan that has catapulted Vita sales far and above the 3DS, and now westerners will be getting a taste of the gaming gold that has Japanese players so excited.

Set in a Japanese fantasy realm, Toukiden will see players take up the mantle of a mononofu, or demon slayer, in a world ravaged by a massive demon invasion eight years prior to the start of the story. Comparisons to Capcom’s Monster Hunter series are inevitable, especially considering the imminent release of Monster Hunter 4 on the 3DS, however Toukiden has stood its ground and received rave reviews in Japan. It’s a blend of gorgeous visuals and breathtakingly intense action that has absolutely enraptured fans and the news of the western launch has already created a fair bit of a stir.

Considering that PS Vita sales nearly tripled in the week of release, and both the PS Vita and PSP versions were in the top 5 best sellers list, the anticipation for the English release is more than justified. If it does for the western markets what it did for the Japanese, we may finally see the Vita emerge as a serious contender to Nintendo’s throne, and just maybe fulfil the console’s potential. g

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

Out in the Cold The Soapbox

by Suvesh Arumugam

W

We’ve spend most of the year looking forward to sneak peeks, announcements and first looks at the new gaming consoles coming from Sony and Microsoft. But just as most of us were deciding which console would look great next to that new 3D LED Smart TV we’d love to buy for Christmas, SA Xbox fans were hit with the blow that they would not be on the release schedule for Xbox One in 2013. I guess PlayStation fans were unphased, since local distributor Ster Kinekor confirmed that PlayStations would hit shelves in early December, but I couldn’t help feeling an all too

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familiar feeling that I hadn’t felt in a long time.

Growing up in South Africa during the 80’s, we never got anything on time.

We’d get movies six months to a year later than they were released overseas.

We’d never tasted Pepsi or 7Up, because they boycotted South Africa (like many other brands) because of apartheid, and Coca-Cola had a monopoly on soft drinks. There was no McDonalds, though we did have Kentucky Fried Chicken (before it was shortened to KFC).

We were still watching Loving on daytime TV long after the series had been cancelled in the States. We only had rebel sports teams

(who were really B teams) touring every few years, and seeing a big name band or musician in concert locally was unheard of.

We got so used to being behind the rest of the world that I don’t think many of us realised that this was strange in any way. All that changed in the ‘90s as sanctions ended and global brands started to realise that SA was an untapped market. We started to see more and more big artists including us on their tour schedules, and movies and technology started to shorten the gap between overseas and local releases.

True, we never fully caught up to get

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simultaneous release with overseas on everything, though every now and again we get lucky with the occasional smartphone or game release. Of course the internet has made a lot of these considerations moot, since you can pretty much order anything (or pre-order) on the web.

So why does Xbox’s announcement smart so much? I guess with all the web based conferences and press events, we really got caught up in the hype and somehow it felt like we really do live in a global village. And even though deep down we knew it, it still hurts to know that Microsoft thinks of us as a backward rural cousin. g

Distributed Exclusively by Apex Interactive Tel: (011) 796 5040 www.apexinteractive.co.za Email: sales@apexinteractive.co.za All rights and trademarks and logos are copyright of their respective owners.

www.apexactive.co.za

“Quit Yer Whinin’!”

Console General

by Montgommery Paton

I

don’t normally like to rant and rave in this column. I prefer to leave that up to Ramjet, who’s reasonable-gland in non-existent. But I have come to see something in South Africa that is starting to get to me a little. And yes, it’s related to consoles (although maybe a little tenuously).

We complain a lot. And a lot of those complaints have to do with the fact that we (and I mean South Africans here) seem to believe we are getting a raw deal. Two things have happened recently, related to our beloved gaming machines, that have lead me to come to this conclusion.

The first is the announcement that the PS4 should be here on the 6th of December, and that it may cost as much as R6299. That’s a week after the rest of the world gets it.

It’s also a higher price than most people would like. But let us take a long, hard look

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at why this is the case.

First of all, we live in South Africa. We might like to think of it as some kind of shining beacon here at the southern tip of the continent, but in terms of the video game market, it’s the middle of nowhere.

Sure, we are a healthy emerging market in the eyes of the international video game industry, but we don’t generate enough money to make a massive difference. And as idealistic (read stupid) as many gamers are about the fact that the gaming industry shouldn’t be about profits, it is. Real world wake-up call. So we’re not going to get the PS4 on time, because it takes time to ship it here, and we aren’t top priority. At least we’re getting it this year, and a week isn’t that long to wait.

Then there is the price.

Yes, R6299 is high. But all the PS models launched with high price tags… most gamers are just too young (and idealistic)

to remember. Keep in mind that PlayStation is distributed by a third party in this country, in the form of Ster Kinekor. They need to make some money off of the PS4, or there won’t be any PlayStation at all here. And just applying exchange rate calculations and import duties… well, the price simply isn’t that simple. Thought about shipping? And all those other charges? See, not so ideal.

So, the PS4 is a week late and might be a bit on the expensive side (initially, at least.) The truth is that people who want it will deal with both of those situations, and the ones that fall into that category outnumber the complainers by a large margin.

Anyway, on to another complaint that I caught wind of. Microsoft has changed their Xbox Live points system to a cash system. The good news is that games bought via Live will now be a little cheaper.

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The bad news is that there is a disparity between the price of points and the cash value awarded by Xbox Live.

Sure it’s not an ideal situation, and until cash value gift cards and vouchers are available at retailers, people spending R150 on points will only get R110 in value online.

Not perfect at all. But it is a temporary situation and, once again, the transition is a little slower for us because we are here at the bottom of the world. Patience is a virtue that seems to be fast disappearing in our modern, instantgratification-seeking world.

I am not trying to defend or justify anything here.

I am pointing out a few realities. Deal with them, and your life will get a little less stressful – they are realities of where we live.

You may even have time to sort out some of the more important stuff. g

a Splinter Cell: Blacklist hamper Courtesy of Megarom TO ENTER: Send an email to competitions@gameccamag.com Tell us the name of the hero in Splinter Cell.

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

Competition closes 30 September 2013. Gamecca subscribers only. South African residents only. Prizes may not be exchanged for cash. Competition closed to employees (& employee’s family) of 1337 Media CC and Megarom.

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

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

WIN

Interview

Virtual Academy

To Infinity a Disney takes on collec

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and Beyond ctible toy gaming‌

by Walt Pretorius

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Interview

isney Infinity has arrived, bringing with is an awesome experience on virtually every gaming platform available. Be it PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, Wii U, 3DS or mobile, gamers will be able to enjoy a title that explores everything Disney with this exciting new franchise.

Disney Infinity goes beyond just being a game about a movie… it really is about having fun with all the characters and settings that Disney has thrilled us with over the years. With so much potential for content, as well as the collectible figurines that are at the core of the game, parents pockets will be straining to keep up with demands. But this is a game for the whole family, presenting a high quality title for everyone to enjoy.

By combining the idea of collectible toys with a game that offers a massive amount of activities – and then making those toys work as save game devices that are compatible with any platform – developers Avalanche games have opened the floodgates on one of the most potentially lucrative video game ideas ever. It isn’t the first time we have seen this kind of idea – Activision’s Skylanders pioneered the basic principles – but the refinement that Avalanche have put into it shows.

We had the opportunity to speak to Matt Soli, Associate Producer for Disney Infinity, and asked him about the game, making it and what we can expect in the future.

So who is Matt Soli, you ask? Well, he started working in games almost a decade ago, kicking off his career at Activision in 2004. He worked with Treyarch on games like Spider-Man 3, Quantum of Solace and Call of Duty: World at War. In 2009 Matt joined Disney, where he was involved in Avalanche projects including Toy Story 3 and Cars 2, as well as titles line Tron: Evolution and Epic Mickey 2.

He joined the Disney Infinity team in the summer of 2012.

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GM: What are the challenges inherent in creating a game that works like Disney Infinity does? In other words, a game that bridges the divide between platforms.

MS:They’re immense. Basically Infinity will be available on every platform. It’s a daunting task.

We have a staff of hundreds of people working on all different versions of the game, making it appropriate for all these different versions.

It’s one of those games where there have been many different teams that have helped make the dream a reality. There are well over two hundred

people at Avalanche alone. Without a doubt this is one of the bigger games I have ever worked on, if not the biggest, just in terms of scope and scale.

The game size that you’re looking at is like Skyrim; each play-set is like six or seven hours of story, plus all the collectables, that take a while to get. And then the toy box.

There are six play-sets that we have announced, so that’s over forty hours of game play right there.

And then you can download other people’s toy boxes as well… it’s virtually GM: With so many popular and valuable

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franchises in the Disney stable, how were the initial play-set chosen?

MS: That’s a great question! We looked at three avenues; first of all, awareness. What are people looking at right now? And then gameplay – that’s the key thing. We can’t have some character running around unless it’s fun to play with them.

And then our fanboy aspect… we all debated about which characters should be in Disney Infinity. That was amazing. We had a huge list of characters that we went through, wanting to find the best ones for game play aspects. So we

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whittled the list down and came up with the core characters.

You may have noticed that we are very Pixarcentric with Infinity… part of the reason is that we have an amazing relationship with Pixar. The guys at Avalanche have worked with them before, and it was very exciting to take this idea to them and see them get excited about it, and to see Pixar boss John Lasseter get excited about it..

And we just keep adding more people and characters to it. The guys from feature animation were like “oh my gosh, you totally have to put

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Penelope von Sweet and Wreck It Ralph in there.”

That was weight lifted off of my soul when we finally got that, because I have had like a billion questions about Wreck It Ralph… he has to be in the game, right, because he was in a movie about games, and this is a game from movies… I was so happy when we announced it, you have no idea!

GM: Most of the announcements so far, like Pirates of the Caribbean and Cars and the Lone Ranger, appeal to a younger, modern audience.

Are we going to see anything for the fans of classic Disney?

MS: Totally. We’re doing Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey, which is one of the most protected versions of Mickey Mouse. We’re extremely fortunate to have him in the game.

But what’s really awesome about Disney Infinity is that it is a platform for everything Disney. We have a number of offerings, including the virtual toys that are unlocked in the toy box. What great about that is that we can represent different levels of the company on that scale. Not everything needs a play-set. But with the virtual toys we can get them in there, even if we can’t make a physical toy for

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them. That’s what’s awesome about the toy box – we can keep putting stuff in there. I mean, we have Condorman’s wings in there. That was lucky.

GM:Will there be classic play-set and toys in the future?

MS: Oh yeah. Like I said, this is a platform for everything Disney. Stuff we’re going to do in the future… I am not trying to dodge the question – I am trying to answer it in a way that won’t get me fired. We want to eventually include everything Disney in Infinity. That sort of answers it.

GM: And we will be seeing Infinity on the next

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generation consoles?

MS: We’ll talk about that stuff at a later date. For now we’re looking at PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, Wii U, 3DS and mobile. Which is a ton of stuff.

GM: What are your personal favourite aspects of Disney Infinity?

MS: It’s sort of a funny story… it’s the toy box mode, because it surprised me so much. I have two nephews, one eight and one six. It’s very fun to watch them play it. My eight year old nephew plays a lot of Minecraft, and he got into it, building stuff and making things with the logic toys. His younger

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brother, in the meantime, throws down a new character and starts beating him up while he’s trying to build stuff. This massive mode has so many different aspects to it.

GM: And this is being aimed at the entire family?

MS: Like John Lasseter says, he doesn’t make movies for kids, he makes them for dads. That’s how we targeted it. We wanted to make a kids and family game, but that was still a triple A game. On par with playability, graphics… So that way when mom or dad (or Uncle Matt) sit down

and play with the kids, we don’t get bored. Because kids games aren’t that great for adults to play. We wanted to change that, and I think we hit it out of the park. I am really shocked and awed – and humbled – by the response we have been seeing from people in the industry. One of my good friends over at Naughty Dog sent me a message saying “you guys have done really well… Walt Disney would be proud.”

We are sure that he would have been. For our impressions of Disney Infinity, be sure to check out the review in this issue. g

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Reviews Highlights 58 Saint’s Row IV Crazy days...

62 Spinter Cell: Blacklist Fisher’s return 66 Disney Infinity Disney goes big...

70 The Bureau: XCOM Declassified Is this XCOM?

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he drought has pretty much officially ended, with some great new titles already on the shleves, and a whole bunch more on the way.

So check out our ten game reviews for this issue, and rest assured that the awesomeness is just beginning! g

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17 SEPTEMBER ©2008 - 2013 Rockstar Games, Inc. Rockstar Games, Grand Theft Auto, the GTA Five, and the Rockstar Games r marks and logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. “2”, “PlayStation”, “PS3”, “Ô and “À” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Kinect, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. All other marks and trademarks are properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved..

Saint’s Row IV

Super-Crazy!

The point is pointlessness…

by Walt Pretorius

T

with destruction and mayhem than before. And now, with the fourth instalment, things may have got out of hand… this Saint’s Row may prove to be too much for some, because it is completely insane.

A little back story. After saving the world from nuclear disaster, the leader of the Saints (the player’s character) becomes President of the USA, complete with all the debauchery that a Saint in that position would bring. But then the world is invaded by aliens, and it is up to the President to put a stop to their nefarious plans. However, these aliens are smart, and they trap humans in simulations… kind of like the Matrix. The only real way to fight back is to mess with the system. And this is done by getting crazy inside the simulation. See where this is going?

The simulation chosen for the player character is

Review

he Saints really have come a long way since their humble beginnings as a street gang.

They became cultural icons and heroes and now, lo and behold, their leader is the President of the United States. And if that sounds ridiculous, you ain’t seen nothing yet…

But let’s go back a bit and investigate why the Saint’s Row franchise has reached this point.

When the first Saint’s Row game came out, it was pretty much immediately accused of being a Grand Theft Auto clone. Whether this was true or not really is no longer relevant; the developers knew that for the franchise to survive, it had to develop its own identity. And so, from the second game onwards, Saint’s Row got crazy. Each game allowed the player to do crazier stuff, to go bigger

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an almost exact copy of the Steelport maps from Saint’s Row III. There are a few changes here and there (like the unmistakeable alien presence) but those familiar with the previous game will recognise the areas easily. But things start getting out of hand within this playground before long. See, there is more Matrix homage (or making fun of) in this game.

Using the help of some of the President’s crew, the player character learns how to use the simulation to their advantage. In short, they develop super powers.

Initially, they do remind one of the Matrix and Neo’s abilities, but they soon get more extreme, with the player becoming more of a superhero with each passing mission.

And that’s where the problem that people may have with Saint’s Row IV crops up. Why have the ability

to spawn vehicles when the character can sprint faster than a car? Why have a variety of upgradeable weapons when the character can blast foes with fireballs? Why have challenging missions in which the player has to climb to the top of a tall structure when you can just spawn an attack chopper, fly up there, and be done with it?

That’s just the point with this game, really… there is no reason to do anything in any particular way. It as though developers Volition simply gave the player a massive toy box and a large setting, and are sitting back with clipboards to see what happens. People who call the game pointless have missed the point that game is not meant to have a point… sort of.

Why use a car when you can sprint really fast? Why not? Why use guns instead of fire balls? Once again,

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Row IV is no longer challenging. And it can get very repetitive. The structure of difficulty curves and rolling out new ideas is almost completely absent here. The fun you will have with this game is in the messing around, doing crazy stuff almost purely because you can.

Saint’s Row IV does roll out new things from time to time, including specialised weapons that serve as rewards for certain missions. These range in scope, from the awesome Abduction Gun to the utterly useless, but very funny, Dubstep Gun. Which brings us to the missions. Saint’s Row IV does have them, and they do advance the plot. And they’re free enough that the player can complete them in basically any way that fits into the broader paradigm of the mission itself. There are also lots of side

Review

why not? If you love free-form sand-box style gaming, you simply are not going to get any more free than Saint’s Row IV. That certainly doesn’t suit everyone. See, some people like their gaming to be a bit more structured, and the craziness that Saint’s Row IV presents can get over the top rather quickly.

Even character customisation allows for a mad amount of variation, like previous games in the franchise. But it gets overwhelming for some, and even repetitive and boring for others. When your character is almost invincible, can leap over buildings in a single bound and run faster than anything on the road, where does the challenge come from? Well, the answer is a little complicated, because the truth is that after a point, Saint’s

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quests and activities to take on, too.

In that way, this game feels a lot like its predecessor. In fact, it really is a case of Saint’s Row III with super powers and a new (rather shallow) plot. And that statement almost completely sums up Saint’s Row IV. It’s shallow. It has no deeper meaning, or underlying anything. And it’s not meant to. It is mindless violence, crazy antics and free fun.

If you go into it looking for depth, structure, subtext or anything else that would make it more meaningful than random acts of video gaming insanity, you’re going to be disappointed.

All of this is OK, though, because Saint’s Row IV never claims to be anything that it isn’t. It is an irreverent, all-out title that provides the player with endless opportunities for mischief; mischief that the

player themselves devise and execute to their heart’s content. It really is what you make of it, and if you’re willing to just have fun with it, it will provide many, many rewarding (if totally mindless) hours of fun.

Where the Saint’s Row franchise is headed after this… well, I cannot imagine if getting more over the top. Perhaps this is the last game we will see in the series. If that is the case, it’s going out on a massively crazy note, which seems fitting. This game certainly isn’t for everyone, and many people won’t be able to deal with the idea that they’re just meant to have fun with it. The lack of strict guidance and stricter rules won’t sit well with them. But those that can accept the fact that the point is the pointlessness… they’re going to have a whale of a time in the Steelport simulation. g

AT A GLANCE: Action adventure

Reviewed on:

Not all games are works of art... some are just meant to be pointless, mindless, crazy fun.

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Volition Deep Silver Apex Interactive

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2

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

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Genre:

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

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80 61

Splinter Cell: Blacklist

Back in Action The best yet?

by Charlie Fripp

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The Engineers vow to attack American assets which they have placed on what they call The Blacklist, and will attack each target according to a timed schedule set out by themselves. It will be up to Fisher and the newly-created Fourth Echelon to get behind the deadly attacks and stop The Engineers before they cause an international war.

Fisher has been made the chief of Fourth Echelon, and the rest of his team consists of Anna Grímsdóttir, an old friend who serves as missions co-ordinator; Isaac Briggs, who sometimes accompanies Fisher on missions; and tech expert Charlie Cole, who is responsible for developing new technology and hacking into anything that has a circuit board.

Blacklist’s main base is a large, technologically-advanced aeroplane from which the team plans and executes all their missions. The environment is free for Fisher to walk around in, and players will be able to talk to the individual team

Review

he sixth instalment of Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell series had stealth enthusiasts eagerly awaiting its arrival, as it promised to deliver a complete new playing experience – and Splinter Cell: Blacklist hasn’t disappointed.

Players of the previous title, Splinter Cell: Conviction, will remember that protagonist Sam Fisher was going after Andriy Kobin, the person who supposedly killed his daughter, and Third Echelon. Blacklist takes place directly after the events from the previous title, and has to stop a deadly war from breaking out between the USA and Iran.

Naturally things are slightly more complicated than they appear, and at the beginning of the title players learn of a terrorist group call The Engineers who demand that the USA remove their troops from foreign countries and send them back home.

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members to learn more about missions, the technology or to upgrade anything from the weapons to the plane itself.

Players interact with the SMI, a large table in the middle of the Ops Centre, where Fisher will be able to see which missions need to be completed, and which ones are optional.

From here, players can also access the multiplayer and co-op modes, which will take them to a separate menu.

Everything in Blacklist has been packed together rather neatly, and the SMI serves as a central point from which all operations can be conducted – be it multiplayer, co-op or single player. Even weapon and Op Suit upgrades can be done through the SMI HUD. The title is fantastically integrated between multiplayer elements and the single player campaign, but the bulk of the experience is understandably from the main missions. At the start of the game, players will have to traverse the foreign

countries with the utmost of care, as not many weapons have been made available.

As the levels progress and players take down more enemies, the more in-game currency they will acquire. This currency can then be used to buy new and better weapons, as well as upgrades to their existing arsenal. It’s advisable that players upgrade their goggles first, as tracking an enemy is just as important as taking them out.

While not set in stone, players can opt to play in one of three styles, namely Stealth, Panther and Assault. At the end of each level, players will be scored according to their play style, and be awarded points for each. For Stealth, knocking out enemies, leaving the undisturbed and generally being as quiet as possible will score maximum points, while for Assault players can enter a level guns blazing. No matter which play style they opt to use, the will still be awarded accordingly.

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contribute currency to the game.

But probably the most entertaining section of the multiplayer is the Co-Op section. In this mode, players can team up with one other person to complete missions.

While the missions aren’t compulsory, there are element, aspects and characters that pull through to the single player campaign.

The Co-Op missions can also be attempted solo, but will be incredibly difficult to pull off. However, there are a number of missions which are Co-Op only, and players will have to complete it with someone else.

Splinter Cell: Blacklist is a highly addictive title, and while the single player campaign can be very tough in certain parts, players will find themselves pushing on unto they complete the next step to drive the story along.

The controls are simple enough, as most actions are

Review

Splinter Cell has built up a reputation as being a social game, and in terms of multiplayer, players can enter the Spies vs Mercs section in the SMI, which will take them to an online lobby. From there, they are free to create a game between friends, or to join a running game in progress.

The game mode builds upon the same mode from Conviction, as is essentially Team Deathmatch between players taking on the role of spies, and others assuming the role of mercs. Each has its own merits, as spies are silent and operate from the shadows, while the mercs make use of brute force and heavy armour.

Currency that players acquire in the single player campaign can also be used to buy weapons and gadget upgrades for the Spies vs Mercs mode. But players won’t have to keep on going back to the single player to earn currency, as taking out enemies in multiplayer also

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directed through the Action Wheel, which also slows time down a bit – giving players a few extra seconds to select the right gadget to use from a distance.

In terms of graphics, Blacklist has spared no expense in bringing gamers closer to the action in a highly detailed world seen from a third-person perspective. Attention to detail draws the player into the fight, and the anticipation builds during tough missions with backtrack worthy of any Hollywood production.

If criticism has to be levelled against the two-disc (on Xbox 360) title, it’s that it can take very long to load during transitions from the SMI to being boots on the ground. While it is understandable that there are a number of factors that needs to load, it takes longer than the average.

There were also a number on instances where the subtitles didn’t match up with the spoken words, or where characters

disappeared from the cutscenes, onto to reappear a few moments later. Other than that, it plays pretty smooth. While enemies can seem linear in the easier game setting, they do become more intelligent as the player scales up the difficulty.

Some missions are actually rather hard, even on normal – and players need to keep in mind to take it slow and steady.

Lovers of the franchise will most certainly not be disappointed with Blacklist, as it provides for many actionpacked hours, as well as an extensive multiplayer aspect.

Newcomers can also benefit from picking it up first, as it’s really a testament as to just how far the franchise has progressed.

This could very well be the best Splinter Cell title released, and although series veteran Michael Ironside no longer voices Fisher, actor Eric Johnson does a fantastic job of carrying on the torch. g

AT A GLANCE: Shooter

Reviewed on:

This might just be the best Splinter Cell we have seen Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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Ubisoft Toronto Ubisoft Megarom

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Genre:

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

Score

89 65

Disney Infinity

No Limits There’s gold in them there hills…

by Walt Pretorius

W

have Pirates of the Caribbean, Monster University, Incredibles, Cars and Lone Ranger play-sets available, and it ships with one character from the Pirates of the Caribbean, Monster University and Incredibles collections). Each play-set has an associated game that offers six or seven hours of play time, not counting finding all the collectibles. So, if you buy the starter pack, with its three characters (Jack Sparrow, Mr Incredible and Sully) you have already got around 20 hours of play time right there. Play-sets also have areas accessible by specific characters, for added replayability.

But here’s where things get a bit more interesting.

See, the pay-sets aren’t just rehashes of the same thing over and over again. Pirates offers the player a swashbuckling adventure. The Incredibles is a free-

Review

hen the word of Disney Infinity first started doing the rounds, the immediate reaction from the jaded and cynical was to leap up and down and proclaim is a Skylanders clone. And, on the surface, that’s what it is. But once you delve a little deeper, you will discover a game that is so much more than a knock-off of someone else’s ideas. Disney Infinity is a true gem.

In simplest terms, Disney Infinity is a game that uses an interface device (called the Infinity Base).

Collectable figurines are placed on this base and when they are, they appear on-screen in the game.

That’s pretty much exactly the way that Skylanders works. But this base is a little different. It has two character slots, and a play-set slot. Each of the characters belongs to a play-set (initially Infinity will

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roaming action game. And Monster U in a stealth game. So, three genres as well as three games.

Presumably, each successive play-set that is released will follow similar trends, offering not only a number of collectable figurines, but also varied gaming experiences.

Figurines are specific to play-sets. You cannot, for example, use Jack Sparrow in the Incredibles game.

That’s fair enough, and doesn’t interfere too much with the experience. The main reason for that is because Infinity offers yet another way to play… and this is the true gem behind the game: Toy Box mode.

Any combination of characters can be used in the Toy Box. This mode provides the player with a sandbox in which they can build areas using parts unlocked and collected in play-sets, and in the Toy Box itself.

Toy Box creations can even include logic tools, which will allow players to create their own games within the game. These can be uploaded and shared using the various services available, depending on platform.

That’s enormous, and elevates Disney Infinity from being a mere Skylanders clone (which in never really was, thanks to the way the characters and play-sets are structured) and elevates it to a hybrid between Skylanders, LittleBigPlanet and Minecraft. It really is a case of the sky is the limit here, with only the player’s imagination holding them back.

Tools and parts can be unlocked in a variety of ways within Infinity. For example, characters get “spins” when they gain levels. Each spin allows you a chance to win a tool or object set in a randomised system… you’ll always get something, but getting exactly what

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has Wreck It Ralph, by the way, which is awesome.

Each new Disney Movie is a potential play-set, whether animated or live action. That means that Disney Infinity’s scope is, well, almost infinite.

It also means that parents are going to be feeling it where it really hurts… in the pocket. A discussion with another game journalist lead to him saying that he didn’t believe that infinity could pose a threat to the already well-established Skylanders, and that most people wouldn’t buy both products. He has no children.

He doesn’t know the power of nagging, or how far parents will go to shut their kids up. Disney Infinity is, pretty much, a success just waiting to happen.

Not that success isn’t well deserved. Here is a game that is of a better than expected quality (it certainly beats movie-based games hands-down) that will not

Review

you want might take a while.

Using the toys and tools, the player can build virtually anything. The creations are limited in complexity, just like those in LittleBigPlanet, but there is still a lot of scope for what can be done.

With the ability to upload and download Toy Box creations, the play time presented by Infinity becomes almost limitless.

And we’re not talking about new play-sets either.

Let’s be honest; Disney has a host of extremely valuable properties, and most of them would work extremely well in this game. Aside from the launch sets, we already know that characters from Nightmare Before Christmas and a special Toy Story is Space set are on their way, and Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey has been confirmed as well. So

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only teach children the principles of various gaming genres in accessible and kid-friendly ways, but will also stimulate their creativity with an extremely powerful set of tools and almost no limitations. And, just to top it off, it is enjoyable for older players, too, making Disney Infinity pretty much the perfect family game.

And it can be used on virtually any platform available today. With the exception of the PS Vita, Infinity is everywhere. To facilitate the fact that kids will want to play with their friends, save-game information for each character is stored on a chip built into the character’s base. This info works with all platforms, so someone who uses a character with a PS3 can use that same character with a friend’s Wii U, for example. It adds to the social nature of the game and makes the toys even more valuable to their owners.

Speaking of the toys, they’re great quality; well produced and beautifully designed, there are probably going to be a number of grown up kids who want to collect them too.

What Avalanche Studios have made with this game is nothing less than a virtually perpetual gold mine for Disney. But, at the same time, it is an almost endless source of entertainment for gamers and Disney fans, allowing players to not only enjoy the characters they love, but also to express themselves in an ever growing gaming universe. It is a master stroke… while Disney Infinity may not be the perfect game, its inherent variety and almost unlimited potential is ingenious, and it will doubtlessly entertain fans for many, many years to come. Parents, brace yourselves... g

AT A GLANCE: Collectible Toy Game

Reviewed on:

X360

Disney Infinity is perfectly named... this game has so much potential for growth that it is staggering. And it’s great, stimulating fun, too!

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Avalanche Studios Disney Interactive Prima Interactive

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0

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

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Genre:

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

Score

88 69

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified

Back in ‘62 Who cares about continuity?

by Walt Pretorius

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(aka the USA) takes place. Carter and his compatriots must fight off this first alien invasion, and thereby save the planet (aka the USA).

The Bureau, unlike any other XCOM game, is a third person cover-based shooter with tactical elements.

That’s a long winded way of saying it’s a lot like a hybrid between Mass Effect and the latter Brothers in Arms games. As Carter, the player will be in control of two other operative, who can be ordered to perform various (often very useful) combat tasks, like deploying turrets and healing comrades that are bleeding out. These squad mates, as well as Carter, will level up. With each level, they will gain new abilities that are never really explained; they’re just there. And this is another major problem with latching the XCOM title to this game –it doesn’t belong in the franchise.

Review

ere’s the thing with prequels: if you don’t have your story straight, big plot problems start cropping up. And that’s the main problem with The Bureau: XCOM Declassified. Set in 1962, this game predates the XCOM: Enemy Unknown Reboot, and presents the player with the history of the XCOM organisation. Fair enough, but there are inconsistencies that simply don’t work – particularly not for XCOM fans.

The biggest one is that, if XCOM already knew about aliens and had captured a bunch of alien technology back in ’62, why did they have to start again in Enemy Unknown?

If The Bureau did not have XCOM in its title (or in its plot) things may have been a bit better. The plot sees the ever-surly Special Agent Carter summarily inducted into the fledgling XCOM when an alien invasion of earth

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See, in XCOM games, the player frantically fights for survival while trying to capture, research and utilise alien technology to improve chances of survival. All this in a turn-based isometric strategy game, mind you. In The Bureau, there is no research (that the player is involved in) and alien technology is simply just a progression of more powerful guns and backpacks which grant buffs. The player is simply swept along by missions, without ever feeling that sense of urgency that all the responsibility they had in the other XCOM games brought. Here, the player is little more than a talented grunt.

It is, to be fair, a fairly competent action-strategy title, although it is not very challenging when all is said and done. The interface is simple yet effective, and the AI is not too bad. The levels are attractive, if a little uninspired in design.

What it all comes down to is a case of misrepresentation. The game is not an XCOM game, even though they try to make you believe it is. It doesn’t have the feel, the spirit or the quality of other XCOM titles.

One cannot help but wonder if the XCOM franchise was used for an excuse to make a third-person shooter. And that’s abit sad, really, because it could have been a really great idea (although how they would explain away the plot holes and inconsistencies I still cannot fathom).

The Bureau is competent, but unremarkable. Its campaign lasts around 17 hours, which is long for these days, but there are no real stand-out moments in this game. After a while it becomes a slog. It is a wasted opportunity, really; one would expect a lot more from 2K Marin, and a lot more from a game that is supposed to be part of the XCOM franchise. g

AT A GLANCE: Third-person action

Reviewed on:

X360

It’s a competent, if mediocre, third-person shooter. What it isn’t, is an XCOM game.

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2K Marin 2K Games Megarom

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Score

70 71

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

How to Save a Life One often gives way for another

by Charlie Fripp

Review

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72

AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Puzzle

Reviewed on:

X360

It’s an interesting change on an old genre, and very entertaining Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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Starbreeze Studios 505 Games Microsoft

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eleased as the first title in Microsoft’s annual Winter of Arcade series of Xbox Live Arcade titles, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a charming little game about saving a life, working together and looking after those you love.

In terms of plot, the brothers set out to find the Tree of Life in order to save their gravely-ill father, whose doctor told them the tree will be able to save him. The entire plot of the game is to get the brother to the tree of life, but they do meet some interesting characters along the way.

But the fact that the plot is so straightforward adds to the title, as players will know exactly what to do, and with the linear gameplay mechanic, there is no getting lost or wondering which route to take. It’s literally going from one point to the other on the map, and having to traverse whatever lies inbetween.

The only thing that might confuse players, is the fact that they will take control of the two nameless brothers at the same time, controlling each one with a separate analogue and shoulder button. While it can get confusing, it actually tests the player’s hand-eye coordination to the limit, as one wrong move could mean death for a brother.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a heartwarming and somewhat sad title, and while the plot is not very complex and the title is not very long (about 2 – 3 hours of play time), it is very entertaining.

The graphics are fantastic and some cool elements have been worked into the gameplay, so it should keep gamers busy for a number of hours. g

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

Score

81

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The Sims 3: Island Paradise

Island Style More of the good life…

by Walt Pretorius

N

73

AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Simulation

Reviewed on:

PC

Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Sims 3: World Adventures Local

1

Network

Online

0

Sims Studio Electronic Arts EA South Africa

Parental Advisory

12+ gamecca51

0

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

Platforms

It’s not a massive game changer, but Island Paradise is a decent expansion none the less.

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

Score

78

Review

here really is no stopping the Sims 3 juggernaut. Except, of course, the release of the Sims 4. But up until that time, we can expect to see a whole lot more coming for this very popular, very successful and increasingly massive game.

While our sims got to go on holiday in the very first expansion pack (World Adventures) Island Paradise is not about a quick vacation at the beach. Rather, this one is about living the idyllic life of an islander, either in a beautiful beachfront house or a houseboat.

As is expected from the larger expansion packs, this one brings a lot more to the table.

First of all, there’s all that water (something that hasn’t seen much attention in the Sims 3).

Along with that comes this expansion’s weird creatures, in the form of mermaids. They really are the least appealing of the fantasy species, because they are the most limited.

Of all the new things to do in Island Paradise, perhaps the most appealing is the resort management career path… because it is extremely lucrative. Running (and owning) a successful resort is a challenge, but his career has simoleon rewards like no other.

Overall, Island Paradise, with its beautiful new surrounding and other offerings, is a very decent Sims 3 expansion. It does have one or two little problems, but none of them are as serious as the issues Supernatural brought with it. In short, it offers fans a great new environment to play in, and a few new ideas to explore… pretty much what we would want from an expansion. It doesn’t bring any major game changes with it, but not every expansion has to do that. g

Painkiller: Hell and Damnation – Uncut Edition

Fighting Demons for Love.

Plunging the depths of darkness one bullet at a time.

by Nthato Morakabi

D

reunited with Catherine.

In regards to story, Painkiller Hell and Damnation works as somewhat of a sequel and a whole new story altogether. While playing the game, however, it is evident that there has been no real focus on story as players move from location to location collecting souls for a surprising final conclusion (sequel anyone!?).

The music of the game is heavy metal, typical of any title that has demons at its core. If one is a fan of the genre, they will definitely appreciate the musical score which fits the game perfectly. The voice acting, on the other hand, is just not that great and the dialog is mediocre at best.

Painkiller is fun and challenging as hordes of demonic creatures rush at you from all sides. Playing the harder difficulties proves to be an even greater challenge as the

Review

aniel Garner is a man without fear, lost in darkness and despair yet seeking light to restore his broken soul. His descent into darkness began during a particularly stormy night.

While driving with his wife Catherine on the passenger seat, a winged creature, demonic in stature, suddenly appeared on the road, startling Daniel into action. In an attempt to evade the creature, Daniel swerved away from it; however the action only managed to send the vehicle spiralling out of control on the wet road.

The resultant crash was devastating, sending his wife Catherine immediately into Paradise however his fate was to be sent into Purgatory – the realm between heaven and earth. In the depths of his despair, Death manifests himself to Daniel with a proposition – he must bring seven legions of souls and Daniel would be

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stronger demons appear earlier and damage against you is greater. The simple control scheme means that there are no distractions; all you do is run, jump and shoot – you don’t even need to reload. This can feel too repetitive at times, especially during boss battles where it’s a matter of shoot-until-it-dies, though this can be seen as a breath of fresh air from other FPS titles to others. Using the analog stick on the Xbox (I assume PS3 as well) to aim is not as accurate and responsive as a mouse, which can be the difference between a kill and getting killed.

This issue is not one that makes the game unplayable, however.

The weapons available for disposal range from the default shotgun that can double as a freeze gun to the Soulcatcher that sucks the soul out of enemies, to the electrodriver that allows for some up close and personal

killing where the blades at the end of the weapon propel rapidly into the enemy. A variety of other weapons are available for use, each unique and fun to use.

Graphically the game looks good and the amount of detail added to the levels and environments such as graveyards, castles and monasteries has been done well – it truly looks and feels like a classic shooter with upped graphics. The creatures you face are well designed with some looking seriously demonic while others seem to be added in for comic relief and in the midst of this, the bosses rise big and epic Overall Painkiller H&D is fun and enjoyable. It’s somewhat repetitive but the sheer number of enemies you face adds more to the challenge and with the heavymetal rocking in the background, the title becomes a pleasant stress reliever. g

AT A GLANCE: First Person Shooter

Reviewed on:

X360

Take on the demonic horde that plague purgatory and claim seven legions of souls in order to be with your wife in paradise.

Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Doom Local

2

Network

Online

8

The Farm 51 Nordic Games Silver Screen

Parental Advisory

18+ gamecca51

8

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

Platforms

Genre:

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

Score

75 75

Arcania: The Complete Tale

The Unexceptional Revisited Plunging from the giddy heights of mediocrity

by Lein Baart

S

handed from Piranha Bytes to Spellbound Entertainment.

Arcania: Gothic 4, released for the Xbox 360 and PC in 2010, was the result of this and was notable only for being entirely mediocre at best. Now, with Nordic Games seeing fit to port the game to the PS3, one has to wonder whether the past three years have been any kinder to Arcania. The answer, frankly, is no, despite bundling the expansion into the deal.

Set 10 years after the events Gothic 3, Arcania sees the land Myrtana once again plunged into war as the mad King Rhobar III seeks to conquer the world. It’s a vague and familiar premise, but workable nonetheless.

Arcania, however, is plagued with flat plot delivery from the very start. Characters come off monotonous and one dimensional, an impression not helped in the least by odd translations and choppy voice acting. The pacing of story

Review

peak to any gamer that has played Gothic in its earliest iterations and you may be surprised by just how divided the opinions are. There’s plenty to dislike, with its awkward controls, frustrating combat and excessive difficulty. Looking beyond that however reveals a series that exudes a rough and endearing charm. Gothic was never afraid to push players to their limits, and every instance of rage induced keyboard desecration was matched by heady moments of unbridled joy as you finally gained the strength to smash orc heads with impunity. It was a franchise that always sought to experiment and test boundaries, and because of the this had the most rarest of qualities, true soul.

This soul, and everything else that made the series great, seems to have been stripped when the reins were

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is likewise awkward, as the first hour sees you engaged, announced as a soon-to-be daddy, then left as the sole survivor of your village which, along your pregnant fiancé, is razed to the ground due to the war. What follows is hours of tedium as your pursue generic fetch quests in your tortoise-paced race for vengeance. In a genre where story is arguably the most critical element, Arcania’s completely lack for any sort of emotional attachment is a death knell sounded most flaccidly, a feat which is sadly repeated in the expansion, Fall of Setarrif.

The Complete Tale suffers from than a limp-wristed plot unfortunately. On its initial release, especially for the PC version, Arcania was praised for its sumptuous graphics and splendid vistas. The port to PS3 however has not been kind to the game, and this version suffers from a myriad of graphical flaws, the least being the consistently

choppy framerates. Textures take seemingly forever to load, meaning that often NPC’s right in front of you are little more than brown, vaguely humanoid blobs. This problem persists even in conversation cutscenes, with frequent changes to the camera angle that require the textures to reload, completely ruining any last shred of immersion the game has to offer.

There are however some redeeming qualities to the game. The music which accompanies it is soundly scored, if generic, and the crafting and gathering mechanics are competent enough to be enjoyable. The combat system, heavily revised from previous versions, is solid enough but any attempt at skilful play is wasted, as button mashing is more than enough to carry you through a title that never really raises any challenge, a sorrowful departure, as the whole game seems to be, from the series’ past glory. g

AT A GLANCE: Role playing game

Reviewed on:

Arcania: The Complete Tale is a difficult title to recommend. If you have to indulge masochistic tendencies, be sure to avoid the PS3 version.

Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Gothic Series, Elder Scrolls Local

1

Network

Online

0

Spellbound Entertainment Nordic Games Silver Screen

Parental Advisory

16+ gamecca51

0

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

PS3 Platforms

Genre:

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

Score

58 77

Charlie Murder

Rocking Good Time But some aren’t too happy

by Charlie Fripp

Review

T

78

AT A GLANCE: Genre:

Side scroller

Reviewed on:

X360

For a modern side-scroller, it’s highly entertaining.

Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Flashback, Golden Axe, Double Dragon Local

1

Network

Online

4

Ska Studios Microsoft Microsoft

Parental Advisory

16+ gamecca51

0

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

Platforms

hinking of side-scrollers, many gamers will think of the old games from the 80’s where they had to run and jump like the Mario titles. But throw in a really rocking punk soundtrack and some cool powers, players will get the entertaining Charlie Murder.

At the start of the title, gamers will be able to select one of the five playable characters, Berserker, Tank, Mesmer, Mage, or a Shaman, to tackle a world that has started to seriously decay.

Each character has their own set of skills and abilities.

As to the plot, this revolves around titular character Charlie and his punk-rocking band Charlie Murder. The events that unfold in the story are depicted through flashbacks to a time when Charlie evicted his friend Paul from the band.

The graphics are incredibly rudimentary, but that also delivers a charm to it. While it is crude and looks like paper-cuttings, it fits in well with the punk-rock and metal theme of the title – which keeps the player engaged.

The controls are also very easy to grasp, as the face buttons are all for smashing, punching and kicking the huge variety of enemies. There is, however, also a small RPG element to it, in the sense that gamers will be able to increase their skills, abilities and change clothing with money that they collect on their journey.

The title also has a multiplayer element to it, where up to four players can play together through the various stages.

Charlie Murder is a highly entertaining and strangely addictive title that will keep players going for a good number of hours. In the sidescroller there is not much to do other than kick, punch and shoot the enemies that populate the multiple levels, stages and areas. g

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

Score

80

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

Prince Of Persia Classic

The Original Dungeon Crawler Time to rescue the princess, this time on your smart device

by James Francis

G

prince once again had a significant update with Sands of Time, creating a new lineage that includes Assassin’s Creed. But this first modern Android outing is the original game, just dressed like the new generation. And it’s quite brilliant.

You play a character who wakes up in a medieval Middle Eastern dungeon. A princess is in danger and has a limited amount of time before an evil wizard offs her and gets the kingdom. Your job is to navigate a maze of platforms to open the exit doors, taking you closer to rescuing her and defeating the wizard. This is accomplished by climbing up, dropping down, making well-timed jumps and avoiding the various traps. It’s quite an experience if you haven’t played any of the original POP games.

The control scheme translates well from the original,

Review

aming’s history is littered with great games that are disappearing into the sands of time.

Gamers may be a very passionate bunch, but they have pretty short memories. Unless there is a particular sense of nostalgia built over a franchise of sorts, old classics have a hard time re-emerging from a decade or more ago. This is Prince Of Persia’s blessing - it has a more modern franchise to hitch itself onto.

But the game itself is old - nearly a quarter of a century. It was famously made by one guy, who used his brother to get the prince’s movements right using a process called rotoscoping. Then he created an inventive 2D platform puzzler that you could rightly trace in a bloodline that today would reach Tomb Raider and Uncharted, with plenty in between. The

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though it eventually becomes quite tough - making quick movement changes is somewhat trickier than using a keyboard. Still, it’s not impossible and mercifully the game’s default mode doesn’t run against the clock, allowing you to figure it out in leisure. A map and a floating guide also makes things easier. You eventually suss your way out, along the way killing prison guards and discovering easter eggs. An in-game achievement system helps you keep track of some of these.

It’s still a tough game - combat is simple, but the timing of level puzzles can be frustrating. That said, this is what POP used to completely be about, so don’t play this if you don’t the idea of rushing from switches to doors before they close. The game certainly doesn’t hold your hand - like the original, you have to line up accurately and time your moves right. Here the controls

may become a frustration and take a little getting used to. But they are responsive enough to get the job done, plus there are several control styles to try out.

Everything has been stylishly remodelled - the prince looks like his Sands Of Time counterpart and moves with a similar fluidity. Every level has been faithfully recreated, while the art has been given a nice shine job.

Best of all, the whole game costs less than $2.

Prince Of Persia Classic is a nice blast from the past, made relevant again with today’s smart phones. If only more old games got the same treatment - something like Flashback comes to mind, as well as more than one real time strategy title. Fortunately it’s becoming a common practice and more classics are surfacing on the Play store. One can only hope those remakes take the same care as POP’s Android debut got. g

AT A GLANCE: Adventure

Reviewed on:

AND

A slick remake of the original.

Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Flashback, BlackThorne, Tomb Raider Local

1

Network

Online

0

Ubisoft Ubisoft Android Play Store

Parental Advisory

12+ gamecca51

0

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

Platforms

Genre:

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

Score

88 81

Epiphany!

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.

I

have come to an astounding conclusion.

Actually, I think that I have known this all along, but I am such a nice guy that I denied it until recently. But this conclusion dropped into my head the other day like an anvil, clanging truth all the way. And that is the following: I really don’t like gamers.

You may have come to this conclusion reading the stuff I wrote before, but I was just pointing out little irritations then. What I have now realised is that I really, really don’t like gamers.

Perhaps, though, a little definition is required.

Maybe a smidgeon of explanation. Whatever, I have to fill a column, so what the hell.

I love games. I love all games, even the nasty,

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crappy ones. I love playing games. I love every kind of gaming platform. OK, there, that’s done. We clear on that?

I like people who play games. I enjoy chatting to friends and arbitrary strangers I meet on the street about games. Most of them look at me funny, but a number of them actually get to chatting when I accost them. People who play games are cool.

But aren’t people who play games gamers? Aha, no. All gamers play games, but not all people who play games are gamers. See the difference? No? OK, more explanation.

Gamers are people who are obsessive about gaming. They are the people who send developers death threats for changing things in an update, or issue massive

amounts of anonymous smack-talk in online gaming matches. Gamers are the people who believe that gaming is important, and that their life’s goal is to become the best gamer around, because they really are great at games and they are super competitive and they practice online for three hours twice a week and they are super good at headshots and they live for games because nothing is more important to them than being good at sitting on their asses and fiddling with a controller….

OK, time for another exception. I exclude cyber-athletes from this category, because proper competitive players put in a lot of effort, and truly do work hard at becoming good. I respect that. And it takes a lot more than most of the self-proclaimed

gamecca51

expert nitwits I despise put into it.

Gamers are people who do nothing but game, talk about nothing but games, think about nothing but games, and have no ambitions beyond anything that happens in a game.

And they think that games are important.

If you are afraid that someone you know –or even you yourself – might be suffering from this terrible malady, there are a few things that you can do to save yourself from becoming a self-entitled, self-important, utterly annoying douche-nozzle.

Don’t play games all the time. Try go for a whole day without gaming… maybe even two. Take a walk outside. A walk, with your legs. Eat a salad. Read a book. Get a life.There is hope for you yet. g

a copy of Farming Simulator Courtesy of Apex Interactive TO ENTER: Send an email to competitions@gameccamag.com Tell us who distributes the game in South Africa Tell us which platform you would prefer (PS3 or Xbox 360) Insert “Farming” in the mail’s subject line Subscribe to www.gameccamag.com Become a fan on Gamecca’s Facebook Page Competition closes 30 September 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

I

T

O

I

t has been nearly a quarter of a century, but Prince Of Persia’s rotoscoped charm still stands strong today. It was a revolution in gaming, creating a whole new sub-genre in platforming. It was also unforgiving, because back then gamers were total masochists.

A Year in Gaming

f all the games begging for a modern remake, Deathtrack ought to be at pole position.

Sure, you race around a track, but you also unleash all sort of weapons you bought to take out the competition. It even had bumpers with spikes on that did real damage.

oday Peter Molyneux is a name you hear every time Microsoft Games wants to roll out something.

But in 1989 he laid the foundation for god games with this gem, not to mention kickstarting Bullfrog, one of the most significant game developers of the Nineties.

t is certain that hatred for gnomes was a lot more subdued before the arrival of this action brawler.

The evils thrown against the Barbarian, Amazon and Dwarf were nothing compared to these cretins stealing those valuable health potions.

A YEAR IN GAMING

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1

T

T

S

T

he world appears to think SimCity was a spinoff from the popular Sims games. Quite the opposite: all the sim mania began in 1989, when Will Wright released the top-down SimCity. And everyone knew the cheat: FUND. Just do it at the start, so you can avoid the earthquakes.

o you want to be a hero? Then step into the ultimate parody of all things heroic, especially if they were gaming staples. It was supposed to be called Hero’s Quest (and briefly was), but the publisher forgot to check if the name was already trademarked (which it was).

his side-scrolling action game was quite a big deal: it introduced a wider colour palette and around a dozen parallax backgrounds. In today’s 3D world that means little, but back then it represented a new level of immersion and awesomeness.

he heroes in half shells were big in the late Eighties and early Nineties, prompting them to have their own game. Though many sequels followed, few matched the awesomeness of playing this the first time. And everyone wanted to be Michelangelo.

1989 gamecca51

85

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

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Online Mag

Simplicity in information!

www.gladgetmag.com

A

Armou

Review

Asus Maximus VI Formula Motherboard

A

sus have jumped all over the opportunity to deliver new motherboards compatible with Intel’s Haswell processors, and the Maximus range of high-end boards is a prime example of what they have on offer. In the past we saw one of the Maximus VI boards – around two issues ago – but now we have been treated to a flood of these excellent products. And the top of the pile is the monstrous Maximus VI Formula.

It is, without wanting to sound all gushy, a remarkable board, and its looks follow the same idea. There are few boards that can claim to actually be good looking, but the Formula really is a motherboard that is kind to the eye. Perfect for those who like clear side panels built into their PC cases, the Formula’s aesthetic is governed by double sided ROG Armor. This casing, that covers both sides of the motherboard, does add a degree of protection, yes, but it also helps to keep things cooler for the Formula, which is a massively more important function.

Speaking of cooling, the Formula also comes with the rather nifty CrossChill system. This is an enhanced cooling system that hybridises air and water cooling. It works best with water, but still adds a significant effect even with just air.

In addition, all the expected bells and whistles are included in terms of components, like BlackWing chokes and other things that keep the whole operation of the board stable, cool and quiet.There are also a few added extras which help the Formula stand out even more, like the inclusion of Asus, WiFi Go system and a host of overclocking tools and other enhancements. These include the slightly controversial Sonic Radar that helps gamers find enemies based on sound… although people who have Asus boards using the system don’t seem to be complaining.

The board also offers surround sound, S?PDIF, HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, and a total of 16 supported USB ports, even divided between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0.

It is very easy to highly recommend a board like the Formula, because it really is an excellent product. The performance is great in every required area. That said, you’re not going to get one for a song. Asus are not known to be the cheapest, and the Formula is no exception.

Still, good quality shows. The effects of a great motherboard are not always immediately apparent, but those who know what to look for and what to monitor will certainly see that the Formula is no slouch, and well worth the investment. If it is a little too rich for your pocket, there are other Maximus VI boards to consider, too. But if you can get this big gun, you won’t be sorry! g

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by Walt Pretorius

ur Looks cool, runs cool…

Summary

Tech Specs:

It may be a costly board, but everything about the Formula is about extreme performance...

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

gamecca51

Great features Perfect for tweaking Looks awesome

Z87 Express chipse 8 USB 2.0 ports 8 USB 3.0 ports CrossChill technology ROG Armor Wi-Fi Go! Sonic Radar

A sus Pinna c le A fric a www.pinna c le.c o.za

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Expensive

Score

96 89

90

All

Review

Option!

Tritton AX180 Performance Stereo Headset

Convenient connection all round

gamecca51

by Walt Pretorius

O O

ne of the most painful things about headsets designed for multiple systems is that, when you get off of the PC and onto the console systems, you are more than likely going to have to make use of component cables. Actually, that’s only partly true. The PS3 will allow you to use a combination of HDMI and component outputs, thereby allowing image and audio delivery to screen and headset effectively.

But the Xbox 360 is another matter, because the component plug that plugs into the back of the console blocks the HMDI port. Thanks, Microsoft. Really, thanks.

But wait, there are determined people out there, and some of them obviously work for headset manufacturer Tritton. If you use the Tritton AX 180 stereo headset, you can use it with PC, PS3 and Xbox 360…using HDMI! That’s because the thoughtful people at Tritton included a special plug that slots into the 360’s component port without blocking the HDMI port. That, alone, makes for a lot of praise going the way of this headset.

But wait, there’s more! The AX 180s manage to deliver really great stereo sound, by way of 40mm drivers. Personally, I always wonder whether smaller drivers can perform, but of late this size had generally been taking me by surprise… and these are no different. The highs are crisp, and the bass notes are rich and full.

To connect to a PC, the user has the option of USB of standard 3.5mm jacks. That’s an eitheror. The user can decide which to use… once again, that’s pretty cool.

In fact, this is possibly the most versatile headset we have ever seen. They can be used with virtually anything that has a form of headphone interface, and that makes them truly excellent for people who love their toys and gadgets.

The well-padded ear-cups are over-ear style, but only just. In fact, folks with big ears may find that they will probably be on-ear. Still, they are comfortable, and the fully padded headband help keep these rather lightweight headphones feeling good.

There is a rather complex in-line control that is fitted to the AX 180’s cable. It allows for separate voice volume and audio volume control, as well as independent muting. It also allows for input selection.

The mic arm can be disconnected from the headset for convenience sake. It is fully positionable, too.

In short, the Tritton AX180 is a fantastic stereo wired headset. The audio quality is great, and the fact that you can use it with pretty much anything is a big bonus. It features a generous cable, too, and is quick and easy to set up with any system. Tritton has a real winner here. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

This headset will work with any device that could conceivably be connected to a headset, and will deliver great audio to boot

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

gamecca51

Works with everything Great audio comfortable

PC / Mac PS3 Xbox 360 Removable mic Independent volume controls

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

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Ear cups a little small

Score

90 91

A Logitech G100s Optical Gaming Mouse

Smoke and mirrors from Logitech

No

W Review

W

hen you’re trying to stay competitive in a very full market, almost anything goes. And Logitech, despite the fact that they are a PC peripheral stalwart that has been around for many, many years, are facing a number of very impressive newcomers. Brands like Razer and Mad Catz and SteelSeries (and others) all produce products that place themselves in a very strong position to take on what was once an almost unassailable dominance of the high end peripheral market that Logitech enjoyed.

So with their new line of gaming products, Logitech are attempting to forge ahead, and retain their strong position… even regain some of the ground that was lost to extremely innovative competitors. The thing is, though, that products like the G100s are not going to make that impression, because this particular mouse

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is decidedly middle of the road.

When you read the packaging, you find terms like “exclusive delta zero sensor”. What does that even mean? Sure, they claim high accuracy in tracking, but the jargon is just a little too much, particularly when considering that this mouse has a maximum sensitivity resolution of 2500 dpi. Hardly a world beater.

In fact, it seems that the biggest claim the G100s is making is that it has advanced surface materials. These are a hydrophobic palm surface and fingerprint resistant button coatings. While not getting a sweaty palm is great, it really isn’t the top of most gamers’ lists when they are looking for a new mouse.

Not that the G100s is a bad mouse. It can go toe-totoe with other devices in its category. But as a three button (including the scroll wheel) ambidextrous mouse, that category is really, really small. The main issue

gamecca51

by Walt Pretorius

ow?

here is that this device is being touted as a gaming mouse, when it simply isn’t offering enough to make those claims. It is a good mouse, yes. It is sensitive and effective and one can play games on it, no problem. But you can do the same on any number of mouse devices that aren’t flying the gaming flag.

Perhaps this shows a detachment with their public.

Logitech have produced fantastic gaming oriented products in the past, but slapping the gaming category on the G100s feels a little like snake-oil selling.

If you’re looking for a great mouse that has funky looks, is ambidextrous and comfortable, here it is. If you want an effective pointing device that will hold its own for a variety of functions, once again, here it is. If you are looking for a high end gaming mouse… this is not one. It simply is not enough to attract most gamers, leaving only the uninformed to possibly be swept along

Summary

Tech Specs:

It’s a good mouse, but even as a low end gaming option, it doesn’t match up to the competition.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

gamecca51

Effective for a variety of uses

3 button mouse USB 2500 dpi Advanced surfaces

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

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Not really a gaming grade mouse...

Score

65 93

I Didn’t Ask You From the Basement

by Pippa Tshabalala

H

ow much research do you do on products before you buy them? And how much do you value other people’s opinions? When I ask a question on social media however, take note.

You might be on my list of incredibly annoying people.

Now given the format of this (and most other) gaming magazines, obviously we strive to give our informed opinion on every game that we review and preview, but are you ever in a position where you actually don’t care what others think?

There are cases such as these when it comes to a game that you’re fanatical about. For example, even if everyone told me GTA V was awful, I would still buy it regardless, partly because I want to formulate my own opinion, and mostly because I absolutely love the GTA franchise. Rockstar has made a fangirl out of me in that regard. Here, take my

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money!

Obviously when you read a magazine such as Gamecca, or browse a game review website looking for someone else’s opinion, you can disagree with it, but you have specifically made the effort to investigate another person’s thoughts on that particular game.

What I do hate is unsolicited advice. If for example I posted a status on Facebook saying “OMG I love GTA V!” I would be ok with someone commenting with a differing opinion saying, “I really didn’t enjoy it for... blah blah blah reason”. That’s cool.

I don’t mind engaging in healthy debate, we all have our differing opinions as to why we enjoyed a game and if you have a reason that I perhaps hadn’t thought of before I have no problem talking about it. I enjoy that kind of discussion.

It is NOT ok however,

for you to comment on my status telling me, “You really shouldn’t play that game because it got terrible reviews, here go to this website and you’ll see.” You’re spouting other people’s thoughts on something, not your own, and you’re killing my vibe when I didn’t ask for your opinion! Yeah maybe that website gave it a terrible review, but I enjoyed it.

Don’t try and tell me why I’m wrong if you’ve never played the game!

You might think I’m being unreasonable and ranting for no apparent reason, but you’d be surprised by how often this happens in the gaming arena. People make their decisions based purely on limited research.

Actually let me add to that, this is not limited to the gaming arena, it’s the domain on the Internet.

People will give unsolicited advice on everything from hair products, to parenting, gadgets and games. If I

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didn’t ask for your opinion, I don’t want to hear it. If I’m reading a magazine or a website that I’ve searched for, I’m looking for advice. If I’ve posted a status saying, “What is GTA V like? Thinking of getting it.” Then by all means you have every right to spout your websites, because I’m in the process of doing some research and am open to reading other people’s thoughts on it.

It might not seem like a huge differentiation but it all comes down to how I ask the question, but if there is no question there, please don’t tell me that I’m using the wrong hair products. Or my opinion is wrong on a game. Or that I should be giving my child this milk instead of that milk. I’ve already done my research and am happy with my decision. Keep your opinions to yourself and mutter about how wrong I am to people who care. g