Full speed ahead God of War: Chains of Olympus (US)PSN PSP Free demo The first thing you notice with the demo is how beautiful it looks. The graphics are really something else. With a small problem. The PSP Slim has more onboard memory than my PSP Phat eventhough both systems have there processors running at the 333Mhz the Phats suffer with slow down. I know this as I managed to compare the two other the last couple of days. It’s not major or a game breaker but it is showing that the PSP is hitting the end of it’s potential. As with most consoles though the first games to make the most of a system are not usually the last games on that system.  You play as Kratos a Spartan warrior sent by the [Greek] God’s to reap revenge. This leads to a very nice hack and slash game. And a Prequel to the previous 2 PS2 games. Which sadly I’ve never played but have been well received by anyone who has. Along with the usual bashing of enemies you also have action cut scenes. As mentioned for Logan’s Shadow. It seems all games have to have these now but these work rather well.  The demo is a reasonable length especially when compared to the Heavenly Sword demo for the PS3. And plays really well, it flows nicely and you’re pulling off impressive combos in no time at all. The demo covers A couple of fights an incident with a big monster (Baselisk?), and a boss battle. The latter actually taking a few goes to complete.  I’m rather impressed and would definitely seek this game out.

6.3.08 18:24 Permalink / comment

"Thant's not a gun..." Time Crisis 4: (With G-Con3) US Import   Before you can even get over the shock of the very plastic feeling, bright orange, new light gun. Which has 2 analogue sticks on it. You have to place 2 sensors on the edges of the TV screen. This works similarly to the Wii bar, meaning that games can be played on LCD and Plasma TVs. After that you have to calibrate the gun. Which isn’t that different to other TC games. The game it’s self has two options, either play as a traditional on rails arcade shooter. Or Play it as an FPS light gun game. It also has a collection of other mini-games which sadly are no where near as much fun as they were on TC2. The on rails is similar to other TC games except that you can now change weapons at any point. This kind of takes the fun out of it but required more thinking than aiming. The aiming thankfully feels really solid. Until you start to be attacked by robot bugs. I don’t see the point in this at all and takes away from the shooting of people part of the game. At certain points you can point your gun to in a direction, to look round a full 360 (well 4 sides anyway) and keep enemies from attacking the square you’re in.

5.3.08 18:43 Permalink / comment

Rumble, Rumble... So I've finally had my hands on the new DualShock3 Six-axis pads. First thing I noticed was that the pads are not that much heavier than the Six-Axis pads. The plastic is not longer translucent so you can't see the part in the. The rumble it's self is pretty much the same as PS1/2 was. Except with these being new pads they don't make a rattling noise as the screws are still tight. The vibration does feel a little more controled from what games I tested it on but was surprised to discover a few games that still don't feature Rumble. I think the batteries have been changed for the new pads cos the charge seemed to last a little longer than a standard Six-axis. Below is a list of the games that I tried PS1 test CTR racing off HDD. Feels exactly like it used to giving a kick everytime you boost which is lovely.  PS2 game test Tomb Raider; Anniversary. Not played this with rumble but it works well. PS3 PSN tests  Super Stardust HD - Wow this game feels better with rumble than without. Everytime a meteor strikes or a bomb is used there's a satisfying hum. PixelJunk: Monsters: This feels quite good and varries depending on the type of monster attacking or if your villagers are being eaten. Warhawk: Didn't think it had any, until I hit the afterburners in a Warhawk and got a damn good kick from it. Then noticed it when firing as a ground troup and from a tank. Also when taking damage or near explosions. Adds to the game. Tekken 5 DR Online: Wow as you're constantly bashing or being bashed the vibration is fairly relentless, always works well for beat'em ups.   PS3 Discs  F1 CE: after downloading Version 2.0 the vibration was lovely. Adding to feeling like driving and F1 car. Little scrapes with a opponent or running over rumble srips feels as it should. Also feeling when the cars starting to roll. Rumbleless: CoD4 sadly lacking in any part of the game either on or offline. Blast Factor: Maybe it's added in the Advanced Research add on which still isn't available here. GT: HD: Sadly no rumble would have been nice though Have to Wait for GT5. Calling All Cars;  Flow, VF4, Riff: Everyday Shooter. Not yet tested: R:FoM, Uncharted: DF, Ratchet & Clank: ToD

5.3.08 18:20 Permalink / comment

Pata-pun-tastic Patatpon demo PSN Free (see previous entry on how) I've finally managed to get my hands on this rather strange game from the people who created Locoroco. This game is no less strange or inovative than it's predecessor. You control a group of eyeballs that need to fight and eat. This is done by banging drums (pressing buttons) in a sequence and in time to get these occular troops to respond. Starting combo: [] (Pata),[] (Pata),[] (Pata), O (Pon) makes them march, then they chant, then you repeat the combo in time and they repeat back. This gets them moving. To attack: O (Pon), O (Pon), [] (Pata), O (Pon). This starts them throwing spears at the enemies. Which can be done to a Frenzy(!?) If the enemies run off you have to start marching again. This all sounds really simple but I kept messing up the timing or pressing the wrong sequence. Didn't take long to complete the 3 level demo but it does allow you to save a special demo exclusive weapon. Which means I really have to play the full game now. I have a feeling I'll be making drumming noises from here on out.

4.3.08 19:42 Permalink / 2 Comments / comment

GO! Meggenger has gone live... The PSP Phat's answer to Skype has finally launched came with firware 3.90 (see previous entry). After 2 days of faffing with the web browser based registration process I've finally got my account active only 1 major problem I don't have anyone to test it with yet. On rereading the terms it looks like it takes 48 hours for it to fully register. I have a friend who has just registered so may be able to test it over the next week or so. It allows you to voice chat via a PSP mic (ie Talkman mic) or SOCOM Headset. Or video chat with a PSP camera. You can also send text, voice and video messages to other users. It is also supposed to be avialable as a PC download so you can chat to none PSP owners via there PC's and I'll aim to test these function soon. I have access to a PSP camera so may be able to test those features, soon. Sadly the software is only currently avialable in Blightly but I've heard that it can be run if you have a Custom Firmware (hacked) PSP and change the region to Europe.  If you wish to add me, my nickname is vdjomb.

4.3.08 19:30 Permalink / 1 Comment / comment

A mixed bag of full games Mesmerize: Trace PSN £1.99 I perviously purchased distort and it's an amusing HD screen saver but nothing more, sadly. This is more of the same. It doesw show how reactive the PS Eye is but really shouldn't be priced as it is a tech demo nothing more. Nothing much doing which is a real shame. Riff: Everyday Shooter PSN £4.99 As my addiction to Stuper Stardust HD is now well know, Riff is another 2 stick shooter. But in a ver different way. You control a small dot that fires at ememies when they die they make a noise. All enemies have different noises or Riffs to them which can add to the games weird twangy soundtrack. You can also create chain reaction. When enemies are destroyed some leave a dot behind. These are points which you can use to buy extra starting lives, strange effects and single player levels. Each level is the same idea but done differently as you have to destroy different types of enemies in different ways and the combo system is different for each level. The graphics are basic but very trippy and the music can be strangly compelling. I'm only onto the 4th level so far but I'll give a full review when I've managed to play more. Well worth a look. Las Vegas Strip: Poker PSN £4.99 I used to be addicted to a poker game on my phone not that I'm any good and really would never play for real money (as I'm rubbish) but I enjoyed it. This is just a far nicer looking version, where you can create your own character and set out on a career as a professional poker player. Thankfully there is not link to real money other than the cash you spend to download it. The game is nice and can be played slowly with the virtual opponents, making taunts and hussles or as a quick game without the chit chat. There is also an online mode, which I'm still to try, but is supposed to feature full voice chat. The major bonus of this game is that it can be played via Remote Play on a PSP, even online (sadly without voice chat).

4.3.08 19:08 Permalink / comment

Exclusive hands on coming... I've got friend coming to mine tonight who imports games and devices from other countries. I should hopefully have got my mits on a Dual Shock 3 (Shock-Axis) basically a PS3 pad with PS2 rumble. Looking forward to this a lot, finally F1 with rumble. Time Crisis 4 with new Orange G-Con3 light gun. It looks really ugly and doesn't feature rumble or wireless but is compatible with LCD, Plasma and CRT TVs. SHould be fun as it has a new FPS mode which uses the sticks on the gun to manouver. Devil May Cry 4, after playing the demo I wasn't too fussed about the game but  I'd be interested to have a look. Sadly I may not be able to, as the game requires a 5GB cache file created on the PS3. He also has Rock Band but it was totally impractical for him to bring the whole thing with him for 1 night. But expect a hands on very soon.

4.3.08 18:49 Permalink / comment

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