In other Khaled news, the Miami DJ has just released a video for his latest single ironically titled “All We Do Is Win”, The song features Rick Ross, T-Pain, Snoop Dogg and Ludacris so I’m sure the clubs will go crazy for this one… Watch and enjoy.

If like me you’ve been sleeping on this title in the past let me fill you in on a few details. Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing is (surprise, surprise) a racing game starring Sonic, his annoying friends and a bunch of random characters from the Sega universe including AiAi, Alex Kid, Beat, B.D. Joe, Amigo, Billy Hatcher, Ulala, Akia Yuka (who shares a ride with fellow Virtua Fighter Jacky Bryant), Ryo of Shenmue fame and more. As you can probably tell the line-up is pretty disappointed with  classic franchises like Street Of Rage, Golden Axe, Comix Zone, Phantasy Star, Altered Beast and Toe Jam & Earl all being ignored. Instead of tearing the track up as the Golden Axe dwarf riding a fire-breathing Dragon you’ll have to put up with Big The Cat, Shadow The Hedgehog and other characters who should have never made it pass the concept art phase.

The single player offering in All-Stars Racing is incredibly generous with 6 Grand Prix cups to race through, a handful of Missions to complete and a in-depth Time Trail system in which you can compete against yourself, staff ghost or even other online players. The Grand Prix mode is surprisingly more fun than it has any right to be. The cars handle brilliantly, the courses are generally action-packed and  most the weapons you collect are excellent. Although most of the weapons are proxies for items already available in Mario Kart, Sega has added a few unique weaponry to their arsenal which are among the best in the game. Rockets, KO Gloves, Speed Shoes, Rainbows and Mines are variants of Red Shells, Green Shells, Mushrooms, Bloopers and Bananas respectively but there are also Giant Rocket which travel down the track and can be denoted at your leisure, Confusion Stars which flip your opponents screen upside down and Speed Horns which emit a loud blast damaging all near by racers. Each selectable character also has their own All-Star move which is usually awarded to players who fall behind the pack. These moves are designed to help trailing players catch up to the action and are great morale boosters when playing against casual gamers. Graphically the game is very appealing with a heavy emphases on bright colours through-out. The track designs are generally good but the repeated themes quickly become tiresome. Once you’ve seen one Casino themed Sonic level you’ve pretty much seen them all.

If the thought of playing alone doesn’t appeal  to you there is an array of split screen multiplayer modes for you and up to three buddies to enjoy.  Single Race mode (as the name suggests) has you and your friend(s) competing in single race events, Battle mode places you in confined arenas in a fight to the death, Capture The Chao is a variant of capture the flag, King Of The Hill once again places you in to arenas but this time to capture bases and my personal favourite Knockout continually eliminates the player in last position every 15 seconds until there’s only one racer remaining. If you don’t have any friends beside you and would like to race-off against players across the globe prepare to be disappointed. Online matches only offer Single Races which can only be accessed by trolling through the prehistoric lobby system. Once the single race is over all players are then booted back to the lobby where the process repeats.

Additional characters, courses and music can be purchased via the in-game store and Sega has stated that the game will support DLC which should give the title plenty of longevity. Factor in the robust split screen modes and lengthy single player options and what you have is the best mascot themed racer ever to grace a non-Nintendo platform. The races are frantic, the cars handle sublimely, the graphics are great and there is plenty to see and do. Put simply, if you want Mario Kart on your Xbox 360 or PS3 you need to buy this game. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve enjoyed a console game with the word “Sonic” in the title but Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing is an excellent game which finally puts Sonic’s speed to good use. The lacklustre character roster, barebones online component and repetitive level design prevents Sonic from the number 1 spot away from Mario but Sumo Digital and Sega deserve a to be congratulated for obtaining a very close and admirable 2nd place.

The multiple endings attainable in Heavy Rain makes a direct sequel almost impossible to pull of, for any extension in the Heavy Rain universe to work it would almost certainly have to be a prequel. We already know the Origami Killer was also active a year prior to events in Heavy Rain so a prequel featuring a whole new cast of characters would definitely be a plausible solution. It may lack the huge twists found in the first game since we now know who the Origami Killer is but I trust that David Cage and the Quantic Dream team could once again produce something truly spectacular if they were committed to making a Heavy Rain 2.

For the DLC route, QD decided release episodes placing us back in to the shoes of each of the main characters (excluding Ethan, at least for now) and provide us with a brief glimpse at what their lives were like before we met them in the main game. First up to get the flashback treatment is the sexy Madison Paige. Unsurprisingly we find our heroine on the hunt to find the Origami Killer. Her search leads her to the home of retired Taxidermist Leland White who in his spare time likes to stuff more than just dead animals. Shortly after breaking in to his house and discovering his secret puppet stash Leland returns home and it’s up to you to get Madison the hell out of there before she becomes his latest victim. It’s at this point where the episode falls apart and the intriguing premise is completely wasted. Character movement was one of the biggest problems with Heavy Rain, it was robotic and imprecise but every other aspect in the game more than made up for it. Here, the story is extraneous and you’re forced to use the clunky controls in an attempt to be stealthy which put simply, doesn’t work. Sneaking around a house, hiding from a deranged killer is naturally a tense and nerving experience but the controls constantly made me feel unequipped to handle the situation.

David Cage recently said that each episode of Heavy Rain Chronicles will last roughly one hour but in the case of The Taxidermist I have to assume what he meant was it took his team an hour to MAKE. I managed to start up the DLC and make it to end in under 10 minutes which was significantly less time than it took to download and install. Once completed you’re then challenged to play through the last two minutes of it over and over again until you experience all five different endings, however the results are always the same. Either Madison dies or she escapes, the former doesn’t make sense continuity-wise and whether she does the latter by climbing out of a window or sneaking out of the front door is ultimately irrelevant especially since this episode is self-contained and has no bearing on the main story.

Had The Taxidermist done something to enhance the main story or even shed some more light on Madison as a character it might have been worth a purchase, however as it stands this episode is completely pointless and with very little redeeming qualities. The premise is fantastic and the disturbing imagery is a welcomed edition to the game but the part where you’re actually playing it just isn’t fun. If the upcoming episodes follows this route of  awkward side-plots Quantic Dreams may as well quit now and do something more constructive with their time. Given that the main game features upwards of 40 chapters it’s almost insulting that Quantic Dream is expecting us to pay $5 for an extra 10 minutes of gameplay. Even the Heavy Rain demo was courteous enough to provide us with a more longer experience.

If you’re a Wii owner looking for Nintendo to deliver you your next first-party fix I’m pleased to share some exciting news with you. The sequel to Mario Galaxy is just 3 short months away according to Nintendo. During their Media Summit today the big N announced that Mario Galaxy 2 will be arriving in US stores on May 23 which is a good 6 months before it’s speculated release date. Also arriving early is Metroid: Other M. Team Ninja and Nintendo’s mysterious Metriod title is due out just one month later on June 27. Sandwiched in between those 2 huge releases is Sin & Punishment 2 which will be released on
June 7.

US Release dates were also given for Pokemon Heat Gold/ Soul Silver (March 14th), the DSi XL (March 28th for only $189), Wario Ware DIY (also March 28th), Monster Hunter Tri (April 20th) and Picross 3D (May 3rd).

Wow! Never let it be said again that Nintendo doesn’t care about us hardcore gamers.

The game will be available on the App store next month for the $9.99 (£5.99) and will feature 8 characters, Ryu, Blanka, Guile, Ken, Chun-Li, Dhalsim, M. Bison and Abel. I predict more characters will be available via DLC and once you’ve spent $30 bringing your iPhone version up to par with the console games Capcom will then screw you over once again with the App store release of “Super” Street Fighter IV.

Regardless here is some footage of some poor soul attempting to play the game, I’m no F.Mills but at this very point in time this game seems like a certified “flop”.

Shoutout to Gamepro.

Before I get to the online aspect of the game I’d like to congratulate Sega for including an enthralling single player mode on a game which primarily focuses on it’s multiplayer proponent. The story, which slightly alters depending on which race you choose to play as, is certainly intriguing and does a great job keeping players hooked right up until the very end. The story see’s mankind attempting to rebuild their civilization after a giant war known as the Giant Break reduced most of their world to nothingness some 200-years ago. You take on the role of a young Hunter and it’s up to you and your party to rid of the world of  monstrous creatures who roam the wilderness threatening your existence.

There are three different races for you to choose from at the start of the game and they each have their own set of attributes. Humans are generally well-rounded and serve as the go-to choice for casual gamers, CAST’s are highly powered androids but lack certain abilities such a magic and finally Newmans are a mysterious race whose regaining abilities makes them perfect for more advanced players. Each race also has different class types and you can freely customize the aesthetics and gender of any of them.

The weapon based combat system is incredibly deep with a staggering 350 weapons crammed in to the tiny DS cartridge, If you like looting you‘ll love what Sega has to offer here. As with any RPG, players will gain experience, level up and expand their arsenal through-out the game. Phantasy Stat Zero also has a healthy mix of amour and items to keep players satisfied and some of the more elaborate battles can be pretty epic for a DS game. As fun as playing alone can be it does present problems which are alleviated in multiplayer. The most frustrating of which is your party members dim-witted AI, you’ll frequently have to monitor and baby-sit them as they’ll often do more harm than good. The camera system is also problematic which can make protecting your party members a little difficult but it never gets bad enough to hinder your progress.

Like the all recent Phantasy Star game the main draw of Zero is it’s multiplayer mode. Multiplayer consists of both online and local wireless co-op modes where you and up to 3 friends (or random strangers) can discover the truth behind the Giant Break together. Phantasy Star Zero boasts one of the best online modes on the DS to date, putting some of Nintendo‘s own efforts to shame. There’s no voice chat support but players can communicate via a PictoChat-esque messaging system which allows players to draw or write messages on the fly and share them with party members.

Graphically Phantasy Star Zero is certainly bright and colourful but the 3D polygons look almost like they’ve been ripped from a PSone launch title that hasn’t aged well. While that’s not necessarily a bad thing given the DS’s limited horsepower it can be a little jarring to those who have already played beauties such as Phantasy Star Portable on the PSP or even the Zelda games on the DS. Getting to the end of the game is a lengthy progress and along the way you’ll unfortunately encounter some repetitive quests, I would have liked to have seen more mission variety and less fights against bosses that I’ve already beaten!

Other than those few qualms Phantasy Star Zero is a great game which fans of the series and RPG-lovers in general will enjoy. If you have the means to play with others I’d definitely recommend it over playing alone but even if you do decide to play through solo you’re still in for a treat. There’s no shortage of great RPG’s on the DS but if you want one that you can experience along with others it truly doesn’t get any better than this.

In this interactive thriller you alternately play as four different characters who are all on the on a hunt to track down The Origami Killer, a serial murderer who leaves origami figures in the hands of his victims. Whether your characters ultimately fail or succeed on their mission entirely depends on the choices that you make and your skills as a player. At several points in the game one (or all) of the main characters can die and once they’re gone, they’re gone! There’s no game over screen here, if your ineptitude causes a character to meet his or her demise the game simply continues without them. The branching story which contains several different outcomes makes Heavy Rain a rather difficult game to review but it’s likely that once you reach the end you’ll want to restart the journey all over again just to see what changes may occur if you do certain things differently.

The first character you play as is Ethan Mars. He’s a successful architect who is blessed with a stunning house, a beautiful wife and two excitable boys. A string of very unfortunately circumstances see’s Ethan losing everything, now he’s on an almost suicidal mission to reclaim the one thing he has to live for. The second playable character you encounter is Scott Shelby, a Private Detective who has been hired by the family of one of the Origami Killer’s victims. FBI Profiler Norman Jayden is also on the hunt for the killer and he has a pair of futuristic Mission Impossible-esque shades to assist him. Rounding out the cast is sexy Photo Journalist Madison Page, after coming across an injured Ethan outside her motel room she offers her assistance and in-turn unintentionally becomes wrapped up in the whole mess.

Since by far the best aspect of Heavy Rain is it’s griping narrative I’m not going to delve too deep in to it during this review. The story is truly something you should experience for yourself, all you need is to know is Quantic Dream have revolutionized the art of story telling in a videogame medium and Heavy Rain will remain to be a benchmark title for several years to come. The fantastic looking characters and their expressive facial animations also help to immerse you in to the game. With the slight exception of Ethan (who sounds a little too calm during his whole ordeal, even though his actions reveal nothing short of desperation) the voice actors associated with Heavy Rain done a remarkable job bringing the characters to life and making them feel authentic. Witnessing how each characters separate, but very similar, lives intertwine is a joy, and it is particularly interesting to see how their completely different paths will ultimately lead them down the same road.

Gameplay in Heavy Rain features a mixture of exploration, puzzle solving and Quick Time Events. Norman has his own method of investigating thanks to those fancy shades of his but the rest of the characters are forced to search for objects and clues  the old fashion way. The puzzle segments rarely feel like actual puzzles which prevents unrealistic or “gamey” aspects from rearing their heads. Quantic Dream wisely chose to make puzzles feels organic to the game world so instead of pushing blocks to retrieve keys you’re faced with much more realistic dilemmas such as ensuring you remove your finger prints from every object that you’ve touched to avoid being arrested.

The final and most exuberant gameplay element appear in the form of Quick Time Event’s. Most the game’s action intensive scenes such as fight sequences are conducting by participating in QTE’s, which in laymen’s terms means performing actions on the controller as the appropriate icon appears on screen. QTE actions vary from pressing/holding/tapping buttons or rotating the right analog stick in a specific direction. Occasionally the game will ask you to hold down an awkward series of buttons as if you’re playing finger Twister with your controller, these instances greatly represent the challenge that you’re character is faced with at that particular moment. The importance of successfully completing a QTE’s is amplified by the fact that any of your characters can actually die.  Unlike games like God Of War or even Indigo Prophecy failing a QTE doesn’t simply result in you replaying the same sequence until you get it right, instead it could have drastic consequences that could completely alter story. Thankfully it’s not as cut and dry as “missed button press = death” but Heavy Rain’s intense moments will keep you on the edge of your seat like no other game has done before.

As with every good story-based game Heavy Rain constantly gives you a choice between multiple actions and dialog options. Available dialog is also presented in the form of icons with different face buttons mapped to different responses.  You always have a limited time to make each decision and the on-screen icons will even flash franticly to mirror your character state of mind when tough choices have to me made. This can often screw with your own thought process, forcing you to make snap decisions before thinking about the consequences. This is story telling at it’s finest, Director David Cage and his team at Quantic Dream have successfully raised the bar when it comes to videogame narratives.  I plan to play through Heavy Rain several more times and I’m genuinely excited to find out where every single branching path in the game will take me.

No game is perfect though, and as much as I adore Heavy Rain it does have it’s share of problem. Controlling your characters movements can sometimes be a right pain. Characters move like tanks and you constantly have to hold down the R2 button to steer them. It’s far to easy to bump into or get stuck behind in-game objects and simple tasks such as walking up a flight of stairs can be far more difficult then it should be. The movement controls combined with the awkward camera system can also make it hard to interact with some objects. You often have to be standing in a very specific place for the ‘interact’ prompt to appear on-screen and the clunky controls can sometimes make that very frustrating. The game also suffers from pretty bad screen tearing and the graphical disparity between the main characters and the background NPC’s is almost night and day. Likewise several in-game objects and elements such as fire look atrocious and can sometimes completely take you out of the experience. These short-coming are merely slight blemishes on an otherwise flawless work of art and the fact that I am still giving Heavy Rain my utmost recommendation should be a testament to the quality of the rest of the game.

Heavy Rain is truly one of the most thrilling and immersive games I have ever played. It managed to grip me and draw me inside it’s gloomy, rain-drenched world in a way that no other form of entertainment ever has. I experienced several different emotions during my 12-hour play-through ranging from happiness, to stress, to horror but I can honestly say I enjoyed every second of it. Heavy Rain has signified just how far the game industry has come and I can’t wait to see what Quantic Dream has in store for us in the future. Until then I plan on playing Heavy Rain over again, and again, and again. Phenomenal.

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Gary “Swiff” Swaby
Lloyd Banks – TBA

Banks has been putting in work on the mixtape scene for some years now. His last album didn’t top his first one but I think with the right production he could impress this time. As a long time fan of Banks (and G-unit period), I want Bank’s to once again prove that we shouldn’t be sleeping on NY hip hop

Edward “H-Town” Velazquez
Drake – Thank Me Later

Everybody has a deal, but Drake did it without one. And without a record deal he easily became the most hyped up hip-hop artist of 2009. Eight of his songs (or songs featuring him) made it to the top of the U.S. Rap Billboard charts and his mixtape  “So Far Gone” was the Mixtape of the Year according to MTV. He has collaborated with the best in hip-hop today, Jay-Z, Eminem, and Kanye; to name a few. His debut album, Thank Me Later, is my most anticipated album of 2010, due to how hyped up this album is. Drake knows he has a lot to prove with his debut album and I believe he will deliver. What I want from this album is some good mainstream hip-hop. Hip-hop fans will hate it but the truth is, hip-hop needs a new face for the mainstream audience. Kanye is an asshole, Lil’ Wayne should NOT represent mainstream hip-hop, and Jay-Z is too old. 2010 is the year of Drake because he’s a hot artist, he’s appealing, and because hip-hop needs him.

Shelton Doutherd
Obie Trice – Bottom’s Up

Im looking forward to Obie’s album because hes a local Detroit native and his last album, Cheers was done quite well.  I look forward to see what he has to say this time around.

Andre “Otakuman” Tipon
Ludacris – Battle Of The Sexes

The concept of Battle of the sexes is unique, having a female featured on almost every track is a great idea. This is one case of Ludacris thinking outside the box, he only gets better with each release so I am looking forward to the lyrical style that he delivers.

Jowin Okere
Jay Electronica – Act II

Jay Electronica’s “Act II” is my most anticipated project of 2010. He has managed to impress me with only a few songs like “Exhibit A” and “Exhibit C” and all of “act 1″ as opposed to releasing a million mixtapes full of BS in 2 weeks just to keep his name out there. He really seems like the type to focus on quality over quantity which is my main gripe with hip-hop recently and the quality DEFINITELY shows. Plus, he reps the South. Thats one small step towards shaking the image of what a Southern rapper is (J. Cole is another one). I’m from the South so that aspect of it really adds to my excitement about dude’s release.

Fergus Mills
Lupe Fiasco – L.A.S.E.R.S.

Lupe Fiasco’s L.A.S.E.R.S. is the album that I’m really looking forward to this year. Music from Lupe Fiasco is a sign of light in a time of dark, crappy music. Lupe’s ability to diversify his music while delivering razor sharp lyrically content and thought provoking concepts is unmatched. There are not too many people who are sharp with their tongues like Lupe. And it seems like all of his songs are great stories. I’m ready to see what Lupe has to say in his next album. Personally, I think of it like this; Food and Liquor, classic. The Cool, classic. L.A.S.E.R.S., soon to be classic.

Carl “Krypt” Daniel
The LOX – New LOX Order

You know when you hear people say they’ve waited half their life for a single moment? That is almost literally the case for me when it comes to the new LOX album. I’ve been waiting since 2001 for Kiss, Sheek & Styles to drop another collaborative masterpiece so when they announced their plans to release their third album in early 2003 I instantly began saving up my lunch money to ensure I’ll be able to cop that motherfucker on day 1. It’s now 2010 and that illusive third album has still yet to be released. After being delayed for almost a decade why am I expecting New Lox Order to finally drop this year? Because I’m an idiot, but also because they’re back with Diddy, the same guy who was extorting them for like 10 years straight. I’m sure Diddy will make sure that they get off their asses and in to the studio to craft another album before the end of 2010, if only just so he can once again afford to throw himself another party at their expense.

Anthony “Kap” Frasier
Joe Budden – Great Escape

Joe Budden The Great escape will be album of the year because of one thing, reality. Even though Budden is highly criticized for his online live streaming antics and open relationships via the web, it provides him with great song topics. He’s able to rap about real life feelings and emotions and we all witness half the things he raps about unfold in front of our own eyes. Another reason great escape will be 2010 king is his growth. Being in Slaughterhouse has forced Joe to step up  everything from song writing and picking beats to lyrical stamina. The Great Escape will be the greatest example of that growth.

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As well as all this promising titles be sure to look out for upcoming releases from the likes of B.O.B., Big Boi, Birdman, Bishop Lamont, Bun-B, Busta Rhymes, Cam’ron, Canibus, Cassidy, Chamillionaire, Common, Crooked I, D12, DJ Kay Slay, DJ Khaled, DMX, Dr. Dre, Drag-On, Eminem, Eve, Game, Glasses Malone, Gorilla Zoe, Gucci Mane, J. Cole, Jay Electronica, Juelz Santana, Joell Ortiz, Kanye West, Lil’ Wayne, Maino, Memphis Bleek, New Wu, Nicki Minaj, Plies, Red Cafe, Redman, Rick Ross, Ruff Ryders, T.I.,T-Pain, Three 6 Mafia, Tony Yayo, Triple C’s, Yo Gotti, Young Buck, Young Jeezy, Yukmouth and many, many more in the before the year’s out.

Bleach as gone from fighter to Tactical RPG. A questionable move that is hard to agree with. If reviews were based on initial disappointments, I’d give this game a 0 out of 10 and move on quicker than Sega could say “Wait, here’s your money back”, however it wouldn’t be fair for me to condemn Bleach: The 3rd Phantom solely based on my love for it’s predecessors and my irrational fear of change. It’s only right that I judge each on it’s own merits and hey, if Sega has no problems pretending the first two games didn’t exist then why can’t I?

The game’s story is predominately told through still image cutscenes, dated FMV’s and an array of text which bookmark each battle. I guess anyone picking up a DS RPG should expect to be bombarded with mountains of text but the least Sega could have done is make sure that the story is interesting. Although not terrible, the story is plagued with predictable twists and uninspired dialog which, to make matters worse, is usually delivered by blandly portrayed characters. At the beginning of the game you have the have to chose between two protagonists to take on the main character role, either Fujimaru Kudo or his twin sister Matsuri. Thankfully the twins are much more than just pallet swaps and whichever character you chose will significantly alter the storyline, particularly nearing the end. The game is jam packed with characters from the show so expect a lot of fan service if you’re already will vested in the Bleach universe. Your tolerance for the story will also vary greatly depending on you’re appreciation for the Bleach anime series. On one hand its an original story that was actually written by the series creator but on the other hand it’s drawn-out, unsurprising and ultimately very boring.

As with most RPG’s whether the game lives or dies depends entirely on its Battle System. Anyone familiar with game’s like Final Fantasy Tactics should have no problems jumping in to 3rd Phantom and getting the hang of it’s core concept. As you’ve probably gathered by now your job as a player is to position your characters appropriately around small isometric battlefields pitting them against various enemy types. What sets 3rd Phantom apart from most other Tactical RPG’s is the ability to  attack diagonally instead of just four directions which brings some much needed flavor to the game. Once you’ve selected an attack the game transitions to a 2D side-on prospective where you watch your character dish out some deadly moves in a form very reminiscent of the first two games, only this time you’re not directly in control of your character’s movements and your opponent doesn’t instantly fight back.

The rather speedy levelling system and lack of punishment for the deaths of your party members does make Bleach a little on the easy side however there is plenty to do once the game is finished that will truly separate the men from the boys. While the story may not keep you coming back for more the engaging battle system should be enough to entice you to see yourself through to the end. Admittedly I’m not a huge fan of turn based RPG’s but I actually found myself enjoying most of the battles I fought once I got passed all the talking. Graphically 3rd Phantom is easy on the eyes but does very little to push the capabilities of the DS and the music contains a mixture of both pertinent themes which fit the tone of the game and some cheesy J-Pop that only the nerdiest of Japanophiles could enjoy.

With a title like 3rd Phantom is inevitable that many fans of the first 2 games will be disappointed by this entry in the series, especially if they were expecting more of the same. 3rd Phantom is a complete departure for the series and while it’s not the best RPG on the DS by a long shot it’s hard to ignore the amount of effort Sega put forth in an attempt to rejuvenate the franchise. If you’re a fan of tactical RPG’s you could certainly do worse, and with dozen of hours worth of gameplay Bleach: The 3rd Phantom definitely offers a lot of value but whether you’ll feel compelled to stick around until the end is questionable. One thing 3rd Phantom definitely isn’t lacking in is potential, I’d love to see this battle system return in a future Bleach title. With a more compelling story and improved dialog Sega could have a yet another hit under their belt, here’s to hoping that Bleach’s 4th DS title will elevate the series rather than drag it even further downhill.

PopCap has recently become the premier developer for casual games. Once known for shamelessly cloning already established titles (but making a few changes to keep their legal team stress free) PopCap has done a complete 180 and they are now a dominant force in the social game market, selling 50 million copies of Bejewelled all the while inflicting some of the world’s most addictive games upon an unsuspecting public, first with Peggle and now with Plants vs. Zombies. PopCap’s games may not be incredibly original but their forte is to take something that’s already good but make it a million times better, so much so that the original version instantly becomes redundant. PvZ is in keeping with this theme and since it’s inception on the PC last year it has become the definitive tower defense game on the market. Now that PvZ has fully flourished on the PC it has shed it’s seeds on to the iPhone.

For those unfamiliar with Plants, Zombies or Tower Defense games; Plants grow from soil and survive off of rain and sunshine, Zombies are the living dead who tend to wonder around looking for brains to eat and Tower Defense games are pieces of interactive entertainment which has players defending their turf, fighting off hordes of incoming enemies. Combine all three, throw in some cute ‘n colourful graphics and that’s pretty much Plants vs. Zombies in a nut shell. On the left side  of the screen is your house, on the right is a mob of incoming Zombies, in between the two is a lawn which serves as a grid based battlefield for the impending chaos. It’s your job to line up specially equipped Plants across the lawn to prevent any Zombie from entering that house of yours. If a single Zombie makes it through your front door your entire family is subjected to hours of torture before being brutally mauled to death… or at least I assume that’s what happens, the game just gives you a blanket “The Zombies Ate Your Brains” message.

Back to the Plants, there are dozens to chose from but initially you’ll start off with a basic Pea-Shooter. Sunlight falls from the sky in the form of glowing pellets and collecting each of them gives you 25 points, points can then used to buy additional resources to protect your beloved home. As daunting as having dozens of Plants at your disposal may seem the game actually handles your arsenal extremely well. One additional Plant becomes available after completing most levels but regardless of how vast your library of Plants becomes you’ll only have the choice of 6 of them per level. A few Zombies drop  coins once killed which in turn can be used to buy yet more artillery.

The plants themselves range from the aforementioned Pea-Shooter to Sunflowers, to spike shooting Cacti and then there are plants which are the equivalent to land mines, proximity mines, defense walls and path clearers. The Sunflowers are critical to success as they periodically produce Sunlight eliminating frustration as you wait for them to drop from the sky. Night time levels introduce additional hazards as Sunlight is no longer available, forcing you to rely on Plants which generate light and as the levels progress zombies become smarter and harder to kill. While regular zombies die fairly easily eventually you’ll encounter zombies who defend themselves, become frantic when provoked, are extremely fast,  vault over your defenses or even travel in vehicles. Be warned, Plants vs. Zombies is no walk in the park. The game does get menacingly difficult and without giving away any spoilers the final level removes the biggest advantage that  the Plants have over the undead.

As the screenshots indicate PvZ contains PopCap’s usual top-notch presentation. The graphics are crisp and vibrant, the controls are easy and responsive  and the music is sublime. My only gripe with the game is the absence of modes such as the Puzzle, Survival and Zen Garden modes which were all available on the PC version. However since the App store adaptation is a fraction of the price at £1.79 ($3) I or anybody else have no right to complain. Hopefully the missing features will be added later on via DLC but as it stands Plants vs. Zombie is  one of the best value prospects available on the App Store. If you own a iPhone or iPod Touch, or live in the future with money to waste and own a iPad, download this game right now. You will not regret it.

The good folks at IGN broke the news where they revealed a bunch of details including the first ever screenshots. According to their article Capcom has been working for months to conjure up the perfect control scheme to suit Apple’s button-less devices and they’ve even included a host of customizable options to insure user satisfaction. Ryu and Ken are the only two characters to be revealed thus far but Capcom has promised that a handful of classic fighter and fighters who debuted in Street Fighter IV will be returning. Hopefully that doesn’t include Seth (aka worst.boss.ever!) but chances are he’ll be reprising his role to annoy us all once again.

As the can probably tell from the screenshots the visuals have been downgraded significantly but Capcom has stated that the iPhone version will actually use models from the console builds so expect the game to run as smooth and fluid as ever. Also bare in mind that the screenshots IGN provided are larger than the iPhone/iPod Touch displays so it’s almost certain that the game will look much better when you see it running for yourself.

For the full scoop be sure to pay IGN a visit, just tell them that we sent ya!

Heavy Rain Playstation 3 Demo: Scott Shelby Gameplay

At the beginning of the demo you’re placed in to the shoes of the middle-aged, slightly overweight Detective Shelby. As you walk through an alley way a brief tutorial teaches you the control scheme which initially seems overcomplicated for no good reason. Even the simple task of moving your character forward contains one too many steps by requiring you to hold down the R2 trigger at all times. Characters also move extremely slowly and the admission of a run button seems like a gross oversight. Control issues aside, the real meat of Heavy Rain lies in the games frantic QTE’s and the ability to choose one of multiple actions or dialogue options to solve matters in your own unique way. Thankfully you get a chance to experience both of these features early on when you visit a seedy motel to question local prostitute Lauren Winters regarding the death of her son who was killed by a murderer known only as The Origami Killer.

The voice acting and character interactions in Heavy Rain are extremely realistic and the stunning visuals make it easy for players to immerse themselves in the conversations, however I’m not a huge fan of the way your dialogue options are presented to you, with key phrases floating around your characters body rather than being placed in a stationary position as they were in Indigo Prophecy. Whilst playing through the demo I mistakenly chose the wrong option more times than I would have liked to but I’m optimistic that I’ll get the hang of it when I sit down with the full game. I played through the Shelby sequence twice and received two completely different outcomes depending on how much pressure I put on Lauren. This is the reason why you’ll want to play through Heavy Rain multiple times, the branching story gives the game a tremendous amount of replay value and you’ll constantly be wondering how things may change if you choose to do certain things differently.

Heavy Rain Playstation 3 Demo: Norman Jayden Gameplay

The next part of the demo has you controlling FBI Profiler Norman Jayden as he investigates the crime scene of The Origami Killer’s latest victim. It’s clear that this part of the game was only included in the demo to show off Heavy Rain’s unique investigation methods rather than anything else. I personally found it very hard to spend time examining clues and collecting potential evidence knowing full well that my hard work will go unrewarded in the demo. The lack of a run button is even more apparent here as you slowly walk Norman around the dimly lit field as if he’s being paid by the minute and just wants a massive paycheck at the end of the month. While the actual investigation is a pretty mundane affair (put on your Mission Impossible shade and walk around spamming the R1 button until you find something), I had fun following the suspicious footprints up a muddy hill where the game forced me to hold an awkward combination of buttons to make it to the top.

Heavy Rain is not a game that demos well, which is the reason I’ve previously declined to play the game at press events. Heavy Rain is extremely slow paced and plays off the fact that players will become deeply attached to the storyline and playable characters. In the demo you have no attachments, so jumping in to random parts of the game with very little back story and absolutely no payoff  doesn’t do the full game any justice. Even so I’d recommend that every PS3 owner takes the time out to download the demo, if only to witness the excellent graphics first hand and watch the awesome trailer which accompanies it. Despite my gripes with the demo I’m still fairly certain that the retail build will be nothing short of extraordinary, either way be sure to check out our official review which will go live shortly before the game’s release.

The Heavy Rain demo goes live on the PSN next Thursday, the full game will arrive in stores on February 23rd in North America and February 26th for Europe.

In All ‘My’ Life I’ve never heard a rapper fall off as hard as Shyne now has, he went in to jail as one of my favorite rappers and now I can’t even listen to him. I don’t want to speculate about what must have happened during his 10 year stretch, instead I’m going to delete this song from my memory, purchase Shyne’s first album from iTunes and pretend that everything is OK.

Curse you 2dopeboyz !

HipHopGamer: “Shoutout to Uubisoft [for] making one of the most incredible games ever”
I can be nit-picky and point out that Ubisoft only published the game in North America, they didn’t actually make the damn thing but I’ll let that one slide. My real beef with this statement is the fact that he actually called No More Heroes 2 one of the best games ever made. Whilst NMH2 isn’t a bad game it is FAR from being the best ever, hell it wasn’t even the best game released on the Wii last week. I understand that HHG is simply stating his opinion and opinions technically can’t be wrong but I can’t fathom how in the world he came to that conclusion.

HipHopGamer: “The game has a deep gameplay variety”
Outside of the optional side missions and gym training (which admittedly are great, atleast thematically) No More Heroes 2 offers NO gameplay variety. You go in to a room, kill everyone in said room, move on to next room, rinse and repeat until you reach a boss battle. Later on in the game things shift a little and your subjected to some awful platforming sections which will make you wish you were back in a killing room.

HipHopGamer: “This game is what other games should be like in terms of working well”
No competent reviewer would make such a blanket statement but this is HHG we’re talking about. He went on to compliment the controls, stating that they fit the Wii perfectly which is ironic since you‘ll spend most the game spamming the attack button, only using the Wii‘s unique abilities to pull of special moves. Mr. Gamer is correct in his assessment that the motion controls does help add to the immersion of the game however the lack of easily assessable buttons on the Wii Remote and nun-chuk is detrimental to the experience, making it more practical to simply hook up a Classic Contoller and play the game as you would on a PS3 or 360.

HipHopGamer: “The sound is real good, the weapons, the gunshots”
Maybe its just me but when I think of “sound” I think of music and voice work, NMH 2 is slightly lacking in both departments. The voice acting in inconsistent between characters and most enemies emit the same moans and grunts despite looking completely different in both size and ethnicity. The music in the game isn’t bad but at the same time it is completely forgettable. The sounds of the weapons shouldn’t even factor in to the review, so what if the guns sound like guns, why shouldn’t they?

The worst part of HipHopGamer’s No More Heroes 2 review is hearing him enthusiastically tout certain features which were also present in the first game. The gore, graphics and several other key elements are all relatively unchanged from its predecessor but HHG continuously claims that our minds will be blown when we experience the sequel, when in reality most of us will just preserve it as more of the same. I don’t expect HipHopGamer to play through the first game before tackling the sequel but a few minutes of research on YouTube or Wikipedia would probably have prevented him from sounding like an uninformed forum troll, the fact he doesn’t even acknowledge the first game’s existence further damages his credibility as a reviewer.

Furthermore, branding a game as “Flawless” is ridiculous in its own right. If you want to give the game a 10/10 you’re more than welcome to, Brian Altano from GameSpy also gave it a “perfect” score but the difference is he pointed out its flaws and explained why the good parts in the game overshadow them. HHG took a completely different approach and hyped up every single aspect of the game as if god handcrafted it himself. I guess in HipHopGamer’s world an unreliable camera, dodgy platforming sections, immature undertones and repetitive gameplay doesn’t matter just as long as there’s enough swear words, blood and boobs to compensate for it.

I respect HipHopGamer as a black man making his stamp in the gaming industry and I think he does a great job covering trade shows and appearing on podcasts but as a reviewer he comes across as an overexcited fan/ P.R. agent/ idiot. Hopefully he will read this article, taking it everything that I said and drop more cohesive reviews in the future.

The opinions expressed in this Editiorial are solely the opinions of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the thoughts and/or opinions of the entire Koalition staff.

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars is the latest installment in the “Capcom Vs” series. Only this time instead of squaring off against Marvel or SNK, Ryu and Co. are in conflict with a bunch of Japanese characters you’ve probably never seen or heard of before. Tatsunoko is a very popular anime company in Japan but in the west you’d be hard pressed to find a person who‘s even heard of the brand, let alone recognize anyone from it. However all the Otaku’s and old school anime fans out there will be pleased to know the Tatsunoko line-up includes characters from the likes of Gatchaman, Tekkaman Blade and Karas. The Capcom line up will likely be far more appealing to the domestic audience as it features well known names such as Ryu & Chun-Li of Street Fighter fame, Megaman, Viewtiful Joe and Dead Rising’s very own Frank West who appears as an unlockable character. Unfortunately no characters from key franchises like Resident Evil, Devil May Cry or Ace Attorney are present in the game but hey that what sequels are for, right?

Keeping in tone with the “vs.” series Capcom opted to use a 2 on 2 fighting mechanic for TvC. You can select any two characters from both the Capcom or Tatsunoko universe or if you’d like to be an asshole and completely grief your opponent you can substitute your choice of two characters for one huge robot (from either Lost Planet or Golden Warrior Gold Lightan) who completely breaks all the rules of the game and instantly makes you a moral loser no matter what the outcome of the fight may be. If you decide to play fair and chose two normal characters each of them will have their own independent life bars and you can change between them at any time during a match. Like in Marvel vs. Capcom you can also have your partner jump on screen, deliver a blow, and then jump back out which can lead to some impressive looking tag team combos.

On the surface TvC may seem like super simplistic, especially if playing with the Wii remote held sideways which allows you to pull of special moves with a single button press. However hook up a classic controller or fight stick (which is being released by MadCatz alongside the game for $80) and it won’t be long before you discoverer hidden depth in the fighting system. Within a matter of hours you’ll find yourself chaining together Super Moves, dishing out lethal combos and performing well timed dashes to get the upper hand on your opponent. Trying out new characters for the first time can admittedly feel a little daunting but finding the right combination of fighters to suit your play style is vital if you wish completely dominate.

In terms of game modes Capcom has everything you’d expect, and then some. There’s an Arcade mode, a Versus mode, Time Trail, Survival, Practice and new to the western version of the game is the inclusion of an Online Versus mode. Online play works exceeding well with very little (if any) lag, while the Wii’s Friend Code system makes it difficult to arrange match-up’s with your real life buddies, finding a match against a random internet stranger is seamless. Hopefully TvC will be able to retain a strong online community because as far as online fighters go, this is currently the best the Wii has on offer.

Graphically TvC isn’t anything groundbreaking but the over the top Japanese quirkiness is truly appreciated. The characters are well drawn with a heavy anime influence and some of the fighting arenas are pretty creative while others feels a little empty. My biggest gripe with the graphics aren’t technically the game’s fault but more to do with the fact that the game is on the Wii. After growing accustomed to the sharpness of  Street Fighter II HD Remix and the sheer gorgeousness of Street Fighter IV on the PS3/360, TvC looks particularly blurry and low-res. The Super Moves look visually impressive as the screen goes dark and the camera zooms in (similar to the Ultra Moves in SF IV), however the Super Moves gauge fills up so quick;y and Super Moves are so easy to pull off that you’ll soon become tired of seeing them.

If you’ve been waiting for a Wii-based experience on par with some of Capcom’s classic fighting games then TvC is definitely the game for you. Residing somewhere between the methodical nature of Street Fighter IV and the bat-shit craziness of Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, TvC is a fun fighting game which should satisfy anyone who knows how to pull off a drag-on punch. While the character selection leaves plenty to be desired and the graphics aren’t too impressive, none of that really matters once you’ve found the perfect pair of fighters and proceed to kick ass both on and offline. This is by far the best fighting game on the Wii (not including the Virtual Console releases) so do yourself a favor and pick up a copy today, I’d hate to see another awesome Wii title fail miserably at retail.

Despite being a side scrolling shooting this time around Matt Hazard: Blood Bath And Beyond is essentially a sequel to Eat Lead. A sequel that dismisses all the parts that didn’t quiet work but retains all the elements which had great potential, namely the premise and great sense of humour. Anyone who grew up playing shooters like Contra will feel right at home with Blood Bath And Beyond. The tried and tested “run from one end of the screen to the other while shooting everything in sight” formulae is still in affect but Vicious Cycle has modernized the game just enough to keep it from feeling a clone of a classic series. The shooting mechanics are spot on with the ability to either run and gun or aim in a specific direction while standing stationary. You also have the ability to shoot in to the backgrounds, melee enemies who come all up in your grill and throw grenades which can bounce off of walls for strategic placement or explode on impact. There are also several gun types you can pick up along the way including a Shotgun, Machine Gun and Rocket Launcher, each of which have limited ammo but are way more powerful than your default weapon. Once you’ve killed enough enemies to fill up the orange bar below your health meter you can activate Hazard Time which temporarily increases your speed and fire power.

The story centres around Matt revisiting levels previous games to take down the evil Marathon MegaCorp who was captured the 8 bit version of himself. Each level you visit have humorous concepts and just like in Eat Lead, Blood Bath And Beyond parodies several already established games, movies and sub-culture, only this time playing through them isn’t a pain. As with most games of this type there is a Co-Op option so you and a buddy (who will be playing as Matt’s trusty sidekick Dexter Dare) can play through the entire campaign together. Unfortunately online Co-Op isn’t an option which is a huge bummer, instead players will have to settle for an online leaderboard. Graphically the game looks very similar to Bionic Commando Rearmed but Blood Bath is far less punishing than Capcom’s offering. For starters as I mentioned earlier Matt has a health meter and he very rarely dies from a single hit. Also the game offers three difficulty options, the lowest of which gives you unlimited continues while the hardest setting, titled Fuck This Shit, offers none.

It’s extremely hard for me to continue praising Blood Bath And Beyond without acknowledging the massive elephant in the room who answers to the name Shadow Complex. While it’s not entirely fair for me to judge one game based on the quality of another, being that they are both of the same genre and at the same price point comparisons are inevitable. Shadow Complex was an incredible game that out-ranks Blood Bath And Beyond in every single aspect, the fact that D3 Publisher saw fit to release their game for the same price as Chair’s masterpiece is almost insulting. With that said, I understand that both developers were chasing entirely different philosophies. Shadow Complex was a solo, immersive experience in the vein of Metroid or Castlevania while Blood Bath And Beyond has more of Contra vibe with is entirely fine as it serves a completely different audience. If you only own a PS3 this whole situation is a non-issue for you but 360 owners who have already played through Shadow Complex may feel a little short change after dropping 1200 Microsoft Points on Matt‘s Sophomore adventure.

Put simply Matt Hazard Blood Bath And Beyond is a great title which fans of games like Contra would love. The hilarious writing, witty one-liners, over the top gore, great gameplay mechanics and fun co-op component makes it well worth playing. In a post Shadow Complex world the $15 asking  price is a little steep but given that titles like Rogue Warrior exists and have to nerve to ask for 4 times the amount of money it’s up to you whether you see the glass as half empty or half full. I would also like to take time out to commend both D3 Publisher and Vicious Cycle for sticking with Matt Hazard and making significant revisions rather than letting the franchise die. Hopefully this won’t be the last we see of Mr. Hazard,  a $10 sequel would be greatly appreciated.

On the bright side they are offering the Special Edition for only £39.99 which is the same price as the standard edition of the game so there really is no reason to buy the game from anywhere else. Here is a product description from HMV detailing exactly what you’ll get for your money.

Jan 2010

hmv Exclusive Limited Edition Version ‘Heavy Rain’ is a dark, immersive and emotionally-engaging experience; a noir-thriller where decisions are charged with importance and actions can have drastic and unforeseen consequences.

hmv Exclusive Version Contains:

Exclusive Embossed Slipcase Sleeve

Inpack Voucher To Download The Following Digital Content:

Heavy Rain Dynamic Theme
Heavy Rain Official Soundtrack (7 tracks, containing the main orchestral themes, recorded at Abbey Road Studios)
Episode 1 of the Heavy Rain Chronicles – The ‘Taxidermist’ scene

Breaking with traditional game conventions where necessary, the gameplay is based around story, emotional involvement and the player’s decisions and interactions, rather than high-scores, combat and competition. Intuitive gameplay and controls are also fundamental to the experience – ensuring that the game is mature but accessible, and avoiding alienating players with obscure stats and complex interfaces.

In ‘Heavy Rain’ you don’t watch the story – you play it. The dynamic narrative unfolds through the players’ actions – not cut scenes – and every action has a consequence. The choices you make and the way you interact with other characters have repercussions throughout the storyline.

With unprecedented responsibility over the fates of the game’s characters, players will find ‘Heavy Rain’ an emotional experience unlike any other. It dares to tackle subject matter and themes rarely touched upon in video games, making it a genuinely mature game for a new world of adult gamers.

Due to time constaints I probably won’t be reviewing Chinatown Wars but my gut reaction to it was extremely positive. If you own a iPhone and have yet to play the PSP or DS version I suggest you at least give it a shot.

iPod Touch Owners Beware, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Currently Requires Firmware 3.1 Or Higher.

For me the whole thing is a non-issue because the Special Edition has stolen my heart and refuses to give it back. Sony has released a new press shot showcasing the contents of the Special Edition which includes a sweet looking origami (as seen on the front cover) and a  fold-out sheet containing handy notes for those who really want to immerse themselves in the game.

As of yet no pricing for the Special Edition has been announced but as soon as Sony or a retailer spills the beans we’ll be here to spread the word.

Anyway enough talk from me, peep the track below and express you opinions in the comment box below.

“Ace” Attorney may seem like a misleading title because from the start of the game you’re placed in the shoes of a rookie defence lawyer, Phoenix Wright. Unfortunate circumstances leads to you running your own struggling law firm where you take on cases and represent clients who have been falsely accused of murder. It’s up to you to not only prove their innocence but to successfully convict the true culprit in the process. You do so by gaining information form other characters (such as the locals, people close to the victim, witnesses & law enforcement), looking for evidence in various locations and ultimately throwing down in the courtroom against rival prosecutors and fraudulent testifiers.

Cases tend to start off with you first accepting to represent a client and then visiting the crime scene or other relevant locations. There are usually more than one location available at a time so although the story is very linear you at least have the option to do things in your own order. There is usually a character in each location who you can talk to and gain information from, after which you can scan the background like a Point-and-Click adventure to look for any clues that may be present. Some characters may be hesitant or down right unwilling to talk to you, in these instances you’ll have to find a way to help them before they agree to help you. Once you have all the evidence and information you need it’s off to the courtroom where you’ll experience the true essence and the most entertaining part of the game.

While in court you’ll discover whether or not you’re truly cut out to be a lawyer. Your main objective is to look for contradictions in the defendants testimonies and expose their filthy lies! After you listen to their testimony you can press them on each part of it to make them elaborate further or present evidence that you’ve collected to prove that they’re lying. In the DS game you have the option to yell “Objective” in the mic to present evidence but as the Wii lacks a speaker this option is not available. Instead you can shove the Wii remote forward fiercely which is a neat addition but pointless considering it’s easier to simply push a button.  Once you’ve pointed out a contradiction the defendant will revise their testimony but continue to expose them and the truth will eventually come out leading you further in your investigation.

Once your day in court is over it’s back to investigating where the process repeats. Although you’re practically doing the same things throughout the entire game the quirky characters that you meet and the excellent writing keep things from feeling repetitive. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is a genuinely funny game and although it deals with some grim subject matters you’ll often smile and giggle like a school girl when reading some of the dialog. PW:AA is also blessed with having truly exceptional music that is worth listening to even independent of the game. While each of the four cases in the game are completely unrelated there is an overarching thread throughout which involves solving the murder of your mentor Mia Fay. Her little sister Maya will be by your side for to majority of the game to provide you with some much needed assistance.

As excellent as the core game may be I have to condemn Capcom for being extremely lazy regarding this Wii Ware port. Rather than update the game’s visuals for the big screen Capcom simply retained the resolution of a single DS screen and added a scrolling border to fill out the edges. Although the game looked pretty decent on the DS as you could imagine seeing it blown up on a TV doesn’t do it any favors. Likewise hearing Mr. Wight yell out “Objection” has always been a staple of the franchise however on the Wii his iconic yelling has been confined to the Wii Remote Speaker where it sounds muffled and uninspired.

Making it to the end of the final case will take players at least a dozen hours which is great value for a $10 Wii Ware title. An additional case is available to download for an extra 2 bucks but unfortunately I could not gain access to it in my build of the game. Despite Capcom’s sheer laziness on porting this game to the Wii there’s no getting over the fact that this is still a fantastic game with an excellent story and a tonne of charm. If you own a DS or iPhone you may want to skip this version and buy it on one of those platforms as this type is game is far more suited to a handheld device. However if you only own a Wii and have yet to play an Ace Attorney game this is definitely a MUST buy.

With that in mind Namco has announced that Tekken 6 will be getting patched next week to add Online Co-Op to the Scenario campaign, so now you and a friend can suffer in it’s mediocrity together. While Tekken 6’s online modes were working fine at the time of my review there has been numerous reports of it being completely broken ever since. Naturally adding a broken component to the worst part of your game is just about the smartest thing a developer could ever do so great job Namco, I look forward to trading your game in as soon a Super Street Fighter IV is released.

Much like the PS3 version, Netflix on the Wii will be free to all Netflix subscribers (hear that Microsoft?) but unfortunately you’ll have to insert a specially marked disc in your console to access it. I’ll be interested to find out just how well Netflix will work on a non-HD console that has practically no internal storage space and lets face it, the Wii isn’t exactly know for having the best online infrastructure. Still, there’s no denying that this is great news for all those families out there who only own a Wii and are not interested in upgrading to a PS3 or 360.

I’ve said it before and I’ll continue to say it until it happens, please Microsoft, Sony or Nintendo partner up with LOVEFiLM to provide a similar service in the UK. While they may be rotten liars, LOVEFiLM does offer an excellent online rental service and accessing their massive library directly from any of my consoles would be a dream come true.

If like me, you thought the release of a demo and the official cover art meant that everything was definitely a “go” this time around you’ll undoubtedly be disappointed by this news. Let’s just hope in the end it will slip a few weeks rather than a few months.

More on this story as it develops.

Console: PS2, Xbox, PC
Developer: Quantic Dream
Release Date: 2005
Currently Available On: Xbox 360 (via Games On Demand)

Release Reception:

Although it never exactly break the bank at retail Indigo Prophecy was a critical success and even today it retains a loyal fan base. The game alternately puts you in control of possessed murderer Lucas Kane, sexy detective Carla Velenti and her partner Tyler Miles. Lucas is essentially the games main character as most of the key storyline moments center around him. While dining in a restaurant a mysterious dark force takes over his body and Lucas finds himself unwillingly committing a murder in the restaurant’s bathroom. This lead Lucas on a life changing journey as he attempts to discover “who” or “what” is really behind the killing. On the opposite end its up to Carla and Tyler to find out Lucas’ identity to ultimately track down and arrest him. The big draw with Indigo Prophecy is the fact that theoretically every decision you make somehow factors in to the story. For example, as Lucas if you forget to pick up your knife after the murder Carla or Tyler might find it and have access to your fingerprints. Likewise if either detective fails to discover a piece of evidence or coax the appropriate information out of a witness, tracking down Lucas may prove harder than it should be. Although it may seem a bit weird helping the police to track down your own character the brilliantly conducted tutorial explains that you as a player should see your role as a director in a movie rather than an active participant. Throughout the game you’ll also have to keep track of and maintain your characters mental health which is indicated by a bar at the bottom corner of the screen. Although this concept sounds good on paper it can also work against the game and contradict everything we know about the characters. Its understandable why Lucas would commit suicide if he became too depressed but watching Tyler quit his job because he became too tired one night or Carla killing herself because she became too spooked out by a scary basement is entirely unbelievable.

How Well Does It Hold Up?

Graphics:
For a game that strives to draw players in with its movie-like themes and presentation, Indigo Prophecy’s blocky visuals and stiff animation can seem a bit jarring at times. Even when upscaled via the PS3 its hard to feel like you’re directing a movie when your “movie” looks so much like a damn game! On the bright side, the characters are fantastically designed (with the exception of the stereotypical “black cop”) and for the most part they talk and react in a realistic manner. Although the graphics pale in comparison to the likes of God Of War or Black, Indigo Prophecy is still one of the best looking games to be released on the PS2 and unless you’re a complete graphics whore you shouldn’t have too much of a hard time experiencing it today.

Gameplay:
In terms of pure gameplay Indigo Prophecy can sometimes be less than ideal. Most gameplay moment consist of either walking around confined spaces to collect clues and interact with your surroundings or pushing the analog sticks in the specified directions to control your character during lengthy quick time events. During the exploration sections you’ll often be a victim to the games cumbersome controls and awkward camera. There was a moment during the game where I literally couldn’t walk from one end of a laundry mat to the other because the controls wouldn’t let me. Interacting with other characters can be extremely fun though, especially when you’re put under pressure and have a limited time to lie your way out of a conversation. The fact that there’s so many ways to deal with each situation means that you’ll truly feel like you’re using your own initiative rather than following a pre-determined script. The quick time events are usually implemented well especially when they’re used to advance the story but at times they can feels like convoluted efforts to lengthen the game. The game also throws in other elements and sub-plots (which I won’t spoil) as you progress to keep thing from feeling too formulaic.

Sound:
The music in Indigo Prophecy is very minimal but what is here works well. The voice work is usually spot-on but that also means that any character which doesn’t sound right tends to stick out like a sore thumb. The funky jazz music which often plays when you’re in control of the African American Tyler is borderline racist but other than that the audio guys at Quantic Dream did a great job.

Overall:
Sure some aspects of Indigo Prophecy seems a little dated and the story kind of falls apart at the end, but overall it is still a fanatastic and unique game that is well-worth experiencing today. It’s clear that David Cage and his team at Quantic Dream had great aspirations for Indigo Prophecy but were restrained by the limited power at their despoil with the original Xbox and PS2. Thankfully they have another shot at cracking this nut with the upcoming Heavy Rain and there’s no doubt in my mind that Cage and Co. will right any wrongs they encountered here. If you’re at all interested in Heavy Rain I would definitely recommend that you pick up a copy of Indigo Prophecy and sink at least a few hours in to it first, especially since you can find a copy online for dirt cheap these days.