The Witcher 2 - launch controversy

As you all know The Witcher 2 is not due for UK release until tomorrow, however a lucky few (myself included) happened upon some rogue stock on sale in Tesco over the weekend. It seems that Tesco inadvertently began to sell the titles on Friday, a whopping 4 days before the official release. Developers quickly got in touch and demanded that the supermarket pull the remaining stock from the shelves until the actual release on 17th April. 

Whether this mistake was genuine error, or a more sinister ploy to make a few bucks at the expense of more established game retailers, we will likely never know. I for the most part was completely unaware, shambling into my local Tesco on a quest for Cat food, Butter and AA Batteries, I came across The Witcher 2 in the entertainment aisle. 

Without a second thought I dropped one of the many copies on sale into my basket and set off towards the quest marker at the checkout. I encountered no enemies on route and no traps, not so much as a puddle of spilled Ribena. Plain sailing.

After tweeting about my recent purchase, I received a few messages of confusion from friends and followers. For the most part these read something like "Howd u gt that?? N0t out till tues...!". After doing a bit of googling, I stumbled upon this article on EuroGamer, which explained the mix up.

Some of the environments are stunning

In all my gaming history, I've not really experienced this before but the sensation was probably akin to time-travel...or being sent a review copy of a game. Without hesitation, I decided to get stuck in, and here's what I found:

The Game

Following a short, obligatory tutorial designed to introduce you to the combat mechanics and some of the basic functions, you are thrown into a large battle between two ruling powers in the fictional land of Temeria. Your character (Geralt, the Witcher) is a super-human who specialises in slaying monsters. However, on this occasion, you have been summoned by the King to assist in a clash against his enemies. 

So far this looks like an excellent example of a modern RPG. The story is well crafted with characters that have a depth and complexity that makes them really come to life. The graphics are excellent considering that this is a game that has been ported from a PC and adapted to fit the aging hardware of the Xbox. 

In general, the game feels a lot more focused than some open-world RPGs like Skyrim for example (Not that freedom in Skyrim is a bad thing!) but you don't get the feeling of being herded in one direction. I spent the best part of the day exploring, getting pretty stuck into the initial quest, only to find that I was still in the prologue and hadn't even started the first chapter! So, needless to say, there is plenty to do in the world of Temeria.

Mean looking chappy, eh?

Above all though, The Witcher feels very much like an adult's RPG. The mature themes are in your face, but in no way overdone. The language is rife, the violence bloody and the nudity full-frontal, but where others try and fail, the Witcher manages to pull this all off without it feeling trite. 

The Xbox version also comes with some additional DLC and some lovely booklets, manuals and a map. Manuals. Remember those?! If you are a fan of RPGs, Game of Thrones or fantasy in general, I think you'll dig it.

Skyrim DLC?

A few hours ago Bethesda posted this image via their official Twitter account. The caption simply read "Tomorrow".

But what does it all mean? As you can imagine, Twitter and the rest of the gaming community have gone berserk since this release and all kinds of speculation is underway. Some say it could be news on upcoming titles like Dishonored and Fallout 4. Others believe it gives a clue on Skyrim's first installment of DLC.

I personally believe the latter, but like everyone else, I presume we will have to wait until tomorrow to find out.

Update: Despite the distinctly Nord-esque looking fellow in the teaser image, this was actually a shot of upcoming Bethesda title, Dishonored. View the debut trailer here:

Batman: Arkham City - review

Batman: Arkham City is the sequel to Batman: Arkham Asylum, Rocksteady Games' 2009 Game Of The Year.

Arkham City picks up a few months after the events of Arkham Asylum. Quincy Sharp, the former warden of Arkham (now the Mayor of Gotham City) has set up a new inner-city prison, where inmates roam the streets freely. This walled off section of Gotham has been dubbed 'Arkham City'.

In the games opening, we see millionaire Bruce Wayne campaigning against the Arkham City initiative, before he is captured and imprisoned within its walls. Once he has been re-united with his Batsuit and trusty gadgets, Bruce sets off to find out what is going on.

Despite a more open feel, fans of Arkham Asyluum will feel very much at home in Arkham City. Developer Rocksteady have ensured that the game stays true to the series winning formula. 

Hand to hand combat plays a big part with the Dark Knight taking on as many as 20 enemies at a time. Much like its predecessor, the system for brawling is fairly straightforward, with one button to attack, one to counter and one to dodge. However, the variety of combos and counters make combat a joy to behold. So much so, that I often found myself going out of my way, just to pummel groups of enemies.

A crowd this size is no match for the Bat

Arkham City is a sprawling metropolis teeming with enemies, hidden areas and many secrets to uncover. Navigating the city by gliding and using the Batclaw is a lot of fun. You can swoop down on a group of unsuspecting enemies and then disappear back into the night before re-enforcements have time to react.

What's great about this game is that it truly makes you think and feel like Batman, the worlds greatest detective, with all the gadgets and techniques at your disposal. Whether it's tracing a bullets trajectory to sniff out a rogue sniper or using your wits to outsmart the Riddler in his deadly challenges.

Arkham City really stays true to the Batman universe with fantastic lore and back stories, as well as appearances from many of our favourite characters and villains, including some of the more obscure characters like The Mad Hatter, Scarface and Solomon Grundy.

Joker is uglier this time round but no less insane

My only complaint about the game is that, like many, my copy of the game arrived with the Catwoman DLC codes missing. However, after contacting Warner Bros games, they offered apologies and swiftly sent a new code via email.

That small gripe aside, Batman: Arkham City is a fantastic game with excellent characters and tremendous voice talent. Its graphics are very good, with great character models and animations. Most of all though, it offers a sinister and gritty realisation of Gotham City, in which you are the hero. A must have for comic geeks and action fans alike.

My Score: 9/10

Competition Time!

I have a code for the Catwoman DLC (Xbox Only) to give away. For a chance at winning leave a comment on this blog post saying who your favourite villain from Batman comics, films, games etc and why. Be sure to include your email so that I can mail you the code if you win.

Catwomans DLC adds a new perspective and new skills and gadgets

 I will announce a winner on Monday 7th November 2011.

The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim - Looking Forward

Skyrim is the next installment in the Elder Scrolls saga and so far it is looking epic. The game is set 200 years after the events of Oblivion and the story will take place in the region of Skyrim located to the North of Cyrodiil and to the West of Morrowind. Skyrim will be released in both the U.S and Europe on the 11th November 2011 (11.11.11).

The development team boast countless improvements on the previous title, Oblivion, but here are just a handful of things that I am looking forward to the most:

New system for leveling up

Unlike the previous Elder Scrolls titles (and indeed most RPGs), Skyrim has taken a more open ended approach to character leveling up and skill customisation. Players will no longer be bound to a class and it's related skills based on a decision that they made right at the start of the game. With the new system your character can improve any skill simply by using it. This means that you can now adapt the skills of your character as the story progresses e.g you may start off with skills with a two-handed weapon but after some experimenting discover that spell casting is more your style. Experimentation looks like it will be key in Skyrim and it means that your character will be constantly evolving throughout your journey, regardless of the path you take.

New combat systems

You can now dual-wield a variety of weapons and spells. You can for example hold a sword in your left hand and a fireball spell in your right. You can alternatively dual wield two different spells, or even dual wield the same spell in both hands. This will give you the ability to cast an enhanced, more powerful version of the spell. The new combat system will encourage players to try different combinations and tactics for attack, furthering the ethos of creating a unique character that suits your style. 

Prettier menus

Ok so, menus aren't generally a deal-breaker for a good RPG. However, from what I've seen of Skyrim, the menu and stats screens look stunning. For example the skills/perks system is presented as an enormous night sky filled with the twinkling stars of the various constellations that represent the various gods. Your character will now look to the heavens for skills and powers instead of the generic lists that we have come to accept. Skyrim has even taken a fresh approach to the Map Screen - now, at the push of a button, the player camera will zoom up into the sky giving a birds eye view of the entire region. As vertigo inducing as it sounds, it looks fantastic!

New ways of talking

Unlike Oblivion, conversations with Skyrim's inhabitants will no longer take place from a fixed perspective. You will now be able to converse freely with NPCs whilst on the move or whilst rummaging through their homes. This means that once a conversation is initiated, the game will no longer zoom in the other characters face, forcing you to hang on every word while you are glued to the spot. Not much is known so far about the conversation mechanics such as persuasion, but early speculation is that it may resemble something like that in the Fallout series.

Dynamic questing

The new Dynamic Quest system means that factors in your tasks will be randomly generated. Whilst the specifics of a quest may be pre-written, for instance 'steal an artifact from a sorcerer', the game will pick and choose characters and locations dependant on what is nearby and relevant at the time. In short, you and five friends could complete the same quest and yet each one of you would have a completely different experience. This factor sounds great for re-playability, although I wonder what it means for guide and walkthrough creators. 

Diverse dungeons

Dungeons in Skyrim have been built by a team of level designers who specialise in internal environments. The development team have said that this will help to create a better flow and diversity to these aspects of the game. I find this reassuring considering there are over 120 dungeons in the game.

New and improved AI

Much like Oblivion, the NPCs in Skyrim will all have set routines and occupations that they must attend to. However, the game will build on this by including unscripted reactions to the players actions. NPCs may now attempt to steal items that a player has put down or even challenge your character to a dual if they have taken a particular dislike to you. It's these small details that really breathe life into the villages and towns that you visit.

Dragons

Ah yes, the Dragons. These fiery foes will play a large part in the story of Skyrim. Without saying too much, Dragons have awoken and roam freely around Skyrim and your character is the last of the 'Dovahkiin' (the Dragonborn) meaning you have the soul of a dragon and can speak the dragon tongue. These huge beasts look incredible and I can imagine the first few encounters with them will be terrifying. That said, I can't wait to get stuck in!

So those are just a few of the many new things that I am looking forward to in Skyrim. I was a huge fan of Oblivion and I can tell that Skyrim will be spending a lot of time in my disc tray from day one.

The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim is due out on 11.11.11 and it's available for pre-order now.

Watch the trailer here:

Just Cause 2 - revisited

Probably time to open that parachute soon

It's been nearly two years since Just Cause 2 was released, yet it is one of those games that I find myself revisiting every couple of months.

Some games that we play do not have a 'wow-factor' that makes their appeal immediately apparent to the player. However, on many occasions, a seemingly dull game can pleasantly surprise you with a bit of perseverance. I tend to call these games 'growers' and for me, Just Cause 2 falls firmly in that category.

Just Cause 2 throws you into the role of mercenary 'Scorpio' and takes place in the fictional, South East Asian island of Panau. You are on a mission to find the whereabouts of your good friend and previous employer who has recently gone missing. You quickly befriend some of the local factions who are looking to overthrow the country's despotic leader 'Baby Panau' and take control. That's where you come in.

It's probably fair to say you've seen this story somewhere before, whether in a budget B movie, some low-grade jar-head literature or possibly even in another video game series. However, the real appeal of Just Cause 2 does not come from it's plotlines, nor its characters but from the massive sense of freedom it creates for the player. 

Following the first mission (which takes place in a small island fortress) the whole 1,000sq km island becomes your open-world playground. You can drive and pilot any vehicle and go anywhere you choose without restriction. Armed with a grappling hook, which can attach itself to any surface, means that Scorpio can literally scale any building or mountain that he encounters. Scorpio also has a parachute, which he can use from any height. Experimenting with combining both these tools really becomes a joy when you start to attach yourself to cars and boats whilst gliding behind them with a parachute.

In addition to this, you can use the grappling hook to link any two surfaces or objects. This is a little more complex but can have great results. For instance, you can attach a car to a helicopter, hop in the chopper and carry the car (and occupants) off to another location. You can also hook enemies with this tool meaning that you can pull them out of high sniping positions or simply hang them upside down from a tree in a macabre display of rag-doll physics.

Weapons come in variety, as well as abundance, and much like the previous game, Scorpio has the ability to call in weapon and vehicle drops from his employers.

The army don't take kindly to having their helicopters stolen

Some of the stunts that Scorpio can pull are far from realistic, such as surfing on top of a 747 as it glides through the sky and hijacking fast moving vehicles. However, the graphics are far from it, with impressive lighting effects, water rendering and highly detailed textures which make make every setting in 'Just Cause' positively stunning. Panau's varied landscape with its mix of dense jungles, ancient temples, deserts, snow topped mountains - adds to the games richness and beauty. 

Even after the main missions have been completed, there are countless side missions that can be undertaken as well as races, collectibles, easter-eggs and all the other features that we have grown accustomed to with open-world games.

This is a fantastic example of how a sandbox game should be and after 2 years I am still finding new things that I love about Panau.

If you have not played Just Cause 2, I strongly recommend it and you will likely be able to pick it up at fairly low price.

My Top Tip: Traveling can be made easier by mastering a technique called the 'Sling-Shot'. This involves using the grappling hook to keep you airborne whilst gliding with the parachute. It's done by grappling the ground in the distance whilst descending. This will cause you to be pulled forward at which point you need to grapple again. Practice makes perfect!

My Score:  8/10

Game Reviewed On: XBOX 360

Plants Vs Zombies - review

The PvZ cover-art

This review is a little late but I've just bought Plants Vs Zombies again, but on a different platform, the iPad. Yes, it really is that good.

Plants Vs Zombies is essentially a tower-defense game (or flower-defense as it's become affectionately known), which sees your home under siege by an army of the living dead. Your last line of defense is your front-garden and the huge variety of killer vegetation that inhabits it.

There are over 50 types of plant, each with its own unique ability. Peashooters fire projectiles, Cherry Bombs explode taking down multiple foes while 'Wall-Nuts' (Walnuts) create a barricade to keep those pesky Zombies at bay. Plant types are limited to begin with but players unlock a new plant at the end of each level.

Like most Real-Time Strategy games, farming resources is key to building a successful empire. In this case the currency for purchasing plants is sunlight, which can be collected whenever it falls from the sky or by planting Sunflowers. The more sun you have banked, the more defenses you can grow.

However, like all good tower-defense games, PvZ has excellent balance with multiple Zombie types with various strengths and weaknesses. There are Zombies wearing buckets and traffic cones on their heads for protection, Zombies that can pole-vault over your Wall-Nuts and even a Zombie resembling Michael Jackson that can summon back-up dancers. This is a tongue in cheek nod to the Thriller video and a prime example of the style of humor in PvZ.

Added challenge comes from later levels which take place at night. This introduces new varieties of flora (mainly mushroom variants) but also drastically inhibits the amount of sunlight available. This is just one example of the ever changing environment which keeps each of the 50 levels feeling fresh and a constant challenge.

Brains are off the menu

The iPad's added touch functionality adds to the fun and simplifies the experience but aside from that there are no major differences between this and the Xbox version.

Blending what is essentially simulated farming like Harvest Moon or Farmville with a Zombie apocalypse is genius and developers Popcap have done a wonderful job in creating a fun, challenging, well balanced game. PvZ is beautifully rendered and features a unique, jaunty soundtrack that compliments the mood perfectly. A must have for Zombie-lovers and Botanists alike. You'll really 'dig' it.

My top tip: Sunflowers are key to victory. Build up a sizable patch that is well protected from attack and watch the sunshine-credits roll in.

My Score: 9/10

Game Reviewed On: iPad

Halo: Anniversary - Looking Forward

117 is back

I can scarcely believe it's been ten long years since Halo: Combat Evolved first graced our living rooms. I remember first playing Halo with a good friend of mine (I didn't own an Xbox at the time!) huddled around a 19" portable television, elbow to elbow and loving every minute.  

Halo really set the standard for console based first person shooters and it's co-op experience was second to none. My friend and I spent countless hours tearing around the first level in a Warthog, mowing down the enemy and plunging off of the occasional cliff. Ah, fond memories! 

Being an Xbox exclusive, It could be argued that Bungie's masterpiece was single-handedly responsible for the success of the Microsoft's first console. After all every platform needs that essential game to put it on the map. Halo was undoubtedly that game. 

A decade on and the Halo franchise now rests in the hands of 343 industries who will soon honor us with a re-release of Halo: Combat Evolved simply titled Halo: Anniversary.  

Anniversary will undergo a major face-lift with fresh, 2011 visuals created by Saber interactive. However, the game mechanics that we all know and love will remain untouched as changes to the game are 99% cosmetic. 

The visuals in Anniversary look stunning

Original fans of Halo: CE will be overjoyed to learn that the original graphics can be restored at the touch of a button (the Back button I believe) meaning that the entire game can be played as it would have been back in 2001. The switch can be made at anytime including during cut scenes. 

Do Spartans dream of sheep?

In addition to this, Martin O'Donnell's original musical score has been completely re-recorded with the Skywalker Symphony Orchestra. Some of the synth-heavy parts being replaced and the entire soundtrack now being audible in the glory of Dolby 5.1 surround sound. 

Co-op will also make a comeback, with two friends now being able to team up over Live as well as via the traditional split-screen and system link options.  

As if all that wasn't enough, players will have instant access to the multiplayer mode that was originally designed for four players around a single console (or eight with a system link). Multiplayer for Halo: Anniversary is being revamped to include seven original maps that have been re-imagined and the highly contentious Xbox Live play option. Multiplayer mode will be included on the same disc as the single player campaign, unlike Halo: ODST, and feature the mechanics that we have grown accustomed to in Halo: Reach. 

The Halo ring in all its HD glory

I am ecstatic about Halo: Anniversary and can't wait to get my hands on it. This is just what fans need to keep them busy until the release of Halo 4 in 2012. What with this, Skyrim and Assassins Creed: Revelations all due out at the same time, November is shaping up to be a very anti-social month for me. That's what Xbox Live's for though, right?

Halo: A brief history 

Halo: Combat Evolved - Fantastic graphics, gameplay and a lovingly crafted universe that inspired a cult following. A great boost for Xbox.

Halo 2 - The continuation of the great elements that Combat Evolved built up, as well as that a revolutionary multiplayer experience on Xbox Live.  

 

Halo 3 - New graphics engine, new enemies, new generation. Halo's first outing on the Xbox 360 was a treat for all the senses.  

  

Halo Wars - An unusual departure from the usual FPS to real-time strategy. The first game to come from a different developer, Ensemble.

Halo 3: ODST - A large side story that took the focus off of the familiar protagonist, Master Chief, and put the player in the roll of an ODST Trooper.  

Halo Reach - The final Halo game from Bungie studios and a great way for the developer to say thank you and goodbye to the series. Simply brilliant.