January 10th, 2010 by Nick Maunders
Happy 2010 everyone! First of all apologies for not writing anything for a month but I’ve had a broken wrist so it has been difficult to do anything. To start off the new year I’m going to be reviewing Dragon Age: Origins, if any of you are fans of the RPG category you really should consider checking this game out.
The game was released in November last year on the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. If any of you have played “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion” it is quite easy to relate this game with it. Both games are in the role-playing category and they both are brilliant. Dragon Age: Origins main plot is you becoming a Grey Warden, who are the “protectors” of Ferelden. You then engage the main enemies of the game “The Darkspawn” which is the name suggests are hideous creatures.
The game begins with you choosing your character. You can pick which class you want, which race you want, which gender you want, which origin story you want and of course you can customise nearly every detail of you from your hair to your eyes. Starting with classes you have three choices, Warrior; Mage or Rogue. The three races which you can pick are: Human; Elf or a Dwarf. Each of these choices has an effect on the origin story you can pick. There are 6 origin stories in total. If you are an elf you have a choice of two stories. if you are a dwarf you have a choice of 2 stories whereas if you are a human you get a choice of 1 story. However there is one story solely for a mage regardless which race you picked.
Basically the origin story acts as a mini tutorial for you, so you can learn the ropes of the game. After this all stories are linked to the main game where you start battling the Darkspawn. Much like “Oblivion” this game focuses a lot on attributes and skills. You choose how strong you are, how easy it is for you to block incoming hits etc. There are a few skills which you can learn such as Survival, Combat Training, Herbalism, Trap-Making and Poison- Making.
However unlike “Oblivion” the game also focuses on talents which your character can learn. These depend on the class you picked. So for example if you picked the Warrior class you can learn a talent called “Taunt” which increases the hostility of enemies around you. If you’re a Mage you can learn a talent called “Lightning” which speaks for itself, whereas if you’re a Rogue you could learn a talent “Stealth” etc. Each class also has 4 specialisations. These specialisations can be very beneficial if you decide to use them. You can learn 1 specialisation when you are level 8 and another when you are level 12. For a Warrior the specialisations are: Champion, Templar, Berserker and Reaver. If you are a Mage there is a choice of Arcane Warrior, Blood Mage, Shapeshifter and Spirit Healer. If you picked a Dwarf as your class you have a choice of Assassin, Bard, Duelist and Ranger.
Another important feature in this game is the buddy system. As you progress in the game you meet new people who join you in your quest. Each companion has their own personal quest if you get to know them an you can equip party members with weapons and armour which suits them. You can also select tactics for each party member. Do you hate it when archers and killing you? Well simply set a tactic for one of your companions to automatically target an enemy who is in attacking you with a ranged attack.
When comparing this game to Oblivion it would seem that whereas both games are very good Dragon Age: Origins is a bit more complicated. For example Oblivion has far less talents and attributes settings and when you attack in Oblivion you can only do one or two type of attacks. In Dragon Age: Origins however there are loads of talents and skills and you can do loads of attacks from flurries, to death blows etc.
The game can be complicated but by the time you’ve finished the origin story you should have a greater understanding of the game/. I would give this game 95%.
Posted in PC Reviews, PS3 Reviews, Xbox 360 Reviews | 1 Comment »
November 29th, 2009 by Nick Maunders
Supposedly the most anticipated game of the year and to be honest it’s easy to see why. The Call of Duty Series has been going on now for years and every year the games get better and better. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is no exception. In my opinion its 10 times better than World at War in hundreds of different ways. A sequel to the 2007 game of the year Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Modern Warfare 2 takes place in numerous locations across the Earth; from the sandy plains of Afghanistan to the sandy beaches of Brazil (although you don’t see or go to the beaches).
If I start by talking about the campaign mode I have to say that it has to be the best so far. There are 18 missions (well actually 19 but I’ll leave you to find out the last one!) split into 3 different acts. Each mission is fun, challenging and is a great option to play first if you are new to the Call of Duty franchise. The first mission’s even a tutorial which helps you learn the basics; it also features a time-trail exercise which at the end suggests to you which difficulty section you should have on the game regarding how well you did in the trail. I won’t give too much away but the ending is absolutely brilliant, in-fact saying that all of the missions are brilliant. In previous games there is usually one mission that stands out for me as being annoying, but in this game there are none. Although I must mention that mission 4 is very controversial and you may have heard a lot of bad press about it. As far as I’m concerned Infinity Ward has done everything they can to warn you off this. There is even an option to skip the mission if you want to.
New to the series is “Spec-Ops” Missions. There are a total of 23 co-op missions (although you can play them alone) which are quite a nice add-on to the game. The missions have three levels of difficulty and you really need good teamwork to complete the missions on veteran difficulty. The death cards in the previous game which seemed to serve no real purpose except in online co-op mode have been replaced by enemy Intel. Although this again serves no purpose (except for receiving a trophy/achievement) it actually makes sense that there is enemy Intel to collect.
Now we move onto the best part of the game … multiplayer mode. Currently there are 16 maps to choose from (although there will probably be more soon) which are all unique to each other. Some maps are in Brazil, some in Afghan and some somewhere else. Each map has its advantages and disadvantages. Some maybe better than others but I feel that each map is great in its own right.
The weapon list has been completely redone as well with over 40 different guns. One major advantage this game has is that the shotgun category has been moved down to secondary weapons. So now you can have an SMG, LMG or assault rifle as well as a shotgun. The attachments for the weapons are plentiful as well. In World at War there were only a couple of attachments but in this game you get the whole package. Heartbeat sensors, akimbo (the ability to wield dual weapons), thermal scopes, rapid fire and silencers just to name a few. This makes the games much more interesting. And of course where would any good shooting game be without perks. There are new perks introduced in this game such as: Bling (which lets you have two weapon attachments), Hardline (where killstreaks require 1 less kill), Last Stand and One Man Army just to name a couple. Also new to the game are deathstreaks. If you happen to be doing really bad in a game then once you have been say killed 4 times in a row you get a little bonus to help you get a comeback. There are only 4 deathstreaks in the game and one of them is the ever favourite Martyrdom.
One of the biggest expanses in the game has to be the killstreaks. In World at War there were simply 3 killstreaks. Radar, Artillery and Dogs. In this game there are 15 different kinds! Starting from a simple UAV when you get 3 kills, to user controlled predator missiles when you get 5 kills to an end of game tactical nuke if you manage to achieve 25 kills. Nothing is more satisfying than achieving a triple kill after sending a missile from an AC130 into a group of enemies.
One more thing that should be mentioned is the wide range of equipment available. Instead of just frag and sticky grenades you now also get throwing knives! These knives are absolutely awesome and can save your life if you master them. Just imagine your reloading when an enemy appears a distance off in front of you. A grenade wouldn’t kill him because by the time you’ve thrown it he would have killed you. So simply throw a knife at him and it saves your life!
Well I think that goes over the basics of the game and why you should buy it! I would rate it 97%!
Posted in PC Reviews, PS3 Reviews, Xbox 360 Reviews | 1 Comment »
October 29th, 2009 by Nick Maunders
I have always been a fan of the Smackdown Vs Raw series as I enjoy watching wrestling. However most of the games in the series have been a little disappointing as although most things about the game are brilliant a major flaw is the time span of the game. Playing matches over and over again without reward gets a bit boring in the end and so I would often leave the game for a couple of months before going back to it. What we really needed in this new game is something that can have an infinite time span, something that could last forever and keep us playing the game. Well … they got it spot on.
Before I go on to that part of the game however lets focus on the other more familiar points of the game. Starting with controls it’s nice to see the game has gone back to using the four strong grapple routine which hasn’t been seen since Smackdown Vs Raw 2007. No more annoying ultimate control moves that don’t work … although there are a couple still there – but it’s nice to have a few included. I find that the controls are altogether more fluent and there are some new ones as well such as a strong strike for superstars with that ability.
Another thing that has dramatically changed for the first time in the series (including the Smackdown! series before that) is the HUD. Instead of the familiar display in the top left hand corner (if your player 1) you instead get a ring around your superstars feet. There is I feel advantages and disadvantages to this. The disadvantage is you lose the image of your opponent’s body saying if his head if red, orange, yellow etc however I suppose this makes the game more life like. The great advantage comes with the Royal Rumble. Before you could only have six superstars at a time because only six could fit on the screen. However now because the HUD is on the floor you can have more than six making the Royal Rumble seem more real. You can also unfortunately no longer store finishers (except in the Royal Rumble) but this is only a minor fault.
Onto the game modes the popular ‘Road to Wrestlemania’ mode is back with 6 new superstars. You can play as Shawn Michaels, Edge, Randy Orton, Mickie James or even your created superstar! There’s also a special co-op one (which can be done singularly) with John Cena and Triple H. Each of the 6 options offer the final 13 weeks before Wrestlemania. In the co-op mode you even get to play more than 13 matches, sometimes having to do a match at Raw and one at Smackdown in the same week.
Another thing that has grown since Smackdown Vs Raw 2009 is the abilities. There are now more than ever and nearly all of them have been revamped. There are a total of 21 abilities including some familiar ones such as: Kip-Up, Referee Shield and Possum Pin. There are also some new ones such as: Ring Escape, Fired Up and Exploder TB Attack.
The most impressive thing in the game which will give it a lifetime of playing has to be the WWE Story Designer. Well there is a slight lie. The main part of the infinite lifetime is being able to upload it online and then download other peoples and play them. Unfortunately this is only available on the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. Anyway as you can imagine you design stories. Think of it as creating a show for Raw, Smackdown or ECW. There are set moments in which you can change the superstars involved, add music, change the camera and even input the text. Unfortunately the superstars don’t read aloud the text but that would be impossible anyway. Maybe in a couple of year’s time it will be possible, but not yet. Regardless of that the story designer is still brilliant. You could re-enact the ‘Monday Night Wars’ between WCW and WWF, you could re-enact DX ruining Mr.McMahon’s life. You could even create something completely different such as … DX taking over WWE – well that wouldn’t be new but it would be funny.
With the set moments you can also add matches. When you play the story you play the matches as well. As designer of the story though you get to choose who the player will play as. Who will win, how one superstar will lose etc. Basically you control everything. There is a slight downside to the owners of the PS3 and Xbox 360 as there always is on brilliant ideas. If you were thinking of making a story with your created wrestler I would advise strongly against because it’s just not possible. There is a limit to how many scenes your CAW can be in and the answer is a pathetic 10. You can’t even make a decent rivalry with that many scenes. If you thinking why not make 10 identical CAWS don’t think you can have them in 100 scenes. It’s not 10 scenes per CAW it’s 10 scenes overall which means you could only have a maximum of 10 different CAWS in 1 scene each.
Another new create mode is that you can create up to 3 different attires for your wrestlers. Even for the normal wrestlers. On top of this there are more moves in the create a finisher mode and of course the popular highlight reel is back. You can even use it create a entrance movie for your superstar (you even get a trophy/achievement for doing it).
One last thing that should be said is the new matches available. The Royal Rumble although not a new match has been upgraded. Instead of only having the annoying button mashing mini game there are now two extra ones. It all depends on where you have the superstar you want to chuck out. If they are lying on the apron you have to press any button to try and stop the moving gauge in the ever shrinking blue area twice before the blue area vanishes. If they are groggy against the ropes you must rapidly press buttons but there is a skill involved. You press certain buttons at certain times. Lastly if there in the corner then you mist press three buttons that appear on the screen quicker than your opponent in a row to eliminate them. The other new match in the game is the Championship Scramble match which has the same concept as the elimination chamber (except without the chamber and the elimination), basically whoever pinned a superstar last at the end of the time limit wins the championship.
Overall this game rates well above its predecessor. I would give it 94%.
Posted in DS Reviews, PS2 Reviews, PS3 Reviews, PSP Reviews, Wii Reviews, Xbox 360 Reviews | 1 Comment »
October 11th, 2009 by Nick Maunders
The third level of episode 1 has some nice scenery in it …. for a lego game. Quite a quick and easy level this should be …
The following character types are needed in this chapter:
Force User:
Blaster Character:
Super Jump Character:
Bounty Hunter:
Small Character:
Astromech Droid:
Dark Force User:
Canister 1
The first one is right above you. To get it you need to destroy the large brown gates ahead of you to create three boxes. You can then use the force on the boxes to create a platform which a super jump character can jump up and get the canister. Can only be found in free-play mode.
Red Power Brick
In the same area as before move up until you get to an area with some checkered tiles on the floor. You now have to assemble a puzzle. The first thing to do is to destroy the containers in the back left corner to get some lego pieces. Then switch to a bounty hunter and blow up the shiny metal containers with your thermal detonator. After that use a dark force user to pull out the plants along the right wall and then destroy the box the plants were in.
You now have all of the pieces needed to complete the puzzle so build them up … you should have a total of 9 pieces (including ones that were already built). You must then follow this order to complete the puzzle: first slide the bottom left piece to the top right hand corner. Then slide the bottom right piece into the top left hand corner. After that slide the top right piece to the bottom left corner. Finally slide the top left piece into the bottom right corner. Lastly use the force to assemble the puzzle and for your troubles you get the red power brick! Can only be found in free-play mode.
Canister 2
In the same area as the red power brick use the force to move two sets of lego pieces stuck in the back wall to create platforms. Use a super jumper to get to the platforms and then use an astromech droid to fly across and get the canister hidden in the shrubbery. Can only be found in free-play mode.
Canister 3
As soon as you get to the next area simply run back towards the screen to get this easy canister. Can be found in story mode.
Canister 4
Go out of the glass building and fall down two levels. Then run all the way to the right to get this canister. Can be found in story mode.
Canister 5
Staying on the same level follow the walkway all the way round to the left. Use an astromech droid to fly across the gap to the ledge. Then change to a blaster character to grapple up to the above level and get the canister. Can only be found in free-play mode.
Canister 6
Go into the next area and follow the raised walkway along the back wall until you get to a red circle on the ground. Use a blaster character to get onto the upper level. From there run left past a chute and use your grappling hook again to reach a balcony. Then use a force user to move all of the rails to receive a lego canister. Can only be found in free-play mode.
Canister 7
Go back from there to the chute you passed earlier and use a small character to go through it to reach another balcony. Climb the stairs to the left and get the canister at the top. Can only be found in free-play mode.
Canister 8
From the top of the chute double jump to reach yet another balcony. Use a bounty hunter to destroy the shiny metal windows and then use the force to repair the picture on the wall to get a lego canister. Can only be found in free-play mode.
Canister 9
Move into the next area and go onto the raised platform in the centre. Destroy four trees around the centre dome and use the force to stack the grey circles that were underneath the trees. Then use a super jump character to jump on the lego pieces in the centre and get the canister at the top. Can only be found in free-play mode.
Canister 10
For the last canister once you have stepped on all three red switches on top of the three domes use a bounty hunter to destroy the shiny metal container in the top right of the area. Then get the canister in the mini dome. Can only be found in free-play mode.
And that’s that … one more level off the list.
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September 27th, 2009 by Nick Maunders
The second instalment to the Professor Layton series on the DS has had quite a lot of publicity leading up to its release date but is it necessary? Does it live up to the hype it’s been getting? Well I think that it definitely does that, it might even be better than it’s supposed to be!
For anyone who hasn’t played the first game you missed out on a good one. But although there were over 150 puzzles it was a little bit repetitive because you were basically stuck in the small village. However with this new game there are many different scenes all of which have been created to perfection.
Professor Layton and Pandora’s Box (or Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box as it is known in America and Japan) has a brilliant storyline in which you have to find out the cause of “Pandora’s box”. It seems that when people open it they end up dead so you have to work out if the cause is because of the box or because of something else. Character’s returning include Professor Layton (obviously!) and Luke but there are also many new characters which you will meet along the way … not all of them are nice.
With a new game comes a new set of puzzles and how the creators have managed to come up 150 brand new brilliant puzzles is amazing. There is a lot more variety between the puzzles such as fitting objects into a certain area, maths problems and of course the old sliding puzzles. There are also some visual puzzles in which you’re given some text and an image. Using the text you must find the right point on the image. The brilliant thing about the game is that even if you get it wrong over and over again it doesn’t matter. You can get 3 hints on a puzzle and after you’ve found the answer you may start kicking yourself realising how easy some of them are. Some of the puzzles can be quite daunting and some downright evil, that’s why you need to save your hint coins because you’ll never know when a near impossible puzzle pops up and you need some help.
Instead of building a robot dog, a picture and decorating each others rooms in the first game this time there are three brand new sub-missions. One is a rather pointless, but quite fun, minigames of helping an obese hamster lose weight. You have to work out a series of problems to get the hamster to travel the furthest to its food. Another game is creating a camera in which you can use to take pictures and the final minigames is brewing cups of tea which can actually help in the game. You just give a certain type of tea to a person and hey presto! They tend to help you more.
The game has sold over 800,000 copies in Japan which shows how good a game it is. Although just because a game has sold a lot of copies it doesn’t mean it’s good. On this occasion thought it does. Having been out for just 2 days in Europe I suspect many people have already got it right now. If you haven’t though I wouldn’t wait around, it may even be out of stock now.
With the new story and brilliant puzzles I would have to rate the game 92%.
Posted in DS Reviews | 1 Comment »
September 7th, 2009 by Nick Maunders
The second level in the game takes us to a marshy environment. It can be very time consuming getting studs out of all the flowers to get True Jedi status.
The following character types are needed in this chapter:
Force User:
Blaster Character:
Super Jump Character:
Bounty Hunter:
Small Character:
Canister 1
Move forward until you get to where the path splits in two. Take the right turn and you should come across a dead end. However this is where you get the white canister. You need to use the force to stack three LEGO pieces together and jump on top of them. This gives you a clear shot at the target on the tree with a blaster type character. Once you hit the target jump into the air to get the canister above you. Can only be found in free-play mode.
Canister 2
Go back to the main path until you come across a fallen tree. Use the force to repair it and then use your weapon to destroy it again! Hidden inside the tree is a LEGO canister. Can be found in story mode.
Canister 3
Keep moving until you have to destroy a separatist vehicle. Once partly destroyed (you can still see parts on the floor) go over to the left and double jump into the air using a force user to get the canister above you. Can be found in story mode.
Canister 4
After than destroy the pieces on the ground with a lightsaber and find the hidden canister in a hole underneath them. Can be found in story mode.
Canister 5
Once you get to the end of the path, where you see a rock formation and some steps, use the force to uproot a plant on the left and then use the force again to move a rock (which came from the plant) against a wall. Then use a super jump character to get the canister. Can be found in story mode.
Red Power Brick
Go into the next area and about three quarters of the way down you should come across a bounty hunter activation panel. Use a bounty hunter and a red brick should appear in an alcove on the right. Can only be found in free-play mode.
Canister 6
Carry on until you reach a large square platform against the rock. Use the force to move some rock and then use a super jump character to jump on the ledge and get the canister. Can be found in story mode.
Canister 7
Go into the next area and use the force on some bricks creating a platform below you which you can jump to, which gets you the next canister. Can be found in story mode.
Canister 8
A little while along you should see a chute in the cliff wall. Use a small character to climb through and get the canister on the other side. Can only be found in free-play mode.
Canister 9
Move a while more so that you jump down a ledge into a lower area with water. Go away from the camera into a large alcove and use the force to move the LEGO logs blocking the canister. Can be found in story mode.
Canister 10
Go into the next area and you should see on the left three parts of a statue. Use the force to assemble the statue in the right order and this gives you the final canister. Can be found in story mode.
That’s that. Another easy level completed.
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August 16th, 2009 by Nick Maunders
The very first level! Also one of the easiest in the game so if you can’t find the canisters with this walkthrough there’s not much hope left. Five of the ten canisters can be gotten in Story Mode but I am going to write this as it is free play mode.
The following character types are needed in this chapter:
Force User:
Protocol Droid:
Astromech Droid:
Small Character:
Super Jump Character:
Canister 1
Go out of the room you start in and take the first left. Use a protocol droid to open the door. Then stand on one of the two red floor switches while the computer/player 2 steps on the other one. This will open the glass door and you can get the canister behind it. Can be found in story mode.
Canister 2
Move back into the corridor and whilst moving on lift all 6 blue switches on the wall using the force. A canister will appear at the end of the corridor. Can be found in story mode.
Canister 3
Turn to your left and use a protocol droid to enter the room (this is the second room on the left if you were starting from the beginning). Use a small character to climb into the chute in the left wall which will take to you to the ledge above. Run towards the screen to get the canister. Can only be found in free-play mode.
Canister 4
Make sure while you are on the upper ledge you run over the red switch on the floor to deactivate the force field. Jump down and use the force to stack four boxes on the ground on top of each other. Then use a super jump character to get to the top and then finally jump to the ledge on the right to get the canister. Can only be found in free-play mode.
Canister 5
Move back into the corridor and take the next left and use an astromech droid to enter a big room. Find the yellow and black cart on the ground and the computer will use the force to lift you into the centre of the room where you can use a super jump character to get the canister above you. Can only be found in free-play mode.
Canister 6
In the same room use the force to lift the craft up into the air so it flies off. Jump onto a ledge in the far left hand corner of the room and use the force to pull the grate from the vent above you. Then use a super jump character to jump into the vent. Once through use an astromech droid to fly across the large drop and once again use a super jump character to jump on top of the craft and get the canister. Can only be found in free-play mode.
Canister 7
Move back into the corridor and use the force to lift all 6 levers on the wall to get the canister at the end of the corridor. Can be found in story mode.
Canister 8
Use a protocol droid to open the next door into a small room and use the force to turn the grate into a bench. Then use a super jump character to jump into the air and get the canister. Can only be found in free-play mode.
Red Power Brick
Enter the darkness to go into the next room. Drop down onto the floor and use the force to assemble the boxes in the near left corner of the room. Then jump onto the boxes and use an astromech droid to open the door. Once in the room step on the grey circle and watch your partner step on the red switch which should raise the platform you’re on. Then jump into one of the sealed off sections and repeat for the other one. You can then get the red power brick. Can only be found in free-play mode.
Canister 9
Move back into the large room and use a force user to stack the crates so you can jump to the ledge north of you. Can be found in story mode.
Canister 10
Go right down the stairs and use the force to fix the equipment by the wall on the left. Then use the force to stack more boxes from largest to smallest and jump to the top and then on to the moving platform. Can be found in story mode.
And that’s that. Hope you like the new layout for the walkthrough’s.
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August 16th, 2009 by Nick Maunders
Well, having a look on the poll I see that nearly 80% of you want me to do the walkthrough’s for Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga white canisters. So that’s exactly what I’m going to do! But, for everything who said no or is thinking no don’t worry. I’m still going to do the usual review of a new game every week so just think of the star wars ones as an add on.
Anyone who’s read the blue canister walkthrough’s can expect the same layout for these walkthroughs … the only difference being these are the white canisters. There are no time limits to get them and as well as saying where they are I will also tell you whether you can get them in story mode or whether you have to wait for free play mode.
The chapters are as follows:
Episode 1: The Phantom Menace
Chapter 1: Negotiations
Chapter 2: Invasion of Naboo
Chapter 3: Escape from Naboo
Chapter 4: Mos Espa Podrace
Chapter 5: Retake Theed Palace
Chapter 6: Darth Maul
Episode 2: Attack of the Clones
Chapter 1: Bounty Hunter Pursuit
Chapter 2: Discovery on Kamino
Chapter 3: Droid Factory
Chapter 4: Jedi Battle
Chapter 5: Gunship Cavalry
Chapter 6: Count Dooku
Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith
Chapter 1: Battle Over Coruscant
Chapter 2: Chancellor in Peril
Chapter 3: General Grievous
Chapter 4: Defense of Kashyyyk
Chapter 5: Ruin of the Jedi
Chapter 6: Darth Vader
Episode 4: A New Hope
Chapter 1: Secret Plans
Chapter 2: Through the Jundland Wastes
Chapter 3: Mos Eisley Spaceport
Chapter 4: Rescue the Princess
Chapter 5: Death Star Escape
Chapter 6: Rebel Attack
Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back
Chapter 1: Hoth Battle
Chapter 2: Escape from Echo Base
Chapter 3: Falcon Flight
Chapter 4: Dagobah
Chapter 5: Cloud City Trap
Chapter 6: Betrayal over Bespin
Episode 6: Return of the Jedi
Chapter 1: Jabba’s Palace
Chapter 2: The Great Pit of Carkoon
Chapter 3: Speeder Showdown
Chapter 4: The Battle of Endor
Chapter 5: Jedi Destiny
Chapter 6: Into the Death Star
So far there are 1/36 walkthrough’s completed.
Posted in Character Reviews, In-Depth Reviews, Walkthrough's | 8 Comments »
July 28th, 2009 by Nick Maunders
Although the game has been out for just over two years now anyone wanting to play the new Harry Potter game will probably want to play this one first. Normally with all series it’s best to start from the front. For example with the Harry Potter books it makes sense to read the first one, then the second one etc, other wise you won’t have a clue who the characters are. This is quite similar with video games although not as crucial. But, the reason why I am saying you should start with this game is because the previous ones are … well not very good. Well okay I suppose they weren’t that bad but the big difference is that Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the first game of the series to be available on the seventh generation consoles (Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360).
Now the fourth Harry Potter game was completely rubbish. It was a totally different gameplay to the other games and the age rating (7+) probably should have been more like 7, because it seemed like the game was made for seven year olds. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on the other hand is a lot better. It’s a 7+ again but in this game it doesn’t matter what age you are, you will still enjoy … unless of course you utterly despise Harry Potter but why would you be reading this if you did?
The style of the game is what people call a “sandbox”. Just like games such as GTA it basically means you can go pretty much anyone and do things in your own order, within a certain boundary. An example of this in the game is when you have to collect all of the members of Dumbledore’s Army. The game doesn’t tell you what order you must collect them, so you can go in any order you wish. Another brilliant thing in this game which we have just seen recently in the Sims 3 is that there are no loading screens. The whole of the Hogwarts School and grounds are loaded all the time. You don’t even get a slight pause as you go from one area to the next, it runs very smoothly.
One of the main features of this game is the spells. Owners of a Wii will have more fun casting spells in the game as they simply swish the wii remote in a certain direction to cast that spell. However don’t think if you own a Playstation 3 you are missing out on much, because you also do it on the PS3. You have two options … you can either cast spells by using the right analog stick or you can enable the motion sensitivity function and move the whole Playstation 3 controller to cast the spell. So really with the Playstation 3 version you are getting better graphics than the Wii and also the same motion control. If you’re lucky enough to own both the Wii and Playstation 3 you’ll probably better buying on the PS3.
As you walk around the grounds you will notice that there are quite a few things not quite right: such as paintings on the floor and statues covered up by curtains. You can use your spells on these objects and earn discovery points which in turn make your spells stronger. Another thing in the game is the portraits. As with the film and book versions all portraits need passwords and you need to find out what they are. It’s no use searching for them on the internet because you can’t type them in. The portraits give you clues as to what they are … some even just tell you the password straight away.
One of the unfortunate disadvantages of this game is that is quite short. Although saying that if you don’t rush through it you will find it will take quite a while to get 100% on the game. Many people say they complete this game within an hour. I can tell you that it is completely impossible to do that even if you’re on the easiest difficulty. If you’re on normal difficulty and play it at a steady pace this game should last you at least for over 10 hours … and that for a game is actually quite reasonable.
I think overall this game is very good … although non Harry Potter fans wouldn’t think it was as good as I’m saying. In conclusion buy this game only if you’re either a Harry Potter fan or you like a good RPG game because it is very good. I would rate it 88%
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Posted in DS Reviews, PC Reviews, PS2 Reviews, PS3 Reviews, PSP Reviews, Wii Reviews, Xbox 360 Reviews | No Comments »
July 9th, 2009 by Nick Maunders
Hi everyone,
In the last poll pratically everyone said they wanted to see some more walkthroughs. So as I have done them for the “blue” canisters in the lego star wars game I thought it would make sense to do the “white” ones. Please either comment on this or look in the sidebar in your left and vote so that I know that people want me to do this walkthrough.
It’s going to be hard work but if you want me to do it I’m going to try to aim for one walkthrough every two days. The sooner everyone votes the sooner I can start so it’s up to you!
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