July 20th, 2008 by Nick Maunders
Lego Indiana Jones was released at a very good time as the same time the forth film of Indiana Jones came out. It would be brilliant if the forth movie was contained in the game but unfortunately it isn’t. However it is still a great game. This is the forth game that is from the creators of Lego. The other 3 being all Lego Star Wars games.
This game features all of the previous 3 Indiana Jones films, and of course like the previous 3 lego games this game adds a sense of comedy to the 3 films. You can control a number of characters which are all made out of lego! The main character of course being Indiana Jones himself.
With the 3 films in the game all of them are split into 6 chapters. In each chapter you have to progress the end while along the way finding Lego Studs, Artifact Pieces, Parcels and various other equipment ranging from guns to spades. The Lego Studs are just the same as in the other games where silver studs are worth 10 studs, gold studs are worth 100 studs, blue studs are worth 1,000 studs and purple studs are worth 10,000 studs. You must find a certain number of studs to get “True Adventurer” in each level. Artifact Pieces are just like Lego Canisters/Minikits in the previous games. There are 10 in each level which you have to find and some will be in hard-to-reach places where only certain characters can get to. Parcels on the other hand and much rarer than artifact pieces and are similar to the red power bricks in other games. There is only 1 in each level, once found you then have to find a post-box to mail it back to Barnett College.
There are over 80 characters in Lego Indiana Jones and most of them have some type of special ability, of course some have none. There are a total of 9 types of special abilities, which I will go into in another review. However I will tell you all 9 of them. They are: The Academic Ability, The Enemy Disguise Ability, The Excavate Ability, The Explosion Ability, The Glass-Shattering Ability, The Repair Ability, The Super Jump Ability, The Tiny Size Ability and the Thuggee Chant Ability.
However unfortunately some characters also have fears. These fears will stop the character from advancing any further. Indiana Jones for example has a fear of snakes. So when ever he comes across a snake (which you will) he stops dead and won’t get any closer. You have to get another character to hit the snake before you can advance any further, unless you want to leave Indiana Jones there on his own. Other characters have fears of spiders etc.
The game play in Indiana Jones is very fulfilling and very enjoyable. This is the type of game where it is quite difficult to get bored (unless you have a small attention span). Each area is unique to each other so you will never find yourself in the same area twice (unless you play in the same area for free play).
Just like the previous lego games you first have to do story mode for each chapter. Then after you have done story mode for that chapter you can advance to free play, In free play you will be able to go back and get things you missed as you can also play as any character you wish. There are no more limitations and there is likely to be many artifact pieces that you have missed along your journey, you must collect them to get 100% in the game.
I think that overall this is a well balanced game and that a score of 8.9 should be awarded to it.
For more reviews on Lego Indiana Jones visit Test Freaks
Posted in PC Reviews, PS2 Reviews, PS3 Reviews, PSP Reviews, Wii Reviews, Xbox 360 Reviews | No Comments »
July 13th, 2008 by Nick Maunders
Super Smash Bros. Brawl came out just over two weeks ago and I have to say I’ve been playing it all the time. This game is great and it is also very addictive so make sure you take regular breaks when playing it! There are not many games on the Wii so far that have the intensity which draws you into the game; you will be able to play these games for hours on end never getting bored. Mario Kart Wii, Mario Party 8 and Super Smash Bros. Brawl are just to name a few. So if your getting bored of the games you currently have on the Wii buy this game, it will keep you entertained for days on end.
Overall there have been a total of three games in the Super Smash Bros. series. Starting with Super Smash Bros. which debuted in 1999 on the Nintendo 64. A game from the future! As it had many techniques that had not been seen before in the gaming world. Then from that there was the second game in the series which was called Super Smash Bros. Melee. This game came out in 2002 (Europe) and was on the Nintendo Gamecube. Again like the previous game it was a great game that entertained the world. Then we come to the last and third game in the series. Super Smash Bros. Brawl, coming out on 27th June 2008 (Europe). This is the game I’m going to be talking about for the rest of this review.
Now what is the difference between Super Smash Bros. Brawl and the other two games? The answer is that Super Smash Bros. Brawl is on the Nintendo Wii. The other two previous games couldn’t fulfil their maximum potential. However as this game is on one of the best game consoles to date it is sure to be good. In my opinion this game is one of the best so far to be debuted on the Wii.
A good thing about the Wii is the Wi-Fi side of it. This means that games can be played online and that is exactly what Super Smash Bros. Brawl can do. Sometimes when you have a big game that has only story mode after you complete it you don’t want to play the game anymore. Even if the story mode lasts say a total of one week’s worth of playing non stop. You will still finish it eventually. However games such as Super Smash Bros. Brawl are different. Yes there is a story mode, and yes you can finish it (I have!), but there are also many other different parts of the game such as online play. You will never, and I mean never play an online game the same way. No two matches on Super Smash Bros. Brawl will ever be the same. This is what makes the game so unique and the fact that you can keep playing it over and over and over again and never get tired of it.
So why is this game so good? Well this games genre is fighting (believe it or not). There are of course some other genres which I believe fit such as strategy and action etc. The point is even if you don’t like fighting games you will still love this game. Super Smash Bros. Brawl is up to four players at once, however loads of players (even 32) can play the game but not at the same time.
One mode of Super Smash Bros. Brawl is the story mode which is called the subspace emissary; this is the main way in the game to unlock characters as not all are unlocked to start with. The further you progress in the story the more characters you will unlock. Of course story mode is not the only way to play on Super Smash Bros. Brawl. If it was then I would tell you not to buy it.
You can play with your friends in Group mode which is offline. So this mode is up to four players at the same time but like I said earlier some options such as Tourney which is up to 32 players. Another option is the “Rotation Mode” which is up to 16 players.
There are even other modes for single players. Such as a handy training mode. This mode lets you select the difficulty of the computer and many other features; it really helps you develop your skills. You can even have the computer not moving, so you can use it as a punch bag target! Classic Mode, All Star Mode and Boss Battles are also on the list. But All Star mode is locked until you have unlocked all characters and boss battles are locked until you have completed story mode.
There are a total of 38 playable characters in the game but technically there are only 35. You see Zelda for example can transform into Sheik and vice-versa. The other one is the Pokémon Trainer. He controls 3 different pokémon, which you can transform into. A total of only 11 of the 38 characters have been in all of the Super Smash Bros. series including Mario and Fox. As well as that there are 16 complete newcomers to the game including Lucas and Pit.
This game is a brilliant fighting, and in my opinion strategy, game which will keep you entertained for hours. I rate it 10/10 because it really is that good!
For more reviews on Super Smash Bros. Brawl visit Test Freaks
Posted in Wii Reviews | No Comments »
June 24th, 2008 by Nick Maunders
Okay then, unfortunately this is not my review on Indiana Jones, my one will be alot longer but this is a sort of preview review! I must say first that if you like Indiana Jones then you really should buy this game. Espically on the Nintendo Wii. With the unique movement style of the Wii Remote this game is legendary. Basically this game features all 3 of the Indiana Jones movies (it’s a shame it doesn’t have the new one as well!) in which it splits wach movie into 6 chaptets, just like in the Lego Star Wars games. Also just like the Lego Star Wars games this game features a unique angle of comedy, perharps it might be due to the fact that the characters are made of Lego? Anyway my review will be in soon and it’s going to be a big one!
Posted in Coming Soon | 1 Comment »
June 2nd, 2008 by Nick Maunders
Have any of you got a stain or dent in your Nintendo DS or PSP? What I find is that really you should have a protective cover on there. These are good for two things. One any stains that were on there are not see-able anymore, and two they make what ever you’ve got it on look great! That’s when I came across a company called GelaSkins. As by the name I am sure you can guess that they are a company that make skins for applications. They make thin material made out of vinyl and adhesive technology. What these skins are designed to do is protect your object (whatever it might be). For example on the Nintendo DS you can see from the picture below that the design not only goes on the outside (okay you can’t see the outside, but trust me it does!) it also goes on the inside. There are holes to let buttons through as well including ones like the stylus pen and the game card holder.
The products this company makes are amazing (as I am sure you can see from the pictures I am showing you) and the great thing is that they make these skins for loads of applications. Whether you need to protect your gaming needs they have ones for the Nintendo DS and the PSP. Or if you need to put a stylish skin on your laptop or phone they also do that as well. They even do iPods!
All of the skins they make are custom designed by artists, and there is such a variety to choose from. There are weird ones with lines (which although weird look good), there are ones with skeletons on, ones with pictures of shoes, and there is one with the american flag on.
In my opinion skins are going to become a everyday thing used to protect are stuff that is important. All of the designs for GelaSkins you can get off of their website at http://www.gelaskins.com. I would seriously recommend visiting this website and buying at least one of the skins, after all they are cheap!
Posted in Accessories | 2 Comments »
May 27th, 2008 by Nick Maunders
Release Date: 25/04/08 (Europe)
Well, I haven’t written a review in a while now! Anyway now it’s time to write one for the game I’ve been promising for about a month now (sorry for the wait), Wii Fit! Before I carry on I should just say that this game although pricey is very worth while. You should definitely at least think about buying it because it really is superb.
People are always moaning about other people staying on video games for ages and “not getting enough exercise”, and if you do stay playing video games all day long then their probably right. Finally though a game is out that combines fun with exercise, every parent’s dream! Wii Fit has to be one of the funniest games I have experienced and an extra plus is that it keeps you fit, and I am not lying! Although expensive (£69.99) it is still worth it. Although before you buy it you are a bit hesitant, don’t be. Now that I’ve got it I would have paid £80 for it, it is really that good.
So the main thing that people can guess about wii fit is that it keeps you fit. But does it? Loads of people are speculating whether it really does help you. The answer I have to give is YES! Doing some exercise on it daily will really help you become healthier and more energetic. Of course if you are going to do a bit of exercise and then eat loads of fatty foods each day then you are not going to lose weight, it is not a miracle machine! I don’t even exercise every day but I still feel better.
Anyway unless I actually start talking about the game I’m going to be here all day! The reason why wii fit is £69.99 is because of the wii balance board that comes with it. (I find that if some equipment comes with the wii on a wii game it is going to be £69.99, for example Guitar Hero III). This balance board is really great. Its small (yet heavy) so it can be carried around, don’t drop it though or you would have just whisked £70 away for nothing.
Anyway when I first turned on wii fit it wouldn’t work. Little did I know that you have to turn on the wii balance board as well! Anyway first you must select your mii to use. After that you will be asked to do a body test. This is a small test which you should do every day. (I have for 31 days now!) What you do is first step on the balance board then the machine will ask you how heavy your clothes are. After that you must stand still. The program will now measure your weight and your centre of gravity. After that it will show you your centre of gravity score. The closer it is to the middle the better. Then the thing that surprises most people. You’re BMI (Body Mass Index). This will now tell you whether you are underweight, ideal (me!), overweight or obese. You will then have to set your target. This is what you want your weight to be in 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months etc. When the time period has finished it will also tell you if you have achieved your goal and it will then make sure you set a new one. Choose carefully as you cannot change the goal for 2 weeks, no matter what.
I won’t go into too much detail as I can do that in another review. Anyway if it is your first time doing the body test it will give you one balance test. (Any other time after that and it will give you two) The first one that you will do is called the basic balance test. You have to basically balance on both of your feet in the place it tells you too. When you play it is quite self-explanatory so I won’t elaborate. After that it will tell you your wii fit age. Now don’t go crazy if your age is 20 years more than yours. This age was just based on your balance test. If your rubbish at balance tests then your wii fit age is going to be rubbish. While if you’re an expert at balance tests then your wii fit age is going to be brilliant. After that you will have to stamp the date to say you’ve done it today. You’ll start off with a stamp off a foot. There are a total of 8 stamps, the last one you get is when you have reached 30 days and it is a stamp of your mii!
Anyway you can now do training! (I am going to speed through this section and go into more detail later). There are 4 sections to training: Yoga, Muscle Workouts, Aerobic Exercises and Balance Games. In yoga you will things such as deep breathing etc. In muscle workouts it will be press-ups etc. In aerobic exercises there will be hula hoops, jogging etc and in balance games there will be things like tight-rope walking and football. Although not all of them will be unlocked, to unlock games you must complete steps such as play other games and exercise for over 30 minutes.
The instruction manual (which I will also write) shows a map of the island which you will jog around and some height conversions for you. Overall this game has to be one of the best produced of this time and only the Nintendo Wii can make this game into such a hit. Buy it now!
I would give this game a rating of 9.7!
Posted in Wii Reviews | No Comments »
May 21st, 2008 by Nick Maunders
At the moment I don’t like my current poll, I think that it looks rubbish! So at the moment I’m working on a new one which will be alot more colourful and alot better. I won’t have a website hosting like the current one is, instead I’ll be.
So if you keep posted I will hopefully have it up in about a weeks time.
Posted in Poll | No Comments »
May 20th, 2008 by Nick Maunders
Well I’ve decided to do something new on this website which I have never done before. I’m going to add a poll to the sidebar. If you actually look now on the sidebar just below the affiliate section you will see it. Yea I know that it doesn’t look brilliant but for the moment it will do just fine! So please vote, your allowed to vote once (and only once!) at the moment for your favourite video game console. The reason why I haven’t put answers on for consoles like the Nintendo 64 and the Sega Dreamcast is because I mean ones that are out today. Any feedback would be great and try to leave a comment in the poll once you have submitted your vote saying why you picked the console you did, and I promise you the Wii Fit review is on the way!
Posted in Poll | 1 Comment »
May 19th, 2008 by Nick Maunders
Finally now with only 39 days to go I cannot wait for Super Smash Bros. Brawl to come out on the wii. This game is going to be brilliant! If you can’t wait that long then …. well, tough! But I can’t make you want to buy the game even more with what I am about to write. Now if you are one of those people who want to know nothing about the game and then when you play it are completely surprised then don’t read this. However if you are like me and want to know everything about the game before it comes out such as playable levels and characters etc then look no further because that is now what I am going to tell you.
Okay well there are a total of 37 playable characters in the game (although 2 of them are transformations of another 2 characters). Now this is your last chance if you do not want to know the characters then get off this page now. Otherwise scroll down now to see the 37 playable characters in alphabetical order and I will tell you if they have been in any of the previous 2 super smash bros. brawl games. (Super Smash Bros. in 1999 and Super Smash Bros. Melee in 2002 - I will abbreviate Super Smash Bros. to SSB and Super Smash Bros. Melee to SSBM)
- Bowser - Has been in SSBM
- Captain Falcon - Has been in both SSB and SSBM
- Diddy Kong - A newcomer to the series
- Donkey Kong - Has been in both SSB and SSBM
- Falco (From Star Fox) - Has been in SSBM
- Fox - Has been in both SSB and SSBM
- Ganondorf - Has been in SSBM
- Ice Climbers - Have been in SSBM
- Ike (From Fire Emblem) - A newcomer to the series
- Jiggleypuff - Has been in both SSB and SSBM
- King Dedede (From Kirby) - A newcomer to the series
- Kirby - Has been in both SSB and SSBM
- Link - Has been in both SSB and SSBM
- Lucario (From Pokémon) - A newcomer to the series
- Lucas (From EarthBound) - A newcomer to the series
- Luigi - Has been in both SSB and SSBM
- Mario - Has been in both SSB and SSBM
- Marth (From Fire Emblem) - Has been in SSBM
- Meta Knight (From Kirby) - A newcomer to the series
- Mr. Game & Watch (From Game & Watch) - Has been in SSBM
- Ness (From EarthBound) - Has been in both SSB and SSBM
- Olimar (From Pikmin) - A newcomer to the series
- Peach - Has been in SSBM
- Pikachu - Has been in both SSB and SSBM
- Pit (From Kid Icarus) - A newcomer to the series
- Pokémon Trainer - A newcomer to the series
- R.O.B (From R.O.B) - A newcomer to the series
- Samus (From Metroid) - Has been in both SSB and SSBM
- Sheik (From The Legend of Zelda) - Has been in SSBM
- Snake (From Metal Gear) - A newcomer to the series
- Sonic - A newcomer to the series
- Toon Link - A newcomer to the series
- Wario - A newcomer to the series
- Wolf (From Star Fox) - A newcomer to the series
- Yoshi - Has been in both SSB and SSBM
- Zelda - Has been in SSBM
- Zero Suit Samus - A newcomer to the series
There we go, now all we have to do is wait for the release date!
Posted in In-Depth Reviews | 1 Comment »
May 8th, 2008 by Nick Maunders
Well I bet you have been wondering why I haven’t posted something on my website for some time now. Well I’ve been creating a new price comparer to put on it. Basically at the end of each post, for example Wii Fit, there will be a table with top superstores such as Asda, Amazon, Game & Gamestation. Then next to them there will be a price of how much it is online at the moment. Then there is a link which you can click on which will take you through to the website so that you can buy the product (if you want). I am test running this tonight on my Wii Fit Post so be sure to take a look!
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
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