The Blob

At a time when video games are getting bigger, broader and more complicated, it is very refreshing to do something old-fashioned simple to play. Something without unlimited character building, hyper-realistic game world and epic storylines. Something where everything might be about colors, funny dolls or catchy tunes, for my part with a simple ball into the lead. Something like the Blob.

Tested on: Wii (exclusive title)


*Less is more

'Less is more', which is clearly the motto of the Blob to developed. In the base game tells a story of serious issues, such as fascism, totalitarianism and blind hatred. But it is impossible to take in the light of the colorful chaos that the creators toesmijten us shamelessly. All this seriously Everything is marketed with a wink, here and there unfortunately also applies to the perception and controls. An absolute linear structure of both the game world and the levels really silly characters and almost insulting controls are simple things that the Blob continuously treats. The best part is that the game effortlessly get away with. Even the most critical sourpuss could not suppress a smile of sincere admiration or appreciation while playing.


*Craft Project

For them the story behind the game for some reason you do not know, first a brief summary. In 2006, a set of students from the School of the Arts cobble together a short game, where you could "colorize". Ball with a colorless digital version of Utrecht Nobody could have foreseen that these free downloadable game would be a success and would eventually be picked up by employees of publisher THQ, who saw it in bread at the time. This with the result that now, two years later, a well-developed Wii version of the game is on the shelves. It remains interesting to see how a simple ball, in this case a funny creature called the Blob, can roll.

Viva Pi ata: Trouble in Paradise

A piñata is a brightly colored beast, usually made of paper mache, and it is mainly used for Christmas and children's birthdays. The Piñata of Mexican origin, is filled with sweets, fruits or gifts, to hang somewhere and then allowed children blindfolded with a stick rams against it until the small gifts fall out. Fun! What does it have to do hell with gardening, animal husbandry or gaming Nothing! How can a game that all of these elements could still be such a hit?

Tested on: Xbox 360 (exclusive title)

*Flora and fauna

The answer to this question was given two years ago. Developer Rare released the first Piñata game on Xbox 360 gamers worldwide and were massively in love with the cute appearance and addictive gameplay. In the game Viva Piñata, the player was given a piece of land whose flora could be adjusted. Discretion and taste The intention was to provoke numerous Piñatas for that personal paradise and to house them there. Ridiculous? Not according to the huge fanbase who rallied behind the game. Viva Piñata was a hit, because behind the unique, cute exterior lurked a challenging and surprisingly deep and addictive game. Meanwhile the purebred classic to a sequel, with the subtitle Trouble in Paradise.


*Almost storyless

In the sequel, the Piñata database appears to be erased by one Professor Pester. It is up to the gamer to make that so many different species will nest there, so that way, the database can be restored. His or her garden paradise Alas, the makers have in any event attempt to put down. Somewhat of a story Fortunately it in games like Piñata not about the story, but more to the overall experience that the game offers. And who is better than ever. The base is, however, remained almost the same as that of the original. You get a piece of land allocated and start with a bag of grass seed and a simple Piñata. Soon appear different Piñatas on the edge of your garden and you can try to lure them. Garden What is new is the way you can get now with the camera outside your garden to go out on research and scan for information. Possible creatures you encounter

Warhammer Battle March

The PC platform is equipped with some top games based on Warhammer, but the consoles remain far behind. With Battle March for the Xbox 360 Deep Silver is trying to fill the gap. The question is of course whether this editor it manages.

Tested on: Xbox 360 (exclusive to this platform)

Near the place where I live you every weekend a special event place. People with thick books under one arm and a large box under the other arm, then retreat to a store called Games Workshop. Once there are armies of tens of miniatures displayed on a large table. Is then rolled dice, move the thick books open and all sorts of technical terms pronounced. This combination of modeling and game called Warhammer. I have also taken me several years to come, but an avid player, I have never been. Building and dyeing of my ever-growing army I liked better than the complicated game that it could be played. Most computer games based on Warhammer is not easy, but they are a lot cheaper and in addition to learning than 'the real deal' faster.

*Heroes

The number of console games based on Warhammer can still be counted on one hand but with Warhammer: Battle March has added a new title to the list. This real-time strategy appeared for the Xbox 360 and is based on the excellent Warhammer: Mark of Chaos for PC. Build a base or gather resources is not necessary, because Battle March focuses entirely on the conduct of battles. In the game type Campaign kinds missions must be completed and can be purchased. Between missions by additional troops and upgrades Because players can choose from three armies is actually there are three Campaigns, each army has its own mission and its own story. Players can choose the Empire, the murderous chaos of the Orcs and Goblins. All these armies are made up of regiments, allowing players to give orders to groups rather than to individuals. The only exception to this rule are called Heroes, which occupy an important place in the armies.


*Two Stroke

Heroes are extremely strong units, which easily can be a complete enemy regiment on their own. At the beginning of each Campaign players get assigned a Hero and it plays the leading role in the backstory of the campaign. In addition to special weapons have these die-hards magic spells and useful items that can help them. Themselves and their supporters Players will start with a Hero and a few regiments, but gradually your army getting bigger and more dangerous. By fighting your soldiers are stronger, so it is important to keep them alive. By additional troops can be purchased between missions, but these are expensive and inexperienced. Heroes are not only stronger with every battle, but they also earn new weapons, armor, and experience points. These points can be used to learn, so Battle March also has elements of a role-playing game. New attacks That seems an interesting design, but these two battle suffers from several problems.

Far Cry 2

Artful is a game series about taking the original developer. Yet that is what Ubisoft did with Far Cry. The publisher took over the rights to the advanced shooter from the German Crytek, to own a studio to make. A second part If that goes well ...

Tested on: Xbox 360 Also available on: PlayStation 3, PC

About this history we have spoken enough in our preview of the game. Far Cry 2 is finished already and we are wondering whether the game to our high expectations. Who has made ​​it equally does not really matter anymore. To coincide with the point: Far Cry 2 is raw, and that's exactly what it is good at. The game begins with a rather long introduction and an even longer tutorial. Nevertheless, it is from the start a violent impression. You start in the back of a jeep that serves as a taxi. An unnamed African drives you from the airport to a hotel in a small town a few kilometers away. He tells how his equally nameless country is doing. 'Bad' is the message and it does not fail to show that during the ride. Burnt out cars lie along the dirt roads and armed teenagers walking through the ramshackle hut villages you pass along the way. During the ride you can do nothing but look around you. Even if the jeep is held by a small army of mercenaries.

*Corrupt Practices

The taxi driver knows how to talk checkpoint by men promising. Beer car along Immediately afterwards, he explains that there are two armed groups operating in the region. The conflict flared up between the parties has ensured that everyone who can afford the plane is stepped so that only the poor wretches left. The ride, and hence the explanation, it takes a long time, but just before the boredom and you're almost at the hotel, you become unwell. If your consciousness, you demonstrate to have malaria and to lie. In a hotel room On the other side of the room someone messes in your suitcase, he read some papers and grabs a gun and a machete. The man shows no less than The Jackal, the arms dealer who you are supposed to kill. He's your obviously too fast, you is ill in bed while he threatens you with your own weapons. The jackal provides the warring factions of arms and is therefore responsible for the surge in violence. Moreover, this is not the first conflict that he was able to initiate. In such a way The Jackal is so confident that he is alive, and even lets you back your weapons. So you can, but sick with cutlass and pistol, looking for medication to help you. Malaria off

Fable 2

Normally the status of the people behind the game is not bigger than the game itself. However, there are developers who have profiled that they come to the level of international media mention "the new game from ...". Itself so Peter Molyneux, an old hand in the game world, is no longer at that level, but is also a striking example of how the state can work against you. If all of your statements word for word are placed on a scale, you make it yourself just by your own hard game to praise the sky - and a self-written review even hang a nine to score as.

Tested on: Xbox 360 (exclusive title)


*Fairy-tale atmosphere

The original Fable was among the sayings of Molyneux weighed. The game could not live up to what the British developer had all promised. That made Fable not a bad game, but it left a weird aftertaste with gamers on the new project Molyneux had waited so long. Fans of role-playing games have since entertained including The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, which both the theme and the setting is not that much different from Fable. What is missing, however, Oblivion is a fairytale atmosphere that Fable has. Partly because Fable has its own fan base whose members since the release of Fable: The Lost Chapters forward to the sequel.

This sequel takes place 500 years after the events of Fable and Fable: The Lost Chapters off. The time when heroes and the Guild of Heroes is an understanding had disappeared and the Will-users have virtually disappeared. 'Will' is the equivalent of magic and can only be used. By a select group of people This group seems to have almost disappeared, but there are still people who study the past in order to learn from it, or to obtain. Supernatural power Lord Lucien, the owner of the castle in Bowerstone, raises two children with him because he suspects that they have to be, so they can make of Will-power. Using a hero His suspicion is correct, the children are potential heroes. Lucien charge quickly and coolly with the pair off, afraid if he is they could disrupt his plans.

Lock's Quest

"From the creators of Drawn to Life", reports the case of Lock's Quest and it is not strange that publisher THQ it draws attention. Drawn to Life was praised as one of the most innovative games of 2007. Lock's Quest now has absolutely nothing in common with Drawn to Life, it's just the next game of the U.S. 5th Cell for the Nintendo handheld. Drawn to Life After that, of course, raises expectations. How does the developer 5th Cell is from the sequel?

Available on: DS

*Lock the Builder

In Lock's Quest you build walls to defend against a rising army of robots, you can go. Tackling yourself That's what it comes down to Lock's Quest in a nutshell. The makers have a pretty entertaining story woven through the game, which also has a surprisingly slot. The design of Lock's Quest is thus as simple as new. There are games in which you can build from coming violence, a wall but the proportion of Lock in battle is truly original. It makes an almost full rts of the game, which lock his attention must be distributed over the various fronts along which attacks the robots, and between the conduct of battles and repairing the walls he has built himself.

*Looking for the source

The game begins as the village of the young Lock is attacked by the forces of Lord Agony, a mysterious substance called Source, used for building robots. Although Lock the attack of the robots knows how to beat his sister goes missing during the attack, which lock the quest of the title gives: he needs to find his sister, which is associated with the fight against Lord Agony. Along Lock is trained to Archineer, a cross between an architect and engineer. Archineers may like Agony use Source, which they can build walls and guns and traps post. Both Lock and his supporters as the forces of Lord Agony therefore compete for the blue substance. Curiously remain the Source of robots built by Lord Agony only a limited time in life. After three minutes, they usually fall apart while defending the Lock and other Archineers from Source to know to pull on is not subject to such decay

Yakuza 2

Available on: Playstation 2

For some time now is the Playstation 3 in European stores, but for the Playstation 2 appear regularly new games. Usually stops the growth of new titles for the console shortly after his successor appears on the market, but Sony breaks the habit and has its own unique philosophy after. Both consoles are fine because they serve two different audiences. Neatly stacked on the shelves The Playstation 3 is promoted as a console for gamers who want the latest of the latest and the Playstation 2 is the low-priced alternative, with Sony focuses primarily on child-friendly titles and party games. Of course it is not said to fit all new Playstation 2 titles in this picture.

Yakuza 2 for the Playstation 2 is not a party game and not at all child friendly. The game is set in the criminal world of the eponymous Japanese crime organization, and begins a year after the events of its predecessor. Yakuza 2 Kazuma Kiryu, you control the hero from the first game after years of faithful service tries to build outside the criminal a new life. Unfortunately for him, it appears this is easier said than done. Just when Kazuma thinks he can settle down quietly, his peace is disturbed brutally. Former colleagues recall Kazuma to help and old enemies rather see him rest between six boards. The building of a new life will have to wait, first a lot of loose ends remain to be tied together.


Yakuza 2 differs in few respects from its predecessor. Also in this section takes the backstory an important place. Kazuma is sent off at the start of the game to save from destruction. The Tojo Clan Several groups, including the Korean mafia, see this clan prefer to disappear and also from within danger, distrust among the members. Kazuma gets the grateful task to set things right. You can guess that this is not going smoothly, but fortunately not the type that Kazuma easily let go. Over him A good spanking is in Yakuza 2 is usually the best remedy for sleepers and this gives the game a striking split character.