Welcome to the Nine Circles of Hell, Courtesy of EA

It was announced a little while back that EA had begun developing a game based upon Dante Alighieri's "The Divine Comedy". Written in the early fourteenth century, Dante's epic poem is held as one of the great works of literature and is teeming with interesting characters all being punished for their sins in increasingly wicked ways. Now we have been treated to some in game footage, and it looks like its shaping up nicely. The trailer can be found here, amongst other places.

From the, albeit brief trailer, the game seems quite similar to God Of War, which is no bad thing. And if EA can get anywhere near to building the kind of atmosphere that graced Dead Space, then you will definitely want to keep the lights on when playing this one.

While EA seems to be treating the source material fairly liberally, to say the least, I am definitely looking forward to traversing the nine circles of hell.

Ride The Breeze - Flower

As a break from the stress induced beatings I have been taking on Street Fighter IV, I decided to download Flower from the PSN store. For those not in the know, Flower basically entails you controlling a collection of petals, riding the breeze and causing other flowers to bloom.

It's hard to do this game justice through words. It's a game you have to play to get a real feel for what it is.

Its simplistic gameplay, colourful visuals and dreamlike backdrops have provided a welcome break from the kind of games I usually play. Although the penultimate level is a bit of a let down, Flower is a game that I think pretty much anyone can enjoy. I got it on the PS3 store for 800 yen, so it's light on the wallet too.

Highly recommended.

Im Not Buying A Headset

I flatly refuse to buy a headset/microphone for the PS3. Let me explain.

With the impending release of Resident Evil/Biohazard 5, my friend, with whom I intend to play the co-op mode with, has begun insisting that we need headsets to get the most out of the experience. I understand that having one will add more of a strategical element and will allow us to get the most out of the game, but I’m a very stubborn man.

I have never heard a microphone being used to positive effect. If my time playing Call Of Duty 4 online has taught me anything, it’s that there are too many people playing with a microphone who fit into some, or all of the following categories -

a). are 12 years old.
b). like the sound of their own voice far too much.
c). are a massive Nelly, 50 Cent, T.I.,(insert generic rapper) fan, and are bent on making everyone else listen to said musicians over their mic.
d). have a really loud dog and/or young child.
e). are homophobic, racist or just generally abhorrent.
f). don’t know how to swear properly/effectively

Of course, not everyone is like this. I’m sure there are some people using their mic for good, giving useful gameplay tips and keeping in touch with friends far and wide. But from my, admittedly limited experience, they are in the distinct minority.

So, back to my point. I don’t want to buy a headset. I have said too many derogatory things about them in the past to turn back now.

Guess I will have to think up some sort of elaborate code to convey messages to my friend when playing RE 5. If I spin round on the spot and fire my pistol into the air 27 times, it means "Look out, there is a zombie right behind you!”. Should work just fine.

Going For Platinum - Uncharted

These days, virtually every Playstation 3 game comes with trophies. They are a set of achievements that can be gained through the course of playing the game. Although they don’t unlock anything per say, they are good for bragging rights and a bit of self satisfaction.

Gaining these trophies is really addictive, and to my surprise, I found that they have prolonged my interest in games that otherwise I would have completed and then put back on the shelf.

Case in point, I have finished Uncharted: Drake's Fortune three times in the last 10 days, allowing me to complete all of the trophies, achieving Platinum status. Some of the parameters were really difficult, and completing the game on extra hard mode (crushing), was definitely a challenge. However, it is a real testament to just how good this game is that I really enjoyed doing the levels all over again. If you haven’t tried this game before, give it a go. Its an action adventure game in the Tomb Raider/Indiana Jones vein, and being an older title,you can pick it up for cheap. The JP version has full English.




When I first became aware of PS3 trophies, it wasn’t something that piqued my interest. However, I have been pleasantly surprised as to how much it has added to my game playing experience. When it comes to most games, I’m not going to pay a huge amount of attention to getting all the trophies. But for the games I really enjoy, it gives me another, very simple reason to keep on playing.

You Lose - Street Fighter IV

YOU LOSE.

I have been greeted with that title far too many times over the last few days. I was one of the first people to pick up a copy of Street Fighter IV in Akihabara Sofmap on Thursday, and have been playing it a fair bit since.

This game has once again reminded me that I have no talent for beat-em-ups. The arcade mode is killing me. I have no problem getting through the rounds on the easier settings, but the final boss, Seth, is another matter. I play, get ridiculously frustrated, turn it off and swear that i wont play it ever again, then find myself playing it again 2 hours later!

By the way, frustration and blisters aside, its actually a really good game.

Be warned though, the JP PS3 version, unlike most other Capcom PS3 titles, does not have English support.

History and Myth in Video Games

World War 2 has provided a rich historical setting for numerous video game titles over the years. However, the market has become saturated by such titles and you never have to wait too long for the next one to come along.

Other well received games have successfully incorporated very different historical influences. Two which immediately come to mind are God of War, with its tale of Sparta and myths of ancient Greece, and Assassin’s Creed, based in the Holy Land during the Third Crusade (1189-92).

What follows are some suggestions of other historical and mythological settings that would provide great material for a game, but have been somewhat underutilized in the past.

The Epic of Gilgamesh (circa. 2000 BC) – With Jason and the Golden Fleece getting the video game treatment recently (Rise of the Argonauts), another even older tale, The Epic of Gilgamesh, could get a look in. This epic poem from ancient Mesopotamia features gods, demons, giants, a journey to the bottom of the sea and a youth restoring plant. There are also enough plot holes and undiscovered sections of the story to allow the developers to get a bit creative.

Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) – Alexander’s campaigns took him from the Hellespont, to Egypt, even into India and almost all the way back again. By the time he died, he ruled over most of the known world. I would love to play a strategy game based on his Persian campaign (is there already one?) or how about a strategy/RPG that could also incorporate some of the mythological elements of his life (his divine lineage, battles with monkey-like tribes and a relationship with an Amazonian queen!).




The French Revolution (1789-1799) – I remember reading a while back that revolutionary France was being considered as the back drop of the next Assassin’s Creed game. I really hope this is true, as the blood-soaked years of the Revolution would certainly lend themselves to such a game.

World War 1 (1914-18) – Although there have been a fair few titles set during the Great War, it pales in comparison to the sheer number of WW2 shooters. Granted, a WW1 FPS would be a little bit limited when it comes to weaponry, but it would provide an altogether different atmosphere and I would welcome the change.


Maybe developers would do well to flip through a history book every once in a while, before they churn out yet another regurgitation of a WW2 shooter. There is definitely no shortage of material.

Do You Wanna be a Record Breaker, Ooooh.

Can you complete Metal Gear Solid in less than 1 hour, 55 minutes and 31 seconds, in one life and no saves?

If so, you need to contact Guinness World Records, who are releasing a Gamer's Edition of their popular series. They are looking for entries from anyone who thinks they have got what it takes to be video game record breaker! What are you waiting for?

Some examples -

GTA San Andreas has the most voice actors of any video game, with 339!

The fastest completion of Super Mario World is 10min 54sec by Scott Kessler on 9 July 2004.

The UK’s Faiz Chopdat was jailed for four months for playing Tetris on his mobile phone on a plane. This is the longest sentence handed down for playing a video game.

Nox Ryan 2 took only a week to achieve the highest level on the multiplayer portion of Call of Duty 4. He went through the prestige mode 10 times, to finally reach level 605! In 7 days! I like to play video games, but thats just plain weird.

You too could be a record breaker. Check through your game collection and get to work. Personally, i'm going for most Super Famicom controllers snapped in half whilst playing Prince of Persia. Its mine.

Biohazard/Resident Evil 5 Demo

After spending a little of bit of time playing the newly released demo, here are some thoughts on Biohazard 5 for the Playstation 3.

*Graphically, it looks great.

*In keeping with the style of the series, the controls are still pretty awkward, especially aiming and turning. No real suprise here then, but I am a little concerned about the lack of a 360degree view. Using the R stick, you are only able to see what is directly in front or slightly to the side of you, when not aiming a weapon, meaning you have to turn your character round each time. I found this quite disorientating at first.

*Anyone who has played Biohazard 4 will have no problem getting into this.

*There has been a lot of comments about the inability to move and fire, and whether this will be addressed in the final game. Personally, im a bit torn on this. It would certainly make the gameplay a lot smoother and quicker, and the fire fights a little easier, but it just wouldnt be Biohazard.  Picking your spots to stop and shoot, and the panic of wheeling round to see an enemy right beside you are staples of the series and adds a lot to the atmosphere of the game.

*I really like the idea of playable demos being released online for all the big releases. Aside from the obvious advantage of being able to play before you buy, it also allows you to jump straight into the full game when you buy it, as you can already be familiar with the controls and gameplay style. By the way, Killzone 2 playable demo available from this Thursday :)

*The co-op play seems promising and has the potential to add a great deal to the game.

*I downloaded the demo from the Japanese PS Store, and it has full English support. I'm hoping that the full JP game will be the same, as it comes out a week before the International release, and will save me the cost of picking up an import copy.

So all in all, control issues aside, I'm impressed and looking forward to March 5th. 

Sega Saturn Buyer's Guide

I was reading an interesting article today at kotaku.com , that provides a buyer’s guide to the last generation of consoles, and it got me thinking. So without further ado, here’s the buyer’s guide for the Japanese Sega Saturn.

Some History – Released in Japan in November 1994, and discontinued in 1998, the Saturn was released just ahead of Sony’s Playstation. It enjoyed some success in Japan, initially outselling the Playstation. However, in the long run the Saturn would fail, marking the beginning of the end for Sega as a console manufacturer. The strong competition (PS and the N64) and difficulty to program by third-party developers spelled doom for the Saturn.

The Console – A trip to any second hand game store reveals no shortage of Saturns. There are a couple of different models, but by far the most common are the original grey model and the later white version. Look to pay no more than ¥4000 for either, including all the necessary wires and two controllers. If you shop around a bit, you should be able to find one even cheaper. I picked up a second (!) Saturn the other day, the JVC/Victor made V model, for only ¥1300.

The Games – One of the advantages of being a Saturn owner in Japan is that most of the titles come cheap, and there is no shortage of them. It’s cheap and easy to build an impressive library of games.

When new, the games came with a cardboard spine card, kept in place by the plastic shrink wrap. Most collectors aren’t interested if the game comes without one, but I have never been too bothered.

In the following list of recommendations, I have tried to include a range of genres that will provide the most well-rounded Saturn experience. In general, I have avoided some of the rarer, more expensive titles. The most prominent of which is Radiant Silvergun, which usually sells for ¥18,000.

Virtua Fighter 2 – The Saturn’s best selling game and must have for any Saturn owner. You can pick this up for ¥100 in virtually any second hand gaming store. Also, check out Fighter’s Megamix, featuring the Virtua Fighters and the characters from Fighting Vipers.

Virtua Cop 2 – My favourite game for the Saturn. Used with the light gun, it really brings the arcade experience into the home. Don’t pay any more than ¥500 maximum for the game and the boxed gun.

X-men Versus Streetfighter – Part of the Vs Fighting series. It runs fast and smoothly, and the SF and X-men characters are well balanced. You need a RAM cart to run this game, which when packaged with the game will cost you between ¥1500-¥2000, though its well worth it.

Nights – One of the most unique and critically acclaimed games on the Saturn. Pick it up with a copy of the Christmas add-on for around ¥200.

Virtual On – Another ¥100 game! This mech fighter is best played with the Virtual On Arcade sticks (see “Peripherals” section).

Sega Rally – For me, one of the defining games for the Saturn. And guess what, you can pick up a copy for ¥100!

Decathelete – Track and field makes a successful appearance on the Saturn. But be warned, there is a lot of button bashing. Don’t play this game for long periods, unless you want to sustain serious finger injuries.

Policenauts – This is by far my favourite game in which I can’t get past the first 15 minutes! From Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear series), this game comes packaged in a stylish black jacket, with an art book and stickers. It has a dedicated following even today. But be warned, unless your Japanese is very good, you will have absolutely no idea what’s going on, or what exactly you are supposed to be doing.

Guardian Heroes – Although a little pricey for a Saturn game, between ¥3000 and ¥4000, Treasure’s side-scrolling fighter will be a great addition to your collection.

Panzer Dragoon – Another Saturn title that still has a strong fan base, and cheap and easy to pick up to boot.

Alien Trilogy – My favourite FPS on the Saturn. Although not a Saturn exclusive, its one of the games that I have most enjoyed on Sega’s doomed console.

Peripherals – One item that is an absolute must buy when you pick up a Saturn is a lithium battery. It fits into the back of the console, and is needed to run the internal memory, allowing you to store system information and save games. You can get them virtually anywhere. Also, unless you only intend on playing a small handful of games, you will want to get a memory cartridge, which usually cost around ¥1000.

Sega Light Gun – A must have for Virtua Cop 1+2.

Nights Analogue Controller – Another worthwhile addition. Although only compatible with a limited number of games, it’s essential for getting the most out of Nights.

Virtual On Arcade Sticks - http://toomanywires.blog126.fc2.com/blog-entry-2.html. In all honesty, you can probably do without one of these!

So there you have it. For a minimal price, you can pick up a console, that although not without its faults, will provide you with hours and hours of enjoyable game play. The Saturn boasts an expansive and affordable back catalogue of games, which can be found anywhere from Sofmap to your local Book Off. I have noticed of late that prices are beginning to slowly creep upwards, so now would be a good time to get into it. Better late than never.