Resistance 2 Screenshots

The original Resistance: Fall of Man is still kicking my ass, but it’s interesting to see what the future may hold.  Some high-res screenshots have been released courtesy of SCEA.  The graphics look amazing, of course and the Chimera look quite vivid and dare I say it…real?  The Chimera are also packing some new gear- very trendy.  However I will say that they look very creepy, especially in this image:

Resistance 2
Click on image to see full size

The whole screenshot collection can be found here.  I can’t wait to find out more information about this game and of course, to see some more fantastic screenshots.

More PS3 Gaming

More PS3 Gaming- In addition to being captivated by Locoroco Cocoreccho, Super Rub a Dub is a lot of fun as well. Again, excellent value for two small downloadable games. Anyhow, after having played heavy amounts of Assassin’s Creed since I got my PS3, my other new favourites are Resistance: Fall of Man and Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. I like a bit of variety these days and try not to hammer one game to death (like Assassin’s Creed, I must admit). I’ll try to give some thoughts and opinions on these two epics at some point.

A little bit of PS3 indulgence

A little bit of PS3 indulgence- I’ve been playing a sick amount of LocoRoco Cocoreccho! over the past couple of days. For such a small and cheap downloadable game off the PlayStation Store, you may think there’s not much to it, but I’m just astounded. There’s so much gameplay and replay value. On top of that, I’m loving the SIXAXIS interaction.

Original PSP doesn’t have enough RAM for Skype

Original PSP doesn’t have enough RAM for Skype– At least Sony have done the right thing by letting original owners know. However, I do feel that we should have been told this from Sony right from the start so that no ill feeling would have arisen in the first place.

Criterion defend their new baby

I thought I’d give my own take on this story as I have played Burnout right from the beginning and have some good memories from past games in the series.  I’d just like to mention before I go any further, that I have 1) read Criterion’s response, and 2) played the demo in question.

The gist is that players have taken the Burnout Paradise demo for a spin (on both the PS3 and Xbox 360 I believe) and (more or less) universally condemned it.  Kokatu’s rather nicely-worded article ‘Criterion Responds To Burnout Paradise Criticism‘ reveals a rather more accurate summery:

‘The Burnout Team have written a rather grumbly Christmas card to fans who have found one too many things to complain about in the demo version of Burnout Paradise.’

I still think that’s putting it mildly.  The Burnout Team are probably hacked off that they’ve spent so much time and effort on Burnout Paradise, only to have a fair amount of criticism levelled at their beloved.  When reading Criterion’s response I get the overwhelming feeling of despise for the critical gamer out there.  People have good reason- as consumers (in the UK anyway), next gen games cost £40-50 which is no pocket change.  Gamers are more critical than ever these days with good reason.

Next you will see how Criterion gets this totally wrong, and so here’s a choice quote from the Burnout Team themselves:

As to those who can proclaim from a taste of the demo that Burnout 2 was the best game (always nice to see all those Gamecube owners on the internet who haven’t played the game since B2! ) or that B3 is the better game – again, I can only smile. Those of us who have made the games dearly love those games but we’re confident that if you love those games too then you will love Paradise.

And therein I think, lies the problem.  All the Burnout games that have preceded Paradise have gone along the path of evolution- creating a better game with minor changes for the best.  Burnout was the ultimate in arcade racing in my opinion.  However Paradise seems to have taken the revolution approach- starting from scratch, and offering a completely revamped experience.  Whilst this is no bad thing, gamers that have followed the series from the beginning do not like such a great change.

I also totally agree with what Matt Brett has to say on this matter in his post ‘Burnout Paridise, a great franchise ruined‘.  Whilst gamers brand-new to the franchise will love it, it is fundamentally different to what most of us have known and enjoyed playing.

SingStar Humilitation

Happy New Year! I had the recent misfortune of being humiliated on SingStar for the PS3. The task was simple; do a duet with a mate on a variety of tracks and try to sing reasonably. However I encountered quite a fundamental obstacle to achieving my goal- I really can’t sing! Instead of a sublime rendition with dulcet tones, my voice was like an untuned guitar… with possibly a few strings broken for good measure.

This begs the question- do I actually buy SingStar for myself and get some much needed practice? Or do I admit defeat and vow never to (attempt to) sing again?

My Assassin’s Bane

After having a fair time to get acquainted with Assassin’s Creed and the various ins and outs of the game, I find myself particularly irritated with a teensy but (in my mind), crucial detail. If I draw the attention of a guard and speed off into the distance on my trusty steed, then calmly walk about miles away; a random guard where I now am will somehow know what that other guard did, and proceed to attack me. Are these guards psychic or something?!

Meh, it’s a minor detail I just thought I’d mention. I’d like to make clear though that it does not in any way alter my actual enjoyment of the game. It has to be one of the best action games I have played for quite some time. It is quite an achievement considering there are no guns- which makes a refreshing change.

Assassin's Creed