LittleBigPlanet 2

Last year, when I posted a retrospective of Little Big Planet, I was so excited for its upcoming sequel. And now that its out, I have to say... I'm 100% satisfied with the final product; which is a rare thing when a game is hyped up as much as this.
LittleBigPlanet 2 is the sequel to 2008(?)s PS3 exclusive, LittleBigPlanet; a game based off of user generated content. LBP2 continues this style of Play, Create, Share.

STORY
LittleBigPlanet 2 begins with sackboy being abducted by an evil monster that looks like a giant Vacuum cleaner, known as the Negativitron. As the Negativitron attempts to trap Sackboy, rescue arrives in the form of Larry Da Vinci and Avalon Centrifuge, the apparent "leaders" of The Resistance.
The game follows Sackboys recruitment into the Resistance and their efforts to rid Craftworld of the Negativitron.

The story of LBP2 exceeds the original's approach in so many ways. More memorable characters, plus actual cutscenes and voice acting give the game a lot more character, while retaining the charm it always had. As well as that, the story actually gives you a more focused experience, introducing the Antagonist from the beginning, rather than tacking him on near the end; like the Collector in LBP1.

The story is really quite funny, and using the in-game tools to create the cutscenes, Media Molecule made it possible to insert some much needed drama into the game.


PRESENTATION
LittleBigPlanet 2 returns with the style that made it so charming and memorable in the first place; the entire landscape has a handcrafted feel to it, which gives the levels themselves almost as much character as the actual characters.
Sound design is perfectly executed in this sequel; the various soundtracks all fit perfectly with the levels, and they all have a sense of playfulness to them, no matter how ominous or grand it may sound.

A big departure from the storytelling of its predecessor, LBP2 features fully voiced cutscenes, made with the in-game creation tools. The voice actors in the story made the characters their own, and much of the dialogue is why I enjoyed the story scenes so thoroughly.

The game itself looks substantially better than the last, with Media Molecule polishing the game engine to a mirror shine. Everything looks and sounds better than the original.


GAMEPLAY
Gameplay inside the main story levels of LBP2 remain largely unchanged since the original; most levels revolve around directing sackboy from one end of the level to the other, using basic platforming techniques as you go. New gadgets such as the grabinator and the graqppling hook spice up the gameplay, as do devices like the controllinator (which allows sackboy to take control of any vehicle/object with controls mapped to the controller).

A word of caution, however: the "floaty" jumping controls of LBP1 have not been adressed, so if you're one of those people who will miss out on an amazing gaming experience because of some extremely minor detail like that, LBP2 will not change your stance on it. You didn't like the jumping in the original, you won't like it now. Just saying.

Now, anyone who played the original will know that "play" is only 2 parts of the equation. 1 part story, 1 part community play; but what's the 3rd part? The 3rd is "Create", which allows any player to make almost anything using the creation tools. The tools are robust enough to make anything you want, but simple enough to start on something small for those of you who are creatively challenged.

The creation tools are so robust that we've seen top-down racers, side-scrolling shooters, first-person shooters and fighting games. For anyone well versed in the create tools, the only limitation to your creations will be your imagination.

REPLAYABILITY
So what happens when you finish the story and you're done with creating? Well, if you've gone back and aced all the levels, collecting everything there is to collect, then it's time for you to jump online and experience what other people are sharing. Or if you'd like, share some of your own stuff. LBP was one of the only games I've continually played since its release, and I foresee LBP2 being played on and on and on, because the level library is always expanding.

The addition of competitive multiplayer games to the mix makes this title even more fun with friends, both locally and cooperatively. Be sure to try the basketball game. It's amazingly addictive.

Oh, and if you happened to waste your money on PS Move, or WiiHD as it's been dubbed, then it also comes with Sackboys prehistoric moves. Haven't played it, but free stuff is always nice, right?

OVERVIEW
I don't want to sound like a rabid PS3 fanboy here, but if you don't own a PS3, this is the reason for you to get one. Don't get put off by the childish vibe, just do it. You won't regret it. For those of you who played the original, you need to pick this up. LBP2 is exactly what a sequel needs to be; polished presentation, natural evolution of gameplay and simplified, yet robust creation tools make this an amazing title to own.


Next week, my first MMO, DC Universe Online. Should be interesting. I'll see you next time!

Metal Gear Solid: Peacewalker

Another week, another PSP game to review. Just got back from New Zealand, and any time I wasn't chilling with family or friends, I was reading or playing my PSP, an activity that seems so much more enjoyable thanks to last weeks game, and now Metal Gear Solid: Peacewalker.

STORY
MGS: Peacewalker is set 10 years after Metal Gear Solid 3, and players take control of the legendary soldier known as Big Boss once again. After executing his former mentor and averting nuclear war between the USA and USSR, Big Boss (though preferring the codename "Snake") has begun his own Military nation, Militaires Sans Frontieres (Military Without Borders) and is hired by a client to rid Costa Rica of an occupying force, suspected to be the C.I.A.

The story follows MGS tradition with a well written, yet overly complicated story. Though not the most convuluted in the series, it definitely needs some kind of an editor. Otherwise, the story is quite entertaining and brings the wide range of emotions that Metal Gear games are known for.

Characters are well written, and Big Boss is really well developed as a character. For those of you who haven't played Snake Eater, a warning; spoilers occur in Peacewalker, so try to play Snake Eater first.

PRESENTATION
Along with Ghost of Sparta, Peacewalker is one of the best looking and sounding games I've ever had the pleasure of playing. Though not as slick and smooth as their HD, console counterparts, both games have magnificent voice acting and musical scores that set the tone for the game.
MGS fans should expect no less than the usual amount of awesome that is packed into the standard Metal Gear game.

David Hayter and Lori Alan return in thier roles from Snake eater, and are accompanied by a cast of interesting voices that add a lot of depth to the games main characters.
While the game may not look as good as its PS3 counterpart, it pretty much equals its late PS2 counterpart, which is fitting, seeing as it follows on from it story-wise.


GAMEPLAY
Peacewalker is the usual Metal Gear formula of sneaking and gunfighting, which works fairly well on the system provided. The controls are certainly more fitted to sneaking than anything else, but the lack of a 2nd analog stick affects this too. The camera is a bit awkward to position, using the face buttons instead of a second stick.
The problem with this is, while sneaking, you want to see as much as possible around you. Conversely, while gunfighting, this system doesn't provide the best accuracy possible, and sometimes makes the action sequences seem like a chore.

A variety of items and weapons can be gathered, allowing you to play your way, whether that be sneaking, rambo-style, or a mix of the two. These weapons and items are retrieved through a management-like minigame where you hire soldiers and assign them to teams within your army, whilst sending soldiers out on missions, or capturing new recruits or vehicles.
I gotta say, as fun as the main gameplay was, I found it almost as fun to just mess around with my teams, sending them into battle, rearranging soldiers, firing and recruiting all the time. It was honestly quite fun.

My biggest problem, and it may be a small problem, is that it was a rather short affair. For a Metal Gear game at least. And the boss battles lacked the flair that Peacewalkers' console counterparts almost always contained. Instead of fighting highly characterized, interesting people, it's always a mech or vehicle of some description. What a shame.

REPLAYABILITY
Though the story seems a bit short, it may be due to the fact that each of its chapters is split into around 10 missions. This allows for players to go back and attempt to better their score on a previous mission. It also encourages players to search through previously played missions for new goodies to take back to Mother Base.
This, along with the management side of Mother Base, gives players a fairly large amount of replayability, especially for a PSP title.
Along with main story missions, there are Outer Ops missions, performed by members of the MFS, as well as co-op missions to be played with up to 3 other friends. The PSP has never been known for its replayability, until now.

OVERVIEW
Were you disappointed when it was announced that the next MGS game would be based around Raiden and his ninja abilities? If so, this is the game for you. The next true sneaking/action game is on the PSP and it's name is Peacewalker. Nothing against Raiden, but if you're more into the traditional MGS experience, Big Boss has got you covered on the Playstation Portable. Despite not meeting a few of the standards of previous games (awesome boss battles, long game-time) Metal Gear Solid: Peacewalker is an entertaining, well presented, epic sounding masterpiece in portable form.


Thats it for this week, next week it'll be LittleBigPlanet2. Also, just wondering, should I get DC Universe Online? It's about 20 bucks a month for the subscription, and I'd be new to MMORPG's. Anyway, I'll see you next time!

God Of War: Ghost of Sparta

A couple of years ago, while on holiday, I played a game that raised my expectations of the Playstation Portable. This game was God of War: Chains of Olympus, and two years later, I find myself in a similar situation; on holiday with a fantastic PSP game. It’s only fitting that the game should be yet another entry into the God of War series.

STORY
With the story of Kratos at an end via the PS3’s magnificent God of War 3, this PSP title takes us back to the days between the first and second games. Kratos has just defeated Ares and claimed his throne, but is still haunted by the visions that the gods had promised to relieve him of.
However, these aren’t the usual visions of his murdered wife and child that he normally sees. These visions concern his long thought dead brother, Deimos. The game follows Kratos’ attempts to learn the truth behind his brother’s fate and his subsequent efforts to save him.

With the God of War series already concluded, I doubted whether or not Ghost of Sparta could be fit into the established canon. My doubts were unfounded, however, when I found that the game often nods to the final game of the series, while being a truly entertaining tale all on its own. I found Kratos to be at his most relatable in this story (although that may not be saying much about Mr. Murder himself).

PRESENTATION
The presentation of Ghost of Sparta can be summed up in one sentence, which is “I couldn’t believe the PSP could handle such slick, fluid graphics and animations, as well as provide the same epic soundtrack and voice acting as in the console games.
While the areas and puzzles provide some variety, the enemies in this game leave something to be desired. More often than not, each area consists of the same 5 types of enemies, but all with a different colour or something.
God of War 3 got my GOTY award for best soundtrack, and that same work shines on the PSP, assuming you have some good headphones to listen to it with. The PSP’s speakers just don’t seem to cut it.

GAMEPLAY
God of War: Ghost of Sparta brings the same hack and slash gameplay from the consoles to the compact screen of the PSP, with very little lost in translation. Combo’s are as fluid as ever, and seem like some kind of fiery ballet of doom, whereas Kratos also acquires some cool magic, ranging from the Eye of Atlantis’ lightning strike, to the Horn of Boreas’ freezing attacks.
Add to this a very cool weapon combo known as the Arms of Sparta, as well as an always present “Fire meter” for adding an extra spice to your usual attacks, and you have one of the most varied combat systems in the God of War Series to date.

Quick time events make a return, but as with GOW3, the symbols appear on the corresponding sides of the screen, meaning that the action takes centre stage ALWAYS. I’ve never really disliked the God of War QTE’s, simply because they never really catch you off guard. As an always present feature of the series, they’re expected, and lead to some really awesome parts of the games.

Gameplay problems are minor, but sometimes keep popping up, each time becoming more and more annoying. For instance, the choice to map the dodge control to the two shoulder buttons often makes the game feel awkward to play effectively. On top of this, some of the larger enemies (cyclops’ in particular) sometimes block the screen, obstructing the view of Kratos and occasionally of some smaller enemies.

REPLAYABILITY
The replay value of Ghost of Sparta is quite similar to every other God of War game. The original playthrough unlocks the hardest difficulty, and subsequent playthroughs can unlock extra media. The challenge of the gods returns and is as tough as ever whereas a new feature, The Temple of Zeus, is the users way of buying bonus content with XP Points.
Aside from that, the replay value is limited. There’s very little to find through exploration, aside from the various skill augmenting items, or experience orb chests. The sole replayability of GOW:GOS comes mainly from the Challenge of the Gods.

OVERVIEW
While not the longest game out at the moment, it’s challenging and entertaining enough to rival many popular games, some of the handheld variety, but many found on consoles. Its certainly a strange day when I choose to play a PSP game over a console game, but Ghost of Sparta may be good enough to do that.
The interesting story, and familiar, yet streamlined gameplay overshadow the minor problems, and the game continues with the usual God of War style, which is well and truly EPIC. It’s just epic on a smaller screen.


I'd like to apologize to any readers out there who have missed me (coz theres soooo many of you...) and I'll be back in full force after next Sunday. Next Sunday will hopefully be my Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker review, which will give me a week with LittleBigPlanet 2. Hopefully followed by Mass Effect 2 (PS3). See you next time!

Donkey Kong Country Returns

Once again, Nintendo is back to whipping all its Original I.P's into the ground with constant sequels and reboots. While not really a bad thing, it's always nice to see something new come up. And here we have... Donkey Kong Country Returns. Fantastic. A reboot of a classic SNES title. I wonder where they got that idea?... Oh wait.. Nintendo have already done that for Mario. Silly me.

STORY
Under the hypnotic powers of Tikis from the Tiki Tak Tribe, the animals of DK Island have stolen Donkey Kongs bananas and, obviously, the giant ape is pissed the fuck off. When did people think it was a good idea to steal I giant gorillas bananas?!
Anyway, the story follows Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong as they try to reclaim the stolen yellow fruit.

I would go on and on about how boring the story is, but lets face it... Nintendo don't have the mental capacity to write good stories, let alone come up with enough bad ones to retire the old ones. We see it in almost every Mario game, and we're seeing it here too. Best not to dwell on it, yea?
The story is good enough to give us a reason to play the game, but not enough to make us care about anything, really.

PRESENTATION
Donkey Kong Country Returns sticks to its 2D roots but, much like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the game featrues fairly slick 3D graphics. Coupled with this however, are the occasional levels with different art styles. For example, one level seemed to have a limbo-inspired silhouette style, which factored into the gameplay too.

The memorable music from the original make a return as well, and the sound effects are as memorable as ever. My one major problem with the presentation is that there weren't really enough of the visually interesting levels to keep the game interesting.


GAMEPLAY
DKCR features classic side-scrolling platforming that would familiar to anyone who played the original. The wii-mote + nunchuk can be used, but many players will opt to just have the wii-mote held sideways. The controls are simple enough so that even the most basic of vine-swingers will navigate the levels with ease.

I do have one big problem with the controls, and it was the same with New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The addition of motion controls to this game are completely unnecessary. You don't want to be running through a level, only to have to shake your controller to attack a specific enemy. It breaks the immersion for me, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Donkey Kong Country Returns does change up the side-scrolling format occasionally with rocket barrels, visual styles that impact the gameplay and some occasional jumping from mid-ground to foreground to background. It's these things that keep the game from becoming stale.

REPLAYABILITY
DK Country Returns features several challenges for each level, including finding puzzle pieces, letters of the word KONG and time trials to beat. Every level can also be played in co-op with the 2nd player as Diddy Kong. Aside from that, the game doesn't hold much replay value, but hey, its a fun game without it!

OVERVIEW
While I am a bit sick of Nintendo just pooping out sequels and reboots of their most overused properties, I did find myself enjoying DK Country Returns quite alot. It has a lot of humour for a game without a script, and it honestly looks really good, even for a Wii game. The addition of motion controls was fucking moronic, even if it plays a small role; but it doesn't really affect the awesomeness that was DK Country Returns. This is one for the nostalgia freaks AND new gamers alike.

O.K guys, I'm off to the new house, and then off on holiday. If I'm able to, I'll post a review over there, if not, see you next month!

Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days

Now, my back catalogue of games has been huge for some time now. Thats the problem with not getting paid to do this. Kane and Lynch 2 has been in there for a couple of months now (4 I believe) but now its time to get down to business. Is it intense, gritty and realistic? More to the point, is it good?

STORY
Kane and Lynch 2 follows the story of two career criminals who are past thier prime (if they ever had one). Lynch is living in Hong Kong with his new love Xiu, whilst still doing some dirty work for the local organized crime syndicate. Lynch calls Kane for aid in a risky deal, in return for a cut of the money. The shit hits the fan after Lynch kills the daughter of an extremely important man, and Kane and Lynch are soon fighting for their lives.

The story that IO interactive are trying to tell isn't necessarily a bad one, its just executed poorly. Unless you've played the first game, you don't really understand why Lynch is in Hong Kong, or whats going on with the whole "Kane's daughter" sub plot. Some parts of the story just seem absolutely retarded as well, one such moment occurs when, instead of using a single well guarded car to transport Kane and Lynch, the local authorities decide to take a fleet of high powered choppers. What the Fuck?

PRESENTATION
The visuals in this game are pretty terrible, to be completely honest. Yea, the character models and animations are smooth, but whats the point of that if it looks like everythings filtered through the shittiest handheld camera imaginable. Everythings all hazy and all the lights emit this massive bar across the screen. And they blurred out all the nudity! I get that IO interactive were going for something different to emphasise the sheer ugliness of the situation, but that doesn't stop the game from still looking crap.

The voice acting is bland and uninteresting, and the Asia pop soundtrack is just annoying (in the menu screen at least; i forgot how the rest of the soundtrack sounds). As far as I can see, theres really not much in the way of redeeming factors for Kane and Lynch 2's presentation.

GAMEPLAY
With such lackluster story and presentation, one would hope that the gameplay would be Kane and Lynch 2's high point. And although that may be correct, that really isn't saying much. Dog Days is based around cover-based combat and while that works fine, it's really, really boring!

Yes, games like Gears of War and Uncharted have done this before, but each of those had their own unique flavour of cover-based combat. GOW had awesome, devastating weapons, whereas Uncharted had more verticality to it due to the platforming. What does Kane and Lynch have?.... Honestly, theres nothing new or interesting here.

Not only is it boring, but the controls are awkward. Who the hell puts a sprint button on the shoulder of the controller? Also not helping the gameplay is the crap presentation. Its difficult to shoot something that you can't see clearly thanks to bars of light across the screen.
This may sound like im nitpicking now, and thats probably because I am. Not because I hate Kane and Lynch, oh no. I honestly wanted to like this game, but its almost impossible to actually enjoy it. I'm nitpicking because I want to make this as long as an average review.

REPLAYABILITY
Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days has a number of trophies/achievements to earn, but why you would bother is beyond me. It also features multiplayer, and It's probably the one redeeming factor of the game. Modes like fragile alliance are co-operative heists with a twist. At any moment, you or your team mates are able to gun down and betray the others, stealing more money for yourself.
While the concept is actually pretty cool, the gameplay once again slams it back down to Earth.

OVERVIEW
Don't buy it. For the love of god, it's better left at the bottom of the bargain bin. Hell, the only way I would suggest you get this game, is if someone is ACTUALLY PAYING YOU TO TAKE IT. Sure, I may be over reacting. Some people may appreciate the handy cam approach to visuals. And some people might actually enjoy the lackluster story. And yes, the cover-based combat is as solid as it was ever going to get. But really? Aren't there better games based off that same mechanic? For the love of god, go buy uncharted or Gears of War, or something!!!!

Stay tuned for my Donkey Kong Country Returns review. Just FYI, I'm posting these because I'm moving house tomorrow, and wont have the internet for about 10 days. And in 11 days, I'm flying to NZ, so this is my holiday fro reviewing. If I'm lucky enough to get near a computer while in NZ I'll be sure to post something.
See you next time!
P.S. Happy New Year!

Tophat Game Awards 2010: The Best of the Best

This time around, we're showcasing the best of the best. The Best of the Wii, X-Box 360, PS3, PC, Downloadable and handheld game devices! Then at the end of it all, Game of the Year. Who will win?!

BEST DOWNLOADABLE GAME
Starting off small this time, its the downloadable games first up. These titles may not come on a disc, but many of them have more value than any full priced game.
The nominees for best downloadable FULL game are:

-Deathspank
-Limbo
-Super Meat Boy
-Scott Pilgrim VS the World: The Game


The best full downloadable title of this year has got to be the 360 exclusive, Limbo. Take one part gothic black and white art style, and one part LBP physics based platforming, and you have one of the best games of the year, downloadable or not. Its an honestly scary game, because you never know when you're going to get killed, or by what. So to the developers of Limbo, well done, I can't wait to see what you do next.

BEST HANDHELD GAME
The following games are available on the PSP or Nintendo DS, and are great for when playing a console just isn't possible. You may be on holiday, or catching the bus. If you're addicted to gaming, these are perfect for you.
The nominees are:

-Metal Gear Solid: Peacewalker
-God of War: Ghost of Sparta
-Super Scribblenauts
-Pokemon Heart Gold/Soul Silver


And the winner of Best Handheld Game is, Metal Gear Solid: Peacewalker. This game has been referred to by many as Metal gear Solid 5, it's just that good. The fact that it's on a handheld device means nothing, the PSP's limitations do not affect the games awesomeness at all.

BEST WII GAME
Now, to many, the award for Best Wii Game may seem like an award for smallest widescreen tv. You're basically picking the best of the worst platform. But sometimes that's not true. In fact, these games are good enough to be on the big boy platforms. The nominees are:

-Kirby's Epic Yarn
-Disney's Epic Mickey
-Donkey Kong Country Returns
-Super Mario Galaxy 2


The winner is Kirby's Epic Yarn! While Kirby's old powers are in fact absent, the character distinctly feels like Kirby. The artistic style of the game is so adorable and full of charm that its reminiscent of games like LittleBigPlanet. This is the kind of thing that Nintendo properties need to stay fresh and new.

BEST PC GAME
Now, PC gamers are elitists, everyone knows it. But I find it hard to make a list of truly amazing PC games this year, let alone PC-exclusive Games. Here is a short list of the best games for PC

-Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty
-Fallout: New Vegas
-Sid Meier's Civilization V
-Mass Effect 2


And the winner, thanks to so many Koreans, is Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty. After waiting so long for this game, Starcraft was pretty much guaranteed to be a success. Looking good and sounding good are only half the equation, as the RTS gameplay is really very fun. And it's all solid too.
Blizzard owe this award to the fans all around the world.. especially Korea.

BEST X-BOX 360 GAME
The best game for X-box 360 is not an easy choice to make. With so many fantastic exclusive properties, it was hard enough picking JUST FOUR exclusive properties to nominate. And here those lucky games are:

-Halo: Reach
-Fable 3
-Mass Effect 2
-Alan Wake


Now, it was certainly a hard choice to make, but it must be said that Halo: Reach has proven to be a fan favourite once again. Despite being such an amazing game, Mass Effect has been edged out by Bungies last entry into the Halo world. With new weapons, a new planet, and a brand new story; Reach actually breathes new life into the Halo series. And that was something I never thought could happen. Kudos Bungie, good luck with your next venture.

BEST PS3 GAME
The following four nominees for Sony's platform are all extremely varied. From Kart Games to God Killing, from massive gunfights to one long quick time event, the PS3 had a good year. (Though not as good as 2011 promises to be). Here are the nominees for Best PS3 Game:

-God of War 3
-Heavy Rain
-Modnation Racers
-MAG


The best PS3 game of 2010 is, without a doubt, God of War 3. The Epicness of this game is amazing. Everything is huge, from fighting the gods' minions, to killing gods, to the awesome soundtrack playing throughout; just witnessing this game makes you feel powerful. It's sad to see the trilogy end, but now we have a development team hopefully moving on to something bigger and better.

GAME OF THE YEAR
It's time for the big one. The award of all awards. But first a quick recap of the year in gaming.
SPOILERS
This year, we saw the rise of motion controls with the PS Move and the Microsoft Kinect. We saw cowboys, Cubans, lots of fucking Zombies, Spartans and a brotherhood of Assassins. We saw many awesome characters pass before our eyes; players may remember the demise of John Marston, or Woods, or even young Jason.

It's been a big year. And next year only promises to be bigger, what with Gears of War 3, Infamous 2, Resistance 3, Deus Ex: Human Revolution and RAGE to name just a few big releases. And it's been fun letting people know what I think of games. I just hope more of you will check in every week to read my thoughts.

Now, lets get down to it. These games are AWESOME. That's all there is to it. And all of these games are magnificent in their own right. But its time to choose.

-Halo: Reach: A prequel to the fan-favourite series; Reach takes place on the doomed planet of the same name. You are part of Noble Team, known as Noble 6. The mission is doomed, but you'll carry it out anyway, coz that's your duty.

-Call of Duty: Black Ops: You are Alex Mason; strapped into an interrogation chair, forced to relive memories of past missions, deniable ops. Theres something wrong with the situation, and to figure it out, you've got to crack the numbers.

-Mass Effect 2: Ambushed and seemingly killed by the "Collectors", you are Commander Shepard. Revived 2 years later, you are tasked with finding out more about this deadly opponent and the mysterious disappearance of human colonies.

-Red Dead Redemption: It's the end of the Old West, and Red Dead puts you in the boots of former outlaw John Marston, a man trying to regain his family from the hands of the corrupt government.

-Assassins Creed: Brotherhood: The end of the world is coming and you, as Desmond Miles, must leap back into the memories of Ezio Auditore as he tries to find the Apple of Eden, and take revenge on the Borgia family for destroying his home.

-God of War 3: You are Kratos, the former god of war; betrayed by the gods and fed nothing but lies. It's time to take revenge as Kratos wages a war on Mount Olympus, against his true father.

-StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty: Set in the 26th century in a distant part of the Milky Way galaxy, the game revolves around three species: the Terrans, human exiles from Earth; the Zerg, a race of insectoids; and the Protoss, a species with vast mental powers. It's time to choose your allegiance and go to war.

*DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL**DRUM ROLL*



The winner of Tophat Game of the Year 2010 is Red Dead Redemption, devloped by Rockstar San Diego! With a compelling and emotional story, beautiful landscape, memorable characters and good old fashioned, solid gunfighting; Red Dead Redemption is what a game should be. As well as that, the developers have continued to support RDR with a variety of DLC, including Undead Nightmare, winner of BEST DLC in the minor awards.
Thanks go out to all developers honoured in these blogs by having their awards nominated. Without you guys, the industry wouldn't be half as amazing as it is today.

And with that, I say goodbye to 2010. Goodbye to the cold war, goodbye to the old west, good bye to so many zombies. Next year looks to be promising, and I wish everyone who reads this safety and peace.
At tophat gamer, we wish you a merry christmas and a happy new year!

Special thanks go out to all those who helped me, particularly Stu W., Andrew P., Lauren A., Michael N. and Ben H..See you next time!

Tophat Game Awards 2010: Minor Awards

Well, this is the last Tophat Gamer of the year and I thought we'd do something special. And By special, I mean something that every video game related site, show or blog has done before me. Thats right, it's time for the Tophat Awards for Gaming! Now, I don't have any physical awards, so if you own any of the winning games, just draw a tophat on the cover with whiteout. Or not.

Because we have so many categories, the Minor awards and even more minor awards are here, and the big ones are in the next blog.
Lets get into it!
Note: some categories will have a lot less exposition there. Just so you know.

BEST SHOOTER
This year we saw alot of shooters come out across all the consoles. These games are some of the most popular games at the moment, and its not hard to see why, seeing as they provide a large amount of immersion, as well as robust multiplayer features.
Though sometimes bland and generic, you can't deny that these games are addictive. So these are the nominees for Best Shooter of 2010.

-Bioshock 2
-Call of Duty: Black Ops
-Halo: Reach
-Battlefield: Bad Company 2
-Medal of Honour


And the Best Shooter of 2010 is... CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS! Though the COD franchise is beginning to wear out its welcome with many people, this years addition brought us an interesting, and somewhat strange single player story as well as a refined multiplayer offering; and everyones favourite cannon fodder, ZOMBIES! So to the team at Treyarch, we salute you!
Honourable mention goes to Bioshock 2, for breaking out of the space marine or gritty war mold, and offering something new. Well.. unless you count bioshock 1.

BEST ACTION/ADVENTURE
Now there have been a number of amazing action adventure games in the last 12 months. The nominees in this category all put players in the shoes of some of gamings most recognizable, and awesome, characters. They take us to worlds that we could never experience in real life, taking us through time and even through other dimensions.
Here are the nominees for best Action/Adventure game of 2010.

-Super Mario Galaxy 2
-God of War 3
-Spiderman: Shattered Dimensions
-Assassins Creed: Brotherhood

The title of best action/adventure game of 2010 goes to God of War 3! Previously, we had experienced the adventures of the angry "God Killer" Kratos on the PS2, and even then, they were amazing. Slick combat, stunningly huge boss battles, and a unique setting helped to cement this franchise in our minds. With the release of the third installation on the PS3, it seemed like the mindset of Sony Santa Monica was "do it bigger, better and more polished". And that's exactly what they delivered, as players around the globe set Kratos on the gods of Mount Olympus.

BEST RPG
When I say the words "role-playing game" what do you think of? Swords? Sorcery? Magical Creatures? Not even close. These are the games that best let us sink completely into a game and become the main character. The genre isn't limited to games like Runescape (uuuuurgh), and can be set in any time and place imaginable. The nominees of this category demonstrate this beautifully, and they certainly deserve their nominations.

-Fallout: New Vegas
-Mass Effect 2
-Final Fantasy XIII
-Fable 3

This years Best RPG award goes to Mass Effect 2! Though giving you a pre-named character, with little customization in terms of appearance, BioWare have produced a game with an amazing storyline that branches off in all different directions, as well as solid action and great characterisation. And you, as the player, get to decide how Shepard's story plays out.
To the team at BioWare, amazing work! PS3 owners are looking forward to your work next month, as well as Mass Effect 3 later in the year.

BEST DRIVING GAME
Driving games have been around forever, and for many people, they're the only way to take control of some of the fastest, most powerful vehicles imaginable. Often, players will pick up the game, simply because it lets us destroy these cars; cars that we could never afford, even in ten lifetimes. This year we saw everything from kart racing, to racing sims, to action arcade entries to the genre. The nominees below are great examples, and deserve to be checked out, whether they win or not.

-Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
-Modnation Racers
-Gran Turismo 5
-Split/Second

This years Best Driving Game is Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. Despite the tough competition, this years NFS is a stellar addition to the series. Developed by the team who made Burnout Paradise, the team really left their mark on this well established franchise. The spectacular cars, the high speeds and the awesome crashes make this game a must play. Criterion Games should be commended for their efforts.

Coming a close second, I might add, is Split/Second. Definitely one to check out if you enjoy Michael Bay films.

BEST RHYTHM GAME
Since their first appearance with games like Dance Dance Revolution, rhythm games have been extremely popular. With the release of the guitar hero games, the genre has been going strong ever since. Here are the nominations for this years best Rhythm game.

-Rock Band 3
-Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
-Dance Central
-DJ Hero 2

The best Rhythm Game of 2010 goes to Rock Band 3. While Dance Central utilizes the Kinect system, Rock Band 3 has revolutionized the genre most this year. The addition of the pro modes allows players to actually learn the songs in-game, as opposed to just co-ordinating the push of a button. Alongside that, it has an awesome soundtrack, so players who don't want the pro modes can rest easy knowing that its still the same game.
Harmonix, you have done an amazing job. We look forward to seeing how you top it.

BEST MUSIC GAME SOUNDTRACK
The nominees for best soundtrack in a music game are:

-Rock Band 3
-Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
-Dance Central
-DJ Hero 2

Despite it not being the best rhythm game, the winner of best soundtrack is Guitar Hero: Warriors of rock. About 99% of the songs in this game get that foot tapping and get you ready to tap that strum bar up and down. With a large list of metal and rock tracks, as well as a healthy dose of Rush; theres no doubt that this soundtrack is EPIC.
Honourable mention goes to Rock Band 3, due to the sheer size of the potential library the game has.

BEST LICENSED SONG IN A GAME
Th nominations for Best Licensed Song in a Game are:

-Far Away- Jose Gonzales, Red Dead Redemption
-Sympathy for the Devil- Rolling Stones, COD: Black Ops
-Goldeneye- Nicole Scherzinger, 007: Goldeneye
-Jingle, Jangle, Jingle- The Kay Kyser Orchestra with Harry Babbitt & Julie Conway

The winner, without a doubt has to be Far Away by Jose Gonzales. Let me set the scene for you... John Marston has just set foot in Mexico, a land unknown to him, full of danger and mystery. As you ride your horse across the barren desert, the song starts to play, and it encapsulates the emotions that any man in Marstons position would feel. In a game with few licensed tracks, it really does take the player by surprise.

BEST ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
The Nominees for best original soundtrack are:

-Halo: Reach
-Assassins Creed: Brotherhood
-God of War 3
-Red Dead Redemption
-Disney's Epic Mickey

And the Best Original Soundtrack award goes to God of War 3. While all the nominees have amazing soundtracks, God of War's sticks out in my mind. The God of War III overture in particular sets the tone for the entire game. Its epic orchestral score keeps with the message of GOWIII, and that is Bigger, Badder and More Epic.
Kudos to Gerard K. Marino, Ron Fish, Mike Reagan, Jeff Rona, and Cris Velasco; all of whom contributed to this awesome soundtrack.

BEST GRAPHICS
The nominees for best graphics are:

-Red Dead Redemption
-Heavy Rain
-God of War 3
-Halo: Reach

And the winner is Heavy Rain! With some of the most life like facial expressions, and millions of unique animations, Heavy Rain conveys an emotional story through its gameplay and its unique, and top-class visuals. Its slick visuals really set this game over the top for me, and i recommend at least one playthrough.

BEST WRITING
The nominees for best script-writing are:

-Heavy Rain
-Fallout: New Vegas
-Assassins Creed: Brotherhood
-Red Dead Redemption

The winner has got to be Fallout: New Vegas, due to its black humour and memorable characters. A lot of the game focuses on dialogue between the main character and NPC's, and if the dialogue writing didn't have charm, it wouldn't be half as engrossing as it is. Along with that, the main story arc is well paced, and has many twists and turns to it.
Hats off to Obsidian entertainment for keeping the fallout spirit alive and well, even if the game could be healthier.

BEST MALE VOICE ACTING
The Nominees for best Male Voice Acting Are:

-Gary Oldman as Reznov- COD: Black Ops
-Rob Wiethoff as John Marston- Red Dead Redemption
-Neil Patrick Harris as Peter Parker- Spiderman: Shattered Dimensions
-Daniel Craig as James Bond- 007: Blood Stone

The Best Male Voice Acting of 2010 has to go to Gary Oldman as Reznov. The man is a fantastic actor in his own right, but his portrayal as the betrayed Seargent Reznov is stellar. His voice alone conveys the raw hatred and bitterness that Reznov feels, and Oldman plays the hell out of that part.
Black Ops as a whole should get a mention due to voices like Sam Worthington and Ice Cube being heard between explosions and gunfire. INBOUND!

BEST FEMALE VOICE ACTING
The nominees for Best Female Voice Acting are:

-Kristen Bell as Lucy Stillman- AC: Brotherhood
-Jennifer Hale as female Commander Sheppard- Mass Effect 2
-Emmannuelle Chriqui as the Numbers Lady- COD: Black Ops
-Dame Judi Dench- as M- James Bond 007: Bloodstone

The Best Female Voice Acting of 2010 goes to Kristen Bell as Lucy Stillman in AC: Brotherhood! "Sarah Marshall" lends her voice and likeness to an already stellar game, and her voice allows the character of Lucy Stillman to feel human. To feel as though she could be your friend if you were in Desmond Miles' position.

BEST DLC
The following games are downloadable add ons to pre existing games, and this year has been quite good for seeing developers support their creations after launch. These are the Nominees:

-Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare
-GTA4: The Ballad of Gay Tony (released this year for PS3)
-Bioshock 2: Minerva's Den
-Assassins Creed 2: Bonfire of the Vanities

The winner has got to be RDR: Undead Redemption. This piece of DLC added not only an addition to the already amazing story, it essentially adds a completely new game. The core gameplay stays the same, but the onslaught of zombies changes things up. The subtle humour of the original game carries through to the DLC, and gets somewhat supercharged, while still staying dramatic, with a lot of character.
Well done Rockstar San Diego, well done!

BEST MULTIPLAYER
In this day and age, its disgraceful to think that so many games are being bought for multiplayer capabilities alone. That said, who can blame these consumers when we have such a distinguished field of Multiplayer capable games. The nominees for this category are:

-Call of Duty: Black Ops
-Halo: Reach
-Assassins Creed: Brotherhood
-Dead Rising 2

And the winner has to be Assassins Creed: Brotherhood. Yes, Black Ops and Halo Reach are better than ever, but they're still JUST COD and Halo! Assassins Creed brings a new, sneaky style of gameplay to the board, and it allows us to be real dirtbags. It combines the free running fun of the single player story with a more social stealth based assassin game. And its fun. So go play it!
Congrats to Ubisoft Montreal, who created this fantastic game.

BEST SANDBOX GAME
The gaming industry is full of sandboxes. These days, you'd be hard pressed to find a game that was COMPLETELY linear. However plentiful sandboxes are, there are clearly some awesome ones out there. They are our following nominees:

-Assassins Creed: Brotherhood
-Red Dead Redemption
-Dead Rising 2
-Just Cause 2

The Best Sandbox Game of 2010 is Red Dead Redemption! Rockstar games made the sandbox popular, so who better to receive this award? And what a sandbox they gave us this year. Filled with lots of sand, as well as cowboys, Mexicans and god damned bears. And cougars. Oh the cougars.
But the defining feature of a sandbox game, is the amount of stuff to do in it. RDR provides mini games galore, as well as ambient hunting, sharpshooter, survivalist and treasure hunter challenges, as well as a number of outfits and horses to collect.