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ACTIVISION CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 3 - FOR XBOX 360

Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven is the third in the successful miss ... Read more

Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven is the third in the successful mission-based stealth series that first appeared on the PlayStation in 1998; few changes have been made to the basic format. Players can once again choose to be either Rikimaru, the silent, sword-wielding assassin, or Ayama, the acrobatic younger ninja. Both characters pass through the same game world, but each has slightly different goals that take them on different routes. A third character can be unlocked later on. During the first mission you're required to choose a number of weapons to aid you in your immediate tasks. Throughout the game more and more weapons, from melée to ranged weapons, are added to your arsenal depending on your performance during each level; your chosen weapons dictate how you approach the mission goals. The silent approach is encouraged and there's a variety of graphically satisfying stealth kills that will only work if you remain elusive and strike unexpectedly and silently. Aside from the stealth kills, graphically the game is a mixed bag. Light shimmers off your sword menacingly, but the environments are textureless and repetitive and the game fails to maximise on differences between light and dark areas to add to the experience. Also, the stealth dynamic is made less challenging by the shortsightedness and slow reactions of the enemy guards and the iffy AI: guards will give up searching for you within seconds and are unable to follow you through doors. This turns a potentially atmospheric and tactical stealth game into a hack-and-slash arcade romp. Multi-player options are included though, so if you feel the need for a more realistic opponent you may want to call a friend. Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven remains an enjoyable experience despite the flaws. While being pretty basic, it remains challenging; numerous set pieces manage to paper over some of the weaknesses. It's just a shame that after doing so much to establish and define the stealth-game genre this fails to raise the bar or introduce any novel elements. It feels more like an update of the first game, and while this is no bad thing, fans will probably be expecting more; gamers new to the series may be less forgiving towards it. --Chris Ryan Minimize

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the third installment in ... Read more

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the third installment in Infinity Ward's first person shooter franchise. The much anticipated CoD: MW3 will begin right after Modern Warfare 2 left off and players will get to control a Russian Federal Protective Services agent, SAS Operative, tank gunner, and AC-130 gunner as well as other characters from previous games. The game will have about 15 missions, starting with the invasion of Manhattan by a Russian force Campaign The player assumes the role of various characters during the single-player campaign, changing perspectives throughout the progression of the story, which, like its preceedors, is divided into three sets of missions called "Acts". Each mission in an act features a series of objectives that are displayed on the heads up display. Mission objectives vary in their requirements, ranging from having the player arrive at a particular checkpoint, to eliminating enemies in a specified location, to standing their ground against enemy squadrons, manning mini-guns and other weapons, and planting explosive charges on an enemy installation. Some of these objectives can be failed, and may or may not hinder progression of the story. The player is also accompanied by fellow soldiers who cannot be issued orders. Cooperative Modern Warfare 3 features a new mode, called Survival Mode. This game mode features one or two players fighting endless waves of enemies, with each wave becoming increasingly difficult. Despite being much compared to the World at War Nazi Zombies mode, enemies do not spawn at fixed locations like the zombies do; instead, they appear at tactical positions based on the current location of the player. The mode is available on all multiplayer maps in the game. Players earn cash for items such as weapons, upgrades, ammo, air/ground support and equipment. Special Ops also returns from Modern Warfare Minimize

It has been three years since Megatron and the Decepticons ... Read more

It has been three years since Megatron and the Decepticons last threatened the world. Earth's leaders believe that Megatron has fled the planet in defeat but Optimus Prime knows better. An alien transmission is intercepted, exposing Megatron's plan to spread chaos and fear among the humans and unleash the ultimate Decepticon assassin shockwave: the Autobots mush hunt Megatron, neutralise shockwave, and save their new home from total destruction at the hands of the Decepticons. Stealth force engage in epic vehicular combat. Change the battle and instantly convert to at third hybrid form hybrid form combines the weapons and firepower of robot mode with the agility and manueverablitity of vehicle mode Experience the gripping battles and heart pumping moments that occur before Michael Bays upcoming blockbuster film Transformers Dark of the Moon Unravel Megatrons plan to unleash the ultimate Decepticon assassin Shockwave. Play both sides as the iconic Autobot and Decepticon transfoermers characters Choose from three distinct character class chassis and inuque weapon loadouts to create your own transformers character Level up your character earn XP in every match and unlock new character skills and abilities Minimize

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions is an action-packed advent ... Read more

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions is an action-packed adventure encompassing four dramatically different parallel universes, each with its own Spider-Man armed with unique strengths. Each stunning universe has its own detailed art design and thrilling gameplay with challenging skill sets to master in order to unlock powerful new moves. Explore dramatic, stunning environments, wield explosive new powers, and face epic boss battles against extraordinary foes. Experience the legendary Super Hero like never before: Four unique worlds. Four distinct Spider-Men. One unparalleled experience! Experience Spider-Man x 4, with unique strengths in each of four distinct and dramatic world settings Go beyond the traditional New York City setting with a myriad of additional locations and styles, including jungles, train yards, military bases and more Immerse yourself in truly epic boss battles with boss-themed levels which bring environments, music and pacing in tune with the most thrilling, iconic villains from Spider-Man lore. Deliver damage up close and personal with a first-person perspective during key moments of battle where strategy is key to success Discover new surprises around every corner with new abilities to uncover, plus multiple costumes and bonuses to unlock Minimize

The long awaited release of Doom 3 sees it claiming two of ... Read more

The long awaited release of Doom 3 sees it claiming two of gaming’s highest accolades: that of having the best graphics ever seen and of being the scariest video game ever made. The question of graphics seemed a pretty open and shut case from the moment the game was announced--this is the first new title from legendary developers iD Software since Quake III: Arena and as such it features completely new graphics technology. The reason the game is likely to win the Dr Who award for behind the sofa gaming is in the way it chooses to use its awesome new graphical power. The game’s storyline is a loose remake of the first Doom game (from way back in 1993) but the style of gameplay is actually radically different. This is more like a first person Resident Evil than anything else, with corpses lunging out at when you least expect it and monsters scattering their innards all over the place whenever you introduce them to the business end of your shotgun. In actual fact though it’s not the graphics that are the most disturbing aspect of the game but the sound, with every unknown noise ratcheting the tension up so much that by the time a monster actually does appear it’s almost a relief to tangle with them. Doom 3 is not for the faint hearted and that’s not a warning to be taken lightly--anyone keen on wearing oversized women’s shirts will have a coronary within minutes. But for everyone else this is exactly what the doctor ordered. --David Jenkins Minimize

Film favorites Buzz Lightyear and Woody are back in action ... Read more

Film favorites Buzz Lightyear and Woody are back in action with their latest video game offering, Disney/Pixar's Toy Story 2. The cowboy Woody is in trouble in a game that closely follows the plot of the hit computer-animated flick. Although the game is obviously aimed at luring fans of the movie of the same name, it does contain gameplay that will appeal to a wider audience. Toy Story 2 is not a perfect game, but it captures the playability and humour of the film, and also has movie-quality animation and graphics.Woody finds himself kidnapped by Al, the evil toy collector, and it's up to Buzz to save the day--with a little help from the other toys in owner Andy's room. Buzz must venture outside Andy's house and into the local neighbourhood. Game environments include a perilous construction area, a toy barn and a sky-rise apartment. Ultimately, Buzz will confront his arch nemesis, the Evil Emperor Zurg--but getting there is half the fun.During his journey, Buzz must collect missing parts for Mr Potato Head. He also calls on his buddies Rex, Slinky Dog and Hamm the piggy bank for helpful tips and directions. Controls are varied but can be confusing to master. Buzz can climb, do a "super foot stomp", fire his laser and perform a Space Ranger spin attack to help him get through the various levels. --Bill Hutchens Minimize

The Quake series has always been a schizophrenic one, with ... Read more

The Quake series has always been a schizophrenic one, with the odd numbered games being primarily multiplayer affairs and the even numbered ones being focused on single player – with very little connection between the two. As maths fans will have already realised that means that Quake 4 picks up from the ending of Quake II and once again chronicles the battle between humanity and the alien Strogg. Although it is not developed by Id Software themselves, but by Soldier of Fortune creators Raven Software, Quake 4 does use the Doom 3 graphics engine. In fact if there’s one early criticism of the game it is that it looks altogether too much like Doom 3, with very similar art design and darkened levels - and little of the orange hues and angular architecture of Quake II. In gameplay terms an early plot twist has you being captured by the Strogg and assimilated as one of their nasty looking cyborgs. The process is interrupted just before the end though, allowing you to retain your human mind (phew!) and yet also make use of various new superpowers, which, along with your weapons, can also be upgraded as the game goes on. With some pilotable weapons, including a nifty looking mech, this looks set to be an explosive, if unoriginal, first person shoot ‘em-up. The nature of the multiplayer mode has yet to be revealed but fans will certainly be interested in the multiplayer only spin-off Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, which if anything looks even better than this. -- Harrison DentThis preview is based on an incomplete version of the game; features or problems mentioned above may not appear in the finished game. Minimize

Guitar Hero 5 Game Only - Guitar Controller Required To Pla ... Read more

Guitar Hero 5 Game Only - Guitar Controller Required To Play The game that started the modern music phenomenon is back, with more songs, more bands and more party game action. Just like Guitar Hero: World Tour you can play as a whole band with your friends, with lead guitar, bass, drums and vocals all working together in the same song. What's new for Guitar Hero 5 though is that anyone can play any combination of instruments, so you can have four lead guitars if you want or even swap roles mid song. As a result each individual has their own Star Power meter and it's up to the best players to save others if things go wrong. To encourage even more co-operation there's also the new Band Moments bonus, which doles out big rewards if every member of the team can complete a section together. With the RockFest feature adding tons of new game modes as well this is the best value Guitar Hero yet. Monster of rock: The biggest Guitar Hero yet with new ways to play, new rewards and the biggest line-up of master recordings ever seen. Jam with the band: Party Play option lets players join or leave a song whenever they want, or even change instruments or difficultly level mid-song. Rock festival: New game modes including Momentum, which changes the difficultly as you play, and Elimination, where the weakest link player is dropped if they mess up. Special moments: New "Band Moments" offer big rewards if everyone can co-operate for a set stretch of rock perfection. Hall of fame: A record-breaking 85 songs by 83 different artists, including The White Stripes, Arctic Monkeys, Johnny Cash, Tom Petty and more. In the all-new Party Play mode, players can now jump in or drop out of gameplay seamlessly, without interrupting their jam session Play with any in-game instrument combination in any game mode - multiple vocalists Minimize

Crash Bandicoot is a bargain basement Taz, a capering, roll ... Read more

Crash Bandicoot is a bargain basement Taz, a capering, rolling-eyed dingo-like creature. Over the few years before his PS2 debut, Crash Bandicoot: the Wrath of Cortex, he's appeared in various PSone titles--usually Mario wannabe platformers, but there've also been blatant Mario Party and Mario Kart rip-offs in the shapes of Crash Bash and Crash Team Racing. Never less than fun, yet never a realistic contender when compared against the genre-defining Mario 64, Crash has sometimes received a fairly rough ride from the press. With original developers Naughty Dog passing on the chance to produce a PS2 version, Travellers Tales have created this effort, and in terms of gameplay, there's no progression here whatsoever. This is Crash as we know and tolerate him, albeit with fancier lighting effects. All the familiar faces return, including (obviously, given the title) arch-goon Dr Cortex. And it's great, as it goes. Ignore the on-rails nature of the gameplay and the dismally slow loading times; it's unlikely you'll come across a jauntier, more ridiculous, stupid-brilliant game for some time. As well as the usual platform action, there are mine-cart chases á la Indiana Jones & The Temple of Doom, hysterically playable Marble Madness-style levels, secrets, bonuses, vehicles, new moves; all kinds of everything, as Dana might have put it if she were into video games rather than winning the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest. Simple to pick up and play, crammed with outlandish ideas, colourful, loud and a laff riot into the bargain, it would be a hard heart that didn't warm to this old 'coot. --Steve Colton Minimize