1. F1 2010 (new entry)
F1 2010 is one of the best racing sims to boast the F1 license in some time, and not just because it manages to recreate the speed and excitement of the sport. The cars and racing circuits look brilliant, the lag-free online multiplayer offers a great mix of challenges and customisable races and the lengthy career mode will have console playing petrolheads glued to the TV long into the night. For fans of the sport, or indeed racing games in general, this is an essential purchase.
2. Halo Reach (▼1)
The biggest game of the year so far more than lives up the massive hype which accompanies its release. Halo Reach plunders each and every Halo game - from Combat Evolved to ODST- taking the best bits and crafting them into something remarkable. This is Halo’s Greatest Hits. A blistering, breathless crescendo to a decade’s worth of work. This is Bungie’s last hurrah in the universe it created; a universe it has lived, breathed and loved for the last decade. Was there ever any doubt that the developer would go out in a blaze of glory?
The biggest game of the year so far more than lives up the massive hype which accompanies its release. Halo Reach plunders each and every Halo game - from Combat Evolved to ODST- taking the best bits and crafting them into something remarkable. This is Halo’s Greatest Hits. A blistering, breathless crescendo to a decade’s worth of work. This is Bungie’s last hurrah in the universe it created; a universe it has lived, breathed and loved for the last decade. Was there ever any doubt that the developer would go out in a blaze of glory?
3. Dead Rising 2 (new entry)
Proving that there's more mileage to be made in the zombie apocalypse, Dead Rising 2 takes what worked so well with the original (zombies and shopping malls) and then offers the player new and interesting ways to dispatch the undead horde. It's true that the Dead Rising 2 is not much of a huge step forward from its predecessor; it offers very little that the original didn't, but what it does offer has largely been improved. And most importantly of all, you can run over zombies with a lawnmower, something all games could learn from.
Proving that there's more mileage to be made in the zombie apocalypse, Dead Rising 2 takes what worked so well with the original (zombies and shopping malls) and then offers the player new and interesting ways to dispatch the undead horde. It's true that the Dead Rising 2 is not much of a huge step forward from its predecessor; it offers very little that the original didn't, but what it does offer has largely been improved. And most importantly of all, you can run over zombies with a lawnmower, something all games could learn from.
4. Sid Meier's Civilization V (new entry)
In a marketplace where shooters, beat-'em-ups and sports sims seem to get all the attention, you might think that it would be no room for a turn-based, contemplative strategy game. And you'd be wrong. Civilization V is an addictive and complex game which offers tons of replay value and serious depth to any gamer willing to be seduced by its stoic delights. Not only is it one of the best entries in the series, but it's also the most accessible. A must for any armchair general in need of a world to conquer.
5. Sports Champions (▼2)
As Sony begins its foray into motion sensor controls, it makes sense to offer punters an easy entry point. So, taking some inspiration (and possibly influence) from its rivals at Nintendo, Sony has released Sports Champions; a compendium of sports mini-games which both utilise the PS Move to great effect and are accessible enough for the entire family to enjoy. The presentation could do with improvement, but Sports Champions is really rather good on the whole. Table Tennis is exceptional, Archery is great and games like Gladiator Duel and Bocce are fun while showing off some of Move’s potential.
6 Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock (new entry)
While it's being released into an oversaturated market, Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock just might rekindle the affections of anyone who gave up on rhythm genre games. The Quest mode is fun and compelling, the Competition modes offer all sorts of challenges and the Create mode gives players the chance to create and share their own music. It just might be time to dust off those plastic peripherals...
7. Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands (▼5)
Released to conincide with the arrival of the Jerry Bruckheimer-helmed movie, Prince Of Persia: The Forgotten Sands isn't an official movie tie-in - even though the Prince bears a startling resemblance to Jake Gyllenhaal and even borrows his wardrobe from the film. Rather, this entry aims at recapturing the magic of the series high-water mark, Sands Of Time from the days of the PS2. The platforming is exciting and well handled and even if the combat is a little tepid at time, the game's sense of pace is superb. It may rely a little too heavily on the franchise's past glories, but The Forgotten Sands is still a solidly entertaining game in its own right.
Released to conincide with the arrival of the Jerry Bruckheimer-helmed movie, Prince Of Persia: The Forgotten Sands isn't an official movie tie-in - even though the Prince bears a startling resemblance to Jake Gyllenhaal and even borrows his wardrobe from the film. Rather, this entry aims at recapturing the magic of the series high-water mark, Sands Of Time from the days of the PS2. The platforming is exciting and well handled and even if the combat is a little tepid at time, the game's sense of pace is superb. It may rely a little too heavily on the franchise's past glories, but The Forgotten Sands is still a solidly entertaining game in its own right.
8. Mafia II (▼3)
The open-world template which Mafia II uses to tell its tale may be showing its age, but it doesn't get in the way of one enjoying 2K's epic tale of organised crime. The game's compelling narrative, stunning action setpieces and beautifully realised game world envelope the player, drawing them in and refusing to let go. Mafia II is certainly not a contender for GTA's crown, and as was the case with its predecessor, it's not trying to be. From its opening look at a child growing up in poverty to its closing snapshot, themes of gain and sacrifice, of loyalty and betrayal, are always at the forefront.
The open-world template which Mafia II uses to tell its tale may be showing its age, but it doesn't get in the way of one enjoying 2K's epic tale of organised crime. The game's compelling narrative, stunning action setpieces and beautifully realised game world envelope the player, drawing them in and refusing to let go. Mafia II is certainly not a contender for GTA's crown, and as was the case with its predecessor, it's not trying to be. From its opening look at a child growing up in poverty to its closing snapshot, themes of gain and sacrifice, of loyalty and betrayal, are always at the forefront.
9. Toy Story 3 (▼3)
The video game tie-in for Pixar's latest movie featuring Woody and Buzz Lightyear bucks the trend for games of this type by being actually rather good. The game's story mode will delight fans of the film and gamers alike, but it's the game'sToy Box mode which makes it truly shine. Players plop down in a free-roaming expanse of dust land based on Woody’s Roundup, the fictional cowboy town seen in the films and take on the job of sheriff, helping out Mayor Hamm and the townsfolk while expanding the settlement; building schools, barbers and banks. This is game that understand the essence of fun better than most children's games, and is has enough content to keep adults glued to it too.
The video game tie-in for Pixar's latest movie featuring Woody and Buzz Lightyear bucks the trend for games of this type by being actually rather good. The game's story mode will delight fans of the film and gamers alike, but it's the game'sToy Box mode which makes it truly shine. Players plop down in a free-roaming expanse of dust land based on Woody’s Roundup, the fictional cowboy town seen in the films and take on the job of sheriff, helping out Mayor Hamm and the townsfolk while expanding the settlement; building schools, barbers and banks. This is game that understand the essence of fun better than most children's games, and is has enough content to keep adults glued to it too.
10. Final Fantasy XIV Collector's Edition (new entry)
It's a testament to the grip the Final Fantasy franchise has on its fans that Final Fantasy XIV crashed into the top ten this week, despite only the collecter's edition being available. The regular version of the game goes on sale this week, while PS3 players will have to wait until March next year to get hold of a copy. We can't speak to the delights this game may offer, having not played it at the time of this writing, but as one of the most popular RPGs moves online, at least the question concerning who it will appeal to has been cleared up completely.
for more info, please visit: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/7888148/UK-video-game-sales-chart.html
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2010 UKIE Ltd.
It's a testament to the grip the Final Fantasy franchise has on its fans that Final Fantasy XIV crashed into the top ten this week, despite only the collecter's edition being available. The regular version of the game goes on sale this week, while PS3 players will have to wait until March next year to get hold of a copy. We can't speak to the delights this game may offer, having not played it at the time of this writing, but as one of the most popular RPGs moves online, at least the question concerning who it will appeal to has been cleared up completely.
for more info, please visit: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/7888148/UK-video-game-sales-chart.html
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2010 UKIE Ltd.
No comments:
Post a Comment