Metal Slug 7

Nintendo DS
Shoot first, question originality later
Metal Slug is a series that needs little introduction, and if it does, then the words 'chaotic', 'comedic', 'over-the-top' and 'shooter', certainly suffice. It's a bastion from the past, when games were constructed out of squares and 2D gaming was king. It's also an immensely playable series, taking twitch gaming to its greatest heights of hilarity and filling screens with enormous, mechanical beasts.
Now we're in the future, Metal Slug sits in the palm of your hands and still remains a delight, despite its ageing appearance and recycled gameplay.
Choosing from a selection of six series stalwarts of differing abilities like Marco and Tarma, Metal Slug 7 pulls no surprises, with the score mulitplayer and weapon switching from Metal Slug 6 still in too. The inclusion of a level select at the start is a welcome addition though, allowing for some nice, bite sized sessions that are all important on a portable machine.
The diminutive screen however is a thorn in its side, considering the hectic action and one hit deaths that were tough on a big telly. The lack of two player action will be a real disappointment to fans too but on the bright side, there's less bullets flying around (and probably less slow-down).
The richly detailed backgrounds and sprites remain in force, with SNK Playmore's distinctive style of expressive and amusing animation still working a treat. It's just a shame that, apart from the bosses and occasional new enemy, everything appears to have been recycled from previous games.
Little has changed in the world of Metal Slug – the same old sprites are used, the same old action ensues but despite this lack of imagination or innovation, it's still a blast to play.
Considering the current renaissance that 2D gaming is going through with the likes of Street Fighter IV demonstrating how an old series can be given a new breath of life, I have high hopes for the future of Metal Slug because it is, and always will be, entertaining. Just how many times you're willing to replay what is essentially the same game is a different matter entirely.
7/10

Street Fighter IV

Xbox 360, also PS3
Perfect!
There are few games as potent and influential as Street Fighter II; few games with such a history; few games with such a following; few games as mimicked; and few games with such defining gameplay that it's irrevocably ingrained on a generation of gamers' psyche, only to be unlocked by the familiar cry of HADOKEN!
Few series' are as iconic, as recognisable, as readily slipped back into as Street Fighter, yet for eight long years we've seen little of it. Third Strike may still dominate tournament play and the Vs series' have kept certain characters fresh in our minds yet few would have thought Street Fighter IV was even a possibility a couple of years ago, and few could have predicted how glorious and triumphant its return would be.
Sticking to its 2D roots, SFIV is a classic fighter, reborn with exaggerated 3D visuals, replacing the pixelated sprites with a distinctive art style that at once pays homage to the past while revitalising the fighter with stunning, comedic animation, and thick stylistic brush strokes of ink.
Gameplay is the same as it has ever been, with familiar moves and combos made easier by under-the-hood changes to input times, while additions such as the Revenge Meter (for a high powered comeback attack) and Focus Attack (for tactical parrying and combo launching) at once seek to level the playing field for beginners, while creating a new layer of depth for old masters.
Alongside the the quirky new challengers and the standard Arcade mode that sees each character's run bookended by some impenetrable animated sequences, the console version comes rammed with unlockable characters, hardcore challenges and an in-depth trial mode to teach the basic bread and butter techniques to those new to the series, or just plain rusty.
As well as solid online play there's the unique feature that allows online strangers to challenge you during a single player session (like being in an arcade!), while minute details such as the ability to change individual character voices to their pre-dubbed, Japanese original, show how much thought has gone into the whole package.
These additions, alongside the obvious love that has gone into crafting it, have ensured that Street Fighter IV feels at once completely fresh, yet altogether familiar. Easy to pick up, difficult to master, the return of Ryu and co heralds a new age for the 2D brawler. Welcome back old friend.
10/10

Toribash

Mac, also PC
An art of fighting
In light of Street Fighter IV's imminent arrival and the expected regeneration of the Beat-em-up genre, i've been playing a free online fighting game that is so radically different that it really demands its own sub-genre. Say hello to the award winning Toribash, pioneer of the 'kinda turn based, sorta realtime strategy beat-em-up' genre,.
If you think the average fighting game is a tad too inclusive with its frame counting combos and complex super moves, then prepare to be perplexed to find that even raising a fist is a minor ordeal.
Set in a minimalist virtual space, Toribash places you and one other online player into a white expanse, asking you to defeat each other, either by accumulating points through hits or by causing the other player to make contact with the floor first.
To make these hits the player has to manipulate the circular joints on their avatar's body, assigning the likes of knees, wrists and shoulders to either extend, relax, constrict or hold.
Both players take their moves simultaneously, with a paused window of time allowing for the manipulation of limbs, while a repeating ghost highlights what your selection will do.
The basics are simple enough but the actual translation of joint control into a martial art is far more complex – those skilled at the game are able to render limbs and execute ninja flips, effectively creating their own style of martial arts, whereas a beginner may struggle to merely kick.
It sounds complicated (and it is), but it's also particularly satisfying to finally pull off a successful attack, and the constantly pausing gameplay means its as ponderous and relaxing as a game of chess.
Split between martial arts such as Akido and Judo, a selection of servers allow for beginners and experienced players to find their equals, with accumulating wins contributing towards new belts.
Toribash is a wonderfully simple, yet devilishly complex game that while sparse on appearances and awkward in its mastery, can prove to be quite an addictive way to while away those lunch breaks at work. Download it for free from www.toribash.com.
7/10

World of Goo

Downloadable for Mac, also PC and Wii
Sublime slime
Amongst all the big budget AAA titles to fall upon us at Christmas, there was one that shone like a beacon, calling out to all who appreciate something a little different. Costing a fraction of the Hollywood budgets of modern games and made by only two people (2D Boy), it's fitting that it was also one of the most creative on show.
Garnering all sorts of awards, World of Goo began life in the Experimental Gameplay Project as Tower of Goo, with the proof of concept giving life to the wondrous child i've been playing lately.
To call it a physics based puzzle/construction game would do it a great disservice as such a dry description leaves out so much of what makes this game a joy to play. Filled to the brim with great character, design, music and a general over indulgence in imagination and wit, World of Goo is a puzzle game that's as delicious to play as the balls of Goo themselves.
Building constructions out of Goo is the name of the game, with the general goal of reaching a pipe for the Goo to be sucked up by. Such similarities between levels end there though as each is magnificently different in approach and task, using the laws of physics to delightful extremes.
From constructing a floating platform in the stomach of a creature to using friction and weight to build up through its throat, The World of Goo takes great pleasure in creating environments and puzzles that are primed with innovative puzzling and surreal comedy.
Each ball of Goo that runs along your impromptu construction can be picked up and placed, creating a new strand for your tower or bridge (or whatever you may be building). Different Goo comes with different abilities such as increased friction or weight, each allowing for the wildly varying demands of each level.
With such genius on display and a bizarre, self-referential plot about the Goo discovering they're in a video game, you owe it to yourself (and 2D Boy) to buy this now.
9/10

Wipeout HD

Platform: PS3
Razor sharp racing
With the coincidental demise of The Designers Republic last week, WipEout HD has been burning my retinas lately with its polarised and purified vision of futuristic anti-grav racing.
Essentially a compilation of the previous two games on the PSP, WipEout HD picks the best tracks and re-renders then into a sublime and beautiful looking next-gen racer, available to download over the PSN network. Running at 60fps at 1080p, it's a HD TV owners dream, and at a price around £10 it's a must for any PS3 owner with even the vaguest interest in racing.
Those unfamiliar with the series can expect a series of futuristic race tracks, looping and bending their way to ridiculous extremes as your AG craft speeds through at insane speeds, dodging mines and firing missiles at other racers.
Races are split over standard modes such as time trial and tournament, unlocking new ships and colours along the way, but the real gem is Zone mode.
Replacing the rich cityscape and track textures for classic, virtual reality style vectors, Zone mode is a visual explosion of sharp lines and laser edges where the aim is to survive for as long as possible. Speed accelerates gradually through each 10 second zone and shifting colours and textures blend until the world becomes a hyperkinetic, kaleidoscopic, digital dream.
The tDR style design is still evident too, as the iconic racing team logos such as Feisar and AG Systems bring back hazy memories of late 90's post-club sessions round the PS1 as the ground breaking 3D graphics fused with the sounds of real bands like Orbital and Prodigy.
WipEout HD's music is still spot-on, with driving electro and drum n' bass from the likes of Noisia and Stanton Warriors coaxing you along through the gleaming cityscapes, while the ability to rip tunes to the hard drive and create your own custom soundtrack is a welcome feature for those with more guitar based tastes.
WipEout HD might not be the fully fledged update people have been waiting for, but with the polish and perfection on show, along with the never ending draw of online racing and Zone mode, it's hardly a bitter pill to swallow.
9/10

Loco Roco 2

PSP
What a beautiful world
For a portable console aimed towards an older market and touting a bazillion multimedia functions, Loco Roco was a surprising but entirely welcome hit in 2006 that introduced lashings of originality, character and cuteness to a rather generic catalogue. I bought a PSP for it and the sequel has shaken some dust. Filled with the same pastel hued characters and landscapes, Loco Roco 2 builds upon the first game by adding far more variety to proceedings, without ever losing site of the original vision. There's more to collect, more to explore and more to do as you tilt and flick the surreal landscapes, bouncing and rolling the lovable, eternally singing Loco Rocos. If ever there was a cure for depression, this is it, as the grin stapled to my face is testament to why it should be prescribed on the NHS. Pure, digitised joy.
9/10

Animal Crossing: Lets go to the City

Nintendo Wii
Playing it safe
In these times of economic crisis it's good to get away from it all. Traditionally, cinema takings increase as economies plummet and the game industry is optimistic about its fortunes in these troublesome days. Escaping to the saccharine world of Animal Crossing may be a relaxing way to spend time, just be prepared to take on another mortgage.
There's an overwhelming sense of deja-vu booting up Lets go to the city for the first time – despite its shiny new graphics, trips to the city and Wii-Speak voice chat, it's essentially the same game that consumed your life before. From the initial errands for Tom Nook, to picking fruit to pay your mortgage, and the endless, obsessive, furniture collecting and fossil digging past-times – it has all been done before.
For those new to the series though, it's the definitive version of a cherished game that makes great use of the Wii's features and delivers an irresistibly cute world that can become as much of your daily routine as brushing your teeth. From drawing constellations and designing t-shirts, to having online Wii-Speak conversations with your friends as you indulge in bug catching competitions, Lets go to the city may not offer much new but it still has that undeniable spark that can suck you right in. Just be thankful Tom Nook's loans are interest free.
7/10

Guitar Hero: World Tour

PS3, also Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii
Rocking all over
Having recently become the first game in history to surpass $1 billion in sales, Guitar Hero III has done all right considering it was Neversoft's first faltering stab at the genre. Recently challenged by the originators of the series through Rock Band, they've responded in kind by adding drums and a mic to the mix. So, surely it should be Band Heroes now?
Things are essentially the same as ever, but with new music, a virtual recording studio and vastly more entertaining multiplayer. The new instruments are top notch too, with a bigger guitar allowing for a touch sensitive strip on the neck for fast finger work and the drums are particularly sturdy and responsive, with 3 large pads and 2 raised ones rounded off with a kick pedal.
The mic works in the same way as games like Singstar and everything manages to cram into one screen reasonably, with the score/star power meter unfortunately squished into a corner during 4 player sessions.
The translation of songs to gameplay has been handled better this time round too, with music from the likes of Modest Mouse, Beastie Boys, Interpol and Nirvana logically synced to the inputs required on the instruments. They're all master tracks too and the inclusion of Jimi Hendrix is a master stroke complemented by a music selection that generally seems better this time round.
And if none of those tracks are to your taste there's downloadable content for the online, with the dual CD/Guitar Hero launch of Metallica's latest album proving how potent a force this rhythm game business has become.
The presentation may not be to everyone's taste and the in-depth avatar/instrument editors mildly pointless, but the Recording Studio could prove to be its unique killer app.
With some basic sequencing software and nicely modelled instrument and amp sounds, it allows you to create your own music and upload to GHTunes to share with the world. Controls can be a bit fiddly but perseverance and a never ending stream of downloadable home-made music could keep the amp on fire long after purchase. Or at least allow me to give birth to Electro Hero.
8/10

Gears of War 2

Xbox 360
Gore-geous
Welcome to 2009 people, please bear with us while we play catch up on the insane onslaught of Christmas titles – while January is traditionally a barren period for game releases I for one still have plenty to review. First up is the gorgeously violent Gears of War 2, which may just help beat the new year blues with an abundance of scarlet soaked chainsaw bayonets.
The first game defined the 360 so Gears 2 has a lot to live up to, and while it takes the approach of ‘if it aint broke, don’t fix it’, it delivers far more on every level.
With the Light Mass Bomb not doing nearly as much damage as hoped, the war with the Locust is still underway and the Gears have to mount a last offensive to prevent their capital city from being mysteriously sunken into the ground.
Incredibly, the visuals are even better this time round, with the ‘destroyed beauty’ reaping the benefits of a wider colour palette (it’s not all greys and browns this time), massive set pieces and a variety of environments that take in underground caves, ruined cities, mountain vistas and moist worm guts.
The same robust cover based gameplay is back, and plays just like you remember, with a few tweaks, new weapons and the ability to use fallen enemies as ‘meat shields’ (a particularly great way to rub someone’s nose in it during multiplayer games).
Alongside a campaign that’s far more cinematic, varied and involving than the previous game, Epic have spruced up the multiplayer, introducing (initially shaky) matchmaking to proceedings and plenty of new game types and maps (including a few old fan favourites).
There’s also Horde mode, which at first sounds like a slapped on feature, proves to be one of the most compelling multiplayer games around. Allowing up to five friends to team up, Horde mode sticks you into any of the multiplayer maps and tasks you with surviving wave after wave of Locust for as long as you can. Like Left 4 Dead, it’s an exercise in team work and communication, combined with the never ending, score chasing, arcade thrill of Space Invaders. Genius.
9/10