The Games Review page endevours to give a rating on games across all gaming consoles. However, the page is for you, so if there is a game you would like to be reviewed or if you would like to write your own review, please send me an e-mail.
Halo 2
Need for Speed Underground 2
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Half Life 2
Halo 2 (XBOX) 5/5
PEGI Rated 16+
This is it folks, partake in the XBOX game of the year! As in the original, you play the ultimate space-marine, Master Chief. This time his archenemies, the Covenant, are attacking earth and (again) you have to stop them. Although the concept is the same, Halo 2 improves on the original game by adding new weapons, vehicles, destructible environments and low gravity settings. However, as anyone who’s played Halo will tell you, the previous game's biggest flaw was repetition in the middle levels - room after room seemed identical and were populated with the same enemy troops, time after time. Thankfully this has been corrected in Halo 2, which has a lot more variation to hold your attention. The other big surprise for gaming fans is the multiplayer mode. Now, instead if having to link consoles or play on split screen mode on your telly, you have the option of playing online with XBOX Live.
Halo 2 will be released on the 11th November, and I'd advise you all to pre-order as it’s expected to sell out fast, especially in the run-up to Christmas.
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Need for Speed Underground 2 (PS2) 3/5
PEGI Rated 3+
EA Games move away from the exotic cars and police chases that featured in earlier games in the Need for Speed series, in this, their latest offering. If you saw the film, The Fast and the Furious, then you’ll have a pretty good idea of what to expect in this racing simulator.
By driving well, you can unlock various options to 'customise your ride', the object being to rise up the car charts, appear on magazine covers and win new car parts and body panels. Racing feels very realistic, though the other traffic in the city can wipe you out when you're winning. This is very frustrating but, luckily, the computer controlled AI cars are prone to suffering the same fate. The cityscape that you race through is very beautiful and wonderfully detailed. However, the downside is that it’s the only landscape available in this game so it tends to get somewhat monotonous. As this game is being released just about a year since the last Need for Speed creation, there is a sense that not much has changed, probably because the developers simply didn’t have the time to shake things up. Need for Speed Underground 2 will be released on the 19th November, but if you haven't played the first one, you could do worse than look for NfSU2's older brother in the bargain bin instead…
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Metroid Prime 2: Echoes 5/5(Gamecube)
PEGI Rated: TBC
Bounty Hunter Samus Aran has crash-landed on the planet Aether. She was investigating the ruins of a Federation ship when her craft was hit by lightning. Immediately after her emergency landing on the planet, she is attacked by the Ing Horde, who steal some of her Power Suit's abilities and leave her for dead. After coming to, Samus discovers that the planet is split into Light and Dark, and she has disembarked in the middle of the two warring factions, the Luminoth, and the Ing Hoard. To make matters worse, there is a large creature prowling out there in the darkness. All in all, a bad day, I think you’ll agree.
Samus has tonnes of new weapons and a new ammo system to use - the highlight being Dark and Light Beams. The best new feature to delight fans will be the multiplayer mode. Fantastic fun, Metroid Prime 2 is released on the 26th November.
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Half Life 2 (PC DVD-ROM) 5/5
BBFC Rated 15
As before, you are performing in the role of scientist Gordon Freeman, who is struggling to correct his past wrongs - the most notable of these being the occasion when he infested earth with aliens…
This game is possibly one of the most beautiful games you’ll ever see. The smallest of details count and the developers have obviously concentrated on making this game into something really special. For instance, the characters are programmed with 40 individual facial 'muscles' in order to express the full range of human emotion more realistically. Features like that always impress the geeky programmer in me. Gravity, friction, mass and buoyancy are also accurately modelled. Small stones, water and vehicles all obey the laws of physics. The environment has been shaded using techniques first used in the making of Toy Story and all this lends towards a beautiful and convincing environment. And, as if this wasn’t enough, the game is absolutely fantastic. The enemy AI isn’t just intelligent; it is cunning (like a fox!). Released on 16th November, the game is probably delivered to the shops the night before and is worth breaking-in for (not that I'm encouraging criminal behaviour!).
Back to top>>
Halo 2
Need for Speed Underground 2
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Half Life 2
Halo 2 (XBOX) 5/5
PEGI Rated 16+
This is it folks, partake in the XBOX game of the year! As in the original, you play the ultimate space-marine, Master Chief. This time his archenemies, the Covenant, are attacking earth and (again) you have to stop them. Although the concept is the same, Halo 2 improves on the original game by adding new weapons, vehicles, destructible environments and low gravity settings. However, as anyone who’s played Halo will tell you, the previous game's biggest flaw was repetition in the middle levels - room after room seemed identical and were populated with the same enemy troops, time after time. Thankfully this has been corrected in Halo 2, which has a lot more variation to hold your attention. The other big surprise for gaming fans is the multiplayer mode. Now, instead if having to link consoles or play on split screen mode on your telly, you have the option of playing online with XBOX Live.
Halo 2 will be released on the 11th November, and I'd advise you all to pre-order as it’s expected to sell out fast, especially in the run-up to Christmas.
Back to top>>
Need for Speed Underground 2 (PS2) 3/5
PEGI Rated 3+
EA Games move away from the exotic cars and police chases that featured in earlier games in the Need for Speed series, in this, their latest offering. If you saw the film, The Fast and the Furious, then you’ll have a pretty good idea of what to expect in this racing simulator.
By driving well, you can unlock various options to 'customise your ride', the object being to rise up the car charts, appear on magazine covers and win new car parts and body panels. Racing feels very realistic, though the other traffic in the city can wipe you out when you're winning. This is very frustrating but, luckily, the computer controlled AI cars are prone to suffering the same fate. The cityscape that you race through is very beautiful and wonderfully detailed. However, the downside is that it’s the only landscape available in this game so it tends to get somewhat monotonous. As this game is being released just about a year since the last Need for Speed creation, there is a sense that not much has changed, probably because the developers simply didn’t have the time to shake things up. Need for Speed Underground 2 will be released on the 19th November, but if you haven't played the first one, you could do worse than look for NfSU2's older brother in the bargain bin instead…
Back to top>>
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes 5/5(Gamecube)
PEGI Rated: TBC
Bounty Hunter Samus Aran has crash-landed on the planet Aether. She was investigating the ruins of a Federation ship when her craft was hit by lightning. Immediately after her emergency landing on the planet, she is attacked by the Ing Horde, who steal some of her Power Suit's abilities and leave her for dead. After coming to, Samus discovers that the planet is split into Light and Dark, and she has disembarked in the middle of the two warring factions, the Luminoth, and the Ing Hoard. To make matters worse, there is a large creature prowling out there in the darkness. All in all, a bad day, I think you’ll agree.
Samus has tonnes of new weapons and a new ammo system to use - the highlight being Dark and Light Beams. The best new feature to delight fans will be the multiplayer mode. Fantastic fun, Metroid Prime 2 is released on the 26th November.
Back to top>>
Half Life 2 (PC DVD-ROM) 5/5
BBFC Rated 15
As before, you are performing in the role of scientist Gordon Freeman, who is struggling to correct his past wrongs - the most notable of these being the occasion when he infested earth with aliens…
This game is possibly one of the most beautiful games you’ll ever see. The smallest of details count and the developers have obviously concentrated on making this game into something really special. For instance, the characters are programmed with 40 individual facial 'muscles' in order to express the full range of human emotion more realistically. Features like that always impress the geeky programmer in me. Gravity, friction, mass and buoyancy are also accurately modelled. Small stones, water and vehicles all obey the laws of physics. The environment has been shaded using techniques first used in the making of Toy Story and all this lends towards a beautiful and convincing environment. And, as if this wasn’t enough, the game is absolutely fantastic. The enemy AI isn’t just intelligent; it is cunning (like a fox!). Released on 16th November, the game is probably delivered to the shops the night before and is worth breaking-in for (not that I'm encouraging criminal behaviour!).
Back to top>>
