Title: Guitar Hero on Tour
From: Vicarious Visions
For: Nintendo DS

I was quite excited to try out a portable version of the excellent Guitar Hero series and the DS seemed to be the ideal platform.

The game comes with a plug-in attachment (one for the DS Lite and another for the original DS) which allows you to strap the DS to your hand and places 4 coloured fret buttons at your fingertips. Also included is a guitar pick, especially designed to strum the touch-screen.

Guitar Hero on Tour is styled similar to the larger console versions and includes 26 tracks (25 + 1 hidden) from a range of styles and bands. Holding the DS on its side, you strum the guitar and press the frets in time with the scrolling notes as usual. In general this works well, until you have to strum some notes in quick succession. The touch-screen just can’t keep up and even though you’ve hit the note correctly, it won’t register – therefore ruining your score.

It’s a fatal flaw to the ultimate success of the game on the DS and as much fun as it is to play, Guitar Hero fans should stick to the big versions of the game.

Score 65%

Title: Battlefield: Bad Company
From: Electronic Arts
For: Xbox 360/PS3

The first-person shooter Battlefield franchise has been one of the most successful in recent times, especially in the multiplayer stakes. Battlefield: Bad Company is no exception despite being a change of pace and attitude for the series.

Set in the near future, the Battlefield: Bad Company single-player campaign drops gamers into a dramatic Eurasian conflict. As part of a squad of four soldiers, players go AWOL on a quest for riches and revenge.

The first thing that strikes you is the humour – it’s dark, sharp and sometimes downright silly as you watch soldiers playing rock/paper/scissors while a mission briefing is coming through. But as fun as the single player mode is, it is let down by some dodgy gameplay mechanics, glitches and collision problems reminiscent of the Medal of Honor series.

One of the most refreshing features is the ability to destroy almost anything. Can’t find a way into a building or need a new sniper position? Blow a hole in the wall or blast away the corner of the building. It’s great fun.

Where Bad Company shines is in the multiplayer – it’s first rate and is worth the cover price alone.

Score 85%

Title: Spore Creature Creator
For: PC/Mac
From: Electronic Arts

What can be better than a game where you get to play God and see the fruits of your endeavours? Well Spore Creature Creator isn’t quite that game but it is the precursor to Spore, EA’s highly promising title in which you create weird and wonderful creatures from scratch and then watch them live in an online world where other created creatures roam free.

Spore is due out later this year, but in the meantime Spore Creature Creator allows you to piece together some crazy creatures from 228 drag’n’drop flexible body parts. You can then colour them up and add textures to make them look realistic (well as realistic as a 2 legged scorpion with a monkey head and spikes can look).

Once you’re happy with your creature you can play and interact with it, make it reproduce and save it online for others to view and then bring it into the full Spore game upon its release.

One thing to note – while the game is Mac compatible, you’ll need the latest Intel processor and Leopard OS for it to run.

Score: 78%

Microsoft showcases groundbreaking approach to game shows

LOS ANGELES — July 14, 2008 —The world of Xbox 360 just got bigger, broader and more exciting than ever as Microsoft unveiled a host of games that will make anyone’s heart race at E3 Media and Business Summit (E3) in Los Angeles.

Microsoft Corp. today unveiled a games portfolio for all ages and interests. Included were new titles for music lovers such as “Lips” and the exclusive launch of “Rock Band 2”; family-friendly games from the B-movie maker “You’re in the Movies” to “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise.”

“From those new to games and eager to jump in, to the hardcore gamer looking for the most intense games experiences, this is truly the year to own an Xbox 360 system,” said Shane Kim, corporate vice president of strategy and business development with Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business.

Bringing Music Games to Life
Xbox 360 transforms your living room into a thrilling soundstage for you and your friends. No other system connects you with all the music you love:

• “Lips” (iNiS/Microsoft Game Studios). “Lips,” an all-new music franchise exclusively from Xbox 360, is the only singing game that offers wireless motion-sensitive microphones and the ability to sing from your own music collection.* Start channelling your favourite pop star, because it’s you, your friends and, most important, your music that makes “Lips” the world’s ultimate party experience this holiday.

• “Guitar Hero® World Tour” (RedOctane/Activision). When the house lights go down this fall, a new generation of axe shredders, drummers and fearless front-men will come together and rock with “Guitar Hero World Tour.” The latest instalment from the No. 1 best-selling video game franchise of 2007, “Guitar Hero World Tour” will transform music gaming by marrying the exhilarating guitar gameplay of “Guitar Hero” with a cooperative band experience that combines the most advanced wireless instruments with revolutionary new online and offline gameplay modes. The game will feature a slick newly redesigned guitar, a genuine electronic drum kit and a microphone, as well as an innovative Music Studio music creator that lets players compose, record, edit and share their own rock-and-roll anthems, along with online Band Career and eight-player “Battle of the Bands.” “Guitar Hero World Tour” is being developed by Neversoft Entertainment and will be available for Xbox 360 this year.

• “Rock Band 2” (Harmonix/MTV Games). Debuting exclusively on Xbox 360 this September, “Rock Band” is developed by Harmonix and published by MTV Games. “Rock Band 2” is the next evolution of the franchise that allows players to virtually step into the shoes of their favourite bands as singer, guitarist, bassist or drummer.

Xbox 360 Is the Life of the Party
Xbox 360 truly gets the party started with a wide-ranging portfolio of exclusive games for the whole family, including the following:

• “You’re in the Movies” (Codemasters/Microsoft). Get ready for your close-up. “You’re in the Movies” brings the cool factor to kitsch as you live out your dreams of becoming a scream queen, zombie or kung fu fighter. Premiering exclusively on Xbox 360 this holiday season, “You’re in the Movies” is the first and only game of its kind to literally transport players into a magical world of cinema mixed with the hilarious world of improvisation. Using the Xbox LIVE Vision camera, players’ actions are captured and placed into short, riotous films. Performances never end up on the cutting-room floor, and are never the same.

• “Scene It? Box Office Smash” (Krome Studios and Screenlife/Microsoft Game Studios). “Scene It? Box Office Smash,” the revolutionary movie trivia game on Xbox 360, will ignite your game night this holiday season with totally new questions, movie puzzles and more high-definition (HD) content from real movies including some of Hollywood’s latest blockbusters. Trivia night goes global as players challenge each other online over Xbox LIVE, customise their own characters, and access extra questions and localised content from films around the world.**

• “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” (Rare Ltd./Microsoft Game Studios). Available exclusively on Xbox 360 in November, from the creative masterminds at Rare, “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” is an action-adventure game that breathes new life into a franchise that has entertained people of all ages for a decade. In a platform genre first, players create their own abilities by building vehicles for Banjo to pilot over land, sea and air in a variety of Challenges where their choice of vehicle and tactics determines the course of the adventure. Players can test their customised vehicles against other players’ creations online or simply compare and share their inventions with friends. The original “Banjo-Kazooie” also debuts with “Stop ’N’ Swop” on Xbox LIVE Arcade later this year.

• “DanceDanceRevolution® UNIVERSE3” (Konami). Celebrating its 10th anniversary, “DanceDanceRevolution UNIVERSE3” dances its way to you with fun new modes — including DJ Mode and Quest Mode — and settings for players of all skill levels. In addition to one of the biggest soundtracks — more than 70 songs spanning from the ’70s to some of today’s hottest tracks — “DanceDanceRevolution UNIVERSE3” brings friends together from around the world via Xbox LIVE.** Character customization features more than 400 options of clothing, faces, skin tones and hairstyles, allowing players to create the ultimate dancer.

• “UNO RUSH™” (Microsoft). “UNO RUSH” is a challenging and exciting party card game for up to four players. Developed by the same team that brought the original, best-selling “UNO®” to Xbox LIVE Arcade, “UNO RUSH” boasts a wide range of gameplay and social features — multiple variants, house-rule options, local and Xbox LIVE multiplay, camera support, avatar support and more — plus fast-paced gameplay to keep the party going. “UNO RUSH” is coming exclusively to Xbox LIVE Arcade in 2008.

• “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise” (Rare Ltd./Microsoft Game Studios). In this sequel to the colourful sleeper hit “Viva Piñata” debuting in September, players can venture outside the boundaries of the immersive and ever-changing garden to retrieve exotic piñata species from two new lands, the Dessert Desert and the Piñarctic. Developed by Rare, “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise” allows up to four players to work together to create the ultimate online garden via Xbox LIVE.** Players can race their favourite piñata or enter them into the P-Factor, Piñata Islands very own talent show and beauty pageant, online against friends or against other gardeners from the island. They can now use the Xbox LIVE Vision camera to drop a new piñata right into their gardens, change the weather or share their custom piñatas with others.

The Biggest Blockbusters of 2008 and Beyond
With the most popular blockbuster games and the most anticipated titles of 2008 and beyond, Xbox 360 is the pre-eminent place to play all the big titles that gamers thirst for, including the following:

• “Galaga Legions” (NAMCO BANDAI Games). The arcade shooter “Galaga” has captivated players all over the world, and now the legend lives on with “Galaga Legions.” Featuring table-turning game dynamics, updated graphics and vast waves of ferocious enemies, “Galaga Legions” was created by the same team that developed the best-selling “PAC-MAN Championship Edition” for Xbox LIVE Arcade. “Galaga Legions” will debut exclusively on Xbox LIVE Arcade in 2008.

• “Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2” (Bizarre Creations Ltd./Activision). The latest version of the frenetic retro shooter, “Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2” debuts exclusively on Xbox LIVE Arcade in 2008. Newcomers and pros alike will be blown away by the screen-melting intensity and insane new features, including six action-packed gameplay modes, new enemies, scoring strategies and a diverse list of exciting Achievements. “Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2” also supports multiplayer mayhem for up to four players, with versus or co-op modes, and features razor-sharp 1080p graphics and new, pulse-pounding music.

• “Portal™: Still Alive” (Valve/Microsoft). “Portal: Still Alive” features the full award-winning “Portal” single-player game from Valve plus a new challenge mode. Designed to change the way players approach, manipulate and surmise the possibilities in any given environment, “Portal” has earned more than 70 industry honors for its innovative gameplay, with more than 30 Game of the Year Awards. Solve physical puzzles and challenges by opening portals to manoeuvring objects, and yourself, through space. The game is debuting on Xbox LIVE Arcade in 2008.

• “South Park” (South Park Digital Studios/Doublesix/Microsoft). Based on the Emmy and Peabody-award winning show, a “South Park” game (title TBA) is coming exclusively to Xbox LIVE Arcade in 2009.

• “Fable II” (Lionhead Studios/Microsoft Game Studios). This Xbox 360 exclusive action role-playing game offers players an epic storyline and an unprecedented level of freedom and choice. Every decision defines who the player becomes and influences the evolving world around them. “Fable II” is the next great step for the genre, with an innovative dynamic cooperative mode, where players can choose to invite a friend on the same couch or over Xbox LIVE to experience the world together.** The journey begins with a first-of-its-kind exclusive Xbox LIVE Arcade title, which enables players to get a head start on earning gold that will transfer to the rich world of “Fable II” when it arrives.

• “Gears of War 2” (Epic Games/Microsoft Game Studios). Epic Games’ design director Cliff Bleszinski gave a stunning new look at the “Gears of War 2” campaign, and confirmed the ability to ride the fearsome Brumak. Also detailed was the all-new five-player cooperative mode “Horde,” where players unite to battle a seemingly endless onslaught of Locust Horde forces.** “Gears of War 2” is the most anticipated Xbox 360 exclusive title this holiday season and will be released worldwide.

• “Grand Theft Auto IV” (Rockstar North/Rockstar Games). Continuing its blistering pace on the Xbox 360 platform, the first of the Xbox 360 exclusive downloadable episodes for this record-breaking game will be available this year — the only console with new “Grand Theft Auto IV” content available.

• “Halo Wars” (Ensemble Studios/Microsoft Game Studios). Microsoft is further expanding the “Halo” universe with “Halo Wars,” the blockbuster strategy game designed exclusively for the Xbox 360. A piece of the “Halo Wars” story is revealed through “Five Long Years,” a trailer from Ensemble Studios and Microsoft, which showcases the brutal struggle for control of Harvest early in the Human-Covenant wars. “Halo Wars” will put gamers in command of the entire battlefield, leading both UNSC and Covenant forces.

• “Infinite Undiscovery™” (Square Enix). “Infinite Undiscovery” is the newest fantasy role-playing console game from Square Enix, drawing gamers into a real-time world woven of countless threads where player choices spin untold discoveries — only on Xbox 360. Players will be confronted with a variety of dramatic situational battles, such as executing a daring escape while a gigantic ogre follows in hot pursuit, or waging battle amid towering tidal waves. Dynamic environments change and respond in real time, creating an entirely new experience never before seen in the genre.

• “The Last Remnant™” (Square Enix). “The Last Remnant” is a new role-playing game crafted using the finest artistry and technology Square Enix has to offer. Set in a fantasy world, war-torn and scarred by years of conflict, gameplay revolves around mysterious artefacts — Remnants — that possess magic powers.

• “Resident Evil 5” (Capcom). Destined to bring new fans to the series, “Resident Evil 5” is the sequel to one of the highest-rated video games in history (according to Metacritic.com and Gamerankings.com). Promising to revolutionize the series by delivering an unbelievable level of detail, realism and control, “Resident Evil 5” unleashes an unprecedented level of fear for the next generation. New technology developed specifically for the game, as well as incredible changes to both the gameplay and the “Resident Evil” world, will make this a must-have game for gamers across the globe.

• “STAR OCEAN®: The Last Hope™” (Square Enix). “STAR OCEAN: The Last Hope” is the long-awaited continuation of the celebrated science fiction and fantasy role-playing game series. Slated for release on Xbox 360 in spring 2009 and published by Square Enix, this prequel set during the aftermath of World War III combines science fiction and fantasy elements spanning multiple planets and the vastness of space itself to recount the origins of the STAR OCEAN universe. Exhilarating combat expands upon the franchise’s famous real-time battle system, introducing the amazing graphics and visual effects possible only on Xbox 360.

• “Too Human” (Silicon Knights/Microsoft Game Studios). “Too Human” is an epic action game with integrated role-playing game elements, and will be available in August. The game features a rich storyline with deep character development, both hallmarks of Silicon Knights’ legendary tradition of video game development.

Xbox 360 promises best and broadest entertainment line-up ever; more fun, social and simple-to-use experience.

LOS ANGELES — July 14, 2008 — As Xbox 360 readies for the next wave of audience expansion, Microsoft Corp. today announced a new Xbox experience that will reinvent home entertainment from the inside out, changing the way we play games and use multimedia applications. It all begins this fall with a bold new look and feel that is fun, social and simple to use.

The announcement was made during the E3 Media and Business Summit in Los Angeles. Also on the docket: The best and broadest entertainment line-up the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system has ever seen with blockbuster games “Lips,” “Rock Band 2,” “Scene It? Box Office Smash” and “You’re in the Movies.”

“We’re entering a new age in entertainment, and Xbox 360 is uniquely positioned to become the heart of the living room,” said Don Mattrick, senior vice president for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft.

“This year more than any other, Xbox 360 has something for everyone — whether you love playing games with friends or are simply looking for the best in entertainment,” Mattrick said.

The New Xbox Experience
The new Xbox experience represents the first time in history that a mass market consumer electronics device has been reinvented through free software, giving people more fun and intuitive ways to interact, play and enjoy entertainment.

“Xbox LIVE is the world’s fastest-growing online social network on TV,” said John Schappert, corporate vice president of Interactive Entertainment LIVE, Software and Services Business at Microsoft. “We doubled our membership the past two years, growing from 3 million to 6 million, and then from 6 million to 12 million. And today, we are adding a new member every five seconds. With the best and broadest social entertainment experiences launching this fall, the future is limitless.”

Some of the features that make the new Xbox experience groundbreaking are the following:
• Entertainment without limits. Bring your favourite games and pictures to life by sharing those experiences with friends, wherever they are around the world. Xbox 360 is the only console that can connect a Friends List with other users’ game experiences.
• Express yourself. With the new Xbox 360 experience, gamers can personalise their entertainment like never before. They can create their own avatar, designed exclusively by Rare Ltd., and jump into a party with friends from around the world.

360 Degrees of Entertainment
The 2008 Xbox 360 entertainment line-up of games is its best and broadest ever. Whether for fans of action, role-playing, racing, sports, strategy, party or action-adventure games, Xbox 360 has the biggest blockbusters and the most exclusive content in 2008 and beyond:

• Blockbusters. Xbox 360 is the only place gamers can play the year’s biggest games, such as “Gears of War 2,” “Resident Evil 5,” “Fable II” and exclusive “Grand Theft Auto IV” episodes.

• Music. Xbox 360 is the preferred stage for all the best music games, including “Lips,” “Rock Band 2,” “Guitar Hero World Tour” and “DanceDanceRevolution® UNIVERSE3.”

• Family. Xbox 360 gets the whole family playing with titles such as “Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts,” “Scene It? Box Office Smash” and “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise.”

• Sports. Xbox 360 remains the best place to play sports titles, including leading franchises like “Madden NFL,” “Tiger Woods PGA Tour,” “NBA Live,” “NHL 2K” and more.

• TV and movie entertainment. Xbox 360 isn’t merely the most powerful gaming system in existence – it’s also a full-fledged media center delivering unique digital entertainment experiences. Watch DVDs and stream movies with Media Center.

AUCKLAND 13 July 2008 – Nearly 800 competitors battled around the clock this weekend for a place on the New Zealand team for the 2008 World Cyber Games.

Held over three days at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre, the New Zealand World Cyber Games Qualifiers provided Kiwi gamers the chance to represent New Zealand at the e-sports equivalent of the Olympic Games.

xLAN Limited World Cyber Games New Zealand Strategic Partner Managing Director Susan Baikie, says the standard was extremely high, showing the growth in popularity of e-sport in New Zealand.

“The World Cyber Games Qualifier this weekend was hugely successful, and we have the strongest team ever ready to compete internationally.

“A team of 19 winning gamers from the New Zealand World Cyber Games will compete against 12 other Asia Pacific countries in Singapore this August, and Cologne, Germany in November for the Grand Final of the 2008 World Cyber Games.”

New Zealand World Cyber Games 2008 team:
Feroz ‘evolution’ Brouwer (Team Sidewinder)
Bruce ‘infidel’ Lodge (Team Sidewinder)
Nick ‘ninjanick’ Shaw (Team Sidewinder)
Byron ‘simcore’ McLean (Team Sidewinder)
Ryan ‘toonz’ Campion (Team Sidewinder)
Hamish ‘kowi’ Parker
Connagh ‘IZeRo” Heath (Team Sidewinder Flowen)
Kurtis ‘KurtiZ’ Papple (Team Sidewinder Flowen)
Ozz ‘Proddd’ Buitendyk (Team Sidewinder Flowen)
Ben ‘Zeth’ Price (Team Sidewinder Flowen)
Pejmon ‘Pablo’ Barzandeh
Lorance ‘Escobar’ Taylor (MidCity Procision)
Jeremy ‘jerm_nz’ Macdonald (MidCity Procision)
Slava ‘slavOuchka’ Sheynin (MidCity Procision)
Nick ‘Veteran-in-Love’ Catley (MidCity Procision)
David ‘Wytaliba’ Ashwell (MidCity Procision)
Patrick ‘ssj2vegrick’ Cullinan
Mason ‘massi4h’ Maddox
Austin ‘wugga’ Sedgwick

New Zealand World Cyber Games Grand Final Qualifiers results:

Counter Strike 1.6 (PC)
Winner: Team Sidewinder (Members: Feroz ‘evolution’ Brouwer; Bruce ‘infidel’ Lodge; Nick ‘ninjanick’ Shaw; Byron ‘simcore’ McLean and Ryan ‘toonz’ Campion)
2nd place: diving Gaming
3rd place: etu

Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne (PC)
Winner: Hamish ‘kowi’ Parker
2nd place: Chase ‘FiZiX’ Barnes
3rd place: Jason ‘Snoop’ McCartney

Halo 3 (Xbox 360 – 4v4)
Winner: Team Sidewinder Flowen (Members: Connagh ‘IZeRo” Heath; Kurtis ‘KurtiZ’ Papple; Ozz ‘Proddd’ Buitendyk; Ben ‘Zeth’ Price)
2nd place: DM
3rd place: Warbound

New Zealand World Cyber Games PAN Asia Qualifiers results:

FIFA 2008 (PC)
Winner: Pejmon ‘Pablo’ Barzandeh
2nd place: Shahn ‘Fobski’ Harris
3rd place: Alex ‘Daman88’ Lam

DOTA All-Stars (PC)
Winner: MidCity Procision (Members: Lorance ‘Escobar’ Taylor; Jeremy ‘jerm_nz’ Macdonald; Slava ‘slavOuchka’ Sheynin; Nick ‘Veteran-in-Love’ Catley; David ‘Wytaliba’ Ashwell)
2nd place: MidCity Passion for Fashion
3rd place: MidCity Mmm I Dunno…

Need for Speed Pro-Street (PC)
Winner: Patrick ‘ssj2vegrick’ Cullinan
2nd place: Carl ‘EVO_X’ Sulzberger
3rd place: Jason ‘Dingardo’ Biddick

Guitar Hero III (Xbox 360)
Winner: Mason ‘massi4h’ Maddox
2nd place: Thomas ‘DarkJyn’ Clarke
3rd place: Owain ‘Welshman’ Metcalfe

Virtua Fighter 5 (Xbox 360)
Winner: Austin ‘wugga’ Sedgwick
2nd place: Mark ‘Markuchi’ Payne
3rd place: Paul ‘DogcowNZ’ Dickinson

More than $100,000 worth of prizes provided by Worldwide sponsor Samsung Electronics and New Zealand major sponsor TelstraClear, Worldwide Premier Sponsor Xbox 360, ASUS and Demon Energy are up for grabs. Other partners include PC World (Official Media), The Edge Radio Station (official Radio Station) and PlayTech (Official Game PC Supplier).

Title: Ninja Gaiden 2
Genre: Action (R18)
Players: 1
Developer: Team Ninja
Publisher: Microsoft
For: Xbox 360
Website

For years Ninja Gaiden has been at the pinnacle of its genre. There have been many imitators, try-hards and wannabes, but Ninja Gaiden took a finely honed katana to them all. What made it top of the heap was lightning fast action, stylish visuals and a steep learning curve that either made you more determined (and therefore rewarded) or frustrated you enough to give up after getting killed a couple of dozen times at the first boss fight. Unfortunately it was the latter for me, but it didn’t prevent me from appreciating Ninja Gaiden as a spectacle.

So Ninja Gaiden 2 has a top-knotch older sibling to live up to, and in many ways it does. But there is also one fatal flaw that might drive fans away in their droves. More on that later.
In Ninja Gaiden 2 you once again play as our old friend Ryu Hayabusa on a mission to avenge his clan and prevent the destruction of the human race (yeah, yeah, similar plot to half the games on the market). Gameplay follows a tried and true formula – follow a path, taking out the odd enemy along the way, get to an open area and face multiple enemies and the occasional boss.

The learning curve is a shallower one thankfully and new moves, attacks and combos are introduced at a constant rate as well as valuable items and upgrades to aid you in battle. Once the time comes where you actually need to pull off some serious carnage, you’re well equipped to do so without too much hassle. Knowing the attacks is only half the battle in this game though, as blocking plays a major role in successfully progressing through the hoards of blade-fodder.

However it’s in these heated battles, surrounded by advancing enemies while being pinged with shuriken from afar that the game gets frustrating. The camera system is a shambles. All to often you will be getting dealt to by enemies that aren’t even on the screen. While slicing one, you’ll be getting sliced by another whom is just out of view, which makes defending yourself accurately a nightmare. So you quickly resolve to some kind of wide radius spinning attack just to keep everyone at a safe distance while you pick off individuals relatively safely. Considering there’s such an impressive array of moves, it’s unfortunate that you don’t realistically get to use many of them until you get one-on-one with a boss.

You can centre the camera behind Hayabusa, but that only works if nothing gets in the way, and more often than not there is a wall or tree which will impede the camera’s full range of motion. While it’s understandable that there is a lot happening on screen at once, other games have mastered the art of the intuitive gameplay camera such as the Devil May Cry and God of War series. Smarter level design would have made for a more user-friendly camera.

That said, and as frustrating as it can be, it doesn’t make the game unplayable. In fact if you can bottle up all that frustration and vent it on the bosses and in large, open areas where you can let loose with some flashy combos then Ninja Gaiden 2 is slash-em-up gaming at its very best.

Then there is the gore. The game is well deserving of its R18 rating with spurting blood, brutal finishing moves and limbs, heads and half-torsos flying left, right and centre. You can chop an enemy’s left arm off and he will continue to come at you. Sure, he’ll be ungainly and extremely pissed off about it, but he’ll do his best to exact some revenge nonetheless. What’s more, and this is unusual for a game of this nature, the body parts and dead bodies stay put, even if you leave and re-enter an area. This not only helps you remember where you have been, but also allows you to admire your handiwork time and again if you wish.

Graphically the game is a feast for the eyes, the colours are bright, the framerate doesn’t miss a beat and the flashy effects that accompany Hayabusa’s special moves are absolutely stunning. Presentation is excellent but I would have liked the tutorial messages to be a little larger as they can be difficult to read on anything less than a large LCD or Plasma.

All in all I enjoyed the game immensely due to the rate at which it feeds you new moves and steadily ups the intensity level to match. It’s not a small game by any stretch either, with 14 sizeable levels to keep you interested. There’s an online feature too which amounts to noting more than leaderboards and bragging rights.

If I were to be cynical about Ninja Gaiden 2, and I often am about games especially if they fall short in critical areas, then I would say that it can lean towards the monotonous world of the hack-n-slash genre in that you are faced with enemy after enemy after enemy, dispatching them in similar ways despite their increasing levels of difficulty. But Ninja Gaiden 2 is better than that. The action and storyline flows along and the game is well paced which gives you that all important feeling of achievement which all great games deliver.

Score: 82%

Pros: Eye candy galore. Slick moves and combos that are easy to pull off. Well paced, which keeps you wanting more.

Cons: It’s linear in nature, but some thoughtful level design could have given the illusion of more space. Shocking camera system is sometimes laughable.

Watch the trailer: