Bionic Commando Rearmed

This game is fun. When I downloaded it, the synopsis told me that it was a game from the 80's, which I had never heard of. I was mildly surprised to see that it was a side scrolling game - interesting.

Funnily enough, though, I was really impressed with the graphics! They are nice and vibrant, and so much better than any 1980 arcade machine output. The demo to this game is really short, but there is a mini game included in the game - go to the very top platform, enter the building, look at the screen and Hack the Network.

The training on the game was useful, and the game is simple. Shoot the enemies and collect power ups, and then use your grappling hook to jump over gaps and rappel up to higher platforms.

As stated, the demo is short, and comprises of about 4 screens, and probably doesn't take more than five minutes to complete, but it is fun.

My rating: 7/10

Download the demo, then download/buy the game when it is available - I certainly will be!

Your comments are welcome!

Fatal Inertia EX

I really fancied the look of this game, as I quite like a god flying game. But I must admit I was really disappoint with this. The concept is pretty good - a flying racing game - a bit like pod racing from Star Wars. But in this game you pick up random weapons, which you can obviously use against your opponents.

I had a number of issues with this game:

1. It was too easy. Playing the first game, which is three laps, I was in first place by halfway around the first lap. I like my games to be challenging, and this certainly was not.

2. The weapons - which you pick up by flying over pods - are random - ie, you don't see a yellow pod and think "Oooh, cluster bombs," or a blue pod and think, "Nice! Laser!" - you just see pods, and wonder what you are going to get.

3. You can't store weapons. Dfespite flying over many pods, you can't collect any more weapons until you've used your existing ones - which means that you can't have a reserve. So when you've run out of the current weapons, you need to wait until you fly over the next pod to get a weapon.

4. Graphics. Not what PS3 owners are demanding. Again, I apologise, as I do not have an HDTV - but I've seen good graphics on my PS3, on my TV (I do have GT5 Prologue, you know). Fatal Inertia does not have good graphics, it is as simple as that.

Would I buy this game? No. In fact, since downloading the demo, I have tried it again since, and turned it off halfway through, because I thought it was so bad.

My rating: 3/10

Your comments are welcome!

WALL•E

I must admit, I was skeptical about this game. I downloaded it, played it for five minutes, and gave it up as a pile of trash.

But then I reasoned with myself - I hadn't even bothered checking what the controls were, I hadn't given it long enough, and I had been a bit annoyed that the opening cut scene couldn't be skipped.

So, arming myself with knowledge of the controls, giving myself half an hour, and planning to have a snooze during the opening scene, I tried the demo again.

My first impressions are that the graphics are really, really good - despite my rubbish TV (Donate to my HDTV cause just over there --->!). Just the shiny floor and WALL.E's tyre tracks amazed me - I know, simple things and all that.

I knew now how to jump and how to construct boxes. These two moves are really intrinsic to the game - for example, some areas are only accessible by keeping hold of the jump button, and using yellow magnetic surfaces to get from one area to another. You need to construct boxes to power up Vendor points that will then allow access to other areas, or turn on objects that you need to use.

MO, a little robot that chases WALL.E around, does get a bit annoying - it's constantly trying to box WALL.E up, but a well thrown box to the head sorts him out - for a while.

I actually found the demo quite engrossing. I haven't yet seen the film, as it doesn't really appeal, and that's how I felt about this game. But I found the demo took me about half an hour - partly because I was exploring, partly because some parts I found a bit difficult!

Would I buy this game? Not at the moment. But if I've got a spare tenner in my pocket, and I see it in the shops, then yeah, I wouldn't hold back.

My overall rating? 6/10.

I would definitely recommend downloading the demo from the PSN and giving it a go - and if you do, make sure you pick up Buzz Lightyear, lurking in the level!

Your comments are welcome!