Split Second was quite the shot in the racing genre’s bulging bicep when it arrived on the PS3 back in May. The cars are reduced to the status of supporting actors, and the real stars are the impressive feats of environmental destruction – exploding tankers, collapsing buildings, out-of-control jumbo jets – that unfold around the driving.
Now offering up its fifth instalment, it’s hard to think of a series that’s been as consistently brilliant as God Of War. Each console iteration has wowed us with slick combat, gorgeous environments and badass mythology, and the second PSP appearance once again proves that handheld needn’t mean small scale.
Ever stared at a stained glass window and wondered what your favourite idol tastes like? No? Well you need to play Gods Eater Burst anyway. This creature-nomming actioner is unlikely to reveal what flavour Jesus is, but smashing up monsters with a sword the size of Luxembourg more than makes up for that.
There’s a sense of familiarity to Valkyria Chronicles 3. That’s not just because it’s a sequel, although if you’ve played either of the first two games (and if not, why not?) you’ll instantly recognise the game’s picture-book art style, its unique mix of action and strategy, and the preponderance of story to game.
Wouldn’t it be great if instead of flouncing around saving worlds, the amazo-haired cast of Final Fantasy ditched the do-gooding and decided to have a massive scrap? Yes it would, and that’s exactly why Dissidia 012 is delirious, choppy fun.
Many remakes of old games are dripping in disappointment – legless cameras, unbalanced difficulty and elbow-ugly presentation. But strategic RPG Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together is like finding a Lion bar in an old duffel coat. It looks melty and unappetising, but this cerebral hammerfest is surprisingly delicious.
If The 3rd Birthday was a person, it would be utterly dysfunctional. There are signs of its twisted, fractured personality all over the place, from a mystifyingly confusing storyline to an occasionally brutal, always erratic difficulty level, with an unhealthy undercurrent of sexual obsession thrown in too.
Tron was the Avatar of the 1980s: pretty like a neon angel, but lacking story under the sheen. The PSP version of Tron: Evolution deletes the unconvincing narrative and focuses on the best bits of the films – tanks, bikes and chucking discs. And it almost works.
We can dispense with the glaringly obvious comparison immediately: Lord Of Arcana is no Monster Hunter. It’s got the snarling beasties, obscene weaponry and action-orientated stance of the successful slayer saga, but none of the addictive collecting mechanic that drives players to dribbling insanity.
If you’re lucky (or unlucky) enough to bump into the real-life Yakuza, you’ll notice they’ve moved on since the days of sharp suits and punch perms. They’re still covered in tattoos, but today organised crime in Japan is carried out by tracksuited hoodlums who hang around discount stores where you can buy cut-price cup noodles.
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