Gadgetoid

Review by Johnus Maximus

Pistols, shotguns, swords, whips, ice skates, hair? The diverse selection of weaponry at your disposal is just one of the reasons Bayonetta fills such a unique role within the button masher genre.

Developed by Platinum Games, published by Sega and available now for Xbox 360 and PS3, Bayonetta is a game likely to divide opinions due to its complex yet rewarding combination combat system, it’s incomprehensible storyline and outrageously violent and sexual content.

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If you’re looking for a delightful little puzzle game to keep you entertained on the go, then you’ll be pleased to hear that Spooky Spirits: Puzzle Drop! is now available on the iTunes store for iPhone and iPod Touch, published by Legendo Entertainment.

Somehow developers Innogiant have managed to combine the addictive gameplay characteristics of Tetris and Dr Mario into this excellent app.

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Review by Johnus Maximus

If you’re a Wii owner and looking for a cheap and easy action adventure game, then look no further than Rygar: The Battle of Argus. Developed by Team Tachyon and published by Tecmo, this is a repackaging of a game released in 2002 for the PS2, with very little to differentiate it from the original.

Although its original release was received well, the success of games such as Devil May Cry and God of War have raised the bar quite high. Poor camera work, uninteresting combat and a half-baked attempt at incorporating the Wii motion controls mean Rygar falls way short of the standard.

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Review by Johnus Maximus

Just in case you missed the hype-train, there’s a new first person shooter in town and it goes by the name of Halo 3: ODST. What started life as a small expansion pack, soon became a larger experience that could not be confined to the online marketplace.

Developed by Bungie and published exclusively for Xbox 360 by Microsoft Game Studios, this is a first person shooter that sees you play as members of an elite military unit, unravelling a noir-esque mystery and taking part in high intensity set pieces.

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Review by Johnus Maximus

Believe it or not, the first Ghostbusters movie was released a little over twenty-five years ago. To coincide with the anniversary of its release in June this year, developers Terminal Reality and publishers Sony Computer Entertainment released Ghostbusters: The Video Game.

Reprising the original cast members, this game follows on from the events of Ghostbusters II and sees the team take on a new recruit. Action, adventure and comedy ensue. The game is available now for PS3 and will be launched on the Xbox 360, PC and Wii in October.

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Review by Johnus Maximus

Hold onto your helm of disintegration, there’s a new role-playing game in town and this one doesn’t require a monthly subscription! German developer Radon Labs have made a bold attempt to convert the paper based RPG Das Schwarze Auge (The Dark Eye) into a huge single player computer game experience.

Released in March and published by Eidos the game offers an interesting blend of modern and traditional game play fused with great visuals, but is let down by an uninspiring story and overly complex character management.

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Review by Johnus Maximus

Banished to a world they constructed without their master’s consent, the Seraphim must try to unite the many warring factions of Ancaria. Betrayed by very races they created, civil wars are consuming the world and the abuse of magical energy is threatening its destruction.

This is the setting for Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, a vastly addictive and immense action RPG from Ascaron and published by Deep Silver, released in June and available for PC, Xbox 360 and PS3.

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It’s been a while since the release of Dynasty Warriors 6, so it was inevitable that the release of this spin-off title would happen. Developed by Omega Force and published by Koei, it is available now for both PS3 and Xbox 360.

Combining the hack’n’slash gameplay of the Warriors series with the strategy elements of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series this game lets you play as one of hundreds of selectable characters in scenarios which see you trying to conquer China. Let down by a poor tutorial system, this fun game will put some players off at first glance.

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Review by Johnus Maximus

In an alternate present where global warming ravages our world, society has retreated to safety and shunned the use of fossil fuels. An underground racing circuit arises where brave drivers compete against each other, the landscape and the ferocity of Mother Nature herself.

This is the premise of FUEL, the newest release from Asobo Studio (published by Codemasters), available for Xbox 360 and PS3. With 5000 square miles to explore and over seventy vehicles to collect, despite a few flaws this truly is a huge and awesome sandbox racing experience.

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Review by Johnus Maximus

Giant robots, hormonally challenged teenagers and voice acting so ridiculous you can’t help but laugh. Yes, it can only mean one thing - Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2, developed by Koei and Omega Force and published by Namco Bandai Games, has arrived!

This is a hack’n’slash game which uses the game mechanic of Dynasty Warriors and fuses it with the characters of the futuristic Gundam franchise. Building on from some of the mistakes of its predecessor, it’s actually a good fun game and offers a huge amount of content.

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