Age rating:

3+ (PEGI)

What is it?

A Mario game - 3D-platformer.

Is it fun?

Yes.

Is it worth the money? £29.99

Yes.

Why?

I’ve always been rather indifferent when it comes to Mario games until I played Super Mario 64, which was brilliant. Unfortunately the GameCube’s Mario extravaganza (Super Mario Sunshine) was well, total poo to be honest. However, I’m pleased to say that Super Mario Galaxy tops even the great Mario 64 for sheer enjoyment. I can’t even complain of the total lack of imagination shown by Nintendo when it churns out the same games for each generation of Nintendo console when this incarnation of Mario is just so much fun.

The graphics look great (by Wii standards) and complement the game wonderfully. Sure there are some iffy looking textures and a few jaggies, but I didn’t care as the whole game is amazing. The sound is a perfect mix of chirpyness and classic Mario sounds and themes. It also has a brilliant, brilliant music track for the Battlerock galaxy that I challenge anyone to play this galaxy and not have a giant smile on their face.

I loved the whole playfulness of Mario’s new galaxy environment. Flying, flipping, gliding, jumping and catapulting between all the planets on each of the levels is just awesome. The attention to detail that the designers have lavished on every planet, however small is a joy to behold. I loved the way that seemingly simple puzzles were brought to life by splitting them over lots of mini planets and great use of the Wii controller. This is probably the first game after Wii Sports where the control method just feels right. From rolling around on top a giant ball, to flying through the air as a little bumble bee, the Wiimote and nunchuk make controlling Mario something to be enjoyed.

Bad points. Well, swimming underwater takes a bit of getting used to. The camera has a habit of choosing the worst time to change its viewpoint, which usually happens when you’re negotiating a really nasty sequence of platforms.

It took me just over 14 hours to get to the end of the game and finally beat Bowser, but that still leaves me with another 55 power stars to collect. Then I’ll have finally completed the game. So Lordy knows how long that’s going to take with some fiendish and very dexterous puzzles lying in wait.

In summary:

A wonderful game in every way. Mario is the easily the best game on the Wii.

Screenshots:

Age Rating:

7+ (PEGI)

What is it?

A platformer starring Daxter a wise cracking orange ottsel.

Is it fun?

Yep.

Is it worth the money?

Yes, and since its been out for a while you can pick it up cheapy-cheap second hand (e.g. £14 from Computer Exchange)

Why?

In a nut shell, it’s fun, looks totally stunning, is well scripted and has lots of variety between levels. By variety I’m referring to the difference in graphics, layout and game play between levels. Interested? Well, let me tell you a little bit more….

When you look at it, Daxter is a very well executed 3d platform game. Collect x amount of items per level to unlock further levels and power-ups (increased energy bar, more powerful weapons) whilst blatting everything that moves. You’ve got your team communicating instructions to you via video link and there’s a mysterious bad guy to defeat at the end. It’s all there, but enclosed in a rather appealing and sexy looking package.

The main character, Daxter, is not only easy to control but has some great one liners too. I love his little quips after finishing every level and during all the cut scenes as well. Another nice touch is the many “dreams” Daxter experiences are all clever homages to well known blockbuster films e.g. Braveheart, The Matrix, Indiana Jones and Lord Of The Rings to name a few. All the dreams boil down to the same basic “twitch” game - hit the correct button at correct time x number of times to gain a power-up - but they are fun to play. Ok, so the Braveheart dream frazzled my brain whilst trying to complete it, but oh, was it satisfying when I finally did.

It’s not all platform action too. There are several flying levels to navigate, a bit of train surfing and a funky little moped action tossed in for good measure. And you know what? They don’t feel tacked on at all. Just like the rest of the game they are all fun to play. True, it’s not a taxing game with your infinite lives and the ability to save anywhere (essential feature of every PSP game, in my opinion). But it means you can have fun just playing the game.

If you missed this little gem when it was released last year, I would suggest tracking it down. I really enjoyed playing it, and I think you will too.

Links

Official Daxter Website - Quite swish.

Screenshots:

What is it?
Update of the “classic” side-scrolling, platformer starring Arthur the Knight.

Is it fun?
No. Annoying and frustrating, yes.

Is it worth the money? £24.99
No.

Why?
To be honest I never really liked the original Ghosts n’ Goblins game when it was released in the arcades during the mid-80s. It was an incredibly difficult and unforgiving game, which although was the norm at the time (e.g. R-Type or Gauntlet), Ghost n’ Goblins made it as hard as possible for the player. Heck, you even had to the complete the game twice in the same go to see the real ending! This resulted in most of the game remaining hidden to all but the most obsessive player. That’s me out then.

Until now that is, or that’s what all the reviews of this all singing, all dancing PSP version would lead you to believe. Rubbish. Yes, they have made the game slightly easier (you have more lives and your armour lasts a lot longer) but it is still bloody hard. Annoyingly hard, just like the original. Mmm, great. Well at least you can complete level 1 now. Woohoo.

There are so many ways to die and so many monsters to help you die that eventually I just get bored by the whole thing. I didn’t enjoy playing this game, instead I battled through it and for me that’s not my idea of having fun. The only good point of this game is its shortness so the whole painful experience of playing is over quickly.

Sure the graphics are impressive, even rivalling Killzone Liberation for the prettiest PSP graphics title, but all this graphical gloss can’t hide what is a basic and unappealing game. Avoid.

Screenshots:

What is it?

Lego Star Wars 2 - the original Star Wars trilogy, enacted with Lego people.

Is it fun?

Yes, if you intend to play most of it with other people. Otherwise, no.

Is it worth the money? £29.99

Yes.

Why?

It’s cute. It’s as adorable, quirky and funny as the original game. Travellers Tales have created all the little filler bits that you don’t see in the films and stamped each one with their own brand of humour. It’s a delight to explore the levels and find all the little hidden sections.

BUT…

Not by yourself. In optimising this game for multiplayer they have completely broken the single-player experience. Your computer-controlled buddies are still intelligent enough to pull levers and push buttons when you need them, but wow, they are rubbish at shooting. It’s like they all graduated from Stormtrooper Academy.

Essentially, there are lots of segments where you need to build structures, or use The Force on blocks in order to proceed. Invariably, these segments are next to an infinite supply of stormtroopers or sand people or other such rapid-spawning annoyances. When playing with someone else, this is not a problem because one of you can build while the other defends.

In single-player mode you don’t have a chance.

Your AI buddy will be standing at the back randomly shooting at air while you have to simultaneously build an entire AT-ST, collect millions of studs and defend yourself from the unending barrage of laser fire. Every time you get shot, not only do you lose a thousand studs, the item you were lifting with your Force power drops right back down to the ground and you’re right back where you started.

It’s immensely frustrating.

But hey, if you’re planning on playing it with your mates then buy it. It’s fun :)

[Lego Star Wars 2: The Original Trilogy has also been developed for GameCube, PC, PS2, PSP and Xbox by Travellers Tales. The DS and GBA versions are made by Amaze, so may be substantially different]

Screenshots:

Related links:
Official Lego Star Wars II game site (requires Flash)