Review: Heavy Rain
Game: Heavy Rain
Format: PS3
Developer: Quantic Dream
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
*This review of Heavy Rain does NOT contain any spoilers*
Heavy Rain as swept across the globe! No silly, I'm not talking about the weather, I'm talking about Quantic Dream's latest PS3 offering, Heavy Rain. A game which is as impossible to review as it is groundbreaking. It's near impossible to review because not only is it extremely hard to talk about this game without revealing any spoilers (whilst also trying to avoid sounding like a pretentious d*ck) it's also nigh impossible because well, you could say Heavy Rain isn't really a game at all.
Sure, it's sold in games stores and it comes on a blu-ray disc, but Heavy Rain is much more than a game. This is an experience, and it's one that will stay with you for the rest of your gaming lives...
DLC Review: Assassin’s Creed 2 – The Battle of Forli & Bonfire of the Vanities
Game: Assassin's Creed 2: The Battle of Forli & Bonfire of the Vanities & Secret Locations
Format: 360, PS3
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
The Newb Review has something of a love/hate relationship with Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed series. We weren't the only ones who, to put it quite mildly, didn't like the first instalment (for the full review click here) as despite huge sales, every games critic under the sun gave it the good, hard bashing it rightfully deserved.
It was to our surprise then that last year Assassin's Creed 2 released and not only did it garner huge sales, but this time it was good. Very, VERY good in fact, a gargantuan improvement on its predecessor and subsequently it ended up being Crofterz personal vote for game of the year (although he was outvoted for The Newb Review Game of The Year Award, by about a quadrillion to one).
Thoroughly Underrated Games You Probably Should Play – 3. Ninjatown
Hello and welcome to the third edition of Thoroughly Underrated Games You Probably Should Play; a series of articles in which we attempt to transform you mindless drones into cultured, well informed gamers by introducing you to some under-appreciated gaming goodness. This time we bring to you a lovely little tower defence game (they are mostly rubbish but stick with this, this one is really good!) for the Nintendo DS. Take it away Crofterz.
Review: Dante’s Inferno
Game: Dante's Inferno
Format: 360, PS3
Developer: Visceral Games
Publisher: Electronic Arts
God of War, Devil May Cry, Bayonetta, Ninja Gaiden... the action based hack-n'-slash genre is rarely associated with original or innovative gameplay and whilst Dante's Inferno cetainly doesn't break this trend, EA's latest offering still manages to deliver a unique and enjoyable experience.
Any readers or listeners of The Newb Review will know that ever since it was announced, Dante's Inferno has been the game I was most looking forward to. It has fended off stiff competition from the delightfully brilliant Mass Effect 2 and upcoming PS3 exclusive Heavy Rain. However, often when you're incredibly excited for an upcoming game, expectations are so high that when the final product turns out to be a bit of a disappointment. So with that in mind, how well does Dante's Inferno meet up to expectations?
The Newb Review Episode 11
This week Braindead_hero and Crofterz are joined by the lovely Spanjj from 7bitarcade to help them in their podcasting duties. Among the topics discussed are;
the iPad,
Exclusive GTA IV DLC no longer exclusive
and the popularity of naked blue aliens.
We also bring you this weeks new releases and site updates as well as giving you the chance to win a fabuous prize in our Bayonetta competition.
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If you want to send us a question, comment or suggestion e-mail podcast@newbreview.com
iRate: DLC Exclusivity and Me… A Hate/Hate relationship
Ah the joy of gaming… You finally sit down with the latest multiplatform release and let the gaming goodness wash over you, fully enjoying everything there is on offer. But hang on a second…There are bits missing aren’t there? It’s seems you can’t enjoy the same game as your rival console owners, not because of shoddy porting issues (we’ll save that for another iRate article), but because the developer has decided to sell off their reputation to the highest bidder and screw over around half of us gamers in the process. Oh well, at least they make a bit of extra cash…
The epic war of the consoles between Sony and Microsoft (the Wii isn’t made for gamers; see ‘iRate: Wii never play it really’) seems to have descended into a tit-for-tat squabble; each company sinking to new lows by securing the exclusivity of relatively minute amounts of individual titles. Sure, the Joker maps from Batman: Arkham Asylum are only available to PS3 customers, but does Sony really think that this pathetic half-step is going to incense XBox owners into purchasing the rival console?
Thoroughly Underrated Games You Probably Should Play – 2. Lucidity
Hello! And welcome to the long over due second episode of Thoroughly Underrated Games You Probably Should Play, a series of articles from The Newb Review where we recommend some bloody good games that have been far over-shadowed, often by games with lower quality, but higher marketing budgets. Episode 1 (an article on the fabulous game Henry Hatsworth in The Puzzling Adventure, found here: http://rt.nu/9jissu) came out some time ago. However, as something of a new year's resolution, our very own Crofterz has made it his mission in life to unearth these valuable gems for you, our beloved newbs.
The Newb Review: Episode 10
A very special guest joins Braindead_hero, Tom01255 and Crofterz this week, the emperor and owner of newbreview.com Steve 'Kamiza' Garrett to discuss this weeks video gaming news inclding;
Borderlands and Assassin's Creed DLC,
Tony Hawk prepping to ride again
and Nintendo renewing it's licence to print money thanks to New Super Mario Bros. Wii.
As usual we also have the new releases, site updates and (sadly) some amazing voice acting as well as your e-mails. And details on how you can win a fabulous prize.
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If you want to leave us any questions, comments and suggestions as well as enter our competition please e-mail; podcast@newbreview.com
Review: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Game: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Format: Xbox 360
Developer: LucasArts
Publisher: LucasArts
Hello, newblings. You may remember that last month Crofterz wrote a nice, little review on Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed. Actually, said article was the first in a few (and by a few, we mean two) articles in a series that will now be tentatively known as “Games released ages ago that Crofterz has finally played for free". Here's the second (and final) instalment, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. This was kindly lent to him by another friend (the rest of us at The Newb Review office are just as amazed as you; that cynical, miserable b*stard has more than one friend!).
The Newb Review: Episode 9
It's quite possibly the sleepiest podkey ever recorded as Braindead_hero, Crofterz, LavaLampBamboo and Tom01255 talk about the weeks news, site updates and new releases including;
Final Fantasy XIII going gold
Are rythmn games killing the games industry?
and SonyMotion Controller delayed to Autumn.
We also have all your e-mails, our terrible pokemon impressions and the debut of Dialogue Hard with a Vengeance.
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If you want to get in touch with the podcast please e-mail; podcast@newbreview.com
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4.9 : Review: Dragon Age: Origins (18 votes)- 4.9 : iRate: DLC Exclusivity and Me… A Hate/Hate relationship (8 votes)
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