Not too long ago I entered an elite club. No, not the Stone Cutters or the Illuminati, I joined the few people who love the Sega Master System. Like many people, I was brought up on the Nintendo consoles, ignoring all other consoles as unwashed heathens who know not the magic that is Mario. However, in recent years I have learned the error of my ways and I’m catching up on lost time. As such, I am really coming to love Sega.

It is impossible to talk about Sega without mentioning their biggest and best known mascot; not Alex Kidd but Sonic the Hedgehog. Everyone who has played games for a decent amount of time must be familiar with this blue hedgehog, most likely in his 16-bit iterations from the Mega Drive. But there are more sonic games than many people realise. One of these lesser known games is the version of Sonic that came out on the Master System; Sega’s often ignored 8-bit powerhouse.

Sonic the Hedgehog for the Master System is a very different game than its Mega Drive counterpart. The original Mega Drive version was basically a tech demo to show off what they referred to as ‘Blast Processing’ (which in reality was nothing more than marketing) to show off how much quicker the Mega Drive was than the NES. This resulted in the Sonic we all know; the one who runs at super fast speeds through levels in less than a minute. However, as the Master System was an 8-bit machine and was not a great deal quicker than the NES, the result is a much slower Sonic.

As with many other people, my initial reaction to this different, more sluggish Sonic can basically be summed up by the phrase ‘what the hell is this crap?’ before swiftly shutting off the console in disgust. Obviously the game doesn’t put its best foot forward. Being the loving and forgiving person I am, I decided to give it another go.

Sadly the game does not put it’s best foot forward trying to cater to the fans of the Mega Drive game with an 8-bit version of the Green Hill Zone seen in Sonic 1 for the Mega Drive. Now this is a really odd choice for the first level as the Green Hill Zone is basically designed to allow you to go as fast as possible but in a game that is not about speed it makes for really boring level design.

So this is why the game is bad right? Well this article wouldn’t be claiming 8-bit Sonic to be secretly one of the best if this was true. I get the impression that the first zone was put there basically to shut up anyone who wouldn’t stop talking about how Sonic is all about speed. I say this because the rest of the levels are excellently crafted, and do not focus on barreling through them as fast as possible; instead challenging the player with engaging platforming action.

The Master System version of Sonic has some of the best levels ever put onto a cartridge, and it’s the lack of speed that allows this. The levels require you to really look and think about what you’re doing, which would simply not be possible at high speeds. This, alongside some pretty impressive graphics for an 8-bit system as well as a fantastic rendition of the ever familiar Sonic music; downscaled to make some pretty awesome chiptune goodness, makes for a fantastic game.

Playing this version of Sonic has showed me that Sonic the Hedgehog does not need to be all about speed. In fact, Sonic can be at his best when he’s just walking, so long as the levels are crafted to test the player’s skill and reaction. Unfortunately some of the other, faster Sonic games do not. Most Sonic games are based around memorisation, as you are going way too fast to ever react to anything on screen. People have got too hung-up about how fast Sonic moves, to the extent where they think that’s all Sonic should be; running through levels as fast as possible. If you think back to those heady days in the early 90s; playing Sonic the Hedgehog on Mega Drive, you’ll look back and remember; yes, Sonic was fast, but that speed was coupled with some great level design that got lost through the years as fans kept shouting ‘More speed!’ This resulted in the kind of Sonic the Hedgehog games we have today.

So Sega, please with Sonic the Hedgehog 4 remember this. All the speed in the world will never make up for bad level design and the extremely weird furry fetish you have seem to have developed over the years. My best piece of advice is something that Sonic for the Master System has taught me; a slow Sonic game can be really good, as long as the rest of the game is built well. So, when making Sonic 4 remember to make it good before you make it fast.

One last thing, where is our new 3D rendered HD remake of Alex Kidd? Surely it’s about time for some 1080p Janken matches?

– Alan Parrish

No one can deny that Heavy Rain is a divisive game. Some would even go so far as the argue that it isn’t even a real game thanks to its focus on storytelling over traditional gameplay. I personally found it to be one of the most tense, enthralling, and emotionally engaging titles I have played in a long time. So when downloadable content was announced for this brilliant game I felt compelled to get my hands on it.

Rather than continuing after the events of the main story, The Heavy Rain Chronicles are the equivalent of DVD deleted scenes, taking place at different points in the game; perhaps thinking of them as lost chapters would be a more suitable comparison. The first downloadable chapter, The Taxidermist has resident journalist Madison Paige investigating a potential Origami Killer suspect, a Taxidermist named Layland White, that lives out in the suburbs. It is never really said why she suspects him of being the Origami Killer, all we know is her editor says he is a suspect and that’s it.

Upon inspecting White’s front door, and finding it to be locked, with no signs of anyone home, it’s up to you to find a way to break into his home and conduct your own investigation. As with the rest of Heavy Rain, there are a number of ways this downloadable content can go. Ideally, you want to explore the house and leave no signs behind that you have even been there. Upon securing entry to the ground floor you can open cupboards, examine the contents of the fridge, and his fireplace. Other areas to explore include the secluded garage, and the upstairs of the house, which holds a gruesome secret.

The Taxidermist's home has that perfect Psycho feel to it

Of course, as you would expect in a thriller, just when you find all the evidence you need and are about to make your escape, the Taxidermist returns home. As fun as the exploration and mild detective work is, the real tension in this add-on comes from your attempts to escape the house without the Taxidermist discovering that you are there. On my first attempt I failed miserably. Having decided that the best course of action was to hide myself inside a large wardrobe, which was performed by holding down several buttons at once, I soon developed a painful cramp in my hand and had to let go of the buttons, which caused me to fall out of the cupboard at exactly the wrong time; just as the Taxidermist was walking past the room. After a brief chase, in which I ran down a dead end, the Taxidermist quickly gutted me, which brought an end to the expansion.

The terrible secret is pretty obvious from the outset

At this point the game reveals that the way in which I had just completed the game was merely one of five possible outcomes, and invited me to load up a check point in order to try to obtain a different ending. Two of the other endings were fairly obvious, while the final two took a little bit of exploration and logical thinking to figure out. If you are the sort that prefers not to tax the logical side of your brain too much, then a quick google search should turn up a guide. There is also a slight issue with detachment; anyone that is playing this add on will probably already have finished the main story and already know who the killer is. As such, this search for the Origami Killer, who we already know is not the Taxidermist, comes across as being a bit redundant.

Review Round-Up

Graphics: 4/5 Much like the actual game itself, the graphics range from the sublime to the shockingly bad in places. The design of the Taxidermist’s house is incredibly atmospheric and gives off an incredibly creepy vibe.

Sound: 4/5 The music is reminiscent of your typical Hollywood thriller, and is successful in enhancing the already tense atmosphere.

Gameplay: 3/5 As with the rest of Heavy Rain, the game is a cross between a sort of old school point and click adventure, and fast paced quick time button presses. The first two sections of this add on are fairly straight forward; section one has you exploring the outside of the house in order to find a way in, while section two has you snooping around the Taxidermist’s home. The real meat of this expansion comes in the final segment, in which you must try and escape from the Taxidermist’s home.

Longevity: 2/5 While there are five possible outcomes, on my first play through I had completed the add on within 10 minutes. Subsequent play throughs took less time, as I knew exactly where to go in order to trigger the Taxidermist’s return home. While you can explore every nook and cranny of the Taxidermist’s home, there really is little reason to beyond the first play through.

Overall: 3 Stuffed Owls out of 5. While this add on exemplifies everything that is right with Heavy Rain, it also features the same weaknesses. Although there are five possible endings, most may not bother searching them out, if only because the add-on feels a little detached from the main game.

[starreview tpl=16]

Game: Borderlands: The Secret Armory of General Knoxx
Format: Xbox 360
Developer: Gearbox Software
Publisher: 2K Games

The Newb Review Game of the Year nominee Borderlands received it’s third piece of downloadable content last week, and to cut to the chase, it is brilliant. After the shambolic mess that is Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot which cut out all of the fun aspects of Borderlands: exploration of vibrant open areas, looting, and levelling up, we are treated to a lengthy new campaign, complete with expansive environments, new enemies, new weapons, and a further 11 experience levels to unlock.

Taking place directly after the events of the main game story, your character is contacted by Athena, an assassin who has recently quit working for the Crimson Lance and asks for your help bringing them down. Summoning you to T-Bone Junction, an entirely new town that you can access from any fast travel station, you are tasked with destroying the last stronghold of the Crimson Lance, in particular the titular Armory of General Knoxx.

T-Bone Junction and the surrounding area is large. Each area is linked together by Highways that are overrun with Crimson Lance soldiers. Your main objective is to destroy roadblocks in order to gain access to new areas such as a Prison and Deep Fathoms, which is a dried up lake. During your travels you will meet a number of memorable characters, and while the story is not exactly great, the dialogue is as fantastic as ever. General Knoxx in particular shines with his apathetic messages regarding his superior officer who send him taunting orders written in Macaroni and Crayons. As well as excellent new characters, a number of old faces make a return including Scooter and Mad Moxxi, complete with amusing dialogue.

New vehicles and enemies are abundant in this add on

In order to access the new areas you will need to construct new vehicles to break through the Crimson Lance’s road blocks. The three new vehicles comprise of The Racer (a speedy version of your standard car), The Monster (a Jeep armed with machine guns and homing missiles) and The Lancer (A four person tank armed with mines, machine guns, a laser canon, and a pulse blast). Each of these vehicles has their own strengths and weaknesses, such as the Racer being incredibly fast but vulnerable to damage. The vehicles are very useful when facing off against the new enemies that have been added to the game.

As well as the elemental shock troopers; armoured soldiers that have weapons that inflict either shock, explosive, fire, or corrosive damage, there are a number of new bandit types and new creatures called Drifters: towering spider like creatures. On top of the new enemies and environments, a new super rare class of weapons has been added. These Pearlescent weapons (coloured a sort of turquoise blue in your inventory) are incredibly rare and devastatingly powerful.

The enemies you face are very tough

Due to the fact that the main story of this add on takes place after the ending of Borderlands, you cannot access any of the missions until you have completed the main game’s story. Consequently, the enemies that you will fight are pretty tough. It is very clear that this pack has been designed with multiplayer in mind, as there are a large number of enemies on screen at any one time.

There are a number of side missions included in the game, ranging from simple assassination missions to general Fed-Ex quests. One mission in particular “the Super Secret Final Boss”, is actually impossible to beat on your own as the boss is a level 64 character. The level cap has been raised to 61 in this game, which means that even if you completely upgrade your character, this boss is 3 levels stronger than you are. The only way to beat him is to team up with other high levelled characters and work together to take him and his minions down. You will be rewarded with some of the rarest items in the game for beating this boss, but it is no mean feat.

General Knoxx is an apathetic bastard.

As with every other mission in Borderlands, The Secret Armory of General Knoxx can be played through twice by each character; once on playthrough one, and the final time on a second run. The second play through features stronger enemies of a higher experience level, which should keep this add on challenging even for those with exceptionally strong characters.

Review Round-Up

Graphics: 5/5 Brilliant character designs with bold, colourful, expressive graphics. Very stylish overall.

Sound: 4/5 The strong voice acting you would come to expect from a Borderlands game returns. The music remains as strong as ever, and the sound effects are as varied as usual.

Gameplay: 4/5 A wide variety of missions ranging from simple assassination missions, to your typical fetch quests. The three new vehicles shake things up a bit, with each of them having their own strengths and weaknesses. Although it is easier to play this add on with other players, and probably more fun, it is possible to play through it in single player so long as you have a strong enough character.

Longevity: 5/5 The main story missions will last a good few hours, and there are a number of optional side missions. The inclusion of a further 11 experience levels could also provide enough reason to go back and complete more missions in order to get as much experience as possible.

Overall: 4 Pearlescent Shotguns out of 5 It seems Gearbox have listened to the critics of Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot and delivered an incredibly strong add on that builds on all of the original game’s strengths. Exploring a large open world populated with memorable characters and a ton of new equipment has brought new life to Borderlands.

The Secret Armory of General Knoxx is available for download now on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.

[starreview tpl=16]