Sticking with current-gen? Here are six you may have missed

If you’re remaining loyal to your Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 for a while longer yet, you may be looking for something “new” to play. If that’s not the case now, then it may be in the not too distant future – a quick look at April’s release schedule reveals that there’s very little out. …

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Server stalking

Most gamers nowadays have a ‘pile of shame’ – a stack of games purchased at impulse prices, waiting to be played. Lately, rather than simply picking a game that I’m in the mood to play, I’ve had to put a little bit of thought into what titles to tackle first. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine had …

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You can’t get blood from a stone

UK Charts GoldenEye 007 hasn’t managed to make it into the top 10 chart this week, but don’t feel down because 007: Blood Stone hasn’t made the cut either. Instead they’re at #13 and #17 respectively. I think Activision themselves are partly to blame – what were they thinking launching them both just 4 days …

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Four wheels – better than two

UK Charts Despite very few games being released last week there has been a slight shuffle in the top 10 chart. The Sims 3: Ambitions is the sole new entry at #5 while both Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands and Split/Second: Velocity have left the top 10 already. They were at #8 and #6 …

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Split/Second: Velocity

When Disney purchased Brighton-based developer Black Rock Studios I honestly thought that they would have them working on a Mario Kart-style racer featuring Mickey Mouse, Porky Pig, The Wombles and other renowned Disney characters. Fortunately not only has Disney left Black Rock alone to do what they do best – which is make ruddy good racing games – but they let them delay Split/Second to add more polish. So, well done Disney. This almost makes up for the farce that was Lady and The Tramp 2.

In most racing games it’s the cars that are the stars but not here – it’s all about the tracks. Or rather, the ability to blow stuff up that’s cleverly strewn around and on the tracks. Drifting around corners builds up a ‘Power Play’ bar – filling it up half way gives the chance to take out rival racers by blowing up petrol tankers, buildings and dropping explosives out of helicopters flying overhead. Fill the power bar to the brim though, which requires some proficient drifting, and you can summon airplanes to crash land, detonate power station cooling towers and derail trains. Short-cuts and events that will change the layout of the track can also be triggered, like bringing down a tower so that the race can continue on top of it.

Because the literally explosive set-pieces always appear in the same place, recognition starts setting in and you’ll find yourself saving up Power Plays for certain places. For instance, one track has explosives rigged near the finishing line which is handy for nabbing the 1st position in the last few seconds. Timing plays a big part too – trigger an event too soon and it won’t even leave a mark on the opposition; do it too late and they’ll be watching those glorious explosions from their rear-view mirror.

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It’s all a Blur

UK Charts Even though reportedly out of stock, Red Dead Redemption manages to stick to the top of the chart. Bloody brawler UFC: Undisputed 2010 enters the ring, sorry, chart at #2 with 2010 FIFA World Cup at #3 followed by Just Dance and Wii Fit Plus. Actvision’s Blur and Sega’s super spy sim Alpha …

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Parklife

This Week’s Games “You should cut down on your pork pies, mate. Get some exercise!” sang Blur back in 1994. Well, it wasn’t actually Blur that sung that line – it was that chap from Eastenders. Sitting in front of the TV playing Actvision’s new racer Blur certainly won’t give you any exercise but it …

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