Sunday 7 December 2014

What Did We Learn From The Playstation Experience?



So, the first PlayStation Experience has just taken place in Las Vegas, but what did we learn about upcoming PlayStation video games for 2015 from the two-day event? Well, amongst the barrage of trailers for some upcoming PS4 titles, including the ever-popular Uncharted 4, Tearaway: Unfolded or No Man's Sky, there were some quite interesting offerings for PS Vita owners too. The following five games are just a taster of the brilliant PS Vita titles that are scheduled for release some time throughout 2015:

Super Time Force Ultra - This game is a fun leap through time and space. Using a 'world select' format, players can jump in and out of six unique periods of time, each complete with its own game modes, playable characters and bonus collectibles. The game also comes with a special 'Time Out' function that allows players to stop or even rewind time in order to go back through a level that has already been played.

Severed - In Severed, players take control of a one-armed heroine who uses a living sword to fight her enemies. It is a strange and yet innovative concept.  Using touch based mechanics, players are able to employ an array of offensive and defensive techniques against a variety of enemies. Defeating 'Boss' characters provides the main character with 'Totems', which she can wear like armour. Each Totem will also provide the character with a new ability. The game is expected to be released in Spring 2015.

Darkest Dungeon - This game adds one important factor into the classic RPG genre: Stress. In the game, players control a band of unlikely adventurers. Everything that these characters see, hear or experience in the game will have either have a positive or negative effect on the group's stress levels. Every negative stress moniker will lead to a succession of stress-driven behaviours from the characters, such as abusiveness, hopelessness, irrationality, selfishness or masochism, which will affect their decisions and performances in the game. Family heirlooms that are collected in the game via various successful quests can be used to furnish the characters' base, where they can indulge in some stress-reducing activities such as flagellation, drinking, gambling and even praying. Darkest Dungeon will be available in 2015.


 Resident Evil: Revelations 2 - Yes, the Resident Evil story is set to bring its own familiar brand Zombie-action to the PS Vita in February 2015. This trailer has so far been released of the game, which is sure to whet the appetite of many Resident Evil fans:


Having trouble viewing this trailer? CLICK HERE


Broken Age - The 'point-and-click' adventure game series is being developed by games studio, Double Fine, which is founded by American videogame producer, Tim Schafer, who is best known for his games, Grim Fandango and Day of the Tentacle, which are also expected to be remastered for the PS Vita in early 2015.



So there you have it - some top-quality games that will be making their way to the PlayStation Store throughout the coming year, but what do our fellow gamers out there think of the announcements? If you have any thoughts about these games or any other articles on the Mini Gamers blog, feel free to leave us a comment and let us know. We love to hear from you.

Tuesday 2 December 2014

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas: Christmas Wonderland 4 Preview [3DS]



Yes, it is that time of year again! Christmas is swiftly approaching, and the fourth edition of our favourite festive game has just appeared for download in the Nintendo 3DS eShop. For those of you who are not familiar with the Christmas Wonderland series on the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS, it is a series of Hidden Object games, all with a Christmassy theme.

In Christmas Wonderland 4, we again join Bill and Mary as they attend the Christmas parade, whilst Mrs. Claus, Santa and the elves try and get all the toys ready in time for the big day!

The game is very easy to play, but hard to master. Players must try to spot all of the items on the Christmas list at the top of the screen. Points are accumulated by finding the listed items as quickly as possible. This sounds easy, but there are many items to find and each one is intricately hidden in a beautiful festive scene. There is a handy Hint function for anyone who feels a bit lost, but players must wait for the hint meter to refill before it can be used again.




As well as the hidden object lists, players will have to solve a number of puzzle mini games in order to progress to the next level. These include tasks such as arranging a set of Santa heads in the correct order or helping Mrs. Claus to finish decorating the Christmas cake.

The game has some beautiful graphics, including some in 3D, but it has to be said that the 3D function of the game is extremely limited as most of the graphics are displayed solely on the bottom screen, which is a tad frustrating.

Nevertheless, if you are looking for a fun festive game to play in the run up to Christmas, then this title is just perfect for you.  Furthermore, at only £4.49, it is a bargain to download from the Nintendo eShop and will keep most casual gamers interested for quite a long time. Overall Mini Gamers rating: 7/10.