Professor Layton 4 VS. Doctor Lautrec and the Forgotten Knights: PART ONE

VS.

If you are a puzzle-gamer but only have either a DS or 3DS console, then you should count yourself lucky that you have been spared the difficult decision of which brand new top puzzler to buy.

If, however, you happen to own both types of console (and are not currently swimming in cash), you might find yourself having to choose between Professor Layton and the Spectre's Call, and the new puzzler from Konami, called Doctor Lautrec and the Forgotten Knights, which both became available to buy this weekend...

Never fear though, as Mini Gamers has spent the last few days unravelling various mysteries and trying to discover what both games truly have to offer gaming fans.

Although the two games are considered to be quite similar to each other, the gameplay in each game is quite different. Therefore, we have reviewed the plots, gameplay, characters and graphics offered by each game in order to make it easier for other gamers to make their choice.

However, as both games are pretty action-packed, we have been forced to split this particular 'Versus' battle into two separate posts. Let us start with the newest game in the popular Professor Layton series.

If you would rather skip ahead and see what we think of the new Doctor Lautrec and the Forgotten Knights 3DS game, or if you would like to know our final verdict, please CLICK HERE.

PROFFESSOR LAYTON

AND THE SPECTRE'S CALL

(AKA PROFFESSOR LAYTON AND THE  LAST SPECTER)

PLOT

As you may already know, the fourth Professor Layton game is actually a prequel to the other three games (making it chronologically the first game in the series) and it tells the story of how the Professor actually met his young apprentice, Luke Triton.

Professor Layton and his new female assistant, Miss Emmy Altava, are summoned to the fictional town of Misshallery, by his good friend Clark Triton, to stop a mysterious Spectre that seems intent on wreaking havoc throughout the town.

The Professor soon learns that Clark's young son Luke, (also known as 'The Oracle' in this game,)  has the ability to sense the Spectre's attacks before they occur, and Professor Layton, Emmy and Luke team-up to try and save the town by solving a number of difficult mysteries and puzzles - but will they succeed?

GAMEPLAY

The gameplay in Professor Layton and the Spectre's Call/Last Specter follows the same format as featured in the previous Professor Layton games, which means many different types of logic puzzles including Peg Solitare puzzles, sliding puzzles, calculation, code-breaking and  many other types of  traditional logic puzzles that you can think of.

Luckily, both the Hint Coins and the Super Hint functions make a return in this game, otherwise  we doubt Mini Gamers would have got any further than the first chapter.

Nevertheless, the game also introduces a new way of finding Hint Coins and unlocking special Mouse Badge rewards, which involves something to do with scampering mice, but we are keeping schtum about exactly what this entails! Well, we don't want to ruin it for the rest of you now, do we?

As before, solving puzzles will earn you Picarats, which can be used to unlock several new bonuses at the end of the game. Each puzzle has a different number of Picarats attached to it, and the amount of Picarats that you earn also increases with the supposed difficulty of the puzzle that you must solve.

MINI GAMES

As with the other Professor Layton titles, this game has its own set of mini-games to complete. In this game, the three main mini-games are:

TOY TRAIN - (This is similar to the 'Car' mini-game in Professor Layton and the Lost Future). The Toy Train game is played by laying a railroad track down on the game board. The goal of this specific mini-game  is to get the toy train to pass through every train station on its way to the end destination.

To make things harder, the train must sometimes be timed correctly in order to avoid cars and/or other trains. The toy train also requires 'fuel' to move, which then limits the amount of track that can be placed by a player unless more fuel is collected before the track ends.
FISH TANK - Train the pet fish so that it can collect all the coins in the bottom of its tank. Place air bubbles at correct intervals to change the fish's direction so that it can intercept all of the required coins.

PUPPET THEATRE - complete the script of an on-going theatre play so that the story makes sense by choosing words to form specific sentences. If the chosen word is incorrect, the 'Play' ends and the player must try again. Once all the words are chosen correctly, the Play will end with an epilogue and an applauding audience.

MOUSE ALLEY - This is a bonus mini-game, which can only be unlocked once the player has collected a sufficient amount of Mouse Badges. The goal of this game is simple - Hit as many mice as possible within the time-limit, but avoid hitting Luke's pet mouse, Toppy.

CHARACTERS

This game introduces a lot of new fun and quirky characters, but still manages to keep the relationship between the characters in this game and those in past games, especially through Professor Layton and Emmy Altava's mysterious relationship which is resolved at the end of the game.

GRAPHICS

The quaint cartoon-style graphics return in this game. There are also more voice-acting and cutscenes in this game, which really help to move the story along.

SUMMARY

Professor Layton and the Spectre's Call is a fantastic game for people of all ages. The varied logic puzzles make it really interesting. The storyline is very engaging and well-thought out. A perfect Christmas present for puzzle fans. Overall rating: 10/10.


See Also :

THE SECOND PART OF THIS 'VERSUS' BATTLE: Doctor Lautrec and the Forgotten Knights

Doctor Lautrec Gets Playable Browser Demo Before Its November/December Release Date

Konami, the company responsible for creating the intriguing and long-awaited 3DS puzzle-adventure game Doctor Lautrec and the Forgotten Knights, have recently published a brand new website complete with a playable demo so that 3DS users can 'try before they buy'.

The game is still set for a November release date in the UK, but it has since been confirmed that the US version of the game has now been given a 13th of December 2011 release date, which replaces its earlier November one.

 

Thus, regardless of its release date the game should be out in the shops some time before Christmas 2011, and the new website and demo will no doubt help to tax gamers minds until the actual game hits the shelves... To view the demo for yourself, please CLICK HERE.

Mini Gamers was quite impressed by the cutscenes and puzzles on offer throughout the demo, which have all been adapted from portions of the actual game.

Although the game has been criticised in some gaming circles as resembling the Professor Layton characters and puzzles, we have to say that the puzzles which we have so far seen on the demo include everything from standard logic puzzles like Spot-the-difference and Sodoku, to more traditional logic tests to do with codes, numbers and shapes, all of which were incredibly challenging and brilliantly woven into the storyline. So, maybe this game will turn out to be more than a Layton-esque rip-off after all? Well, judging by what we've seen so far, we definitely think so! 

Remember to check in with the Mini Gamers blogsite for a full review after the game is released in the UK.

Game of the Week: Zoo Resort 3D

The first set of cute 3DS games has arrived, however, despite Zoo Resort 3D being obviously aimed at a younger gaming audience, Mini Gamers was pleasantly surprised by what we found.

The aim of Zoo Resort 3D is to stock and maintain a Zoo which has been left to you by your (in-game) late grandfather. You must unlock different breeds of animals, from simple birds, to large land-and-sea predators, and the majority of the game is centred around the players abilities to feed and display the animals to growing crowds of visitors.

The more you feed and interact with the animals in your care, the more visitors you attract and the more money you gain, which will allow you to develop your zoo and unlock more animals.

The first thing you gain access to after your initial animals have been placed in the zoo, is the 'Animal Dispenser'. This allows you to randomly create animals in exchange for some coins. The more popular your zoo becomes, the more types of Animal Dispensers you can use. Nevertheless, the latter dispensers are very expensive and can cost up to 8000 coins a time to use.

In order to gain access to the various unlockable items that the game has to offer, you must first bond with the animals through feeding them and taking a selection of top quality photographs or video for your apparent zoo blog, and trying to gain the maximum popularity for each animal group in turn.

If you have managed to gain the maximum bond with your animals, fulfilled the total number of appearances to members of the public, and also happen to have the correct number of each animal in their individual enclosures, (this info can be found on the information card displayed on the animal selection screen), you will be treated to a stunning animated 3D cutscene showing the animals in their daily life at the zoo. These visuals are truly breathtaking most of the time and really help to bring each animal to life. The cutscene can then be replayed at any time.

As the game is primarily aimed at younger gamers, it is very easy to pick up and play, with simple tasks that will help the zoo to run smoothly.

Nevertheless, the game will sometimes throw up random challenges such as 'displayed animals will become sick today', which means that you won't be able to display those animals for a few in-game days, or 'elephants at another zoo have become more popular', in which case you must try to raise the popularity of your own elephants etc.

These challenges help to lower the visitor count and therefore alter the amount of money that you earn on that day and the subsequent day, making your progress through the game slightly slower.

However, if you wish to miss the challenge altogether you can simply select the End The Day/Journal tab and you will recieve a summary of how much you earned the previous day and your progress will be saved. Please note, however, that your subsequent earnings will decrease for each day that you choose to miss.

If you are successful in making your zoo popular, you will also earn the right to expand your territory, which will open up more land and new animals for you to care for. You will also gain access to certain Special Commands, which can then be purchased in order to increase the popularity of the zoo.

Once you have unlocked over 75 different species of animal and gained access to the last of the Animal Dispensers, the main story of the game comes to an end and you are free to add to your zoo as you see fit. You will also uncover the secret of the mysterious gentleman you meet at the beginning of the game.

In conclusion, Zoo Resort 3D is not as lame as it might first appear. The 3D graphics are amazing and players can survey the whole of the animal enclosure by simply using the circle pad. All the environment and animals are extremely lifelike.

Nevertheless, this game is aimed more at younger gamers between the ages of eight and fourteen, and is therefore quite simplistic in its actual gameplay, so it is unlikely to keep adult gamers entertained for hours.

However, for a sweet and uncomplicated little game that you can play for a spare five or ten minutes whilst on the train, this title does very nicely, and we can see this one being a winner with the kids at Christmas. Overall rating: 8/10

3DS Games Are Set To Get Cute This November...

It has long been suggested that the reason why the Nintendo DS range of handheld console was so popular in the years after its release was its selection of easy-to-play, family-centred titles, which were typically aimed at the younger gamer and female audiences.

This could explain why Nintendo have chosen to release several casual gaming titles which seem set to capitalise on the 'cute' factor in the run up to Christmas 2011 Amongst those on the cute list for release throughout the coming month are:

Coral Pink 3DS console (release date: 18th November 2011).

The new console will reportedly be bundled with the Nintendogs + Cats 3DS game for that extra 'Awwwww' factor. The pink console will also be joined by an Ice White 3DS console on the 2nd of December 2011.

Puppies World 3D (release date: 11th November 2011).

In an obvious attempt to build on the success of Nintendogs + Cats, Ubisoft plan to release their first pet simulation for the 3DS, entitled Puppies World 3D. As you might expect, the game has several little dog-shaped companions for players to play and interact with.

Alongside the usual feed, bathe, groom, train and play routine associated with this type of game however, does come one or two surprises, including the ability to snap a 3D photo of any room in your actual house and turn it into a virtual playroom for your puppies, which does sound rather intriguing.

Zoo Resort 3D (release date: 11th November 2011).

Ubisoft have also chosen to release Zoo Resort 3D (AKA Animal Resort). a kind of Zoo Tycoon for the 3DS. The aim is to set up and manage your own zoo full of exotic wild animals, including tigers, elephants and polar bears.

This game may not sound too impressive at first, but one look at a 2D version of the trailer for this game and we were really excited. A perfect gift for budding zoologists this Christmas.

Cooking Mama 4 (3DS) (release date: 11th November 2011).

Yes, Mama is back, and this time she is cooking up a storm in an entirely new dimension! With brand new recipes to try out all displayed in full autostereoscopic 3D, this seems like the perfect game to turn kids into the next generation of super-cooks.

So, with all this extra cuteness, will hardcore 3DS fans be ignored this month? The answer is no, there are some great November titles for hardcore gamers too, including the release of the long-awaited Super Mario 3D Land.

However, the fact that the 3DS is finally starting to branch out into other areas of the gaming market, and target different audiences, is a good sign, which could actually enhance the 3DS' popularity in the long run. 

Stay tuned to the Mini Gamers blogsite for more news and reviews of 3DS titles this November.

Call Of Duty: Black Ops Is Clear Winner This Christmas.



Activision Blizzard's new First Person Shooter (FPS) game Call of Duty: Black Ops has been confirmed as the UK's number one videogame this Christmas. The game has beaten many other popular titles to clinch the top spot in the Christmas gaming charts, including FIFA 11 and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit.

Call of Duty: Black Ops has sold over 3 million copies since launching last month and is one of only three titles to top the £100 million revenue mark in the UK. In fact, it has now been revealed that the title's total sales in the week before Christmas managed to amass a colossal £345 million in total revenue.

The full top ten for the week was as follows:

• 1. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision Blizzard)
• 2. FIFA 11 (EA)
• 3. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (EA)
• 4. Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft)
• 5. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (Ubisoft)
• 6. Gran Turismo 5 (SCEE)
• 7. Donkey Kong Country Returns (Nintendo)
• 8. Medal of Honor (EA)
• 9. Wii Fit Plus (Nintendo)
• 10. Prof Layton and the Lost Future (Nintendo)

Source: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2010-12-20-black-ops-takes-uk-christmas-number-one

For fans of FPS games, this title is definitely one to own. If you haven't managed to purchase a copy yet, it might be worth spending a little of that Christmas cash and trying it out for yourselves. We promise that you will not be disappointed.

Answers To The Big Gaming Quiz 2010

Today is the 26th of December 2010, and as promised we will now provide you with the answers to our Big Christmas Gaming Quiz. However, before we start. Here is a quick reminder of how the quiz is scored:

There are twenty questions in total. A correct answer is worth 5 points. Maximum score is 100 points. Correct answers are written in green. Good Luck!

IF YOU HAVEN'T TRIED THE QUIZ YET, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE QUIZ SCREEN...

1) The Mario Brothers recently celebrated an important anniversary, but how many years has it been since their creation? 

• 10 years

• 25 years (5 pts)

• 35 years

2) What is the name of the mysterious character in the Nintendo DS game 'Rooms'?

• Mr. X (5 pts)

• Mr. Strange

• Mr. Lurch

3) Kratos is the main character in which well-known videogame series? Is it:

• God of War (5 pts)

• Metal Gear Solid

• Resident Evil

4) The game Call of Duty: Black Ops was launched on the 9th of October 2010, but where was the Official UK Launch Party held?

• Battersea Powerstation (5 pts)

• The NEC Arena in Birmingham

• London's Apollo Theatre

5) What is the technical name for the process that the 3DS uses in order to create 3D images? Is it:

• Stereoscopy

• Autostereoscopy (5 pts)

• Motion-Image Relay

 6) Which game has the slogan "Play With Life"?

• The Sims 3 (5 pts)

• Metal Gear Solid

• My Baby 2

7) Which of these titles is NOT a Lego Game?

• Lego Indiana Jones

• Lego Universe

• Lego Starship Troopers (5 pts)

8) What is Professor Layton's first name?

• Herman

• Hershel (5 pts)

• Henry

9) Which is the name of the cute virtual pet who has recently been launched for the PSP? Is it:

• EyePet (5 pts)

• Wonder Monkey

• Tiddles the Super Cat

10) Which of these Soap Operas is scheduled to be turned into a Nintendo DS game in late 2011?

• Coronation Street (5 pts)

• Emmerdale

• EastEnders

11) Which of these titles is NOT a real Nintendo DS training game?

• Sight Training

• Face Training

• French Training (5 pts) 

12) Which of the following characters is featured in the Sonic the Hedgehog videogames series?

• Bowzer

• Sackboy

• Tails (5 pts)

13) What other type of Nintendo games cartridge can be played on a Nintendo DS or DS lite console?

• GBA (5 pts)

• SNES

• 3DS

14) Kyle Hyde is most commonly known as the main character in which Nintendo DS game?

• Hotel Dusk: Room 215 (5 pts)

• Secret Files: Tunguska

• Lost in Blue

15) How much is the 3DS console estimated to cost after it is launched in Japan next year?

• 25,000 Yen (5 pts)

• 35,000 Yen

• 45,000 Yen

16) Where is the latest Tom Clancy Ghost Recon game set?

• India

• Sri Lanka (5 pts)

• China 

17) What is the title of the new Doctor Who DS game? Is it:

• Earth Escape

• Survival Earth

• Evacuation Earth (5 pts)

18) Which popular Game Developers are responsible for the games series Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy?

• Level 5 inc

• Square Enix (5 pts)

• Clap Handz

19) Which two popular characters are set to go head-to-head in a joint adventure game on the 3DS in late 2011?

• Lara Croft and Violette Summer

• Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright (5 pts)

• Mario and Sonic

20) Comedy Actor and TV Presenter, Stephen Fry lends his voice to the narration of which PSP game?

• ModNation Racers

• Echochrome

• LittleBigPlanet (5 pts)

 TOTAL SCORE:        /100



How many questions did you get right? Check to see how well you did... Why not leave us a comment to let us know your final score? Who knows,  you might just be a gaming genius!

Unique Christmas Gifts For The Gamer In Your Life...

Christmas is almost upon us, and with it comes the frantic scramble to find the right gifts for your family and friends. It could be said that Gamers are one of the worst type of people to buy presents for,  usually because they already own every game in existence and, unless you have been told to buy them a specific game, it can be a nightmare trying not to duplicate items that they have already bought for themselves.

Never fear though! Mini Gamers has come up with a few ideas of what you could get gaming fans this year. We have searched high and low to find the best and most original gaming-related gifts that will satisfy most gamers and even appeal to the gamer who has everything. This is our shortlist:

1) Assassin's Creed Collectible Figurine



This highly decorative figurine is the pefect collectible for fans of the highly-aclaimed Assassin's Creed series. However, as this figure is limited edition, its price tag is not cheap. This figure retails for around £30. We found that online stores like play.com and Amazon were selling it slightly cheaper at £24, but this is still an expensive but exquite gift piece for most gaming fans. This item can be purchased from the GAME stores.

2) Super Mario Bros: Super Mario Chess: Collectors Edition

This zany little chess set is perfect for fans of those superb Italian plumbers, The Mario Bros. However, as another collector's item, this gift also carries a hefty price tag. Expect to find this item for just under £50. If you can afford it, however, the item can be purchased directly from The Super Mario Store for £47.99.

3) Gaming T-shirts/Hoodies

Online retailer Play.com features a large number of game-themed T-shirts and Hoodies. Prices vary but rarely go above £11.99. It has to be said, that the T-shirts do seem to be aimed more at men than at women, but they will make a useful and affordable present for many male gamers. Gaming T-shirts can also be found at HMV and other clothing or memorabilia stores.

4) LittleBigPlanet Sackboy/Sackgirl Beanies

These cute six-inch beanies come in a variety of designs aimed at both male and female gamers of all ages. They usually retail for around £6.99 and can be found in many highstreet stores such as GameStation and HMV.


5) Raving Rabbids: Travel In Time Blister Packs 1, 2 and 3

This gift idea is aimed at slightly younger gamers who like the Raymans Raving Rabbids series of games. There are three separate blister packs. Each containing approximately three different figurines from the latest game in the series - Rayman's Raving Rabbids: Travel in Time (Wii). Each blister pack retails for around £6.99 but is guaranteed to provide little gamers with hours of imaginative fun with their favourite characters. This item can be found in many GAME and  HMV highstreet stores.


6) PAC-MAN Alarm Clock

Arcade or retro fans and gamers who grew up in the 1980's are sure to love this novelty alarm clock. It wakes up its owner with the authentic sounds of the original game. Not to worry though, if the novelty wears off, you can turn off the alarm feature and simply use it as a standard clock.

7) 80's Stress Ball

shaped like one of the blob-like aliens from the original Space Invaders game, this nifty little gadget is both a practical and nostalgic piece of memorabilia which will appeal to Arcade gamers. This item usually retails for around £5, but they can be a difficult item to track down but is sold by online retailers such as Play.com, however they might end up being a belated Christmas gift due to delivery schedules at this time of year... Be warned!

8)  The VTech: Storio

The link between fun and learning is considered to be pretty strong these days and many video games (especially for the Nintendo DS) have attempted to educate our brains in a variety of fun and exciting ways, but for children who are yet too young to have their own Nintendo DS, comes a nifty little handheld reading tutor.

The VTech Storio Animated Reading System is aimed at very young children between the ages of four and six and can increase their confidence as well as develop reading and language skills.

Children can play a number of reading games, interact with the story and develop basic comprehension skills. Alternatively they can read along with the story, watch the animated screen or simply listen to the narrative.

The actual Storio system is not cheap and costs around £60 to buy,  but a number of Storio accessory  packs can then be purchased for around £12 each, featuring characters like Tinkerbell, Toy Story or Dora the Explorer. The packs vary depending on the age of the child and will help them learn to read more easily. It also covers basic English Language skills from the National Curriculum such as phonics, vowels, spelling, capitals and more.

This is a great little handheld gadget and very useful to little ones. The VTech Storio can be found at toy stores including The Entertainer and Toys 'R' US amongst many others.

So that completes our wonderful and wacky tour of  unique or collector gifts for gamers. These items are great as both a main present and as a compliment to the actual games.

We at Mini Gamers  hope that this post has given you some last minute ideas and that you have enjoyed exploring what type of gaming memorabilia is on offer in shops today.

Handheld Games and UMDs To Help Get You In The Yuletide Mood

December has arrived at last, and most people's thoughts are inevitably turning towards Christmas. However, for some people, Christmas is a burden which somehow seems to arrive earlier and earlier each year... Thus, Mini Gamers has compiled a list of festive video games and accesories that will make even the most grumpiest, die-hard Scrooge feel Christmassy!

Nintendo DS/DSi Christmas Games

1. Disney's A Christmas Carol

This game puts a very interactive twist on one of the oldest and most-loved Christmas stories. Players must help move the plot along by using the stylus and DS microphone to aid Ebenezer Scrooge as he learns about the true meaning of Christmas.

The game has a really festive feel to it and contains several Christmas-themed mini games including snowball fights, building a snowman, cooking a traditional Christmas dinner, decorating Christmas trees and even singing Christmas Carols.

As well as the main storyline, each scene in the game contains festive items such as snowflakes, bells, angels and presents to collect. All the collected items can be placed on a big animated Christmas Tree at the end of the game.

The game is quite short, which makes it perfect for younger gamers, but adult gamers can't fail to be charmed by this little Christmas adventure either. This is the perfect family game.


2. Enchanted Folk and the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

This game is a life simulation which is played in real-time. That means that when it is Christmas in real life, the inhabitants of this magical little town are also busy 'Decking the halls' and preparing for a visit from that cheerful little guy in the red suit.

As well as finding festive items such as Christmas Stockings, Christmas Cards, Presents and Christmas Trees appearing in the local shops around the town, players will also be asked to take part in several Christmas-Themed Mysteries whereby they will meet winter magical beings including faries, and even get to lend a hand to Father Christmas himself!

Furthermore, a special Winter festival gets underway in early December each year. Players must collect several different coloured snowflakes that fall on the ground around the main town, forest and beach areas. Players who manage to collect one snowflake of each colour before the deadline will get a special prize.

This is a great game for fans of Life Simulations all year round, and the festive preparations of the virtual inhabitants will instantly make the December evenings feel even more Christmassy.


3. How The Grinch Stole Christmas

To be honest, this is more of an anti-Christmas game, which of course makes it perfect for anyone who wishes that Christmas would go and bury itself in a very large pit and never come out again. Nevertheless, fans of the festive season will also enjoy this simple strategy game in which The Grinch must try and steal all the Christmas presents and Decorations from unsuspecting human families.

Players must utilise The Grinch's arsenal of Christmas stealing tricks such as sneaks, slithers, dodgy and whacks in order to complete tasks. Each of these techniques will open up their own mini-game where you will have to use skill and timing to succeed.

Adapted from the best-selling children's story written by Dr. Suess, this game features simple cartoon graphics and plenty of Christmas items and festive fun. The game also features several levels of difficulty, which makes it a perfect Christmas game for all the family.

PSP Christmas UMD Movies and Festive Film Downloads

Unfortunately, the PSP does not really have any Christmas-themed video games of its own (bah, humbug), but that does not mean that PSP owners cannot use their PSP to get themselves into the Christmas mood this year. Instead of festive games, why not treat yourself to a selection of Christmas UMDs or downloads instead? 

Mini Gamers has cherry-picked our festive favourites from the host of new and traditional Christmas UMDs and downloads on offer. These are the films which made our top five:

1. Disney's A Christmas Carol



Jim Carrey stars as the cantankerous old  Mr. Scrooge in this imaginative re-telling of the yuletide classic. The film features lots of spectacular C.G.I action sequences and plenty of recognisable Christmas characters and festive fun. This film is both heart-warming and enjoyable for both adults and children alike. 

The film is DOWNLOAD ONLY and is available to either rent or buy from the Playstation Network Store now. Please note that a PSN Store Account will be necessary to allow purchase of downloaded movies or games. 

2.  Fred Claus



This film takes a whole new look at the legend of Father Christmas and chooses instead to focus on his  elder brother, Fred. Fred is tired of being the brother of a worldwide figure of giving and selflessness and is highly disenchanted with the whole Christmas tradition.

Nevertheless, when Fred requests that his brother (who, let's not forget, is Father Christmas) send him £5000 in bail money, St. Nick's patience finally wears thin and he demands that if Fred wants his money he must agree to come to the North Pole and work over the Christmas period. Fred reluctantly agrees, which is when a whole host of Christmas hilarity ensues...

This film is a refreshing change from traditional Christmas stories and even though it has a PG certificate, it still contains plenty of inferred adult humour which is sure to entertain. This UMD  film can be purchased from stores such as Play.com or HMV or  directly downloaded from the PSN store.

3. Santa Claus: The Movie

This film has been digitally restored from the original 1985 version and stars the late Dudley Moore as an ambitious and imaginitive Elf known as Patch. When Patch loses his position as 'Head Elf' at the North Pole he decides to leave and finds himself in New York City where he meets a greedy toymaker who is keen to exploit the naive elf's creative ideas.

However, Patch's toys are poorly made and soon children from all over the world are suffering from the effects of Patch's shoddy workmanship. Can Santa Claus locate his missing elf and create a new batch of toys in time for Christmas Eve?

This film is a true Christmas classic. It tells the story of how Santa Claus became the figure that everyone knows and even attempts to explain how Santa's reindeer can fly and how a fat man can somehow fit down the chimney. It might be over twenty-five years old now, but this film is as ageless as the legend of Father Christmas himself.

The film is DOWNLOAD ONLY and is available to buy from the Playstation Network Store now.


4. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Join Clark Griswold and his family as they prepare to celebrate the Christmas season with each other. Packed full of hillarious slapstick and witty dialogue, this film will have all the family roaring with laughter.This UMD  film can be purchased from stores such as Play.com or HMV or  directly downloaded from the PSN store.


5. Bad Santa

Billy Bob Thornton is Willie T. Stokes, a wise-cracking Department Store Santa who can't help but be more naughty than nice. Underneath his ill-fitting red suit, Willie is actually a safecracker who makes one big score every year - on Christmas Eve.

As shoppers head home from the mall, this Santa and his ingenious Elf - Willie's midget partner-incrime Marcus - crack the store safe and make off with their own holiday stash. But then comes Phoenix.

Here Santa and his Elf find their annual heist endangered by a store manager, a mall detective, a sexy Santa fan and an innocent but beleaguered 8 year-old misfit who decides to believe that Willie - as intoxicated, acid-tongued and felonious as he seems to be - is the real Santa he's been seeking?

This film is a very clever anti-Christmas movie which somehow still manages to make people feel festive. The dialogue is sharp and the action is brilliant - full of twists and turns. Nevertheless, with its 15 certificate, this is a Christmas film that will not be suitable for very young children.

This UMD  film can be purchased from stores such as Play.com or HMV or  directly downloaded from the PSN store. This title can be downloaded as a rental only from the PSN store as well.

So there you have it - games and films which are sure to make you feel in the mood for Christmas. The Mini Gamers blogsite will be here throughout December and we will be bringing you tips for all the top gaming Christmas presents for every different kind of gamer, as well as continuing to bring you all the latest news and reviews in the world of handheld gaming.