Mini Gamers Big Christmas Gaming Quiz 2013

Welcome to the Mini Gamers: Big Christmas Gaming Quiz 2013! There are no prizes for winning, but it can be fun trying to prove who has the best gaming knowledge amongst your friends and family. So, here are 25 questions about the world of video gaming. Can you answer them all?

HOW TO PLAY:

• Select the correct answer from the list of potential answers in order to gain points.

• The maximum number of points that can be earned per question is 100 points.

• Questions are timed. Answer quickly to gain more points.

• Video Questions have been given extra time, but points will still count down. Answer as soon as you can.

Merry Christmas and Good Luck!!!

Unusual and Rare Novelty Christmas Gifts for Gamers 2013...

 

 

 

 

With only a small number of shopping days left until Christmas, it can sometimes be difficult to decide what that perfect present should be, especially when it comes to pleasing the gamer in your life.

 

If you have exhausted the usual ideas of  gift tokens and game bundles, and want to get your videogame fanatical loved-ones something a little bit special this year, then look no further. Mini Gamers has found a collection of unusual gaming paraphernalia that is sure to delight even the fussiest of gamers. 

PlayStation Cufflinks

 

There are actually a surprising number of PlayStation cufflink designs available, but we thought that these Harvey Makin silver gamepad cufflinks sold from Amazon.co.uk looked particularly nice. 

 

Costing from as little as £8.50, and shaped like the standard PlayStation controllers, these would make a delightful gift for many male gamers. Hurry though, gifts like these are unlikely to stay in stock for long at this time of year.

 

Gaming T-shirts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gaming T-shirts or Hoodies like the one pictured above are another great gift idea. They typically tend to cost between £11.99-£19.99 online, and look very stylish. There are various T-shirt slogans and designs available this year for both men and women. A few of our personal favourites are:

 

• Eat, Sleep, Game [Men's T-shirt]
•  Eat, Sleep, Game [Ladies T-shirt]
• Xbox Achievement 'Left The House' T-shirt [Unisex]
• Xbox Achievement 'Got Out Of Bed' T-shirt [Unisex]
• Sarcastic Comment Loading 'Geek' T-shirt [Unisex]
• Vectorbomb 'Gamer' Hoodie [Unisex]

 

'First Class Gamer' Gaming Mugs

 

 

 

These 'First Class Gamer' mugs made us smile when we saw them. Featuring a standard 1st class stamp design, and with a price tag of around £9.99, these mugs are both a simple and practical little gift which will brighten up the home of any avid gamer. Better still, the mugs come in a blue design for male gamers, or pink for female gamers.

 

If you like the idea of a gaming mug but find that the 'First Class Gamer' design doesn't really appeal, then you might want to check out this small collection of alternative gaming mugs instead. Prices vary, but all of the featured mugs range somewhere between £5.95-£13.50 to buy, depending on the size and design of the mug:

• Evolution of the Gamer  [The Victorian Printing Company]
• Keep Calm and Kill Zombies [Twisted Envy]
• Space Invaders Retro [Makaya]
• Large Coffee Cup LOADING PLEASE WAIT [Makaya] 
• GRAND THEFT AUTO 5 GTA LOS SANTOS V GTA5 game mug [MintPrintz]

 

Car Air-Fresheners

 

 

 

 Okay, so a car air freshener is hardly the most exciting gift that you could hope to give to someone this Christmas, but it is fair to say that this exclusive range of novelty gaming-themed car air-fresheners by AAF-Geek, do put a new spin on the traditional car accessory, and at around only £3.99 each, they will make unusual stocking-fillers.

 

Again, there are many designs to choose from (like the one shown above,) but there were a few designs that we here at Mini Gamers HQ thought were particularly good:

• HALO CAR AIR FRESHENER
• SUPER MARIO & FIREBALL CAR AIR FRESHENER
• ASSASSINS CREED 2 CAR AIR FRESHENER 
• GAMER COUPLE CAR AIR FRESHENER    
• GIRL GAMER CAR AIR FRESHENER
•  GAMER 4 LIFE CAR AIR FRESHENER     

    

   Teen and Child Gaming Gifts

 

Whilst on the hunt for some of the rarer and more unique gamer-related Christmas gift ideas, we did stumble across a few items which seemed tailored to the teenage and child end of the gaming market. 

 

It was difficult to separate these items into their own separate categories, but we did think that they were worth a mention, so here are is a shortlist of items that we think will suit teenagers and children:

• Gaming Cushions:

 

 

These amazing cushions come in two separate designs: ARMY GAMERS WARFARE 3 18"  and ARMY GAMERS WARFARE DESIGN 4 18". They have been specially created by L & S Prints and will most likely suit teenage fans of games like Killzone, Call of Duty, Battlefront etc. Each cushion is machine washable and costs around £16.99.

 

• Gaming Chairs and Beanbags:

Gaming can sometimes be an uncomfortable pastime. Sore thumbs, stiff necks and bad backs are some of the more common complaints suffered by many hardcore gamers, but comfortable and practical seating can solve a lot of the aches and pains when one is gaming for an extended length of time.

 

• The i-eX® Rookie Gaming Chair (pictured above) is a faux leather beanbag style chair aimed specifically at child and young teenage gamers. It is lightweight and easily movable and apparently gives great back and neck support. Nevertheless, like most gaming chairs on the market today, this chair comes with a rather hefty price tag of £44.50.

•  Faux Leather Metallic Gold Gaming Seat Chair This traditional golden beanbag chair is both hard-wearing and stylish. Whilst it cannot claim to offer the full-body support of an actual gaming chair, it will provide a comfortable and relaxing seat for child and teen gamers. Retailing at only £13.05 it is a real bargain and a good alternative for those of you whose budgets can not stretch to that of a 'high-end' gaming chair.

 

• Gaming 'Keep Out' Door Signs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 With most teenagers (and even some pre-teens) needing that little bit of extra privacy, these varied but apt gaming-themed door signs ought to make a great stocking-filler for any avid gamer.

 

With a price range of between £2.99-£7.99, the signs are easily within most household budgets and there is a range of colours and slogans to appeal to many different types of gamer. Here is a shortlist of our personal favourite door signs:

•  Gamer On Duty (Call of Duty Spoof door sign)
• Keep Out - Gamer at Work
• Gaming In Progress- Enter At Your Own Risk
•  Girl Gaming - Keep Out
•  Gamer On A Mission - Enter At Your Own Risk
•  Do Not Disturb- Gaming In Progress

 

 

That completes our Mini Gamers list of novelty Christmas gifts for this year. We really feel that there is something for everyone in this year's selection and we hope that this post has given you some fresh ideas for gifts and stocking fillers.

 

You may also find it useful to read some of our previous Christmas gift ideas articles by CLICKING HERE.

 

Don't forget to check in with us on Christmas Eve for our special 2013 Mini Gamers Big Christmas Gaming Quiz!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Game of the Week: Scribblenauts Unlimited [3DS]

Scribblenauts has finally made its 3DS debut this week. The game, which is called Scribblenauts Unlimited is the fourth title in the popular gaming series, produced by 5th Cell, the developers of the equally popular Drawn to Life games.

Fans of the series will already be familiar with the strong cartoon-style graphics and quirky gameplay which has characterised the previous games. However, there are a few changes to the 3DS version which fans should be aware of.

Firstly, the beginning of Scribblenauts Unlimited gives more backstory on how Maxwell initially came to own the magical green notebook, and why he is so keen to look for the tiny little star objects (known as Starites) in the first place.

 Furthermore, players are now expected to locate tiny Starite fragments (referred to as 'Starite Shards',) which are then combined to make whole Starites. When ten shards have been earned, one full Starite is granted to the player.

Starite Shards can be earned in a multiple ways. A brand new feature  called Starite Vision now allows Maxwell to see which objects or people in each level need his help, thus making it easier to locate the source of each Starite Shard. Tapping on the tiny Starite symbol at the top left-hand corner of the bottom screen will unlock Starite vision. Objects which have uncollected Starite shards will be shown as glowing either yellow or orange.

A special exclusive feature for the 3DS version of the game also allows players to swap hints and solutions to each level via the Streetpass function, and hints are provided for almost every object in the levels, making the solutions for the various puzzles that Maxwell must solve much more accessible than the previous Scribblenauts titles, while still remaining challenging. Not an easy task to achieve.

Another useful new feature is the Object Library, which is located in Maxwell's backpack. This allows players to store and re-use any previously created and summoned objects at any time during the game.

Players can also choose to play as other members of Maxwell's family, as these characters now replace the previous Scribblenauts Avatars. Maxwell's forty brothers become unlocked at various stages of the main game, but the avatars of Maxwell's twin sister, Lily and their parents, Edgar and Julie can only be unlocked after all sixty whole Starites have been collected and the post-game bonus levels are unlocked. Players can also customise their chosen avatar by tapping on the avatar and then selecting 'edit'.

Of course, the main skill in any Scribblenauts game has always been the ability to simply write any given object (with the exception of crude words and/or proper nouns) into Maxwell's notebook and spawn it into existence during the game. The available vocabulary of each Scribblenauts game has grown bigger with each new version, and Scribblenauts Unlimited is no exception.

As well as the adjective system that was first introduced in Super Scribblenauts, players can now attach multiple objects to each other. For instance, it is now possible to create a pig with wings.

 Furthermore, players can also choose to attribute other properties to objects, such as movement (e.g. a fast car) and new offensive capabilities (e.g. breathes fire). Players can also adjust the size, material or colour of their chosen objects, making for a much more personalised gaming experience.

With over 22,000 words and adjectives now available for use within Scribblenauts Unlimited, there are just too many combinations for us to list here, but a full list of all the available object words can be found by clicking HERE .

Nevertheless, with all the fantastic new improvements that can be found in Scribblenauts Unlimited, there were two minor nagging details that, whilst not necessarily detracting from this brilliant game, were a tad disappointing.

Firstly, the Nintendo 3DS version of Scribblenauts Unlimited does not feature the object editor, which has been heavily promoted in advertisements for the Wii U version of the game.

Secondly, although the initial backstory cut scenes are shown on the top-screen, and are thus displayed in full animated 3D, the actual gameplay takes place on the bottom screen of the 3DS, and thus the levels in Scribblenauts Unlimited are not actually playable in 3D.

Nevertheless, neither of these two observations can alter the fact that Scribblenauts Unlimited  is still a masterpiece of innovative, imaginative gaming and is therefore a worthy addition to the Scribblenauts series.

 If you loved the previous games in the series, then you are bound to love Scribblenauts Unlimited just as much. If you are not sure about the game and wish to know more, then why not watch the trailer now? (see above). Overall rating: 9/10.

The 6 Games of Christmas: Which One Will Be On YOUR Christmas List?

Yes, Christmas is now fast approaching, and for many gamers, it brings hope of finding a brand new game or two (or quite possibly ten) at the bottom of their stocking, but with so many games currently available, how can you possibly know which games are the most suitable ones to buy?

Well, fear not, because Mini Gamers has spent the last year learning about the best handheld titles of 2013, in order to provide you with our list of the six top games for handheld gamers this Christmas.

As well as giving you our verdict on why the games featured are likely to be worth buying, Mini Gamers has also compiled a selection of full reviews for you to read, so that you can get a proper overview of the games before you decide which ones you might like to buy. So, let's get started...

1. Tearaway [PS Vita]



 This game is ideal for creative, imaginative and innovative gamers of all ages. Created specifically for PS Vita, and utilising many of the handheld consoles touchscreen features, the tactile world of Tearaway is beautifully-crafted with many different environments for gamers to explore.

 Better still, the game is designed to give the impression of a world which is made out of paper, and many of the objects look and take on the characteristic properties of actual paper.

Our verdict: A good, fun and creative little game. If you loved Little Big Planet but are looking for a new but equally challenging and quirky game, then this is the ideal choice for you. 10/10.

Read a FULL REVIEW of the game now.

2. Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Two Worlds [2DS/3DS]

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds indirectly follows on from the 1991 Super NES title, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, in this game, the usual villian, Ganon, has long since been sealed away by a group known as the Seven Sages, and peace has seemingly returned to the land of Hyrule.

However, an evil wizard called Yuga has recently begun tracking down the descendants of the Seven Sages and turning them into paintings, in order to use the power of the Triforce for himself. It is up to Link to locate Yuga and find a way to rescue those sages who have been turned into paintings before it is too late...

This game is really good for people who like adventure and puzzle games as well as platformers. It features several interesting places to explore and even the chance to play as a 2D painting in some parts of the game.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds  does have a 7+ PEGI rating, so parents and guardians should be warned that it might not appeal to very young gamers (under 7 years of age) who may find some of the dark dungeons and mysterious monsters a little bit too scary.

Our verdict: The game will be instantly familiar to fans of A Link to the Past, but has enough new content to make it enjoyable to both old and new fans alike. If you liked the previous  games, then this is definitely a must-have for your collection. Overall rating:10/10.


Read a FULL REVIEW of the game now.

3. Injustice: Gods Among Us - Ultimate Edition       [PS Vita]

With its 16+ PEGI Rating, Injustice: Gods Among Us, is most definitely one for the older gamer. This game is a port of a previous gaming title, but the Vita version is pretty interesting despite its disappointing lack of graphics quality and cross-play features.

Nevertheless, this game is perfect for the truly hardcore gamer and is  also more likely to appeal to older fans of the Superhero genre or gamers who prefer challenging and plot-driven fighting games.

Created by the same developers behind Mortal Kombat, The game tells an original story set in a world where the lines between good and evil have become impossibly blurred.

Split into several engaging chapters and filled with one-on-one matches, players can choose to switch between different heroes and villains, who each possess their own unique strengths, fighting styles and of course, super powers.

The game features several well-known superheroes and villains, including Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman or the evil Lex Luthor, Deathstroke and Harley Quinn.

Our Verdict: Ever dreamed of stepping into the shoes (or tights) of your favourite superhero? Think you have the skills to outsmart your rivals? If you love one-on-one battles of epic proportions and wish to try out your virtual combat skills in a whole new way, then this is most definitely a good game for your collection. 8/10.

Read a FULL REVIEW of the game now.

4. Pokémon X and Y [3DS/2DS]

The Pokémon video game series has always proven to be very popular amongst gaming fans of various ages, and the latest instalment Pokémon X and Y is no different, having sold over two million units in America alone within its first few days of release.

As fans of the series will know, each Pokémon game is released with two separate versions. E.g. Pokémon Black and Pokémon White, or in this particular instance Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, but both versions of the game (whilst featuring slightly different starter Pokémon - Xerneas (in Pokémon X) and Yveltal (in Pokémon Y,) are essentially the same.

Players take on the role of a trainee Pokémon master, and must travel the land of Kalos searching for new Pokémon to care for and train. As this is the debut 3DS exclusive title, there are some nifty new battle features, including the all-new Mega-Evolution.

Players will also be expected to care for their captured Pokémon with the Pokémon-Amie feature that lets players feed, pet and play with their Pokémon  to, which will ultimately strengthen the Pokémon's bond and improve their chances of winning more battles.

The Pokémon Global Link has been completely redesigned  to make it easier and quicker to use.

Our verdict: Pokémon X and Pokémon Y are good additions to the Pokémon series and the new online mode enhancements help to make this a must have for any Pokémon fan. 3D usage could be slightly better though, as the game's only real use of auto-stereoscopic 3D occurs during the Pokémon battles. Nevertheless, this does not diminish what is potentially one of the best Pokémon titles to date. 9/10.  
Read a FULL REVIEW of the game now

5. Angry Birds: Star Wars [PS Vita]

For those of you who have yet to experience the Angry Birds series, it might be worth remembering that Angry Birds was first created as a comical and easy-to-play game for the Apple iOS, but its quirky style quickly popularised the game, prompting the developers, Rovio Entertainment to develop further console and PC versions of the game, which have all proved immensely popular upon release.

Players must use a slingshot to launch a variety of colourful cartoon birds at green pigs stationed on or within various structures in the level, with the intent of destroying all the pigs before advancing to the next stage of the game.

Angry Birds: Star Wars blends the visual-style and traditional gameplay of the original Angry Birds series with the iconic plot and legendary characters of the Star Wars franchise.

The birds of the Rebel Alliance must now battle the evil  pig empire using the traditional lightsaber weapons and various Jedi Powers, as seen in the Star Wars films. A new multiplayer mode has also been added, and the game itself has over 200 unlockable levels, which should keep most gamers happy for a long time.

Our verdict: The combination of two award-winning franchises is a pure stroke of genius for Rovio Entertainment. This game is simple, fun, addictive and hilariously funny. A real gem for gamers who don't want to be delving into plot-laden RPGs or complicated puzzle games this Christmas. 10/10.

Read a FULL REVIEW of the game now

 

 

6. Animal Crossing: New Leaf [3DS/2DS] 

 It has to be said that Animal Crossing is not merely  a game, it's a whole new world in the palm of your hand. The game is played in a completely freestyle way. That's because time in the game mirrors time as in the real world, and players have no set goals to complete, but can truly have a kind of virtual 'life' inside this game, and every single day brings new experiences, friendships and surprises.

 The 3DS version - Animal Crossing: New Leaf - has continued the success of the previous games (one for each Nintendo platform, GameCube, DS, Wii and 3DS) and even allows players to take over the role of the Mayor in their town. This means that as well as living out a daily life as a resident of a virtual town, players also have the ability to dictate the laws which govern their town and also to plan and build new features for the residents of their town to enjoy.

 Fans of the original Nintendo DS version of the game will find that several new locations have been added for the 3DS, including a nightclub, a dream suite, a supermarket, a shoe shop, a flower shop, a clothes shop, a beauty salon and more... 

If players wish to soak up the virtual sunshine, (especially during the cold Autumn and Winter months of the year, then they can also opt to take a little boat trip out to their own private tropical island, where they can do a spot of tropical fishing or maybe even some bug-catching and even put on a wetsuit and do some diving, which is a brand new ability especially created for the 3DS.

Our Verdict: This game is both easy-to-play and engaging, which makes it appealing to both young and old gamers alike. The simulation of real-life weather conditions and changing times and seasons is awesome.  If you've ever dreamt about getting away from it all and starting a new life, or if you just like the sound of being Mayor to a bunch of cute talking animals, then this is definitely the game for you. 10/10. 

Read a FULL REVIEW of the game now

 

So, that completes Mini Gamers list of the six best PS Vita and 3DS games to buy this Christmas. We hope that you liked it and found it useful.

 

If you already own some of these games and want to share your own opinions with us, then why not leave us a comment in the Comment's Box (or by clicking on the 'Comment's' link under this post on the Homepage). We'd love to hear from you!

 

Free Youtube App Comes to the 3DS

YouTube has finally reached the 3DS. Now users can enjoy browsing the latest game trailers and video walkthrough directly on their 3DS console.

Mini Gamers checked out the nifty little application, and found that the videos were surprisingly clear to view. The application can be downloaded from the Nintendo eShop for FREE, and has easy to navigate menus and buttons, which made the overall browsing experience quite pleasant.

However, those of you who were expecting to watch and download the latest batch of 3D videos on offer, are sure to be disappointed. The 3DS version of YouTube has no 3D support whatsoever, and any attempt to watch a 3D video resulted in some unsightly double-vision, as the 3D images are merely displayed as two identical screens (designed to be viewed with 3D glasses) rather than as a whole 3D image.

For those of you who just wish to browse videos as you would normally do on the PC or home consoles etc., this is a very handy application. However, the lack of 3D support on a console which so heavily on 3D as its unique selling-point seems like a gross oversight, and it also fails to make the 3DS version of YouTube any more interesting than the thousands of YouTube applications that can be found on various smartphones across the country, which is just such a shame.

Game of the Week: The Legend Of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds [3DS]

 

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds was finally released in the UK today. The game marks the seventeenth title in the very popular gaming series The Legend of Zelda, and is the first game in the series to be developed specifically for the 3DS.

Link

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this fantasy epic, the series centres primarily on Link, who is the only playable character within the game. Link is best known for his rescue of a fair maiden called  Princess Zelda, the leader of the world of Hyrule, from Ganon, a Gerudo thief who is the primary enemy in the series.

Princess Zelda

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds indirectly follows on from the 1991 Super NES title, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, in this game, the usual villian, Ganon, has long since been sealed away by a group known as the Seven Sages, and peace has seemingly returned to the land of Hyrule.

However, an evil wizard called Yuga has recently begun tracking down the descendants of the Seven Sages and turning them into paintings, in order to use the power of the Triforce for himself. It is up to Link to locate Yuga and find a way to rescue those sages who have been turned into paintings before it is too late...

 

Although The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds takes place in the same world as The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, there are lots of new exciting elements which help to mark a clear distinction between the two games. For example,  although the game environment is largely the same as that featured in A Link to the Past, all the dungeons are totally new, and the game features several new puzzles to solve.

The game's magic meter now refills automatically instead of requiring the player to collect potions in order to refill it. Furthermore, the magic meter now replaces the previous ammunition system for Link's bow and bombs, as well as being used to power other items and special abilities, such as the magic hammer attack.

Several items from A Link to the Past do return in this game, however, including Link's trusty bow and arrow for shooting enemies long distance, his projectile-shooting sword and his shield, as well as the mallet which allows Link to knock down pegs in the ground, and the Fire Rod which helps to create a firestorm.

Furthermore, these weapons can now be rented for a small amount of Rupees (the in-game currency) from Rovio's Shop, which gives Link a much better chance of defeating enemies earlier in the game.

 There is one catch, however, if Link gets defeated in a dungeon, he loses all of his rented items. nevertheless, these items are available for purchase later, assuming that players have enough rupees to do this.

A major new power for Link in this game is the ability to enter walls and become a painting himself in order to move along certain walls and passages and to reach new areas. This ability also allows Link to enter cracks in walls to move between the world of Hyrule and a mysterious alternative universe, known as Lorule, which has its own princess (Princess Hilda) for Link to rescue from the evil Yuga.
Drawings of hearts and rupees can also be found on these walls, but can only be collected when Link is transformed into a painting himself. Using any of these abilities or items will also cause Link's meter to deplete over time.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds also takes advantage of the 3DS' StreePass abilities. Once StreetPass is enabled, other players will appear in your game as Shadow Links. When you approach a Shadow Link, you can do battle with the character and reap special in-game rewards if you win.

In conclusion, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is a really interesting game. The stereoscopic 3D really does add new depth to the game's environments, especially when exploring the dungeons.

The game will be instantly familiar to fans of A Link to the Past, but has enough new content to make it enjoyable to both old and new fans alike.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is available to purchase now from most videogame outlets, or as a digital download from the Nintendo eShop,  and even as a special bundle with the Legendary Gold Nintendo 3DS XL. If you liked the previous Legend of Zelda games, then this is definitely a must-have for your collection. Overall rating:10/10.

Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy Review [3DS]

It has been hailed as the end of an era for one of Nintendo's most successful  adventure game series to date, but Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy has now made it to the UK. This is the sixth game in the series, and is apparently the last ever game to feature Professor Hershel Layton and his companions. So, what does the final Layton adventure have in store for its fans?

The main story sees Professor Layton, Emmy and Luke embark on the search for a 'living Mummy', said to be located in the icy environments of Snowrassa. Once there, they encounter a young girl (Aurora), frozen in the ice.

After freeing the young girl from the ice that has entombed her, Layton and co. quickly realise that she has no memory of what has happened to her. The search for clues to Aurora's past takes them on an exciting journey through cities, islands  and even jungles until they finally discover the truth about Aurora and her links to an ancient civilisation known as the Azrans.

Along the way, Layton is hampered by his old foe Jean Driscole, (AKA The Masked Gentleman,) who fans last met in Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask. Driscole wishes to utilise the power of an Azrans for himself. He is also joined by a new enemy, a mysterious organization named Targent, who have recently taken possession of an Azran relic known as The Azran Legacies in the hope of also utilising its strange powers. Can the Professor and his friends locate the item before it falls into the wrong hands?

Gameplay in Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy follows a very similar format to its predecessors in terms of touchscreen controls, Hint coins, Hidden puzzles and unlockable mini-games.

Nevertheless, this game also features 500 new types of logic puzzles for players to solve, which will greatly improve the game's replay value. Furthermore, the game also involves travelling to lots of different locations around the world including the United States of America, South Africa, and Russia. The puzzles themselves are also embedded within the main plot much more subtly this time around and seem to fit the overall narrative much better.

The three new mini games are also likely to please fans of the series:

Nut Roller sees players assume the role of a squirrel, who must successfully guide a walnut around a 3D grid, rolling boulders and acorns in order to guide the aforementioned nut towards the goal tent.

Blooms and Shrooms sets a unique gardening challenge in which players must carefully place special cross-pollinating flowers in order to encourage growth and make the garden blossom into life, without disturbing the already placed mushrooms.

Dress Up is a mini game that we feel is best suited to younger Layton fans, in which the aim of the game is to find suitable clothes for each of the non-playable characters, based upon the request.

All in all, it is clear that Level 5 inc. have really pulled out all the stops for this game, and as a result,  Professor Layton's final adventure could not be more epic. Mini Gamers is sure that fans of the series will find it a fitting end to a very popular gaming series, and a game that is well worth playing. Overall rating: 10/10

PS Vita Update: ICon Changes, PS4 link button and Parental Controls Given New Feature...

Yes, there has been yet another system update for the PS Vita console this week, and with it, users may notice some interesting changes to their normal PS Vita icons. Here is what has been updated in system update 3.00:

 (PS4™ Link)

The (PS4™ Link) application has been added. With this application, you can use your system to remotely control a PlayStation^®4 system. When you are playing a game on the PS4™ system, you can also display information from that game on your system using the second screen feature.

(Parental Controls)

The (Parental Controls) application has been added.
 Users can now manage the overall length of time that children and teenagers can play on the console, as well as set and manage the types of games and videos that children and teenagers can have access to. It is also possible to restrict access to some of the PS Vita's other applications such as the Internet browser, for example.

(Photos)

(Panoramic Camera) has been added to the camera application. Camera enthusiasts can now make use of the new Omnidirectional, Tall and Wide modes to take panoramic photos. As with the standard camera images, it is also possible to view the panoramic images you have created, and it is also possible to attach the created images to your messages in order to send them to other Vita users.

(Friends)

The application layout has been improved.

(Messages)

The (Group Messaging) application name and icon have been changed to (Messages).

The application layout has been improved.

You can now send and receive messages with friends and players who use PS4™ systems or PlayStation^®App.

Users will also receive 'Game Alert' messages for games that they play online etc.

(Party)

The icon for the (Party) application has been changed to (Party).

You can now voice chat and text chat with friends and players who use PS4™ systems.

PSN^SM

 The "PlayStation^®Network" has been renamed "PSN^SM".

(Email)

You can now sync the contacts saved in your email account from services such as Gmail™ (Google's email service) or Yahoo! Mail, and then use, edit, or delete these contacts on your system. To sync your contacts, you must adjust settings for your CardDAV account.
Select (Contact List) > (Options) > [CardDAV Settings] > [Add CardDAV Account], and then follow the screens.

(Content Manager)

You can now use Wi-Fi to connect your system with a PS3™ system, and transfer data between them.

Connect the PS3™ system to a wireless access point, and then connect the PS3™ system with your system using the access point. Your system and the PS3™ system must be connected within the same network.

• To use this feature, the system software of the PS3™ system must be version 4.50 or later.

When copying PSP™Game software from a PS3™ system to your system, your system now checks if update data is available. If available, it is automatically downloaded.

• To use this feature, the system software of the PS3™ system must be version 4.50 or later.

(PS3™ Remote Play)

The (Remote Play) application name and icon have been changed to (PS3™ Remote Play).

(Sourced from: http://us.playstation.com/support/systemupdates/psvita/)