Star Wars The Forced Unleashed 2 (DS/DSi)

It has been one of the most anticipated sequels of the year, but Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II was finally released to the public today.

For those of you who don't know, this game continues the story of Galen Marek, (AKA Starkiller,) a young human child who was kidnapped by Darth Vader and raised to become his secret apprentice for the Dark Side.

 However, StarKiller soon begins to realise that Darth Vader has only been using him as a tool to destroy Emperor Palpatine and seize control of the Galactic Empire for himself. He decides to turn against Darth Vader and the two of them engage in a powerful battle to the death...

In The Force Unleashed II, Darth Vader cannot face the fact that his apprentice has failed him. He kills Starkiller, but has the young man's body cloned and then imprisoned on the planet of Kamino.

Waking up in shackles, the cloned Starkiller has only fragments of the memories of his past life. Nevertheless, He manages to escape and sets out to learn about his mysterious past. But  Starkiller finds it difficult to know where to start his search. At that moment, a familiar name echoes in his mind and with little else to go on, he sets out to find the one person who is guaranteed to help him – Juno Eclipse.

The Force Unleashed II promises to deliver even more powerful gameplay with new powers such as the Mind Trick,which confuses your enemies and turns them against each other, and Force Fury, which enhances all of StarKiller's attacks and powers.

Even though this version of Starkiller is a clone, he still possesses all of the original Starkiller's powers, so there is no need to build up his powers slowly this time around. There are greater customisation options in this game and the use of  power-enhancing lightsaber crystals make battles more interesting.

 Furthermore, there are better Combo-Controls for Dual-Lightsabre attacks, and an all-new Precision Targeting System, which greatly enhances Starkiller's success against his enemies.

Players must skillfully manage Starkiller's combat techniques to defeat a variety of brand-new enemies, which will culminate in some epic boss battles.The Force Unleashed II  also contains more puzzles and makes good use of the in-game environment as well, giving the plot an even greater realism this time around.

LucasArts' President Darrell Rodriguez said: "Executive Producer Haden Blackman and his team have been able to build on the core foundation of the award-winning original [game] and create a powerful combination of engrossing story-telling and intense action. The Force Unleashed II gives fans an opportunity to wreak havoc on an even greater scale in the Star Wars universe..."
[Sourced: http://www.lucasarts.com/company/release/news20091212.html]

This game has made a number of  improvements since the original game, and if the success of its predecessor is anything to go by, then The Force Unleashed II is sure to be a big hit with fans over the the coming weeks. Overall rating: 9/10.

Game Of The Week: Professor Layton & The Lost Future (DS/DSi)

Everyone's favourite logical detective, Professor Hershel Layton returned in his third adventure on the Nintendo DS and DSi consoles this week.

Professor Layton & The Lost Future  sees the professor and his young apprentice, Luke Triton, in a battle to save future London from a major catastrophe after a time-travel experiment in the present goes badly wrong...

The Professor and Luke are amongst a select group of people who have been invited to witness a demonstration of Dr. Alain Stahngun's new Time Machine, during which, the Prime Minister of Britain volunteers to be the machine's first official Time Traveler.

However, the experiment does not go as expected and the machine is destroyed. Both Dr. Stahngun and The Prime Minister disappear. Over the next few weeks, there are several  newspaper reports concerning other missing scientists.

Some weeks later, Layton and Luke receive a letter which claims to have been written by Luke's future self. The letter directs the two to a clock shop in London. The pair decide to investigate.

Inside the clock shop, a strange elderly couple show the Professor and Luke another time machine, and the pair decide to activate it. After a bit of confusion, Layton and Luke find themselves in a drastically-changed London ten years from their present.

Here the pair meet future Luke, who explains that the Time Machine accident caused the future Professor Layton to change (becoming a ruthless criminal). Future Luke asks for help in setting the timeline straight again. The Professor promises to help the now grown-up Luke and embarks upon a finding a set of clues that can help them to save London.

Although Professor Layton & The Lost Future has many of the common features associated with the other games in the series - such as beautifully-rendered 2D cutscenes, a distinctive musical soundtrack, and of course, some mind-boggling brainteasers - it does contain some slight format changes, which helps to make the game even better than its predecessors.

Firstly, the puzzles now seem to build up in difficulty throughout the game, so the puzzles at the beginning are all very easy to solve and should not require any Hint Coins to be spent here. This is good as it allows players to get into the heart of the storyline more quickly than in the previous games.

Furthermore, the game's developers, Level 5 inc have now instituted a Super Hint function, which is very useful for those puzzles that just do not seem to have a recognisable answer, and it can stop the game from getting stale or frustrating.

 Although Super Hints only require two hint coins, they can only be purchased after the other three normal hints have been unlocked. This means that Super Hints essentially cost 5 hint coins each (one hint coin each for the three normal hints plus two extra coins).

Nevertheless, if you do manage to purchase a Super Hint, it will virtually solve whatever puzzle you are currently struggling with at the time. This allows younger players or people who are not overly adept at brainteasers the chance to move on to the puzzles that they can solve.

The puzzles themselves (over 165 of them in total) involve a lot of similar tasks as the other two games, from putting items in a particular sequence, arranging tiles to form an image, or spotting the 'Odd-One-Out' in a sequence of shapes, amongst others. However, although these types of puzzles have featured in the other Professor Layton games, they are given a refreshing new twist as part of the overall storyline, which makes them very interesting to solve.

Two minor disapointments with Professor Layton & The Lost Future are the set of minigames and Luke's voice.

As with the other games, this title features three different minigames for players to enjoy, including Luke's new pet parrot, a toy car with collectible track pieces, and picture books with missing stickers which the player has to locate throughout the game. Please note, that the solutions to ALL the latest Mini Games can be found by clicking HERE.

Although the new minigames make a welcome change from the annoying tea-drinking minigame in Professor Layton & Pandora's Box, which many fans of the series struggled to complete sucessfully, they do seem a bit too easy to complete for the game's numerous adult fans, which is a bit of a shame, but still does not affect the brilliance of the game as a whole.

Furthermore, Luke has gone all posh again in this game. Fans of the series will remember that Luke's voice in the very first game sounded like that of an upper-class public schoolboy. This was then changed to a rough cockney-sounding voice in the second game, (which incidentally is the voice which features in the new DVD feature film Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva.)

 Now it seems like Luke has been taking elocution lessons in the future because the voice of 'Future Luke' now matches that of the one used in Professor Layton and the Curious Village, dispite the fact that Young Luke still has the rough Cockney accent . Although this is only a minor part of the game, it still affects the overall continuity of the series, which can be very frustrating at times.

In conclusion, Professor Layton & The Lost Future is definitely a must-buy for existing fans of the series. It features more cutscenes and voice work and puzzles than ever before and is sure to keep you entertained for weeks to come. If you haven't tried a Professor Layton game yet, this game is certainly worth a try. Overall rating: 9/10.

Official E3 Debut Trailer [HD]

The Sims 3 On Nintendo DS/DSi - Just Ten Days To Go...

The Sims 3 comes to the Nintendo DS console systems on the 29th of October, but we couldn't wait until then. Mini Gamers takes a look at some of the features that players can expect from the new game.

1) Create-A-Sim Gets A Whole New Look:

The classic 'Create-A-Sim' mode, which has been present since the Sims 2 DS games, has now been given an extra makeover, meaning that more unique Sims can be created than ever before. Earlier Sims DS games had only allowed players to select from a very limited list of faces, hairstyles and clothes, meaning that all the characters were pretty generic.

The Sims 3 (DS) does away with the old character templates. Instead, the stylus is used as a sculpting tool so that each feature of a Sims' face can now be moulded to the players chosen specification. This brings the 'Create-A-Sim' mode more in line with the PC version of The Sims 3, and makes it easier to create realistic characters.

2)  Detailed 'Build Mode' 

 Again, the 'Build Mode' has been re-developed to bring it closer to the PC version of the game. Players can literally paint their own wall designs, floors and furniture. Preset options are also available if you are lacking inspiration though. The stylus can also be used to pick up and place new furniture items.

3) A Truly 'Open' Story:

Unlike the PC version, The Sims 2 console games only ever contained a single narrative. The new game allows players to decide the fate of their chosen Sims through the use of Personality Traits and Karma Powers.

Whilst the Personality Traits are already a strong part of the PC version of The Sims 3, Karma Powers have been specially designed for the console version and the type of Karma Powers you can unlock during the game depends upon what particular console version of the game you have purchased.

For the Nintendo DS/DSi consoles, there are eleven total Karma Powers that can be unlocked. These are: 

+ Winter Wonderland: triggers a permanent winter season in the game.

+ The Muse: helps painting and cooking skills.

+ The Riddler: helps logic and mechanical skills

+ Casanova: other Sims cannot resist you.

+ Bless the Mess: everything broken or messy within your Sim's home is fixed and cleaned for you.

+ Wormhole: makes your Sim travel quickly.

+ Instant Beauty: you can edit your Sim's physical appearance in Create-A-Sim mode.

 + Super satisfy: immediately fulfills needs.

+ Giant Jackpot: you get money.

 - Cosmic Curse: depletes all of the target Sims’ needs.

- Epic fail: makes Sims fight, burp and fart, get demoted or fired, break things, causes fires and more.

Although there are a total of nine positive Karma Powers (+) and only two negative ones (-) , overuse or misuse of these powers can cause bad or unexpected things to happen, which in turn may disrupt your Sims overall lifetime goals. Use those powers carefully!

Overall, The Sims 3 on Nintendo DS/DSi is as close to the PC version as it could possibly be. With so many plot twists and an open storyline, this game is sure to keep Sims fans busy for a very long time to come. There is talk that a version of this game will also be making its debut on the 3DS next year, but until then, this game is a true life-simulation masterpiece. Overall rating: 10/10.



Review: FIFA 11 (DS & PSP)

EA Sports FIFA series has always provided a good quality of gameplay and entertainment for its many fans. Now the latest game, FIFA 11 promises to be better than ever before.

The game has even been hotly tipped to be the best-selling game of Christmas 2010 according to William Hill PLC , which certainly seems possible when you consider that the game managed to sell 2.6 million units in its first weekend of sales alone. This figure is almost unheard of for a sports franchise.

However, putting all the hype to one side for a moment, let's take a look at FIFA 11's new handheld console features.

Firstly, FIFA's use of licensed players and teams has always scored them brownie points over other football game franchises like Pro Evolution Soccer, and FIFA 11 contains over 30 officially licensed leagues, 500 licensed teams and more than 15,000 players to choose from.

The game also features a new Pro Passing System, whereby pass accuracy is determined by a gamer's ability to use the controls, and player skill, situation and urgency on the pitch. This means that now over striking or under striking the ball will mean inaccurate passes and more varied outcomes. New types of passes such as swerve passes also enable players to make a safer and more effective play.

Nevertheless, the biggest enhancement to FIFA 11 has to be the Personality+ System, which affects players, goal-keepers and even a CPU player's capability.  It sounds too good to be true, but the new system means a greater level of realism for the FIFA handheld games. 

For example, CPU opponents now have a entire repetoire of skill moves to exploit through the use of star player attributes and specific behaviours attributed to particular players.

 Goalkeepers also feature more prominently in this game. Alongside the standard FIFA career mode called Be A Pro,  FIFA 11 also introduces an all-new Be A Goalie mode, allows gamers to play as a goalie of their choice.

Here, the Personality+ System accurately reproduces the actions of a particular real-life Goalkeeper on the pitch, so if your goal-keeper has a longer reach than others, he will be more successful when diving for the ball. Some of the controls in this mode can seem a bit of a struggle, but is a worthwhile effort overall.

Goalkeepers are also now more aware of their surroundings and react more intelligently to potential goals from the opposing team. Goalkeepers can now sprint to cut off a loose ball before urgently scrambling back to defend the net, and they can even skillfully identify and react to lob shots.

However, unlike the major console versions of this game, it is impossible to cut to the main action of the game whilst in the goalie mode on the PSP and DS, which means that gamers could get bored of only seeing the action from the Goalkeeper's perspective.

The PSP version also features a new Fame mode.  Gamers can choose to begin their campaign as a player, player/manager or manager as you lead their club through fifteen seasons of club soccer.

Your success as a player or manager is ranked through the new Fame system. The better your performance the more Fame you receive and more prestigious offers will become available on your journey to become a football legend.

The Nintendo DS version of FIFA 11  also has its own new game mode called Ultimate Team. This mode allows players to collect a set of in-game trading cards (which can be purchased after completing certain activities in the standard game modes). These cards will upgrade the athletic abilities of your chosen team.

Both handheld consoles also feature the Soccer IQ mini-game, which is essentially a general knowledge quiz based on various football triva.

One further feature (exclusive to the Nintendo DSi or the PSP's Go! Cam function) uses the camera functions of either console to take a snapshot of the gamer's face, which can then be uploaded and placed on the face of any customised  football player. Thus, gamers can literally put themselves in the game.

However, it has to be said that despite a few minor tweaks to the overall gameplay, the handheld versions of FIFA 11 seem to pale in comparison to their major console counterparts. The game itself is adequate and is likely to be thoroughly enjoyed by fans of the series so far, but much of the content remains unchanged from previous versions, which is a little disappointing when you consider that the major consoles have a lot more variations. Having said that, the gameplay is solid and the graphics on both versions are pretty accurate.

In conclusion, FIFA 11 is a decent game with good graphics and entertaining gameplay which is likely to keep fans of the series occupied for a long time to come. However, the handheld versions do not quite compare to the finesse of the major console versions. Overall Rating: 8/10.

Professor Layton As You Have NEVER Seen Him Before...

 Hollywood movies and videogames have become almost synonomous with each other in recent years with games such as Tomb Raider, Resident Evil, and Doom (to name but a few) being turned into massive film blockbusters. Now another gaming series is to be given the Hollywood treatment.

Yes, that's right, the famous detective, Professor Layton - star of the Nintendo DS games series is set to make his first ever film debut in Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva, which comes to UK DVD and Blu-ray on the 18th October 2010.

In the film,  Professor Layton receives a letter from his old student, the famous opera diva Janice Quatlane who will soon perform at the legendary Crown Petone Opera House. She sends Layton two tickets and invites him to attend as her special guest.

Meanwhile, a rash of disappearances hits London. Two young school girls are the latest victims and the Professor suspects it's related to the strange things that are happening at the theatre. Layton and Luke travel to the Opera House to solve their toughest puzzle yet, the mystery of Eternal Life!

The film was first released in Singapore on the 18th of March this year and has so far been considered an overwhelming success by critics. It is also said that Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva is only one in a pre-planned series of Professor Layton films, which have been carefully developed by Level-5 Inc, who also produced the Professor Layton Video Games.

According to Level-5 Inc, the movie will stay true to the games - with music, puzzles, and characters that will be instantly recognisable to fans of the series. It is an interesting experiment to see whether the Professor can be just as enthralling on film as he can in the games.

For true hardcore Layton fans, the film will also be available as a three-disc DVD/Blu-ray Collector’s Edition Combi Pack, which will include the film on both DVD and Blu-ray, plus a bonus DVD featuring ‘Mystery of the Last Song’, ‘Professor Layton and the Mystery of the Production Company’, ‘Professor Layton and the Mystery of the 3D CG’ and a promo video for the Professor Layton games.

Additionally, there will be a two-disc DVD/Blu-ray Deluxe Collector’s Edition Combi Pack featuring all of the aforementioned items plus a super-collectable 630-page Storyboard Book and rigid art box outer packaging.

The news of a Professor Layton film may come as some surprise, but it will certainly help to fill in the gap before the release of the third video game Professor Layton and the Lost Future, which has sadly been delayed until the 22nd of October 2010.

We at Mini Gamers are delighted to hear that Professor Layton is going to be a film star, but if you have not quite made up your minds yet, and if you are still curious about the film, why not check out this UK "teaser trailer":

October/November Games Line-Up...

The handheld gaming market has suffered another 'drought' recently, with many big-name titles choosing to settle exclusively for the major consoles instead, but that is all about to end as the next two months promise some interesting games for owners of the DS or PSP handhelds. Here we look at a few new release and pre-order games that have managed to catch our eye recently:

 My Sims: Sky Heroes

The cute and lovable My Sims are back for another round on the Nintendo DS and DSi systems. This time, your chosen avatar will take to the skies in an all-new adventure. Take on Morcubus (the usual villain from the Wii version of the My Sims games) and his evil army to become the ultimate hero. Take part in high-speed dogfights, aerial battles and rescue missions with your chosen My Sims. Encounter some new faces as well as some very familiar ones.

As with the last few My Sims titles, this game is geared more towards males than females (but that should not prevent girls from having a go at it, I hasten to add,) however, the quirky characters and fun gameplay will be instantly recognisable to fans of the series.

Players start off as fledgling pilots and gain skills and experience to become heroes of the skies. Unique to this game, however, is an Upgrade System, whereby aeroplane parts can be upgraded to provide greater movement, speed or ability. This certainly makes the game more challenging in lots of ways and definitely adds to the replay value of the overall game.

This game will not be to everyone tastes (sugary sweet storylines mixed with aeriel assaults don't come along every day, people!) Nevertheless, it is a fun little game which will appeal to the casual gamers amongst you. Why not give it a try?

The game will be available in the shops from the 1st October 2010.

Professor Layton & The Lost Future

Professor Layton and Luke return in the final installment of their adventure trilogy on the Nintendo DS and DSi, but don't worry, as we already know that a new title Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle is being planned for the 3DS and we also heard a sneaky little rumour that a new 'prequel' trilogy was in the pipeline too, so fans definitely have not heard the last of this logical detective.

In this game, which is released on the 15th October 2010, Luke receives a mysterious letter from his own future, prompting the Professor to embark on another puzzle-solving mission.

With over 165 separate puzzles, this game promises us more brainteasers than ever before, as well as a  Super Hint system for when we really do not have a clue and have already purchased the three normal hints. However, as the new Super Hint function usually makes it so easy to solve the brainteasers, it will cost more hint coins to purchase one!

The Professor Layton games have always been a massive hit with us here at Mini Gamers, be sure to check in with the blog for a more in-depth review when the game is released.

Buzz: Ultimate Music Quiz

The new Buzz title does what it says on the box - it puts your musical knowledge to the test. As usual, this game for the PSP contains thousands of questions, so the chances of the same questions being asked twice are minimal. This game also features an ad-hoc wireless multiplayer mode so you can take on up to eight players and enjoy pitting your wits against your friends and family.

Fans of this series will already know what to expect. The single player mode consists of fifteen separate challenges filled with music video clips, photographs, audio excerpts and general trivia. Trophies and medals will be awarded for various accomplishments during each level, including getting the most amount of correct answers or answering questions in the shortest possible time.

However, there have been some minor changes to the PSP game which is refreshing for such a long-running games series. Firstly, the game now comes with a Personalised Commentary System, which means that Buzz can now call you by name!

Furthermore, there have been rumours that the game's irrepressible host, Buzz, has undergone a bit of a makeover  himself for this title, but the developers are being very tight-lipped about what that will actually entail.

The game was originally scheduled for release at the end of October, but this date has since changed to the 12th November 2010. If you like music trivia, then this could be the game for you!

Tron: Evolution

If you were a child growing up the 1980s then you will definitely remember the film TRON from 1982. The film broke new ground in its use of Solid 3D Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI). It was aimed at the new videogame craze and most of the film was set in a graphically-enhanced world.

Nevertheless, the film was a little before its time in its approach to computer graphics, and unfortunately the CGI methods used all those years ago were not as convincing as today's models, so TRON was infamous for being a Box Office failure. Nevertheless, it did gain cult status in the early 1990s. 

Now, twenty-eight years after the original film, a sequel called TRON: Legacy is in the pipeline, and of course where there is a major film, there has to be a major game title to accompany it.

TRON: Evolution is set during the era between the two TRON films.  It has been developed by Propaganda Games and Disney Interactive Studios. Essensially the game will help to bridge-the-gap between the main plots in both films and help fans old and  new to familiarise themselves with TRON mythology.

"TRON is the most revered video game-inspired film property of all time, TRON: Evolution, the video game, will enhance the TRON experience for existing fans of the franchise as well as an entirely new audience." [Craig Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios.]

The game itself will be an action-adventure with elements of racing and role-playing games included in it and although TRON: Evolution is linked to the events in both films, it will also be a stand alone project, so no prior knowledge of TRON is needed to play the game. 

TRON: Evolution is set to be released on the 26th November 2010. It will appear on all major formats including the Nintendo DS and PSP systems. However those of you in the UK who wish to see the film sequel TRON: Legacy will have to wait  until the 26th of December 2010.

So there you have it - just a few of the games that we think are going to be massive hits over the next two months. Of course, October and November have many more brilliant games to offer us but it would take us a lifetime to include all of them in a single blog post.

However, Mini Gamers will endevour to keep you up to date with all the latest releases as they happen over the coming months and we look forward to hearing your opinions on new games as well. Watch this space!

Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars Delayed Until 2011

Yes, it is sad but true - Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars will now be unavailable until at least the 25th of  February 2011.

The other Lego Star Wars  games have already proved themselves to be a massive hit with fans, bringing in combined sales of over 20 million units worldwide, and the third game also received a warm welcome when it was showcased at this year's E3 conference in Los Angeles.

News of the delay can only come as a disappointment to the many fans who have already preordered this game. Nevertheless, Tom Stone, director at TT Games still insists that the new title will be the best game in the LEGO series to date. He said: “The team at TT is working hard at making this simply the best Lego game ever with all new gameplay and features never before seen in a Lego game.”

Lego Star Wars III would indeed seem to be a huge undertaking.  The game will include all the characters from both seasons of the hugely popular animated television series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, as well as some fan-favorite characters from the beloved theatrical Star Wars Saga.

Furthermore, the game will feature brand new battle modes and an upgraded level builder, allowing the creation of customized bases and in-game battlefields.

Gamers can also choose whether to play as a Jedi or Separatist with all-new character abilities, such as Squad command, long distance Jedi attacks and Grapple Tie-Ups, all within a new, easy-to-navigate hub.

Mini Gamers is saddened to hear about the delay, but if this title is anything like its predecessors, then it is sure to take the gaming world by storm next year. Look for further news about Lego Star Wars III nearer the release date.

Game Of The Week: Last Window: The Secret Of Cape West

Last Window: The Secret of Cape West has finally arrived on the Nintendo DS. Mini Gamers first discovered that this game was in production in August this year was and we have waited with baited breath to see what the end result would be... Needless to say, we have not been disappointed.

Last Window takes place one year after the events of Hotel Dusk, with main protagonist Kyle Hyde once again on the search for answers. This time the ex-police detective finds himself in an old apartment building called Cape West - a mysterious place with links to Hyde's own past, but does it contain the vital clues that he needs to solve his father's murder?

The main audio and visual style of Last Window is instantly recognisable as the styles used in Hotel Dusk. Gameplay is quite similar too. The DS is still held like a book and the main events unfold like the plot of a mystery novel. However, a few minor features have been added in order to improve the interactivity of the game.

For example, players can now use the special Ignore feature when searching for clues or asking for information, which allows them to filter out any parts of the plot that they are not interested in. It also makes finding the correct clues slightly more random than before.

The In-Game Novel feature has been updated and improved from 'Kyle's Notebook' reminder sections in the last game. This function now each section of the game is converted to a novel-like text when completed and really does read like an actual story.

Furthermore, use of the Ignore function means that each decision the player makes will effect how the eventual story is played out, and in turn, this will effect how the final sections of the In-Game Novel will read. This function alone increases the replay value of this game by one hundred percent.

Of course, a game sequel means a whole host of  new characters as well as some familiar ones. Last Window certainly introduces us to some very interesting people.

Firstly, we are introduced to Kyle Hyde's parents. We discover that Hyde's father was a criminal who was mysteriously murdered twenty-five years ago - just as he planned to leave a life of crime behind forever. It is up to Kyle to solve what really happened to his father all those years ago and find the murderer.

Another mysterious character is Rex Foster, a  man who is interested in Cape West Apartment. However, he seems to know more than he says and there is evidence to suggest that he is also investigating events at Cape West.

Those of you who have already played the first game will also find a few familiar faces including Mila Evans, the young girl that Hyde first encountered at the Hotel.

However, although this game features a few old characters, it is a separate game to Hotel Dusk, rather than a continuation of it. Thus, this game is perfect for new gamers too.

Last Window is well-structured and the plot is equally as intriguing as its predecessor. The new features do help to make the game varied but the Ignore function in particular can lead to some very early 'Game Over' screens if not used carefully. Overall though, this is a really clever title and worthy of attention. Mini Gamers rating: 10/10.

Doctor Who Gets RPG Adventure At Last!

The Doctor and Amy Pond (As played by Matt Smith and Karen Gillan) are to brave the TARDIS once again in an effort to save Earth from invasion by some very well-known enemies.

Doctor Who: Evactuation Earth is a brand new adventure by Doctor Who novelist Oli Smith. The game will be a puzzle-adventure and will feature over a hundred mind-bending puzzles to crack as you guide The Doctor and Amy through dangerous alien encounters with both the Silurians and the Daleks.

The DS game's release will also be accompanied by a limited edition Sonic Screwdriver stylus, (whilst the Wii version will be given a Wii-Remote holder in the shape of a giant Sonic Screwdriver) which we think will only add to the fun!

Moreover, both Matt Smith and Karen Gillian have lent their voices to the game characters, so this title will both look and sound as close to the TV programme as possible.

The release of this game will be good news to the thousands of Doctor Who fans who were left feeling disappointed by the Top Trumps DS game which also featured The Tenth Doctor and Martha Jones (played by David Tennant and Freema Agyman).

The game was supposed to be released in the UK at the end of October this year, but this has since been changed to the 19th November 2010. We at Mini Gamers are sure that it will be worth the wait!

Game Of The Week: Tetris Party Deluxe (DS)

The classic arcade game of the 1980's is back for another round on the Nintendo DS. For those of you who might not be familiar with the game - is that even possible??? - Tetris requires players to strategically place different coloured blocks of various shapes and sizes in rows to create several straight lines. Every successful line of blocks earns points and the speed of the falling blocks increases with each level. It might sound easy but anyone who has actually tried this game for themselves will tell you that it is both difficult and very addictive.

Tetris on the NES

Tetris was created by Russian computer engineer, Alexey Leonidovich Pajitnov in 1984 and has been reincarnated in many forms during its twenty-six year history and was previously released on the Nintendo DS in 2006 under the name of Tetris DS and went on to sell 2.5 million copies worldwide before going out of circulation. However the original DS version remains a very sought-after item and can often reach up to £35 per time in online gaming auctions.

Tetris on the latest iPod system

The latest incarnation of the Tetris series is adapted from a downloadableWiiWare title, and promises to be even more successful than its predecessor.

Screenshot from Tetris Party Deluxe

With over twenty different modes of play, Tetris Party Deluxe is definitely worth a try. Some of the more interesting modes include Bombliss, which challenges players to create lines with pieces which contain animated bombs. The bombs then create chain reactions of Tetris points.

Sprint is a standard time-challenge mode. Players must try to clear forty lines of blocks in the shortest time possible.

Master is one of the most difficult modes in the game and should only be attempted by hardcore Tetris fans. In this mode, the game starts on the fastest speed and the highest level, which means that blocks merely appear at the bottom of the screen and players only have a few seconds to sort the blocks into lines.

Tetris Party Deluxe (DS) features several game modes

 The game also features different multiplayer modes for up to eight players on a single game cartridge. Furthermore, DS players who are connected to the internet can also communicate with other players via the DS microphone in the new Tetris Battle Lobby.

Tetris Party Deluxe Trailer

At its heart, this puzzle title is still the same old Tetris repackaged for the next generation of gamers, that said, this DS title may yet prove to be the biggest and best collection of Tetris games ever produced. Old and new fans  of the series are bound to enjoy hours of fun with this game. Overall rating: 8/10

HAVE YOUR SAY...

Have you bought the new Tetris game? What do you think of the new game modes? Is Tetris still as appealing as it used to be?

Why not share your thoughts with other gamers on this site by leaving a comment in the comments box (or by clicking on the 'comments' text link in the main window)? We welcome your thoughts.

What Ever Happened To... Last King of Africa?

As gamers, we should be used to changing release dates and game delays by now, but occasionally one stumbles across a game which never actually makes it onto the shelves at all. This is the case with the imaginative Action-Adventure RPG title called Last King of Africa.

The game, which was adapted from the PC title Paradise by a company called White Bird Productions and then developed by Focus Home Interactive, was first announced in June 2008.

Last King of Africa tells the story of a mysterious young woman who has lost her memory after a plane crash and who had been sent to the palace of a fictional African dictator known as King Rodon to recover and eventually join his harem of wives. The young woman must explore the palace and discover clues about the King and his servants - Only then will she find out the truth about her own true identity.

The DS version of the game was originally hailed as a graphics masterpiece, with beautiful 3D characters and fully-animated cutscenes designed by Belgian comic artist and writer, Benoît Sokal. However, dispite heavy marketing and the promises of an October/November 2008 release date, the game failed to reach official release in the UK or America.

Two years on, the game has managed to find its way into certain online retail spots such as Amazon MarketPlace, despite the fact that most mainstream retailers either claim that the game is still a pre-order item, or simply refuse to acknowledge the game's existence in their product lists.

Now, a new version of  Last King of Africa has been adapted for the Apple iPod, iPhone and iPad by a company called BulkyPix, but no further word has been given about the Nintendo DS version.  

It is a mystery why a game with so much promise was seemingly abandoned. Perhaps the truth of what happened lies in this statement from the White Birds Productions website:

"The company always has four to six projects in progress, of which certain see the light of day while others are abandoned..." [White Birds Productions] 

However, the idea of Last King of Africa being an abandoned project just doesn't hold true when you consider that the game is actually available in small quantities online. Maybe what really happened to this game will always be a mystery.

Nevertheless, for those DS owners who are interested in knowing what could have been, the Last King Of Africa trailer provides clear evidence of the type of breath-taking visuals and innovative storyline that the game's producers had originally planned, and may give iPod, iPhone and iPad users an idea of the type of game that they can expect:

LAST KING OF AFRICA DEBUT DS TRAILER 2008

The mobile version of this game was announced last month. Apple iPod, iPhone and iPad users can download the Last King Of Africa App from the iTunes store. Click here to go to the store now.

One To Watch: Last Window: The Secret of Cape West

Kyle Hyde is back! The mysterious former policeman from Hotel Dusk: Room 215 has returned to the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance systems in an all-new adventure.

Last Window: The Secret of Cape West (known as Last Window: Midnight Promise in Japan) is set  in Los Angeles one year after the events of Hotel Dusk.

Kyle must again delve into his strange past in order to solve the events of his father's murder. Players must search for clues hidden in each scene by completing various puzzles.

At its core, the game acts like a mystery novel, except that players can influence how the actual story develops. Every decision that the player makes will influence outcomes within the game.

Prior knowledge of Hotel Dusk is not necessary to complete this game, but for those of you who have not  experienced a Kyle Hyde mystery yet, the game works exactly like a novel, with the DS held like a book and the main scenes acting like pages.

Each time a level or 'chapter' is completed, it is turned into text and can be re-read at any time. There is also a new hint system to help players who might be struggling.

Last Window is scheduled for a UK release on the 17th September 2010 and is sure to make a welcome addition to any mystery fan's gaming collection.

This game will also appeal to Professor Layton fans but the game in itself is much darker and a lot more adult than its counterpart - hence the 12+  PEGI rating - and its puzzles are also very challenging to solve.

Keep tuned to the Mini Gamers blogsite for a more in-depth review when the game is actually released to the public in September.

 TRAILER FOR "SECRET WINDOW: THE SECRET OF CAPE WEST"

Game Of The Week: Art Academy (DS)

If you've ever wanted to paint or draw like a pro, then this new game could be just what you are looking for. Art Academy on the Nintendo DS teaches you how to draw and paint via step-by-step tutorials.

With the help of your tutor, "Vince" (in relation to the Impressionist artist Vincent Van Gogh, we think), you will soon be making  artistic masterpieces of your very own.

As some of you may already know, Art Academy (DS) has been adapted from the popular DSiWare titles Art Academy: First Semester and the sequel Art Academy: Second Semester and utilises elements from both semesters.

Essentially, Art Academy transforms your DS into a fully workable canvas. You can choose from different thicknesses of pencils and paint brushes, and a pallette of ten paints from which you can devise your own shades and tones.

All these art materials behave exactly as they would on a real canvas. For example, when the 'water' tool is added to your paint it will visibly thin it down.

Unlike other drawing and paint games such as Paint By DS, Art Academy is a fun, educational tool and allows you to create your own works of art from scratch rather than just colouring in designs by other artists.

The game contains ten in-depth lessons, which covers Art theory and gives practical tips in how to construct a particular picture or image. Learn how to shade items correctly to create the illusion of depth, or how to create perspective within a painting amongst other things.

Many of the lessons are based on the works of actual artists such as Albrecht Dürer, John Constable or Leonardo Di Vinci.

The Free Paint Mode allows players to paint or draw any image that their heart desires. However, For the less adventurous artists amongst you there are over 50 images for you to get your initial ideas from. If you are using a DSi or DSi XL console you can also take photos and store them as images within this mode as well.

In Art Academy you can also store up to eighty of your favourite creations on the game cartridge itself and show them to your family and friends.  The game also contains a Downloadable Demo so that you can encourage other people with a Nintendo DS system to get interested in Art.

Art Academy UK Trailer

In conclusion, this realistic tool has a lot to offer for art enthusiasts and amatures alike. The varied painting and drawing styles are very interesting and the lessons are both fun and easy to understand.

If you like art and wish to improve your skills or if you just want to have some creative fun, then this is definitely the game for you. Overall rating 9/10.