Rayman Origins. 

So, this is a bit late, but I thought seeing as I recently purchased a bunch of games for my summer to be spent on, I would review them. The first of this bunch, was Rayman Origins. 

So let's get started.
Rayman Origins is the typical collect lums, save electoons and kill horrific yet comical baddies. It's very well put together, the content is there. I've been playing it now for a good 6/7 hours collectively and theres still time trials, more levels, and tricky treasures to collect. 

A particular feature that took my fancy was the 'New characters' which are available at the snoring tree, which for all intensive purposes is the main base where you can view all the collectable character designs you have achieved. So by jumping into one of these bubbles containing a new character design you can play as them in the levels, technically speaking, the characters down have ny noticeable difference other than over all look and animation. Still it's a nice little extra that Ubisoft have included. 

Also the return of mosquito levels is a nice touch, where you ride mosquito through a level and have to avoid obstacles, and usually defeat a boss type at the end by inhaling enemies or explosives and then firing them at the 'weak spot' which is always an obvious presentation on the body. 

Graphically, the game looks great. The style is fun and cartoony, it's pleasant to look at and gives a nice family feel to the game. Animations are smooth, colours are well selected and most importantly it just screams old Rayman, which for this nostalgic fan, whom can remember hooking up their PSOne as a 5 year old and playing til the wee hours of the morning, is a treat. 

Levels are bountiful and a delight. With the exception fo some more tricky levels.. coughGOURMANDLANDcough. Sorry tickley throat. 

Soundtrack? Well personally I find it lovely, each land has a different track to it, and boss fights have an eerie set up too. Very atmospheric. 

Anyways, overall the game plays nicely, it has co-op and is enjoyable to look at. I high recommend it. 

Rating : 9/10

Sonic Generations Demo Review

Sonic Generations - Demo Review.

So the other night I decided to jump on the nostalgia band wagon and ride it’s glowing trail all the way back to when I was 3. It was then I discovered the joys of gaming, and to be more precise, SEGA. One of my first, (if not my first) game was Sonic. I used to love running through those early levels happily spin dashing through rings and past numerous enemies. So with the word of a release named ‘Sonic Generations’ well of course I was interested. With promises of ‘the old sonic’ just revamped. Well viva la sonic.

So I sat down in-front of my PS3, with a can of pepsi and I was all set to play.
Sadly I was interrupted by the need for a frickin’ update to allow me to use the PSN. After downloading the perpetually never ending updates I finally got around to ANOTHER perpetually never ending download that was the demo itself. Okay putting the rage face away (for now). Much to my delight, the promise of ‘Old Sonic’ was brought to life, sure he’s now an eye screeching high contrast colour of blue now... but hey whatcha’ gonna do?

I started off with ‘Act One’ which was the ‘Old Sonic’ version of the game where its the classic 2D side scrolling platformer. Grassy Hill was the levels name, and it couldn’t be more on mark, because if nothing else... there was ALOT of hills and the grass was also a high contrast colour, as was everything else. My poor eyes were watering after a few play throughs. So it’s the typical, you’re sonic get to the end of the level, collect rings and try not to die type thing. I can’t really criticize. It was very enjoyable, I had fun and the mechanic was good as it always has been. So ‘Act One’ was great. My problems start when I tried ‘Act Two’ with ‘Modern Sonic’.

So I booted up Act Two and I swear I hadn’t even moved my analogue stick before the colours and the speed at which sonic was moving (yeah I know he’s fast but this was... no) made me feel dizzy. I genuinely felt nausea from this level. Which is much to discredit it. Also the fact that I felt like I was watching Sonic lead himself around this 3D level in gaudy colours without any need for my input. Other than pressing the analogue stick forward and pressing ‘x’ a few times... There really wasn’t much to it. It was so easy. Almost like a QTE (Quick Time Event) for the WHOLE LEVEL. Again, I can’t understand why they messed with the classic Sonic mechanics. It worked. We loved it. They screwed it up.

So whats my conclusion?

Well, it’s fun. I think I’d need to play the WHOLE game before giving any ‘final judgement’ on the game. I definitely admire what SEGA had tried to do. Emphasis on ‘tried’ because it’s definitely a step back in the right direction away from all that spin off crap. Sonic is classic and I think if they just toned down the colour a bit and gave the player more to do in the modern sonic levels.