Folklore
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 3
Rating: T — Teen
Game type: Action/RPG
Rating: **** (out of five)
What’s the premise?
Ellen has come to the Irish village of Doolin looking for her long-lost mother. Keats has come looking for the story of a lifetime. Both get much more than they ever expected as they learn Doolin is a gateway to the Netherworld — a place full of magic, mystery and deadly secrets.
This game is most similar to…?
It’s like someone put the films Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal and Wizard Of Oz in a blender.
Is it suitable for younger gamers?
Gamers guide both Ellen and Keats through a dark and twisting murder mystery that, while not overly gory, is still creepy enough to want to keep little ones away.
One player or more?
There’re two characters and only you to guide them.
What’s missing?
The plot exposition is sometimes done in fully rendered animated cut scenes that are well voice acted, with fine musical accompaniment and other times done in a sort of comic book style with word balloons. The latter is kind of stark and makes you wish it’d all been done like the former.
The (not-so) secret to success is…?
We’ve got Id; let’s use Id. The way you fight in Folklore is by using power, or Id, taken from the netherworld creatures you defeat and using it against the others. Different creatures will give you different abilities and knowing just which one to use against each new opponent can be the difference between visiting the land of the dead and becoming a permanent resident.
And in the end?
Folklore gets off to a bit of a slow start and is a tad repetitive (since you play levels both as Ellen and as Keats), but it’s worth pushing past to get to some of the more compelling later stages of this highly imaginative action/role playing epic.
NBA 08
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP
Reviewed on: PSP
Rating: E — Everybody
Game type: Sports
Rating: **** (out of five)
What’s the premise?
Take the ball to the rack as your favourite NBA superstar and lead your team to NBA Finals glory in the latest edition of this stalwart hoops franchise.
This game is most similar to…?
NBA 07.
Is it suitable for younger gamers?
The NBA action is fine for younger gamers, but the new Block Party feature — which includes a slew of new mini-games like HORSE, dodgeball, pinball and much more — makes it an absolute winner for them.
One player or more?
Fire up the PSP Wi-Fi and tell your buddy to prepare for an NBA facial.
What’s missing?
There are some realism issues (it shouldn’t be a simple play to knock down a 25-foot shot with a defender all over you) and there are also some clipping issues (I passed the ball right through a few defenders, which, while cool, isn’t very likely).
The (not-so) secret to success is…?
Like with most sports games, you have to play to your team’s strengths. Don’t shoot just three-pointers if your team has no shooters and don’t try to dunk with every 6-footer on your team.
And in the end?
The NBA action is solid, but Block Party is what makes this one well worth picking up.
Bleach: Shattered Blade
Publisher: Sega
Platforms: Nintendo Wii
Rating: T — Teen
Game type: Fighting
Rating: ***½ (out of five)
What’s the premise?
Play as one of 32 characters from the popular Cartoon Network anime show, Bleach, and use your Wii-mote to defeat your opponents to gather the shards of a magical sword that will open a gateway back to the heroes’ home world.
This game is most similar to…?
Bleach: Blade Battlers.
Is it suitable for younger gamers?
No blood and guts, but do you want to take the chance that they think wailing on their sibling with a giant anime-style sword is cool after playing it? Not me.
One player or more?
You can, and should, try this one out head-to-head, but make sure to leave enough arm-swinging room so you don’t actually take one another out.
What’s missing?
Shorter load times between battles. It’s kind of painful.
The (not-so) secret to success is…?
Use can use your Wii-mote to chop, slash and stab by moving it in different ways to fill up your Bankai gauge and then flick your nunchuk to release that power and do some major damage to your opponent.
And in the end?
Bleach fans will love it and people looking for a decent fighting game for the Wii will like it.
