Mos Def - The Ecstatic

If there's a better hipperty hopperty album released this year I've not heard it.

I always think when listening to a rap album how the music would sound sans lyric. If this album where an instrumental it would probably still be stunning. The fact that Mos is a deft and interesting lyricist is an added bonus. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Let the Silly Season Begin!

As September start we see the usual glut of software being readied for release for everyones christmas cash.. Having had a browse through Play.com's coming soon pages there's an overwhelming amount of new software about to be released.

Perhaps though less triple A must have titles than last year.. I think some of that's down to some good stuff being delayed until Q1 2010. That's not to say that this year is going to be any easier on my bank balance. Even discounting some of the optimistic release dates on Play.com I count at least 18 games that I'm interested in and at least 12 (across all five platforms that I own) that are essential purchases.

First out of the blocks is Colin McRae: DiRT 2 in early september, then in date order we have: Scribblenauts, Uncharted 2, Brutal Legend, Forza 3, GTA: Episodes from Liberty City, Ratchet & Clank: Crack in Time, Blur, CoD:Modern Warfare 2, No More Heroes 2, Gran Turismo 2 and Legend of Zelda:Spirit Tracks making the essential list.

Need for Speed:Shift, Wet, Halo 3:ODST, Pilot Wings Wii, Gran Turismo PSP and Assassin's Creed II making the wait and see list.

The "Complete" List

Resistance 2
Mirror's Edge - 360
Quantum of Solace - 360
House of the Dead: Overkill - Story & Directors Cut
Fable 2 - Story Mode
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot - (Liquid Easy)
Wario Ware: Smooth Moves
Saints Row
Race Pro - Career Mode
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand (Easy) - 360
Conan (Easy) - PS3
GTA IV - 360
Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Manhunt 2
Prince of Persia
No More Heroes - Real Ending
GTA: Chinatown Wars
Silent Hill 2 - (4 star rating, Leave ending)
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga - DS
Silent Hill 3 - (5 star rating)
Little Big Planet - Story Mode
Legend of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass

The last power I received actually made me laugh with joy. No spoilers here for anyone who hasn't played it but it was a great game and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Even all the Boss battles. An essential DS purchase

Purchase Power

I think Batman: Arkham Asylum is only the second new game I've picked up on day of release this year.. I ended up plumping for the 360 version despite the PS3 version having exclusive content. Mainly because 360 versions of 3rd party games tend to be superior and secondly cos there might be some fun achievements.

I also spied Killzone 2 has finally reached the magic sub £20 price point in Game. So I picked that up as well. Never played the first one but I having cleared Little Big Planet last night I've not got anything PS3 related..

I had a new set of questions today in Game.. Did I know the PS3 slim was coming and the Elite has been reduced? Did I want either for increased storage? Suffice to say I'm happy with my launch PS3 and its backward compatibility and I already have three 360s at home so no.. I don't want any more consoles at the moment.

The "Complete" List

Resistance 2
Mirror's Edge - 360
Quantum of Solace - 360
House of the Dead: Overkill - Story & Directors Cut
Fable 2 - Story Mode
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot - (Liquid Easy)
Wario Ware: Smooth Moves
Saints Row
Race Pro - Career Mode
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand (Easy) - 360
Conan (Easy) - PS3
GTA IV - 360
Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Manhunt 2
Prince of Persia
No More Heroes - Real Ending
GTA: Chinatown Wars
Silent Hill 2 - (4 star rating, Leave ending)
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga - DS
Silent Hill 3 - (5 star rating)
Little Big Planet - Story Mode

Really amazing game.. The story mode is lots of fun and really well done.

It's had plenty of time for user generated content and so I had a little browse through that. You can see what levels your friends have played and liked and it's a really good way of finding some fun stuff.

One level, a re-imagining of Jack and the Beanstalk was awesome with a giant beanstalk and a giants castle and a chase and a golden egg and everything.. It must of taken hours.

The "Complete" List

Resistance 2
Mirror's Edge - 360
Quantum of Solace - 360
House of the Dead: Overkill - Story & Directors Cut
Fable 2 - Story Mode
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot - (Liquid Easy)
Wario Ware: Smooth Moves
Saints Row
Race Pro - Career Mode
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand (Easy) - 360
Conan (Easy) - PS3
GTA IV - 360
Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Manhunt 2
Prince of Persia
No More Heroes - Real Ending
GTA: Chinatown Wars
Silent Hill 2 - (4 star rating, Leave ending)
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga - DS
Silent Hill 3 - (5 star rating)

I think I actually enjoyed this more than Silent Hill 2. It's graphically superior. Although a lot shorter (It took me just over 6 hours to complete according to my save file compared to over 12 for the second game) it's more focused and there's less aimless wandering of the town.

I preferred the main protagonist, Heather, as well. She's feisty and I think playing a girl added to the scare factor. This game actually made me jump more. I also felt the 'nightmare' alternate realities where more in keeping with the first game and genuinely disturbing. The bit where the bath over flowed with blood whilst the bloody tendrils expanded over your reflection was horrible. The monsters too where more menacing and yet you couldn't help feeling sorry for the split head dogs when they yelped and ran off after a good battering with the pipe.

The story itself wasn't as strong echoing the first games hokey 'God summoning' and I thought it was cheeky to reuse a chunk of Silent Hill 2's level. There was also a bit too much instant death for my liking. Especially when the controls are still a bit clunky.

Overall though another enjoyable experience. I intend to move straight onto Silent Hill 4: The Room now.

Currently Playing: Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

Me and Zelda have a history of never really seeing eye too eye. I really couldn't get on with the SNES port on the GBA.. It's just too old school. I famously managed to get stuck on the tutorial of Wind Waker and whilst I made more progress on Orcarina of Time I don't think it aged well.

However I'm currently flush with enthusiasm for all things DS and having spotted a copy of the Phantom Hourglass for a tenner it didn't seem like a huge risk.

When I heard that Links control mechanism was to be with the stylus I imagined some kind of rubbish point and click style effect that would be vague and annoying. In fact it's a stroke of genius. The game pretty much does away with the face buttons almost entirely (there's one button that switches the screens but more on this later) and is all the better for it. Link is a joy to control and deft movement is soon second nature.

For me though the main improvement is in the structure. Underneath the pretty Wind Waker-ish cell shaded graphics (there's one windy Isle where Link has to run against the wind and the animation is almost too cute.) it's pretty much still the top down levels of Zelda of old. But here the story and your progress are much more focused.. There's a steady progression of islands, dungeons and items that your receive that make progress possible and it's nearly always clear where you should be going next.

That's not too say exploration is out. There's plenty of islands not on the map to find and explore and sunken treasures to find.. But it's rare also when you're not entirely sure where to go next.

Even returning to the same central dungeon repeatedly isn't too much of a chore. You can switch the top map screen down to the lower screen and write notes to yourself on where switches and items (and anything else that takes your fancy) are straight onto the screen. This combined with the new items and abilities mean that levels of the dungeon that took all your time and powers of lateral thinking become easier.

Hopefully I'll be able too see the adventure all the way to the end. I'm even thining of giving The Wind Waker another whirl.