Game: Lunia Chronicles and Rumble Fighter
Publisher: OgPlanet
Developer: OGPlanet
Price: Free!
Genre: MMO
Pro: Both enjoyable free titles which will keep casual gamers busy for a few hours
Con: Rumble Fighter just feels a bit too shallow to be anything more than a diversion for an hour or two

Lunia Chronicles is clearly an MMO aimed at the more casual gamer. It’s free to play, it’s very simple but it still has that certain something about it that would make more hardcore gamers compelled to play, even if they might not want to admit it.

Part of an increasingly common trend in games, Lunia Chronicles makes its money from micro-transactions: small cash purchases to acquire new items or unlock new character types. This works quite well as if you’re a cheapskate like me or a younger gamer without access to regular money, you can still reap plenty of enjoyment from the game, while still always retaining the option to purchase extras. The game starts by offering you four characters to play as, with a number of others available with an inexpensive purchase. The four initial characters are quite archetypal with the Knight, Healer, Wizard and Thief.

Progression works via a mission based system with various submissions also available. Missions often also extend the plotline of the game which is charming but slightly shallow as one would expect from a game aimed at the casual market. Each mission feels more like a side scrolling fighting game more than anything else with combat down to a matter of repeatedly pressing a few button combos. Frequently bosses emerge which again tend to just require more persistent button mashing. It all felt very much like arcade classics of old such as Double Dragon, but in a cute manner and with a levelling system thrown in for good measure.

The levelling system is certainly swift to traverse and it really won’t take long for players to reach level 50-60. Lunia Chronicles certainly likes to offer fast gratification to its players. At the end of each mission there is also a grading system akin to arcade games, rating your success from F-S.

Lunia Chronicles isn’t going to win any prizes for originality. It’s really not that kind of game. It’s a mindless distraction but something that I still found myself strangely drawn to even with its distinctly shallow gameplay. Everything works just how you would expect with the graphics being particularly appealing, a sound control system and never being lost as to what to do next. The fact that it’s free makes me more inclined to keep it installed for a long time to come, simply because it is a perfect game to drop in and out of, especially considering you can progress far in a short space of time.

Rumble Fighter is from the same stable as Lunia Chronicles and is again a free to play online MMO with micro-transactions. This time round though, Rumble Fighter borrows elements from the Super Smash Brothers series of games rather than the side scrolling beat em up genre. It works, but I didn’t find it anywhere near as enjoyable as Lunia Chronicles.

Upon starting there is a choice of four character types and one (Shaman) that can be bought for real money. Each class has its own respective advantages, such as the Striker being better at close quarter combat while the Soul Fighter is better at speedier attacks. It could have introduced a great tactical element so that players could weigh up their opponent by recognising what class they were but unfortunately, regardless of what you choose, your character always looks the same. It’s a shame as it would have been useful to be able to gauge as soon as the fight begins exactly what you were dealing with.

To get to a fight, players join channels which are divided up according to player ability. As you win more fights, you gain experience points and work your way up the channels. Fighting is a mixture of button mashing and more tactical attacks with combos being particularly effective. A gamepad would be greatly useful here to reap the full benefit from the combat system. In the early stages fighting can be a little dull however, as an awful lot of blocking occurs in order to succeed. It’s understandable but it doesn’t make for gripping fun.

There are a number of different game modes with typical arena based fighting as well as more unique modes such as Moving Screen whereby players must continuously move along the screen as well as fend off opponents. There’s also the increasingly common Zombie mode where action is all about taking out as many zombies as possible. Typical PvP battles tend to take around a couple of minutes with team play modes also open. There’s no sign of any real PvE action as this is a game purely for PvP fans.

As expected from a game profiting from micro-transactions, there is an item shop available where superficial accessories can be bought as well as skill scrolls. Some of these items can be bought with in game money, while others with real cash through the Astro shop.

I didn’t find Rumble Fighter as engaging as Lunia Chronicles. It just felt a little bit too simplistic to really keep my attention. As much as I enjoy defeating people in beat em ups, the satisfaction just isn’t there unless you can witness the annoyance on the loser’s face. Of course for free it’s still worth a play for a little while, just don’t expect much. You do get what you pay for after all.

With the launch of Football Manager 2010 tomorrow for the PC, Sega has teamed up with UK retailer GAME to offer football fans the opportunity of a lifetime.

Any GAME reward card customer who purchases the new Football Manager 2010 from GAME stores or GAME.co.uk on Friday 30 October 2009 will be entered into a prize draw, with one lucky gamer being selected to join Harry Redknapp’s personal phone book.  The computer game manager will be able to talk to him to ask his football management advice.
For those not already in the know, Harry Redknapp is a football legend, having previously managed the likes of West Ham, Portsmouth and Southampton. While managing Portsmouth he led the side to their FA Cup victory in 2008. Currently he’s manager for Tottenham Hotspur, oh and did I mention his son is Jamie Redknapp and his nephew Frank Lampard?

As the great man himself said: “I’ve got plenty of years experience in football management so hopefully I’ll be able to pass on some valuable words of wisdom.”

Football Manager 2010 comes out tomorrow in the UK at a RRP of £39.99. Expect a review from us very soon!

Paradox Interactive have confirmed that Fort Zombie will be arriving for the PC on October 30th, just in time for Halloween.

It’ll be available at various digital download distributors for the budget price of €9.99 and $9.99 depending on your region.

It may not look like the prettiest game in the world but the trailer shows off some pretty cool Dead Rising-esque gameplay and certainly looks worth checking out this weekend.

Game: Disney’s Up
Publisher/Developer: THQ
Genre: Family platformer
Price: $29.99
Verdict: Great fun for younger gamers, but lacks enough depth to make it appeal to adults.
Pros: Nice co-op mechanics which encourage teamwork
Cons: Friendly AI when playing solo is irritating at times

It’s unfortunate that Disney’s Up both begins and ends with a poorly implemented flying game, because the rest of the title really isn’t bad at all for a title squarely aimed at a younger demographic. As you would expect from a Disney title, this is not something that will appeal to those of you who prefer your action more mature and violent, but it certainly has something about it that make it worth a look, if you want a game to play alongside your younger gaming protégé.

As you would expect, Disney’s Up is based on the film of the same name. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to see the film due to it only just being released in Europe; however from what I know of the story, the game remains quite faithful to it. You play both 78 year old Carl and 8 year old Russell on the adventure of a lifetime to South America, traveling on a flying house, thanks to being covered in helium balloons. Yup, it’s the kind of tale that only Disney could make work!

The game is a simple platformer with basic puzzle elements. It might not be the most original of genres, but it works well for this style of game. Playing as Carl and Russell felt quite reminiscent of the Lego series of games. Both characters have their own unique skill that the other doesn’t, meaning that when playing with a friend teamwork is essential. Carl can climb up platforms that Russell can’t, while Russell can chop down vines to jump across large ravines. It is a relatively simple concept, but for children it’s quite well pitched.

Everything about the game is infinitely more fun with two players, especially if one of them is a younger sibling or child, rather than a teenager who would prefer to be blowing things up. Unfortunately, when playing in one player mode, the game’s AI is a little irritating. It suffers from a similar flaw to the Lego series in that at times, the friendly AI simply doesn’t do what you want it to do. For example, if you’re trying to perform a co-op move to cross an obstacle, at times, the friendly AI will simply stand there doing nothing. This means you have to sometimes switch characters to complete the move. Sure it’s just a simple tap of the right bumper, but it would have been nice to have responsive AI once in a while. Not to mention, I can see it annoying those with low levels of patience, namely the younger gamer.

The game only took me around 3-4 hours to complete, but this seems a quite appropriate length of time when you bear in mind the game’s target audience. Due to the final level being based around flying, I did find it disproportionally harder than previous levels. I have a sneaking suspecion that this would cause great frustration for some inexperienced gamers. It’s a shame that it had to end on such a sour note, because the platforming elements are much more enjoyable and the final level felt like a slight discredit to the rest of the game.

In order to extend the length of Disney’s Up, there are also numerous bugs to collect that are laden across levels. These bugs help to unlock the various multiplayer levels available, to those wanting a bit more longevity. These multiplayer levels range from dogfighting in planes to popping more balloons than your opponent within a given time limit. Again, it’s all fairly simplistic, but something that I’m sure would eke out a few extra minutes of play time for young gamers.

It’s probably quite obvious by now that while Disney’s Up is a perfectly adequate platformer, it is aimed at a specific market. I’m not saying that you have to be a child to enjoy this, because I enjoyed my time with it and I’m in my mid 20s. However, to get the most out of it, it would help to be in the under 12 age bracket. Disney’s Up is the perfect title for those of you with children who are looking for something that you can both play together while you wait for Lego Indiana Jones 2 to come out.

Game: Cate West: The Vanishing Files
Publisher/Developer: Oxygen Games
Genre: Hidden Objects Puzzler
Verdict: An acquired taste for many, but a calming little title for casual and family gamers alike.
Pros: Great for de-stressing after a long day of work, and it keeps your brain active.
Cons: Those wanting a more exciting gaming experience may be disappointed, shaking dust away is annoying

Ever have a guilty pleasure that you know isn’t really very good, but you can’t help but love? We all do, whether it’s a cheesy romantic comedy that we don’t want to admit to our mates that we love, or a great fondness for singing along to Barbie Girl. It’s fine to have, even though your pretensions may make you wish you didn’t. The problem is that when your job is to review a game and that game happens to be a huge guilty pleasure, it becomes very conflicting. You see, when it comes to Cate West: The Vanishing Files, I’m very much of two minds. On the one hand, it’s extremely samey and does absolutely nothing to challenge the Wii technologically or the player’s physical ability. It’s the sort of game that will quickly remind you of the puzzle books your parents used to bribe you with on long car journeys. However, despite its shortcomings, I still greatly enjoyed my experience with this gentle, hidden object based puzzle game. If ever there’s an example of a ‘marmite’ game (a game you either love or hate), this is it!

The hidden object genre is one that ‘hardcore’ gamers have most likely never played. It involves just what you would expect: you are given a scene which has a wide variety of different objects and items, alongside the scene is a list of objects or clues which you need to find. You then click on the relevant items and you are moved onto the next puzzle. It’s a simple concept but strangely mesmerizing, much of this is thanks to the relaxed nature in which you can play.

In the case of Cate West: The Vanishing Files, a story is loosely wrapped around the hidden object part of the game. You play Cate West, a psychic who is helping the police with an investigation which is linked to the murder of her father. Admittedly, the story is far from memorable and although various cartoon based cut scenes try to keep you interested, it’s really not as core to the game’s enjoyment as the writer probably wanted it to be. The crux of the enjoyment comes from the hidden object components of the game.

There are 15 chapters in all, comprised of five parts within each chapter. The first section involves finding a set of clues in typically 3 or 4 different locations. Each location is a scene such as a back alley or a creepy room in a building.  These area contain a huge array of conventional items such as keys or spanners, and not so conventional ones such as a piggy bank or hot pepper. You are given a list of clues to pick out of the scene and once you’ve collected all the pieces, you are moved onto the next stage. It is fairly elementary stuff and very basic in terms of presentation, but I did find it strangely fun. It was relaxing and even calming, an ideal combination for the casual gamer. There is a time limit but it’s quite long and not once did I get even remotely close to running out of time.

The remaining four sections use similar game mechanics to the first section, just with a slight twist. For example, the second section ‘Gathering Evidence’ consists of picking out certain bits of an object such as part of a clock. The third section is essentially Spot the Difference, something that I’ve always been dreadful at, so this was my least favorite part, especially when some differences felt extremely difficult to detect! The last stage manages to be almost the reverse of Spot the Difference, with you putting items back to match the alternate crime scene. In between these is the Pick Out the Criminal stage, otherwise known as Guess Who to the lay man. Cate analyzes the relevant clues acquired from earlier in the chapter to determine what the culprit looks like. You are then given the choice of a number of suspects and you have to figure out ‘whodunit’. I found the Guess Who stages to be a little vague at times. Sometimes the clues easily led me to the culprit, but other times it felt a little hit or miss. Having tried this out on another gamer, they had similar problems. Luckily however, you have unlimited attempts, so the only thing it really affects is your overall score, but not by a lot. It all sounds extremely simple written down, but the idea works quite well. It may not be anything very special, nor anything you will remember for years to come, but it passes the time in an enjoyable manner. It was also nice to see that there is replayability in the form of different clues being asked for when returning to previous chapters.

There are some irritants within the simple nature of Cate West: The Vanishing Files. In certain chapters, you have to shake the Wiimote to clear dust so that you can see clues. It frequently felt like a pointless waste of effort. I would have much preferred to be left alone to find the clues, rather than have to clear dust every once in a while. Also, the music was particularly uninspiring and monotonous because it never really changed as the game progressed. Besides the story mode of the game, which can be played with either one or two players, there is also a two player competitive mode which pits the players against each other in order to score the most points within a level. It seems a little tacked on but adds a bit of longevity to the affair, especially if you’re considering buying this game for the family. Younger gamers are sure to enjoy competing against each other as well as combining their efforts in the two player story mode.

Cate West: The Vanishing Files really is a game that you’ll either love or hate. It sounds like I’m trying to dodge my reviewing responsibilities, but it truly is that sort of game. I really quite liked it and so did my mother who is a perfect example of the casual gamer, but I can see why so many people would grow to hate it. This really isn’t the sort of game that a hardened FPS player would like, but in the hands of the casual gamer or a young family, this is actually quite fun and well worth a look. Just be warned, it is an acquired taste that isn’t for everyone.