issuetwo

the gaaw magazineStream

TWO WOUNDED BIRDS

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Editor-in-chiefconorr

01the gaaw magazine

A strong believer in the fact that he has been born thirty years too late, he enjoys a number of things, from classic Sherlock Holmes novels and old indie rock vinyls, through to videogames such as Red Dead Redemption and films like (500) Days of Summer. When he isn’t dabbling in playing the bass guitar or writing fiction, he browses forums and edits this fine magazine you ccurrently see on your beloved internet.

SWant to get Involved?en visit...http://forums.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=91396

for more details on how to become a writer for Stream, anyone can join the team so take a look!

Welcome! It is with great pleasure that Iintroduce you all to the second issue of Stream. Unfortunately, due to going on a holiday, which couldn't possibly be avoided, and therefore having no internet access, I wasn't quite able to introduce you all to the debut issue of ourmagazine.magazine.

Luckily, TJ Hiphop, my co-editor of sorts, was there to stand in for myself, and he absolutely nailed it. I can't tell you how exciting it was to return home from holiday to find our magazine on my computer screen, and on top of that, to see that it actually looked 1) like an actualmmagazine, and 2) absolutely stunning! Again, we have TJ to thank for both of those factors. Add on top of that the fact that the content was an absolute joy to read, it was safe to say, with all of the attempts and iterations of a GAAW magazine in the past, Stream Issue One wascertainly the greatest edition yet...

WWell, until now. Issue Two is something which we've all worked even harder on this time round, and considerably quicker, too. Many of you are likely to notice that this issue is notably bigger in content than the last, which is great for everyone. is issue not only sees the introduc-tion of more members to our Stream team, but also the creation of our own wordpress blog, which will feature ar-ticles found in magazine itself, some of which you'll be able to read earlier than the day of each issue's release.

So, to sum it up, I'd just about say that Stream has got bigger, better, and bolder. And here's hoping that with each new issue, this little project of ours will grow into something even greater...

And don’t forget to check out the wordpress ‘welcometostream.wordpress.com’ to read the mag in text

only format

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Diary of a WimpyKid: Dog DaysHit Girl #1

Radio Head - Pablo Honey

Radio Head - The Bends

Blur - 13

Two Wounded Birds

New Super Mario Bros. 2

Mario Kart 7

Lollipop ChainsawLollipop Chainsaw

Mario Power Tennis

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15 213739

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Going Retro

Coming Soon in 2012

Ouya - The console of the future?

Hints & Tips ... Pokémon Conquest

Interrogation with ... OrangeRakoon

Life as a Khajiit Dovahkiin Pt. 2

Key:

- Stream Exclusive - Gaming - Music - Film - Fiction - Graphic Novels

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It’s the early 90s. On A Friday, a young band who had existed since 1985 when the five band members met in secondary school, have just signed a six album record deal with EMI after an extended break from the band (so that they could all concentrate on their education at university). At the record label’s request, the band changes their name to Radiohead, and release the Drill EP. is gener-ally doesn’t sell all too well.

DDespite this, in ’93, Radiohead’s debut album, Pablo Honey, fronted by the first single, Creep, is released. ere’s generally mixed reviews of the alternative rock album, and although it went platinum in the UK and many other countries, it only ever peaked in the British album charts at #22. Many Radiohead fans to this day regard it as the worst of the band’s eight albums.

YYou may be wondering why I’m really reviewing a nearly twenty year old record, then. Well not only is it because I’m of the firm opinion that it’s probably amongst some of the most under-rated albums ever released, but it’s also be-cause starting from issue two, myself and LaytonMario3 will gradually be taking on one of the bands’ albums each issue. Essentially, this will take four issues, provided we follow this through. In my opinion, it could be an interesting thing to do. LaytonMario3 and myself are both fans of Radiohead, but we don’t ex-actly see completely eye to eye on the band. But anyway, let’s get into the album.

You, the opening track on Pablo Honey, starts off with some melodic guitar playing, before eventually kicking in with heavily started guitars. e verse falls into a slow, dreamy state whilst om Yorke starts spilling out the lyrics. e fact that there’s essentially three guitarists within Radiohead, and that doesn’t even include bassist, Colin Greenwood, is clear from this opener. Melody squeal from every direction of your ear drums. e best part has to be the build up from each verse, where every musician inside the band seems to hammer down on on whatever drum fill, chord or note they happen to be playing at the time.

Creep is the track which even the casual listener will probably recognise. It is, after all, the success story of Pablo Honey. Despite this, it’s a song which divides fans of the band and the song in general in many ways. In fact, it even split the band’s opinion, mostly because of the fact that guitarist Jonny Greenwood thought it was too quiet. It very nearly wasn’t a released track, but the produc-ers were so impressed that it was included on the debut album.

Starting off in a generally slow affair, in which drums, bass and a single of the trio of guitars drift onwards, tagged along by Yorke’s great lyrics, things don’t

really strike you as anything that different until the build up to the chorus. Not only does Yorke start to sing “I wish I was special…/You’re so f**cking special!” suddenly, over the top of the peaceful arpeggiated chords, Jonny Greenwood blasts dead notes (basically a scratchy, untuneful sound) from his guitar. is was his way of trying to ruin the song, but has since become one of the many things people remember Creep for. Following this, the chorus bursts into loud, distorted chords, as Yorke wails “But I’m a creep/I’m a weirdo”. It is generally rerecognised as a hugely famous alternative rock song, and is, in my opinion, a pretty awesome track, only ruined slightly by the fact that the band eventually got sued for plagiarism, having taken the chord progression of the song from “e Air at I Breathe” by e Hollies. Still, it’s an interesting track, although certainly over hyped.

How Do You, starts with a simple guitar riff, built upon by all three guitarists gradually playing it. om Yorke’s vocals on here sound a little bizarre, almost like he’s trying to do an impression, or he’s singing like a child, in a way. e lyrics are equally weird: “He was a stupid baby, turned into a powerful freak”. To me, it sounds like they’re on about someone who’s just generally quite scummy, but they never said it to his face. How Do You is like Radiohead put on there best cheesy punk rock impression and decided to put it on the album anyway. It enends with a weird piano outro, or should I say, they fell on the piano, and it will definitely split opinions.

Stop Whispering was another single on Pablo Honey. Compared to the rest of the album, it’s a pretty light song. After a crazy sting in How Do You, om reverts back to his high, tuneful singing. In all honesty, it’s a pretty dull affair, until about the 3:40 mark, where it’s almost like someone stood on a switch which made the entire band play differently. e distortion that pretty much makes Pablo Honey comes back into play, and makes a fantastic, two minute outro of squealing guitars and Yorke’s chant of the track’s title.

ininking About You, the fifth song on Pablo Honey, is mostly an acoustic song. om’s lyrics are panicky, and his voice certainly puts this across. For some, it might be nice to have something refreshing nearly half way through the record, but it feels out of place. It’s light, it’s pretty short and it’s devoid of anything that unique to the band. I personally think some totally random, crazy guitar playing is needed right now.

WWait, this is strange... Anyone Can Play Guitar, the second single from Pablo Honey, starts with just what I wanted from the album: totally random, crazy guitar playing. e tiny 17 second intro consists of all of the guitarists playing

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e tiny 17 second intro consists of all of the guitarists playing possibly the worst sounding thing they could, and that just about somes up Radiohead. ey’re not scared of doing something totally outrageous. It’s what musicians are lacking in these days. As untuneful as that intro may sound, it says a lot about just how passionate the band are about their music. When the intro ends, then, the proper melodies kick in, before Yorke’s lyrics begin. ey're awesome lyrics throughout, including the brilliant: “Grow my hair/ I am Jim Morrison... GrGrow my hair/ I wanna be, wanna be, wanna be Jim Morrison” with some per-fectly placed growls and squeals. Before the second chorus, they stick in a neat solo, not out of place, but brilliantly leading into the song's centre piece. One of the best songs on the album.

Ripcord is an excellent follow-up to the last track. e catchy opening riff taps into the alternative rock you expect from them- a perfect blend of light guitar playing, followed up by an appreciated burst of loud, distorted guitar on top. It works to a tee. “A thousand miles an hour/e politics of power, but she don’t understand…/No ripcord!” sings the chorus, and then the guitars play a note-by-note cascade which really should be better known than it is. What makes this bit of music even better is the fact that every member really goes for it towards the end. Yet again, the heavy guitar kicks in. Having three guitarists means the band can really layer things up. To listeners, it just sounds superb. To anyone with a fantastic ear for music, or perhaps a musician themselves, it sounds amazing.

Vegetable starts off with the trademarks you’re used to by now. To some, that might make it sound like it’s a repetitive album, but it definitely isn’t. Admit-tedly, it starts off pretty soft, but yet again, the build up to the chorus, and the chorus itself, prove just how good this band are at playing their music. Guitar notes bounce off Yorke’s words like they were destined to be paired. Melodies intertwine to the point where you’ll notice something different every time you listen. “I’M NOT A VEGETABLE!” cries the singer, rather bizarrely, on the chochorus, while another member politely and lightly provides a chorus of “ahhhh-hhh” in the background, which just about sums up the music itself. Something tuneful and polite is going on in the background, but over the top Yorke is near-on screaming his pained words.

Prove Yourself is another highlight on this album. A single guitar plays whilst the vocals proceed, and then suddenly every other instrument kicks in. It’s an incredibly refreshing song, not just on the album, but in alternative rock in gen-eral. Where this band manages to create so many brilliant riffs and words from, I don’t know. Chuck in a solo, break the song down and smash in with the same

same affect as the first time, and it’s a timeless song. I definitely recommend it if you’re only going to check out a select number of tracks from their debut.

I I Can’t provides more pained lyrics. Pablo Honey is certainly a sad record. om’s lyrics are unhopeful, lacking in confidence, shy, but he uses this to his power. Song writing, as it should be, is his way of getting out everything he thinks, everything he wants to say, and by doing so, each song feels full of pas-sion. It’s the music which provides the hope that’s missing in the lyrics. It’s happy but sad all at once, and breaks down superbly at one point so that all you can here is the under appreciated bass playing of Colin Greenwood.

Lurgee is the penultimate track on Pablo Honey, and whilst it’s not exactly ter-rible, it’s not really exciting either. It’s one of the few duds on this album, but nonetheless, it’s easy listening. e music’s fine, and so are the lyrics, it just seems to be missing the riveting spark that so many other songs on the album have.

At least, then, Pablo Honey finishes with a cracker. e finale of Radiohead’s debut album is Blow Out, and starts straight away. No little builds up or crazy intro here, it starts instantly. Smooth bass riff, mysterious, a shimmering of light guitar notes in the background. It is what I describe as “night-time music”, purely because it makes me feel like I should be having a midnight jog through an empty forest. e second guitar on here is brilliant, playing the notes of each chord note-by-note, before gracefully playing them as one afterwards. ings stastart to slow down, break down a little, half way through, and then you realise, by the drums building up, and by the casual strumming of a couple of chords, by the manipulation of guitar feedback, by the (once again) distortion, that you’re in for something spectacular. And then Radiohead release it. A bizarre, escalat-ing solo of distorted guitar notes, bursting out all at once in every direction of your ears. ey really, really go for it. I can only imagine how impressive a moment it must be to experience live. Pablo Honey ends with a bang

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Conclusion

Rating:

So there you have it. e under-rated debut of Radiohead, or On A Friday, as they would have had it. It’s one of the most guitar-fueled albums that the band have released to this day, and is one of the best of its era. If it wasn’t for e Bends, which you can read LaytonMario3 talk about next, it would be my ffavourite of their albums. I strongly urge you to check it out if you haven’t before.

+Conorr

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Sulk - Along with the aforementioned Bones, this is one of the weakest songs on the album. I believe that it was in fact recorded in the Pablo Honey sessions originally, and then re-recorded for this. e best part of this is really Yorke's vocals, which is at it's strongest in the chorus where, if possible, it seems to loop-de-loop from the highs to the lows (which are still highs) in a graceful manner. So pretty good, but not great.

SStreet Spirit (Fade Out) - One of the greatest songs that Radiohead have ever done, full stop. It can also be said as the first of the string of amazing album closers, which Radiohead have never failed to do (well, until their most recent, possibly). It's just so emotional, so well done, and the fact it can be run by the same riff over and over again (something Bones couldn't do) really is fantastic. Another track pick.

Bones - One of the weaker tracks. e wobbly fade in of the guitar is pretty unique, I'll give it that, but it gets a little repetitive. I wasn't seeing myself liking this one very much until the mini chorus (it's not very long) starts, where it sort of redeemed itself. Overall, it's a pretty good song which is slightly above Pablo Honey's quality, but only just. To be fair though, if this was on their first album, I'd probably make it a track pick.

(Nice Dream) - A rare exception to the rule that Radiohead's music is noteexactly uplifting. I mean, they don't let it get too happy, but it's still not really got a sad theme around it. I'm not entirely sure if it's exactly about a dream one of the member's of the band had, but just having a look at the lyrics, and of course the title (which I am afraid to say I have no idea why is entitled inbrackets), but it's a nice song anyway.

JJust - Ok, I'm not trying to be unfair to their first album. Albeit much weaker than this one, and much less original, it was still a fun record and I'm sure yielded their first batch of fans. Getting this album, perhaps wanting more, they wouldn't be disappointed. At least for some of it, this song is the most similar to that, as well as one of the band's most famous as well. It seems to describe some sort of sleaze-ball friend, and this is sort of the opposite of an ode. It's a little odd, but kudos for the band for it.

MMy Iron Lung - is, I suppose, is one of the first glimpses of the Radiohead to come. By that I mean that this song was released a whole year before this album in it's own 'My Iron Lung EP'. For such an early written, recorded and released song in their canon, it still feels like one of the most experimental things on this album. An amazing feat, in all.

Bullet PBullet Proof ... I Wish I Was - e only fully acoustic song on this album, really, not that's a problem. It's not the strongest thing on this album due to this, although it is really nice to hear a lighter song on this album. I don't have much to say about it really, other than the vocal is notably good on it.

Black Star - is is different in a very simple way. First of all, I love how itaappears to start with a guitar solo fading in, so the song starts instantly. It has a similar feel to the title track until the chorus comes in, where it appears to be experimental and a throw-back to their first album in one. It's also one of the best rock songs the band have done.

Conclusion

Rating:

Despite it only being their second album, it sounds like Radiohead have mastered their definitive sound with this one. I'll agree that some of their later ones have a morerevolutionary sound compared to this, but it's a masterpiece and then some, hailing a title as one of the best of the 90s.

+LaytonMario3

e album artwork for the bends accurately portrays the phrase ‘wtf?’

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is may seem like a bit of an odd album for me to be reviewing. It's not a new album, it's not extremely well known, it's hardly relevant for me to review anyway, and most of all, why this Radiohead album? ere are more obvious choices, of course, but those would be less fun for me to review anyway. It is one of my favourite albums, certainly of the band, and in my opinion one of the strongest of the 90s. And the fact that the editor requested it as well only helped.

BBefore I go track by track with this, I'll give a little back story. Radiohead by now were mostly known for 'Creep', a track off of their first album, Pablo Honey. Although 'e Bends' was never a huge hit, it helped gain a much larger fan base for those who'd listen. But it's much more than that. It has my favourite song on it (which I'll get to later, although I'll admit that none of the rest of the album reaches its quality). It has one of the best album covers I've seen. It was so good that their first album even managed to go back up in the charts. AnAnyway, I'll go track by track now.

Planet Telex - Just by looking at the title, before even listening, I knewsomething had changed. It already hinted that they had evolved musically. e first thing you hear is some wind sounds, and then some odd piano notescombined with fast paced drumming. I like it a lot, and apart from track two, maybe, I can't think of anything else which'll introduce the album on a higher, more intriguing note. Maybe I was slightly disappointed in the fact it wasn't going to be as weird or different as I was expecting, but it's still a solid number.

e e Bends - e title track, which is a fantastic rock song. e main riff is one of the most rocky things I've heard Radiohead do, and I love how the lead singer, om Yorke, manages to comfortably sing to it, even if it seems like meaningless tosh. e vocals have a vulnerability to them which is, again, odd to hear from this band. I mean, they're not the happiest band to exist, but this is really tear-worthy. It's such a great rock song that I believe they still play it live on stage today.

HHigh And Dry - is is the track that I felt really kicked the album off, if the first two didn't do so already. e louder than usual drums and melodic acoustic guitar at the start somehow manage to get things set, with the lyrics (despite having a bit of an odd start, personally) also a highlight. However, the main hook of this song (and many others) is the chorus, which not only is insanely catchy (especially for this band), but I'll bet you won't find many songs from the 90s which is so well done and not so well known that it'll still impress people to this this day.

Fake Plastic Trees - I mentioned that my favourite song was on this album. is is it. An epic (in the right sense of the word) song which starts off as a ballad-like track, and then picks up with what seems to be every word uttered from Yorke's mouth. I wouldn't say I connect with the lyrics, but it's the perfor-mance of it, it's the flow of it, it's every chord, drum beat and feel of it. It's one of the few songs I'd state as being 'perfect'. And, yes, it is a track pick.

It’s been 13 years and Photoshop still has the same Lens Flare effect

07the gaaw magazine

13, first released in 1999, was recorded during a number of tensionsssurrounding one of Britain's most famed bands, the Brit Award-winning (and that's a feat for a band that actually produces high-quality music) group known only as Blur. Singer Damon Albarn had recently split up with the love of his life, Graham Coxon suffered from emotional stress and heavy drinking problems, and tensions between these two frontmen clashed due to personal differences, a struggle that still stands nowadays. Albarn had also moved in with artist Jamie Hewlett at the time, an act that would later spawn Gorillaz, a project thatuundeniably proved to be much more successful than Coxon's solo works. In basic terms, a number of emotional frictions were in effect before and during the production of what at the time was looking to be the band's final work.

If the album I'm reviewing for this issue proves anything, it's that pouringnnegative emotions into songwriting makes for a particularly successful recipe. e outcome of the band's struggles at the time was this release, quite possibly their most sophisticated yet at the time, and certainly my personal favourite to this date. ere's a heavy Avant-rock theme going on in thislloosely-conceptualised set of 13 songs that makes Damon and the crew appear to have constructed a slightly Radiohead-esque album, not to say that they ripped that band off in any way. It's much more than a pebble's throw away from the likes of Leisure, Parklife and e Great Escape, however, cementing itself as the odd one out in Blur's discography; the black sheep; the not-so ugly duckling. And yes, 13 makes even ink Tank appear no less tame than Blur's britpop beginnings. Now there's a feat. Despite this, 13 is actually exactly what onone would expect from a band called Blur: A perfectly fazed, spaced-out smudge of an album, an effect mainly down to some truly excellent production byWilliam Orbit.

But just how good, or bad for that matter, is this release - One formed from heartbreak, raging emotions and the numerical transformation of the first letter of the band's name? Did it turn out far too out-there to be considered of a high quality, or is it Blur's finest hour and fifteen? Continue on and find out, dear reader, as we explore the ravenous, twisted, spacey wall of sound presented by 13...

1.1.Tender - 13's opener is, put simply, a beautiful, melancholically brilliant open-ing track, one that captures the essence of the album's key conceptualisation right off the bat. Albarn's chanting and sarcastic, moody descriptions of so-called love are repeated countless times throughout the seven minutes, as the whole song consists only of a number of recurrent verses. rough this, it ex-presses the emotions poured into 13 particularly well, and the track as a whole,

though some might argue is a bit stretched out, cements itself a fantastic opener. e album's lead single is definitely a highlight, in my view.

2.2.Bugman - e proponent track found on 13 is one that piqued my interest through the roof, not to mention the activity of my ears, the first time I heard it. e best word I can come up with to describe this one is, well, broken. It's the first song on the album in which the phenomenal production shines through, featuring messy, wrecked riffs and, oddly controversially, what I'm certain is a sample of a power drill at one point. We never heard this sort of thing on Parklife, that's for sure. A truly intriguing track if I ever heard one, and one ththat's so metaphorically broken that it comes across as ingenious and doesn't go so far as to sound in any way annoying (although I wouldn't recommend it if you have a headache). is song precedes a rather awesome-sounding interval, too, the first of many you'll hear on the album. It comes in the form of a simple but ear-raising collection of riffs, again showing-off the outstanding production work that has been put into this work.

Here's Damon Albarn, pondering whether heshould use a misplaced megaphone as

opposed to a regular old mic. Well, anythingbeats the Brit Awards performance.

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3.Coffee & TV - To this day, 13's third effort stands tall as one of my all-time favourite Blur tracks, and while the same could be said for a number of the inclusions on this album, this one in particular stands out for a number ofreasons. Like Tender and 13's penultimate track, I originally heard this song on Blur's own 'Best of' compilation. I didn't half-expect to hear it on here, though, due to the contrasting lightheartedness of the song. Following its originalinclusion on this album, however, Coffee & TV is followed by anotherunlisunlisted interval, one that makes you feel like you've just listened to something 'wrong', as if it does fit perfectly alongside the darker tracks in the track listing. As for the song itself, it's catchy, mellow and layered, featuring someear-pleasing vocals. is is definitely another album highlight, despite the fact that it feels like something of a white sheep among a herd of black ones.

4.Swamp Song - e standout aspect of this track, in my opinion, is therridiculously catchy guitar riff that is strummed throughout the majority of the 4:36 it is included in, paired with the excellent effects created from it in the song's production phase. is key element is ground zero for this song, on which the track's other aspects, such as Damon's lyrical efforts and the fazed sampling, are built upon. Without this, Swamp Song would feel nothing but incomplete. e song as a whole is great, too, but its key element is undeniably the standout of this opus. I could honestly listen to that riff for hours on end. MoMoving onwards...

5. 1992 - Track five of thirteen actually happens to have a fairly interesting story behind it, one that formed the reasoning behind its title. A demo recorded by the band's frontman in, you guessed it, 1992 (that's seven years prior to this album's release) and misplaced for a number of years until it was found again and included in the album I happen to be reviewing right now. And it's a good thing Damon found it prior to 13's release, because it fits in absolutely perfectly, and is easily a highlight in my view. e acoustics and tempo changes, paired wiwith emotion-packed vocals from Damon and Coxon, project an image ofmonochromatic spaciness, as I can best describe it. is isn't the heaviest track on the album, but it's a fantastic one nonetheless.

6.B.L.U.R.E.M.I - Following on from the emotional 1992, we're thrown right back into upbeat territory. Don't bother asking me what this song's title stands for, because I have next to no clue. What I do know, however, is that B.L.U.R.E.M.I continues the trend set by Swamp Song and Bugman before it by demonstrating more of William Orbit's blurry production, as well as Coxon'ssskillful guitar playing. e track as a whole feels like it could be placed somewhere between alternative rock and pop, featuring upbeat singing (as well as a booming

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gorgon voice shouting the seven words that make up the title of the track) mashed up in a genre blender with heavy instrumentals. Speaking ofheaviness, things don't get much more so than the next track...

7.Battle - For me, the main thing that makes 13 stand out from Blur'spprevious works is just how difficult it can be to listen to. I don't mean that in a negative sense - None of the album's thirteen tracks are anywhere near annoying or of a poor quality - But in a reassuring kind of way, that the album is so packed full of emotion that it goes so far as to convey your mood. is is quite a feat, as the album gets the balance perfectly with its surprisingly well-done mood shifting between tracks. Track seven, simply titled 'Battle', is quite possibly the perfect track to demonstrate thiscconveyance of emotion. Bugman was praised heavily for its eclecticsampling, and this track received a similar response from critics for itsaforementioned emotional impact. It's a simplistic song, with Damon's chanting of a single word making up the majority of the lyrical aspect, but once again, it's the noises you hear within the track that make it what it is, with mellow chimes and heavy avant-rock being the star of the show in Battle. Yet another highlight, without a doubt.

8. 8. Mellow Song - e first thing that sprouted into to my mind when Iinitially heard this particular song was, "Hang on, is that a sample of Damon crying?" Yes, Mellow Song is another emotion-packed installment included in 13's track-listing, and it's a pretty good one, too. I wouldn't call it astand-out track, but when it has so much competition in vein of its similar concept, you can't really fault it. Mellow Song can be best summed-up as just that: A light-hearted, mellow ambience... Only one that develops intossomething much heavier about half-way through. So far so good, but 13's next track may be considered something of a combo-breaker...

9.9.Trailerpark - Honestly, this track is the only one included in 13 that I'm not overly fond of. It's not a bad song by any means, but it is basically filler. e fact that it was originally recorded for South Park's Chef Aid album, but rejected (yes, really) only confirms this. I can't help but feel that Trailerpark was included just for the sake of pushing the number of tracks on 13 up to that exact number, and while it's clearly been remastered to sound more fitting for the concept of the album, it's like some kind of half-black,hhalf-white sheep among its peers. I wouldn't go as far to skip past it on a listen of the album, but I look forward to it finishing, and that's not exactly a good sign. So yeah, not a bad song, but I would've definitely preferredsomething more fitting for 13's concepts.

S

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10.Caramel - Caramel is easily one of the most moving pieces of music 13 has to offer, fittingly neatly alongside Tender, 1992, Battle and at this point the up-coming No Distance Left to Run. It's not difficult to guess that the basis of this song is Damon's break-up, and I must say it's probably the most effective track on the album, with the possible exception of Battle. Albarn keeps repeating verses along the lines of, "I've got to get over, I've got to get better" paired with other rhyming couplets to stitch it all together, and when these vocals are added tto the fantastic track in the background it all comes together as an absolutely brilliant finished product. Oh, and the two unlisted outros to this track? Well, they can't be described as anything other than food for the ears, contrasting perfectly like a compressed version of the entirety of the album. is track as a whole is definitely yet another highlight included in 13's repertoire.

11.Trimm Trabb - Despite being a song about Adidas trainers, the oddly titled Trimm Trabb fits in perfectly alongside 13's more serious inclusions, unlike a certain Trailerpark. Following a 30-second intro that can only be described as an audible oddity, Albarn begins to sing about aforementioned trainers,pperfectly complimenting the other noises you'll hear in this track. Like many of its predecessors in terms of the album's tracklisting, Trimm Trabb does make a slight light to heavy transition, which makes it feel a tad uninspired. However, this doesn't detract from the quality of the song as a standalone piece of work, and despite its strange subject matter, it fits in very well alongside the more moody pieces found on this album. Speaking of which...

12.12.No Distance Left to Run - While it is factually 13's penultimate track, the aptly named No Distance Left to Run is essentially the last full-on song you'll hear on the album, contrasting perfectly with its intro, Tender. While that track was essentially about Damon's refusal to believe his relationship's breakage, and Caramel was about getting over it, the album's almost-finale is essentially the last step in musical form. is one's another rather simple inclusion in terms of the instrumental side of things, at least when compared to songs with samples of of power-drills laid on top of them, but it's a fantastic track nonetheless. We're not quite done yet, though.

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Conclusion

Rating:

If one were to be rude, they would state that Damon's heart-breaking split with Elastica singer Justine Frischmann spawned something particularly positive for his band, and that happens to be 13. is is one of those albums I could listen to again and again without skipping a track, something that few other albums, however great, succeed in replicating. e hidden instrumental intervals (most of which I haven't even discussed to save space), the emotion-packed lyrical icicing, the loose conceptualisation of it all - it's just utter brilliance from start to finish despite the odd contrast of some tracks and the minor bump that comes in the form of Trailerpark. As if all thepositive synopses above haven't cemented my recommendation of 13 enough, here's a few last words before I close off this review: Not only is 13 hands down the band's magnum-opus to this date in mypersonal opinion, it's also conclusive proof that positives can come from negatives, or in the context of this synopsis; that your greatest creation can be the birth-child of the worst thing in the world if executed correctly. And yes, Blur absolutely executed this correctly.

S

+NoodleLink

13.Optigan 1 - is ending track of 13 can only be compared to thevarious unlisted intervals I've mentioned throughout this review, albeit not absent from the track-listing. If I'm honest, I can't really describe this one thoroughly. It's a haunting loop that compliments the entirety of thepprevious hour's worth of emotion-packed - at times difficult to listen to - music. An interesting outro that's difficult to flaw, let alone a haunting track that captures the essence of this brilliant album. In short, this one closes the album up full-circle.

e band recently performed one of 13's quintessential tracks, theemotion-fuelled Caramel, publically live on stage for the first time ever.

Margate's Two Wounded Birds took a break from making sweet music to take a stroll down to the beach, it seems...

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Two Wounded Birds are, for myself, a band that seemingly appeared out of nowhere. It was only when hearing their name chucked about on various sites on the internet by fellow indie rock band e Drums that I came to look into them. A bit of research showed that the quartet formed in Margate and were discovered by members from e Drums, who, being the nice chaps they are, decided that they like them so much, they would invite them on their first European tour. Since then, Two Wounded Birds have played a number of of gigs (with and without e Drums), been signed by the same label as them, Moshi-Moshi Records, released their debut and are now set for a UK tour of their own in October. But how does the aforementioned debut shape up?

Together Forever, kicking straight in with the loud bass and guitar beatsunmistakably like e Ramones, with, better yet, fast guitar riffs on top, it brings you straight into the album. ere's no quiet build up, no letting you in gently. is is a band which grabs you by the collar and pulls you straight into the thick of their dancable, indie riffs, and it's also probably one of the most memorable, lyrically. 'I don't care wherever we go/ Yeah I wanna be with you' shouts singer and guitarist, Johnny Danger. It's simple, it's fun, it's catchy, it's indie pop at it's best. Fans of Beach Boys and classic 50s surf rock will be in heheaven.

My Lonesome can be summed up by the bass riff itself. It's just so damn smooth! Better yet, Johnny's lyrics are perfectly acquainted with a layer ofmysterious guitar echoing in the song. It's a mid-speed, relaxing tune which gets your foot tapping, and harks back to the likes of Orange Juice singer Edywn Collins' solo stuff. It could have easily come out somewhere long in the past, but instead it's been created by the youthful members of My Lonesome. It's inventive, quirky, bizarre, and most importantly, it's not half bad.

TTo Be Young is undoubtly one of my favourite tracks on the album. Opening with an emotional, catchy guitar riff, I found myself getting slightly emotional the first time listening to it. Perhaps I'm a bit too emotionally weak, but the music and lyrics of this song combined make for a song with so much feeling in it that you can't help but get pulled up in it. Johnny Danger's brilliant voice wails with passion in the chorus: 'I always knew/It's true/We were young/And hopeless'. Top it off with a solo of hums and notes from the singer's own voice anand you've got an exciting, relatable track that is most probably one of my favourites to hit my eardrums in 2012.

e fourth track on the album, It's Not Up To You, proves to the keen listener that there's a few topics emerging in all of these tracks. Hopelessness, anxiety,

sadness, and probably most importantly, loneliness. 'I never want to be alone/But maybe I have to' cries the vocalist, as the guitars ring in your ears and the music builds up to the chorus. It doesn't stand out as a massively memorable track in the album, but that doesn't make it a bad one.

e amusingly named Daddy's Junk slots in next, and proves itself from the offset as a bluesy, rock track which could’ve been pulled out anytime in the 50s.

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Fast drums, typical blues and rock riffs, high-singing, and oh, a piano solo. Yep, it's definitely out there as one of the loudest, funnest songs on the album, and it's definitely one that'll get fans moving at anyone of Two Wounded Birds' gigs. It's a feel good, exciting track which keeps the pace going perfectly and somes up the light-hearted side of their debut...

NNight Patrol, then, pulls the pace back slightly, fitting in with the mysterious, chilling tracks, a little like My Lonesome but far more exciting. It has not one, but two great guitar riffs, and for 40 seconds stays entirely instrumental. It's a nice break from the fast, riveting tracks and tones things down a little perfectly. It's also what makes Two Wounded Birds the band they are. It's unique, it's cold, it's dark, it's different. e lyrics are poetic, and the lead guitarist's tune blends in perfectly with Dangers' quiet, exciting tones. One of the best songs on the alalbum, if you're into something a little different.

What follows is e Last Supper, an entirely instrumental track, which from the beginning doesn't sound too far off what you'd find on the soundtrack of an old Wild-West film. e squealing guitars and marching drum beats sound great, but I'm someone, who despite loving music and playing an instrument myself, isn't too wild about instrumentals. It's an awesome track, but if you're like me then this is most probably one that you'll skip when you listen to the album.

I'm No Saviour is a smooth, slow track. Starting with a simple drum beat, the guitars elegantly filter in, before Danger's voice does exactly the same. His lyrics on the entirety of this album, despite being simplistic in parts, are poetic and full of so much feeling. e verses play out in a quiet, bleak, but gently up-building fashion, until the organ kicks in, and so does the frontman's voice, crying: 'Cos I'm no saviour!' in ballad fashion, before breaking back down to simple guitar notes and falling back into the beautiful, isolated, quietness of a loud band playing quietly. Other tracks such as Together Forever and Daddy's Junk may show off what excellent musicians this band are by, simply put, going crazy, but in points such as I'm No Saviour, it's the brilliance of just simplistic, pleasant melodies simmering in your eardrums.

If Only We Remain, track nine on the album, starts off with another enjoyable, catchy melody. Roughly 15 seconds in, bass and drums kick in, and Johnny's tender voice begins. It's a track full of melancholy, but in a sort of calm way. e chorus is another that Johnny goes for, just like I'm No Saviour, making it perfect to sing along too and remember. It's a fantastic track, seemingly about heartbreak amongst other things.

If other songs on the album haven't already done so, this one will definitely confirmed to me that the minds behind Two Wounded Birds are certainly excellent musicians.

AAnother slow song, No Goodbyes, comes next. It's certainly relaxing, and without a doubt draped in the sad overtones which seem to make up Two Wounded Birds' songs. Whilst other songs might have glimmers of happi-ness or a hint of hope somewhere, No Goodbyes just seems hopeless. And that's what seems so beautiful about it. A single guitar melody plays throughout, for the most part. e pacing is just left to drift through the song quietly, each chord fading gently with Dangers' lyrics. Some might find iit a bit too down for their liking, and to be fair, Two Wounded Birds defi-nitely shine on the more unique, quick tracks, but it's a nice change of speed.

e Outer World starts off with bassist, Ally Blackgrove, playing a bouncy, deep riff. An enjoyably off-sounding guitar kicks in, drums follow, and then you find yourself wrapped up in another brilliantly written track. If you can't appreciate Dangers' poetic lyrics, then most will enjoy the fantastic music which can be found through out, and this is no exception. e build up to the chorus is also again a highlight, and seems to be something that this band is particularly good at creating. When the chorus kicks in, so does the second guguitar, playing a superb electric riff which wouldn't be completely out of place in e Velvet Underground's music, or even Pixies. As good a penulti-mate track as you could wish for.

Growing, is the finale on the UK version of Two Wounded Birds'. It's an-other desolate track- light guitar riff, Dangers' quiet singing and a slow beat. Until about three quarters of the way through Growing, the song is quiet, and empty. But as the vocals carry the song through, the pace of the song gradually, well, grows, if you like. e drums are built up, before a distortion-maxed guitar is chucked into the mix and things get quicker. Strangely, the song ends where you expect Two Wounded Birds to burst into somsome musically fantastic bridge or solo, fading into eventual silence.

Record shops all over the country were sick of Two Wounded Birds turning up unwanted to play gigs...

the gaaw magazine

Conclusion

Rating:

As you may have gathered from my review, there's very little I can fault this band on. It's everything you could ask from a new young band's debut album. It's indie rock roots are pperfect little pop songs in disguise, but not the typical generic type which seems to populate the charts these days. It's that old enjoyable surf pop, the danceable, singable, emotional kind. It's artistic, it's full of influence, and it's full of charm. If you're a fan of any of that, or you're simply looking for something different, then you can't go far wrong with Two Wounded Birds' debut.

+Conorr

New Super Mario Bros. 2 plays homage to classicscenes from earlier Mario games, such as Reznor here.

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With an impressive history that spans two arcade games, the classic Super Mario Bros. quadrology, Super Mario World, Super Mario 64, Sunshine, the Galaxy duo, the Land trilogy and the, now three-part, New Super Mario Bros. series, Mario has thirty-one years worth of platforming experience. Afifirst-choice for every Nintendo multi-franchise crossover, he has left a Boolossus-sized splash in pop culture: the theme song of the original Super Mario Bros. being voted the most recognizable track of the 80s (sorry MTV), the plumber makes cameo appearances in a great number of videogames and at thousands of parties and he has his own television series, film and even a street named after him. I could literally sit here all day, typing about how big Mario is in popcculture but there really is no need. Everybody already knows how huge he is (even after he loses the powers given to him by a Super Mushroom) and Noodle Link did a pretty good job at summing him up in the 3D Land review last issue, for anybody who needs a reminder of Mario’s almost unparallel success.

SSo, how does this long-term experience relate to the plumber’s latest outing? Unfortunately, the main way this experience affects the game is that everything about New Super Mario Bros. 2 feels very, very familiar. It is something that has plagued each of the New Super Mario Bros. games and it will certainly continue to affect the series when New Super Mario Bros. U is launched alongside Nintendo’s next console. It is also something that has affected 3D Land, Mario’s other “big” title on the 3DS.

I I suppose it could be argued that this familiarity is to be expected of avideogame character that has tired almost every video gaming concept under, and above the sun, but, on the opposition, it could be pointed out that the other new Mario games, the Galaxy series, have chucked out a huge bag of creativity.

Like an artist who sees fit to throw buckets of paint anywhere and everywhere he likes, the Galaxy games have new ideas embroidered in every nook and cranny of their coding. New Super Mario Bros. 2, however, isn’t overflowing with new ideas, despite its title.

FFor several years now, Nintendo has stated that their main aim is to get as many people as possible into video gaming and it could be argued that imple-menting a lot of new ideas could make this game too complicated or diverse for beginners. It could also be stated that there is only so much that could be achieved on a 2D plain. One look at the greatest levels of the Little Big Planet 2 community proves both these arguments wrong. Many great 2D levels, for ex-ample, split from the traditional right-to-left gameplay and have the player wander a more unique path, such as walking on the ceiling VVVVVV-style. is could be quite easy to control, while it would also offer more of a challenge to experienced Mario gamers.

However they choose to do it, Nintendo really need to freshen up Mario's act.

Mushroom Kingdoms don’t have recessions

e only new idea in this game is, obviously, its focus on gathering coins. I will not emulate a lot of other NSMB2 reviews by comparing Mario to Scrooge McDuck but I will admit that, for the most part, this coin-hoarding concept is very entertaining. I’ve literally spent hours upon hours going back into already-completed levels, hunting down every last coin in an attempt to reach that one million ball-mark.

e reward for getting a million coins is disappointing (I won’t elaborate on it here as I don’t want to spoil the game, but let’s just say that the reward isn’t as “magical” as it’s hyped up to be) but the actual act of getting one million coins is a lot of fun. Frustrating, even, as the player must battle between wanting to finish the level and wanting to get a million coins, resulting in a frantic hustle to evade the clock. What’s that saying? Half of the fun in the journey is the act of getting there rather than what we do when our reach we destination, or some-thing lithing like that. Whatever that saying is, it sums up the coin element perfectly. e reward, as aforementioned, is very dull but I’ve had more fun collecting the coins than I have had doing something else in any videogame for a very long time.

Forget Peach. Get money instead.[Nintendo: breaking royal hearts since 2012]

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us, I can firmly say that this one new idea shines of the magic that made the classic Mario games so good. Is it enough for the game to rest its fate on this idea alone? Naysayers might say otherwise but, although it is disappointing that the rest of the game feels too familiar, I personally think that this new coin idea does make the game an exceptionally fun one.

e coin-hoarding really excels in Coin Rush Mode, a side-quest unlocked after completing the first world. In this mode, we again race against the clock (in three randomly chosen levels) to gather as many coins as possible but there’s a twist: the time limit is drastically reduced! is makes the whole coin-gathering enterprise a lot more difficult than it is in the main adventure, which also makes it a lot more frustrating and fun. You’ll find yourself emitting mild swear words as you revel at the fact that you’ve gathered over five hundred coins in a lelevel, only to realize that the time has run out and you have to start the entire Coin Rush quest all over again!

Being a Nintendo game, Coin Rush Mode has a “beginner-friendly” option: we can choose to wear a permanent white raccoon suit which, like in 3D Land, makes us invincible to enemies yet even this presents a slight challenge: if you choose to wear a white raccoon suit, you can’t get a Gold Flower which turns everything into coins and, thus, you won’t be able to get as many coins as you like. is is a very clever decision on Nintendo’s part as it means that you must choose between an easier quest in which you get less coins or a more difficult ququest in which you can get a lot more coins.

Coin Rush Mode is the perfect showcase of both your own abilities and the game’s brilliant coin-hoarding mechanic and you can even share your results with other 3DS users via Streetpass (sadly, I don’t live around many 3DS users meaning that I only get my twin’s Streetpass records, but it’s a nice touch none-theless).

“Come On Luigi”

Speaking of Streetpass, the game also has a co-op mode, where another player can help complete the levels and get the coins. However, this co-op mode is very limited. ere are only two players, unlike NSMB Wii’s four, there is no Mii sup-port, unlike the U, and the two players must constantly stay close to one an-other as the game randomly chooses a “captain”, which the camera follows. If the other player leaves the camera for even a second, that player will be trapped in a bubble.

Strangely, it is no longer possible to pick up the other player and throw them off a ledge, meaning that the rivalry of the Wii predecessor is non-existent. All in all, the co-op mode seems like a dumbed down version of the one the Wii had to offer and it has lost a lot of its fun in the translation. By all means go ahead and play the game in co-op mode, you might find that you enjoy it, but it could be a whole deal better. Here’s hoping that U’s co-op mode is a lot more interesting.

Flower Power

LLike any modern Super Mario game, NSMB 2 features several power-ups, although there is not a lot of variety among them. e Mini Mushroom and the Mega Mushroom return from the original. e Tanooki Suit from Super Mario Bros. 3 is also back. Disappointingly, with the exception of World 1-3, none of the levels were tailor-made for it, meaning that there’s not a lot of chances to utilize its flying capabilities. You also can’t turn into a statue. It’s mainly used for gliding to another platofrm which is strange as Nintendo could have used anany of its past flying power-ups (eg cape, wingcap, propeller suit, FLUDD) for a similar effect.

ere’s also the aforementioned Golden Flower and White Tanooki Suit as well as the standard mushroom and fire flower. I expected a better variety of power-ups and maybe some new, non-coin related ones, and the ones that have made it into this game are rather uninteresting and underused.

Baby Mario Can Play This

As I said earlier, this game was made to be accessible to beginners. As a result of this, it is very easy, even without the White Tanooki Suit. Some levels do offer a challenge (such as the ones with the moving green blocks and a level where we have to wait on top of a skeletal boat as it navigates through a sea of lava) but, for the most part, there are not a lot of perils blocking your path to the flagpole. e more experienced players can find slight challenges in the guise of coins hiding in hard-to-reach areas but overall, the game is way too easy.

e bosses, in particular, rarely need little more than three bops on the head and the AI seems outdated: the enemies just walk along a set-path, on the odd chance that you might bash into them. is was all right in the original Super Mario Bros. but most gamers have learnt how to avoid bashing into enemies in the twenty-seven years since that game’s release.

Prepping for his big outing next year, Luigi's taking a backseat this time around but can still be seensporting some nice ears in co-op mode.

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Conclusion

Rating:

Overall, I found the game very interesting- it shows twodifferent sides to Nintendo. ere is that charming, magical side that shares its essence with the greatest Mario games. is is most evident in the Coin Rush Mode and the cute little graphics. Yet there is also the issue of the gamingffeeling very familiar. It seems like it was rushed slightly to be out before NSMB U took the spotlight. ere isn’t a lot of new ideas and, while the levels play better than the original, they still have the same basic gameplay and formula as the other 2D Mario games. Not a lot has changed.

+PrinceMidna

Another factor which adds to the easiness of the game is that 100 coins still results in lives. With coins being in abundance, you’ll find that your number of lives increases very quickly. Because of this, the Game Over Screen is actually the rarest one in the game and I had to check up a video of the screen in You-Tube when I wanted to see it, rather than take the time to lose my five-hundred-plus lives (don’t worry; the Game Over screen isn’t very interesting).

Mario Paint

I haven’t mentioned the graphics or the music yet but that’s because they’re what you expect. e music is still as catchy as ever, although it features no new themes. Many people have complained about the graphics, especially in terms of 3D, but I like them. e blurring in 3D makes it seem like the back-ground really is in the distance.

ere are new, charming animations such as the little jig Dry Bones do when there’s a break in the music, the new Dry Goombas and Dry Piranhas which are a subtle addition, the beautiful, rainbow-coloured special levels and the even-more subtle new purple pipes. All of these graphics add to the charm of the game although the style is similar to that of its predecessors. e new voice-work also deserves a mention as the little interactions between Mario and Luigi and the things they say when they complete a level are very amusing. When Mario finds a secret exit, for example, instead of saying “Mario Time” like he normally does upon completing a level, he says “is way." ankfully, unlike in the DS original, whenever the character eats a mini mushroom, his voice gets lighter, helium-style.

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Horribly ‘outdated’ but still fun as heck.

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+FlagCaptured

Up to seven other Mushroom Kingdom veterans join you in a typical Mario Kart 7 race. Fitting, but also impressive considering the

frame-rate never drops in a race against CPUs.

It's a shame that the glider feels like it's going to be a one-off for the series, because it's an incredible strategic addition to a franchise that has relied almost solely on luck in past releases.

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Back in the days of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, the big developer we all know as Nintendo unleashed what is now one of the most successful spin-offs to a main series, selling in countless numbers to a mass of individuals around the world. More recent instalinstalments in this series have been glued to the top in Wii and DS charts ever since they were first released, rather incredibly, a number of years prior. Of course, there's no way I could be talking about anything other than Mario Kart, the mustachioed plumber's manic, rampant take on not-so serious racing. is is a series that has truly evolved over the years, although many will debate that karting experiences with Nintendo's mascot have gone a little downhill of late, at least with the most recent home console effort.

IIf one were to hark back to the release that kick-started this best selling spin-off series, he or she would find a surprisingly inaccessible experience. Super Mario Kart was a particularly difficult to master affair when it came to actually steering your vehicle around a SuperFX-generated track, as the game was deliberately stapled with some of the most difficult to deal with handling in a racing game, even more so than the likes of WipeOut many years later. Ofccourse, players could get 'in the groove' and become trapped inside a mind state of 100% focus - Focus on winning a race without allowing poor manoeuvrability to get in their way.

Skip past several releases and you'll find that, by the time Mario Kart Double Dash!! on GameCube was released, this difficult to master gameplay was modified to become a much more accessible engine, soon after which a more varied mass of casual and 'core crowds got into the series. Many of you should know how much I oppose the phrases casual and hardcore and both terms' stereotypical effect on gaming, but in the context of this argument they simply have to be implemented. You see, the more recent Mario Kart eexperiences have forced many into two different, separately opinionated pigeon-holes. Using the boycotted Mario Kart Wii as a fitting example, many absolutely loathed the game for its undeniably unfair gameplay elements and outrageously difficult cups in the later stages of the solo experience (ironic, considering this particular release was more aimed at casuals than anyone else with its abominable advertising campaigns). Others, however, saw the strengths of the game and proceeded to ignore its unfair nature and simply hahave fun. So, this leaves us with a question, one that was already answered last December but will continue to be satisfied by yours truly: How does Mario Kart 7 on 3DS hold up? Rather well, actually. One could describe Mario's third handheld karting experience, not to mention his seventh altogether (if you ex-clude the supposedly awful Namco-developed arcade game) with many words, but broken is definitely not one of them. e core racing found in this stereo-scopic release is quite possibly as tight as you'll get with the series so far, even when compared to the DS iteration, the typical favourite amongst fans. But how does it hold up against its predecessors altogether?

Sprouting out of Mario's standard kart is the Tanooki Tail, a new item that allows for both offensive and defensive action.It can block oncoming items and trip up rivals. Handy!

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Yes, Mario Kart 7 features what is easily the most balanced gameplay in the series, a true god-send for those who loathed the Wii iteration's unfair nature, but that's not to say it's the best Mario Kart game ever. Keeping in mind that I haven't played the Nintendo 64 or GameCube versions, the lucky seven finds itself perched just a few branches below Mario Kart's Wii and DS experiences in my opinion, or for a more fitting analogy, in third place winning a bronze medal in the cup to decide the best game in the series. While I loathed Mario Kart Wii's unWii's unfair approach to what Nintendo thought was balancing the experience, I must admit that I had a lot more fun with it than the most recent karting effort available at this time.

e main reason for the seventh instalment's peak position of third place in my view is its surprising deprivation of content; It's almost as if Nintendo, even when paired with famed co-developer Retro Studios (Metroid Prime, Donkey Kong Country Returns - You should know these guys by now) forgot to pack some meat into an otherwise tightly balanced incarnation. Mario Kart Wii may have been frustratingly unfair, but its production value is admittedly leagues above what is available on 3DS. Still, when I conduct a synopsis what Mario KaKart 7 does have to offer, I hope to show that it is definitely worth picking up if you don't already own it. In fact, I believe that racing around crazy courses with Mushroom Kingdom veterans is even better than partaking in stereoscopic platforming in the form of Super Mario 3D Land when it comes to 3DS-exclusive Mario titles, as you'll know from the score at the bottom of this review.

Before the convoluted nature of that last paragraph seeps into this one, let's explore the core experience found with Mario Kart 7, starting with the new. e series' latest represents a great leap forward in terms of gameplay, while still retaining a fair, skill-based nature as aforementioned. e new additions to the gameplay formula are the main contributors to this strategic advancement, and each makes zipping around courses in multiplayer or attempting to set records in time trials all the more satisfying. Although, not every contribution to this wowonderful development is truly brand-new; e Coins system, last featured in the GBA release Mario Kart: Super Circuit and before that the series' debut, makes a more than welcome return in the lucky seventh. In basic terms, coins increase the max speed of your kart, but they offer other benefits as well. Only if a player grabs and holds onto 10 coins after each race in a cup, they'll have filled in one requirement for a commendable 3-Star rank on that particular cup.

Every Coin you earn following every race you partake in also contributes to a mass of currency, which gradually unlocks more and more parts for constructing a kart (more on this later) as you plow through the experience. is cleverly gives a reason for continuing to play the solo game, even if you've 100% finished it - of course, you still earn Coins in online multiplayer, but there's never been a driving force behind continuing to play solo cups in a past Mario Kart game upon completion so this still deserves praise.

BBrand-new in Mario Kart 7 are the two new methods of transport you'll find your vehicle transforming into in most of the game's 32 tracks. While they take a page from the book of N64 racer Diddy Kong Racing, these all-new additions to Mario Kart are more than welcome and serve as another contribution to more strategic methods of navigating each course, as if the re-introduction of Coins wasn't enough. Most prominent of the two alterations is the glider, a mounted contraption much like the one found in early 3DS release PilotWings ReResort... Only attached to a kart. Particular boost ramps serve as path into flight, as your kart activates its gliding capabilities soon after making the leap. Full 360 degree control while airborne is made all the more satisfying and effective with the Circle Pad, making you truly feel like you're making all the decisions when switching to this method of travel.

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Before this sounds like a cheesy non-sensical description of an Andrex roll (although the Circle Pad really is brilliant), let's move on to Mario Kart 7's other new method of travel, the subtle yet welcome addition of the propeller activated when underwater. Yes, we've seen underwater segments in past titles, but only in the series' seventh is the handling of your kart shaken up a little when bbeneath the sea. Basically, the propeller only alters the drifting of your kart. In fact, it makes the handling feel exactly like the lightweight bikes found in Mario Kart Wii, which is no bad thing. It's true that the underwater segments in this release are a little underused, which is understandable considering half of the tracks are from past titles as per usual, but they're better off here than not and offer a welcome change of physics on the tracks they appear in. All three of the elements analysed in the last two paragraphs make for a much more strategic MaMario Kart experience, which truly adds to the balancing. No one shortcut is better than the other, and players won't simply be following one given path this time around. Here's hoping these elements are included in future Mario Kart releases.

I could go on about how brilliant the new additions to the already frantic Mario Kart formula help both shake up and balance the series' latest, but what's most impressive about this title, as with most instalments in flagship first-party Nintendo franchises, is the absolutely fantastic presentation. Mario Kart 7 is something of a stunner considering the 3DS' hardware specs, although that's not to say it's not believable. In terms of 3D, the game gets the balancing right with subtle yet outstanding effects that not only look great but also don't detract from your focus on the race at hand, something that is needed in every game that fits under this genre and past 3DS racers have messed up, so bravo to Nintendo for getting it right.

In In fact, they really don't mess anything up presentation-wise with this release - e menus are simplistic and slick, the new track designs are phenomenal and, hang on, the character roster... Well, it's in this regard that the game falls a little flat. Yes, this is the most abundant let-down contained in Mario Kart 7, linking back to the aforementioned bare-bones content that strays the full package away from becoming the series' best. Not only is the roster lacking in legends like Funky Kong and Dry Bowser, but a number of new inclusions found here are, simsimply put, pathetic. Honey Queen is a minor character from the Galaxy games who deserves no inclusion here, but somehow Nintendo did stick her in the roster as opposed to a number of other possible inclusions. If they're including Galaxy characters, why not Lubba, or better yet, e Chimp? And don't get me started on Wiggler, the other outrageous new face you'll find in this Mario Kart's roster. It's not all bad in this aspect of the game, however, as there are a few welcome additions.You can still play as your Mii, which is nice, and newcomers

Don't get me wrong, I love Mario Kart. I don't often p

lay online (because of my router), but the games are g

enerally very fun on their own.

Mario Kart 7 is a great game in it's own right, but it's t

he blatantly obvious that spoils it for me, for example

the missions from MKDS have

been entirely removed, leaving GP, Time Trials, Ballo

on and Coin Battles as the only options available, whi

ch I feel makes it rather lacking.

Obviously, I haven't played online so I can't comment

on online features. It's just a shame that there aren't

even any features such as custom

races or selecting a single track to race on. It just feels

like modes have been left out or forgotten.

AAs for how it plays though, it's fine - after all, it's sam

e old Mario Kart. Drift Boosts appear to have changed

in some manner from MK Wii but

only slightly, and of course snaking's completely gone

now. e new items are good also, particularly like th

e lucky 7 item, not entirely new in

terms of the items it gives but having 7 different item

s at once like that is a very cool new idea in the Mario

Kart series. It's just a shame that

some of the items from MK Wii didn't make the cut, li

ke the POW block or Mega Mushroom.

I I have to say however, the AI programming seems inc

redibly unfair in the 150cc modes and whilst that's n

ear enough a given by this point in

the Mario Kart series, I can't help but think it's too un

fair. For example, I was first with about a ten second l

ead, in sight of the finishing line. I

got hit by TWO blue shells one after the other and fin

ished 6th, which put Luigi at a 1 point lead above me,

coincidentally, and so I came second

for the cup and didn't unlock the secret character tha

t may or may not be Metal Mario. Of course, I won't s

poil that for people who have yet to

play the game.

is is happened time and time again, and it's genuinely

infuriating when you're literally 1st all race and then

some nonsense means that you end

up last. I don't expect to win all the time, but when it

becomes purely luck it's a bit silly.

It is however a very solid entry in the series, not the b

est but not the worst either. If I had to give it a rating

on my super harsh rating scale I

use, I'd say 7/10. It's not a bad game, just frustrating.

Second Opinion - Flag Captured

Lakitu and Metal Mario not only change up the roster but also the gameplay with their subtle weight-based alterations, even if the latter is basically just a re-texture of everybody's favourite plumber. Unless, like me, you've always preferred Luigi. Back on topic, let's be moving on...

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While this iteration of Mario Kart's character roster falls flat on its face, it's really not that big of a deal considering the new customisation options involv-ing the karts they race in. As aforementioned, a certain quantity of coins col-lected unlocks a new part which you can use to customise your mechanical steed before every cup, race or battle. Customising your kart is a necessity in this release; ere's no presets to be found unless you count the standard parts you begin with. is isn't necessarily a bad thing, mind, as it once again harks back to the brilliant strategic elements I praised earlier. e customisation op-tions you're given are basic and unfortunately don't add anything personal as you may think (even the DS iteration's emblem creation tools are absent, sadly), but their effect on the core racing is unprecedented by simply choosing a kart. Each individual part packs different stat boosts which alter the initial qualities of your selected character; Handling, weight, boosting power and so on. Picking the right parts for the right tracks is key to winning races, particularly when yyou take the challenge online with the game's multiplayer modes.

Speaking of which, let's move onto the multiplayer mode found in Mario Kart 7. Players who are familiar with Mario Kart Wii's excellent online will find a relatable experience in this handheld release; albeit one not quite as stable. Un-fortunately, Mario Kart 7's worldwide racing is hindered slightly by animation lag and frame-rate drops, ones that don't occur too often but are a step-down from the near-perfect stability of the aforementioned Wii release. Still, if you can ignore these minor annoyances, everything you'd expect is in here: Various rracing options, support for battle mode and points systems for both. Brand-new are Groups, which allow you to create guild-like communities with their own internal scoring, perfect for tournaments. All in all, stability issues aside, Mario Kart 7's online is what's going to keep you coming back for more upon finishing the bare-bones solo experience, even though I personally found Mario Kart Wii's functionality to be more enjoyable.

Sadly, it's the little things that leave a big mark on Mario Kart 7's exterior. It's lacking in content and the smaller aspects of the game, such as the character roster, let the scope down. However, there's more positives in this package that neatly iron out the negatives: 32 of the series' best track designs old and new, a number of excellent new additions to the already thoroughly enjoyable formula, and most importantly, the fairest, tightest racing in a Mario Kart game to date. It's just a massive shame that all you can do in this release is race offline and onlionline. e presentation is stellar and it's difficult to fault the gameplay, but when there's little to a release that by default has to improve on its predeces-sors from a content standpoint, not take a step backwards. All it would've taken to shoot the score I've awarded this title up to golden levels is a re-hash of

All it would've taken to shoot the score I've awarded this title up to golden levels is a re-hash of Mario Kart DS's awesome Mission mode. All this said, you should definitely purchase Mario Kart 7 if you enjoy the series, especially if you have access to an online setup. e multiplayer is thoroughly enjoyable despite a few technical issues, and as I noted in the previous paragraph, it's what's going to keep you coming back to the game.

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Conclusion

Rating:

I'll end this review by re-establishing my response to a hefty question: Is Mario Kart 7 the greatest game in the series so far? Simply put, no, but if the next Mario Kart release packs the same racing as found in thisinstallinstallment only alongside a satisfying heap of content, it will be. Until then, the seventh in the series offers a truly ace if a little flawed experience, one that you should check out if you can and haven't already.

S

+NoodleLink

is move will attack every Pokémon surrounding Luxio. Besure to get all your own Pokémon out of the way before using it!

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On July 27th, the hybrid form of two Japanese RPGs hit the UK shores. e second best selling video game series ever, Pokémon, and the less familiar Nobunaga’s ambition have merged to form the epic Pokémon Conquest. Voted by many as the best Pokémon spin-off ever, it features over 100 hours of con-quering in the tiny plastic shell of the DS cartridge. And 100 hours of gameplay requires 100 hours of tactics; so here are you Hints and Tips on Pokémon Con-quest! A new technique for every 10 hours of play time.

Tip 1: Play your kingdoms right

ere are 17 kingdoms jotted around the Arceus shaped region of Ransei. Your aim in the main story and many of the 33 special episodes (including an extra 8 to download via Nintendo Wi-Fi connection) is to conquer these kingdoms. Although it is very easy to simply jump in and battle the weakest kingdom it may be wise to think about the order in which you conquer. In the main story it is extremely rare that other kingdoms will challenge you, it is all vice versa, but when you get onto the harder special episodes it becomes very much a common ococcurrence. And if you don’t have enough strong Pokémon in the nation that is being attacked, then you’ll lose and your opposition will take the land off you. How do I avoid this I hear you shout? Well since every nation can only attack neighbouring kingdoms you need to get as many kingdoms out of harm’s way. Basically, work in a straight line and then you can safely leave all of your nations behind you with no guards safely and concentrate on the front line.

Tip 2: Shove your way to victory

Not all of the battles in Conquest are about defeating all of your opponent’s Pokémon. Oh no. In the nations of Greenleaf, Pugilis, Terrera and Viperia the aim of the game is to obtain all the banners jotted around the battlefield. Once you’ve obtained a banner you can try and retain it by staying on the same spot so that your opposition can not take it off you before defeating your Pokémon. It’s a tactic that the CPU uses ALOT! A mighty sneaky way of countering this technique is to use a move such as Astonish or Iron Head. ese moves push the enenemy Pokémon back a step so you can simply push them off the banner and then get another one of your Pokémon minions to go and take it. Why bother with all the hassle of actually attacking?

Tip 3: Can’t defeat a tough Pokémon? Then don’t.

Very much following on from the last tip this is all about obtaining those banners necessary to convince the current warlord of the kingdom that this

now belongs to you. Sometimes in the episodes after the main story you will stumble across an extremely powerful enemy that you just can’t defeat no matter what. ‘How on earth am I going to conquer all of these kingdoms?’ you may ask yourself. Well help is at hand. Simply, don’t bother defeating them. What you can do is obtain the power of every other nation bar the one with this arch enemy or yours and then lure them to invade one of the kingdoms where you have to gain banners rather than defeating all of your opposition. CPUs alalways tend to attack your weakest kingdom so just leave one puny little Poké-mon on the nation that you want them to invade (somehow leaving it totally unguarded doesn’t work quite as well), advance to the next month and sure enough they’ll be waddling over like moths to a flame. Don’t even bother bat-tling, just retreat. Since the enemy’s main Pokémon seems to always invade, he’ll now be in the nation where you want him. Send in a team to finish off all the insignificant Pokémon lingering in the old nation where they attacked from, and then launch a full on attack on the final remaining kingdom and capture all those flags! Allies with a good range will help you out here, as well as Pokémon with the moves Astonish or Iron Head as mentioned earlier.

Tip 4: End a rampage with your rage

Dragon Rage can be a very handy move, especially in the early stages of chap-ters. No matter what, as long as it hits, Dragon Rage will diminish 40 HP from the poor victim of this powerful attack. So at the start of many chapters when

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So at the start of many chapters when Pokémon only have around 40 Health Points it can quite often be an instant kill. And even in the later stages, it can seriously help you out with those pocket monsters that have a very high defence or seem to be resistant to every one of your army’s attack moves. Get a Deino or a Dratini to save you from your misery!

Tip 5: You may be playing this on a 3DS, but use the fourth dimension!

WWith every battle comes a turn limit. For most, each player is allowed 20 turns but it varies slightly from kingdom to kingdom. So, what happens when every-body has used up all their turns? Well the team who’s invading loses and the defending army can happily rejoice. erefore if you're attacked by a rival nation and the odds are against you, don’t bother about your dignity. Just run. Get those twenty turns to pass by without any injuries. is is easiest in the Avia nation where jump pads can take you around the map in a jiffy!

Tip 6: A quick rundown on stopping the run ups

SSome moves including Hi Jump Kick and Flame Wheel require a run up for the move to work. is can be rather useful if you can’t move very far, but you can quite easily turn it against them and render the move useless. And that’s to sur-round them with your own Pokémon (you can use a side of a wall aswell). No matter what happens they won’t be able to attack you and you can just slowly get their HP down to the 0 mark. It may sound a bit extreme now, but trust me, it will save your life when you get a Scrafty that kills all you strongest Pokémon in in one quick kick.

Tip 7: Take hostages

Well, not exactly but it’s the same principle. Some moves attack more than one target. For instance it may attack anyone who’s 3 spaces in front of the attacker. First of all, make sure you don’t have three Pokémon all standing neatly in a row ready to all die from a quick Ice Beam and float off happily to Pokémon heaven. Instead, make a shield out of the other team’s army! If you hide behind the other team’s Pokémon then you can stop them from using the move altogether! Of course, it will only work in narrow passage ways but it can be very effective. GeGenerally they will not attack at all since they’ll be damaging their own army but even if they do, it will help. It’s a tactic that will always benefit you in some way and therefore can be a good move to use when you’re in the lead. Risky if you’re losing by quite a bit though.

Tip 8: Make the battlefield battle

When you complete the main story, the CPU seems to forget about map ffeatures almost completely. Make sure that you don’t! Items on the battlefield such as boulders in Cragspur, Pokémari balls in Chrysalia, logs in Aurora and spires in Dragnor can do some serious damage if you use them correctly. e boulders in Cragspur can always be used as a rather effective shield. And then the spires in Dragnor can also be used to strengthen your own team. Not only are there the revival spires, but if you have a Rhyhorn with the Lightningrod ability or a Litwick with the Flash Fire ability the electric and fire pillars can be usused to boost your attack. And then you can always push your enemy’s into a pillar with a little astonish or Iron head. You may have gathered by now that I love those two moves.

Tip 9: Strength in numbers

It can be tempting sometimes to attack a Pokémon in one turn, then attack another who’s just arrived and keep swapping from one enemy to the other. is is really just a quick reminder, but eliminate one enemy before attacking another. It will mean one less attack on you every turn. It’s very simple, but it can do you some huge favours.

Tip 10: Kindness isn’t just it’s own reward

FFrom time to time a farmer may ask you to donate 1000 gold so that he can plough a field. Be kind and give him the gold. You will be rewarded. After so much gold has been donated there will be more items in shops, you will be able to get discounts in the stores and even some very rare items. And of course, there is a lot of joy to be found helping out virtual farmers. No? Well just stick to all the goods you get then.

HHopefully you will now be a better warlord and will be able to tackle the hard challenges that await you after the main story. And if not, at least you’ll now be best friends with the farmers. Who wanted to be a warlord in the first place?

...

Is it just me or does the shape of that region look strangely familiar?e battlefield is where all the fun takes place in Conquest. And hopefully for you, all the conquering

Josey brings the funky funky to the forefront

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'It's because of her my sisters and I all wear our vaginas proudly'. e moment this sentence is uttered by Juliet is in all probability going to be the moment when you decide whether this style of humour is for you. Starting off with Juliet in bed and displaying her in a shower scene is a bold opening. is game is most certainly not going to be for everyone. For every person who loves this there will be another who labels it with tags such as 'sexist', 'disgraceful' or 'de-grading to women'. Luckily I am not one such person. While there are no doubt ffaults and technical issues present here, Lollipop Chainsaw is a game that you'll enjoy immensely. is is a SUDA51 and Grasshopper Manufacture game. at sentence alone will entice gamer's but read on if you are unsure.

You play as Juliet Starling. A high school cheerleader who has just turned 18 at the beginning of the game. What appears to be a normal teenager soon reveals her true self when she's travelling to school and comes across some zombies. She consequently takes out a chainsaw from her gym bag (as you do) and cuts through the hordes of Undead. Juliet's a zombie hunter you see, so is the rest of her family; Cordelia a sharp shooter sister, Rosalind a hyper younger sister and her motorbike riding father Gideon. When you get to San Romero you find yoyou're boyfriend Nick has been bitten by a zombie and to save him Juliet cuts his head off and performs a ritual that keeps him alive and grants him powers. Juliet and Nick then set off to find out who has caused all of the surrounding chaos.

e combat system is fairly run of the mill. You have the chainsaw attack with a low and powerful variant as well as a pom pom attack which can turn the zombies groggy and allow you to easily dispatch them. ere is no block button but instead a counter/dodge move. is allows you to cartwheel and jump about as well as leapfrogging enemies which ties into the combos you purchase. e combat does start off very simplistic and slow. I found this in small part ddampened my initial experience. Not so much as to give me a lower expectation than previously though. You start with a couple of basic combos and while it can be repetitive just stick with it.

roughout the game you earn Gold Zombie Medals by killing zombies as well as collecting them. ese are crucial as they are needed to upgrade Juliet stats and buy new combos which in turn enhance the experience and enjoyment factor immeasurably.

I I mentioned Gold Zombie Medals but there are also Platinum Zombie Medals. ese are quite different in terms of both collecting and spending. ese can only be spent of extras such as new costumes, mp3's or concept art. To gather To gather these you have to kill 3 or more zombies in Sparkle Hunter mode. Sparkle Hunter mode is a gauge in the bottom left hand corner of the screen that rises as you kill zombies. When it's full just press R2/RT and every cchainsaw hit is an instant kill. By mixing up the combos you can take down groups of zombies and gain extra medals of both the Gold and Platinum variety.

One element that provides a spice of comedic value is Nick. After the ritual that I mentioned near the start of this review he gains powers. Juliet can stick his head on a glowing blue zombie that allows him to perform tasks that otherwise he and Juliet are incapable of. Such tasks as clearing blocked paths or giving Juliet a helping hand by catapulting her into the air to clear wide/highdistadistances. ese are performed by a series of quick time events while Juliet cheers you on. For the most part these are used to break up the action although there are some moments where I felt they overstayed their welcome in terms of how long it takes to complete them.

ere are 6 stages and a prologue (basically a training level). ese differ quite a lot, more so with the later stages. You'll be traversing the San Romero high school, a farm yard and a even a giant video game arcade amongst others. ey offer that pinch of freshness that is somewhat needed to prevent a lack of interest setting in.

Would you like to be Nick in this situation?

24

e zombies you face will get stronger the further you progress in the game. e zombies range from the standard fare to those strapped with dynamite to zombies who are on fire. Not only that but there are also special encounters that spring up from time to time, these zombies stand out as not only do they have names but they are stronger, more aggressive and can possess powers that are most certainly different to the norm.

AAnd then there are the bosses. Ah yes, the bosses. Anyone who has played No More Heroes will know that SUDA51 likes his unique, wacky and over the top style bosses. at is no different here. Not wanting to ruin the story as it's some-thing that'd be much more enjoyable to see for yourself, but they are a real treat to both fight and see for the first time. From a punk rocker to a psychedelic hippy to some rather bizarre bosses, they are one of the highlights of the game.

GGraphically is where Lollipop Chainsaw is somewhat lacking. ere is screen tearing and it looks a little rough in places. A bit more time spent on polish wouldn't have gone amiss. e dialogue is another highlight. ere are some great and many humorous lines spouted throughout the game. A lot of these come from Nick, but the zombies also make their contribution. From an obese zombie farmer murmuring that he's got haemorrhoid's - to 'I've got a Katy Perry song stuck in my head, oh what a terrible way to die'. You will laugh, you will be asastounded by some of the remarks made.

ere are some problems however. e main point which will be known to many is the rather short length. It took me around 5-6 hours on the normal difficulty for my first play through. For many this is a serious detracting point. Yes it is short, but the story is a fantastic experience. I've played games before that have bordered on the 35 hour mark that have been rather lacklustre.

My one other big irritation while playing this though comes in the form of what the game is intended for. It's based around an arcade style replay for high scores system. No problems here, it works and works well apart from one overlook on the developers part sadly. Cut scenes. When you're replaying a stage for the 2nd or 3rd time (as I did) it becomes a hindrance. Some of them are skippable but there are a few which cannot; these are present throughout and after a while become a pain.

A miA minor negative is the checkpoint and save system. ere were sections of the game where if you died ,you had to play a significant portion all over again. is can be frustrating, although the game's difficulty is not so perilous that it will become a prominent issue. Some may point to the combat as repetitive as well. While I can see some element of truth in these claims, as long as you buy new combos when you can this will be of little issue.

the gaaw magazine

Conclusion

Rating:

So is Lollipop Chainsaw worth your money? Well it comes down to what you personally think of the humour and the gameplay's repetition. It's vulgar, crude and immature. It's not for everyone. I and many others enjoy it immensely. e exceptional dialogue that is prevalent throughout will raise a few eyebrows for some but this is a game and it fully well knows that. It's It's not to be taken seriously. I urge you to give it a go.

+EighteenSky

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Halo 4Release Date: 6th NovemberPre-order: Tesco Entertainment £37.97 (with Tesco exclusive Raptor Armour Skin)Exclusively on Xbox 360

About Halo 4HHalo 4 is (actually surprisingly) the eighth installment in the FPS series. e first original Halo game to be made by the new developers of the series, 343 Industries, it is set to be the first game in a new Halo trilogy. Perhaps one of the most loved things about this new entry in the series is the return of the famous Master Chief- but it also features a great new story mode where four players can play cooperatively throughout all the levels.

My Opinion343 343 games aim to retain the standard of all the other games in the Halo series, and from what I’ve seen, I’d say they’ve achieved it. Co-op play looks great, graphics are super as always and the story line looks deep and very interesting. If you like your FPS games, this is the one for you this year!

Your OpinionFlag Captured says: “I love it because the Halo series is a chatoic online multiplayer at it's very best, and the new expansion to the Halo story in the form of a new trilogy and the return of the Chief definitely can't disappoint.”

FFieryice says:“Halo is an epic FPS with basic but solid gameplay. It's also incredibly funny most of the time (see fails of the weak). I like the fact that the Fury's logo is going to be a unicorn. I think it's random, and that's why I like it.”

Pikmin 3Release Date: Late 2012Pre-order: GAME £49.99 (GAME's Estimate)Exclusively on WiiU

About Pikmin 3PPikmin 3 is (surprise!) the third game in the well-loved real-time strategy video game series. Your aim is to control a bunch of Pikmin all with dif-ferent attributes and powers. For example, the Red Pikmin are 100% resistant to fire but will be useless breaking blocks of ice. at’s where the new Rock Pikmin come in and they are smashing (the ice). is game is being developed by Nintendo exclusively for the new Wii U and promises useful and exciting GamePad controls. It is expected to be released alongside the console as one of it’s many first party launch titles.

My OpinionPikmin 3 is an absolute beauty. e series has also have a lovely cartoon art style but the full HD power that Nintendo’s new console provides takes this to another level entirely. e gameplay looks as good as ever. Really fun but challenging levels. is is a must have for Nintendo and Wii U fans. Snap it up this Christmas!

Your Opinionrubberduckzilla 2 says: “I want to know where Olimar is and why Rock Pikmin are about! e idea of 10000000 pokos is very tantalising as well!”

SSamster296 says: “I have loved Pikmin since I was a young little boy. I own Pikmin 1 and I love it so much, I have only recently started playing it again. Pikmin 3 looks like it has so much to give. New Pikmin, new characters, and heck, even a 4 player Co-op. You would be a fool not to be hyped for this game.”

Fieryice says: “Cute, charming and secretly nefarious. is is a well thought out strategy game we've waited too long to get already!”GamePad as shown in the trailer also.”

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Scribblenauts Unlimited

Release Date: Late 2012Pre-order: GAME £34.99Available on WiiU, 3DS and Windows PC

About Scribblenauts Unlimitede third game in the ink it, Write it, Solve it series has yet even more customisation options and objects to solve those puzzles. And for the first time ever, it’s on a home console with a lovely new HD makeover. Not only do you have the option of creating anything and adding adjectives, you can now build anything! Attach a rocket to a dog, have a zombie with a big smiley face, pink sandals and a huge belly button. You can even add AI to your new creation so that they can do all the work for you. is is set to be the best so far- third time lucky.

My OpinionI I loved Super Scribblenauts and this looks even better. It sort of looks like a cross between Scribblenauts and Drawn To Life, both games developed by 5th Cell. You can create anything but with the simplicity of typing in objects for your creation rather than having to draw them by hand. e open-world levels look great and the ability to share your creations online is a great new addition.

Your OpinionGGuitarHero says: “Sounds like a good new stance the franchise is being taken in, with new elements which look exciting for this third installment for the franchise. Of course, the main reason I'll be buying Scribblenauts Unlimited is the playground. Just messing around there is what makes the series so great!”

TJ Hiphop says: “I'm a huge fan of Scribblenauts. I got crazily excited when heard about the first game, and it didn't disappoint. e sequel took the formula andimimproved on every aspect of the original. Now Unlimited looks like it's going to just open up Maxwell's world, with a huge amount of content. I admit, the ability to create your own objects doesn't excite me, but the plot element and open world feel really does. e chance for some WiiU/3DS connectivity pleases me also, as does the ability to share with others.”

Rayman LegendsRelease Date: Late 2012Pre-order: GAME £50Exclusively on WiiU

About Rayman LegendsLLast year Rayman smashed those Rabbids off their spot and took his place back off them in the superb Rayman Origins. is year? He’s aiming to steal the crown off Mario. e crown of Platforming Hero. And Rayman Legends looks brilliant. Graphics? Awesome. Gameplay? Awesome. Music? Awesome. Having to wait till the end of the year to get it? Er.. not so awesome.e second game in the new side-scrolling series offers very intuitive GamePad controls and some super multi-player action. If you want a game to show off the Wii U, this is the one.

My OpinionI love it. Ever since it’s been announced I’ve been hyped. And every little new snippet of info or trailer has built up my excitement. I feel like I have a ton of lums jiggling around inside of me whenever I watch a trailer. And when I watch the Platforming Hero level, the King Lum is activated and they all go mad cheering, dancing and bouncing around in excitement. at’s how I feel. As soon as I get this game I want to invite as many people around to my house as I can and have some magnificent multiplayer Wii U action. Bagsy Rayman!

Your OpinionGGuitarHero says: “e very title suggests greatness. Of what we've seen so far, it looks like it'll be the game of the year bar none. With Michel Ancel, my favourite game designer ever, designing the game it will no doubt be a huge success and carry on with the superb platforming perfection that Origins was. e fact that this game is Wii U exclusive has sold the console for me, as I believe it will be a legendary game.”

Callum2003 says: “I really enjoy playing origins on Wii. I also like the demos at E3 that were fast paced and they looked like tons of fun to play!”

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Paper Mario: Sticker Star

Release Date: US – 11th NovemberPre-order: GAME £32.99Exclusively on Nintendo 3DS

About Paper Mario: Sticker Stare first Paper Mario to hit a handheld and the fourth in the superb RPG series looks great. It aims to focus much more on the RPG element than previous titles and, as the name suggests, it features ‘stickers’ which are essentially power-ups. You can peel stickers off walls or anything in the beautiful origami to the max world and then use them in battles against those figures that could give you a paper cut.

My OpinionPPaper Mario looks amazing in 3D. Fact. If you’ve seen one of the 3D trailers on the Nintendo e-Shop you’ll know. It looks like a little box with all these paper creatures walking around, coming up and knocking on the glass before heading off on amazing little adventures. It’s got a super atmosphere and art style and of course the gameplay looks amazing. Basically, I cannot wait to get playing this title.

Your OpinionTTenTen says: “I’m really looking forward to this, partially because I want a turn-based RPG which isn't Pokémon. Also, I have never played a game in the series, and the other games seemed to have had a good reception. e stat boosting system and paperize feature also look promising.”

phil2512 says: “Have always been a fan of the Paper mario series for its wit, fun, and music, and it has always played good. I have missed the role play of ou-sand Year Door after Super Paper Mario turned platformer but this game returns to its role play roots and has new twists that could make you use your coins more.”

Pokémon Black and White 2Release Date: 12th OctoberPre-order: Amazon £27.91Exclusively on Nintendo DS

About Pokémon Black and White 2SSack Pokémon Grey. Sack little extra features. A full blown sequel is what we want! Pokémon B/W 2 are direct sequels to the start of the fifth generation of Pokémon,following on from the story and adventures of Team Plasma and N from the previous two editions. Yes, it is set in Unova, but so many more locations have been added that it almost feels like an entirely new region. It also contains the most legendaries in any Pokémon game before and loads of post-game content so it’s sure to keep you busy for months. Some may even be kept busy for years.

My OpinionBBest Pokémon Games ever. As simple as that. e content is just staggering and it’s so nice to have a new game rather than the same game with two new Pokémon and a new town. is is a new Pokémon game, make sure you get that into your head. I love the look of the new Join Avenue and all the new online features and catching all those legendaries is a nice, fun challenge. Of course the Dream World is back, but once again, revamped. Every single thing that Black and White did has been done again, but 10 times better.

Your OpinionSSamster296 says: “Do I even need to say, it's a new Pokémon game. For some odd reason, I seem to be really excited for Pokémon B/W 2. I have never been so excited for a Pokémon game (even though it's in the same region as B/W.) ere are so many new features which have been included in B/W 2. New gym leaders, new towns/cities, and you can even star in your own movie.”

Oathkeeper says: “is is setting up to be the best Pokémon game ever. ere's a huge range of Pokemon to choose from, and plenty of my favourites are included. Willdefinitely pick this up on launch day!”

DDKQuagmire says: “Been looking forward to these upcoming games in October, and to tell you the truth, I can't wait. Pumping the Unova Pokedex to 300 with Pokemon from every region so far is one heck of a feat, and the new gym leaders are cool too. Roxie for one is a teenage girl who I'm sure everyone knows by now, runs a poison type gym, and is by far my favourite. She's cool looking, plays the electric Guitar, and as I imported the game and played through the gym, I hear the word DOGARS spelt out, over the backing track. Something similar happens when you finally reach Elesa, one of the original gym leaders with Electric Pokémon. e world tournament is another reareason to love this game. Here you face up against all of the gym leaders and champions from every Pokemon game from Red and Blue through to the ones you fought during this game to get to the top!”

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+CyberGW

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So there you have it. The best titles 2012 still has to offer us, and what a superb offer that is. From the lovely friendly Pikmin to the horriblyterrifying ZombiU, gaming fans everywhere will be rubbing their hands in excitement as time passes by and the release dates edge slowly nearer by the second. And thanks to FIFA we’ve got a game for basically everyconsole. Nobody will be left out this year. Of course, this is just the ONM Forumite’s opinion. There are plenty of other terrific titles coming outincluding Black Ops 2, Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed, Resident Evil including Black Ops 2, Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed, Resident Evil 6, Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, Fable: The Journey and many more. So enjoy the rest of the year, folks! And don’t even get me started on 2013’s games...

ZombiURelease Date: Late 2012Pre-order: GAME £49.99Exclusively on WiiU

About ZombiUe Wii U’s first killer FPS. Developed by Ubisoft, ZombiU is a survival game where you must survive from the zombies in London for as long as possible. roughout the game you will take on different roles of various survivors. e game is actually a reboot of Ubisoft’s first ever game, Zombi. e U is obviously from Wii U. e gamefeatures what many people say is the best most innovative use of the Wii U GamePad seen so far, tasking you with unlocking doors by tapping in numbers on the screen, scanning your surroundings and even some really awesome melee finishing moves. is looks fun!

My OpinionZZombiU is scary. ZombiU is challenging. ZombiU is fantastic. You’ve got a real solid atmosphere here. Everything is done realistically and that’s what makes it so scary. e zombies are of course terrifying and all of the GamePad features only make it more realistic. Frantically tapping in a pin to open a door just wouldn’t be possible without a touchscreen. Ubisoft really have taken advantage of the console’s unique next-gen features and got in there early with a super FPS. is will be an essential launch title for many, and I’m sure it will still be a super game later on in the Wii U’s lifespan.

Your OpinionTJ HiTJ Hiphop says: “Seeing a game like ZombiU on a Nintendo Console is so refreshing. After a whole generation with very little in the way of FPSs, ZombiU looks like it may be the start of a broader wash of games on a Nintendo system. As well as this, the game looks very promising too, being the spiritual sequel to Ubi's first ever title, it takes the possibly oversaturated Zombie apocalypse formula and adds a deep layer of strategy. Since each bite is an instant death, survival has never been moreimportant if you want to hang onto your precious items. Hopefully, we'll see some intuitive use of the GamePad as shown in the trailer also.”

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Mario’s latest appearance on court is one that’s been a mixed bunch. e portly plumber’s serving well, surprises his opponent with a few drop shots when he should’ve been lobbing. at’s when he’s feeling like Federer though, as when he feels more like a Worcester chump (no offence to the good people of Worcester) than a Wimbledon Champ he never seems to have a big backhand when he needs it or his inability to keep a rally going which means he’s best used in short bursts than long sessions.

e gameplay is smooth and tight meaning that the game is an enjoyable one. Gone are the powershots of old, instead being replaced by Chance Shots. ese shots are activated when you use the shot that corresponds to the spotunderneath you – yellow for lob and white for drop shot for example. While these shots are not as overpowered as powershots, they will give you anadvantage if you choose to use them. ese Chance Shots are completelyooptional and you can choose to ignore them, but sadly there is no mode where you can turn them off.

e Tournament mode has eight cups to win and a plethora of opponents to crush under your racket. You start with the novice Mushroom Cup until you work your way up to the top of the tennis ladder. You play in both singles and double tournaments, making a tourney total of 16, an impressive total, until you realise they’re all mostly the same. e majority of these are easy but as you ap-proach the final tourney, the opponents will start to get the better of you.

e minigames are generally a good bunch. e best of these 4 is Ring Shot, where you try to rack up a high score by firing the ball through the rings placed above the net. Galaxy Rally is the next best, a game where, aided by Luma and the amazing soundtrack of Galaxy (which sounds epic on the 3DS as well), you have to place your shots so that they don’t go spiralling into the endless void of space. e other two games offer diverse alternatives, Super Mario Tennislletting you play a tweaked version of the original by hitting the ball to take out enemies, get coins, and beat Bowser (not as fun as it sounds) while InkShowdown lets you return the ball to the other side of the net while trying to get it past the character on the other side and hitting the ink balls (as much fun as it sounds- so not much).

After all that ball thwacking and all round tennis lesson, you should have a shed-load of coins that you can spend on a shed-load of accessories for you Mii. ere are rackets, uniforms (shirt and shorts), wristbands and shoes. ere are also costumes, which you can earn by filling certain requirements, such as have 50 streetpass hits and beating the Final Cup.D

DDecked out in all that gear your Mii must be looking pretty suave (unless you’re wearing the Birdo costume- then you just look stupid). is means that your Mii’s stats are pretty overpowered compared to all the Technique, Power, Tricky, Speed and balanced characters. e difference in courts is barely noticeable, except the desert and space level. e four unlockable characters all are un-locked through the minigames ala unlocking all the characters in 150cc for Mario Kart 7.

Online is the reason many have probably bought this game and Mario Tennis Open does not disappoint. It offers a clean experience, one that, for me at least, was lag free. e only minus point in terms of online line is that it’s region locked. Yep, region locked, meaning that you only play people from Europe.

SSo this new reiteration of the Mario Tennis franchise has something from the previous games: e solid platform to build upon from the N64 game, the 3D of the Virtual Boy game and the powershots, even if they’re not nearly as over-powered, from the Gamecube version.

Conclusion

Rating:

e game is one not without its errors, but, look past the shallow longevity and you’ll find a tight game that has a solid match of tennis in it.

+DGamerWith gear and costumes aplenty, you'll sink hours into

getting every last racket, shirt, wristband, shoe and costume.

is is one of the more sophisticated get ups you'll wear.

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e wave of the next generation is coming. ere is no denying that. With the Wii U launch seemingly upon us later this year, Sony’s closely guarded ddetails of the Playstation 4/Orbis and speculation of Microsoft’s Xbox 720 it seems as though the race to rule the increasingly profitable console market has entered a new stage. It is at this time that the world “innovative” becomes a particularly overused phrase within various PR departments but what actually defines true innovation and are ththe big three companies really the pinnacle of modern technological pioneering? But what if, like me, you want to embrace the new experiences that next-gen consoles have to offer at a more afford-able price? Maybe money is tight or you cannot contemplate the thought of churning out more cash for yet another gaming console. Enter Ouya...

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e console itself is tiny for a home-console, being "as big as an iPhone"

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OOuya is something rather different. A new kind of video game console. As far as we know, Ouya adopts the same Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system on most new smartphones which indicates the console will run on open-source software. is means that absolutely anybody can make games and applications for the system using the source development kit. In fact, Ouya en-courages indie developers to get their creative minds flowing and contribute their creations to the console. Hopefully, it is anticipated that new games will be rreleased on a regular basis because developers are already familiar with the open source development available for most Android phones and tablets. Everything, from games to apps, on the Ouya system will be free in some form or another. Whether that is a free demo to try out or free-to-play with subscription offers or bonus store purchases; players will have no shortage of content upon booting up their shiny new console. With Sony and Microsoft desperate to combat hack-ers in light of recent scandals, Ouya on the contrary, welcomes them.

“It’s easy to root (and rooting won’t void your warranty). Everything opens with stan-dard screws. Hardware hackers can create their own peripherals, and connect via USB or Bluetooth. You want our hardware design? Let us know. We might just give it to you. Surprise us!” – Ouya Kickstarter

is got me thinking: are we seeing a rise in independent developers challeng-ing the “big 3” in terms of games hardware – not by sheer horsepower but by incorporating alternative ideas? Ouya represents this growing modern day trend of helping indie developers establish a foothold within the home enter-tainment market especially on the television. But Ouya isn’t the only one break-ing moulds. OnLive was announced a few years ago to a keen sense of intrigue; a cloud based gaming platform that streams games directly onto your laptop, television or mobile device. You can play the newest titles without having a great specification simply because it is being streamed from OnLive servers. All that is required is a good internet connection. Although OnLive hasn’t exactly taken off with the masses, it highlights a new untapped potential within the industry to create something new using new technology. Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo might just have to take something from these new companies because these are the sort of ideas that mould the future of video games. And it seems SSony have done just though with the recent purchase of browser-based game streaming service Gaikai. is is another indicator of the next generation Play-station 4 to put more emphasis on cloud-based gaming.

Going back to Ouya specifically, it seems as though developers are already jumping on the bandwagon -

e slick hub of the Ouya console

Final Fantasy III has been announced as a launch title amongst others and it won’t be long before the console begins to attract the interest of triple-A franchises. Minecraft developers Mojang and Team Meat, responsible for Super Meat Boy, have also voiced their support which looks extremely promising for the console.

““Honestly, I’m surprised that something like this has not happened before. I and many others have tried to connect a small PC to a TV with controls to get a gaming experience that TV … but always had to deal with continuing problems of interface and infrastructure. Frankly, the only major use I gave (to the PC) was run emulators.Ouya I hope to do well, is basically a Steam Box “ –Markus Persson, Mojang

e nature of an open sourced hackable console will cause problems for multi-player integrity. My fears are that cheating on multiplayer servers will be so severe that it will make online connectivity almost unplayable. Only time will tell what strategies Boxer8 have implemented to combat this issue but for now, it remains a serious concern. e lack of control on publishing can also become a hindrance to the console’s philosophy and could conceivably turn the system into another dump-site for below-par software. However for every piece of gar-bage there will be a true hidden gem. at is the theory anyway. True, the gaming experience will be a little shallower when compared alongside the famil-iar next-gen consoles but Ouya wasn’t built to be compared with what concepts already exists.

For one thing, it will cost $99 upon release.

For that price, what do you get? A Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A9 processor, full 1080p display support, 8GB Storage capacity of flash memory within the tiny little white box. ose are just numbers however, Ouya is all about letting the developers loose. e possibilities are almost endless because essentially, it is just as accessible to build for as an Android phone. Whether it will be a case of “too many cooks spoil the broth” we will just have to wait and see. But what we can conclude is that Ouya represents not only the ever-increasing acceptance of vidvideo games to the masses. But even more so, Ouya aims to dispel the myths of requiring a massive team of dedicated artists, programmers, designers and accountants to make something unique and special. Anyone can do it.

More information about Ouya can be found on Kickstarter where currently 57,330 people have pledged over $7.5 million dollars to the development of this system.

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S

Well doesn't that just shout summer.

A new film means a new diary. Luckily, the local shop got a new colour of book inthis year. Imagine if he ended up with..... the same colour! How tragic that would be

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days has received a Metacritic score of 54/100. Just slightly above average then. And then you look at the review from the New York Post, “I’d call Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days harmless if it weren’t for some totally unnecessary gay-panic jokes that could actually encourage bullying”. But do you know what? Sack all of that, this is MY review, not Metacritic’s or New York Post’s or that old grumpy man’s who lives down that street. Mine. And you know what, I absolutely LOVED this film!

DDogs Days is now the third instalment of the films based on the wonderful car-toon novels by Jeff Kinney. It kicks off from where the second film rolled the credits as Greg is still in seventh grade awaiting the glorious three month vaca-tion (as Americans would say). However, summer may not be quite as relaxing with the worry that his wannabe girlfriend, Holly Hills, may not be single after the three long months. Trying to spend as much time with her as possible, Greg ends up lying to his Dad that he has a job, playing an intense game of tennis ddespite the fact he’s never even played before in his life and ultimately getting himself in a big tangled knot. is is typical Diary of a Wimpy Kid. But better!

You see, this is my favourite film of the lot. It offers so much variety compared to the others. Where as a school can contain a lot of action and drama, opening the Wimpy World to a whole summer adds some new flavours into the humour cauldron. It still carries over the successful changes from the second movie, luckily, as Angie is still nowhere to be seen (I mean who on earth was she?!) and the funny plans that the main character comes up with to try and win over his girl are still as hilarious as ever. It even ends with a song again, and may I just sasay, the song’s ten trillion times better than the original. Want to know what the song is? We’ll you’ll just have to watch the movie I’m afraid, this is a spoiler-free review.

is film is very American and very cheesy. But Zachary Gordon and everyone else are such good actors that it feels like something completely new and the cheese seems a lot less obvious. It just becomes part of normal life. And that’s exactly why I think the graphic novels and the films have become so big. It doesn’t feel made up. It’s actually hard to imagine a man sitting at a desk think-ing up all of these ideas. Greg Heffley seems like a real alive person living a real life. I can say now that it is actually rather uncanny how much me and the wwimpy kid have in common. e crazy plans, the jokes, the daily struggles but hopefully not the “wimpy” part. And I guess that’s why I love the film so much. at grumpy old man might not, he’s never been a modern day teenager in the same situation, but for those who have or are, you will be able to really get en-grossed in this film and love it.