Fun with Playstation

Playstation Store Update - Jan 22nd 2008

2009-01-23T13:28:00.000-08:00

Another week, another Playstation store update.

This week Sony is giving us two demos. The first is WipEout HD. This game has been out for a couple months now and got very high ratings on all the gaming review sites so its definitely worth a try.

The other demo is F.E.A.R. 2 Project Origin. Ive downloaded this demo but have yet to try it out. I did not play the first F.E.A.R but its suppose to be a Supernatural type first person shooter with some freaky characters so this demo may also be worth a try.

The rest of the update basically consists of add-ons, game and movie "featurettes". Most notably are the Buzz Quiz Show pack, Steve Miller songs for Rock Band and an Aussie Track Pack for Guitar Hero.

Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe Review

2009-01-15T17:49:00.000-08:00

Check out eBay to find Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe

I didn't really intend on buying Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe. I'm not a big fan of fighting games. Sure, I've different versions of MK over the years but there wasn't really enough change over the years to make me want to keep playing it.

Well, since I'm a fan of DC Comic characters and thanks to a buy 2 get one free Toys R Us sale, I decided to pick this game up as my free game of choice having no expectations what so ever.

Overall I wasn't disappointed. The graphics were nothing special but had enough detail to keep me interested. The characters are tight however the backgrounds are lacking a little, but lets face it, when playing the game, you're not paying too much attention to the background.

The gameplay is just like any Mortal Kombat game. Sometimes moves feel like they're coming off a little slow but all in all, its not too bad. There are a total of 22 characters to choose from. 11 from MK and 11 from DC and they all have a good arsenal of moves. The new Klose Kombat and Free fall moves are a nice touch but nothing to wet your pants about.

There is a pretty interesting storyline which can be played from either the DC Universe perspective or the MK world perspective. Combine that with good multiplayer action and a decent amount of online play that will keep you into this game whether its for a couple of quick matches or for a few hours of kicking butt.

A decent selection for killing time, casual fighting game fans will probably enjoy this game as well as MK and DC Universe fans.

The character list is not overly huge but satisfying. I would have liked to seen a bigger selection, especially from on the DC side. Maybe there will be DLC in the future.

MK Characters:

Scorpian, Sub-Zero, Sonya, Shang Tsung, Kitana, Jax, Lui Kang, Raiden, Kano, Baraka, Shoa Kahn

DC Characters:

Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Joker, Lex Luthor, Captain Marvel, Deathstroke, Catwoman, Darkseid.

Score 7 out of 10.

Video Game Sale at Toys R Us & PSN Update

2008-12-07T05:56:00.001-08:00

Christmas is almost here and Toys R Us is offering their annual buy 2 video games, get 1 free deal for the week of December 6th to 13th. You can get 3 games from any console and the only limitation is that it does not include any game package such as Rock Band or Guitar Hero World tour over the price of $89.99. The deal actually started the on Friday Dec 5th in certain locations. I was able to picked up Prince of Persia, Resistance 2 and Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe on the Friday after work, while my friend was also able to scoop up Tomb Raider, LittleBigPlanet and Mirror's Edge.

The playstation store DLC update this week was meh. The main DLC this week is that Sony is offering a free issue of their online magazine "Qore" which features some cool and unique features and videos on upcoming game releases. I personally recommend taking a closer look at the new Bionic Commando game info. That looks like its going to be a great re-make.

There is a new game called Soldner-X Himmselsstrurmer which looks to be in the style as similar PSN shooters like Super Stardust and Blastfactor.

There is also some Add-on content. Sony is offering another LittleBigPlanet free outfit. The rest are all pay for Add-ons for Age of Booty, Far Cry 2, GRID, Naruto:Ultimate Ninja and of course Rockband and Guitar Hero as well. So if you have any of those games you may want to check it out.

Beyond that you have your videos and themes but not much else.

As far as PSP goes there are 4 new Downloadable games. Super Stardust Portable, Brain Challenge, Everyday Shooter and Archer Maclean's Mercury all for $9.99 each.

Enjoy.

Playstation Store Update - US Thanksgiving Edition

2008-11-26T08:54:00.000-08:00

Sony has announced its US Thanksgiving weekend Playstation Store update, and there are some interesting stuff that I myself may download this week. Lets take a look at some of the main things people will be interested in.

First, they are offering a reduced price promotion on a few of their downloadable games which are:

The Last Guy

PixelJunk Eden

Echochrome

Novastrike

Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3.

Each game is priced at $4.99 each until December 4th. This is something I've been waiting for. Personally, I think that $10.00 for some of these games is a bit much. The temp price reduction to $5 is a more reasonable price and I'll be checking out The Last Guy for sure. Some of these games have free demos so be sure to check those out before you buy.

There are 2 new downloadable games as well. First there is "Brain Challenge" for $9.99 which sounds like it consists of a bunch of puzzles & mini-games and Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix for $14.99 which looks to be and updated HD version of the old series with a new "innovative fighting system".

DEMOS

This weeks update also consists of one free Game Demos for Dead Space Dismemberment. Dead Space was very highly reviewed at on a lot of gaming sites so a checking out this free demo may be worth a shot.

Add-on Content

Once again the music games dominate this section of the store update. There are the usual Rock Band and Guitar Hero weekly songs plus some Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2 tracks. The only non music game with Add-on content this week is LittleBigPlant. Here's a look:

Rock Band content:

“Mr. Brightside” - The Killers ($1.99)

“Smile Like You Mean It” - The Killers ($1.99)

“Spaceman” - The Killers ($1.99)

The Killers Pack 01 ($5.49) - all 3 of the above songs by The Killers.

“Caprici Di Diablo” - Yngwie Malmsteen ($1.99)

“Damnation Game” - Yngwie Malmsteen ($1.99)

“Red Devil” - Yngwie Malmsteen ($1.99)

Yngwie Malmsteen Pack 01 ($5.49) - all 3 of the above songs by Yngwie Malmsteen.

"Pretty Noose” - Soundgarden ($1.99)

“Jesus Christ Pose” - Soundgarden ($1.99)

“Laid to Rest” - Lamb of God ($1.99)

Guitar Hero World Tour

“Human” by The Killers ($1.99)

“Losing Touch” by The Killers ($1.99)

“Mr. Brightside” by The Killers ($1.99)

The Killers Track Pack ($5.49) - all 3 of the above songs.

Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2

Unfaithful ($1.49)

Are You Happy Now? ($1.49)

Heartbreaker ($1.49)

All My Life ($1.49)

Add-on Game Content

LittleBigPlanet

A free Thanksgiving exclusive Sackboy Turkey Head costume (see picture at the top of the page).

and

For $1.99, you can get a premium Resistance 2 Sack Boy costume.

The costumes are a good idea but why anyone would pay 2 bucks for them is beyond me. This is a very unreasonable price as far as I'm concerned.

The rest of the update consists of various Blu-Ray and movie trailers.

Not a bad update. I'll probably be picking up The Last Guy as well as The Killers and Soundgarden songs for Rock Band. I'll also give Dead Space a try, hey its free.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Playstation 3 - Call of Duty: World at War

2008-11-18T09:58:00.000-08:00

Originally, I had no intention of getting Call of Duty: World at War. In my mind, nothing could replace the sheer awesomeness of one of the best first person shooters to date, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Plus the idea of going back to a WWII theme was not very appealing.

That all changed when I happened to find a 4 month old Bestbuy gift certificate in the depths of my wallet so I decided to pick it up and let me tell you, I was flat out impressed.

The graphics are just as good, if not better, then COD4. The sound is still amazing and the online play rocks! The campaign mode can be played with up to 4 players online which is really fun. It is a short campaign just like COD4 (about 5-6 hours) but playing along with friends, makes gives it a much better playing experience.

Also like COD4, the online matches are really where COD World at War shine. There are numerous game modes, plenty of upgrades and a bunch of fantastic new maps. There have been some tweaks to some of the online gameplay to bring this game back to the 1940s. The weapons for one is the most noticeable. Also some of the perks like at 7 kills, instead of calling in a chopper, you send in the dogs (which can really do a number on the opposing team).

The difference in the weapons is not a big deal and there is still as large of a variety as COD4 had. Another addition is the use of tanks. This may seem like an unfair advantage but with a couple of rockets and a grenade or two, its still possible to bring a tank down.

If you like first person shooters, GO OUT AND BUY THIS GAME and get online now! Even if you're not a fan of first person shooters, which I myself generally am not, you would be really missing out on one of the funnest gaming experiences if you don't try this game.]

To find Call of Duty: World at War on eBay - click here

Playstation 3 - Which older games to get at reduced prices?

2008-10-30T10:05:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my Fun with Playstation blog. I've been a somewhat casual to serious gamer since the Atari and Coleco vision systems were around in the 80's. I've owned a few Nintendo systems, A Sega Genesis and all 3 PlayStation consoles, plus a PSP. So I've played a lot of video games in my time.

Down the road I'll get some reviews up of the more current games I am playing but for now, Lets go over some of the past games that are already out for the PlayStation 3 that I recommend. I'll also be going over some PSP games as well.

Games are expensive, lets face it. $60 bucks a pop takes a big chunk out of the entertainment budget. So one of the best ways to save on games is to wait and buy them used, wait for a price reduction, or simply rent it for a week or 2. This is usually what a casual gamer does. More serious gamers will probably fork over the full cost just to play the game right away. EBay is another option to find decent prices on games.

Well, if you're looking for older games, which are the best to get? Here are the PlayStation games I've played over the past couple years and if i recommend them or not. I'm also a big fan of eBay where there are deals to be found. I'll post some direct search links to ebay as well.

Must play games:

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - This is THE 1st person game to get. Great graphics, tight controls, amazing sound. This game has it all. The single player campaign is short and will only last about 6 hours, however, the value is in the online play which will keep you busy for hours and perhaps days at a time. Call of Duty 5 is coming out this holiday season, so expect a big chunk the online community to migrate over from COD4 to COD5 come Christmas morning. Find Call of Duty 4 on eBay, click here

Rock Band - If you're into rock/alternative music but don't have a shred of musical talent, then this game is for you. A huge improvement over the Guitar Hero franchise adding in drums, bass guitar, and a microphone for singing to complete the total band experience. This is a great multi player and party game as well as a one person game. The 70 or so songs on the disk will keep you busy for hours and then there is a large variety of downloadable content that adds to the fun. To find Rock Band on eBay, click here

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune - Think Tomb Raider meets Indiana Jones except with a good story. This third person action/adventure game will last you about 10 hours but if you try to collect all the trophies, then that number will increase and give you a bit of re-play value. To find Uncharted on eBay, click here

Ratchet & Clank - Tools of Destruction - If you've played any of the R&C games from the PS2....and you liked them, this will not disappoint. It is a 3d platform game and is a lot of fun. Great graphics and story. Will probably last you about 10-15 hours to complete. Unfortunately there are no trophies or online play but once you beat it, it is worth a 2nd play through on a harder level. To find R&C - Tools of Destruction on eBay, click here.

NHL 08 - EA games has come close to mastering the NHL experience. Although this game does have its hes, the game play is superb. Although, NHL 2k8 has a superior season mode, NHL 08 beats it in every other aspect. NHL 09 is currently out so the 08 version will be quite cheap. Your rosters may not as up to date, but the core game play has not changed all that much between years. To find NHL 08 on eBay, click here

Warhawk - A third person action war game that is played totally online. There is no one player campaign with this game. The game makers have made several upgrades to this game since its release in fall 2007 including trophies, new maps, weapons, vehicles and player customizations. Graphics are a little more cartoon than say a Call of Duty war game, but only a little. The graphics are still very good, sound is great and game play is fun. There is still a strong community with this game so there is still a lot of value if you purchase it. To find Warhawk on ebay, click here

Ninja Gaiden Sigma - This is an action packed third person game filled with a lot of violence and blood. Great weapon upgrades, combos and boss fights make for tight game play. The difficulty level is also quite high compared to other games so it may take you a bit longer to finish this. Maybe close to 18-20 hours. To find NGS on eBay, click here

Games I haven't played but MAY be worth a buy:

Metal Gear Solid 4 - If you like the others, my understanding is this one is the best of the bunch. Also its suppose to have great online play. To find MGS4 on eBay, click here

Devil May Cry 4 - I'm not a huge fan of the goth, zombie type games but DMC4 was reasonably well reviewed in the Video Game community and if you liked any of the previous 3 installments, then you'll probably enjoy this one too. To find DMC4 on eBay, click here

Civilization Revolution - A world domination strategy game. Very popular series on the PC now on the PS3. From what I've read, PC fans of this series will not like the transfer to the PS3 but if you've never played it before, it was very well reviewed by other gaming sites. To find Civilization Revolution on eBay, click here.

Possible Renters, but not worth a buy:

Resistance: Fall of Man - This game was launched with the PlayStation 3 release so its a couple of years old now. You can buy this game brand new or used at a fairly reasonable price. It has gone classic which means, $30 brand new i believe. It is a pretty decent first person shooter, even with the two player campaign but the true value was in the online play. If there is anyone still playing this game online, look for them to be moving on to Resistance 2 over the holidays. Worth a rent for the 1 or 2 player campaign, but once it's done, you might as well you wont want to play it again.

Heavenly Sword - Lets face it, there was a lot of hype for this game, calling it the female version of God of War but that was just too much to live up to. Although it didn't meet expectations, it still is a decent game to play. The combat system is a little different to get use to compared to GOW but the story is intriguing and the girl is hot. Unfortunately the game is short and will not last you more than 6 hours to beat with not much replay value and zero online play.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance - This is a mediocre dungeon crawler with Marvel's comic book characters. If you're a Marvel fan, you'll like the selection of different characters but in the end, the crappy dialog, repetitive game play and button mashing may be too much for some to take. If played to the end, this game is actually quite long. Maybe 15-20 hours to beat. If you can beat the game, you won't ever want to pick it up again. Only check this game out if you're a Comic Book fan. On a side note, there is a new Marvel Alliance game coming out in Q1 2009.

Games to Avoid - BAD-BAD-BAD-BAD - STAY AWAY

Assassin's Creed

Army of Two

Conan

Lair