Dave Cook takes you through some of the best games out this summer
I Too Human
Xbox 360 (Microsoft) Third-person actioner as you play cybernetic god Baldur in the first part of a mighty. world-conquering trilogy from developer Silicon Knights. It mixes hardcore melee and long-range combat as you battle humongous war machines intent on eradicating mankind. Out 29 Aug.
I STALKER Clear Sky
PC (GSC Game World) The prequel to one of 2006's most original PC shooters takes you back to ground zero at Chernobyl. Scavenge for booty. face off against mutant horrors and unravel the backstory of how a once-deserted wasteland became a nightmarish battleground. Out 28 Aug.
I Super Smash Bros. Brawl Wii (Nintendo) It may have been out for a while now, but for two months this sat at number one in the UK game charts. With so many iconic characters from gaming's histOry. including Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog. Solid Snake and more facing off in an all out scrap. this remains essential gaming for every Wii owner. Out now.
I Soul Calibur IV PSB/Xbox 360 (Namco) Powerful. larger-than-life characters from throughout history lock steel in an epic battle to possess the demon sword Soul Calibur. The series has always been a hard-hitter as samurais. ninjas. fencers and pirates fight to the finish in awesome. almost balletic. style. Out now.
I Star Wars: Force Unleashed PSZ/PSS/PSP/Wii/Xbox 360 (LucasArts) The most exciting release of the year. Play as Darth Vader's secret apprentice and wreak havoc. hunting down Jedi and facing them in epic one-on— one battles in what promises to be the most action- packed game of the summer. Out 19 Sep.
6 THE LIST 14 71 Aug your;
Controfrea ks?
Dave Cook looks at some of the more unusual gameplay dynamics that are spicing up the world of videogames
ime to burn your joysticks
and throw away your
control pads as game developers begin shifting away from the norm by introducing some innovative. unorthodox and plain silly methods of play this summer. If yoti thought the future was here when the Wii hit the scene. with its wireless Bluetooth controllers. then you haven't seen anything yet.
Take Locomatrix. for example twww.locomatrix.com). It‘s a new teclmology developed in Brighton that makes use of your mobile phones (il’S fttnctionality. By triangulating your position you can become the lead character in the game. It all sounds a hit sci-ii. but it is a very clever system.
The first gatne developed for Locomatrix. l-i'iu'l I'iu'iiit'r. asks you to stand in a field or similar open space with your phone and physically rtm around collecting fruit displayed on the screen. while dodging wasps and other enemies. The idea is to get people more active while playing games. although the inconsistency of Scottish weather may make this a wash-out. To watch a live demo or. if you‘re feeling brave enough to download it. visit the developer's wehpage.
(‘hances are you will he familiar with band-simulators (iiiilur Hero
and recent rival Rm‘k Bum! (www.rockband.com ). featuring an electronic musical hackline including guitars. drum kit and microphone. However. (iiiitur 1/0)?) developer Neversoft has gone one step further and released a trimmed—down version of its game on Nintendo [)8 (www.guitar heroontour.com). complete with a fretboard grip accessory. touch- screen strumming system and a plectrum—shaped stylus perfect for shredding power chords while on the road.
l’ans of the movie .’Wfll()l'H_\' Report will get a kick out of what student at the (‘arnegie Mellon l'niversity in Pittsburgh and all- rotmd tech wizard. Johnny (‘hung l.ee can do with his Nintendo Wii. Lee guides everyday gamers via his website (www.cs.cmu.edu/~johnny) and explains how they can control their l’(‘ desktop and indeed. games. by using their hands. Want to open tip a Word document on
THE IDEA IS
TO GET PEOPLE MORE ACTIVE WHILE PLAYING GAMES
your computer'.’ No problem. just place your linger over the icon and double-point. Likewise. if you want to collect a coin in a game. just reach out and grab it. It’s a very smart method of control and could he how we play games in the future.
(‘oming September is yet another piece of Wii mastery in the form of Star ll’iirs‘.‘ T/It’ I'iirt'r' Uii/t’ris/ir’r/ (www. lucasans.com/games/theforc ettnleashed). For the first time. gamers can take Wiimote in hand and face off against a huge roster of characters from the movie saga. Just imagine a fight between Yoda and Darth Vader with you behind the lightsaber. You can swipe. block. parry and even use force powers as you duel to the death in a range of intergalactic battlefields. Awesome. it will be!
While new methods of control add a bit of fun to a game and offer the player a new experience. many developers try hard yet fail. making something that is clumsy. However the creators of the games and technology above are masters of their trade and understand what makes control fun. It’s hard to imagine a world where control pads have become obsolete. but then again. that‘s what they said about the joystick isn‘t it‘.’