Pro is back – and better – on the PS3

IT’S back – bigger, brighter and better than ever.
Yes, Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) 2009 is now on the shelves just as Christmas creeps around the corner.
The PES series is a bit of a cult classic among football gaming fans – kicking off in 2002 the game went on to attract thousands of supporters.
Realistic players, intricate details and well calculated passing, shooting and movement controls makes the gamer feel like they are actually Rooney and Ronaldo – far from some other football titles where one is left running from one side of the pitch to the other with little need for skill or accuracy.

The new edition is just as fun and exciting, building on the success of the others but adding a range of new features.
Of course, all team players have been updated, but there is also the impressive ‘Become a Legend’ section, which brings the gamer closer to the action.
This allows the gamer to pick a player and chart the highs and lows of their career by turning them from rookie to professional.
Players can also use their striker or midfielder to play online matches with other gamers and show their skills on the larger online stage.
The controls are also better – redefining first touch, close control, passing and enhancing the shooting.
Every player has also undergone a facelift with new facial and body detail and a chance for the gamer to create their own club crests and badges.
If you thought it couldn’t get any better, it does.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 is one game that strikes the right note on and off the pitch.
PES 2009 ris eleased on PlayStation 3 by Konami Digital Entertainment.

For beta for worse....

AM I the only one PS3 user who seems to find it impossible to get on a Beta testing for upcoming new games?
I did manage to 'borrow' a friend's login for Little Big Planet, for a couple of hours, but soon had to surrender it after he realised that we both could not log in at the same time.
So, I've trawled the Net to find other Beta opportunities, found one for the forthcoming and much-anticipated Resistance 2, only to find that a) the Beta was delayed, and B) when I finally got an update, all the Beta keys had already been allocated.
AAARRGGGHHH!!!
P.S. By the way, Sony, if you are listening, please feel free to send me a Beta key to pretty much ANY game that is coming out in the near future....

The Force is strong on the PS3....

FANCY using The Force? Well, here’s your chance with the release of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, a videogame developed by LucasArts.
The game casts players as Darth Vader's Secret Apprentice and unveils new revelations about the Star Wars galaxy. The expansive story, created under direction from George Lucas, is set during the largely unexplored era between Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope.
Players assist the iconic villain in his quest to rid the universe of Jedi - and face decisions that could change the course of their destiny.
During the period between Episodes III and IV, players hunt Jedi in the role of Darth Vader's Secret Apprentice.
Star Wars fans will love this game, as it gives players the chance to really get to grips with The Force – which can range from just grabbing hold of a box and smashing it into your enemies, to taking hold of a Tie-fighter and flinging it through the sky.
Players can unleash and upgrade the Secret Apprentice's four core Force powers - Force push, grip, repulse and lightning - throughout the course of the game, and combine them for ultra-destructive, never-before-seen combos.
The Force is truly strong in this game. The Secret Apprentice won't just Force grip foes to throw them aside, he will Force grip them in midair, zap them with lightning, then drop them to the ground to explode like a bomb.
In addition to new adversaries created just for the game, such as fugitive Jedi and Force-sensitive Felucians, players will also confront and associate with familiar faces from the Star Wars films, including Darth Vader.
Players will Visit locations such as Episode III's Wookiee homeworld Kashyyyk and the floral Felucia, the junk planet Raxus Prime.
Decisions made by players throughout the game determine the path of the story, including multiple endings that will rock Star Wars continuity as they know it.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is out now on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Wrestling with impact on the PS3

TNA iMPACT! brings all the fun and excitement of the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling from the top-rated weekly television show to your games console.
In TNA Impact!, you choose the wrestling style, custom move set and clothing to construct the ultimate champion. TNA drenches the player in moves and match types that allow amazing acrobatic and aerial feats along with the bone-jarring crush of hard-hitting impacts.
The game features top wrestling talent such as Kurt Angle, Jeff Jarrett, Rhino, Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Sting, Christian Cage, Abyss and more to deliver all of the excitement and action of the television show.
TNA's signature six-sided ring brings unprecedented action and high-flying wrestling moves to players. With TNA's incredible Ultimate X match, wrestlers climb cables high above the ring in a daring attempt to capture the belt.
Players can build a lifetime of fame through the game's innovative story mode, creating their very own TNA wrestler with customised costumes, move sets and more as they unfold the back-story of a champion wrestler.
Online play also allows gamers to create customised match rules and invite friends or foes to compete head to head. Online game modes include Tag Team, Ultimate X and Fatal Four-Way.
This must be one of the most life-like wrestling games out there, and is certainly satisfying when you pull off a complicated move to take down your opponent.
TNA iMPACT! by Midway is out now on the PlayStation 3.

Sackboy fans will have to wait..... !

AS I am sure all PS3 owners are fully aware, the launch date of Little Big Planet has been delayed - NOOOOOO!!
This is the most eagerly awaited PS3 title since the console was launched, but the delay has been blamed on the discovery of some religious phrases making their way into the lyrics of a song included in the game.

Sony have decided to pull the launch date to 'rectify' the situation, and it now looks as though the new European release date is November 7.
So, I'm afraid you will have to wait a few more weeks to get creative in the online PS3 community.

Little Big Planet Beta rocks!!

Thanks to a lucky fellow PS3 owner who was happy to share a code for Little Big Planet - like the gold invite in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - I have experienced at first hand, the wonder that is LBG.
And I have to say, in my truly unbiased opinion, this has to be THE game that will shift more PS3 consoles - it really is that good.
Yes, I know, it is really just a platform game - but what a platform game. The graphics are lush, the gameplay is as smooth as ice, and the levels are divine.
I was hooked, and sadly, as I had to yield control of the beta back to my friend (apparently Sony says it is quite ok to let someone else logon to the beta, but the down side is the other person can't access it for 24 hours it seems), I was left waiting and drooling over the game and desperately looking for another injection of 'Sackman' fun.
I am quite picky about what games I buy, but this beta has made me 100 per cent sure that I am gonna get my hands on this for launch day.
And with its community-based gameplay, with everyone creating their own levels for others to play, as well as the much-anticipated online gameplay that looks stunning, this is without doubt the must-have of 2008.
Now, all we have to wait and see is if Home is going to launch at the same time...