Road Rash - PS1/3DO

Since finding an old shoe box full of PS1 games in the back of a cupboard a few weeks ago, much of my recent gaming time has been spent revisiting forgotten classics.

While games such as Lemmings 3D, Tomb Raider, Jumping Flash, Croc 2, Crash Bandicoot and Kula World have been dusted off, I've spent most of my time with Road Rash.

This mid-Nineties port of the wonderful 3DO version has always been one of my favourite games and it's still entertaining 17 years after it was released.

The madcap dashes through The City, Pacific Coast, Napa Valley, Peninsula and Sierra Nevada might be a bit blockier than you remember but the presentation and racing action still holds up.

Sure, the menus are clunky and unresponsive but what makes Road Rash great is the fact that no two races are ever the same.

Other bikers crash into traffic and pedestrians, a swift truncheon to an opponent's head changes the nature of the race, bumps and corners on the road send the player skidding into the unknown, while the appearance of police at unpredictable times leads to tense moments, as one small mistake will see your hapless biker busted by the boys in blue.

The racing action is wonderfully entertaining, but it's the inclusion of acts such as Monster Magnet, Swervedriver and Paw on the soundtrack which adds a huge amount to the experience. Even now, when I hear Rusty Cage by Soundgarden, I immediately think of the game's opening scene - something I doubt will ever go away.

Road Rash also features a hefty chunk of FMV which, although a little cheesy, still raises a smile, while the art style which punctuates the racing action is quite brilliant with an off-beat sense of humour used in every slide.

Since this release, other Road Rash games have taken to the streets but none have come close to matching the brilliance of this great version, with the sloppy Road Rash: Jail Break being a particular low point in the series.

So while I patiently wait for Skyrim to arrive on Friday, I'll be causing chaos on the roads with my fellow bikers on my battered old PlayStation.

Army of Two: The 40th Day - 360/PS3

Hard-nosed, back-slapping buddies Rios and Salem are back, in a game which although improving on its predecessor, still comes up well short of the mark.

Dropped in the middle of Shanghai just as terrorists attack the city, the duo battle their way through crumbling buildings, Buddhist temples and the local zoo to get to the bottom of a terrible atrocity. Really, it's just an excuse for the two US mercenaries to compete in trying to rack up the biggest body count.

In blockbuster style, every building the pair come close to blows up in spectacular style, while identical enemies attempt to gun the dynamic duo down at every opportunity. While the visuals are fine, the game suffers due to repetition. It's just one killing arena after another, with only the sporadic introduction of hulking armour-clad brutes mixing up the standard pop-and-stop gameplay.

The single player campaign can be polished off in around seven hours, but two player co-op proves to be a longer-lasting experience. Teamwork leads to daring escapades as you and a friend tactically find the best way to take down enemy soldiers.

Army of Two: The 40th Day is an improvement over the original, but ultimately repetition lets the game down. Good, but not great.

The Sims 3 - PC/Mac

Since The Sims franchise first rolled out in 2000, it has split gamers' opinions. Some hardcore players look down their noses at it due to its broad appeal and heavy emphasis on home decoration, job seeking and meal making, while others have fully embraced the series, delighting in watching their Sims find life-long happiness.

I have always been intrigued by the series, but never immersed myself fully, mainly due to the excessive amount of micro-management needed for even the simplest of tasks. Thankfully, The Sims 3 is a more streamlined take on the hugely popular virtual life simulator and is all the better for it.

Creating a Sim - or a family of Sims if you wish - you get to control the destiny of your creations, leading them through life and love, while helping them to achieve their personal goals before they eventually get old and die. However, if the thought of losing your favourites is too traumatic - and you can get strangely attached to your creations - you can halt the ageing process and have as much fun as you want.

Starting with a wide choice of clothes to wear - from snakeskin jackets to funky t-shirts - the player then chooses five personality traits to bestow upon your newly-created Sim. These govern how your Sim behaves in society. There are 62 traits to choose from, including clumsy, artistic, hopeless romantic, flirty, over-emotional and friendly. However, if you want to really mix things up around town, you can create an insane, anti-social kleptomaniac - the choice is completely up to you.

One major change this time around is there is now a whole neighbourhood for your Sims to explore. To add a sense of community, computer controlled citizens go about their daily routines from dawn till dusk.

This is a huge step up from previous games, where the gameworld tended to feel a little claustrophobic. The whole town buzzes with life and wandering around, knocking on doors and chatting to locals is always fun and an essential element to character progression. Depending on how you get on with others, new chat options open up, which adds to the almost limitless social options.

Initially, The Sims 3 can be incredibly overwhelming. There is so much to see and do that my advice is just to play, have fun and learn from your mistakes.

Throughout the course of your Sims life, you'll forge friendships, fall in love, get married, have kids, go fishing, take guitar lessons, read the daily paper, attend cooking classes, make meals, get a job, get promoted, get fired, pay bills, chill out in front of the TV, play videogames, throw parties, read books, plant seeds, water plants, clean the house, take showers, play chess, study paintings, take part in hot dog eating competitions and party until dawn - and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

As the days go by, you'll discover Moodlets. Fulfilling these boosts your Sim's mood and can range from phoning in pizza to buying a laptop. Keeping on top of these is no easy task, and can be expensive, but seeing your Sim happy is always reward enough.

Aside from the fabulous open world for your Sim to explore, the frustrating micro management which soured my enjoyment of the first two games has all but gone. Sure, you still have to make sure your Sim can cook, clean, wash and tidy up, but the fact your Sim doesn't need to use the bathroom every 10 minutes is a real bonus.

While not painting the town red at weekends, the player can buy new items for their Sims. From kitchen appliances and lawn ornaments, to new sofas, cars and flat-screen TVs, there are scores of tempting objects to buy. Of course, to pay for all the latest house-hold gadgets you'll need to find a job, while the bills still have to be paid and the weekly shopping bought.

Aside from the main game, The Sims 3 is lovingly looked after by a vibrant and friendly community. Via the game's website, players can share pictures, video clips, create new patterns, objects, houses and items to share with other players.

Many people play The Sims for this reason alone, while others never bother with this side of things. And that is the beauty of The Sims 3. You can be as involved or as hands off as you like.

The website also has an online store, where you can use real money to buy in-game items. When you register your copy of the game, the team at EA give you 1000 free SimPoints to spend - my first purchase was a lovely PlasmaTron TV for 100 points.

There is no real storyline in The Sims 3, but why would you need one? It's like having your own soap opera in your PC, with every day bringing new and exciting stories to share.

It's not all perfect, though. While your Sim is at work, you never see what they are up to, and although there are many buildings scattered around town, you are only able to properly explore the interiors of a few. I'm sure the future gaggle of expansions will remedy these niggles, but it's a disappointment nonetheless.

The Sims 3 is one of those magical experiences that every gamer should investigate further. It sold 1.4million copies in its first week, so why not join the party and see what The Sims 3 has to offer? Just be warned, when everything clicks into place, it's one of the most addictive games you'll ever play.

Skate 2 - 360/PlayStation 3

Before the original Skate was released, the skateboarding market was dominated by the Tony Hawk series - a franchise that had been looking tired and past its best.
So when Skate arrived in 2007, it was a breath of fresh air. It did away with Hawk’s overblown stunts and instead focused on a realistic take on skateboarding, a move which proved to be a stroke of genius. Now EA are back with the sequel, and it’s a game which builds upon the original’s success and cements its place as the definitive skateboarding simulation.
    The control system remains as intuitive as it was before, with player direction mapped to the left stick, while the right stick is utilised to execute stunts. While this might seem restrictive, flicking the right stick in different directions enables the player to pull of flicks and tricks with ease. The shoulder buttons allow the player to execute mid-air grabs, while the controller’s face buttons allow the player to push off from a standing position.
    When a game relies on movement and balance, it’s vital the physics engine is spot on, and as you would expect, Skate 2’s movement is precise allowing the player to skate and pull off a variety of tricks with ease. Just dropping the player in the middle of a skate park and allowing them to experiment with moves would be fine, but the team at EA have given the player the vast city of New San Vanelona to explore. As you would imagine, the city is crammed full of ramps, jumps, ledges and interesting architecture for you to interact with.
    Virtual skaters can also now hop off their board, making it easier than before to navigate the city's stairs and slopes. Find a favourite place, and you can set a marker point, which you can go back to as often as you like – ideal for nailing down the ultimate stunt. There's even an element of customisation available, with the player able to move objects such as ramps on the fly.

 

    In the original game frustration often crept in when trying to nail a specific trick in order to progress through the game. However, this time around, EA have given the player a bit more freedom, allowing them to go about the challenges at their own pace.
    As you explore your surroundings, you’ll find lots of interesting challenges to undertake, which will test your skills and dexterity. Completing these earns the player cash, which can be spend on new clothes, accessories and boards.
    The online aspect of Skate 2 also shines and adds another dimension to an already fantastic game. Hooking up with your friends and messing around together in this  well crafted virtual world is a blast.
    Visually, Skate 2 can look impressive. The city is huge and players will have fun exploring the areas looking for the perfect place to hang out. That said, character models look a little rough around the edges - although as the camera angle is set close to the ground, it’s not something that will spoil your enjoyment of the game.
    Overall, Skate 2 is a game that will appeal to a broad range of gamers. Skaters will enjoy it for the technical aspect and attention to detail, while those who can’t tell a Nose Stall from a Pop Shuvit will get enjoyment out of the game’s free-roaming gameplay, graphical effects and intuitive controls.