Rune Factory Frontier - Wii

Due to the staggering amount of big-name titles released in the first half of the year, many great games have been sadly forgotten about. One such title is Rune Factory Frontier, a lovely game which really deserves your attention.

A spin-off from the much-loved Harvest Moon franchise, Rune Factory's unusual blend of farming, life simulation and dungeon crawling makes for a wonderful and original single player adventure.

Taking control of a boy named Raguna, you arrive in the town of Trampoli, desperately looking for your friend, Mist. It turns out she has started a new life in the picturesque town and urges you to join her.

Within the opening 15 minutes, Raguna will be a fully-fledged member of Trampoli's small but vibrant community, have his own house - complete with dusty plot of land - and own the bare essentials with which to make a living.

The whimsical background story isn't deep, complex or sprinkled with heavy dialogue choices, but Rune Factory Frontier's mish-mash of gameplay styles is so well delivered, the flimsy tale really doesn't matter.

Being a game from the Harvest Moon stable, Rune Factory Frontier focuses heavily on growing crops, looking after livestock and expanding your farm. However, unlike some other Harvest Moon titles, you never feel rushed into trying to cram as much as possible into every in-game day.

The clock still ticks along at an alarming rate, but stops when Raguna is indoors - a wonderful design choice which takes the stress away from his daily chores.

Rune Factory Frontier is completely open-ended, meaning it's entirely possible to concentrate solely on looking after your small farm. But doing so would be folly, as the game is crammed with things to do.

Some aren't immediately obvious, due in large to a lack of hand-holding. In my view, this is one of the game's strengths as it encourages the player to explore the beautiful game world and interact with other characters to move the story along at its own sedate pace.

When not pulling turnips and crops out of the earth, Raguna can cook, fish, craft items, upgrade weapons, visit townsfolk, sell his produce, go shopping, build relationships, get married, go sailing, visit a health spa and generally live a life of comfort.

But where Rune Factory branches away from the traditional Harvest Moon template is in the game's combat. Raguna can enter dungeons and do battle against a range of enemies - he can even recruit monsters to fight by his side or work on his farm. It's very well done, although be prepared to put in some serious work if you want to get the most out of these denizens of the dark.

Visually, the game is beautiful - although there's unfortunately no 480p option. The cheery scenery changes as the seasons pass with rainy autumn and the eerie ambiance of winter being particular stand-outs. There's a full day/night cycle in place, too, which adds to the games enchanting atmosphere.

Each new day in Trampoli brings with it a boggling amount of stuff to do, and the sheer amount of tasks can be overwhelming at times. However, just take your time, and quietly potter about at your own pace and the game becomes much more manageable. Trying to cram everything in at one time is an impossible task, so relax and the game's charms will rise to the surface.

Rune Factory Frontier is bright, breezy, utterly charming and incredibly satisfying to play. Some may think it's a bit too twee, but it's the best role-playing game on the Wii since 2008's Opoona.

If you missed it when it was released back in April, this Rising Stars Games' title is well worth hunting down.

Professor Layton and the Unwound Future - DS

Everyone loves a bit of Professor Layton, right? Well I adore the series and have completed the first two games: The Curious Village and Pandora's Box, both on DS.

So you can imagine how happy I was when the third game in the series, Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, was announced at the E3 conference in Los Angeles a few weeks ago.

The professor receives a letter from his sidekick Luke, only the letter has been sent from 10 years in the future.

London is apparently in chaos and it's up to the Prof and Luke to solve more riddles to save the city.

The delicious hand-drawn visuals look as magical as ever and Nintendo have promised 160 brain-teasers and even more animated cut scenes. Extra puzzles will also be free to download following the game's launch.

The game should find its way over to the UK around September, and I'll be first in the queue on launch day.

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Child Of Eden - 360/PS3/Kinect

One of the most exciting announcements at this year's E3 conference was the unveiling of Tetsuya Mizuguchi's new game, Child Of Eden.

It's another beautiful sensory experience from the man who brought us Lumines and Rez, and it looked dazzling as Ubisoft opened their press conference with a live demo of the game.

Child of Eden will be released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, but it's the fact the game will also run using Microsoft's Kinect hands-free motion sensing control system which is the most exciting news.

It's been described as a “multi-sensory shooter” blending sparkling visuals with a thumping electro soundtrack by Genki Rockets. And with Mizuguchi on board, you just know it's going to be something special.

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Contact - DS

I first became aware of Contact in the pages of EDGE magazine back in 2006. The bright visuals jumped out the page at me, and I immediately started scouring the internet for more information about the game. Unable to hold on for the UK release, I eventually ordered it from the US and fell in love with its quirky gameplay styles and cute visuals.
The player takes control over protagonist Terry, a young boy who, along with the enigmatic Professor, finds himself embroiled in an inter-galactic quest for precious power cells.
The quirky visual style smacks you between the eyes in the game's opening moments, with Terry exploring a a lush and detailed universe via the DS’s touch screen, while the Professor – and his loveable pet – inhabit a stranded starship, which is presented in a simple isometric view on the top screen.
What makes the game interesting is the fact the Professor talks directly to the player, not Terry. So in a sense, you are simply controlling Terry’s actions, while the Professor gives you, the player, advice on what to do next.
Unlike most DS RPGs, Contact dispenses with random turn-based battles, instead adopting a more MMO feel to combat. When prompted, Terry continues to attack until he is successful or flees from danger. To help Terry defeat foes, he finds several suits on his journey, which grant him special attacks. Some take a bit of exploration to find and are well worth hunting down - even though they don’t really add a great deal of tactical nous to proceedings.
While Contact is a traditional Japanese RPG wrapped up in delightful visuals, game director Akira Ueda has woven in some original ideas to spice things up. Decals are adhesive stickers which can be peeled using the stylus to unleash special attacks. These limited powers are useful in tight situations, but restoring their effectivness is sometimes more hassle than it's worth.
Another neat touch is the Chef’s Suit, which allows Terry to rustle up stat boosting food. There’s a limit to how much food Terry can eat, though, so you have to think carefully about when Terry chows down his grub.
There’s a lot of grinding involved and you’ll die quickly unless you’re extremely careful. However, there’s something compelling about the adventure which keeps the player ploughing onwards.
It was never a huge hit and might be quite hard to track down these days. But if you stumble across Contact, you should definitely pick it up. One of my favourite games on the DS.

Ni no Kuni - DS/PS3

I like a bit of Japanese animation from time to time, but not just any old rubbish. No, for me, Studio Ghibli's work shines brightest and I'm a big fan.

The creators of classics such as Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle and Porco Rosso have never embraced the videogame medium, but all that is about to change.

The Japanese company have been working on Ni no Kuni: The Another World on DS - a game which will come on a huge 4GB cartridge, but the real surprise is the title is also set to appear on PlayStation 3.

As you can see, the visuals are sumptuous, and are going to look even better in crisp high definition.

The DS version is due to arrive in Japan later this year, while we might have to wait a little longer for the PS3 version. Here's a video of the PS3 version in action:

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Ilomilo - 360

Swedish-based developer Southend are currently beavering away on their forthcoming Xbox Live Arcade title, Ilomilo.

It’s a beautiful looking game, and with the promise of a few old school gameplay twists, Ilomilo could well be one of this year's more memorable downloadable titles.

The aim is to reunite two characters - Ilo and Milo - by interacting with the blocks which make up their delicious, plushy 3D world. By manipulating their environment and switching back and forth between the two, the player can solve the puzzles and reconcile the two chums.

Lots of devious head-scratchers are planned, while a two-player mode looks to be on the cards.

Older gamers might see shades of ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 classic Head Over Heels present here, and it's hard to think Jon Ritman and Bernie Drummond's masterpiece hasn't been a major influence.

The fabric-style visuals are utterly charming, while the soundtrack - judging from the game's trailers - is impossibly cute. There’s been no confirmed release date, but hopes are high that it arrives this side of Christmas.

Need further convincing? Then check out this gorgeous trailer:

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Torchlight - PC

Torchlight has been consuming quite a lot of my time recently. It’s been out since last year on PC, but I find myself being drawn back to it time after time for some dungeon crawling action.

Runic Games are the team behind the mouse-driven Diablo clone, with players descending through randomly generated dungeons filled with monsters, traps and shiny loot.

There are three character classes to choose between - Destroyer (melee), Vanquisher (long-range combat), and Alchemist (magic based).

As you would expect from a game which draws its influence from Blizzard’s Diablo, loot drops are the major pull. Cash, scrolls, healing items, armour and weapons fall from downed foes, and collecting rare items is what drives the player ever deeper into Torchlight’s subterranean labyrinth.

It also helps that the visuals are excellent, with the game wearing its World of Warcraft influence proudly on its sleeve. Bold character design and a tremendous eye for detail make Torchlight a joy to look at, while the point and click interface is simple to use.

A nice selection of difficulty levels mean the game can be as challenging or as laid back as you want, although I would advise everyone to at least try the brutal hardcore mode just to see how crazy things get.

Even those who don’t own a powerful PC can enjoy Torchlight. A special Notebook Mode has been included, meaning anyone who wants to enjoy some quality gameplay can do so without splashing out on a high-end rig.

It’s a cracking game featuring some excellent ideas - sending your pet back to town to sell surplus items is a stroke of genius - and will keep you more than happy until Blizzard release Diablo III.

Torchlight is available via the Steam network for £14.99, or from the game’s official website: www.torchlightgame.com

Flight Simulator X - Alaska trips

I've been a fan of Microsoft's Flight Simulator series for a few years, but it wasn't until I got my new PC a few weeks ago that I experienced the delights of Flight Simulator X.

For me, the joy isn't in flying passenger jets across the Atlantic at 45,000ft. Instead, I love flying smaller planes at around 5000ft across Alaska and British Columbia.

Unfortunately, FSX's default scenery isn't very detailed, but there are hundreds of add-ons to enhance the game's visuals.

I plumped for Ultimate Alaska, a fantastic paid for add-on by Scenery Solutions which adds a tremendous amount of detail, including accurately modeled cities, real roads, 400 glaciers and a load of other neat touches.

This adds enormously to the enjoyment for the game, and makes exploring America's largest state a pleasure.

I plan on buying the company's Ultimate Europe add-on next month for some flights closer to home.

Incidentally, the pictures here are my own and were taken with Ultimate Alaska enabled.

For more info on the product, visit: Ultimate Alaska

Densha De Go! Showa Yamanote Line - DS

The latest title in the long-running arcade train driving series arrives next month in Japan. Titled Densha De Go! Showa Yamanote Line, it’s the first game in the series to arrive on the DS.

I have one of the previous titles for PSP, while I also own two PS2 versions: Densha De Go! Final and Densha Do Go! Shinkansen.

Both are excellent, but Final is the superior product, boasting the most comprehensive number of trains and tracks, while it also sports ‘linking’ a system where the player can link together set objectives to earn a bigger score.

This latest game looks great, and controlling the game should be a breeze thanks to touch screen controls.

Densha De Go! Showa Yamanote Line is being released to celebrate 100 years of Tokyo’s Yamanote Line. Players will be able to experience the line as it is today, and also go back in time to see the tracks as they were in the 50s and 60s.

Densha De Go! Showa Yamanote Line is released in Japan by Square Enix on July 22.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 - Wii

The original Super Mario Galaxy rocketed our favourite plumber into orbit on an epic gravity-defying adventure quite unlike anything we had seen before.

Now, two years later, Mario is back in another star-grabbing, mind-twisting platformer, which improves on the original at almost every glorious turn, jump, leap and spin.

Of course, creating a sequel to one of the greatest videogames of all time is no easy task, but with Shigeru Miyamoto once again at the helm, Nintendo have delivered an astonishing piece of software by which all other platform games will now be judged.

While at first glance the game might seem nothing more than a by-the-numbers update to the original, there is far more to Mario's second galactic adventure than initially meets the eye.

Yes, the background story is the usual nonsense about evil Bowser kidnapping the hapless Princess Peach, but such is the joyous way new ideas and gameplay styles have been introduced, that you simply won't care.

Nintendo have gone to great lengths to streamline Mario Galaxy 2, re-introducing the familiar map which makes moving between star systems a much simpler and less time consuming affair than before.

What hasn't changed, though, are the tight controls, excellent camera system, and the ease of navigating Mario through the devious, but brilliantly realised levels.

Every new planet on Mario's adventure conjures up fresh gameplay twists as Nintendo constantly throw out new ideas challenging the player's perception about what to expect from a platform game.

While Nintendo have clearly raised the bar for level design, part of the game's magic lies in the various suit power-ups at Mario's disposal.

His bee, fireball, ghost and spring suits return, but his range of new abilities - and the way they have been woven into the fabric of the game - are equally special. Cloud Mario can conjure fluffy platforms to reach high points, while Rock Mario transforms into a rolling ball of destruction.

However, chief among his new powers is Yoshi. Mario's loveable dinosaur sidekick makes his long-awaited return to the 3D arena, having last been spotted at the end of the 1996 classic Mario 64.

Jumping on his back lets the player target enemies before unleasing Yoshi's sticky tongue to eat them. But that's not all - in one glorious level Yoshi samples the delights of a hot red pepper, causing the green dinosaur to rampage through a rollercoaster level full of twists, turns and gravitational challenges. Yoshi can also eat blue fruit, which inflates him, and a yellow fruit which turns him into a walking lantern.



Super Mario Galaxy 2 is slightly tougher in places than the original game, but younger players needn't worry.

There's a generous amount of handholding thrown in to help Mario novices. Optional tutorials lead the player through the finer points, while the option for the game to complete sections is also available should the player fail a task multiple times. Your end reward for this computer-controlled assistance is a bronze star rather than a shiny gold one, but it at least shows players where they are going wrong.

Many people like to have a pop at the Wii due to its lack of graphical grunt, but Mario Galaxy 2 is a riot of bold, colourful visuals. It is a stunning looking title and also boasts dazzling water effects.

The soundtrack is more varied than the first game, with a brilliant arrangement of quirky tunes. Older gamers who remember the classic Super Mario World will grin like idiots when they hear some of its classic tracks again, while riding Yoshi is accompanied with the dinosaur's traditional bongo drum beat.

Super Mario Galaxy is quite an incredible achievement. It's jam packed with outstanding moments and trumps the original game thanks to its new power-ups and stunning level design.

It's not only the greatest platform game ever made, but it's quite possibly the finest game ever to appear on a home console. Recommendations don't come higher than that.

3D Dot Game Heroes - PS3 - review

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto must be feeling pretty good about himself.

3D Dot Game Heroes plays like an old school Zelda adventure, except this game by FROM Software drags 8-bit visuals into the 21st century, giving the game a unique and stylised appearance.

The game isn't afraid to wear its Zelda influence proudly on its sleeve. In fact, there are so many nods to the Nintendo series that it's easy to forget 3D Dot Game Heroes really has nothing to do with Link and his quest to save the land of Hyrule.

A mysterious ancient sword and boomerang make their appearance early in the game, while the inclusion of a bow, arrows, sling shot, bombs, health-giving fairies and chickens to chase around, makes you wonder quite how the developer managed to get away with it.

However, 3D Dot Game Heroes is more than a mere pastiche, with FROM Software throwing in a few of its own ideas, including nods to several of their previous games.

It doesn't take itself too seriously either, which is a good thing when you consider the story is whimsical fantasy nonsense, including genre staples such as a captured princess and a dark force spreading across the land.

Even thrusting a sword towards a group of enemies results in the unexpected, with the blade extending dozens of feet forward if fully powered up.

Gameplay is simple, with weapons mapped to two face buttons, while a third button is used to dash. Simplicity, though, is what the game is all about, and it's refreshing to play something that is intuitive and easy to pick up and play.

The old school design choice extends further than the game's looks - trekking through miles of wilderness between key locations is the norm and it can be annoying, especially as enemies re-spawn at every available opportunity. Die, and you'll be unceremoniously dumped back at the location of your last save.

While the camera angle can be changed when exploring the wilds, a fixed option takes over when exploring the game's dungeons. This is fine, but the dungeons are generally bland and fail to match Zelda's thought-provoking conundrums. The dungeon's bosses are also a mixed bunch, lacking spark and imagination for the most part.

But he real star of the show is the visuals. Featuring gorgeous blocky 3D characters, quaint Lego-like villages, sparkling rivers, a lovely depth of field filter, and more than enough charm to keep pulling the player through the 20 hour adventure, there's nothing quite like 3D Dot Game Heroes currently on the market.

FROM Software have even created a robust character design suite, and you can easily spend hours creating your own unique blocky character.

There are also more than 60 pre-set models to choose from, and each one can be picked when starting from a previous save.

Default hero Frum will be most people's first choice, but with a range of diverse characters to control - including a vampire, ninja, samurai and football player - it's worth checking them all out to see their animations.

The rousing musical score adds to the Zelda feel, with cracking 8-bit-style tunes ripping off older soundtracks to create a bright and breezy score which is a retro gamer's delight.

So forget about the stuffiness of other role-playing games and embrace this return to the golden days of simplistic adventures.

3D Dot Game Heroes may have flaws, but it's an absolute joy to play and Zelda fans should definitely take a look.

3D Dot Game Heroes - PS3

My review copy of 3D Dot Game Heroes arrived this morning. The review code doesn't contain trophies, but I can't say I'm that bothered.

Anyway, I've only had time to put around an hour in so far, but it's such a charming game, I thought I would share some in-game snaps. Yes, that's right, you can pause the game at any moment and take a picture.

As you can see, I chose default hero Flum to play, although there are more than 60 pre-set characters you can play as, including a Dwarf, Ninja, Samurai and there's even a racing car to drive around in. There's also a full character editor, so I'll have a mess around with that later. As the game is a love letter to Nintendo's Zelda series, it would be foolish not to create a chunky Link to play as.

Enjoy the snaps, and I'll post more later.

Monster Hunter Tri - Wii

My name is the Moose and I'm a Monster Hunter addict. Yes, just a few weeks after the release of Monster Hunter Tri on Wii, I have logged 62 hours - and there's no end in sight.

I've spend a chunk of time online with other hunters, and have now reached Hunter Rank 10. However, most of my time has been spent in the single player mode. I've farmed Qurupecos for their lovely green-plumed armour, but I'm currently decked out in a full set of Gobul armour.

The Gobul is an underwater monstrosity, and I had to kill - or capture - him 11 times to get all the drops I needed. I've upgraded the set with Armour Spheres and I'm armed with a lovely Numbingbird hammer - which looks like a giant green and purple flower. It has a nice paralysis effect, too and came in very handy earlier today.

I took on my first Rathian - a fire breathing wyvern with a bad attitude - and managed to knock him about with my trusty hammer. It was a great moment, and I punched the air with delight when I had completed the quest.

Monster Hunter Tri is without doubt my favourite game of the year so far. Mass Effect 2 and Yakuza 3 are brilliant games, but nothing comes close to the joy monster Hunter Tri brings.

I'll keep you posted on my latest conquests, armour sets and weapons. If you haven't picked up a copy yet, don't delay. It's a slice of gaming magic.

Yakuza 3 - PS3

It has taken more than a year, but Sega have finally brought the third instalment of their Japanese crime-based series to the West.

Fans were overjoyed when Sega confirmed the news, but less so when they discovered segments of the game had been removed to make it more palatable for Western audiences. And while it's disappointing cuts have been made, Yakuza 3 still towers above the vast majority of software currently on the market.

Stepping once again into the shoes of Kazuma Kiryu - the former Yakuza boss with a heart of gold - the game starts at an unusually sedate pace.

Kazuma has left Tokyo to open an orphanage in the coastal town of Okinawa. However it's not long until he swaps his Hawaiian shirt for a steely grey suit and flies back to Tokyo, where he is drawn into yet another gangland turf war with more than a hint of political intrigue.

The opening few hours gently guide the player around the coastal town, with Kazuma running errands, taking part in side quests, looking after the orphanage and beating up the local bad guys with the usual assortment of golf clubs, baseball bats, and shop signs.

The core gameplay hasn't really changed since the 2005 original, with the same flaws still apparent - it's still far to easy to take fresh air swings in battle due to the game's clumsy camera set up, the dialogue scenes are stilted and firmly set in the PS2 era, while managing your inventory is still a bit of a chore.

Still, the series has always been more than the sum of its parts, and what Yakuza 3 lacks in overall finesse, it more than makes up for in its cracking soap opera story line, range of diverse activities and quirky Japanese flavour.

The combat lies at the heart of the experience, and when it clicks it's an absolute joy. It's incredibly satisfying, and helped enormously by the range of moves unlocked as you progress.

Special moves can be beefed up using experienced gained from normal bouts of fisticuffs, while more exotic combat moves can be unlocked by witnessing certain situations while wandering around town. Each deliciously over-the-top revelation always raises a smile, and my favourite - so far - is seeing a drunk Japanese businessman attempt to pole dance on a lamp-post.

While you could easily breeze through the game in around 25 hours, it's possible to spend at least three times that by taking part in the game's side quests and activities.

When not progressing the story, Kazuma is free to wander about the fictional sun-kissed resort of Okinawa, or explore the sizzling neon streets and alleyways of Tokyo's Kabukicho district.

Talking to people either results in learning vital snippets of information or starts a sub-quest. There are 80+ optional quests to take on, and each is wonderfully presented. From trying to resolve an argument about instant ramen noodles to taking part in a Samurai flick - in a lovely nod to Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan! - there is plenty of content to get stuck in to.

And that's not all. Kazuma can also play darts, golf, baseball, poker, blackjack, roulette, pool, go bowling, sing in karaoke bars, eat in a variety of restaurants, get drunk in bars, go on dates, play games in the Club Sega arcade, modify weapons and find hidden locker keys.

There's also a fantastic fishing game on the beach in Okinawa, which is beautifully done. With a large selection of sea creatures to catch, this activity could easily keep you occupied for hours.

These activities are completely optional, but are central to the Yakuza experience. It's a pleasure immersing yourself in Kazuma Kiryu's weird and wonderful world and you'll come away from it with a huge grin plastered across your face.

Visually, the game looks dated in places. That's not to say it looks bad, but some textures are muddy while the game looks slightly soft around the edges.

However, it has to be said that Yakuza 3's environments are wonderful. Aside from Grand Theft Auto IV, no other video game city has felt more visually arresting. And, thanks to the game's excellent use of audio, Yakuza 3 drips with atmosphere.

For those who missed out on the first two games, video recaps are available from the main menu and are essential viewing to catch up on the story's central characters.

It's no secret the first two games on PS2 sold poorly in the West, but you really would be missing out on one of this year's most spellbinding games if you let Yakuza 3 slip through your fingers.

Old school Shenmue fans will notice more than a few similarities and it really is one of the finest games released this year.

Monhun Nikki: Poka Poka Airu Mura - PSP

In just over a month, Europe will finally get the chance to play Monster Hunter Tri on Wii. As a self-confessed Monster Hunter addict, April can't come soon enough.

However, in Japan, a Monster Hunter spin-off is in the pipeline. Featuring the cats - or Felynes - from the popular PSP games, Monhun Nikki Poka Poka Airu Mura looks more like a cross between Animal Crossing, Patapon and Harvest Moon than the monster slaying antics we're used to.

Roughly translated as Monster Hunter: Poka Poka Felyne Village, details are still sketchy. However, it looks adorable and I'll definitely be taking a look when the game launches in Japan later this year.