Game Review: Guacamelee! Gold Edition

Developer: Drinkbox Studios

Publisher: Drinkbox Studios

Genre: Platform Adventure

Platforms: PC, PS3, Vita

Website: http://guacamelee.com/

Age Rating: 12+ (PEGI)

The current indie game craze has been picking up a hell of a lot of steam since Minecraft hit it big. Smaller, more imaginative games are giving big budget, ‘AAA’ studios and publishers more than a run for their money and even embarrassing them on a regular basis.

Of course, with so much money pumped into these ‘AAA’ titles the execs who look to profit are always nervous so fewer indie developers can take are taken. After all, could you see Activision or EA making a 2D ‘Metroid-Vania’ game based on Mexican folklore with a complex and challenging beat ‘em up combat system?

Game Review: Rayman Legends

Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier

Publisher: Ubisoft

Genre: Platformer

Formats: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, PC, PS Vita

Age Rating: 3+ (PEGI)

Deep within the ancient mountains of gaming, stood upon it’s tallest peak, stands a legend among legends: The plumber called Mario. Throughout his long years, he has been on many adventures, defeated many foes and fended off many rivals.

They may have speed. They may have technical prowess. They may have talkative companions. But they still can’t stand up to Mario’s charm, challenge and ability to adapt to the ever shifting paradigm of gaming.

Yet one remained determined and steadfast. A French rival with a cult following from the days of the Playstation and Saturn who possessed no limbs yet inexplicably still had hands and feet. He too possessed the ability to adapt to change, yet he also had the ability to see flaws in his opponent, see where they were weak and capitalise.

It has taken so long, but Mario, master of the platformer, has been defeated.

Formula 1 - Round 12: Italy

The dictionary definition of Passion is “A state or outburst of strong emotion” or “An intense enthusiasm for something”. If you’re still not 100% sure of the world, then the Autodromo Nazionale Monza on a grand prix weekend will make you fully understand the word.

In the almost holy trinity of Formula 1 circuits, Monza stands apart from Monaco and Silverstone as not only is it a high-speed wonder, it’s also home of the sport’s longest running, ever present team: Scuderia Ferrari. Long running legends of racing at one of the greatest circuits in the world. Sadly, in this era of Red Bull and Vettel dominated ‘racing’, even the Cathedral of Speed itself can’t provide.

Formula 1 - Round 11: Belgium

I think I’ve broken one of my records. I’ve played it a few times whenever Formula 1 goes to a track with legendary and classic credentials, but almost every time I play it something goes wrong and it starts playing the German national anthem for some reason (and I get the words ‘Deutschland, Deutschland über alles’ or whatever it is that isn’t really the first line of the anthem). I suppose it’s the only needle I have that fits the record player and works consistently, but it’s still annoying when a record that has previously been amazing plays out the same dull slog.

I’ll probably put the record away in storage for now while throwing out the one where I say I’m going to get these out for a particular day, mainly because I have little urge to play that one. But it seems in the Ardennes Forest, its business as usual as Formula 1 returns from its summer break.