^MY TOP 10 ALL TIME FAVOURITE GAMES^

10: Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3)
9: Resident Evil 4
8: The World Ends With You (DS)
7: Okami (PS2)
6: Devil May Cry 3 (PS2)
5: Hogs of War (PS1)
4: Sonic the Hedeghog (Sega Mega Drive)
3: Kingdom Hearts Series
2: Final Fantasy IX and VII (PS1)
1: Persona 4 (PS2)

Check out my Deviant Art page: http://benleslie5.deviantart.com/

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/LegendHeroBen

• 19May 13

  The Box is in another box

  With Microsoft announcing their new this Tuesday (May 21st) we ask ourselves what's in this box?

  

  Most likely they'll announce their new console which is likely the Xbox 720 which I'm guessing which will be the likeliest name or possibly a handheld device maybe. Over the past 10 years Microsoft's Xbox console has done pretty well since 2001 with its launch in the US and then slowly selling more systems across the world soon after in 2002.

  

  Back in 1998 four engineers from Microsofts DirectX, Kevin Bachus, Seamus Blackley, Ted Hase and DirectX team leader Otto Berkes, disassembled some Dell laptop computers to construct a prototype Microsoft Windows-based video game console. They did hope it would compete well with Sonys upcoming Playstation 2 around that time. The original name was going to be called DirectX box but the name was shorten due to many people not likening the name for it and then changed it to Xbox which we all know from today. It was actually the first Microsoft video game console after collaborating with Sega to port Windows CE to port the Sega Dreamcast. Microsoft did delay the console quite a few times during 1999 and 2000 but it made its official release on November 15th 2001 with a solid line up of games in the US including-

  • Halo Combat Evolved
  • Dead or Alive 3
  • Amped
  • Project Gotham Racing
  • Oddworld Munch's Oddysee
  • Fuzion Frenzy

  The controller looked a little different from other consoles but they changed the design of the controller soon after 2002 making it feel a little easier to use for playing games. Xbox also let you rip music from CD's and then keeping them saved on your console, meaning that you could play your favourite music while playing games which was actually quite a good idea but that only worked on a selected amount of games. It also played DVD's you put a USB chip in one of the controller ports and then you would be able to watch DVD's with the Xbox remote.

  

  "One of the many reasons, Xbox sold really well over the years"

  One of the biggest games that made the Xbox sell really and it was also had online which was called Xbox Live where you could play online with your friends. And one of the biggest sequel launches and over a million players played online which was Halo 2 back in 2004, it may have had a disappointing ending but its multiplayer was the strongest point. Over in Japan it wasn't selling well and wasn't that popular unlike the Playstation 2 but in the US and Europe it was still selling well on its sales.

  

  During November and December 2005 Microsoft released its second console which was the Xbox 360, still competing with the Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii as of from now, the 360 has had some up and down moments on its consoles including its great line up of games like Halo 3 and Call of Duty. But there have been some downhill moments including its Red-Ring of Death and the Xbox Kinect not recognising your voice or moments on a certain amount of games that were released for it. It still had its strong online multiplayer and its DVD/Music which you could still use and a compatibility system which let you play a few Xbox games on a 360 console.

  With E3 2013 on its way and of course Microsofts announcement on Tuesday what will be the future for the Xbox? Will it still stay strong with an iron fist or will it slowly go downhill?

  

  • Posted May 19, 2013 8:07 am GMT
  • Category: Editorial
  • Tag
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Digg
• 15May 13

  The Last of Us- Early Demo Impressions

  There was a Lock-in Event at GAME where I live in Newcastle; they had to keep a number on a small group people to play the demo/game a little early before everyone and luckily I've managed to get first hands on the playable demo-

  

  I was there for at least a good 2 hours, they even had God of War playable on other PS3 consoles and of course free doughnuts from Krispy Kreames. And a fun fact is that this week is National Doughnut Week which was even better along with free Sprite and Dr Pepper. I wasn't allowed to take any photos or videos on its gameplay but did take down some notes, in fact the demo was from GameStop so its likely thats where the demo came from to begin there was at least 5 PS3 consoles that had the playable demo up.

  

  Like the Uncharted series you'll get the idea that it borrows some of the gameplay elements likes its 3rd-person gameplay and its button mashing when it comes to lift large objects or encountering certain enemies. If you've been watching The Walking Dead series or played a few stealth games you might get the idea why Naughty Dog wanted to make this game in the first place, you are sneaking around enemies called Infected which are like zombies or walkers whichever one you want to call them. Using the left analog stick to move and the right analog stick to use your torch, circle was to crouch down small areas and sneaking pass enemies, you can use the L2 and R2 to throw objects or throw them at a far away distant because noise can attach their attention.

  You can use guns too but your limited to ammo, but you can pick up random items which will be scattered around various places and you can make your own weapons and first-aid kits. Certain objects are quite handy to have like a sharp knife or a plank of wood which is great to sneak around and attacking them from behind, if you hold the R2 button you can listen to their sounds and movements to know where they are heading. The health bar is a little similar to Uncharted which I've just mentioned but if your surrounded by enemies you not going to have a chance to defeat them all and will end up being out numbered and eaten alive.

  

  As always Naughty Dog have always created some of the best games for the Playstation, the graphics for The Last of Us look really impressive to look at in a End of the World type of game in a ruined city. I was curious to know if there would be any Easter Eggs in the full game and I did talk about this to a few people like what if a Precursor Orb was added in from the Jak and Daxter series or if not a movie poster of Uncharted pops up in the city. Or even better a Crash Bandicoot toy in a childs bedroom that would be even funnier, its likely that the demo will soon appear on the Playstation Store sooner or later before the game is released, but it was worth the play and likely be worth the purchase when the full game is released next month.

  At the end of the event I've managed to get some free posters one for myself and the other 2 for anyone else-

  

  Hope you've enjoyed reading this blog

  • Posted May 15, 2013 2:08 pm GMT
  • Tag
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Digg
• 12May 13

  Iron Man 3 Movie Review

  As promised a few days ago my movie review on Iron Man 3 which I saw last week with my friend during the Bank holiday and apart from that both Persona 4 Arena and Bioshock Infinite have been taking some of my hours especially Bioshock can't stop thinking about Elizabeth-

  

  Spent almost a whole day playing Bioshock, I really don't play many FPS games but I am totally glad I've now played this game Love the sky-city environment and just past the halfway point so no spoilers please until I've beaten the game on my first playthrough.

  Now back to my review on Iron Man 3

  

  Iron Man 3

  UK Release- April 26th 2013

  US Release- May 3rd 2013

  Mins- 130 Minutes

  Third film takes place straight after Iron Man 2 and The Avengers if you've been following the last few Marvel movies. Third instalment for its plot is that Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) is against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds (Mandarin). When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy's hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man. Other actors return in Iron Man 3 including Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper) and Don Cheadle (Col James/Iron Patriot). Guy Pearce does a great job as Aldrick Killian, and Rebecca Hall as Dr Maya Hansen and of course Stan Lee makes an appearance too in the film as always in most Marvel films.

  I would admit that I think Iron Man 2 was that great for a sequel but Iron Man 3 makes up the loss on its disappointment and some good humour here and there after halfway through the film. I still think that Robert Downey Jr did a better role in Sherlock more than Iron Man but its still a film worth checking out if you've been following the Iron Man series or youre a Marvel/Comic book fan in general.

  

  Thanks for reading my review I will have more surprises on my next blogs so keep an eye out for that.

  • Posted May 12, 2013 3:15 pm GMT
  • Category: Movies
  • Tag
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Digg

See Previous Blog Posts »