Unit 13: PS Vita review

Unit 13 - PS Vita Game Review
Released by PlayStation
Platform: PS Vita

It's the Vita's first major foray into Third Person Shooter with Unit 13 - and it's one which fully embraces the capabilities and software on offer from the tech.

You take on the role of a member of an elite crack squad of fighters who have a series of missions to crack. And you have to pretty much get upto speed quickly with this shooter. Or you'll be dead within minutes.

The game begins with a training mission which sees you get to grips with what weapons you have as well as controlling the fighter with the Vita. You're a new recruit to Unit 13 - but don't expect to be part of a broader story - it's simply you and a series of missions to get completed. Which is a nice touch as it means you can drop in and out of Unit 13 anytime you want without having to remember whereabouts in the overall scheme of things you are.

Training completed, you get to open your world up to a series of bite sized missions which rely on different skills; some are simply about going in all guns blazing and taking on the bad guys, securing the area, stealing plans and blowing stuff up; others are about racing against the clock or to do with the stealth and ensuring you're not discovered as you skulk about and don't do anything to trigger any alarms.

The range and skill level required will mean that you probably end up having multiple goes at the various fodder on offer - it's unlikely you'll walk through it all first time around. Thankfully checkpoints around and about mean the longer missions (as such) can be broken down into bits and you end up not feeling frustrated if it doesn't all go according to plan.

You'll have to be fairly dextrous as well in playing this game - not only do you need quick reflexes, timing is of the essence and when using the various touch screen capabilities to vault over obstacles, you'll need to think pretty quickly on your feet.

While the missions vary in length, there's certainly no lack of variety in what's on offer - from different characters with different strengths, co-op missions give you chance to play with a buddy online; high value target missions are unlocked after you do a good enough job to earn ratings (one hell of a reason to make sure you don't just muddle in shooting everything) and a daily mission option keeps things fresh.

Overall, I've really enjoyed this handheld shooter - I think what's scored it as a winner for me is the fact that it's not all about continued gameplay; sure, there's unlockable rewards for sustained play but the bite size nature of what's on offer means that it's perfect for the commute, a snatched half hour here or there or for some social play with mates. Long lasting and enduring, Unit 13 has put the fun back into third person shooters.


Rating:

Martha Marcy May Marlene: Movie Review

Martha Marcy May Marlene Movie Review

Cast: Elisabeth Olsen, Sarah Paulson, John Hawkes

When we first meet Martha, she's making a run through a series of trees to an outside world; we don't know why but we presume the worst and as this wily drama plays out there's a real slow burning sense of brilliance about it.

Elizabeth Olsen produces a stunning turn on a par with some of Oscar's finest winners to play Martha, who takes up again with her sister Lucy (American Gothic's Sarah Paulson) after being missing from the family for two years without any contact or clue as to where she is.

But her arrival unannounced and unexpected causes tension for Lucy and her new husband.

Flashbacks interwoven into the narrative show Martha was part of a cult and escaped for reasons which are left unexplained into very late in the piece - but there's a real sense of dread as this tale unfolds and reveals more about life in the thrall of the cult and how it's impacted on her perception of life around her.

To be brutally frank, there's also a real sense we're seeing something sensationally good about Olsen's acting as the onion layers peel back in a shockingly emotional way.

Through a restrained turn and some very well put together directing, Martha Marcy May Marlene is a gripping and fascinating watch. Both Paulson and Olsen give simmeringly emotional performances as the sisters reunited and as tensions between the two escalate. Equally John Hawkes is to be commended for his ominously creepy turn as the leader of the cult - every time he's on screen, there's a real sense of unease about what will unfold.

As the paranoia escalates in this piece and suspicions swirl, the main three actors within the cast rise at a stellar level to what's needed of them, making this compelling from its quiet beginnings to the very end.

Along with the very abrupt end to the drama, a lot of people will be talking about Martha Marcy May Marlene - good or bad, you can't help but feel this is a career defining turn for Olsen and the birth of a really exciting talent.

Rating:

The Skin I Live In: Film review

Cast: Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya

Director: Pedro Almodovar

Almodovar returns with a film which is slick, a little twisted and tremendously stylish.

In the very near future (well, late 2012 technically is) Banderas stars as Robert Ledgard, a surgeon, whose life is somewhat haunted by tragedy, with both his wife and daughter dying before their time.

He lives in a house, locked away from people and with a surgery within the walls of his home - but he's not alone. In a room next to his living quarters is a young woman, who we first meet wearing nothing but an all over body stocking.

One day, a man shows up at the house and sets in motion a chain of events which changes everyone's lives forever.

It's incredibly difficult to say too much about this without giving away the plot which unravels through flashbacks and totally, in all honesty, messes with your mind.

Banderas is crisply cool and menacing as the surgeon, who's clearly off his rocker - but the perfectly chiselled performance which channels nothing but sophisticated insanity is so eminently watchable as he plays God left, right and centre. Equally Anaya is stunning as the woman in the house - gorgeously beautiful and alluring, yet hinting at a troubled past, the leads are compelling in this psychotic psychological suspense thriller.

As ever, Almodovar crafts together a tale that weaves in a completely out there story. But this time, he throws into the mix, an element of horror and perhaps lashings of scifi as the melodrama plays out. It's easy in a film like this to go over the top and with the ultimate reveal of what's actually going on being such a crucial part of this, his masterful direction steers the story into shockingly confrontational territory with ease.

The Skin I Live In won't be for everyone - but for those willing to be challenged, the reward is immeasurable even if the emotional attachment overall is minimal.

Rating:

Brand new Battleship trailer hits

C4? Nope.

D2? Yep.

D3? Yep. You have sunk my Battleship...

From a much loved game from my youth (ie when we did boardgames rather than just handheld consoles) the cinematic version of Battleship is nearly upon us.

With a couple of weeks until the New Zealand release date of April 12th, there was always bound to be a new Battleship trailer - and here it is...

Asura's Wrath - PS3 review

Asura's Wrath - PlayStation 3 review

Released by THQ

Platform: PS3

This is a hard game to put into words - simply because, in all honesty, it really doesn't feel much like a game in many ways.

The game sees you taking the role of Asura, one of eight Guardian Generals, called on to protect the world from the evil clutches of the Gohma. After a successful battle, Asura's summoned to the Emperor's palace to receive some formal recognition of his work - but on arrival there, he finds only a dead boss and fingers pointed at him he's cast out, stripped of his powers and robbed of his family.

The only thing which propels him back is his anger, the titular wrath as he tries to battle his way back over 18 "episodes".

As I've intimated, Asura's Wrath is a slightly different gaming experience than anything I've played before. It's something more akin to watching an anime on a console and occasionally interacting with it.

That's not necessarily a bad thing as the anime animation is simply stunningly good; cut scenes play as mini movies and far too often, unfortunately, the game plays as an anime piece as well. That means there's very little for the player to initially do except watch it unfold and bash a couple of buttons to see the game unfold.

Visually though the anime is up on a par with anything Manga can produce and it's certainly got the scope for one of the best looking Mangaesque experiences of the year - it just depends what you want for gameplay and whether the style is something you wish to choose over being fully immersed within.

I guess in some ways it depends what you want from a game - in terms of an experience, Asura's Wrath certainly is a little something unique and different - whether that warrants splashing out for a game that you have to wait to get really involved in is upto you.

Rating:

Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom: PS Vita Review

Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3
Released by THQ
Platform: PS Vita

It was fairly successful when it was released on the PS3 late last year - and to be honest, those in charge of these things haven't fiddled too much with the formula with this launch title.

Much like the console one, the portable version has been ported over to the handheld format - with a couple of adaptations for the Vita's tech which is now being utilised in some pretty cool ways.

For those who can't remember, this is a smack 'em up with players being given the chance to play as the likes of She Hulk, Captain America et al from the Marvel universe as they take on each other in a fight to the death.
However, this time rather than being just one player against a horde of many, there's a chance to pick three fighters to form part of a tag team against three opponents. Sure the usual fights are there and the chance to punch all kinds of buttons to achieve all kinds of combos, but being part of the tag team means you're usually given a better chance to defeat the opposition. Add into that mix, aerial combos, moves you can bust out under an X factor move (a more powerful and longer burst of fighting goodness) and there's enough to keep you, your friends and the online community amused.

The Vita format's allowed for twin stick uses as well as the rather cooler Touch screen version of the game where you can let your fingers doing the smackdowns rather than having to fiddle with joysticks. It takes a little time to get used to but it's great fun using the touch tech to unleash a powerhouse can of whup ass.

Wifi lets you take the game online too for challenges and to expand the world out as well - which is great and doesn't have many issues. Graphically on the OLED screen, the game is as good as ever - and  it's nice to see the comics of Marvel embraced in a very cool way into the gameplay. Characters come to life, cartoon style words are employed on screen and the whole thing starts with a comic flick book - it's a nice nod to the genre it's taking from and gives the game a feel of authenticity.

Once again, it's a nice use of the handheld format and visually it looks great. Using some of the VITA's capabilities makes a difference too - Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom shows THQ is off to a good solid start on the Vita - here's to more.

Rating:

The Hunger Games - behind the scenes

It's going crazy right now for a little film called The Hunger Games.



The LA Premiere of the film is taking place right now with live coverage of The Hunger Games red carpet pretty much melting down the internet.

Devoted fans in Los Angeles are hoping to catch an up-close and personal glimpse of Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth to name but a few.

The film hits NZ cinemas on March 22nd - and here's a behind the scenes of the Hunger Games piece for you to treasure.