Dead Rising 3: XBox One: Review

Dead Rising 3: XBox One: Review

Released by CAPCOM
Platform: XBox One

Zombies, eh?

They don't half get around - and in this latest launch title for the XBox One, man,oh man are they everywhere...

In Dead Rising 3, you're playing Nick Ramos, and the aim is to basically survive. It begins in Los Perdidos with details of how the outbreak spread, and then you're plunged right into the middle of it with one single aim - to ensure you get out alive.

Grabbing anything that might be lying around and using that as a makeshift bash weapon is a good start, but you can also get a bit smarter playing as Nick as the game goes on. Plot wise, there's a bit going on but not much that's not been seen before - and quite frankly, it's really all about the survival as you go through the various chapters and levels of the game.

The thing is with Dead Rising 3, the next gen console's really come to life with its rendering of what's going on. Usually, zombie outbreaks are pretty much confined to a large gathering here and there and chance to manoeuvre yourself out of any given situation. Here, the emphasis is on the large - I've never seen so many hungry chomping creatures desperate to get at you as the survival instinct kicks in.

There are several moments where the sheer number of biters really catches you out - and as you make your way from one part of the level to the next, you've really got to plan what you're doing, be it jumping from cars or staying elevated, because there is nothing worse than when the undead surround you and you're somewhat lacking in equipment to see any of them off.

Talking of equipment, throughout the game, there are chances to combine weapons which are scattered around to make deadlier pieces to take out the zombies. Getting to craft these in the actual game rather than at set stations certainly helps, and I've found Nick works better when surrounded by a group defending him - funnily enough, having your limbs torn off tends to put a crimp on creativity....

Survivors need your help - and you can also jump in cars to plough through the hordes - though it gets tricky if the creatures manage to really get a hold on your vehicle, leading to all kinds of problems.

At the end of the day, Dead Rising 3 won't reinvent the wheel when it comes to zombie games - the best thing about it is that it throws so many of the blasted things at you, you realise that hacking and slashing your way to safety isn't always as easy as it's made out to be.

Recommended for a good solid antidote and cure to having to deal with the hordes at the malls in the run up to Christmas, Dead Rising 3 is a blast.

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The Conjuring: Blu Ray Review

The Conjuring: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by Warner Home Video

The latest horror to hit the small screen is a supernatural spooker, which will leave you somewhat unsettled if you watch it late at night and home alone. Even more so, when you realise it's based on a true story.

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren, who are called in to investigate the increasingly violent and disturbing hauntings at a Rhode Island farm house, recently purchased by the Perron family (Lili Taylor and Ron Livingston).

As they delve deeper into the goings on at the homestead, things take a bizarre turn for the worse and suddenly, the Warrens are fighting for more than the family itself and facing one of their darkest cases ever...

Despite being a mash up of many horror films you've seen before - including The Exorcist and Insidious (which also starred Patrick Wilson) - The Conjuring is effective at bringing the whole haunted house vibe spookily to life, providing a few impressive jolts and some haunted house scares which will have you looking over your shoulder after the lights have gone back off for the night.

Farmiga and Wilson play it mostly straight - until about halfway through the film when Farmiga's growing sense of horror is a little overplayed as the clairvoyant Lorraine starts to be affected by goings on. Cleverly shot set pieces work, a lack of overbearing soundtrack helps brilliantly set the 70s scene and there's a bizarre side story about a doll which never fully reaches its demonic potential (though rumour has it, that's part of a spin-off).

All in all, The Conjuring does creepy and eerie pretty damn well; its unsettling if familiar tone working effectively to give you some solid frights, until the predictable second half kicks in.

Extras: Perron family reflects on the case, the Warrens look back on their lives and the director shows you how the film was made.

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Newstalk ZB: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Newstalk ZB: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

It's finally here, the second part of the Hobbit trilogy.

Talking to Jack Tame on Newstalk ZB this weekend, I cast my eye over the dragon-tastic film The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, also looking at magician film Now You See Me and Ryan Gosling in Only God Forgives.

Take a listen below:

http://newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/player/ondemand/1243023534-audio--jack-tame-talks-the-hobbit-with-darren-bevan

Doctor Who - The Doctors Revisited: Volumes 1 -3 DVD Review

Doctor Who - The Doctors Revisited: Volumes 1 -3 DVD Review

Rating: PG - M
Released by BBC And Roadshow Home Ent

In the 50th anniversary of the show, there's plenty to celebrate.

And these sets which take in all of the Doctors since the show's inception in 1963 are no exception. The format's simple - over 3 volumes (Doctors 1-4 in set one, 5-8 in set two and 9-11 in set three) actors and stars of the shows recall why it struck a chord with the public and them.

Each doco runs to about half an hour and comes with an adventure from each of the Doctors - they've all been available before but are presented by Steven Moffat, current showrunner, in either a film version or their original version - it's a great wee set of collections and recollections from all involved.

William Hartnell gets the historical epic The Aztecs, which has moments of slowness within; Patrick Troughton's iconic Tomb of the Cybermen is back - Jon Pertwee's Spearhead from Space gets another release following its Blu ray outing this year - and Tom Baker's The Pyramids of Mars is a Gothic classic no matter what.

On set 2, Peter Davison's Cybermen adventure Earthshock continues to impress; Colin Baker's grim Vengeance on Varos shows the cruellest of the show and Sylvester McCoy gets a Daleks outing with Remembrance of the Daleks. Paul McGann's 8th Doctor movie is thrown in - but the less said about that one the better.

In the final set, Christopher Eccleston's contribution are his last ever 2 episodes; David Tennant gets the Stolen Earth and Journey's End; and Matt Smith's The Impossible Astronaut and the Day of The Moon introduce the Silence, who may have a hand in his demise.

Each of the sets is essential viewing to long term fans of the shows and also, to those who are dipping their toes into the Whoniverse for the first time.

It's a wonderfully nostalgic look at the show and a brilliant testament to its 50 years.

Recommended - with the Doctor's approval.

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Doctor Who: The Tenth Planet: DVD Review

Doctor Who: The Tenth Planet: DVD Review

Rating: PG
Released by BBC And Roadshow Home Entertainment

William Hartnell's swansong as the First Doctor gets a release - and an animated last episode to see it off.

This four part serial saw the first ever introduction of the Cybermen; in this serial, the Doctor and his companions Ben and Polly materialise at the south pole in 1986; their arrival coincides with the appearance of Earth's twin planet and the creatures that dwell within. Soon, the Doctor and his companions and those living at the pole are fighting for their lives.

Not exactly the best of the Hartnell era, The Tenth Planet gets by on the fact that fans know it's the first ever regeneration of the Doctor, brought in after Hartnell got seriously ill; the animation of the final episode fills in the gaps, but it's never going to be a match for the actual episode, which remains missing.

The story lacks full answers as to what's going on, but it's a nicely put together piece which has tension and scares but doesn't quite hit its full potential.

Extras include a making of, a few pieces on the companions and an interview with Hartnell after he left the role which seems to show he wasn't happy about going. A not unspectacular bunch, and giving a degree of respectability to the set that's much needed.

More iconic for the regeneration reasons, Doctor Who: The Tenth Planet remains an essential addition to the library of any true Who fan.

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The Time Of The Doctor trailer is here

The Time Of The Doctor trailer is here

Just released is a new longer trailer for Matt Smith's final outing in Doctor Who.

The Time of The Doctor's due to play in the UK on Christmas Day. And in New Zealand, Prime TV's revealed it will air The Time Of The Doctor on Boxing Day at 8.30pm.

On Christmas Day and Boxing Day the channel will also air all the episodes from Matt Smith's last season as the Doctor. They start from 945am on Christmas Day

Here's the trailer for The Time of The Doctor:

Following on from the 50th Anniversary celebrations of Doctor Who, the first details have been revealed of Matt Smith's final outing as the Doctor, coming this Christmas.

The BBC's revealed the adventure will be called:  The Time of The Doctor.

An official synopsis has been given as well:

"Orbiting a quiet backwater planet, the massed forces of the universe's deadliest species gather,drawn to a mysterious message that echoes out to the stars. And amongst them – the Doctor.  

"Rescuing Clara from a family Christmas dinner, the Time Lord and his best friend must learn what this enigmatic signal means for his own fate and that of the universe."

NBA2K 14: PS3 Review

NBA2K 14: PS3 Review

Released by 2K Games
Platform: PS3

I've never been much of a basketballer. Too much actual physical effort and too lacking in physique, the only way I'd get courtside is with a beer and nachos.

Thankfully though, this basketball sim does much to channel my inner 'baller with some slick playing and some impressive controls, as well as some damn engrossing gameplay. There's nothing tricky about this - all you do is get on the court and start the one-on-one action.

Sprinting, trying 3 pointers and generally looking to dunk some hoops is all the order of the day; but it takes a little while to work out the best tactics and skillset needed to ensure the team can make it through four quarters of pretty impressive action. There's a chance to create your own player and progress up the leagues, as well as season games to see you settle in for the long haul. It all depends how much time you want to spend on the court and what your overall aim is - personally, I love the quick smash and grab of a game rather than a season - and the chance to play against someone else, which is really where the game starts to come to life.

Core basketball fans will love it; the ability to play as your favourite players and to set the court alight with signature moves will certainly appeal to the masses; but there's much playability to be had here for the casual fan too. It's quite difficult to block shots and steal, but once practice kicks in, this becomes a little easier to read and a lot more realistic to actually engage.

Visually, the game's got flair too, with each person on the court given character in close up - while the crowd is fairly generic and relatively hit and miss, the players are well executed and really, at the end of the day that's all that matters.

LeBron: Path To Greatness allows you to tread in the boots of the iconic player and build a career; Crew mode makes a return and MyTeam element of the game adds much to your personal involvement within. Throw in some impressive commentary as well and this is a basketball game that really does hit all the right notes.

No fan of a sports simulator can afford to be without this one - it's easily a slam dunk.

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