Star Wars: Battlefront: PS4 Review

Star Wars: Battlefront: PS4 Review

Platform: PS4
Released by EA and Dice Games

There is no denying that Star Wars fever is in the air.

Have you heard of a small independent film called The Force Awakens?

And when the BETA for Star Wars Battlefront dropped last month, there was the sound of a billion voices of Star Wars fans collectively crying out to sign up. (Including myself).

The general consensus was that the Star Wars Beta offered a new hope to fans of the games and also the next gen chance to flex its multiplayer muscles.

Thankfully, the full game expands that chance to play in the Star Wars Universe - but at a cost.

From DICE and EA, the team that brought us Battlefield, Star Wars: Battlefront is a deeply fun but ultimately slightly shallow game that dwells on its experience and will give fans the thrill they're seeking.

Aimed squarely at the multiplayer end of the market, the game is nothing short of a gem; its multiplayer offers you the chance to be on worlds that are iconic in Star Wars lore - from Tattooine to Hoth, you can tread the same ground as Luke, Leia or Darth did. And in fact, you can even be them too in either first or third person mode.

In fact, there's nothing better than its multiplayer, with its sense of chaos as you're dropped into the middle of a battle for supremacy or against Walkers and AT-ATs to try and save the day. The sense of reality in these levels is deeply immersive - even if it is occasionally brief as you're blasted to bits by another player desperate to get points (one of the downsides of the multiplayer is no chance to explore these worlds and revel in the incredibly realistic detail rendered in the game). There's no denying 48 hours was lost living in this world, where I joined with people I didn't know or mates to take on the rebel scum / imperial scum.

One of the problems though of the multiplayer is that you don't get to choose sides - they are allocated to you and you simply have to make do with it. Granted, it's possibly so there's a fair allocation of players but it would be nice to have some choice; a lot of the time I've taken place in Multiplayer events, I've been allocated repeatedly to a losing side - the only way to escape that is to leave the game completely. It's an odd thing to say but when progression via credits and XP come from winning, a continual losing streak hits you harder than you think.

The maps are big, but have boundaries. Any chance you stray too near the edges looking for the collectibles which pepper the game and you're prompted to get back or risk being kicked out of the game - again, a frustration given the design work the game's got. But given you see all of these worlds time and time again in different events, chances are you'll be acquainted with them before too long.

Though admittedly, this is one of the areas where depth or lack thereof comes to mind - any chance you get to learn one world is cast asunder given that you can't repeat it straight after.

Shooting is simple, controls are simple and locking on is a simple matter too - and with weapons readily available via the Star Cards system and power ups around the levels, there's enough chance to build an arsenal for a short time, rather than a long one. Giving yourself access to these cards and weapons comes from gaining credits and sees the customisation elements confined to 3 slots only - but given most of this is multiplayer, it allows for some kind of level playing field, which is to be welcomed.

From driving an AT-ST to piloting an XWing, being involved in dog fights from speeding through Endor on a bike to being either Luke or Darth, Star Wars: Battlefront is a great Star Wars experience. Though I do worry about its longevity once the novelty wears off. Levels like Droid Run and Blast benefit from simplicity of purpose and strategic execution. Drop Zone adds to the fun as you essentially try to capture and keep the flag - DICE has hardly gone out of the way to reinvent the wheel here and the modes are variations of most multiplayers you've been part of before.

Admittedly, Star Wars Battlefront won't win any awards for its single player (which is confined largely to training and a few other missions) but it will win for its commitment to the Star Wars Universe and its multiplayer ethos and execution.

With graphics that feel like you're in a George Lucas Star Wars holo-suite down to the realistic costumes and detailings of the set, Star Wars Battlefront is an unmissable multiplayer experience that gets to the core of why fans love it. Sure, there's DLC to come and for many waiting may be worth it in the long run, but for right now Star Wars Battlefront is simply addictive gaming, even if it does come up a little short on depth of content.

(For more on Star Wars Battlefront, visit the official EA Star Wars site)

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Driveclub Bikes: PS4 Review

Driveclub Bikes: PS4 Review

Platform: PS4
Released by Evolution Studios

The first rule of Driveclub Bikes is you do not mention the launch of Driveclub that failed spectacularly last year but eventually found its feet.

The second rule of Driveclub Bikes is you do mention how incredibly well snuck under the radar it was.

Announced at Paris Games Week without fanfare, the game dropped as an expansion piece or standalone and is actually a reminder of why Driveclub is so brilliant but has been so overlooked because of its troubles.

Using tracks from the original game, throwing in the tour modes and adding a new level known as skill (where you have to do wheelies, stoppies and speed trials), Driveclub Bikes is actually thrillingly addictive because of its simplicity of racing.

Much like Ride earlier this year, the game's physical nature requires a degree of skill to get around tracks - and unlike cars, there's not as much wriggle room when you're slamming around corners. Mess it up and it's into a wall for you and game over. However, unlike Ride, the physics of the game don't seem quite as rigid. There appears to be no overslide which seems a little unusual but all in all, driving the bike is relatively easy.

Graphically, the game's on a par with what was before (as you'd expect) but to be honest, there's not as much time to appreciate it as this racing requires more concentration than normal and any moment of taking your eye off the road is fatal.

In game viewing is a bit tricky; the first person perspective through the windshield is nigh on impossible to negotiate, and to be honest, third person occasionally suffers from sunstrike, meaning you really do have to have your wits about you.

The good thing about the expansion is that it delivers some new cars to you unexpectedly as well, meaning you can dip back and forth between the games as you want. They were bonuses which were surprises and welcome ones and show that Evolution Studios is utterly committed to the community nearly a year on.

I'm still not wild about Driveclub's insistence on docking you points if you head off the road and taking corners (particularly given how easily bikes can do this) but the sheer annoyance of missing a target by seconds means you simply saddle up and do it again.

Thrilling and simply executed with a large dollop of speed Driveclub Bikes is well worth it - a game that shows when properly done, racers can be as exciting as the real thing.

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Doctor Who Series 9: Part 1: DVD Review

Doctor Who Series 9: Part 1: DVD Review

Rating: M
Released by BBC and Roadshow Home Ent

Wisely shorn of the debate over whether Peter Capaldi's Doctor is a good man or not and of Jenna Coleman's Clara no longer mourning Matt Smith's 11th Doctor, the new season of Doctor Who can simply get back to the basics - and revive the premise of two friends hurtling from one adventure to the next.

But as ever, with these six episodes of the ninth series since the relaunch, a shadow's been cast with the announcement that Jenna Coleman's Clara is leaving the TARDIS.

However, while the first batch of six episodes dwells a little on that, with the stories having an element of death within them, the foreboding doesn't stop the ninth series getting off to a brilliant start and giving Capaldi the material he needs to cement his place as the Doctor.

Equally, the creative elements and decision to essentially create two parters every week has reinvigorated the story-telling, giving moments a chance to breathe and stories a chance to evolve. Of the first three parters, the first (The Magician's Apprentice / The Witch's Familiar) brings the return of a nemesis not seen for years, and an opportunity to explore the Doctor's raison d'etre; a second two parter sees the underwater base under siege story redone but offers up one of the most shocking cliffhangers - and the third sees Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams enter the world and the reason why the Doctor's taken the Capaldi face from the Fires of Pompeii given form.

But this series feels like the show's come into its own again (aside from the Sonic screwdriver being ditched in favour of sonic glasses and the Doctor's propensity to play rock guitar) and for once, avoiding spoilers provides a great journey this year. However, it belongs to Jenna Coleman and Peter Capaldi, whose acting this year really makes the script sparkle. Capaldi, shorn of his brooding, appears to enjoy it more and Coleman seems to be the Doctor's equal - there's a real sense that when this partnership falls apart, it will be the end of something special.

Extras: 3 mini featurettes; nothing spectacular, but in keeping with the BBC's insistence on splitting the sets.

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Star Wars Rebels: Season 1 Review

Star Wars Rebels: Season 1 Review

Rating: G
Released by Sony Home Ent

The Star Wars series shows no sign of abating.

With a new Star Wars movie on the way and the Force fever reaching higher levels, the animated series Star Wars Rebels will satiate the fans to a level that's almost as addictive as the animation itself.

Set 5 years before the original trilogy and after Revenge of The Sith, the series follows a motley group of rebels on board a ship (The Ghost) as they fight the Empire. From an orphan who discovers use of the Force (Luke Skywalker anyone) to a Jedi, the crew's a good mix of characters and give  a spikiness to the Rebel Alliance's birth.

Having the characters interact with old fan faves certainly doesn't harm the show's place in the canon as the 15 episodes play out. Individual adventures loop with an overall theme and build to a conclusion that Star Wars fans will adore. Equally the cartoony graphics are perfect for the vibe; they never stray too far from expected boundaries and yet look bright and fresh enough to attract new fans.

Star Wars Rebels: Season 1 manages to straddle nostalgia and the future very well - it's a great addition to the existing universe and will keep all ages happy until December 17th....

The Blacklist: Season 2: Review

The Blacklist: Season 2: Review

Rating: M
Released by Sony Home Ent

James Spader continues his charismatic turn as Red Reddington as the second season of the breakaway hit, The Blacklist continues.

Teaming up with Megan Boone's Liz, the battle continues against arch-enemy Berlin (Peter Stormare) as secrets continue to be revealed and nothing's ever as it seems. While working episodically, the series also threads in a raft of conspiracies and bigger picture questions while never fully answering them.

Spader's charisma carries a lot of this series through as the darker elements come out, but Megan Boone's Liz also balances things out. Equally impressive this year is the level of guest stars - from the likes of Peter Stormare to Alan Alda (one episode featuring his character ranks among the series best) to Mary Louise Parker and Ron Perlman, the calibre is mightily impressive.

And just when you think things are heading towards getting a little stale, the series throws up an end of season twist that's delicious and spices things up for year 3. Thrilling and entertaining in equal measure, The Blacklist is compelling TV, even if it does occasionally hit a weekly slump.

Outlander Series 1, Part 2: Blu Ray Review

Outlander Series 1, Part 2: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by Sony Home Entertainment

Diana Gabaldon's Outlander books series continues to be adapted for binge-worthy TV in the second set of the Outlander TV series.

Time-travel, romance and a fair whiff of naughtiness pervades this historical love story series centring around nurse Claire Randall, who finds herself whisked back in time and stuck in the skirmishes between Redcoats and Highlanders.

The second half of season 1 sees things take a darker turn as Black Jack Randall's presence begins to be felt, and Claire's attraction to Jamie grows, but her separation from her modern day husband starts to bite.

A moving story that rarely stays still, an attraction between the two leads and smattering of threat keep Outlander from feeling stale - though it has to be said, fans of the genre will find more in this series that's wonderfully evocative than casual viewers.

Claire's character is an interesting one and her reactions to each situation ground the fantastical elements in a way that feels enticing and welcoming; it doesn't hinder things that Catriona Balfe and Sam Heughan have a chemistry that's palpable.

It's a reasonably strong series that works on a few levels, but Outlander remains a more adult version of a Twilight style series; longing and desire worked in with historical elements add a lot and ultimately, the series will endure as the Scottish myths have,

The Night Before: Film Review

The Night Before: Film Review

Cast: Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anthony Mackie, Michael Shannon, Lizzy Caplan, Mindy Kaling, Jillian Bell
Director: Jonathan Levine

Putting the crass into the Christmas holidays, Seth Rogen returns for an annual assault on the season after last year's near apocalyptic The Interview.

This time ploughing rather more frat frantics than low brow political satire, Rogen is Jewish Isaac, who along with Anthony Mackie's Chris, has every year for the past 13 years spent Christmas with their mutual friend Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) after he was orphaned at this time of the year.

However, this Christmas is going to be different as Isaac's on the cusp of fatherhood and Chris is a growing athlete juggling success and sponsorship. In search of the Holy Grail of Christmas parties, the trio decides this year will be their last of bad behaviour and ho-ho-hos under the tree.

The Night Before is a patchy film that goes for low-hanging fruit and picks every one of them off the tree without fail but without any kind of flair.

These three less-than-wise men booze, sniff and inhale their way through New York as each of them takes on their own personal quest and demons. Mixing in this with the obligatory holiday spirit and eventual mush of the season with a large portion of other white stuff, this film's about as irreverent as it can get - as you'd no doubt expect from a Rogen / Goldberg screenplay.

There's a degree of heart from Gordon-Levitt's character as he battles a bit of holiday blues and post-break up depression from Lizzy Caplan's Diana, but to be frank, this film aims for hedonism mixed in with It's a Wonderful Life / Christmas Carol and barely strays too far from where it's aiming.

Despite Michael Shannon's brilliantly comic turn as a high school teacher turned drug dealer / pothead, and the obligatory showbiz cameos - and a great return from Tracy Morgan, The Night Before runs out of gags and steam by barely half-way through. Rogen's increasingly deranged Isaac's on the run from himself, fuelled by drugs given him by his wife - moments of humour are wrung from this set up but they all ultimately feel aimless and scabrously scatter-shot (even if one pay-off involving the crucifixion shows some residual smarts) when placed in the overall context of a 1hr 40 min movie.

As the film descends into an inevitable cornucopia of cameos and the inevitable happy ending mush is piled on, this Christmas Carol riff on friendship through the years lays out its message to the kids - it's hard to stay in touch as time goes on, but make the effort one character intones. Something that no doubt its mainly frat boy puerile audience will nod vehemently at before life takes hold.

It may sound like a Christmas Grinch to dismiss The Night Before and there's no denying there are some laughs to be had, but the stop-start ramshackle nature of this drug-fuelled nightmare before Christmas is more no-no-no than ho-ho-ho; it's nothing short of seasonal excess with a terrible cinematic hangover once the lights go up.

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