Agatha Christie’s Great Detectives Poirot and Marple (2004) – 5/10 crime mystery anime review

Cast / crew Kaoru Yachigusa: Miss Marple Kotaro Satomi: Hercule Poirot Writer (Original Story) The Adventure of the Cheap Flat: Agatha Christie

Great Detectives Poirot and Marple, Agatha Christie’s (2004) Maybelle is the great niece of Jane Marple, a resident of St. Mary Mead with a reputation for solving mysteries, especially criminal ones. Maybelle also invents herself a job as an assistant to the world’s greatest detective Hercule Poirot and proceeds to work for him. As such she gets to see two great detectives at work and hopes to learn from them. 5/10 This is an intriguing and surprisingly accurate adaptation (no lesbians here ITV) of a lot of Agatha Christie stories for a Japanese audience. The mysteries are very clearly presented but, despite excellent music and perfectly adequate animation, there’s no atmosphere and the girl and baby duck (!) are not artistically justifiable or thematically necessary. (They will have been added for commercial reasons.) Generally, Miss Marple comes off worse; basically she’s a smug know-it-all. Poirot clearly works for and applies his "little grey cells" to the solution but there’s no character behind his brains. This series contains adult dialogue and violence, unpleasant scenes.

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Transformers: War for Cybertron (2010, PC) – 7/10 third-person science fiction action game review

Cast / crew

Transformers: War for Cybertron (2010) On their home planet of Cybertron, the Autobots and Decepticons battle to control Dark Energon. 7/10 This is a stylish sci-fi shooter but it suffers from the inherited bland characterisations of the Transformers themselves, especially the Autobots. The robots are essentially indistinguishable from each other but the notable exception comes from the Decepticon campaign. Starscream entertainingly seeks his own glory and self-preservation but Megatron is an absolute riot with his endless self-aggrandising statements and credit-taking. The Decepticon campaign ends with a clearer and so more spectacular boss battle than the Autobot campaign (which sees you spend most of the time not looking at the boss). This game contains mild bad language and robot violence. Links Lens of Truth Head-to-Head: 360 Eurogamer Head-to-Head: 360

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James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game (2009, PS3) – 6/10 movie action game review

Cast / crew Lead Game Designer: Benoit MacOn

James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game (2009) 6/10 This is a worthwhile video game prequel tie-in to the movie with a surprising amount to do (action and collection goals) and a combat system that offers a couple of goodies (special powers and a range of weapons all with generous ammo). The first ride on the Banshee is very nice with James Horner’s music and the spectacular scenery combining perfectly. The two runs through the game as a Na’vi and a human are also, surprisingly, not through recycled scenery. They use different environments and require different tactical approaches. As a human, you’re essentially indestructible and unstoppable as long as you don’t get numerically overwhelmed. As a Na’vi, you can be mown down in a matter of seconds at any time. It makes an intriguing difference. Classified 12+ by PEGI. The game is only suitable for persons who have reached the age of 12 or over. Classified Violence by PEGI. Game contains depictions of violence. Classified Bad Language by PEGI. Game contains bad language. Links Lens of Truth Head-to-Head: 360 / PS3 Eurogamer Head-to-Head: 360

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Doctor Who 33.10 The Girl Who Waited (2011) – 8/10 science fiction adventure TV review

Cast / crew Matt Smith: The Doctor Karen Gillan: Amy Pond Arthur Darvill: Rory Williams Writer: Tom MacRae Producer: Marcus Wilson Director: Nick Hurran

Doctor Who S33E10 Girl Who Waited, The (2011) The Doctor takes Amy and Rory to one of the Universe’s most popular tourist destinations but when they arrive something is wrong. A small mix-up sees the Doctor and Rory in one room and Amy in another but time is running at different speeds in each. 8/10 This is a slow burner with an over-acted setup but once the meat of the episode finally kicks in, we are given something easy to empathise with and emotionally powerful and interesting as well. The most powerful entertainment frequently asks us ‘what would you do?’ and that’s certainly the case here. Both Karen Gillan (with some uncommonly good age make-up; unusually, it’s not wildly overdone) and Arthur Darvill are outstanding and, for the first time, I feel their relationship truly came across as deeply as the writers have intended for many episodes now. This Doctor Who episode contains violence against robots. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance. Links Doctor Who Screened by Slimm Previous episode: Night Terrors Next episode: The God Complex

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Doctor Who 33.09 Night Terrors (2011) – 7/10 science fiction adventure TV review

Cast / crew Matt Smith: The Doctor Karen Gillan: Amy Pond Arthur Darvill: Rory Williams Writer: Mark Gatiss Producer: Sanne Wohlenberg Director: Richard Clark Daniel Mays: Alex Jamie Oram: George

Doctor Who 33.09 Night Terrors (2011) The Doctor responds to a distress call from a small boy who is terrified of just about everything but the parents’ advice and actions to put all the scary things in the cubpoard may backfire. 7/10 This is certainly a scary episode with some agreeably disturbing transformations and a plot that works quite well as long as you don’t ask where the deadly dolls came from. This Doctor Who episode contains scary and unpleasant scenes. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance. Links Doctor Who Screened by Slimm Previous episode: Let’s Kill Hitler Next episode: The Girl Who Waited

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Doctor Who 33.08 Let’s Kill Hitler (2011) – 6/10 science fiction adventure TV review

Cast / crew Matt Smith: The Doctor Karen Gillan: Amy Pond Arthur Darvill: Rory Williams Writer: Steven Moffat Producer: Marcus Wilson Director: Richard Senior

Doctor Who 33.08 Let’s Kill Hitler (2011) The Doctor, Amy, Rory and the TARDIS are kidnapped at gunpoint and taken to 1938 Berlin where they inadvertently interrupt the assassination of Adolf Hitler. 6/10 How had there not been an Seventies exploitation movie with this title? While the episode story is too jarring to convince (especially regarding a brainwashed assassin who suddenly isn’t when the plot needs it) and repeatedly putting a principal character’s life in danger works to undermine it’s potential drama, there’s just too much fun spread around to keep complaining. When you’ve got lines like “Take Hitler and put him in that cupboard”, the rest of the episode gets a pass. This Doctor Who episode contains unpleasant scenes. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance. Links Doctor Who Screened by Slimm Previous episode: A Good Man Goes to War Next episode: Night Terrors

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Doctor Who 33.07 A Good Man Goes to War (2011) – 7/10 science fiction adventure TV review

Cast / crew Matt Smith: The Doctor Karen Gillan: Amy Pond Arthur Darvill: Rory Williams Writer: Steven Moffat Producer: Marcus Wilson Director: Peter Hoar Alex Kingston: River Song Frances Barber: Madame Kovarian Writer (Characters’ Creator) Cybermen: Kit Pedler Writer (Characters’ Creator) Cybermen: Gerry Davis Writer (Characters’ Creator) Silurians: Malcolm Hulke Writer (Characters’ Creator) Sontarans: Robert Holmes Writer (Characters’ Creator) Ood and Judoon: Russell T. Davies

Doctor Who 33.07 Good Man Goes to War, A (2011) 7/10 Tightly written and irresistibly paced as the Doctor (who doesn’t even appear for the first twenty minutes) conspires to subdue, without bloodshed, an asteroid stronghold defended by two armies. His late appearance proves thematically important as the fear of his reputation as someone who will bend time, space and anything else he wishes to his will is just as powerful as his presence. It’s an intriguing backbone to all the sci-fi ‘splosions and shooting. It’s cool to see all various races back and the acting is a little more consistent from the non-Matt Smith cast than it has tended to be this season. While, the series-motif of constantly blurting into tears is rather more justified here, it still seems rather turn-on-and-off-able. This Doctor Who episode contains violence. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance. Links Previous episode: The Rebel Flesh / The Almost People Doctor Who Screened by Slimm Next episode: Let’s Kill Hitler

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Doctor Who 33.05,06 The Rebel Flesh / The Almost People (2011) – 6/10 science fiction adventure TV review

Cast / crew Matt Smith: The Doctor Karen Gillan: Amy Pond Arthur Darvill: Rory Williams Writer: Matthew Graham Producer: Marcus Wilson Director: Julian Simpson

Doctor Who 33.05,06 Rebel Flesh, The / Almost People, The (2011) A power surge from a solar tsunami separates doppelgangers made from a special liquid flesh from their human originals. The Doctor tries to bring everyone together harmoniously but things are never that easy. 6/10 Feeling a bit padded with characters running around like headless chickens for no obvious reason, this is an episode with a terrifically interesting idea well-presented (how would you feel if there were two of you?) and some impressively spooky make-up for the “almost people”. There’s also a brilliantly SPOILER unexpected climax / cliffhanger which builds upon the intrigue of the Eye Patch Lady. “We’re coming for you.” Wonderful. Hopefully, we’ll get some answers next week before the show takes a summer break. That said, it never quite gels completely (hehe) but feels like it just, only just, keeps losing it’s grip on edge-of-the-seat greatness. This Doctor Who episode contains unpleasant scenes, violence. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance. Links Doctor Who Screened by Slimm Previous episode: The Doctor’s Wife Next episode: A Good Man Goes to War

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Doctor Who 33.04 The Doctor’s Wife (2011) – 7/10 science fiction adventure TV review

Cast / crew Matt Smith: The Doctor Karen Gillan: Amy Pond Arthur Darvill: Rory Williams Writer: Neil Gaiman Producer: Sanne Wohlenberg Director: Richard Clark Suranne Jones: Idris Michael Sheen: Voice of House

Doctor Who 33.04 Doctor’s Wife, The (2011) The Doctor takes Amy, Rory and the Tardis out of the universe in response to a distress signal from another Time Lord. Surely he’s dead, but it must be followed up. Very soon, with Amy and Rory in great danger, the Doctor will wish he hadn’t responded but a woman in a cage proves to be a priceless, never-to-be-repeated encounter. 7/10 Toying with expectations that we would learn more about SPOILER River Song, this is an interesting episode with a surfeit of cool, thinking-out-the-universe ideas. Some of the acting is a bit amateur-hour though. Early on we have insane ramblings (which is never, ever convincing on-screen; it should be unsettling, but it just looks like a school play) and, for the climax, all our lead actors jarringly turn on their waterworks like a switch. Fortunately, this episode has connected better emotionally than the last one and we’ll let them off this time. To end on a high note, there is a monstrously good gag regarding the bedroom the Doctor made in the Tardis for Amy and Rory: SPOILER he’d installed a bunk bed! “Bunk beds are cool.” This Doctor Who episode contains mild adult dialogue and unpleasant scenes. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance. Links Doctor Who Screened by Slimm Previous episode: The Curse of the Black Spot Next episode: The Rebel Flesh / The Almost People

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Idiocracy (2005) – 8/10 satirical science-fiction comedy movie review

Cast / crew Director: Mike Judge Luke Wilson: Joe Bauers Maya Rudolph: Rita Dax Shepard: Frito Terry Crews: President Camacho David Herman: Secretary of State Producer: Mike Judge Writer (Story): Mike Judge Writer (Screenplay): Mike Judge Writer (Screenplay): Etan Cohen

Idiocracy (2005) After being accidentally hibernated for 500 years, instead of one, the most average man in the US Army librarian Joe Bauer finds himself in a crude, barely coherent world where he is now the smartest man on the planet. 8/10 This is something of a satirical masterpiece and should be required viewing for all citizens of the planet. Mike Judge extrapolates our impatience with learning, endless diet of ever-cruder entertainment and unbalanced production of children to the less-educated, poorer populace to an America that, in 500 years, is on the brink of extinction through undefeatable stupidity. Horrifyingly, it’s all too easy to see society go this way and most people who have never been to America rather presume that this is essentially what it’s like anyway. However, never forget that this movie was made by an American (Mike Judge) for an American company (Fox), so there’s still hope. Outside of the successful sniping of satirical targets, the movie is also warm-natured, fun and nice and enjoyable, crisp and entertaining. This movie contains sexual swear words, crude and adult dialogue. Classified 15 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over.

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Panique au village aka A Town Called Panic (2009) – bonkers Belgian animated adventure movie review

Cast / crew Writer (Scenario): Stéphane Aubier Writer (Scenario): Guillaume Malandrin Writer (Scenario): Vincent Patar Writer (Scenario): Vincent Tavier Director: Stéphane Aubier Director: Vincent Patar Producer: Philippe Kauffmann Producer: Vincent Tavier Stéphane Aubier: Cowboy, Max Briquenet, Mr Ernotte Vincent Patar: Cheval, Maman Atlante

Panique au village aka A Town Called Panic (2009) After a birthday present for Horse ends up with the destruction of their house and a bill for 500000000000000000000000000000000 bricks, Cowboy and Indian think it can’t get any worse. After rebuilding the following day, the trio awake to find that someone has stolen their freshly constructed house. 8/10 Mad but breathlessly, addictively, exhaustingly brilliant animated adventure which remains relentlessly positive and upbeat and has a very sweet core. And mad. This is one of those films made by people whose minds clearly do not work in any way like ours. I suspect you would not predict a single sequence or story beat throughout the entire movie and, in this case, it’s all the better for it. Essential. And mad. This movie contains a mild swear word and extreme comic violence. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance.

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Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening (2010) – fantasy action role-playing game sequel DLC review

Cast / crew Producer: Fernando Melo Lead Designer: Ferret Baudoin Project Manager: Adriana Lopez Lead Programmer: Owen Borstad Quality Assurance Lead: Jason Leong Greg Ellis: Anders Adam Leadbeater: Justice Simon Chadwick: Nathaniel Howe Steven J. Blum: Oghren Natalia Cigliuti: Sigrun Jamie Glover: The Architect Dee Dee Rescher: The Mother Robin Sachs: Varel Grey Delisle: Velanna

Dragon Age: Origins Awakenings (2010) With the Blight over and the Archdemon slain, it comes as a great surprise when you arrive in your new arlship and the new Ferelden Grey Warden Headquarters Vigil’s Keep, previously under the governance of Rendon Howe, and find devastation wrought by darkspawn under the leadership of one that can talk, reason and lead. 9/10 Perhaps it’s because it didn’t need the slow introduction of the main game but this supremely entertaining sequel to Dragon Age: Origins starts at full pace and doesn’t let up giving you lots of little quests to keep you busy, interspersed with the occasional impossible decision, peppered with a lot of funny, fun dialogue. It even has a secret room, at last! This Dragon Age: Origins game contains mild swear words and strong, gory violence with an hilarious option to leave you peppered with gravity resistant blood splatters that are way too big, unpleasant scenes and non-sexual nudity. Links Dragon Age: Origins

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Dragon Age: Origins – Witch Hunt (2010) – fantasy action role-playing game DLC review

Cast / crew Lead Designer: Ferret Baudoin Technical Designer: Mark Barazzuol Technical Designer: Jason Hill Technical Designer: Kaelin Lavallee Technical Designer: David Sims Cinematic Designer: Ryan Ebenger Cinematic Designer: Michelle Pettit-Mee Writer: Sheryl Chee Writer: David Gaider Writer: Jennifer Brandes Hepler Lead Producer: Fernando Melo Producer: Heather Rabatich

Dragon Age: Origins Witch Hunt (2010) Morrigan left following the Archdemon’s defeat (just like she said she would) but after hearing reports of a witch matching her description leaving her mark on various communities across Ferelden, the Warden seeks to catch up with her and find out if she needs help… or stopping. 6/10 It’s enough; a bite-size DLC with a couple of new characters, a couple of hours of gameplay and a couple of moments with Morrigan. The climax is a bit weak with a big boss battle as a combat high contrasting poorly with the unsatisfying conversation with Morrigan. Perhaps it was in character for her to keep her cards close to her ample chest but it doesn’t make for a great punctuation point for the conclusion of a DLC. Still, glad to be back in Ferelden. This Dragon Age: Origins game contains mild swear words and strong, gory violence with an hilarious option to leave you peppered with gravity resistant blood splatters that are way too big. Links Dragon Age: Origins

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Dragon Age: Origins – The Golems of Amgarrak (2010) – fantasy action role-playing game DLC review

Cast / crew Lead Designer: Ferret Baudoin Technical Designer: Mark Barazzuol Technical Designer: Craig Graff Technical Designer: David Sitar Cinematic Designer: Jonathan Epp Writer: Sheryl Chee John Ullyatt: Brogan Adam Howden: Darion Brian Bloom: Jerrik

Dragon Age: Origins Golems of Amgarrak, The (2010) The Warden comes to the assistance of Jerrik Dace and helps him search for his brother, presumed lost, after an expedition in to the Deep Roads to recover the secrets of golem construction. 5/10 Despite an impressively gross boss, I didn’t think this was much fun. I suspect this is because it doesn’t feature any of your companions from the main game. It also irritates me when principal characters don’t have to accept when a relative is dead and insist they can keep living if the heroes refuse to believe it; as if it’s largely a being’s will that keeps them alive. It demeans and undermines the entire concept of death. This Dragon Age: Origins game contains mild swear words and strong, gory violence with an hilarious option to leave you peppered with gravity resistant blood splatters that are way too big. Links Dragon Age: Origins

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Dragon Age: Origins – Leliana’s Song (2010) – 7/10 fantasy action role-playing game DLC review

Cast / crew Cinematic Designer: Ryan Ebenger Cinematic Designer: Jonathan Epp Cinematic Designer: Michelle Pettit-Mee Technical Designer: Cori May Technical Designer: Keith Warner Writer: Lukas Kristjanson Lead Producer: Fernando Melo Producer: Rob Bartel Producer: Dan Lazin Corinne Kempa: Leliana Kath Soucie: Marjolaine Adam Howden: Silas John Ullyatt: Sketch Mark Meer: Tug

Dragon Age: Origins Leliana’s Song (2010) What was Leliana up to before she entered the Chantry and met the Warden? Well, she was a naughty girl. 7/10 Prequel to Dragon Age: Origins. Fun opening quests; before fleshing out the details we learned during her personal quest in the main game. Story doesn’t quite match up with Leliana’s recounting in Origins but we do get an interesting look into the Mother of the Chantry (who was seduced by Marjolaine) and the switch between Leliana having fun and then getting betrayed is interesting and well done. The dialogue more frequently doesn’t seem to follow on from itself. The ending isn’t exactly satisfying (there isn’t one exactly; Leliana says she won’t tell us what happened between her and Marjolaine) and the difficulty spike for the final boss is rather extreme. Links Dragon Age: Origins

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Dragon Age: Origins – The Darkspawn Chronicles (2010) – 8/10 fantasy action role-playing game alternate history DLC review

Cast / crew Lead Designer: Rob Bartel Lead Writer: Rob Bartel Technical Designer: Mark Barazzuol Technical Designer: David Sitar Technical Designer: Josh Stiksma Cinematic Designer: Jonathan Epp Lead Audio Designer: Matt Besler Audio Designer: Terry Fairfield Lead Producer: Fernando Melo Producer: Dan Lazin

Dragon Age: Origins Darkspawn Chronicles, The (2010) Alternate history DLC. One Grey Warden remains, one threat to the Archdemon: the King of Ferelden, Alistair. He has gathered allies and armies but the Archdemon has endless hordes of Darkspawn at her disposal and has got herself a Hurlock Vanguard (the player) to slay the heroes and ensure darkness triumphs. 8/10 Though it’s not at all obvious that this takes place in an alternate history where your would-be Grey Warden died in the initial joining ceremony and Alistair became the Warden-King who led Ferelden into battle against the Darkspawn, this is a fun expansion with something of a studio tour feel. Look there’s Arl Howe! Look there’s Ohgren! Ooh, there’s Leliana! No way, it’s Morrigan! Though a studio tour where you’re equipped with a hulking great sword and then proceed to mow down all the stars. Terrific fun. This Dragon Age: Origins game contains strong, gory violence with an hilarious option to leave you peppered with gravity resistant blood splatters that are way too big. Links Dragon Age: Origins

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Dragon Age: Origins (2009) – 8/10 fantasy action role-playing game review

Cast / crew Executive Producer: Dan Tudge Project Director: Dan Tudge Executive Producer: Mark Darrah Project Director: Mark Darrah Lead Designer: Brent Knowles Lead Designer: Mike Laidlaw Lead Designer: James Ohlen Art Director: Dean Andersen Lead Programmer: Ross Gardner Voice Over Producer and Director: Caroline Livingstone Producer: Derek French Producer: Vanessa Kade Producer: Kevin Loh Producer: Kyle Scott Engine Architect: Derek Beland Engine Architect: Paul Roffel Peter Renaday: Duncan Kate Mulgrew: Flemeth Tim Curry: Arl Howe Corinne Kempa: Leliana Simon Templeman: Loghain Claudia Black: Morrigan Steven J. Blum: Oghren Mark Hildreth: Sten Susan Boyd Joyce: Wynne Jon Curry: Zevran

Dragon Age: Origins (2009) The Land of Ferelden, home to humans, elves and dwarves, is under attack by a Darkspawn horde invigorated by the discovery and release of an Archdemon. As the Grey Wardens prepare to do their duty and lead Ferelden’s army into battle – for only they can slay an Archdemon – the treacherous Teryn Loghain is about to seize this opportunity to take control of the country. 8/10 This turns out to be a great game thanks to the sheer weight of fun, interesting, intriguing and surprising gameplay and story that follows an uninvolving start – something typical of the genre. Story writers for games just refuse to learn that the player will not have an emotional attachment just because you tell them a character is your mother or father. So you aren’t bothered when they’re killed. Later on, after spending fifty hours with other characters, you are bothered when they leave you to become a wandering drunk, you stubborn, stupid entirely understandable fool. While there’s no sense that the world carries on without you and characters with their clothes off look bizarre, the game (on PC) looks terrific, quests frequently feature interesting decisions, the generous spots of humour show welcome humanity, and the rewarding combat is as simple or tactical as you want it (and can be altered during gameplay at any time without penalty, thank you). Though it should have just been called Dragon Age. What is it with Americans and their subtitles? They sure love them some colons. This game contains bad language, adult dialogue and strong, gory violence with an hilarious option to leave you peppered with gravity resistant blood splatters that are way too big and sex scenes. Classified 18+ by PEGI. The game is only suitable for adults who have reached the age of 18 or over.. Links IGN Head-to-Head: 360 IGN Head-to-Head: PC Lens of Truth Head-to-Head: PS3 Eurogamer Head-to-Head: PC Eurogamer Head-to-Head: 360 / PS3 The Darkspawn Chronicles Leliana’s Song The Golems of Amgarrak Witch Hunt Awakening

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The Other Guys (2010) – 6/10 buddy-buddy police action comedy movie review

Cast / crew Director: Adam McKay Will Ferrell: Allen Gamble Mark Wahlberg: Terry Hoitz Eva Mendes: Dr. Sheila Gamble Michael Keaton: Captain Gene Mauch Steve Coogan: David Ershon Ray Stevenson: Roger Wesley Samuel L. Jackson: P.K. Highsmith Dwayne Johnson: Christopher Danson Producer: Will Ferrell Producer: Adam McKay Producer: Jimmy Miller Producer: Patrick Crowley Writer: Adam McKay Writer: Chris Henchy Adam McKay: Dirty Mike

Other Guys, The (2010) After mega-star, mega-hero cops Highsmith and Danson are killed in the line of duty, it leaves a giant hole in the department. Angry cop Terry Hoitz sees an opportunity to get his career back on track but he doesn’t see eye-to-eye with partner accountant cop Allen Gamble. 6/10 Despite some serious plot clunkiness and out-of-place dialogue, this does have enough charm and energy to get by. Ferrell makes it. He nails everything (the comedy, the dark side) but his ability to deliver a line is in stark contrast to Wahlberg. Wahlberg gets funny lines but doesn’t know how to deliver them; additionally, his Hulk-outs aren’t as effective as Ferrell’s. He’s supposed to be a diminutive ball of barely contained fury but he doesn’t quite get there and it’s a surprise when he says angry stuff while only looking like he’s struggling to remember his lines. However, there’s a good number of funny gags (a silent scuffle at a funeral is surprisingly good fun), Ferrell makes it, the plot has a backbone, the plot-related end credits are fascinating and the movie, as a whole, is fun and charming and works despite faults. This movie contains mild swear words, strong adult dialogue and violence. Classified 12A by BBFC. Persons under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

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Xbox 360 vs PS3 vs PC Head-to-Head Face Off: Dead Island, El Shaddai and Madden NFL 12

Every so often, Eurogamer run a series of technical comparison reviews for games released on both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

This is the latest update to the full list.

Starting with 2011 games, you can hover over the publications icons for a very quick summary.

• Dead Island
• El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron
• Madden NFL 12

Xbox 360 vs PS3 Head-to-Head Face Off: Driver: San Francisco

Every so often, Eurogamer run a series of technical comparison reviews for games released on both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

This is the latest update to the full list.

Starting with 2011 games, you can hover over the publications icons for a very quick summary.

• Driver: San Francisco

Azur et Asmar (2006) – 7/10 fantasy animated movie review

Cast / crew Producer: Christophe Rossignon Director: Michel Ocelot Writer: Michel Ocelot Cyril Mourali: Azur Karim M’ribah: Asmar Hiam Abbass: Jenane Patrick Timsit: Crapoux Rayan Mahjoub: Azur enfant Abdelsselem Ben Amar: Asmar enfant

Azur et Asmar (2006) Azur is a prince. Asmar is the son of his nanny, Jenane. They grow up together, lapping up Jenane’s stories of the beautiful Fairy of the Djinns in her homeland. As they reach their teenage years, Azur is sent to boarding school and Jenane fired and turned out onto the street. Though their lives are now heading in different directions, the tale of the beautiful fairy still holds power over them. 7/10 Starting weakly with a slightly uninvolving hop, skip and a jump through a childhood, Azur et Asmur begins to really shine once Azur decides, with good reason, to feign blindness. It builds to a stunning moment when he next opens his eyes. The animation style seems distractingly basic but it’s not really; each character is imbued with subtlety and believability. Azur, the white one, is a bit odd looking but Asmar and the Djinn of the Fairies look absolutely stunning and a lion late on proves a showpiece of design. Story-wise, this has a lot that happens but progression feels a bit lightweight and easy (this door’s blocking our way; oh, here’s the key). Yet you can go back and derive wisdom from the actions of Azur and Asmar and how the preparations, long research, determination and self-sacrificing spirit fueled their success. This movie contains violence, mild gory and unpleasant scenes. Classified U by BBFC. Universal: Suitable for All.

Limbo (2010) – 9/10 puzzle platform game review

Cast / crew Creator and Director: Arnt Jensen Producer: Mads Wibroe Programmer Boy: Thomas Krog Animator Boy: Thomas Krog Lead Game Designer: Jeppe Carlsen Lead Level Designer: Jeppe Carlsen

Limbo (2010) A boy must travel from left to right and overcome the ingenious obstacles in his path. 9/10 Brilliantly designed puzzle game which has clearly been play-tested and polished to near-perfection. The only misstep occurred late on (something I thought was a sign, and so just went flying past, was a switch) but that might be just me. Despite almost no instructions, prompts and hand-holding, the mechanics of the game are communicated wonderfully and frustration is avoided because checkpoints are sensible and the tools to make progress are always clear, it’s determining how to use them for each bite-size obstacle that provides the challenge. The satisfaction from completing each ingenious segment is a delight. This game contains optional extreme and graphic silhouetted violence. Classified 18+ by PEGI. The game is only suitable for adults who have reached the age of 18 or over.. Classified Violence by PEGI. Game contains depictions of violence.

Xbox 360 vs PS3 Head-to-Head Face Off: Bodycount

Every so often, Eurogamer run a series of technical comparison reviews for games released on both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

This is the latest update to the full list.

Starting with 2011 games, you can hover over the publications icons for a very quick summary.

• Bodycount

King of Thorn (2009) – 7/10 science fiction horror anime movie review

Cast / crew Director: Kazuyoshi Katayama Writer (Screenplay): Kazuyoshi Katayama Writer (Screenplay): Hiroshi Yamaguchi Writer: Akiko Yajima Kana Hanazawa: Kasumi Ishiki Toshiyuki Morikawa: Marco Owen Akiko Yajima: Tim

King of Thorn (2009) Medusa, an incurable disease that turns its victims to stone after a month or two, is sweeping the world. After a while, pharmaceutical giant Venus Gate Corporation announces that is has developed suspended animation modules that can keep the disease at bay until such a time as a cure is found. Kasumi Ishiki has won a single ticket from the lottery held for the 160 places available but is devastated that her twin sister Shizuku, who also has the disease, cannot get in. When she awakes from her suspended animation module, Kasumi awakes to find the facility massively overgrown with giant thorns and horrible monsters: just how long has she been asleep? 7/10 Spectacular, superbly animated, relentlessly paced monster movie with a slightly baffling but intriguing meta-physical climax. As a suspenseful chase movie it grabs hold and doesn’t let go; as a existential sci-fi, it just about presents the explanation in a manner you can understand (so better than most Japanese animations, then) but it still comes across as somewhat obtuse and requires post-movie consideration to see that the makers probably did know what they were doing. This movie contains suicide themes and extremely gory violence, unpleasant and extremely gory scenes and non-sexual nudity.

Chaos (2005) – 7/10 police heist thriller movie review

Cast / crew Director: Tony Giglio Jason Statham: Quentin Conners Ryan Phillippe: Shane Dekker Wesley Snipes: Lorenz / Jason York Justine Waddell: Det. Teddy Galloway Nicholas Lea: Det. Vincent Durano Damon Johnson: Brandon Dax Jessica Steen: Karen Cross Henry Czerny: Capt. Martin Jenkins Producer: Huw Penallt Jones Producer: Gavin Wilding Producer: Michael Derbas Writer: Tony Giglio

Chaos (2005) A team of highly organised bank robbers make a strange demand: they will only deal with disgraced, suspended cop Quentin Conners. The Captain reinstates him to Detective and assigns him a babysitter, Shane Dekker, but as the situation progresses Dekker is surprised to find Conners is nothing like his reputation. 7/10 This is what you’re looking for from the B-movie thriller shelf: a crisp and pacy cops and robbers story which surprises you by being more involving and less predictable than you’re expecting. Statham is the maverick cop but, it’s odd, he’s sensible, calm, in control and follows the rules. It’s not the only surprise from the film. The cool explosions from the trailer are actually in the film, a biker assists a cop who needs his bike, Ryan Philippe’s rookie detective gets winded after a vehicle accident, the story never stagnates and the French poster seems to have a picture of Gregory Hines on it for some reason (it’s supposed to be Wesley Snipes). This movie contains sexual swear words, adult dialogue and violence, gory and unpleasant scenes and brief non-sexual nudity. Classified 15 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over.