Released on 23/03/2007

• Insomniac goes multiplatform

  Insomniac goes multiplatform

  This is a bit of a shocker. Renowned PlayStation 3 developer Insomniac Games has announced it's going multiplatform with its next project.

  Famous for its work creating Sony exclusives like the brilliant Ratchet & Clank platformers and the Resistance FPSs, set in an alternate 1950s in which Earth is fighting off an alien menace, the company has already started work on its new multiplatform game that will be hitting the Xbox 360 as well as the PS3.

  The only news at the moment is that the game will be set in "a brand new universe" with no connection to its earlier franchises. It's being published by EA, but as it's still in its early stages, we won't be seeing anything at E3 in early June. Boo!

  Insomniac Games' founder Ted Price told Eurogamer that he's excited about working with the Xbox, and that the online platform Xbox Live is a great opportunity. "Xbox Live is impressive in its breadth and its popularity with users. That's a very cool opportunity for us to start taking advantage of."

  He added that fans of Resistance and Ratchet have nothing to worry about. "We're still as committed as ever to the franchises we're working on with Sony," said Price.

• Resistance: Burning Skies coming to PS Vita this May

  Sony has revealed that Resistance: Burning Skies, the latest instalment in the acclaimed Resistance franchise, will hit PlayStation Vita at the end of May 2012.

  The game takes place between the events of the second and third Resistance games on PlayStation 3, returning fans to the series' alternative version of the 1950s, in which the world has been ravaged by alien invaders called the Chimera.

  Playing as New York firefighter Tom Riley, players will explore famous US locations and face off against Chimeran enemies both new and familiar, while signature features such as the Weapon Wheel will make a return.

  Resistance: Burning Skies will be the first ever portable first-person shooter to utilise dual analogue controls, while touch control options are also available.

  The game will include an epic single-player story and competitive multiplayer options to rival any home console release.

  UK gamers will finally be able to get their hands on the eagerly awaited PS Vita system itself on February 22nd 2012.

  Published: 15/02/2012

• PlayStation 3 - The Essential Games

  
  

  So, you've got yourself a shiny new PlayStation 3. You know all about its fantastic online features, like PlayStation Network, BBC iPlayer, 4OD and more. You know about its awesome graphics and Blu-Ray player. What you really need to know is - what games should I get?

  Well, help is here! We've taken on the hard work and come up with our PS3 Essentials List - the 'hot half-dozen' you really need to get your game collection going.

  

  Action/Adventure

  SONY's flagship console needs SONY's flagship title - the Uncharted series. Since 2007 we've seen three adventures for Nathan Drake, the everyman hero whose treasure hunting escapades take him all over the world - and into all kinds of trouble. Featuring visually stunning locations and traditional action adventure gameplay like running, shooting and jumping, the Uncharted games are ideal for just getting stuck in and having fun while playing. Grab Uncharted: Drakes Fortune and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves in a special double pack, or jump straight into the latest instalment Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception.

  

  Shooter

  Killzone 3 is the latest chapter in PlayStation's signature shooter series. Putting a sci-fi twist on the traditional first-person shooter, Killzone 3 takes place across a range of locations from alien jungles, to nuclear wastelands, to outer space, marking a strong visual change to the usual combat zones found in FPS games. There's the usual single-player campaign and a host of multiplayer maps and mission-types to keep things interesting. Plus there's a choice of classes to play as and the use of things like jet-packs which put a new slant on the genre. And if you really want to, you can grab the first two chapters too!

  

  Sport

  Sports on the PS3 are taken to the extreme in SSX. A revival of the classic snowboarding series that helped launch the PS2, SSX presents players with an assortment of mountain slopes to conquer, and whole heap of tricks, moves and skills to learn, and playing modes that reward speed, skill and survival. While the single-player mode is fun enough, the online multiplayer works in such a way that you don't actually have to be playing at the same time to challenge your friends, with a league-like system that makes every race very competitive. If you're looking for a new sporting challenge, SSX is the game to beat!

  

  Sci-Fi/Fantasy

  The Resistance series was a bit of old-school sci-fi, an alternative history where alien race the Chimera had invaded and overrun the planet, thanks to a virus that turns humans into, well, more Chimera. Your job is to stop the Chimera take over Europe (in the first game) and North America (in the second and third), using a combination of contemporary and futuristic weapons. The alt-history setting makes for an interesting storyline with some fun 'what-if' scenarios, while the multiplayer options expand not only the world of the game, but also the fun you can have within it. Grab the first two games in a Platinum Double Pack and start fighting those aliens!

  

  Party

  If you really want to get the party going, you want to get the party singing, and what better way to do that than the SingStar series. The gameplay is simple - two people competing to out-sing the other... or at least trying to score higher than the other while singing, as actual singing ability is far from required to make this game enjoyable! With a range of games and songs to suit almost any age and taste, SingStar has proven to be one of the most inclusive and easy to play franchises to hit any console. For the ultimate in friendly competition, SingStar is the winning choice.

  

  Racing

  The Gran Turismo series has been a stalwart of the PlayStation brand for more than a decade, and Gran Turismo 5 continues the fine tradition of ultra-realistic driving simulation that leaves other racers in the dust. Like the earlier games in the series, GT5 is a showcase of the PS3's lifelike graphics and gameplay physics, this time incorporating realistic damage to your car as you compete. There's an enviable range of locations (26), tracks (71) and cars (over 1000!), and combined with the gameplay choices of career mode, arcade mode and online multiplayer, Gran Turismo 5 is the racing game that puts you on the right track.

  Of course, this list is far from definitive, but it does showcase some top games in each of the major categories of modern gaming. If you think you have a better champion for any category, or can think of a key title we've missed, please feel free to share your advice below!

  Published: 10/04/2012

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