3:55pm Friday 12th September 2008
By Chris Davies
All the latest games reviews and news with our resident games expert CHRIS DAVIES.
>> BUZZ! QUIZ TV.
(Developer Relentless Software Publisher Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Out now on PlayStation 3).
We've all sat down to watch The Weakest Link or similar at some point in our lives. Even when engrossed in reading this month's Asian Image, once you hear Anne Robinson ask "which of the Teletubbies is red", it's hard not to mutter "Po" and hope nobody heard you.
Whether the questions are for money or not, quiz shows are classic entertainment.
Buzz! Quiz TV contains 1,000 questions in five different categories, meaning a grand total of 5,000 questions, a huge amount, but in my first ten games two questions were repeated - which illustrates the problem with games of this genre.
To combat this, you can download category-specific question packs containing 500 questions for £3.49 each; if that seems a bit steep, or if the categories don't appeal (currently Rock Legends, Sci-Fi, UK Culture and Australian Culture), you can use MyBuzz. This is a free feature, where you can create your own quizzes and try those of others.
When playing offline, you can select whether to play a standard game featuring all categories, or concentrate on one specific subject. So if you just want to find out who the true music mogul in your family is, you can.
For the most fun, though, you can team up with family and friends to play online.
One person controls the buzzer and, as a question is displayed, he or she must take in the screams and shouts of those around them and select an answer. Anybody in the room can join in, and everyone becomes engrossed in the event, determined to beat the other contestants and to climb up the game's leaderboard.
Best played with others, Buzz! Quiz TV is an absolute blast. (9/10).
>>TOP SPIN 3.
(Developer PAM Publisher 2K Sports Out now on PlayStation 3 / Xbox 360 / Wii).
Wimbledon may be over but this year's tennis season is in full-swing.
Gamers with a soft spot for tennis, but who suffer from tennis elbow at the mere sight of a racquet, will know that there have been many tennis games over the years - some have been arcade button-bashers, others have attempted to be a simulation of the sport.
It's safe to say that Top Spin 3 is the latter.
The game is immensely difficult, with even simple returns proving impossible at first. Rather than being able to hold down a button and run around safe in the knowledge that your character will hit the ball back when required, here you have to time your button-presses to start the swing animation at exactly the right moment.
This is very frustrating at first, but if you dedicate a few hours to learning the game's basics, it gets easier.
When you notch up your first tour win against a photo-realistic opponent, it's a satisfying feeling.
Stars of the men's and women's game feature (including blasts from the past such as Boris Becker and Monica Seles), but it is worth mentioning that Rafael Nadal only features in the PS3 game.
When playing alone you can embark on an in-depth career, recreating yourself in great detail using the facial construction feature and entering events from around the world.
Online you can play exhibition matches (including doubles, allowing you to team up with a friend).
If you want a tennis game you can simply pick up and play, try Virtua Tennis, but if you want the most realistic tennis game to date - and you have the patience for it - it doesn't get any better than this. (8/10).
>>GAMES NEWS.
This year's E3 event has just finished over in the US, where the big names in games gather to show their latest work. For PlayStation 3 fans, the main announcement was that 40gb PS3s are to be phased out in the UK and replaced with 80gb versions later this month, which will sell for the same price.
Xbox 360 owners can look forward to an Xbox Live facelift this autumn. The console's interface is entirely redesigned, and the update includes new features such as avatars (a 3D cartoon-like character that represents yourself) and hard drive game installation (meaning reduced loading times).
Some great-looking games featured across all platforms, including LittleBigPlanet (PS3), Gears of War 2 (360) and Animal Crossing (Wii), all due for release before the end of 2008. For previews of these games and more, take a look at the official E3 website: www.e3expo.com.
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