PC In-depth Reviews

            Iceberg Interactive is rapidly increasing it’s fanbase amongst European gamers, packaging successful games for near-every genre and shipping them out to retail. While some of the titles selected have been a bit hit-and-miss, there have been some real gems that otherwise may not have earned themselves such a widespread audience. Trapped Dead was always a promising title, hoping to achieve the latter now its hit retail stores in the UK.

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            While Lionhead Studios may be at the forefront of Microsoft Game Studios’ research and development initiatives, the number of retail products delivered by the studio is surprisingly low. On the current-generation the entire output of the UK studio results in just one series: Fable. 2008’s critically acclaimed Fable II pushed forward the boundaries of modern videogame adventuring in a number of ways, but since then the experiences offered by story-driven videogames have received a number of contemporary overhauls. In order to prove the validity of their pioneering reputation, Fable III would need to deliver more than just an enjoyable romp through the world of Albion and a handful of British celebrity cameos.

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            Hitting retail as the Tales of Monkey Island: Collector’s Edition package, Lace Mamba Global’s latest launch already has a core audience ready to adopt it purely for the added incentives. Including a drinks coaster, badge, tarot card and a cloth map of the entire Gulf of Melange, as well as the complete collection of the Tales of Monkey Island videogame series, it’s no surprise that those already enamoured with the franchise would have ensured their pre-order was placed long before release. But what of the more casual observer? Is the retail package as welcoming as the downloadable episodes?

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            Many in the modern industry would assume a game with a title such as ‘Wildlife Park 3’ would be aimed at a casual audience. A game design as accessible, inoffensive entertainment suitable for the whole family. But while Wildlife Park 3 does carry some of those traits, it’s certainly not a simple game.

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            The latest addition to Electronic Arts’ phenomenally successful The Sims franchise does things a little differently. Just as the MySims spin-off took the basic idea and remodelled it for a different audience, The Sims Medieval presents another leg to the franchise – one in which the objective-based nature of the ambitions from The Sims 3 becomes a central focus.

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            Edna & Harvey: The Breakout is the first Daedalic Entertainment project to hit retail courtesy of Lace Mamba Global as part of a three-game publishing agreement. Following the critically acclaimed The Whispered World, Edna & Harvey: The Breakout is a much more light-hearted affair, returning to the traditional Point-N’-Click structure of the classics from the 90’s heyday.

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            Lace Mamba Global has found much success with the Point-N’-Click adventure game franchise in recent years. Having proved they have an eye for picking-up some of the best titles on the market, fans of the genre keenly follow the publisher’s output, waiting for the next groundbreaking title. Jolly Rover isn’t such a pioneer as to revolutionise the genre, but it does have a well enough written script to keep you captivated throughout its respectable duration.

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            One of PopCap Games’ latest retail releases for PC, following the Plants Vs. Zombies Game of the Year Edition and Bejeweled Blitz, Amazing Adventures: The Caribbean Secret is available now at a very reasonable budget price point. In a similar fashion to the two aforementioned titles Amazing Adventures: The Caribbean Secret is easy to learn but deceptively absorbing, and in the typical PopCap Games fashion has become a leading title in it’s genre.

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            Trion World’s long-awaited launch of Rift took place earlier this month, and was met with a significant amount of attention from the gaming public. As a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), Rift is subject to the same blinkered derogatory comparisons to the market leader, World of Warcraft, as any new competing title, but as with the recent launches of franchise tie-ins such as DC Universe Online and Star Trek Online, Rift is aiming at a very different market.

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            Arguably one of the most famous puzzle game series of recent times, PopCap Games’ Bejeweled has made its way to retail once again in this fourth PC release, Bejeweled Blitz. Taking the traditional Bejeweled formula and adding a high-speed twist to it, Bejeweled Blitz is a bite-sized game that can quickly become a time-absorbing addiction.

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