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Rooms: the main building DS Review

Jack Joly
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Rooms: the main building
Genre: Puzzle
Platform: Nintendo DS (Wii)
Developer: Hudson Soft (Handmade games)
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: Out Now
Buy Now

In Rooms: the main building you play as Mr. X, an unfortunate man who was sucked into a strange world after reading a mystical letter. Now you must escape by ploughing through the vast array of enigmatic rooms in order to unlock the puzzle of the rooms to return home… Hold on… Get that pistol out of your mouth! All hope is not lost, for you have the imaginatively named Mr. Book by your side. This talking book has near encyclopedic knowledge of the puzzle world, and it is his helpful introduction to new objects found in the rooms, as well as his steady stream of useful advice that will aid your escape.

Rooms: the main building is a game of many different attributes. Much like a jigsaw, it is made up of a number of different pieces; there’s the core gameplay, the puzzles in which you have to slide the tiles to complete the background image, at the same time reaching the exit, thus completing the room. But outside of these puzzles in story mode, there are mystery-solving point ‘n’ click aspects evident too. As the game is controlled 100% by touch screen controls, much like a point ‘n’ click titles, you find yourself manoeuvring around the screen by tapping where you want to go, examining and picking up strange objects which, along with some logic, are needed to progress onto the next stage. You do a good deal of puzzling in the central-hub world, as well as in the actual puzzle rooms themselves. But that’s not all. As if the variation wasn’t enough in the story mode, there is also an additional Challenge Mode, as well as a full-blown level editor entitled ’Build’ (more on these later).
 

 

But first, the story mode, which promises to keep you busy for quite a while with four mansions to work your way through, plus extra mansions bundled on at the end. The actual story aspect of it seems very latched on, and watching the drawn out cut scenes is a time-consuming affair. Also, given that a lot of people want to jump into a puzzle quickly and easily, the inclusion of these underwhelming cut scenes is unnecessary. It’s good to have some background as to why you are traipsing through all these puzzle rooms, but the plot just feels a little overdone for a puzzler.

However, what the game lacks in story, it makes up for in gameplay. The game is slow to get going with the initial introductory puzzles feeling almost as drawn out as the cut scenes, but once it picks up there is some thought-provoking puzzling on offer. Each level has a difficulty rating out of 5 stars, and it is only when this starts to rise that the game really comes into it’s own. Also, with the gradual dispersal of new items in the rooms, you never feel like you are grinding through levels- it always feels fresh.

 

As you progress through the rooms (levels), along with a bit more clue-finding and puzzle-solving in the central hub area, you in turn unlock new mansions (stages). In this respect, there is a lot of content on offer, which is great value for money. You can then play through certain rooms again in order to get perfect on every one. Fully completed rooms are marked as gold, whereas levels which you have merely passed will be shown as silver. This means (for perfectionists especially) there are many added hours of entertainment to be found here.

Moreover, there’s the challenge mode which ups the difficulty through the introduction of time limits and restraints on the number of moves you can make, ideal for those who didn’t find the story mode taxing enough. Furthermore, ‘Build’ mode can provide an extra lease of life into the game, due to the option to exchange your own personal puzzles with a friend. Sadly, there is a limit on the number of levels that can be saved; to the tune of the rather undersized figure of 10, which is a shame. With a bit more space and a creative set of friends, the level editor alone could’ve provided near-infinite hours of enjoyment.

 

 

Overall, Rooms: the main building is a slow-starter but once it gets going top-notch puzzling ensues. Long-winded cut scenes and a pointless plot plight the story mode, although the puzzling aspects are fun, and the harder ones refreshingly require a use of your logic. The visuals are poor, so much so in fact, that the blurry screens can sometimes lead to your confusion. However, this is made up for by an atmospheric and well-stylised musical score which sets the mood for the game perfectly. There is a slight overuse of some generic sound effects, but I suppose we can let them off based on the quality of the other half of the sound. Besides, the large the amount of content promises to provide hours of play time, and as a result the game is good value for your hard-earned cash. It’s hardly an essential purchase, but if you’re looking for a solid puzzler, you could do a lot worse than pick up Rooms: the main building, which is why I’m giving it:

7-0-capsules-out-of-10
Pros

 

 

 

 

  • Great value for money
  • Loads of content and alternative game modes to explore
  • Thoughful, logic-requiring puzzles once the game gets going
  • Well-suited atmospheric music

Cons

  • Takes a while to get going
  • Time-consuming cut scenes and plot
  • Uninspiring visuals
  • Repetitive recycled sound effects

 

 

Catch-Up TV Coming to the PS3 in Australia!

Dustin Spencer
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Just like the U.S. has Netflix for streaming TV shows and movies straight on to your PS3, Australians will now be getting a service of their own thanks to Yahoo!7 and Sony Computer Entertainment Australia. Announced at this year’s Gamescom, the console will be receiving catch-up TV service PLUS7 will be available through an optimised internet streaming service specifically purposed for PlayStation 3 users in Australia from the end of August 2010.

Here is an official statement:

“Sony Computer Entertainment is thrilled to be partnering with Yahoo!7 to offer even more great TV content delivered not only on demand, but also subscription free to nearly 1 million Australian PlayStation 3 users,” said Michael Ephraim, Managing Director Sony Computer Entertainment Australia. “This announcement reflects our promise and capability to continue to deliver on PS3’s broad entertainment credentials in the new digital media era. This year in Australia we have delivered to the PS3 more music video channels on demand with VidZone TV, more movies on demand with the PlayStation Network Video Delivery Service and now with this announcement, even more TV on demand with PLUS7.”

“We are excited to be making our catch-up TV service, PLUS7, available through PS3 consoles and continuing to be at the forefront of IPTV innovation in Australia,” said Rohan Lund, CEO of Yahoo!7.
“Now, even more Australians will be able to watch full-length episodes from many of Australia’s favourite TV shows streamed over the internet using their PS3 consoles.”

In Sydney today, Sony Computer Entertainment and Yahoo!7 executives successfully trialled the first demonstration of PLUS7 catch-up TV programming streamed directly to a PS3.

PS3’s first Australian catch-up TV service launched with ABC iView in November 2009. The same month PlayTV device for PS3 launched enabling users to watch, pause and record free-to-air HD TV.

This is great news for all Aussies who want to view their favorite shows at their own schedule on the Playstation 3.

Custom Controllers are Becoming Quite a Trend…

Dustin Spencer
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2010 is really the year of the gamer. We seen huge releases from all three consoles this year. Now how about a great way to play all these games? Well, many new titles this year have their own controllers being released featuring a design that fits the game.

Check out a round-up of some of the new controller designs that will released this year.

Halo Reach Controller
Xbox 360

Fable 3 Controller
Xbox 360

Epic Mickey Nunchuck
Nintendo Wii

TRON WiiMote
Nintendo Wii

TRON Dualshock 3 Controller
Playstation 3

TRON Xbox 360 Controller
XBox 360

Goldeneye Classic Controller
Nintendo Wii

Yes, you can now all wipe the drool from your face and get ready to play in style. Custom controllers based off hit titles is nothing new, but this year the name of the game seems to be  quality. Which one of these will you be picking up?

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Dated

Dylan Radcliffe
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Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Dated

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair simply not doing it for you? Well I have good news for you. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow has been dated for release on October 5th. Now it just becomes a waiting game.

Along with this news I bring you an image to wet your appetite. But since we start all posts with images, I bet you didn’t even notice it. Go ahead, look now. Yeah, you want the game now don’t you?!

Red Faction: Armageddon Dev Diary

Dylan Radcliffe
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Danny Bilson discusses Red Faction: Armageddon and outlines some plans the publisher has for the game’s 2011 launch in this Dev Diary.

A majority of the video is just promoting the game, but there are some nice little bits of gameplay footage that makes the video worth a watch.

Check it out and Enjoy.

Atlus is bringing Catherine to the 360 and PS3 in Japan

Travis Bruno
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Fans of the Persona series by Atlus may be a bit angry at the news that the next game by the creators of their favorite franchise is working on a new game that is not an RPG, but an action adventure game called Catherine. And it will definitely be a game for more mature audiences as the themes are very unique as you will see in the trailer below.

The game contains horror elements and melds together very well with various crazy elements such as sheep in ties and the fact that the main character Vincent will be constantly seduced by Catherine the girl in which the game is named. In more detail we have Vincent as a 32 year old salaryman that as not been married and has barely any interest in love as a whole. That is of course until he runs into 22 year old Catherine who rattles Vincent’s mind, in more ways than one. After meeting her he starts to experience nightmares that involve a never ending staircase that will constantly throw him into nightmares until he reaches the top.

There is even a rumor going around in the game world that if you die in the dreams, you die in real life, which places Vincent in constant fear for his life as he experiences many strange occurrences in his dreams. While in real life he is dealing with the very forward Catherine. It would definitely be a very interesting game to see overseas and with the successes of the Persona series in the West it would be a major loss if this game never saw the light of day outside of Japan. But as it stands there is no release date other than that for Japan which is in Winter of 2010.

Beware the below trailer is slightly NSFW due to some parts around the minute mark.

320GB and 160GB Slim PS3’s Have been announced!

Katie Bennett
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Just when you thought you had it all Sony announces at Gamescom that they are bringing out a new PS3 slim not one but two new models. They are going to release the whopping 320GB PS3 Slim in time for Sony’s Launch of the Playstation Move on September 15th this will retail for £284.99 (349 Euros) the same price as the current 250GB that is on sale at the moment.

This will be followed by the new 160GB version in October which has been designed to replace the current 120GB version. This will also retail for the same price of £249.99 (299 Euros)

But still no news on the PSP2……….

 

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 trailer shows of Taka and Akatsuki characters

Travis Bruno
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Naruto Shippuden, one of the largest franchises in Manga and Anime history has taken yet another step to solidify itself as one of the few Anime’s to reach American shores and bring together a large following. Well anyone who enjoys Naruto will definitely be glad to see the following trailer released by Namco Bandai at Gamescom.

The trailer itself is showing Naruto’s biggest enemies at the present moment, Akatsuki and the Taka forces. These two forces are also designed to fight eachother though which should make for interesting three way battles if they are established. We see the members of Akatsuki; Itachi, Kisame, Deidara, Sasori, Hidan, Pain, Kakuzu, and Konan. As well as those of Taka which are Karin, Jugo, Suigetsu, and Sasuke do battle with one another as well as against the Konoha forces. There is even a bit that shows the various boss battles which will show off the major battles that have occurred in the series so far.

The game itself is due for release on October 12th on the 360 and the PS3 in America and the 15th elsewhere, though the demo for American audiences is set for release next week. It’s interesting to see the video game franchise making larger steps to catching up with the current Manga issue than English translated episodes of the series, which may leave some American fans in the dark as to who they are playing as.

Enslaved recieves tons of gameplay footage

Travis Bruno
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Gamescom has gotten a major influx of Enslaved: Odyssey to the West gameplay footage from Namco Bandai today as they are not only showing some of Trip’s abilities but Monkey’s as well. In the first video below we are introduced into the fighting mechanics of the game as monkey does battle alone using his staff against robotic opponents.

Then the next video shows off Trip’s electronic prowess as she manufactures a robotic dragonfly that helps scout the area and show Monkey where he has to go to perform various actions that are required to advance in the game and looks to be a nice feature as it also shows various enemy weakpoints.

Then again what gameplay video package release would be complete without a boss battle shown off in the middle of it all? We can see Monkey doing battle with what looks like a gigantic robotic rhino and injuring it using what appears to be a staff activated mine. Then again we won’t be doing battle with giant robotic rhinos or following robotic dragonflys around until the game releases onto the PS3 and Xbox 360 on October 5th.

Infamous 2 gameplay footage straight from Gamescom

Travis Bruno
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Gamescom has a bit of extra inFamous 2 gameplay footage and boy does it look good. Sure it is some of what we have seen before but I am definitely liking the fact that you can channel your electricity through a sword now from what it looks like. There is even a new enemy introduced in this footage called the corrupted. Expect to see inFamous 2 sometime next year in 2011 but we do not know when exactly just yet.

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