The horrendous Melbourne weather did its best to prevent The Warp Pipe happening this week by knocking the power out multiple times and damn near sending a tree through my car's windshield. I've spent much of my week playing the despicable Two Worlds for the Xbox 360; it's the first console game I've played to date where I have had to enter in commands into an in-game console in order to turn off special effects like dynamic lighting and shadows in order to get the game to run at a playable speed. Maybe Microsoft should give the 360 a new slogan along the lines of "bringing the worst parts of PC gaming into your living room".

This week, we're going to run through the second quarter release schedule and make judgment calls on which ones are going to be worth your time. We'll also give our impressions of Contra 4, a game which mysteriously remains unreleased in Australia. Finally, we'll revisit the SiN anime movie.

The Shape of Things to Come: The Games of Q2, 2008

The gaming industry is only getting bigger, but the fact of the matter is that games cost a lot of money, and there is a ton of crap released each week. Nobody wants to buy a crap game, which is where this article comes in. I've run through various release lists for the second quarter of this year and picked around 25 games which stood out. From there, I've assigned each a ranking for its level of hype (Nil, Low, Medium, High and Intense) and my current impression of the title (Bomb, Needs Work, Average, Good, Great, Excellent) and written a little paragraph to explain a bit about the game, and justify the ratings given. Now remember, just because they're listed here doesn't mean that they'll necessarily ship in these months, particularly the games listed in June.

April Grand Theft Auto IV Hype: Intense Impression: Excellent Rockstar North's latest baby looks like it's going to smash all existing industry sales awards, and claim a few game of the year awards in the process. GTA4 is arguably the most ambitious game to be released for the new generation of consoles, and one that's already on everybody's to buy list. The change in tone from San Andreas shouldn't worry anyone – the guys from Rockstar North know how to make a damn fine video game. Mario Kart Wii Hype: Low Impression: Good Normally Mario Kart games are announced to a sea of happy faces, and are followed by months of press hype, but everybody's attention has been on Super Mario Galaxy and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Should be good regardless, and most folks will be happy with the expanded online play and the removal of snaking. Personally, I think they should just release the SNES game with online play and four-player Grand Prix. May Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures Hype: High Impression: Average It's been labelled a WoW-killer by some, and it's meant to be the faithful to the original Robert E. Howard novels, but I'm really just not feeling it. Every time someone talks about a "new skill-based MMO fighting style," the alarm bells start to ring. Still, there's a big fanbase surrounding the game, so if Funcom pulls it off, Age of Conan will succeed, but don't expect it to topple WoW. Battlefield: Bad Company Hype: Medium Impression: Average Console versions of Battlefield just don't do it for me. While the technology driving Bad Company looks pretty cool, I don't like the prospect of a single player focus which contains yet another clichéd group of steroid abusing marines. DICE are a talented bunch, but the consoles have always played second fiddle to their superior PC efforts, and I expect that trend to continue. Bionic Commando Rearmed Hype: Medium Impression: Good GRIN's 2D revival of Bionic Commando looked pretty sweet the first time I saw it, but every time I rewatch the footage, I notice a few little nagging problems with the way things play. I still expect the game to be one of the best digital downloads of the year, and co-op's going to be a blast, but I've reduced my expectations. Boom Blox Hype: Medium Impression: Good Mistakenly toted as the first video game developed in collaboration with Steven Spielberg (that title goes to The Dig), Boom Blox actually looks like a clever little physics-based puzzle game that makes the most of the Wii's unique capabilities. The cutesy factor may be off-putting to some, but the game looks like it's going to be a blast. Don King Presents Prize Fighter Hype: Low Impression: Needs Work You know a game is in trouble when you haven't seen a scrap of video footage in the 6 months since it was announced. 2K are trying to fill the gap left by Fight Night (why EA aren't prepping another is a mystery – Fight Night 3 was a massive success), but Venom Games' last pugilistic effort was Rocky Legends, which although fun, felt horribly dated when compared to EA's efforts. Haze Hype: Low Impression: Bomb Last time I went hands-on with Haze in November, the game was actually set to be released shortly after - before taking a 6 month delay, which it desperately needed. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like it will be enough. I fail to understand how some of the guys behind Goldeneye and Timesplitters can come up with something so hackneyed and cliché. Iron Man Hype: Low Impression: Needs Work Ah, comic book games, my old arch-nemesis. No matter how much you want them to be good; they never turn out that way. Sega's Iron Man is falling into the trap of trying to do too much. The airborne gameplay looks pretty damn fine, but the stuff on the ground looks terrible. It's kind of reminiscent of Superman Returns, really. Ninja Gaiden II Hype: Medium Impression: Good I still do not understand all of the fuss about the original Ninja Gaiden on the Xbox. Sure, it was pretty, and had some cool combos, but it had serious camera issues, and most of its difficulty came from the fact that you needed to hold the block button until you saw an opening in the enemy's attack. The sequel looks like a prettier version of the same with a ton of gore, which will be no doubt neutered for its Australian release. Top Spin 3 Hype: Nil Impression: Good The first two Top Spin games were particularly good at what they did, though the second title was a little rougher around the edges. I expect the third to offer more of the same, which should please anyone looking for a more serious tennis game, rather than the typical game character laden stuff. It'd be nice if 2K would actually let us see what the game looks like in action, though. Wii Fit Hype: Medium Impression: Good It's not meant to be a title for the "gaming crowd" as it were, but I don't doubt that there are a few people looking at getting Wii Fit. Don't know how effective it'll be as guide to getting into shape, but a lot of the mini-games in the package look like a blast. I'm interested to see how third parties make use of the balance board. June Alone in the Dark Hype: Low Impression: Good Eden Games is going all Resident Evil 4 on the Alone in the Dark franchise, which has been dormant since around the turn of the century. Atari needs a hit badly, and it doesn't surprise me that they just delayed it again for more polish. On the other hand, it does look like it's actually going to be quite good, thanks in large to its cool inventory system and integrated physics, which let you make MacGyver-esque gadgets and weapons, and the fact it's blatantly ripping off Resident Evil 4's style of play. Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway Hype: Low Impression: Average Gearbox's troubled shooter is finally set for a release at the start of June, missing its intended Holiday 2006 release date by close to two years. Frankly, I despise the first two Brothers in Arms game, and this one reeks of "The parts of Band of Brothers haven't we ripped off already". Looked okay back in 2006, but is seeming a little dated now. The Bourne Conspiracy Hype: Medium Impression: Good I've only seen two of the three Bourne movies (the most recent two), and frankly, the frequent camera cuts and shaky camera are distracting, so I don't know why anyone would go so far as to implement these in a video game based on the series. Still, the gameplay looks fast-paced and very dynamic, so I think they could pull it off. Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Hype: Nil Impression: Needs Work These tween movie tie-ins generally always smell, and it looks like this one is no different. Samey hack 'n' slash that will no doubt provide less than 30 minutes of entertainment. Civilization Revolution Hype: Low Impression: Good It's not the first time that Civilization has appeared on a console (the second game is on the PlayStation), but it looks like the first time that the console versions haven't been an oversight. Sid Meier claims that this is the Civilization game he's always wanted to make, but I don't really know how well the game will carry over to the control pad. They claim to have streamlined everything, but removing the complexity from Civilization ultimately makes it less appealing, no? Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Hype: High Impression: Great RPG fans still love to go on and on about Final Fantasy VII, so it's no surprise that Crisis Core has been hyped to all buggery. Set before the events of the seventh title, Crisis Core focuses around SOLDIER second class Zack Fair and a lowly Shinra guard named Cloud Strife. Real time battles might turn off some fans of Final Fantasy VII's turn-based combat, but the game should undoubtedly appeal to most RPG lovers. Echochrome Hype: Medium Impression: Great The M.C. Escher-inspired puzzle game has just been announced as being the first PSP title to be exclusive to the PlayStation Store. The PSP and PS3 versions of the game are going to have different level sets, though the PS3 version will also have a level editor. It's looking like it'll be one of the most fiendish puzzle games in years. Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Hype: Low Impression: Average Not the first video game appearance for the aging rockers (never forget the crapfest that was Revolution X), but just as unnecessary. This title just proves that Activision is intent on wringing every last drop out of the Guitar Hero cash cow. Does anyone really like Aerosmith, or know more than half a dozen songs they've put out? Hei$t Hype: Nil Impression: Needs Work Brian Fargo's InXile Entertainment studio is behind this 60's bank heist game that uses the mistake of placing a dollar sign in place of an S – marketing death right there. Apparently the way you rob each bank in the game will affect the difficulty of the next robbery; botch a few early robberies and the next one will be harder. Of course, whether the developer actually delivers on that promise remains to be seen. Hellboy Hype: Nil Impression: Needs Work It seems like ages since Krome first announced that they were working on a Hellboy game, and despite this lengthy development process, the game looks less than inspiring. Unfortunately, I can't really see how you can do much more than a straight up brawler with Hellboy, but you could try to spice it up a bit more than Krome has. LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures Hype: Medium Impression: Good LEGO Star Wars was a guilty pleasure of mine, and LEGO Indiana Jones looks like it's going to offer up more of the same. That's generally not a bad thing, but I just hope that they make the most of what Indiana Jones has to offer. It should be a good one for the whole family to enjoy, though. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Hype: Intense Impression: Excellent After years of hype and awesome trailers, Kojima Productions' latest Metal Gear title is almost upon us. Excellent graphics, both from a technical and artistic standpoint, and you just know it's going to play like a dream. There are some minor issues I hope the team has addressed - less intrusive codec sequences, the ability to pause cutscenes, and the answers to questions outstanding from the second game would be great. Midnight Club: Los Angeles Hype: Low Impression: Average I'm not really a fan of these open world street racing titles. Word on the street is that this is sharing tech with Grand Theft Auto IV, but hopefully it'll seem like more than a GTA game where the player is confined to a car. Supposed to contain a highly detailed recreation of Los Angeles, but sometimes fictional cities make for better racing games, no? Secret Agent Clank Hype: Nil Impression: Good Camera issues aside, High Impact did a pretty good job of shrinking Ratchet & Clank down to the PSP for Size Matters, and I expect that they will continue their fine efforts with this game centering on Clank. Secret Agent Clank segments did feature in the second title in the series, so it's not unfamiliar territory, but if those sequences are anything to go by, the title should be very entertaining. Soulcalibur IV Hype: Low Impression: Good Hype for the fourth Soulcalibur title has been surprisingly subdued, despite the game's obvious visual acuity. Soulcalibur III was a bit of a misstep for the series, so if Namco can recover from that and offer enough fresh content to make the game stand on its own, then they should have reasonable success. The whole Star Wars character thing is kind of offbeat, no? Super Smash Bros Brawl Hype: High Impression: Excellent I've spent about 20 hours with this game now, and I can tell you that it's bloody fine. Brawl is all about the content – it doesn't seem like much more than a tweaked Melee at first, but the sheer volume of new stages, new characters and extra content is mind-boggling. Online play with the Yanks has proven a bit laggy, so hopefully Nintendo irons those issues out of the local release. Expect a full review soon. TNA Impact Hype: Nil Impression: Good Wrestling video games really haven't been the same since AKI and THQ parted ways. TNA's first video game effort is a little worrying, in that it comes from Paradox, the guys behind those awful Backyard Wrestling games. On the other hand, TNA Impact looks so much better than Smackdown 2009 that it's not funny. If the gameplay is there, then you can count this one as a victory for the "other brand" of sports entertainment.	GTAIV is arguably the biggest release of Q2
	Will Bad Company be the first good console-based Battlefield game?
	Steven Spielberg designing a puzzle game? It could work.
	I've always wondered if Tony Stark eats Nutri-Grain
	Wii Fit will have you shaking your money maker
	The closest we'll get to a MacGuyver video game
	Get someone to shake your monitor to simulate what The Bourne Conspiracy will be like
	Crisis Core should silence those annoying RPG lovers for a while
	You could build low income housing in a mouth like that
	The game you play in Hell?
	Damn the Patriots!
	Clank goes solo
	You choose PAL Wii, you live with PAL Wii

Now Playing on Import

Only those who eat nails for breakfast will beat Contra 4

Contra has always been one of Konami's most beloved classic franchises, but the series didn't really ever seem to recover from the truly awful 32-bit entries, C: The Contra Adventure and Contra: Legacy of War. Contra: Shattered Soldier captured some of the spirit of the earlier efforts, but fell short, and Neo Contra... well, it's one of the weirdest, high energy shooters I've ever played (seriously, you get chased by guys Cossack dancing on top of giant boulders, run around on top of helicopter blades and fight a talking dog that thinks he's Napoleon), but it's not the Contra we're looking for. Konami enlisted WayForward Technologies to produce the latest Contra effort, simply titled Contra 4. For some bizarre reason, the game hasn't been released in Australia yet, but I got my mitts on a copy from the US, and it's damn good.

The game takes place between Contra III and Contra: Hard Corps, with a new alien threat called the Black Viper attempting to wipe out mankind. Earth sends their four best commandos to deal with the Black Viper; Contra legends Bill Rizer and Lance Bean, and newcomers Mad Dog and Scorpion. For us, that means nine levels of ball-busting non-stop action. Contra 4 plays a lot like the SNES version of Contra III, but adds high quality sprite-based graphics, and throws in new features like a grappling hook. Action takes place across the DS's two screens, though the lower screen turns into a map in the tunnel levels. The game is as tough as nails, giving the player only a limited number of lives (which are lost after a single hit) and levels chock full of enemies.

Contra 4 is also packed to the brim with bonus content. For those that don't find the arcade mode difficult enough, there's a number of challenge stages designed to test the mettle of the best Contra veterans. There is a selection of bonus characters and skins, including the Probotectors which featured in the early PAL versions of Contra. Best of all, the game also contains emulated versions of Contra and Super C for the NES, and a museum with details on every game in the Contra franchise.

Anyone looking for a solid old-school action game for the DS should pick up Contra 4 immediately.

Crossing Over

Not bad...for a video game movie

Video games that make the journey to film generally tend to be the most rampantly successful titles – Street Fighter, Tomb Raider and Mortal Kombat to name a few. ADV Films broke this trend when they produced SiN: The Movie, which was based on the first person shooter of the same name which, although good, was overshadowed by Half-Life, which was released around the same time. It was the first project funded and produced entirely by ADV Films, a group that mostly develops Japanese anime for release in America.

SiN: The Movie loosely follows the events of the game, with HardCorps Colonel John Blade investigating some kidnappings in Freeport City. He crosses paths with Elexis Sinclair, the head of SiNTEK, an evil multinational corporation. Blade discovers that Elexis is experimenting with biochemicals which may either trigger the next step in human evolution, or turn the population into a bunch of mutated monsters. Like any good action hero, Blade sets out to stop Elexis and SiNTEK once and for all.

It's pretty clear from the outset that ADV's limited production knowledge has a profound effect on SiN's quality, as the film has numerous technical issues (mouth movement doesn't sync to either the English or Japanese dubs). The film's pacing is also rather poor – it never really spends time developing characters, and then proceeds to treat their past as pivotal parts of the plot. Much of the film consists of fairly loosely connected throwaway action sequences, which helps to offset some of the crappiness of the plot.

At best, the film provides an hour's worth of mindless entertainment for a dreary afternoon, but isn't really recommended beyond that. Though, I guess in video game movie terms, that makes it pretty good.

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Quote of the Week

While presenting their research into game addiction, Dr. John Charlton of the University of Bolton and Ian Danforth of Whitman College had this to say; "Our research supports the idea that people who are heavily involved in game playing may be nearer to autistic spectrum disorders than people who have no interest in gaming." Much of the rest of the research goes on to suggest that people who are easily addicted to video games display many of the symptoms of Asperger's Syndome, a form of high functioning autism. Research like this doesn't help to reduce the stigma that video games are for the socially awkward, despite current market trends indicating the contrary.

Next Week

Honestly, I don't have a clue. I do know what's planned for the week after, though.