Chris Pickering Reviews Archive 
News from Chris Pickering
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Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 - Xbox 360 review
REVIEW
Is PES in the title race?
20 October 2008 16:00 GMT
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As a former Pro Evolution Soccer obsessive, this is a little tough to say: Pro Evo 2009 can’t even scrape being called staunchly average.
Though the official Champions League license has been nabbed, we’ve lost the majority of the Spanish... -
G1 Jockey Wii 2008 - Wii review
REVIEW
One to put over the jumps?
8 October 2008 12:00 GMT
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As far as sporting gaming titles go, it’s little surprise that horse racing has been down at the bottom of the "to do" list. Yet thanks to some fantastic customer support in the Far East, the G1 Jockey series has managed to go from strength to strength,...
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Crysis: Warhead - PC review
REVIEW
A worthy expansion?
3 October 2008 16:00 GMT
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All that talk of Crysis literally destroying sub-standard machines trying to run the fantastic shooter proved to be ever-so-slightly over the top. Yes, there still remains to be a base unit built that can run it with all visual options ramped right up...
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FIFA 09 - PS3 review
REVIEW
Football really is coming home
2 October 2008 15:38 GMT
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If you were worried about seeing little more than the latest kits and a few new haircuts, then wipe that damp brow. This year’s FIFA is vastly bigger and better than ever and leaves the previous iterations in the dust.
The big draw for many... -
Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway - Xbox 360 review
REVIEW
WWII action goes next-gen
1 October 2008 16:00 GMT
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The Brothers In Arms series was the perfect accompaniment to the WWII based Call of Duty titles. While the latter was straight action, BIA handed you total control of the chaps on the battlefield.
So as well as worrying about your own behind,... -
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - Xbox 360 review
REVIEW
Is the dark side all it's cracked up to be?
20 September 2008 8:00 GMT
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You simply can’t avoid the Star Wars phenomenon in modern culture. Even if you’ve managed to shun all the films, you’re well aware of the basic story thanks to a mass of references in various TV shows. And of course the oh-so-hilarious quips from every...
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TNA Impact! - PS3 review
REVIEW
Smackdown time for WWE?
18 September 2008 11:45 GMT
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For the uninitiated, the world of professional wrestling has changed quite dramatically over the last decade. Of the big three pro wrestling promotions, the "extreme" ECW came to an unfortunate end, as did WCW, leaving only the WWE (originally named the...
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NHL 09 – Xbox 360 review
REVIEW
Fancy some action on the ice?
17 September 2008 16:00 GMT
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As far as EA’s American sporting titles go, the NHL series has always sat firmly in the middle. While the Madden titles have always been mysteriously popular on the consoles, the NBA series is usually the one left firmly on the shelves. Leaving NHL hovering...
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FaceBreaker - PS3 review
REVIEW
Fancy cartoon boxing? Thought not
16 September 2008 16:00 GMT
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Cartoon style boxing titles aren’t anything new. Punch Out, released way back in the 80s was a major hit for Nintendo’s NES console, and I’m sure most of you will fondly remember the Ready 2 Rumble titles of the late-90s/early-00s.
After... -
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames - Xbox 360 review
REVIEW
Soldier of misfortune?
12 September 2008 9:00 GMT
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As gaming concepts go, none seem quite as fun as the idea behind Mercenaries. Namely offering you a huge world to wander around, allowing you to blow whatever you like to smithereens, and get paid a tonne for the privilege. Sweet.
As you... -
Spore – PC review
REVIEW
Charles Darwin, eat your heart out!
8 September 2008 12:00 GMT
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So you’re the creator of The Sims. Your games are selling by the truck load, but still you can’t help shaking that feeling that you wanted to do more. You didn’t want to just allow gamers to shape a human avatar. You wanted to give them true god like...
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S.T.A.L.K.E.R Clear Sky – PC review
REVIEW
Can the prequel live up to the sequel?
5 September 2008 16:00 GMT
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Last year’s S.T.A.L.K.E.R was one of the biggest surprises in PC gaming’s recent history. A heavily delayed title, it suddenly sprung onto shelves and proved that the aftermath of Chernobyl could be a fantastic setting for a gaming title.
Playing... -
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 – Xbox 360 review
REVIEW
Get to grips with the back nine
4 September 2008 16:00 GMT
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Let’s be blunt right from the start: EA haven’t screwed up Tiger Woods 09.
Right from the off it’s plainly clear that this is vastly improved over last year’s version. Not just in the addition of a handful of brand new features, but by tweaking... -
Space Siege - PC review
REVIEW
A worthy spin on Dungeon Siege?
26 August 2008 18:00 GMT
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All PC gamers should be aware of a title by the name of Dungeon Siege. A traditional dungeon crawling RPG at heart, it managed to build on its simplistic point and click style of hack and slash gameplay and be one of the most thoroughly addictive titles...
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Madden NFL 09 – Xbox 360 review
REVIEW
Will the new season excite?
21 August 2008 16:00 GMT
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As gaming series go, none are quite as successful as the Madden NFL titles. Now in their twentieth year, the series has been not only a big seller in the US, but incredibly popular in Europe, despite the somewhat lukewarm reception the sport gets over...
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Bangai-O Spirits – DS review
REVIEW
Does the comeback do the original justice?
20 August 2008 14:00 GMT
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If you’re from the true hardcore gaming fraternity, the name "Bangai-O" is enough to make this one a true must-buy all on its own.
For those of you who failed to either import the N64 original, or the Western release on Sega’s sublime Dreamcast,... -
Soul Calibur IV – Xbox 360 review
REVIEW
Does the series still pack a punch?
30 July 2008 12:00 GMT
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Let’s clear one thing up right from the off. If you want to play as Yoda and Darth Vadar, you DON’T need to buy both the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of Soul Calibur IV.
Nope, it transpires that each character is available for download as a... -
Beijing 2008 - Xbox 360 review
REVIEW
Going for gold?
21 July 2008 15:30 GMT
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Everyone has a few fond memories from some of these button bashing sporting titles over the years. From that sub-8 second time in the 100 metre sprint, through to a horrifically long 120 metre thrown in the javelin, these incredible feats of button prodding...
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Guitar Hero: On Tour - DS review
REVIEW
Rockin' all over the world
16 July 2008 16:00 GMT
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As concepts go, it’s little wonder quite how Guitar Hero: On Tour managed to get past the concept stage. Considering it’s part of the series where the real fun comes from feeling just like your favourite axe wielding star, it’s a bit surprising to find...
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Guitar Hero Aerosmith - Xbox 360 review
REVIEW
Does this have What it Takes?
11 July 2008 15:01 GMT
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It is little shock to discover a Guitar Hero title based entirely on one particular band. Ever since the first game strode proudly into view, gaming forums have been jam packed with claims of everyone’s favourite bands being the perfect recipient of a...
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Top Spin 3 - Xbox 360 review
REVIEW
Relive those Wimbledon moments
8 July 2008 16:00 GMT
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While Sega’s Virtua Tennis series brought lawn tennis back to the gaming masses with its somewhat arcadey representation of the sport, the Top Spin titles have consistently offered much more meat to tuck in to.
The only problem is that unlike... -
Battlefield: Bad Company - Xbox 360 review
REVIEW
How will this fare under fire?
7 July 2008 16:00 GMT
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Like Call of Duty 4, Bad Company is bang up to date. With the trend of WWII-based shooters seemingly on the back burner, Bad Company packs all the firepower you’d expect of a modern soldier.
The weaponry here is a hefty chunk more powerful... -
Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution - PS3 review
REVIEW
Will this make a mark on history?
25 June 2008 16:00 GMT
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Nope, the name isn’t some kind of late April fools joke. The long running strategic epic that is the Civilization series is indeed attempting to make its home on the latest batch of consoles.
For the uninitiated, the Civilization series can... -
Alone in the Dark - Xbox 360 review
REVIEW
Terrifying or just terrible?
23 June 2008 12:00 GMT
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When a game hits the shelves without a multitude of reviews already hovering, it’s usually safe to say that the game itself is pretty shockingly bad. Especially when its one just like Alone in the Dark which has been consistently "previewed" but very...
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Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - PS3 review
REVIEW
Absolutely, positively, definitely, must-have?
13 June 2008 11:38 GMT
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After the big hoo-hah surrounding early MGS4 reviews, with Konami stopping reviewers chatting about the game in its full, a few slightly poorer scores have dampened the excitement levels a touch. The critics have still been full of praise, but there have...
Acer CloudMobile Ice Cream Sandwich smartphone set for MWC launch 4.3-inch award winner
Best iPhone utilities apps Resistance is futilities?
Samsung not worried by Apple iTV threat EXCLUSIVE: AV boss not concerned
HTC PlayStation certification devices coming 2012, time to get your Crash Bandicoot skills up to scratch EXCLUSIVE: Game on
Samsung Galaxy S III: Review of rumours, features, pictures and specs Thinner, faster, better
New HTC Ice Cream Sandwich device pictures leak Another one for the rumour pile...
Samsung O table is for the kitchen of the future Flexible hob
Nokia 700 Sleek and desirable Nokia
LG Miracle picture and details leak Update: More pictures from the wild
Google home entertainment device detailed WSJ solves device mystery
More leaked iPad 3 parts help form bigger picture - including Sharp Retina display iPad 3, in kit form
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) pictures and hands-on Up close with the ICS tablet
Tesla Model X SUV goes back to the future DeLorean lookalike announced
APP OF THE DAY: Tweetbot review (iPad) Should a Twitter app cost?
New Apple TV leaked in software update? iOS 5.1 says so
Panasonic Lumix GX1 review
The one?
Sony PlayStation Vita review
Curriculum Vita
Nokia Lumia 710 review
WP7 on a budget
GoPro HD Hero2 review
Amazing things come in small packages
HTC Explorer review
A phone for people who make calls
BlackBerry Torch 9810 review
Middle of the road
Sony Alpha A65 review
Affordable SLT. But is it a DSLR-beater?
BlackBerry Bold 9790 review
To boldly go where we've already been before
Fiat 500 TwinAir Plus review
Two-cylinder beast
Motorola MotoACTV review
Just add exercise
Motorola Xoom 2 Media Edition review
Mini Xoom
BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9981 review
For the fast lane
Sennheiser IE80 review
Tune that bass
Kingston Wi-Drive review
Expand your storage
Huawei Ideos X3 review
Cheap but imperfect