1 vs 100 Ideas and Improvements

I've played the main live event and played some of the Extended Plays (which are okay but a bit boring due to the lack of any consequences) and have been checking out the Xbox.com forums to see what people think of the game and see their grips and issues. Ive come up with a short list of my own on some improvements to make the game a bit better;

1. Longer time in a Pre-Lobby to get some friends together or prepare for the game to start
2. You should be able to hear The One and The Host speaking to each other, like a proper game show
3. Some way of making the quiz easier for those who find it hard to read/dyslexics etc.
4. Better Party integration/Private lobbies etc.
5. Extended Play should have eliminations for incorrect answers, perhaps with 3 lives? Just to make it more engaging.
6. Selection to be in The Mob or be The One in the main live show should not be based on your ability to attend the weekly extended sessions. It should be totally random.
7. Iron out the obvious kinks like disconnections, network errors, lack of being able to hear host
8. Keep the questions as they are, they are fine. People will always complain there are too many Sports/Movies/Games/Ballroom Dancing questions just because they don't like that topic.
9. Toilet breaks between games, perhaps with a countdown timer so you know how long you have left.

Any more?

1 vs 100 Beta Impressions

1 vs 100 finally came to the UK in Beta format last night and kicked off with a 2 hours quizathon at 7.30pm. 1 vs 100 is a simple quiz format, One person is picked as "The One" and has to beat "The Mob", which is made up of 100 other players. If you don't get picked to be "The One" or "The Mob" you can play along as part of "The Crowd". Questions come thick and fast and are X,A or B multiple choice answers.

As part of Microsoft's new Primetime channel you have to log onto the game at a certain time to play. Everyone goes into the same game and you are randomly placed into either "The Crowd" or "The Mob" or if you are very very lucky as "The One" and can win prizes depending on how well you do in each round. You get placed with a few other players to chat with during the game and if you want you can collude on answers or just chat.

The game was a lot of fun and the questions seemed just right, not too hard and obscure but with the odd challenging question thrown in for good luck. I was in "The Crowd" for most of the game but I did get lucky one round and get promoted to "The Mob" and did quite well until I hit a question that totally threw me and I got eliminated.

I didn't have many problems with the game though my missus, Orchid PXL, did have some issues and did get a disconnect during the game and also didn't have any voice comms with her group which lessened the experience for her somewhat but it is only a Beta so these sort of things are to be expected.

All in all the game was a lot of fun and I cannot wait for the next episode to come round. This could turn into a very addictive hobby.

Ghostbusters Review

Ghostbusters is one of my all time favourite films, I watched it when it first came out at the Cinema way back in 1984 and I can remember sitting in the cinema and getting excited when the old lady in the Library goes Shhhhh! and the Ghostbusters theme kicks in. Superb stuff. The Ghostbusters game comes on a renewed wave of Ghostbusters interest, a new game, talk of a new film and even a parody song for a directory enquiries service. Why the sudden interest in all things to do with Bustin' Ghosts?

The game takes place a couple of years after the events of Ghostbusters 2 and places you in the role of a new Ghostbusting recruit. All the characters are back including the original actors voicing them (well, everyone apart from Sigourney Weaver). The script and story were written by Akroyd and Ramis and its very funny and witty and totally in keeping with the movies. You really feel you are taking part in the next logical step in the Ghostbusters story. The music is there, the sound effects are there, the locations and ghosts are all there. Its an amazingly atmospheric and a great trip down memory lane.

The game is quite linear with you being led a long a roller coaster ride of intrigue and ghostbusting. They game makers have captured the dynamic and feel of capturing a ghost with you pushing out a trap and then using your Proton stream to wear them down and then hold them and then trap them. You also get different proto stream upgrades and options to add some variety. The game is a lot of fun and looks and sounds great (even better if you are on 360). It involves lots of exploring and using your PKE meter to track ghosts and haunted artifacts and being carried along with the excellent storyline.

I have had a couple of minor problems with the game, it has frozen mid-play and once I got stuck in a scene and the next section wouldn't kick in so I had to reload a checkpoint but apart from these its been a joy to play and is a very slick and well put together package.

Overall the Ghostbusters game is a real fun ride. If you are a fan of the movies or of Bill Murray or just a fan of challenging but engaging games then you will find something to enjoy in this game. Get it now.
9/10

Ghost Bustin'

My import copy of Ghostbusters finally arrived a couple of days ago and I must say this is one of the most atmospheric games I have played in a long time. The look and feel of the game is totally in spirit with the fantastic movies. I feel like I have stepped into the Ghostbuster universe, the music is spot on, the characterisation is spot on and the whole thing has the same sense of fun as the original movie. This game is going to be amazing to get into. I just wish it was a bit cooler outside (currently in middle of heat wave) and I would feel more urge to turn on my 360.

Who Ya Gonna Call?

Being a big Ghostbusters fan I decided to import the 360 version of the Ghostbuster video game. The 360 version isn't due out in the UK for a few months and I have heard its far superior to the currently available PS3 version with better graphics and a better frame rate. It has been getting good reviews and averaging around 8 out of 10 in Metatcritic. I love the humour of the Ghostbuster movies and the little universe they have created (and I am a massive fan of Bill "Comedy God" Murray) so I know I am going to like the game a lot. I am just a bit disappointed that my copy is taking so long to arrive!

I ordered it from an eBay powerseller over a week ago and it was apparently posted mid last week yet hasn't arrived yet. They have plenty of feedback so I know they haven't ripped me off I am just disappointed that some of these people take ages to post items off. When I sell something on eBay I post it the next day. When I order items from eBay (or anywhere else) I expect the same courtesy. Prompt postage. I get tired of chasing stuff up and people blaming the Royal Mail. Its not true. You just took 3 or 4 days to get round to posting the item.

In the meantime I managed to finish Resident Evil 5 (fantastic) and still jabbing away at Prototype, which has its moments.

I aint 'fraid of no goats!

Prototype Review

To square bracket or not square bracket that is the question. Prototype or [Prototype] is the latest in open world sandbox games that pits you as the anti-hero on a mission in New York city that's slowly being consumed by a virus. You start the game near the climax and then flashback to the beginning of your story. Its the usual amnesiac soldier story who has mutant powers and is reasonable well told through flashes of story when you absorb the memories of your victims.

The game looks and plays a lot like the recent Spiderman games, the city even looks like the same model used in those games, its big but a bit bland and lacking any real character. Your guy can jump and run all over the place and control is very easy and intuitive and a host of commands can be accessed by just a button or two. This is certainly a game that makes you feel bad-ass though sometimes the camera will flip around or you will do something you didn't plan to which draws you out of the action somewhat.

You always have a choice of what to do next be it continue with the main mission (which doesn't take that long to complete) or do some side quests such as races or even do a bit of Crackdown-a-like orb hunting. Its fun to play but just lacks a bit of variety and polish. The game feels a bit unfinished at times and presentation is at a minimum. I feel with another 6 months (and an online co-op mode) this game could have been the classic it was shaping up to be but at the moment its mainly average.

Fun in small doses just don't go in there expecting anything too next-gen. 7.5/10

Resident Evil 5 Review

Finally! A review of Resident Evil 5. Its came out in March and I have only just got round to playing it in the last couple of weeks, a full 3 months later! oops. I did want to play it but for some reason other events in my life (job hunting) took over. I am glad I am finally getting back into my 360 and have finally put the Resi Evil 5 disc into my 360 because its a fantastic game.

Resident Evil 5 is a much more action oriented version of Resident Evil, there isn't much in the way of puzzle solving its mainly a case of moving from section to section, shooting "zombies", finding a key or lever and then moving onto the next section. This time you have a friend along for the ride and you can either play with the computer controlling your partner "Sheva" or have a co-op game with a friend. It does add a new dynamic to the game and is a lot of fun.

The game looks and sounds great and sometimes the animation looks like one of those CGI movies, personally I think it looks better and grittier than the recent Resident Evil Degeneration animated movie. The environments are reasonably detailed and varied and the whole package is very slick and well made.

The controls are a bit old skool as you cannot run and shoot, I thought this would be a major problem before I played the game but soon got used to the games style of play and didn't find it a problem.

Overall the game is a great deal of fun, it looks and plays great, and you will have some fantastic battles and have some lovely cut scenes and eye candy to gape at. Highly recommended.

9/10