Ubisoft announced that Just Dance 2019 will be available on October 25th, 2018 in Australia and New Zealand on most gaming platforms, including Nintendo Switch, Wii U, Wii, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 4. Ubisoft also announced that the Just Dance World Cup will return with its 5th Annual competition, this time heading to Brazil for the Grand Finals in early 2019.

Just Dance 2019 brings the party to players with 40 new songs ranging from chart-toppers like “Finesse (Remix)” by Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B and k-pop classic “Bang Bang Bang” by BIGBANG. Plus, keep the party going with one-month access to over 400 more songs through Just Dance^® Unlimited, the dance-on-demand streaming service, included with every copy of Just Dance 2019! New for this year, Just Dance partnered with creative experts from around the world, like French street artist Chanoir and Spanish stop-motion studio Clay Animation to creating stunning universes for the game. More partnerships are to be announced alongside new songs soon.

Just Dance 2019’s new interface algorithm learns players’ dancing preferences and habits and curates pre-made playlists and song suggestions, making the Just Dance experience more intuitive and personalised than ever before. Players can also stay up-to-date on community news and Just Dance Unlimited events all year long with the dynamic new home screen.

Fan-favourite modes  also make their return, such as World Dance Floor (available on all current gen platforms), bringing more online multiplayer challenges to its 120 million players worldwide, the calorie-tracking Sweat Mode, and the Kids Mode, bringing eight new choreographies developed alongside childhood development experts.

Available on PS4 and Xbox One, the Just Dance Controller App makes the game more accessible for current-gen owners with its phone scoring technology that allows players to dance without any additional accessories like cameras, available for free on iOS and Android.

The Just Dance World Cup is also back, with the Grand Finals happening in Brazil in early 2019. Online qualifiers will be live in the Just Dance 2018 edition of the game from July the 20th to August the 26th, 2018 on Nintendo Switch, Wii U, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 and will be followed by national offline qualifiers in select countries. The list of the offline qualifier events and details on the Grand Finals will be unveiled soon HERE . The competition will be fierce once again as dancers compete to get one of the 18 coveted finalist slots in Brazil, and defeat the two-time World Champion, 18-year old Umutcan Tütüncü from Turkey.

More info on further tracks being included to come soon.

Just Dance 19 Tracklist (as Revealed at E3 2018:

• Finesse (Remix) – Bruno Mars Ft. Cardi B
• Bum Bum Tam Tam – MC Fioti, Future, J Balvin, Stefflon Don, Juan Magan
• Bang Bang Bang – BIGBANG
• Mad Love – Sean Paul, David Guetta Ft. Becky G
• Shaky Shaky – Daddy Yankee
• Dame Tu Cosita – El Chombo ft. Cutty Ranks
• OMG – Arash Ft. Snoop Dogg
• Mi Mi Mi – Hit The Electro Beat 
• Mama Mia – Mayra Verónica
• Narco – Blasterjaxx & Timmy Trumpet
• Fire – LLP Ft. Mike Diamondz

The post THE ULTIMATE PARTY GAME RETURNS appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Ubisoft has released Just Dance 2017, the latest installment of the top-selling music game franchise, available on Wii U, Wii, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 today and for the first time in the history of the franchise, the game will be launched digitally on Windows PC.

Just Dance 2017 will also be available on Nintendo Switch™ in March 2017.

Just Dance 2017 delivers its most fun and diverse track listing yet, from blockbuster chart-toppers to throwback favourites everyone will find something to get down to. Featuring bangers like “Lean On” by Major Lazer Ft. MØ & DJ Snake, “Like I Would” by Zayn and   “Worth It” by Fifth Harmony Ft. Kid Ink as well as Maroon’s 5’s brand new single “Don’t Wanna Know”, party favourites like “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) by Beyoncé and classics like “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen.

More accessible than ever, players can use their iOS and Android smartphones as controllers with the Just Dance Controller App. The Just Dance Controller App works with current-gen platforms and allows players to dance without additional accessories like cameras.

Players can start warming up for Justin Bieber’s 2017 Australian and New Zealand tour with the playable demo of his blockbuster hit “Sorry”. Available now, the demo has given thousands of fans their first taste of Just Dance 2017 and is free to download from the Nintendo eShop,PlayStation Network and Xbox Live.

For players who just can’t get enough, Just Dance  Unlimited, the dance-on-demand subscription streaming service is available for current-gen consoles owners and PC players. Offering a catalogue of more than 200 songs at launch, Just Dance Unlimited includes access to exclusive content and tracks such as the newly announced addition “Youth” by Troye Sivan. The standard version of Just Dance 2017 will include three months access to Just Dance Unlimited on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Wii U and Digital PC.

The post BUST A MOVE WITH JUST DANCE 2017 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Today, Ubisoft unveiled the full tracklist for Just Dance 2016! This year, the game includes more than 40 of the hottest songs, classic favourites and quirky tracks such as “Teacher” by Nick Jonas, “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea Ft. Charli XCX, “Lights” by Ellie Goulding and “No Control” by One Direction.

“Each year we strive to provide our fans and their families with a better tracklist and interactive game features than the year before, and Just Dance 2016 is a true testament to that,” said Geoffroy Sardin, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Ubisoft Europe Middle-East Asia. “Now that next-gen players can use their smartphones to play the game with the Just Dance Controller App, more people than ever before can dance to songs from the artists they know and love.”

Just Dance 2016 is coming to all motion-control gaming platforms, including Nintendo’s Wii and Wii U systems, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3  on October 20th, 2015 in the US and October 22nd, 2015 in EMEA (October 23rd, 2015 in the UK). With the Just Dance Controller App, now available for Apple and Android devices and soon to be available for Windows Phone devices, players on new-gen consoles can use their smartphone to play the game without any peripherals or added console cameras.

The new tracks unveiled for Just Dance 2016 include:

• “Heartbeat Song” by Kelly Clarkson
• “Teacher” by Nick Jonas
• “Chiwawa” by Wanko Ni Mero Mero
• “Copacabana” by Frankie Bostello
• “This Is How We Do” by Katy Perry
• “Drop The Mambo” by Diva Carmina
• “Hit The Road Jack” by Charles Percy
• “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” by The Girly Team
• “Irish Meadow Dance” by O’Callaghan’s Orchestra
• “Junto a Ti” From Disney’s “Violetta”
• “Kaboom Pow” by Nikki Yanofsky
• “Kool Kontact” by Glorious Black Belts
• “You’re The One That I Want” From The Movie Grease
• “The Choice Is Yours” by Darius Dante Van Dijk
• “Under the Sea” From Disney’s “The Little Mermaid”
• “When The Rain Begins To Fall” by Sky Trucking
• “You Never Can Tell” by A. Caveman & The Backseats

Songs previously announced for the game include:

• “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson Ft. Bruno Mars
• “All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor
• “Animals” by Martin Garrix
• “Hey Mama” by David Guetta Ft. Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack
• “Blame” by Calvin Harris Ft. John Newman
• “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga
• “Want To Want Me” by Jason Derulo
• “Gibberish” by MAX
• “Hangover (BaBaBa)” by Buraka Som Sistema
• “I Gotta Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas
• “Ievan Polkka” by Hatsune Miku
• “Let’s Groove” by Equinox Stars
• “William Tell Overture” by Rossini
• “Balkan Blast Remix” by Angry Birds
• Rabiosa” by Shakira Ft. El Cata
• “Stuck On A Feeling” by Prince Royce
• “Boys (Summertime Love)” by The Lemon Cubes
• “Fun” by Pitbull Ft. Chris Brown
• “Circus” by Britney Spears
• “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea Ft. Charli XCX
• “Same Old Love” by Selena Gomez
• “Cool For The Summer” by Demi Lovato
• “Lights” by Ellie Goulding
• “No Control” by One Direction
• “I’m An Albatraoz” by AronChupa

The post HOT SONGS AND QUIRKY FAVORITES for Just Dance 2016 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Activision is supercharging Comic-Con International: San Diego 2015 with Skylanders,Toys-to-Life and now Vehicles-to-Life videogame franchise.

Activision will reveal the new Skylanders SuperChargers Dark Edition at the convention where attendees will be among the first consumers in the world to play the game with dark versions of the Starter Pack characters, including Dark Turbo Charge Donkey Kong and his Dark Barrel Blaster land vehicle; Dark Hammer Slam Bowser and his Dark Clown Cruiser sky vehicle; and Skylanders fan-favourite Stealth Elf in a new Dark version.

Australian and New Zealand fans can pre-order the Dark Edition beginning today at EB Games while supplies last.

The Skylanders SuperChargers Dark Edition includes unique toys that true Portal Masters will want in their collections.  All Dark Edition Starter Packs will include Dark Spitfire, Dark Hot Streak, a two-sided ultimate collector poster and the highly sought-after Kaos Trophy, which is the only way to unlock special Kaos gameplay content.
Dark Super Shot Stealth Elf and Dark Sea Shadow will be available exclusively in the Dark Edition Starter Packs for Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4.

The Wii U Dark Edition Starter Pack will include Dark Turbo Charge Donkey Kong and Dark Barrel Blaster, exclusively. A different, unique adventure including Dark Hammer Slam Bowser and Dark Clown Cruiser will be made available on Nintendo’s Wii.

“This year Skylanders, the original toys-to-life franchise, gets a boost of high-octane gameplay and innovation by bringing toy vehicles to life for kids with Skylanders SuperChargers,” said John Coyne, senior vice president of consumer marketing, Activision Publishing, Inc.  “We look forward to fans checking out our Dark Edition for the first time at San Diego Comic-Con.”

Skylanders SuperChargers expands upon the franchise’s signature gameplay to introduce a brand-new play pattern to fans, vehicles-to-life.

For the first time ever, kids (and adults, of course) can explore and navigate the mountainous terrains, deep sea environments and big blue skies of Skylands like never before by going behind the wheel of powerful, tricked-out land, sea and sky vehicles – bringing them from physical world into the digital world in a high octane action-adventure videogame.

The game offers a diverse and dynamic, story-driven gameplay experience, filled with vehicle-based and on-foot adventures featuring combat, puzzles, mini games, activities and platforming, all set within a variety of new compelling environments.

Skylanders SuperChargers has 20 land, sea and sky vehicles that are fun to play in the game and in the real world. There is also a new class of heroe, 20 SuperCharger characters that feature all-new powerful attacks and moves, upgrades and personalities. Skylanders SuperChargers will be available on September 24th, 2015 in Australia and September 25th, 2015 in New Zealand.

The post SHIFT INTO HIGH GEAR AT COMIC-CON With Skylanders: SuperChargers appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Today, at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Ubisoft announced Just Dance  2016.

Just Dance 2016 will be released on October 22nd, 2015 in Australia and New Zealand on all motion-control gaming platforms, including Nintendo’s Wii and Wii U system, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 . Just Dance 2016 will feature tracks from artists like Jason Derulo, Mark Ronson Ft. Bruno Mars, Meghan Trainor, Calvin Harris Ft. John Newman and Lady Gaga.

To help announce Just Dance 2016 at Ubisoft’s press conference, pop star Jason Derulo performed “Want To Want Me,” his track from the game. The song marks his fourth no.1 pop airplay single and the 11th platinum single for the hit-maker.

The free Just Dance Controller App enables players on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Wii U to use their Apple, Android, or Windows Phone devices to play the game without any peripherals or added console cameras. The app transforms the player’s phone into a motion sensor that tracks the accuracy of their moves and allows them to navigate through the game.

“The resurgence in the music games genre has been thrilling to watch in the lead up to E3 and we’re as optimistic as ever about the future of music gaming,” said Jason Altman, Executive Producer. “Last year Just Dance franchise sales reached 54 million units, and we’re very proud to make a game that is loved by so many. We work to make the game as accessible as possible, and this year, the new Just Dance Controller App will make the game available to millions of new players.”

Introduced this year, Just Dance Unlimited is a new subscription streaming service available for new-gen owners that allows players on Just Dance 2016 to access exclusive songs and the best tracks from previous Just Dance games. By subscribing to Just Dance Unlimited, players will enjoy more than 150 songs at launch and more throughout the year.

Just Dance 2016 also brings back fan-favorite features like Sweat & Playlists, along with all-new game modes exclusive to new-gen consoles, including:

• Dance Quests Mode: Players can unlock dance quests for a chance to “beat the game” for the first time ever. In each quest, players will play a series of three songs for a chance to advance to the next set of dance quest challenges.
• Dance Party Mode: In the Dance Party mode, players can dance along with their friends and family in the classic rival mode or dance together to get the highest collective score as a group in the first ever co-op mode.
• World Video Challenge: The all-new World Video Challenge allows players to send videos of their performances to challenge friends from all around the world and dance to their scores as if they were in the same room!

With more than 40 new tracks ranging from Billboard hits to classic throwback favourites, everyone in the entire family will have a favourite track to dance to. Just Dance 2016 tracks revealed at E3 include:

• “Want to Want Me” by Jason Derulo
• “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson Ft. Bruno Mars
• “All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor
• “Hey Mama” by David Guetta Ft. Nicki Minaj, Afrojack & Bebe Rexha
• “Animals” by Martin Garrix
• “Blame” by Calvin Harris Ft. John Newman
• “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga
• “Gibberish” by MAX
• “Hangover (BaBaBa)” by Buraka Som Sistema
• “I Gotta Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas
• “Ievan Polkka” by Hatsune Miku
• “Let’s Groove” by Equinox Stars
• “William Tell – Overture” by Rossini

The post Just Dnce 2016 w. Smartphone Support Revealed at E3 2015 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Skylanders is bringing another trailblazing innovation with the launch of Skylanders SuperChargers releasing on September 25th in New Zealand and Australia.

Activision are the leaders of the toys-to-life category it created, and are expanding upon the franchise’s signature gameplay to introduce vehicles-to-life – an entirely new way for fans to experience the magic of Skylanders.

At the helm of powerful, tricked-out land, sea and sky vehicles, Portal Masters can engage in a high-octane action-adventure videogame like never before. Kids can speed across Skylands’ roads in vehicular combat, race down roaring rapids and engage in aerial dogfights as they barrel-roll through enemy swarms for the first time.

Developed by Vicarious Visions, Skylanders SuperChargers offers a rich story-driven gameplay experience, filled with vehicle-based and on-foot adventures, combat, puzzles, mini games, activities and platforming, set within a variety of all-new compelling environments.

“We created the toys-to-life category and have continued to lead it by bringing new innovations and new magic to the genre with each and every game. First we brought action figures to life, and now we’re bringing vehicles to life with Skylanders SuperChargers,” said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, Inc. “We love making these games because in order to do it well, you have to constantly tap into your inner kid. What kid hasn’t imagined epic vehicles with amazing powers and dreamed about the adventures they could have with them? Skylanders SuperChargers makes those dreams real.”

Skylanders SuperChargers features a brand-new class of heroes, called SuperChargers who are distinct with fresh moves, powerful attacks and all-new weapons.  These SuperChargers also have special in-game abilities that help Portal Masters fight Kaos.  Twenty new SuperChargers character toys and 20 new vehicle toys will be available.

Players will have the ability to customize all vehicles in-game with super cool modifications and upgradeable weapons.

For the ultimate gameplay experience, players can pair a SuperCharger Skylander with its signature vehicle to create a SuperCharged combination, unlocking an exclusive mod that revs up the performance of both the vehicle and character. Not only are the vehicles playable in the game, but also many feature moving parts, making them fun to play with outside of the game.  Additionally, Skylanders SuperChargers supports all 300+ Skylanders toys from previous games, enabling all Skylanders characters to pilot land, sea or sky-based vehicles.

“Since first partnering with Activision to bring the original Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure to our stores, we have believed whole-heartedly in the magic and innovation of this brand, as well as the company’s ability to reimagine and redefine play experiences with the toys-to-life concept,” said Richard Barry, Global Chief Merchandising Officer, Toys“R”Us, Inc. “With each new introduction, Activision never disappoints its highly loyal fans of the franchise, and we are thrilled to continue to offer the broadest assortment of all Skylanders merchandise, including the newly introduced Skylanders SuperChargers.”

The game’s storyline focuses on Kaos’ latest attempt to rule Skylands. In his efforts to take down the Skylanders, Kaos has unleashed his most sinister weapon ever – a massive “Doomstation of Ultimate Doomstruction” capable of eating the sky itself!  Fortunately, Master Eon has seen the warning signs and assembled a special team of Skylanders to pilot an unstoppable fleet of land, sea and sky vehicles with the power to travel through the reign of destruction to stop Kaos!

Fans can pre-order Skylanders SuperChargers Starter Pack beginning on June 4th, 2015 at select retail destinations worldwide, which includes two new Skylanders characters, a first-of-its kind Skylanders vehicle, newly designed Portal of Power and the full game.

Skylanders SuperChargers will be available on Xbox 360 and  Xbox One, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, Nintendo’s Wii U, and a different, unique adventure will be made available on Nintendo’s Wii and the Nintendo 3DS.

Additionally, the complete Skylanders SuperChargers experience will be available on iPad.

The post Skylanders Gets Supercharged appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Being a true collector’s starter pack that includes the special Ultimate Kaos Trap, which allows Portal Masters to trap and play as Kaos when the game launches in New Zealand in October, 2014.

The Ultimate Kaos Trap featured in the Skylanders Trap Team Dark Edition Starter Pack is a special, larger-sized Trap to capture Skylands Number 1 villain.

The Dark Edition will also feature two Traps; exclusive black and silver variant designs of new characters Snap Shot, Wildfire and Food Fight; a two-sided ultimate collector poster; sticker sheets and trading cards.

Releasing on the Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo’s Wii and Wii U.

“In just 33 months, the Skylanders franchise has grown into a pop-culture phenomenon,” said Josh Taub, senior vice president of product management at Activision Publishing, Inc.

Skylanders Trap Team brings a ground-breaking innovation to the Skylanders franchise by reversing the magic of its signature Toys-To-Life play pattern to let kids bring life-to-toys for the first time.

Portal Masters will seek out and defeat the most wanted villains in all of Skylands, pulling them out of the game and into living rooms by capturing them in magical Traps.

Players can then send villains back into the game where they play as them to fight for good.

The game will include the Traptanium Portal, a new ring of magical energy that enables kids to not only bring their Skylanders to life, but also magically capture villains using the new Traps. Once they’ve defeated the villains, kids will be able to place a Trap into the new portal to capture them. They will also be able to hear the villains inside the Traps, an innovation that truly brings life to toys.

The Skylanders franchise first debuted in 2011 on PS3, Xbox 360, Wii and 3DS with Skylanders Giants being a follow up within the series in 2012. It was the top selling kids video gaming title of 2013.

Skylanders Trap Team is due for release in October 2014.

The post Skylanders Will Go Dark at Comic Con 2014 – News appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The Mad (and usually evil) Doctor warns the civilians of the cartoon world of impending doom (he actually painfully sings it), seemingly changing his past no – good ways, realising that he himself is under the same threat as his Toon companions.

Cityscapes begin getting ripped apart as a mysterious and destructive earthquake hits.

What is the force behind the destruction? Can there be a Hero?

Epic Mickey 2: The Power of 2 resurrects Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, a nostalgic 80 year old Disney character that pre-dates even Mickey himself, into a co-op adventure title where you can change the world with a splash of paint or paint thinner, traversing to areas and dimensions via Magic Mirrors.

Oswald brandishes a universal Remote control which enables him to take the command of electricity.

Single player sees the Rabbit being CPU controlled and you as Mickey.

There are many times where you need to work conjointly with Oswald to achieve a singular goal within a puzzling objective.

Another player can jump in and out of play as the wish and man the gameplay of Oswald.

The way that you play, whether solo or with a friend will affect the entirety of gameplay. Tackling different scenarios in various ways or exploring all possibilities, not just the obvious will dynamically alter the game and soundtrack.

Usually combat is enacted with using Paint Thinner as a weapon, where the evil animates are virtually erased. That said, you also have a spin attack.

Paint itself (as we saw in the first Epic Mickey) will reveal hidden paths, areas and treasures.

Flicking from the two is simplistic, one click of a button during play.

Both Paint and Paint Thinner do not automatically restore. These can be picked up throughout the Level’s and as you progress further into the game they get harder and harder to find, so you find yourself becoming extra cautious with your usage of both reserves.

There are collectables in abundance; Mickey Mouse currency which can be used on Art, to mini-movies and such the like, that are kept within the Extra’s area.

Very nostalgic as eight decades of history with Disney’s characters mark a much overdue comeback and mix in with the characters we know today.

Officially voiced by the Disney voice characters and story penned by renowned comic book creator; Marv Wolfman.

Epic Mickey 2 is no cheap re-hash of the first game. It retains the magic the first one had on Nintendo Wii (exclusive) and successfully ports this over to Wii – U, Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. Also the 3DS version is a complete standalone title and the newly released PS Vita version makes full use of touch compatibility.

The PS3 version is PS Move compatible in which you wave the Move controller around to splash paint and either a controller (standard) of the Nav to move Mickey in third person, 3D and 2D Levels.

If you don’t have a Move, don’t stress. The second joystick on the standard controllers has a two tiered controlling system.

A light movement, will move the Paint cursor about your environment. A more firmer swish of the secondary stick (L3) rotates the games’ camera.

Although I’m not a huge fan of PS Move, using one gives a much better playing experience.

Also, the PlayStation version can be played in stereoscopic 3D.

I was a huge fan of the first Epic Mickey.

When I learned of a sequel being released, that Disney obsessed child within me began to get excited.

Still, alot of the time ‘Part 2’ titles tend to be abit watery and lack the magic and uniqueness of the first game.

This is definitely not so with Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two.

This game could be a stand alone in its own right. Richly animated and styled like a classic Disney Movie that we are all familiar with.

Although having characters suddenly burst out into song within a game was a new experience for me.

A full personal recommendation for gamers of every age and every creed. Mickey has never been this good.

The post Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two – Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

For those of you that have somehow never taken on a movie franchise based LEGO game, you can expect a full recreation of the series that it is adapting from, with eyebrow raising humour and constructing paths, areas or objects with loose blocks of LEGO that you will periodically come across.

As with LEGO Star Wars and Indiana Jones, all memorable and notable characters from the films make an appearance either in a playable or narrative format.

You will take on the role(s) of Frodo, Gandalf, Legolas, Aragon, Gimli, Glorfindel – Elven Lord, Farmer Maggot and even Tom Bombadil who features in the books but not in the movies.

There are over 80 playable characters available as you work through the epic, cinematic saga and eventually unlock them.

Each character has at the very least, one special and unique ability to themselves only; Gandalf wields Wizard Magic, Gimli can hurl objects, as examples.

It is highly amusing to see a ‘LEGO’ version of Gollum.

Other players can drop in and out of play either singularly or as a team.

LEGO: Lord of the Rings follows the entire trilogy, as we remember it from the Peter Jackson silver screen adaptions; The Fellowship, Two Towers and Return of the King.

Take on fierce battles against Orcs as you push forward over varying and hazadous terrains in order to reach Mount Doom and defeat Sauron.

LEGO studs are collectable everywhere in the this third person mammoth adventure, which you collect and can use to acquire in-game items.

Developed by veterans in the industry; Travellers Tales (the latest Crash Bandicoots, LEGO: Star Wars series, LEGO: Indiana Jones, LEGO: Batman series), they opted to make a few changes from what previous LEGO adaptions have entailed.

For the first time, the characters no longer grunt, nod and ‘hmmm’. They have found their voices; all taken from the films.

Also, there is more of an RPG element to LEGO: LOTR’s.

You have an Inventory where items that you collect, including differing weapons and magical items are stored and collected.

If you go to Bree you’ll find a Blacksmith who can create items for you.

You will use the power of the Palantir, using a variety of utilities from your collection; Elven Rope, the Light of Earendil and loads more as you traverse between multiple storylines.

The game’s worlds have been opened up on the console version. Whereby you have the ability to completely free roam and explore.

Exploring will always reap rewards, and while the entire game is played out on foot (ok, mostly) to get around the quickest way is to use the Fast Travel mode within the Map screen.

There is an “open world” mode,  allowing up to seven non-player characters which will follow you and friends if you are playing in co-op, including split screen.

As if all of this was not enough to keep you gaming until the end of time, you’ll come across a myriad of side quests throughout the open world map, ranging from go and fetch missions through to collecting Mithril blocks for crafting things like tools and more.

Travellers Tales also adapted certain scenes from the films to make it more ‘LEGO’ and also slightly held back on the corny humour that the other titles have been swamped with.

There’s a winning formula with all LEGO adaption games, playable, enjoyable and totally satisfactory.

Designed for a more than lengthy play, LOTR’s Trilogy compounds on all the above and heightens everything 110%

This could be the ONLY game you play for months, if you allow it.

Authentically and painstakingly detailed, everything that was in the movies is here.

Fully recommend it for consoles and/or PC and Mac, the handheld versions, whilst still good, do not have the substantial amount of gameplay.

LEGO: Lord of the Rings Trilogy is my new precious (sorry, couldn’t help throwing that in somewhere).

Genre: Action / Adventure

Platform: PlayStation 3 / Xbox 360

Wii / PC and Mac / PS Vita / 3DS / DS

Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive

No. of Players: 1 – 7

Website

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The post LEGO: Lord of the Rings Trilogy – Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise is a music based game with vividly bright cartoony graphics to get you off the couch and waving your Wii wand around in time to, well, the beat.

To play you do need to have a somewhat sense of rhythm as you undertake a plethora of over 50 mini-games actioned by way of keeping timing.

From slashing Demons to umm, Pea pricking with a fork, taking out Ghouls, being a Samurai and even playing a jolly good ole’ game of Badminton.

Your skill level in gameplay as a whole doesn’t have to be too expert, just so long as you have quick reflexes and can groove to the music.

A series of hearty beat laden tracks with catchy, almost kiddie music and a few remixes here and there will keep you popping, pricking, swiping and hurling your arms about to get through to the next Game on offer.

You must complete every Level with only one or two failures allowed in order to earn the Medal for that round. The more Medals that you earn the more you gameplay you can Unlock; from extra Content to extra Tracks and more and more gameplay. Simple.

The A Button is your friend throughout play and you will need to tap this alot whilst pulling the underlying trigger every now and then to make it through. But remember to tap the button in accordance to the beat.

The on-screen HUD will display your time keeping stats which is revealed right at the start where a metronome taps out a beat and requires you to press the A-button at the end of each bar. It will show you your rhythmic accuracy over a series of taps, revealing where your weaknesses are in your beating ability.

Multiplayer is of course a feature, so to make it even more challenging invite a mate for a dual beat bashing competition.

Somewhat ported from the DS title, gameplay has been totally revised and is new to the Wii, although players that did play the DS one will see some familiarities.

Designed by Yoshio Sakamoto, who is better known as the creator of the Metroid series and Nintendo’s Dark Mario .

It’s definitely different, I found that most of the mini-games offered varying degrees of challenges, however gameplay overall was very, very samey, samey.

If you are Wii equipped this is a wholesome family game where you can clutch your Wii Remote, feel the Beat and get into the Rhythm.

Genre: Music

Platform: Nintendo Wii

Publisher: Nintendo

No. of Players: 1 – 2

Website

The post Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise – Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.