Thrillville - Off the Rails! Review for Xbox 360

Game: Thrillville Off the Rails!
Format: Xbox 360
Company: Lucasarts
Price: £39.99
Players: 1

Thrillville: Off The Rails is a sequel to a previously PS2 exclusive Theme Park style console game where you can design and build your own Theme Park.

In this new version you can create your own Rollercoasters and ride them, as well as creating and riding other new rides in your Park such as Log Flumes, Go Kart racing etc, and you can also build and play sideshows like Coconut Shys etc.

Gameplay wise this game is very good, as well as the Theme Park management you can also wander around your Park and interact with customers, which adds a kind of The Sims element to the game, the more you talk to customers and get them to like you the more popular your Park will become overall in the game.

The 360 version of Thrillville: Off the Rails also has fairly do-able achievements to boost your achievement score, from simple stuff such as building your first Rollercoaster to more advanced and online achievements, this adds a fun element to an already extremely fun game.

Graphically the game is very good, although I can't comment on the sound as the first time I played the game was late at night so I turned the sound down so as not to disturb my Neighbours, I'm sure it's just as excellent as previous 360 games though.

So overall if you liked the Theme Park series on the PC and have a 360, you'll enjoy this game!

Final score:

87%

Cooking Mama DS review!

Name: Cooking Mama
Format: Nintendo DS or DS Lite
Company: Nintendo
Players: 1
Price: £25-30 (I got it for £18 on eBay though)

Cooking Mama is a game with a difference, in the game you use your stylus as varius kitchen utensils in the preparation of a variety of food dishes.

Graphically the game is very good if a little sparse, but the thing about a game like this is gameplay over flash graphics, and Cooking Mama has good gameplay in abundance.

It's a little annoying at first, as using the stylus to chop veg and stir stuff etc takes some getting used to, but once you get the hang of it it's a right laugh.

I managed to make a fried fish dish earlier today on it anyway, and some kind of curry dish, even though I would never eat a curry in real life as I hate it, lol.

Anyway if you fancy a game that's a bit different, or if you want to learn how to cook fancy stuff, you might want to try this out.

Oh and if you have a Wi-Fi connection on your DS you can upload and download new recipes for the game, just thought I'd mention that added bonus before I forget.

Overall score: 75%

Worms Xbox Live Arcade review

Name: Worms
Format: Xbox Live Arcade on Xbox 360
Company: Team 17
Price: 800 Gamer points
Players: 1 local and up to 4 multiplayer over Xbox Live

The Worms series has been around for years, ever since it originally started life as a winning competition entry by a 12 year old on the Amiga it has appeared in various guises on the PC and most of the consoles.

Basically you control a team of worms, and the point of the game is, using various weaponry, you have to blow up and generally kill a CPU controlled team of worms before they do the same to your team.

This time it's on Xbox Live Arcade! With some fairly classic gameplay and easily unlockable achievement points, in fact in most cases the achievements on Worms are considerably easier to do than those on the TMNT game I reviewed earlier.

Once again this is a pretty retro-themed game, so the graphics and sound follows suit, not that they're rubbish, cos they're not, and as I said before it's the gameplay that shines through over flashy graphics in this kind of game.

Final score: 89%

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade

Name: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade 1989
Format: Xbox Live Arcade on Xbox 360
Company: Konami
Price: 400 Gamer points
Players: 1 or 2 co-operative on Xbox Live

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade is a conversion of the 1989 Arcade machine hit, in the game you control one of the four Turtles, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello or Raphael, and you have to battle through several scrolling levels of Foot soldiers and other recognisable baddies from the TMNT cartoons such as Rocksteady and Bebop, Krang and Shredder etc.

Gameplay wise it's classic hack and slash gameplay on offer here, and if you've ever played the original game (and who hasn't?) you'll feel right at home playing this.

As well as the fighting, this game, like all the other Xbox Live Arcade titles has varying achievements to unlock, which vary from easy to win, to quite hard at times.

Graphically the game is very retro oriented, but let's face it it's an 18 year old game, but the playability is so good and has that elusive "just one more go" factor so you can try and get all the achievements that the old style graphics don't bother you.

Overall if you've got 400 gamer points going spare, you have to buy this! And if you've got no poinrs left, buy some from the Marketplace for it.

Final score: 85%

Dr Kawashima's Brain Training DS review!

Name: Dr Kawashima's Brain Training
Format: Nintendo DS or DS Lite
Company: Nintendo
Price: £20
Players: 1 or multiple via online wi-fi play

Dr Kawashima's Brain Training is a collection of brain taxing games which will entice and baffle you. It features maths quizzes, logic puzzles, and the new phenomenonally successful Sudoku puzzle game.

Graphically this game is very basic in style, but to be honest given the type of gameplay on offer it doesn't need fancy 3D graphics, just solid gameplay and that's what this game offers... It also makes excellent use of the Stylus pen and the DS microphone, with voice recognition and use of the Stylus pen and handwriting recognition to write your answers to the maths questions etc.

Overall, if you fancy something a bit different to endless streams of Mario themed platformers and licensed games, you might want to try Dr Kawashima's Brain Training, go on it's only 20 Quid! My only personal gripe with it is that I don't "get" Sudoku but that's just me.

Final rating: 85%

WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2007 Xbox 360 review!

Name: WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2007
Format: Xbox 360 (Also available on PS2 and PSP)
Company: Yuke's (Published by THQ)
Players: 1-6 plus online via Xbox Live Gold (sold seperately)
Price: £39.99 or variable online

WWE Smackdown Versus Raw 2007 is the latest in the Smackdown Vs Raw series which until now has been PS2 exclusive, but this latest incarnation is also available on Xbox 360 and Playstation Portable, this is a review of the Xbox 360 version.

The game has a very up to date roster of Raw and Smackdown Superstars and also various Legends including the late Eddie Guerrero and Curt "Mr Perfect" Hennig, also because the roster was finalised before his debut in TNA, Kurt Angle is featured in the game along with several long time WWE Stars such as John Cena, Batista, The Undertaker, Kane, RVD, Kane, the list goes on.. Certainly the most up to date roster since that of Raw 2 on the original Xbox.

The graphics on the game are flawless, but alas the gameplay is not, there's a few noticeable glitches, but they're not bad enough to make this a bad game by any chalk, and at least it gives the Internet community something to bitch about.

Modes wise, let's have a look what we got here... CAW? (Create a Wrestler) - check! General Manager mode? Check! Fully interactive season mode with branching storylines and choices? Check! We also have the usual exhibition modes where you can pit in game wrestlers and CAWs against each other, and also Main Event mode which features gimmick matches such as the all new Elimination Chamber (As debuted in WWE at Survivor Series 2005, the Undertaker's specialty Hell in a Cell, Cage matches, and another new addition this year, Buried Alive, where the object is to lock your opponent in a Casket and literally bury them alive! There's also the Title Match modes, where you can contest the various WWE titles (after you've unlocked them in season mode).

As for the CAW mode itself, you can make pretty good creations here, obviously the lack of custom entrance themes is annoying (and is the cause of most complaints from the Internet communities) but you can still make pretty accurate recreations of almost anybody, especially the likes of Jeff Hardy it seems... You can also trade CAWs online in this game, as you could in last year's game, this time the trade lobbies work better though, there are limitations to this however, for instance you can't trade CAWs with designs or logos, this is to stop profanity being used online apparently.

Overall, this game admittedly isn't without its problems, but its the best current generation WWE branded game by miles!

Final rating: 89%

Yoshi's Island DS review!

Name: Yoshi's Island DS
Format: Nintendo DS or DS Lite
Company: Nintendo
Players: 1
Price: £29.99 or variable online

Yoshi's Island DS is a port of the original YI game which graced the SNES back in the mid 90s. Gameplay wise it's basically the same game as the old SNES version, but the graphics have improved immensely, and there's now several new mini-games to unlock and play with.

In the game you control Yoshi himself, the little green Dinosaur made famous in games such as Super Mario World etc, and you have to carry Baby Mario and Luigi across the various levels and worlds of the game, also now included in the DS version are Baby versions of Princess Peach, Donkey Kong and various other classic Nintendo characters.

Gameplay wise this is typical Mario game fare, full of cutesy characters, luciously colourful levels, and classic familiar gameplay.

Overall, if you're after a new game, I strongly recommend this or New Super Mario Bros, they're the reason I bought a DS!

Final rating: 93%

Rockstar Table Tennis Xbox 360 review!

Name: Rockstar Table Tennis
Format: Xbox 360
Company: Rockstar
Price: £20-30
Players: 2 (including online via Xbox Live)

Rockstar are most famous for the Grand Theft Auto games on the PS2, so this Xbox 360 exclusive Table Tennis sim is a welcome diversion from them. The graphics and gameplay on this game are excellent, the controls are dead easy to pick up, even for newbies, in fact they're pretty similar to the 360's other exclusive Tennis sim Top Spin 2, which I will also be reviewing soon on this site.

As well as the single player Exhibition and Tournament modes, there's also loads of multiplayer options including online play via Xbox Live Gold (sold seperately) which also includes voice chat facilities.

In short, if you fancy a game of virtual Table Tennis and can find this cheap, buy it! It's probably one of the best Xbox 360 exclusives so far this year in my opinion.

Final rating: 89%

Bomberman DS review!

Name: Bomberman
Format: Nintendo DS or DS Lite
Company: Nintendo
Price: £29.99
Players: 1 or up to 16 via wireless link up.

Bomberman has been around for years so I don't need to tell you all what it's about, you control Bomberman himself and have to run around a single screen 2D maze blowing stuff up with your bombs.

Graphically the game is very functional, if a little basic, and the sound/music is also decent. Gameplay wise it's classic Bomberman, run around the screen blowing up the baddies on level upon level of bomb-tastic fun, where the game really comes into its own though is the wireless multiplayer link up facility for up to 16 players, this is probably one of the best multiplayer games on the DS in my opinion, just a shame there's no online play.

Final rating: 82%

Pokemon Link DS Review!

Name: Pokemon Trozei (Link)
Company: Nintendo
Price: £29.99
Players: 1 or Multiplayer wireless or online

Pokemon Link is a Puzzle game based on the ever popular Pokemon franchise, in the game you have to use your Stylus pen to link up to 4 of the same Pokemon to make a line, sort of like Tetris with Pokemons really.

Anyway, the graphics on the game are pretty decent, as is the sound, and the game is extremely playable as well, and loads of fun.

Basically if you like Puzzle games and are a Pokemon fanatic, you should probably buy this game, as it's a great way to kill a couple of hours.

Final rating: 79%

Street Fighter 2 Hyper Fighting Xbox Live Arcade Review!

Name: Street Fighter 2 Hyper Fighting
Company:Capcom/Microsoft
Format: Xbox 360
Price: 800 Xbox Live points
Players: 1 to 16 online

Street Fighter 2 Hyper Fighting on Xbox Live is a conversion of the world famous Street Fighter 2 game that was a big hit in the Arcades about 14 years ago.

This new version features all the characters that were in SF2 Turbo on the SNES, from Ryu and Ken to Chun Li, Blanka, E Honda and the Bosses Balrog, Sagat, Vega and M Bison.

Graphically the game is very true to the original arcade version in style, as is the sound.. My only gripe with the game really is that the Xbox 360 controller is not really suited to this kind of fighting game, and this spoils an otherwise classic game, as the difficult controls make the game border on unplayable even to an SF2 expert like me.

Overall, if you're a fan of the genre and of the Street Fighter series, and you have the patience to put up with the annoyingly cumbersome controls, I recommend you download Street Fighter 2 Hyper Fighting from Xbox Live Arcade on your Xbox 360 console.

Final rating for SF2 Hyper Fighting: 79% (loses points because of the annoying controls)

Super Mario 64 DS review!

Name: Super Mario 64 DS
Format: Nintendo DS or DS Lite
Company: Nintendo
Price: £29.99 or variable
Players: 1

Super Mario 64 DS is a conversion of Super Mario 64 which was the title which launched the Nintendo 64 console back in the mid 1990s.

Even if you've got the original though it's still worth getting this DS version if you've got a DS, as it has enhancements and features that weren't in the original game such as new levels etc.

Graphically the game is very true to the original, but unlike normal Mario games this time it's all in 3D! The sound effects and music are also very true to the original, with excellent musical scores throughout the game.

Overall, if you're a Mario fan, this and New Super Mario Bros should definitely be on your shopping list when you're in Town buying games.

Final score for Super Mario 64 DS: 89%

Mario Kart DS review!

Name: Mario Kart DS
Format: Nintendo DS or DS Lite
Company: Nintendo
Players: Up to 4 via link up or 16 via Wi-Fi

Mario Kart DS is the new version of the popular Mario themed racing game which has been on the SNES and N64 consoles. It's the perfect multiplayer game for DS really, with fun races involving your favourite Mario game and other Nintendo characters.

Basically if you like racing games, and are a fan of Mario games as well, you'll like this game a lot.

It looks the biz, has great sound and is highly playable as a single player game, or via multiplayer link up of up to 4 Nintendo DS consoles, and you can also play online via Wi-Fi at the various Wi-Fi "hotspots" or via the USB Wi-Fi adaptor I mentioned in the Tetris review.

Final score: 90%

Super Princess Peach DS review!

Name: Super Princess Peach
Format: Nintendo DS or DS Lite
Price: £29.99
Company: Nintendo
Players: 1

Super Princess Peach is a Mario style platform game, but in this case the role is reversed, usually the Mario Brothers have to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser Koopa, this time she's rescuing them!

In the game you traverse the various levels of Vibe Island, and you have 4 different "Vibe" powers to use, happiness, anger, crying and something else, which you can use to get past varying obstacles on each of the levels.

Princess Peach also has a special Umbrella which enables you to float round the levels, which adds to the fun.

Graphically the game is typically a 2D platform affair a la the norm for Mario style games, and the sound is equally tops.

So if you fancy a different spin on the Mario genre starring a girl, I recommend Super Princess Peach.

Final score: 85%

New Super Mario Bros DS review!

Format: Nintendo DS or DS Lite
Price: £29.99
Company: Nintendo
Players: 1 or 2 via link up

New Super Mario Bros is the next game in the popular Super Mario Bros series from Nintendo.

Usual Super Mario gameplay on offer here, you as Mario or Luigi traverse 8 worlds of platform action to save Princess Peach from the evil Bowser Koopa.

There are some new features though, including Mega Mario, where you become a Giant Mario and can stomp on baddies, collect coins etc...

Graphics and sound wise the game stays true to Super Mario Bros's 2D origins, and makes full use of the DS's audio capabilities as well.

Overall, if you're a fan of old school platform japes (and who isn't?) I heartily recommend New Super Mario Bros to you.

Final score: 96%

Tetris DS review!

Game: Tetris DS
Price: £29.99
Company: Nintendo
Players: 1 or up to 16 via Wi-Fi multiplayer (Wi-Fi adaptor sold seperately)

Well what can I say? Everybody knows what Tetris is, it's been on almost every games format ever invented... And now it's on the Nintendo DS!

In Tetris DS, there's the classic Tetris game everybody loves, plus various other modes to have fun with, all to the backgrounds and tunes of classic Nintendo titles such as Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong etc...

There's also the option of playing online via Wi-Fi, either by going to the various Wi-Fi "hotspots" around the world, or by buying the Nintendo USB Wi-Fi adaptor, sold for varying prices at several online and high street retailers.

Overall, if you love Tetris and have a DS or DS Lite, you NEED to invest in this game!

Final score for Tetris DS: 95%

Pheonix Wright: Ace Attorney DS review!

Format: Nintendo DS or DS Lite
Price: £29.99 new or variable on eBay
Company: Capcom
Players: 1

Pheonix Wright: Ace Attorney is a game where you, as the titular Attorney of law, have to gather evidence and then go to Court to try and win a "Not Guilty" verdict for your clients over 5 different "cases".

The first case is a fairly simple Murder charge, the guy being charged didn't do it, he was just an unfortunate sap who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and you owe him a favour...

Throughout the game you collect various pieces of evidence to try and prove your client's innocence, and then there's the exciting Courtroom drama parts of the game where you have to listen to witness testimonies, cross examine witnesses and produce evidence to disprove the Prosecution witness's claims.

Graphically the game is pretty excellent, fully utilising the DS's potential, and the audio features of the game are equally tops... In fact it's pretty hard to fault any aspect of this game to be honest, probably the best DS game I've bought so far in the 2 months I've had my DS.

So overall, if you're tired of constant Mario themed platformers and licensed movie tie-ins on your DS, give Pheonix Wright a try, you'll probably really like it, beware though it does take quite a bit of patience to get through the cases and it's not always blitheringly obvious what to do...

Overall final score for Pheonix Wright: Ace Attorney - 89%

Welcome to richysgamereviews, the blog where games from a variety of formats including Xbox, Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS will be reviewed.

Titles reviewed will include New Super Mario Bros, Pheonix Wright Ace Attorney, Mario Kart DS, Nintendogs and others on the DS and stuff like Rumble Roses XX, WWE Smackdown versus Raw 2007, Quake 4 and others on Xbox 360.

Wherever possible I will also include screen grabs as well as text reviews.

I hope people enjoy reading my reviews.