ugvm

the site of uk.games.video.misc

Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)

Posted on Written by

Worlds_1-8_done__All_stampsflagsstars._Special_worlds_left_to_mop_up_now_That picture there is all the flags, stars and stamps for all of the worlds from 1-8. Or 1-Bowser, if you’re using Nintendo’s eclectic numbering system. Surprisingly, although the hardest level up until then when playing normally and for the first run through, was Grumblump Inferno (the one with the blocks you have to stand on as they roll over lava), and I’d failed to get anything but a finish on it, this time I found it incredibly easy and breezed through getting everything. Time is such a healer.

Or, in the case of Mario games, time is a great provider of awesome Mario skills. With much play comes great power. Or something.

Dah_dah_dah_daaaaaaaah_After that, it was onto the special worlds to clean up the remaining collectables there. I’m not far in yet, but no real difficulties yet. Aside from on Rainbow Run, where although I didn’t die, getting to the second star with a Fire Flower intact was a challenge. After several attempts (restarting if I lost it), I realised there was a Fire Flower just to the left of the area you need one for. Gah.

The reward? DAH DAH DAH DAAAAAH!!

Saints Row the Third: losing Matt

Posted on Written by

Last night I arranged to meet Matt on PSN, a meeting that was interrupted by Nicholas being restless, Justine needing chocolate deliveries, and Gaby returning home.  But eventually we were able to get the same game running, following interminable updates, and that game was Saints Row the Third.  Having never played the previous games in the series, Matt filled me in on the detail a bit as we drove around town creating havoc.

It's not a bad game, by any stretch.  It's massively over-the-top, with items such as a car with a people cannon attached, and missions involving flying a helicopter through the streets, exploding cars with rockets, and skydiving through a debris field.  In some missions you're effectively alone, and the cutscenes always show your character, which was confusing at first; especially once I'd changed my character's costume to be just a pair of pants and Matt couldn't tell what I was laughing about.

Talking of being alone, Kieron may have some competition in the 'wandering off' competition.  Frequently I had to stop whatever I was doing in order to find Matt and either get him out of a fight or guide him to the next objective.  Still, he was having fun.

FIFA 13: loss after loss

Posted on Written by

I'm rubbish at this.  I'm rubbish at most football games (with the possible exception of International Sensible Soccer on the Mega Drive), but this is harder than most.  As well as the standard controls to battle with - in particular, I can never remember which is shoot and which is a high pass - EA have included a number of touch-screen controls on this.  You can tap a player to pass to him, except by the time you've tapped there he's probably moved and you'd be better off passing with the B button.  You can tap on an area of the screen to shoot in the goal (tap top-left to shoot top-left), but by the time you've looked down at the pad to accurately aim, you've missed your chance.

I do like playing football games, but that enjoyment mostly comes in the five seconds of the match when I manage to score a goal.  That happened only once.


The thing is, as hopeless as I am at this, and as much as I find real-life football boring, there's an attraction about videogame football that I can't ignore.  This is one of the better versions I've played, and I'm sure I'll get used to the touch controls at some point.

New Little King’s Story – Hello Vita

Posted on Written by

It has taken me six months after purchasing my Vita to finally start playing a game.

New Little King's Story is a rpg with a micro management element. Your kingdom is destroyed & you are back to square one. Rebuild your kingdom by assigning various jobs to your citizens, gain gold & build new buildings to unlock more missions, skills & plans.

You can choose which citizens you wish to control and they travel the world with you fighting, digging for treasure or even collecting taxes.

Currently I can assign citizens to be a soldier (used for fighting obviously), builder (Um?? building) or gardener (used for digging). It's an enjoyable little game which will pass the time for when I can't get to use the TV to play Mass Effect 2.

Tearaway: lots of bugs

Posted on Written by

On the way home last night, the majority of people got off the train two stops before me.  I saw my chance to progress in Tearaway, so got the Vita out and turned it on; it's great that I can be back in the game within a couple of seconds, something we've taken for granted since the DS and PSP.

I pressed Y to record a sound, called "hello" into the microphone, and nothing happened.  Surely it can't actually recognise a roar?  I pressed Y again and growled into the mic.  Again, nothing.  No matter what i did, the game didn't recognise that I'd made a sound.

I wondered if there was too much background noise.  I waited until I got into the car, and tried again.  No luck.  Nothing I did let me either cancel the request for a sound or record anything.  Searching the Internet today, it seems that there's a bug in the game, which should theoretically be solved by completely turning off the system and then restarting.  I'll try that tonight.