Welcome to The TPS Report, home to video game blogs, mix sets and even the odd piece o' 3D art.

Broke arse student, freelance games reviewer and rambling obsessive that I am, I currently seek work in mags and web sites throughout the world. If you're in a position to make that happen - and like what you see around here - let me know. I've published work with the likes of IGN and Gaming Steve.

-Matt/Diggler

Old Entries
First time visiting? Be sure to flip through the archives. I've been writing for friggin' ever, and you never know what you might have missed.

Score Breakdown
Just what those wee numbers mean exactly.

Visit the Forum
Multi-platform gaming chit chat, along with whatever interesting news and downloads I happen to stumble across amidst the interpipes.

TPS approved custom
built gaming PCs

Future Plans For the Site
28/7/2012 22:31

Preview Time! Games to Look Out For in 2011
8/1/2011 5:54

2010's Games of Shame
6/1/2011 22:47

My Fave Games of 2010!
6/1/2011 20:12

StarCraft II Review - Dig Loveth the RTS!?
7/11/2010 12:48

10 Must-Have iPhone Games
2/6/2010 18:09

A Little Hotlink to An Article I Stuck Up On GiantBomb
21/4/2010 15:01

Aliens Vs Predator is Here! Woo! Oh, Hang On...
6/3/2010 20:58

iPhone Games!
6/3/2010 20:40

The Top 30 Games of an Obscenely Packed 2009. Shit Gets Epic
7/1/2010 20:09

More...

If interested in discussing writing opportunities for on or offline gaming publications - either UK based or abroad - please contact me via E-Mail. Sparkling CV available on request

 

 

Star Wars Battlefront Reviewed For the PS2 & Xbox
Posted by Diggler - 18/9/2004 15:18

Star Wars Battlefront, as an experience, is long overdue. Finally we have a game who's single aim is to recreate the large scale blistering action of the Star Wars saga's finest action scenes - a feat that despite the odd glimpse here and there, hasn't really been achieved in a video game before.

That said, we saw some truly stunning space battles in the Rogue Squadron series, and we've also witnessed our fair share of land based action in numerous other titles, but never has a Star Wars game merged the two together so seamlessly like this.

It is a Period of Civil War

The aim is simple. You pick a side, choose a map, then just jump head first into the action. Both you and the opposing side have a set amount of reinforcements ticking down as the fight progresses, taking causalities and losing control points in the process, and the first person to run out of those reinforcements loses. Move to next battleground, rinse and repeat.

There are four sides to pick from; the Rebels and the Empire from the classic trilogy, and the Republic and Separatist armies from the prequels. Each side has various classes ranging from scouts to pilots, each with their own bonuses and the like, and truth be told, they're all fairly run-of-the-mill for a game of this type. The exception would have to be the Separatist's droid armies, especially the rolling Droidekas that were such a highlight of The Phantom Menace. Rolling around maps in these destroyer droids at high speeds is great fun.

The battles wage over ten planets encompassing pretty much all the places we saw in the films, along with one or two others (including an occasional glimpse into Episode III).

This Will Be a Day Long Remembered

Just pausing to catch a breath during a game of SWB, it's amazing what you'll see happening around you. Infantry taking pot shots from behind trees, tanks blowing the shit out of each other, and even starships dogfighting up in the sky. This really does look like the movies come to life, and in large part you can thank some (generally) impressive AI for that.

Computer controlled troops on both sides are really rather good at sizing up the world around them and thinking about how best they can contribute to the battle at hand. They'll capture outposts, share ammo, jump on board vehicles - even verbally respond to orders you give them.

Attack of the Clones

While Battlefront is certainly a fun game, if you strip away the franchise, you're left with something that's little more than a remake of the PC game Battlefield 1942, with very few advancements to the formula.

Just as in that aging shooter, you have a certain amount of freedom in how you wish to play; charging in on foot, grabbing hold of a vehicle, or taking to the skies, but it lacks Battlefield's sense of wonder and just all feels a bit like deja vu this time around.

Of course, here you're flying X-Wings and TIE Fighters instead of spitfires and bombers, which is pure sweetness in and of itself, but with all that in mind, originality isn't SWB's strongest point.

Maybe I'm being too hard on it though. After all, as popular as Battlefield 1942 is on the PC, the consoles have never had an equivalent. Yeah, Halo had vehicles and such, but believe me when I tell you, engaging in Battlefront's epic warfare is a whole other kind of carnage. It makes Bungie's prize fighter feel like a couple of kids playing with Toys 'R' Us lightsabers in the garden.

Wars Not Make One Great

In a way, it can get a bit too hectic at times though. The game can just seem a bit too fast and jumbled to really start forming any kind of large bearing strategies and tactics. This isn't helped by both the ease of death and the slightly small scale maps, which all opt to keep the action tight, cramped and constant for most of the time, rather than providing more open and strategic layouts. That's a shame really, 'cos the tools are all there to create some fantasticly tense warfare, when it can all feel like brainless deathmatch a lot of the time instead.

A game like this really needs an enormous playing field to realise its potential, and other than the occasional examples such as Geonosis or Hoth, they just don't exist here. This is especially obvious when taking to the sky and reaching the map limits in just a few seconds of flying in a straight line.

I've Got a Bad Feeling About This

I have other complaints too. While the computer controlled team mates demonstrate decent AI for the most part, they have a tendency to steal all the vehicles, forcing you into playing the role of foot soldier 90% of the time.

If you can catch up with a vehicle that's already manned, you have the ability to chuck the computer out and take control yourself, and with the slower land vehicles that's great, but how is my cumbersome stormtrooper meant to commandeer the TIE fighter miles above him in the air?

The field of view feels a lot smaller than in any other shooter I've ever played as well - this means you can't actually see as much on your screen at any one time, and thus find yourself constantly having to look around in all directions to keep a hold on the action. These sorts of games aren't a joy to control using a gamepad in the first place, and this adds some minor salt to that wound.

I'm Not Afraid

Regardless, I must praise Battlefront on still maintaining playability through the gamepad for the most part. It always feels a bit hit and miss whether a console shooter is gonna work with a gamepad or not, and sadly the majority of the time they miss, but Battlefront comes out okay all in all.

I do however, think playing on a PC will be a heck of a lot cooler, as per the norm with this sort of thing. The same could be said for online play.

Stay On Target!

Make no mistake, this is primarily a multiplayer game. Yeah, you can play it in single player, and true the game does throw a few nice additions in there to make the campaign a little more interesting than in Battlefield 1942, but ultimately it's a lonely process going into war by yourself.

Throwing some mates in though, either online or split screen, you'll see it spring to life. Co-piloting an AT-AT with your buddy for the first time is rather an iconic moment for a child of Star Wars such as myself.

In fact all the vehicles in general are absolutely brilliant. Just wait until you hop into a speeder bike and go whizzing through the forests of Endor for instance.

Who is She? She's Beautiful

Graphically, Battlefront surprised me. It never struck me as a pretty game in all the pre-publicity, but seeing it in the flesh, it's actually, well, gorgeous. The detail is low, but it keeps things moving along at a brisk pace, and is more than made up for with some impressive animation and beautiful lighting bloom effects (much like those used in Prince of Persia). There are even some rudimentary physics that kick in for the big explosions, sending bodies flying and flailing off in all directions.

On some of the more architecturally complicated levels such as Mos Eisley, the frame rate started to stutter on occasion, but such moments are barely noticeable on the whole.

Naturally the Xbox version looks the better of the two, being the more powerful machine, but don't take that as a huge strike against the Playstation 2 version, as it looks surprisingly good too. The sound is also, as to be expected in a Star Wars title, just about perfect.

Great Job Kid, Don't Get Cocky

Still, I do worry about all this inter-platform standardisation. Looking at what the Xbox and PC have been capable of recently, namely Doom III and Riddick, it's sad to see them limited by PS2 specs in order to put this out as a cross platform title.

I don't have anything against the Playstation, but I do think its time has been and gone, and games in general will improve considerably when its aging architecture is no longer the lowest common denominator throughout the industry.

The Force is Strong With This One

Despite its problems, Battlefront is a very fun game that delivers on its main promise. If you're a Star Wars fan, or simply a fan of online shooters with the appropriate hardware to play this with your mates, I can recommend it wholeheartedly. I also eagerly await seeing how the PC version stacks up against both of these.

If, however, you're a single player who couldn't give a toss about the Star Wars franchise, I'd have a hard time recommending this one. It just won't hold enough longevity for your cash I'm afraid.

Then again, the ability to mow down ewoks and gungans is pretty fucking priceless isn't it?

Untitled Document

The Polynomial. Like playing a rave

Untitled Document

Game
Fallout 3

Enjoying a fully modded out re-visit. Wow

Film
The Road

Pretty much due to the above

Show
Breaking Bad

Already shaping up to be the best season yet

Tune
Explosions in the Sky

Easing the pain of living in a post-Friday Night Lights world

Untitled Document

Forums

The TPS Forum
Official boards for the site

RLLMUK Forum
The old Edge forums gone independent. The busiest and most interesting gaming board around, worthy of multiple visits a day

NTSC-UK Forum
Another exceptional gaming forum, featuring one of the friendliest communities on the net, and up to the minute news

NeoGAF
A more US-centric gaming board, with huge piles of traffic and even the odd famous face

Gaming Shows

The 1up Radio Network
1up.com's collection of weekly gaming podcasts, the pick of which would have to be ListenUP, full of juicy rumors and interesting banter week in, week out

Area 5
Formerly The 1up Show, since losing their jobs the old video editing team have continued doing what they do best, in an independent internet-based TV show, covering whatever upcoming games they can get their hands on, and various other bits and pieces

Fully Ramblomatic
A hysterical gaming blogger posting what he calls "zero punctuation" video reviews that have to be seen - and heard - to be believed

A Life Well Wasted
Freelance journalist Robert Ashley's internet radio show, with a far more interesting and professional demeanor than your typical podcast. Interviews, fast-paced editing and catchy tunes abound

On the Spot
The humongous gaming site known as Gamespot broadcasts a video show each week, in which upcoming games are demoed live on air, and viewers are invited to send in questions to find out more

The Hotspot
Gamespot's audio-based companion to On the Spot, in which site editors cover the week's news while simultaneously poking fun at all that is gaming

Gaming Steve
A more mature podcast, hosted by a long-time games industry professional armed with a ton of insider info and loads of interesting opinions. The Dig's been known to post articles and stories on here from time to time

Consolevania
Quick-fire internet-based TV show with console reviews and comedy sketches. Funny as hell

Major Nelson
An interesting "blogcast" hosted by a Microsoft employee, featuring stacks of exclusive behind the scenes news and interviews relating to all things Xbox 360

The Kojima Productions Report
Official podcast from the team of Hideo Kojima, creator of the much-loved Metal Gear franchise. Full of news and interviews relating to all things Metal Gear, it's probably one for die-hard fans only

Pure Pwnage
Mockumentary series on the life of a pro gamer. Episode five is possibly the funniest thing on the internet

Other Sites

Kotaku
What you could call gaming's homepage. Constantly updated news and links on the entire industry, from minute breaking headlines, to funny arse viral vids

Game Trailers
Easy to use multimedia-rich web site offering official trailers, video demos and sneak peaks at all the upcoming releases

Game Videos
Sister site to 1up.com, focusing on game trailers, video interviews and even the odd documentary

Gamespot
The Gamespot front-end, and the gaming equivalent of the Internet Movie Database. Includes detailed reviews and extensive video features on pretty much all systems and games ever made

Giant Bomb
Speaking of Gamespot, the controversial "letting go" of editor Jeff Gerstmann resulted in him starting up this new venture with fellow former writers of the site. Great podcast in particular

1up.com
Discounting the audio and video shows mentioned earlier, 1up's main site is also worth a visit in its own right. Not only bustling with quality gaming articles and extensive developers' blogs, it also doubles up as a massive friends network, ideal for meeting fellow gamers and joining like-minded communities

Live Marketplace Feed
The most up to date and reliable way to keep track of all the new Xbox Live Marketplace content, from new weapons and map packs, to movie trailers and game demos

Xbox Reloaded
360 backwards compatibility can be a minefield. This blog attempts to shed some light on the issue by playing original Xbox games for you and reporting back the results

GameFAQs
The ultimate resource for walkthroughs and cheats

Disposable Media
A wonderful (and free) E-zine, full of reviews and articles on gaming, movies, music and TV. Puts most high street mags to shame

X-Fire
A must-have for all PC gamers, X-Fire is a buddy list and communications tool that keeps constant tabs on what games both you and all your mates are playing, on or offline

Steam
A contender to the X-Fire throne that has pretty much overtaken it straight out of the gate. Valve's Steam client contains friends lists, downloadable games, Live-style achievements and plenty more to sink your teeth into

MyGamerCard.net
Convert your Xbox Live gamercard into an image, for use on forums and web sites for free. That's mine further down

Ain't it Cool News
The latest news, gossip and spy reports from the world of movies, TV and (occasionally) video games

Smodcast
Writer, director and actor Kevin Smith - he of Clerks fame - records a monthly podcast in which he and fellow pals discuss everything from trying to felate oneself, to the time his dog got covered in ejaculate. Riveting stuff

 

Matt Robinson, 2011

Please do not use anything on this site without credit
X-Fire Profile
Feel free to add me to X-Fire, Xbox Live or any of the other apps to the right
Xbox Live:
Diggler26
Wii Friend Code:
1224 7821 4721 8136
Playstation Network:
Diggler
Steam:
Diggler26
Twitter