It’s that time of year again when most gamers are spending their hard-earned cash on Christmas presents rather than full-priced titles. But while you may not be able to splurge on all the latest AAA releases this month, at least you can rest easy in the knowledge that there are plenty of Mini and indie games out there to while away the time.

Mediatonic has already staked its claim on the market with the surprisingly enjoyable Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess, and they are up to their old tricks again with the new PSN Mini release, Who’s That Flying?!

WTF?! is yet another example of how just a simple retro revamp, lightly dusted with a great sense of humor, can be all a developer needs to make a hit title. You won’t find anything startlingly original in Who’s That Flying?!, but what you will find is a polished Mini title that stands out from the crowd and announces itself as a PSN must-buy.

Players take on the role of a cocky superhero, who earns his keep by destroying everyone and everything that is a threat to this wonderful planet known as Earth. As guardian of our sacred world, it is inferred that our hero hasn’t exactly done his job properly, as the opening scene of the game has him on trial for allowing too many baddies into the cities he was charged with protecting. As the trial progresses, the hero recounts the tales of each city he attempted to shelter from invasion before you take the helm in each subsequent three-part level. A simple concept, yes, but when executed with the charm and excitement of WTF?!, it makes for an exhilarating little gem.

Shmups have been done time and time again, and Mediatonic hasn’t attempted to reinvent the wheel here. Your superhero has a nifty hand-cannon that can be upgraded at different stages of each mission, and your main goal is to destroy as many Ravagers as possible – all without letting your city’s heart counter drop to zero; allow too many baddies past you and it’s game over, sunshine.

Therein lies my only gripe with WTF?! The simplicity is what makes the game so easy to pick up and play, but it is also the main factor in the onset of boredom. The developers have tried to offset the repetitive nature of the game with extra gameplay options once the main storyline is complete – which does indeed do the trick once you have conquered WTF?! – and the humorous interludes between levels do balance the game out nicely, but it all starts to get a little too monotonous after the 90-minute mark or so. Granted, PSP gamers will have a blast with this Mediatonic release, but if you are more accustomed to PS3 titles on a grand scale you may just find yourself putting the controller down after each mission.

Played in increments, Who’s That Flying?! is a brilliant addition to any PSN lover’s collection. Gold medal challenges will have completionists tearing their hair out as the difficulty takes its toll, while the child-friendly – but never condescending – humor will allow a vast scope of gamers to enjoy a few hours of retro shmup goodness.

While you’re saving up those clams for Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood or Call of Duty: Black Ops, why not fork out a few bucks for a very worthwhile PSN Mini title that will no doubt have you coming back regularly to one-up those high scores.

Gamer Limit gives Who’s That Flying?! 8.0/10

Indie games are coming in thick and fast on the 360, and with so many “Free MS Points” offers being peddled by various publishing firms, gamers are able to take advantage of titles they may never have noticed before.

Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess may not be a shoe-in for GOTY, but at just 240 MS Points, this addictive little title is sure to entertain you for a couple of hours.

Taking on the role of the egotistical – yet always amusing – Dracula-esque protagonist, players are required to aid in the “rescue” of The Duke’s princess by destroying several pesky monsters. Jumping to conclusions at every possible moment, your character assumes that, since his princess has vanished, the beasties inhabiting the local surrounds must be responsible.

Through five short-but-sweet single player missions, players must defeat some beautifully crafted monsters in order to progress to the next level – and ultimately find the princess. Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess takes on an upward-scrolling format that hearkens back to games of a few decades ago. Using a simple one-button, one-joystick configuration, The Duke must chase down each level’s perpetually climbing monster and defeat it before it reaches the top.

Sounds simple, yes? That’s because it is. Unfortunately, anyone that has played a video game for more than a couple of hours will be able to master Monsters in just a few minutes. There is no difficulty setting, so it’s silly to return to the main storyline for a second – more challenging – playthrough. The developers have attempted to counter the game’s simplicity by adding a Score Attack mode, but this only serves as “filler”, and repetition begins to set in after a couple of runs.

Apart from the lack of challenge, there is plenty to enjoy here. The storyline is entertaining, and The Duke’s constant mockery of monsters will remind you of at least one haughty friend. In terms of graphics, the cartoon vibe is polished and looks fantastic in HD. Gaining combos and attempting to one-up your own high scores is also sure to see gamers return from time to time.

As an indie game, Monsters is an ideal time length. I managed to kick out the single player mode in around 20 minutes, but Score Attack adds at least another hour, and a bit more of a challenge for completionists. At only five levels long, the game is able to run its course without becoming too samey, and for the relatively cheap price it will leave gamers with a sense of accomplishment at being able to master such a title in a relatively short amount of time.

While I can’t see people rushing out to buy Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess over Fable III or New Vegas, I can confirm that players will get a kick out of the left-of-centre gameplay, and if nothing else walk away with their heads held high and a smile on their faces. And isn’t that what every good game should be able to do?

Gamer Limit gives Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess 8.5/10

For the past few years, EA has dominated the market of football games. EA Canada has been able to overcome the once-great superpower of Konami’s Pro Evo series, and has continued to unleash the finest in football simulation games.

FIFA 11 was not expected to deliver a knockout punch like FIFA 09 and FIFA 10 were able to – due in large part to the release of 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa earlier this year. However, fans of the series would have been remiss not to have at least hoped for a more immersive and entertaining experience with FIFA 11.

Let’s be frank: FIFA 11 is unequivocally the greatest football game ever made. It boasts an attention to detail unseen in previous – or rival – titles, and manages to add yet another layer of realism to an already phenomenal gameplay structure. But, like all sports series tend to do at some point, FIFA 11 is more of a plateau than a sharp summit. There are disappointing features, yes, and a few of the best parts of FIFA 10 have been surprisingly omitted from this release. However, the good points far outweigh the bad, so let’s start by looking at some of the more underwhelming elements.

It’s surprising that that it has taken 19 releases for a handball feature to be implemented into a FIFA game. The handball rule is a vital part of football, and fans will be happy to see that it now has its place in every fixture. Players can choose whether they want the handball rule activated wholly, everywhere except the penalty area, or simply turned off. The fact that there is even an option to turn the rule off supports the notion that EA Canada simply weren’t happy with the programming of this feature. The law states that for a foul to be awarded to the opposing team, a handball must be recognized as “deliberate”. The sheer subjectivity of this matter makes it an extremely difficult rule to implement, and unfortunately the developers simply haven’t spent enough time on it. Players will doubtless become frustrated with the regularity of penalties given during matches, so beware that – in this case – the realistic option is in fact quite unrealistic and flawed.

Referees also seem to have been tweaked quite a bit over the past year. The addition of personalized referees is great to see, and allows gamers to know if they will be subject to a lenient, moderate, or strict referee. Unfortunately, EA Canada simply hasn’t gone far enough with this concept, and more often than not you will play an identical game with a lenient referee as you would with a strict one.

Despite these sometimes frustrating changes, FIFA 11 does have plenty to offer in the way of entertainment. The Russian Premier League is the latest league to be included in the series, and not only widens your playing opportunities, but also adds an extra depth to European competitions. All the top leagues from England, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, the United States, Australia, and many more are all at your disposal as well.

One of the many pet peeves with FIFA 10 was the fact that the calendar system was faulty. Too often teams would have both a standard league fixture and cup competition scheduled to take place on the same day. Not anymore, as FIFA 11 now incorporates rescheduling matches so that your team will very rarely have to play more than one game within the space of three days. Injuries have also been vamped up, with the potential for players to be sidelined anywhere from a couple of days to six months or more. On a similar note, CPU squad rotation has also been implemented splendidly, so no longer will you see Nemanja Vidic playing at left fullback, or Steven Gerrard leading Liverpool as a lone striker.

In terms of gameplay alone, FIFA 11 is marvellous. Goalkeepers are more intelligent, players can score goals from much further out – granted their skills are high enough, the conditions are ideal, and they are in the perfect shooting position – while the overall team mentality is far more intelligent this time around. Shooting is arguably the most exciting improvement for FIFA 11; players can now see their shots dip cheekily under the goalkeeper or sliced well wide when taken on their weaker foot. This is where the element of realistic attacking play is at its very best; gone are the days of scoring the same goal with the same player in the same position match after match.

But while all of these additions have made gameplay more cohesive, it is the Be A Goalkeeper mode that has been given the most attention by media outlets. Gamers can now tackle the most difficult position on the field with an entirely new system of play. Be sure to bone up on the dos and don’ts of goalkeeping before jumping into a match or you’ll be looking at a 10-0 scoreline within minutes. The fact that FIFA fans can now do battle in true 11 v 11 multiplayer fixtures is just another reason why EA Canada are far, far ahead of Konami these days.

Although it will likely have no bearing on your decision of whether to purchase FIFA 11 or not, the commentary is satisfactory. Once again, Martin Tyler and Andy Gray have teamed up to bring you the play-by-play broadcasts of every match, and once again they become tiresome within the first few days. Repetition sets in after only a few matches, but they have added enough new spiels and fun facts to at least keep gamers entertained while they play. Similarly, the music won’t be to everyone’s tastes, but there is enough variety in there to keep the average football lover happy as he manages his team between matches.

Overall, FIFA 11 is a wonderful game. It is not the hot new girl at school who all the boys are drooling over. Rather, it is the elegant chemistry teacher that intrigues us with her refined tastes and ability to keep us coming back for more. Whether you are a hardcore football fan or simply interested in a top sports game, FIFA 11 will draw you in with its high quality gameplay and never let you go.

It’s been a long time between drinks, but we finally have another competition to bring to you lovely folks. In conjunction with EB Games Australia, we’re giving you the chance to win an exclusive Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days Demo Pass for Xbox 360.

If you’re keen to play both the single player and multiplayer features of this highly anticipated release, then read on to find out how to enter.

Australian and New Zealand gamers can head over to EB Games Australia’s promotion page here and enter the exclusive Gamer Limit code. Simply enter your details, as well as the code “GL” (without the inverted commas, obviously), and you’ll be in line to win one of 30 Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days Demo Passes that have been set aside for Gamer Limit readers.

The Demo Pass can be unlocked through Xbox Live and contains a single player mission, as well as three different modes in a special multiplayer map.

The competition will finish on July 1, so get in quick! We will be announcing the winners here on Gamer Limit at the end of the promotional period.

Good luck!

Enter here using the code GL

Yes, yes, we all know that the US gang had fun at E3, but while they were relaxing at their lazy convention, we gamers were putting in the hard yards playing videogames.

So what exactly have you been playing this past week? If you managed to hit up E3, be sure to come in and boast about all the awesome games we plebs will have to wait several months to get our hands on.

For the first week in quite a while, I haven’t had much spare time to nut out many new games. While Zenonia 2 (a review will be up in the next couple of days) has been eating up all my free time before sleep, I’ve lately become infatuated with the frustratingly addictive Chase The Dot.

Following all the news at E3 has also made me pine after Mafia 2, so I’ve had to sate my thirst with a reminiscent playthrough of the original classic. Likewise, I’ll be sure to get stuck into the Crackdown 2 demo and share my thoughts in next week’s episode.

For now though,

What about YOU?

With Nintendo pulling out all the stops at this year’s E3, Epic Mickey has been revealed to have had more than its fair share of changes since we last saw it. Junction Point Studios’ latest title will forgo the initial “mean Mickey” elements, in favor of more Disney-friendly gameplay for the Wii exclusive.

Hit the jump for a nifty gameplay video showing how Epic Mickey is aiming to be one of the biggest Wii releases for the near future.

The game will be utilizing several key features from a range of different genres in order to create a unique experience for the gamer. Merging platformer, RPG, and action adventure elements, Epic Mickey is attempting to set itself apart as one of the most eagerly watched games at E3’10, and the following video proves exactly why so many people are interested in it.

Forget evil Mickey, this dynamic world where Mickey can control almost everyone and everything (care of a Mario Sunshine-esque spray gun) looks to be a real winner for the developers.

Video source: G4TV

With most of the crew heading to E3 and Australia becoming the biggest flop at the World Cup so far, I’m attempting to drown my sorrows in any game I can get my hands on.

Come inside and let us know what you’ve been playing this last week, and if there anything on the radar for the next seven days of gaming!

When I haven’t been glued to the World Cup, I’ve been hitting up plenty of Uncharted 2, a game I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to play. I also managed to finish Red Dead Redemption at the beginning of the week, and may even be so bold as to say that it is the best game to come out this year (not my favourite; Mass Effect 2 gets that honour).

With the purchase of an iPhone, I’m in line for plenty of casual gaming action as well. Angry Birds, Zenonia 2, and Robot Unicorn Attack have already taken several hours out of my day, and I’m sure it’ll get even worse when I get my hands on Warpgate.

What about YOU?

This little piece of PSN software has hit us at an unfortunate time. While most golf fans will be concentrating on the latest Tiger Woods installment, the folks over at Zen Studios will be shaking their heads wondering why the powers that be decided to release their game at the same time as Tiger Woods 11.

Sure, some PSN titles are able to stand up (and even trump) highly anticipated AAA releases, but unfortunately Planet Minigolf doesn’t have a lot going for it from the beginning. Unless, of course, you’re obsessed with the 90s.

Planet Minigolf is Zen Studios’ attempt at reviving the long-dead fascination of minigolf by throwing in a few zany characters and an electric guitar-driven soundtrack. If you don’t think that combination could ever work, you’d likely never get a job working for Zen Studios. Somehow, the team has managed to take an average idea for a PSN game and turned it into one of the most annoyingly juvenile releases you are ever likely to encounter.

Sure, the gameplay is tidy, and the decision to include PlayStation Move accessibility is acknowledged, but when you have to turn off the sound and imagine that your character doesn’t in fact look as startlingly ridiculous as he appears in order to enjoy the minigolf, there’s something very, very wrong with the core of the game.

Despite the emphasis on career mode, Planet Minigolf is much more tolerable in small doses. Gamers can take on more than 140 individual holes throughout the entire game, many of which provide a frustratingly enjoyable experience. The development team has done a sound job of knocking out some of the kinks and bugs, although a patch in the near future seems necessary. Still, after mastering the controls, each nine-hole round will flow well – not mentioning the intermittent shouts of “how the hell did my ball end up there?”

Upon choosing a course, you will be given the choice of four difficulty modes (three of which are locked until you achieve certain goals) and the option of playing on a custom course. Custom courses are designed to incorporate the build tool that is surprisingly well implemented, and despite the game having only been out since the beginning of the month, there are literally scores of user-created/edited courses already available. Fans of LittleBigPlanet won’t find anything revolutionary here, but, if you have the patience, Planet Minigolf’s build tool is an enjoyable time waster.

While building and playing on quirky custom courses is a highlight of the game, it’s unfortunate that the elements surrounding it are so lackluster. It seems that the developers tried to find a balance between creating an accessible golf title and one that would appeal to the younger generation; instead, they have achieved neither, and only end up alienating gamers with poor customization options and ear-bleedingly annoying sound and commentary.

It’s a shame that the game offers so much in the way of online play and course building capabilities, both of which are outstanding and worth coming back for, but destroys whatever intention of fun there was initially by amping up the “crazy Uncle Joe” factor. A PSN title worth $12.95 US should never make a gamer regret their purchase.

Unfortunately, despite some solid gameplay on the course, that is exactly what many Planet Minigolf buyers will feel. Regret that it could have been an enjoyable multiplayer experience. Regret that it could have been a pleasant game to play with the kids. And yes, regret that they just spent $12.95 when there are countless superior titles worth half that much.

At the end of it all, Planet Minigolf will only please gamers with a love of building golf courses. The condescending nature of every hole brings the entire atmosphere of Zen Studios’ title to its knees, and with that the respectability of the developer. The marketing team needs to go back to do their research, because for a game that includes a complex course building tool and ridiculous difficulty settings, this certainly seems like it was intended for children.

We all know the old adage, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” And while that’s true for the most part, sometimes what appears to be a great deal is simply that: a great deal.

Awhile back, I was seldom excited by independent games. Pretentiousness and fourth-grade development skills rarely caused me to email friends and family imploring them to shell out some dough for a great deal. However, when the Humble Indie Bundle appeared, it was something else entirely. Not only did it offer six spectacular indie titles, but it also appealed to gamers’ sense of community.

We gamers could all do with a few more Humble Indie Bundles.

Nowadays, especially in PC gaming, far too much emphasis is placed on the ability to download titles for free. While I’m no saint when it comes to buying every single piece of music I listen to, people stealing games stirs a demon inside me like no other. Hypocrisy? Yes. But I feel that there is a point to be made in my double standards.

Videogame developers – indie devs especially – are a unique breed of gamers that usually do what they do for a pittance. You won’t see the makers of Soul or Bob Came In Pieces out purchasing compensatory sports cars with the sort of money they make from their games. Instead, they rely upon you, the gamer, to follow their exploits and purchase their (let’s face it) rather generously priced offerings.

The Humble Indie Bundle was a chance for every type of gamer, be they casual or hardcore, to enjoy a selection of the finest offerings from the indie world. In conjunction with Child’s Play Charity and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Bundle collected over $1million for indie devs and charity.

Not bad, right? Well, it’s not bad until you consider how many people downloaded the Bundle, and how many people pirated it. In an act of faith not far removed from the long forgotten honesty box next to a fresh fruit stand, or Radiohead’s In Rainbows release, Wolfire allowed users to download the collection of games for however much they desired ($0.01 and upwards).

One cent. One measly cent for six phenomenal games. And while the majority paid at least $10 for the collection, it gets royally messed up when you consider that 25% of the people that currently possess the Humble Indie Bumble pirated it. Excuse my French, but it’s pretty fucking despicable to steal a game at the best of times, let alone when it’s an honest attempt to help prop up the independent games industry and donate to charity.

But despite the dim-witted chronic masturbaters that make up 25% of the Internet, constantly on the prowl for their next piece of free software and/or tranny porn, the Humble Indie Bundle proved that the indie games industry is alive and well. Already, there have been clones of the Bundle, some authorized, others not, but all showing that the power of the independent developer has not been smothered by the long dick of Activision mega corporations.

I’m happy to see that already there are several games jumping on the pay-what-you-want bandwagon. Assuming that all gamers are honest (which they are not, but it serves my point for now), having World of Goo or Sleep Is Death available for a personal payment scale allows every gamer to enjoy these exceptional titles. As AAA prices continue to rise (I almost crapped myself when I saw EB Australia was selling Red Dead Redemption for $119.95 last week), a market has opened up that the indie scene is desperate to fill.

The iPhone has done wonders for casual and indie games of late, with Soul a personal favourite of mine. Hopefully, that trend will continue, not just in the mobile phone department, but for PC and console games as well. Similarly, XBLA and PSN are abuzz every week with the latest releases, many of which have been developed by small or unknown companies from every corner of the world. This is a wonderful thing for gaming, and one that I hope to see continue through many more Humble Indie Bundle-esque promotions.

It’s easy to sit on my high horse and castigate pirates for their reckless disregard for their fellow gamers. But it’s also easy for hardcore gamers to mock those who don’t have the funds or time (or both) to purchase the latest AAA releases. Indie development isn’t a new market, but it is a burgeoning one, and one that gamers need to embrace if we want to see innovation and creativity continue to reach great heights in videogames.

I for one hope that the almighty buck doesn’t end up condemning the next brilliant indie title to Miniclip.

This time last year, I knew nothing about Mixed Martial Arts. The sport was as alien to me as Olympic curling or picking up women. Thankfully, my new job at the time put me in close proximity with an MMA nut. He simply couldn’t get enough of the sport, and, after viewing just a single UFC tournament, I too was drawn into the brutal ballet of Mixed Martial Arts.

UFC Undisputed 2009 was our first chance as gamers to experience the violent thrill ride of an MMA melee. And while it had its flaws, it was by and large considered a success. A year has passed since then, and both developer and publisher have had the chance to listen to feedback and fine-tune their product. Is UFC Undisputed 2010 the ultimate fighting game we’ve been waiting for?

First of all, I must applaud developer Yuke’s on their willingness to tweak the fighting system. In UFC 2009, the tutorial was not only convoluted, but also difficult to complete. Needless to say this made for a torrid first few fights, more often than not ending in the destruction of your character’s face. UFC 2010 gives players a much more streamlined approach to learning the basics while still providing a thorough analysis of the fighting mechanics. Casual gamers are not likely to glean too much from a quick game of UFC 2010, as it takes skill and patience to master the moves. But for those intent on becoming the ultimate fighter, you can settle in for a half-hour tutorial session that will set you up for the rest of your UFC career.

Thanks to the control changes, players are now able to get much more out of the game. Depending on what weight division your fighter fits into, you will be able to customize your attack/defense styles to suit. Heavyweight fighters can finish fights quicker standing up, while light and welterweight classes rely more on grapple tactics and submissions. The stark difference in MMA fighting styles allows UFC 2010 to bypass the boredom factor synonymous with standard boxing titles, and instead gives gamers numerous different ways to play out matches.

Players are given a wide variety of modes to enjoy from the outset, so whether you are looking to jump straight into a heavyweight bout between Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir, or prefer to create your own fighter and compete for the championship belt, you can do it. Classic Fights, Title Mode, and Title Defense Mode are added extras that will undoubtedly entertain, even after your UFC career is at an end.

In addition to the vastly improved controls, the game also offers several new inclusions that help to flesh out the experience. Career mode has been revamped to include the World Fighting Alliance, where you will hone your craft until you are deemed worthy of promotion into the higher echelons of MMA fighting. Finishing moves have been expanded upon, as have TKO finishes, and the addition of Karate, Sambo, and Greco-Roman Wrestling styles are welcome newcomers.

As you progress through Career mode, sponsors will offer your fighter free gear in order to collect extra points at the completion of a fight. While training and sparring haven’t been greatly improved upon, there are a wealth of new sponsors at your disposal, adding to the realistic feel of career progression. A few new Octagons have also been added for UFC 2010, with GM Place, The 02 (London), and Centre Bell all available to host your next Main Event clash.

UFC Undisputed 2010 multiplayer has been something of an elephant in the room since it was announced that players would need a unique keycode to unlock online play. I can understand THQ’s intention to allay the fiscal losses of pre-owned gaming with unique keycodes, but it adds a level of frustration that is entirely unnecessary. Gamers who buy UFC 2010 brand new will receive a code that they can use to unlock online play. Sounds fair enough, but it means that anyone who buys the game second-hand, hires it, or takes it to a friend’s house to play won’t be able to access its stellar online capabilities.

While the vast majority won’t have a problem with the keycode issue right now, in a few months when UFC 2010 trade-ins become more and more popular, I suspect we will see a lot more hatred directed at THQ for their, arguably, over-the-top decision.

Moving away from that hot topic, the online play itself is brilliant. There are a number of different modes and tournaments that you can compete in, and the game automatically matches you with a fighter of the same or similar ability. Like any fighting game, you’ll need practice if you want to survive in the Octagon. Real players provide a unique challenge that AI simply cannot match, and with so many gamers already masters of last year’s release, you can be assured that you’ll have your ass handed to you more than a few times.

UFC Undisputed 2010 is a beautiful, more enjoyable, and altogether better game than its older brother. For the MMA fan – or any lover of fighting games, for that matter – there is so much on offer here, it’s simply impossible to bypass. After only two seasons of UFC releases, Undisputed is setting itself up to be one of the best video game sports franchises for a long, long time.

By now we should all be used to hearing developers harp on about how much interest Hollywood has in adapting their product to the silver screen. Halo fans have had their hearts pummeled for the past few years by the likes of Peter Jackson and co., which doesn’t exactly bode well for the following news.

The Hollywood Reporter’s Heat Vision Blog has just revealed that Legendary Pictures have taken it upon themselves to turn BioWare’s sci-fi epic, Mass Effect, into a multimillion dollar film. Let us just pray that Uwe Boll doesn’t take the helm.

BioWare has been teasing us for months about the possibility of a Mass Effect movie, and now it seems that things are finally starting to fall into place.

Mark Protosevich, the screenwriter responsible for I Am Legend, The Cell, and the upcoming superhero flick Thor is slated as the key man to bring Commander Shepard to the big screen, but with a tentative release date set for 2012 there will surely be plenty of changes to come.

Legendary is fast becoming one of the most recognizable production companies in the game-to-movie market. They are currently pushing for World of Warcraft and Gears of War films.

Gamer Limit will have updates on this subject as more news comes to pass.

Source: Heat Vision Blog [via Kotaku Australia]

Both the PSN and XBLA have produced some phenomenal achievements in gaming: Braid, Fat Princess, and Shadow Complex just to name a few. But where there’s excellence, there always lingers the foul stench of failure.

Gaijin Entertainment’s foray into the world of arcade titles attempts to combine the intensity of Burnout Paradise with the loveable cheesiness of Need For Speed: Most Wanted. And while clones can often be entertaining to fans of that specific genre, sometimes a game just falls flat on its face.

It’s unfortunate that the same developer, who gave us the exquisite Wings of Prey, has delivered so little in the way of entertainment with Anarchy: Rush Hour. I doubt even hardcore racing fans could glean much from such a poorly developed, and altogether frustrating title.

Upon loading, Anarchy: Rush Hour gives you the impression that you are in for a wild thrill ride – a mixture of everything that made previous arcade racing titles exceptional. Unfortunately, as soon as the first line is spoken, you immediately start to realise that those $8 you just spent should have been used to buy toilet paper.

The first mistake Gaijin made was to construct a ridiculous story around an already ridiculous and clichéd premise. Street racing crooks have stolen your verbally-challenged girlfriend, and it is your duty to race against the scum of the Big City underground in order to rescue her.

And what’s a good storyline without a hackneyed sidekick? After losing your mail-order bride to those thieving criminals, a man by the name of ChaCha (who else?) immediately befriends you and pledges his allegiance to the cause. With ChaCha, a city teeming with cars yet strangely no pedestrians, and a host of lackluster vehicles at your disposal, how could you not have fun with this game?

If Gaijin hadn’t spent so much time producing a poorly scripted storyline, they could have put far more hours into creating a visually captivating environment. As it stands, Anarchy: Rush Hour looks more like a PS2-era title than anything else, and every cutscene is marred by a bizarre blurred effect that detracts from the action on-screen.

The vehicles themselves don’t look too bad. At least not in the garage. Customization is at first an enjoyable element of the game, but soon the range of options dwindles, and all you’re left with is a monotonous and repetitive task to complete. Honestly, unless you plan on collecting all possible trophies, or wish to boast your narcissistic tendencies online, let customization stay as an untouched time-waster.

Racing in Anarchy: Rush Hour, undoubtedly the crux of the game, is a strange feature to review. On the one hand, I absolutely despise the poor handling mechanics, inadequacies of each device, and sheer idiocy of AI. But on the other, I cannot help the thrill I feel when sheering through hordes of innocent commuters, and defeating tough opponents.

That’s one thing that Gaijin Entertainment hasn’t skimped on: difficulty. Even on the average setting, you will find yourself repeating missions time and time again, and for that reason alone I can see how completionists would get a kick out of it.

Without online capabilities, Anarchy: Rush Hour would hardly be worth reviewing. Its single-player campaign is horrendously flawed, and the visuals and audio are simply not up to the standard of today’s games. However, if you enjoy the thrill of B-grade racing titles coupled with multiplayer carnage, then you will doubtless be entertained when you take this beast online.

Lag-free multiplayer is something every game strives for, and with Anarchy: Rush Hour you will be pleasantly surprised at not only the smooth races, but also the speed at which you will be able to join matches. Circuit, Hot Lap, and Deathmatch (my personal favorite) are all at your disposal via online play, and thanks to the cheap price you should have no trouble finding opponents at any time of the day. Multiplayer fanatics who can look past its many blemishes will surely get a lot out of the three online modes.

Unfortunately for the rest of us, Anarchy: Rush Hour simply comes off as a second-rate attempt at a Burnout/Need for Speed mash-up. I understand that the developer is European, but they haven’t even succeeded in keeping their “English” voice actors on the script; oftentimes you will hear words integral to the sentence simply bypassed as the subtitles betray the true phrases. As for the voice actors, they sound like relatives who have been coaxed into working on their nephew’s Film & TV school project.

Perhaps if this was the first PSN title to be released, I would be more inclined to accept its countless flaws. As it stands, however, we’ve already been privy to numerous pieces of arcade brilliance, and releasing something as unfinished and unfun as this is simply not fair to the consumer.

Despite an above average online system, I simply cannot recommend Anarchy: Rush Hour, even with its inexpensive $7.99 price tag. If you want to try it for yourself, though, at least wait until it’s on sale.