Hugo: Black Diamond Fever | Video Review

Developer: ITE Media

Publisher: ITE Media

Reviewed on: PlayStation

Available on: PlayStation, PC

Released: 2001

Hugo: Black Diamond Fever is the direct sequel to Hugo: The Quest for the Sunstones which, while it was a terrible game, it was also the best in the series so far. Hopefully the developers learned from their mistakes and created something that's at least passable with Black Diamond Fever (but I wouldn't hold much hope).

Black Diamond Fever (like the game before it) is a 3D platformer which takes a lot of inspiration from Crash Bandicoot. However, I wouldn't go into this game expecting something anywhere near the same level of quality as Crash, because you'll most likely be disappointed. However, let's stop speculating and take a look at the game together to see what it's actually like!

Ratchet & Clank 2: Going Commando | Review

Developer: Insomniac Games

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Reviewed on: PlayStation 3

Available on: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita

Released: November 11^th 2003

Continuing on with the review marathon of the Ratchet & Clank series we're now taking a look at the sequel to the original game, Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (or Ratchet & Clank 2: Locked and Loaded for us Europeans). This game marked the beginning of the focus being taken away from straight up platforming and moved it more towards the shooting elements which were present in the first game.

I actually played this game for the first time for this review, so unlike with the previous game, I don't have any nostalgic attachment to the sequel. I don't know why I skipped this one and went straight to the third game as a kid, but let's take a look and see what I missed out on all those years ago shall we?

Bubble Bobble | Video Review

Developer: Taito & Probe Entertainment

Publisher: Acclaim Entertainment

Reviewed on: PlayStation

Available on: Arcade, NES, Game Boy, PlayStation, PlayStation 2

Released: August 1986

Bubble Bobble is a game I have a lot of pleasant memories of and nostalgia for. I never got the chance to play it on an arcade machine or even on the NES as a kid, but luckily it was ported to almost every system under the sun, including the PS1 which is where I first got my hands on it. Despite being minimal in terms of graphics, story and gameplay, it has a certain charm that I think still hasn't faded to this day which makes it extremely addicting even for people who aren't interested in retro gaming.

It's a single screen platformer which has a large emphasis on 2-player co-op play where you control a green dinosaur called Bub (and the second player controls a blue dinosaur called Bob). Your objective is to go through 100 levels to stop an evil wizard and rescue your girlfriends, to do this you must trap a variety of enemies in bubbles (using your bubble blowing abilities) and pop them in order to destroy them before moving on to the next stage.