Find out which snackable games the PlayStation community has been filling its spare minutes with.

As February was minis month, the community at the official PlayStation Forums discussed which minis they have most enjoyed. Here are their favourites, in order of popularity, with quotes explaining why their choice is the tastiest morsel in the minis category on PlayStation Store.

1. Hero of Sparta

“This game includes epic boss fights, a lot of monsters and very large levels. The controls are excellent and God of War fans will enjoy this game a lot; they really should give it a go.” (Twilight_Rico, Netherlands)

2. VectorTD

“I love tower defence games and this one in particular is great. Graphics are not the most important thing but what is important is that this game can last for hours. The number of available towers and their prices are perfectly matched and bonuses appearing from time to time can be used in different ways, depending on your strategy. It’s a must-have for any fan of tower defence.” (artur1982, Poland)

3. Tetris

“Once you start, you can’t stop!” (fashion23gta, Portugal)

4. Zombie Tycoon

“It’s impressive how many zombies can fit in one minis title!” (Low_K0, Germany)

5. Mahjongg Artifacts 2

“You want a campaign mode? There is one in the Conquest Mode! You want to play endlessly and you do not want to be bothered by finishing a level? The infinite mode is the one you need. You like Mahjongg in solo mode but you want some more? Bonus pieces will make you happy. In a word, if you like Mahjongg, you will love Mahjongg Artifacts 2!” (Sanzein, France)

6. Fieldrunners

“Fieldrunners makes you try again and again to find the best strategy against various types of enemies. Each level gives you new challenges and even when you have completed a level, you can try again with different weapons and strategies. Fieldrunners give you a lot of play time for the money and it is my favorite minis title for both PSP and PlayStation 3.” (The_Alp, UK)

Thanks to all those who got involved – you will be receiving a PlayStation Network Voucher Code to download a copy of Tetris – and look out for another installment of Obsession Confessions, coming soon.

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Life would be a lot simpler without expectations. Expectations lead to disappointment, disappointment leads to despair, and despair leads to you vowing never to watch an Indiana Jones film again.

This is why it was with some trepidation that I approached the task of reviewing Final Fantasy XIII, which is out next week. The series – particularly iterations seven and eight – has provided me with many of my most cherished gaming memories. The game itself, more than five years in the making, is one of the most anticipated releases of the past two or three years. How could it fail to disappoint?

The story follows fairly standard RPG conventions. You control a ragtag group of outcasts, granted special powers for mysterious reasons and charged with saving the world over 50-odd hours of battling, cutscenes and levelling up. Pretty standard stuff.

But what FF XIII achieves is to take this fairly conventional format and push it to its absolute limits. Never before has a game been so beautifully presented, a story as well structured or told, or a group of characters made so vivid and likeable.

The graphics are what immediately impress – it doesn’t take long to see that this was the game high-definition was made for. Stunning cutscene after stunning cutscene – both graphically and in terms of action direction – punctuate the intoxicating array of exotic locales you find on your journey. The colourful variety on offer, from the fluorescent blue PSICOM weapons facility to the lush greens of bucolic Pulse, is a breath of fresh air from the washed-out greys and greens that dominate the contemporary gaming palette.

The scenery and character detail in these sections is simply astounding. Never before in a game have I with such frequency stopped to swivel the camera around, simply to marvel at the landscape. Even the mercifully Leona Lewis-less soundtrack is top-notch: it’s effortlessly atmospheric and offers a number of pleasing tunes you’ll have to prevent yourself from whistling around the office.

Voice-acting and dialogue too is, on the whole, of the highest quality. The script has some lost-in-translation moments, but it’s hard to quibble with the game’s eccentricities. Sure, it’s never really explained why Sazh has a baby chocobo living in his afro, or why each character has such exquisitely coiffured hair – but little touches like these make the Final Fantasy series memorable and completely distinct from other franchises.

Most importantly, the gameplay itself is genuinely fun. The battle system – essentially a souped-up version of the turn-based system fans of the earlier games will be used to – requires both quick thinking and careful planning. It’s all well and good having a gorgeous game with cinema quality FMV, but it’s the exploring and scrapping that’ll keep you playing long into the night. I’ve voluntarily gone back to retry fights on several occasions – aside from any levelling up value, it’s just satisfying to get your tactics spot on and vanquish an opponent as quickly as possible.

FF XIII probably won’t please everybody. For starters, considerable patience and attention are required to make sense of the story and battle system in the early stages. It took me a good three to four hours just to work out the difference between a Fal’Cie and a L’Cie (god and warrior knight essentially, you’ll thank me later) let alone the uses of “Paradigm Shifts”, or the complicated weapons-upgrading system. Those looking for a quick thrill might be best off elsewhere.

What many will find hardest to accept about FF XIII, though, is its unflinching linearity. Bucking the recent vogue for sandbox games and western RPGs with multitudinous paths and endings, here you have no choice in how the story progresses. You don’t even get to choose which characters you battle with until you’re about 20 hours in.

There are (as far as I can tell) no hidden playable characters, and there’s little incentive to grind your way to the best weapons and accessories. After 30 hours or so the game does open up somewhat, allowing you to wander and battle to earn upgrades and valuable items – but this is the one area where the game feels lacking in comparison with previous efforts.

What this lack of freedom does mean, however, is that story and character are brought to the fore. Over the past couple of weeks I’ve laughed at Sazh’s asides, been gripped by the narrative’s twists and turns and moved by the foreshadowing flashbacks – the likes of Fallout 3 and GTA 4 never really achieved this level of emotional involvement. It’s not often in a game you can say you genuinely care about the characters.

Occasionally, just occasionally, things do live up to your expectations. Some things even surpass them – and, for fans of the series, Final Fantasy XIII does just that. While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, if you can accept its minor limitations and give it a few hours to draw you in, it could well be one of the best games you’ve ever played.

Rating: 5/5

Games

Xbox

PlayStation

Jack Arnott

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The glitch that nerfed my old-style “fat” PlayStation 3 and temporarily ‘bricked’ millions of others worldwide appears to have vanished as mysteriously as it appeared.

At approximately 3:45pm PT, reports began flooding gaming boards suggesting units were coming back to life after a time-date error that left them unable to connect to Sony’s PlayStation Network or play certain games offline. I’d been waiting for GMT +0:00 to pass, but risked powering up early based on the sudden deluge of anecdotal evidence.

For starters, the screen color was different at startup, a kind of deep green (hello March!) suggesting some internal mechanism had silently triggered and automatically switched the date setting (the PS3 draws its default color scheme from the system clock). A glance at the system date confirmed it was now sometime in April 2010. To paraphrase the guys on How I Met Your Mother, Future-PS3 had apparently solved Current-PS3’s problem.

Tapping over to the system’s time-date settings, I ran an auto-sync–a feature that wasn’t working during the glitch–and the system auto-righted itself to March 1, 2010. One last thing to check, and sure enough, my copies of Heavy Rain and White Knight Chronicles loaded without incident.

Just to be extra-sure, I powered up my debug PS3, and presto, it too was working again. Thank goodness, because I’m on the hook for a Final Fantasy XIII review–not the sort of game you want to fall even a single day behind on.

Sony has yet to update its international blogs or Twitter feeds, possibly because the company’s collectively collapsed from stress-exhaustion, but more likely because they want to be sure things really are back, not just bits and pieces. I can vouch for my own recovery–two units, one retail, one debug, but that’s it.

If you want to test yours safely, power up, then before doing anything else, run a time-date interent sync. If it works, you’re back in business, and if your trophies don’t seem entirely right, try performing a manual trophy sync.

One thing’s for sure: Sony has some ’splainin to do.

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The 4.2 inch screens are a whopping 93 percent larger than those of the Nintendo DS Lite, the displays are beautifully bright and glossy and the combination of matt underside and gloss cover is a perfect marriage of style and gripping power. But will you be forking out the required £160 for a DS upgrade today?

I’ve been playing on my Japanese DSi XL for a week or so, and it is a subtly enhanced experience. With the larger screen, I’m finding some elements of hectic action titles like GTA Chinatown Wars and Space Invaders Extreme 2 a little easier. Indeed, any action that requires pixel perfect precision is going to become a teeny bit less challenging with the XL’s larger display, though, of course, there’s no change in screen resolution (not that most gamers will notice). Space Invaders really benefits from the added visual impact, its psychedelic onslaught proving rather mind-blowing at 1am in the morning with your bedroom lights off.

It’s noticeably heavier than the previous iterations – 100g heavier to be precise, but what I really noticed is the change in balance, the upper screen weight slightly toppling the displays away from you if you have the hinges open as far as possible. But then, I like that solidity, and it also feels really comfortable to hold – plus, the fact that the buttons retain their size means there’s more space for big, clumsy banger-like fingers.

That’s partly the point of the machine, obviously. It’s not really meant as an essential step up for cool kids who carry a DSi around in their jeans pocket while riding a skateboard. Everything, from the wider viewing angles to the mature colour schemes hints at a product aimed at non-gamers. Families can gather around the screen and share games, while businessmen might feel a bit less self-conscious pulling a wine red or dark brown device from their briefcases rather than, say, a bright pink DSi with Hello Kitty emblazoned on the top.

Onboard, you’ll find A Little Bit of…Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training: Arts Edition and Dictionary 6 in 1 with Camera Function, as well as a browser, which will naturally benefit from the larger displays too.

So really, are you after a more impactful experience, with a grown-up sheen, or are you still happy nonchalantly jamming that cute little DSi into your coat pocket?

Games

Nintendo

Handheld

Keith Stuart

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“I don’t see why it wouldn’t,” Ubisoft Montreal’s Max Beland stated when asked by Edge Online if the next game could appear on PS3.

“I’m not involved in the business deals. I joined Splinter Cell after the exclusivity deal with Microsoft had already been signed, but there’s no reason why Splinter Cell couldn’t be on the PS3. Conviction? No because of the exclusivity deal.

“But the next game is open to new deals. If Microsoft wants an exclusivity deal, they don’t call me, it’s Yves Guillemot dealing with the business people. But yeah, I guess we could even be a PS3 exclusive if there’s a deal that makes people happy there.”

Beland went on to add that while the wait for Conviction’s release has been a lengthy one, gamers shouldn’t expect the same to be true of Splinter Cell 6.

“This is a long-term vision, so I’m not telling you that yes, in a year you’ll have another Splinter Cell,” he added. “But right now the direction Yves gave us and where the company is going to go [means that] you’re going to be seeing Splinter Cell games, just like Assassin’s Creed games, just like anything else, released a little bit more often.”

Splinter Cell: Conviction was first mooted way back in May 2007 and was at one stage expected to be released in Christmas of that year, though it then slipped to 2008 and subsequently to April of this year.

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Unleash your vengeance in this action-packed demo for God of War III on PlayStation Store.

With God of War III arriving in stores in March 2010, the wait is almost finally over as the epic trilogy of Kratos’ fury draws to a bloody close. Now you can experience the awesome rage of the mighty Spartan with an exclusive God of War III demo – download it from PlayStation Store today to battles gods, monsters and Zeus’ minions. Remember, the only way to survive is through chaos, because in the end that is all there can be.

Setting the scene, God of War style

The demo is but a small section of God of War III and showcases the true size and scale of Santa Monica Studio’s latest entry in the smash hit series. The demo pitches you headlong onto battle on the cliffs of Mount Olympus as a giant fire Titan scales the mountain in the background and Helios, the Sun god, rides his chariot overhead trying to fend off its advances on Zeus’ temple.

Control your vengeance

PlayStation fans familiar with God of War and God of War II on PlayStation 2 will easily slip back into Kratos’ skin thanks to the intuitive control system. Light attacks can be performed with the Square button, while heavy attacks are dealt using the Triangle button. You can grab enemies too by pressing the Circle button, and once in your grasp you can either finish them off or use them as a battering ram – just one of the many new abilities in God of War III – by tapping the Square button.

Beast rider

Alongside the wealth of new moves in Kratos’ latest adventure you can now beat giant monsters into submission before leaping atop and riding them, using their hulking weaponry and physique as the ultimate tools of destruction. In the demo, you get the chance to take control of just one of these mythical monstrosities, the Cyclops, as you battle hordes of enemies to get to Helios and finish him off in typical, God of War fashion.

Tools of destruction

Alongside the now legendary Blades of Chaos, you’ll get a taste of some of the new weaponry you will be able to wield in God of War III including Apollo’s Bow, which lets you shoot flaming arrows at your enemies. Fire one at a group and they will catch alight allowing you to move in for a quick kill or follow through with another arrow attack. The second, and arguably most powerful weapons in the demo, are the Cestus, fist gauntlets shaped like lion heads that are controlled in much the same way as the Blades of Chaos, but inflict a lot more damage.

Wings of a warrior

In the final segment of the demo you experience an entirely new aspect of God of War as Kratos uses his Icarus Wings to soar through a vast shaft, dodging debris such as flaming rocks and huge beams of wood before finally shooting out of it, unleashing his Blades of Chaos and coming face to face with the giant fire Titan from the outset of the demo.

Start unleashing your vengeance on the gods and download the God of War III demo from PlayStation Store now!

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Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and God of War III blast the weekend off to an action heavy start.

The gods are with you

Looking forward to massive action adventure epic, God of War III? Then you can kill the time until its 19 March 2010 release like Kratos slays mythological Greek gods, in the God of War III demo. Available from PlayStation Store, this taste of high impact gameplay shows you why the adult themed PlayStation 3 title is on everyone’s lips.

In some Bad Company

If modern-day gunplay in massive destructible environments is a bit more your style, then Electronic Arts’ Battlefield: Bad Company 2 should scratch that particular itch. Blasting on to PS3, Bad Company 2 is full of shooting action, vehicular combat, and the return of everyone’s favourite ragtag unit, the B Company squad. The stakes are even higher this time – are you bad enough to succeed?

Network gems

There are a great range of PlayStation Network titles ready to download from PlayStation Store to make sure there’s no chance of your weekend being dull. Jump on board the PSP demo of the wonderfully wacky Patchwork Heroes, where you have to defend a city from massive flying warships. Your task is to dismantle the giant vehicles of destruction before they can strike, while rescuing trapped comrades along the way. Can you stop the rival workers from repairing the ships and save the city from doom?

The wealth of entertainment on PlayStation Store doesn’t stop at great demos, as a variety of new levels are yours to download for PSP puzzler, echoshift. Now you can extend your brain-teasing fun by downloading the Cave, Desert and Pyramid Level Packs for free.

Taking you to PlayStation Home

Taking a trip into PlayStation Home can lead to many fantastic places, and there are two new areas which are worth checking out this weekend. The first is the already popular Loco Island personal space, which comes with a swing, slide and hammock, as well as a gaggle of LocoRoco characters and hidden features.

The second new area of PS Home transports you to a giant pool table for Hustle Kings Ball Dodge Challenge. There you’re challenged to dodge oncoming cue balls to stay in the game – the closer you stand to the balls without being hit, the more points you receive. Do well and you’ll be rewarded with a stylish Hustle Kings Cape for your character, while if you top the leaderboard you’re in with a chance of winning a bejewelled Hustle Kings Crown decorated with a number 8 black ball.

Keep your eyes on the prize

There is even more to be won if you roll over to eu.playstation.com/psn/competitions.

If you’re a football fan and a budding writer, then the UEFA Champions League: PlayStation Young Journalist competition is playing on your field of expertise. All you need to do is submit your PlayStation Network details to enter a prize draw, with the lucky winner getting two tickets for the Chelsea vs Inter Milan UEFA Champions League match on 16 March 2010. After the game you’ll get to attend the press conference and write a match report to be published on PlayStation Blog.

The Award Nominated Movies Competition gives you the chance to win a brand new Bravia TV and a PlayStation 3 system by answering a few questions based on award nominated films. The red carpet is awaiting you at eu.playstation.com/psn/competitions, so make sure you don’t disappoint.

Be sure to opt in to receive PlayStation emails when you sign up for a PlayStation Network account. If you already have an account, sign in to your PlayStation Network Account Settings at eu.playstation.com/registration or via the XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) and opt in. That way, you can keep bang up to date and receive the latest PlayStation news direct to your inbox.

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