Latest games news:

Xbox 360/PC; £29.99; cert 12+; DTP Entertainment

Twenty-odd years ago point and click adventure games offered some of the most enthralling cerebral gaming experiences you could get on the PC (or Amiga). Monkey Island, Beneath a Steel Sky and the rest offered a compelling mix of puzzles, narrative and, in some cases, humour. The late nineties saw the genre submerged as 3D hit the PC and the consoles. Helped by touch screen devices and a growing download market – ie less financially risky for publishers – the genre has seen a resurgence in recent years. Full-price console releases remain a rarity though so Gray Matter certainly has a clear run. The involvement of Jane Jensen – creator of vintage adventure series Gabriel Knight – is another plus point for fans of the genre.

Unfortunately much of this goodwill is lost when you get to play – at least on the 360 version. Things start off promising. The plot is entertaining enough – mysterious house, magic and the like — though it lacks the humorous touch found in the likes of Monkey Island. Players get to control both the main character leads, Dr David Styles and Samantha Everett. Despite Jensen’s involvement the latter still retains the busty design prominence often seen on female gaming characters.

The main problem though is the controls. The lack of a mouse or touchscreen means the interface is clunky. For example you need to hold down a trigger before using the joypad stick to flick through available interactive items. This list varies depending on where you are standing but the controls are a long way from the simplicity of point and click. They do, however, reduce the age-old frustration of scanning the screen for hotspots.

Simplifying some of the genres conventions is a running theme of Gray Matter, with puzzles generally straightforward. There is very little of the “stick pen in pineapple to create a hovercraft” here. Some puzzles can be solved by simply using an object from your inventory with an item. More interestingly there is the chance to flex your magical muscle and use tricks you have learned.

There are other issues too with the 360 version displaying its PC heritage. For example the font is small and would likely be unreadable on a standard definition TV.

Generally though compared to something like Sony’s Heavy Rain – in many ways the natural progression for the genre – Gray Matter feels clunky and dated. However, despite all this there is something warmly nostalgic about Gray Matter. Once you get used to the controls and start working through the story you do start to get intrigued – if not gripped – about what may happen next.

Predicting how your average Call of Duty fan will react to the languid pace and dated visuals on offer here is easy enough. But the 360 needs the change of pace offered by games like Gray Matter and if you can ignore the flaws you may well appreciate it too.

• Game reviewed on Xbox 360

Rating: 3/5

Games

Xbox

PC

Greg Howson

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Slim-PS3.com is updated regularly every day with the latest games consle news and games reviews.

Football and baseball are pretty self-explanatory, but “DeathSpank?” Thank Ron Gilbert for that one. The famed mastermind behind the Secret of Monkey Island games is back and has created a new RPG named after the wild protagonist.  It’s funny and cooperative, hard to beat for $15.
…
Read Full Post
Slim-PS3.com is updated regularly per day with the latest Free Sony Slim PS3 news.

When Kombo previewed DeathSpank, the latest game from the mind of Monkey Island creator Ron Gilbert, over a month ago, details about its multiplayer modes were sparse. EA and Hothead Games were tight lipped back then, instructing us to simply “wait and see.” With the game’s release less than two weeks away, the veil has been lifted, and the video above features an in-depth look at Deathspank’s co-op mode, commentated by the game’s producer, Hamish Miller.

A second player can jump into the satirical world of DeathSpank at any time to take control of the would-be hero’s sidekick, Sparkles.

Hit the jump for more details. Slim PS3 is updated regularly every day with all latest Free PS3 news and reviews.

It’s a bumper week of downloadable content at PlayStation Store.

Beat the rush

Popping into the city to meet your girlfriend might usually result in dinner and a film. In Anarchy: Rush Hour, however, she gets kidnapped by a criminal gang and you are forced to take part in street races through peak time traffic while various things explode.

Anarchy: Rush Hour is available to download to PlayStation 3 from PlayStation Store and it includes dozens of sports cars to choose from and the freedom to tear through jammed city streets however you choose.

For anarchy on two feet, you can now play as Hit Girl, Big Daddy and the titular wannabe superhero in Kick-Ass: The Game, also available to download to PS3 from PlayStation Store.

Meanwhile, it’s survival of the hungriest in Feeding Frenzy 2, the sequel to the popular game in which the size of your fish determines whether he munches or is munched. Download the free trial version to PS3 from PlayStation Store to give it a try before you buy.

Take a test drive

There are two new demos of PS3 games on PlayStation Store this week: Split/Second: Velocity, which is best described as a racing game set in Jerry Bruckheimer’s teenage dreams, and UFC Undisputed 2010, the latest game based on the popular mixed martial arts organisation.

Modern Warfare 2 receives five new multiplayer maps this week via the Stimulus Package. Check out the competition at eu.playstation.com/competitions in which there are 10 pairs of night vision goggles up for grabs, as well as copies of Modern Warfare 2 and voucher codes to download the Stimulus Package from PlayStation Store.

Burn Zombie Burn… In Space! adds new stages and game modes to the arcade blaster that let you incinerate the undead in the stratosphere.

On PSP this week, you can download R-Type Tactics, which brings a strategic element to the classic side-scrolling shoot ‘em up games, as well as a series of extra content packs for Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days. And as the hayfever season approaches for many, Sneezies arrives in the minis category on PlayStation Store, letting you release sneezing powder into the air and release cute little creatures from their bubbles using the power of their noses.

Spring cleaning

This week, PlayStation Home interior designers get a host of new decorative options for their virtual abodes.

The Uncharted Personal Space is a great place to rest your feet after a hard day’s treasure hunting; it’s also the perfect place to show off your Uncharted ornaments and furnishings.

In the Uncharted universe there are two things that can be found lying around just about anywhere: priceless artefacts and guns, and your apartment need no longer be any different. You can now purchase an arsenal of SOCOM firearms, ranging from handguns to rifles, and either place them on existing furniture or display them in a rack.

Completing this week’s PS Home update is another treasure trove of Monkey Island content from LucasArts. Guys can brighten everyone’s day with the colourful Stan the Salesman outfit while women can pick up the Sword Master and strike fear into anyone that tries to Cabbage Patch in their way.

Win big!

Here at eu.playstation.com there’s plenty of opportunity to get your hands on games, goodies and more in our fantastic competitions.

Top of the bill this weekend is the chance to win tickets to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa by identifying the football legends as recreated using ModNation Racers’ fun mod creation tool. Just head over to playstation2010fifaworldcup.com to submit your entry.

There are also competitions for Modern Warfare 2′s Stimulus Package, UFC Undisputed 2010 and one in which you could win a PlayStation Network Card to download whatever you like. Head over to eu.playstation.com/competitions to be in with a chance of winning.

Keep an eye on PlayStation Blog at blog.eu.playstation.com for the latest PlayStation news as it happens.

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.

Slim-PS3.com is updated frequently each day with the very latest Free Slim PS3 news.