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Independent, The (London), Jun 14, 2008 by Rebecca Armstrong
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots PS3, Konami, 49.99
The final instalment of any much-loved series is always a bittersweet affair, and it's doubly the case with the last Metal Gear Solid title. Guns of the Patriots sees our hero, Old Snake, who is battle-weary and terminally ill, on the trail of his evil twin. It's endlessly confusing and it's impossible to know what's going on from one moment to the next. The best thing to do is to give yourself up to the glorious action and chuckle at the knowing references. It's packed with cut-scenes and glacially slow install times, but it's a fitting last gasp for MGS. *****
SingStar II PS3, Sony, 49.99
The second instalment of Sony's next-generation SingStar series provides would-be pop stars with more of the same action as last time. High-def videos, 30 new tunes and the ability to attempt harmonies on duets are all brilliant, while being able to record your attempts at tunes such as "Valerie" has as much embarrassing potential as ever. My only complaint is that the wireless microphones that were always meant to be part of the SingStar PS3 package have yet to make it on to the market. ****
Dracula: Origin PC, Ascaron, 19.99
Fancy a romp through spooky castles and fog-filled London while on the trail of everyone's favourite blood-sucking aristocrat? If so, this inexpensive yet impressive adventure is the game for you. Taking Bram Stoker's classic tale as a starting point, this solid PC title might not be the longest game you'll play this summer, but it packs plenty of action and puzzles into its elegantly realised world. There's nothing really ground-breaking in terms of gameplay on show here, but what you do get is good value and good fun. ****
Family Ski Wii, Nintendo, 44.99
Fans of the skiing section of Nintendo's Wii Fit game can experience more mountain fun with this spin-off ski game (above). While you can play using the Wii Fit's balance board, it's annoying that you still need to use the handheld Wiimote and nunchuk. The best way round this hardware overload is to imagine the controllers are ski poles, but it still rankles that the board alone isn't enough. There are plenty of runs for all abilities, each offering different challenges, from sheer drops to grizzly bears. ***
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