See larger image Max Payne 3 (Video Game) List Price: $59.99 USD New From: $59.80 In Stock Release date May 15, 2012.

Nine years is a long time in the world of gaming. And instead of spending that time coming up with a revolutionary first-person shooter to rival the Call of Duty or Gears of War series, Rockstar games decided to go with what the fans wanted: Modernising a cult classic.

Max Payne 3 has kept the core that made the previous two Max Payne titles so revered but bumped it up with advances to keep up with modern gaming technology. The result is a game that could possibly be one of the best this year.

The storyline: No longer a cop, Max is washed-up, drunk and addicted to painkillers. Along with friend Raul Passos, Max has left New York, and finds himself in Sao Paulo, working as private security for a mega-rich family. What I love about the game is that it actually discourages you from taking cover which is almost unheard of in shooters these days.

You will be given a chance to catch your breath, plan an attack and maybe pop a few bad guys before flinging yourself
back into action, but clearing a room filled with trained paramilitaries from behind a wall is next to impossible.

So rather than picking off goons as they peek over cover, you will have to rely on that staple of Max Payne 3 — Bullet Time.

Press down on the right stick and time will slow to crawl as the screen washes out in a flourescent glow. Watch your enemies drop like flies while you take on minimal damage, Bullet Time is what you want in a real firefight.

However, take a one slug too many and Max will tumble to the ground. The screen will turn bright save for a flashing light from the guy who shot you last. Finish him off and, as long as you are packing painkillers, you’ll be back on your feet.

However, take a one slug too many and Max will tumble to the ground. The screen will turn bright save for a flashing light from the guy who shot you last. Finish him off and, as long as you are packing painkillers, you’ll be back on your feet.

Max is restricted to a single life bar that can only be replenished by gulping painkillers. And in the midst of a firefight, that health bar can run out startling fast. This forcees you to plan your firefights so you make it out with a decent sliver of health and your painkiller stock intact.

See larger image Double Fine Action Comics by Scott C (Volume 1) (Paperback) By (author) Scott Campbell, Tim Schafer (Foreword) New From: $13.99 In Stock Used from: $13.98 In Stock

Most Kinect games such as Kinect: Disneyland Avengers require a certain level of control and understanding of rules before you can really be good at them, which leaves some of our younger kids behind. But now and then along comes a game that even kindergarteners can play.

Introducing Double Fine Happy Action Theatre (DFHAT), on Xbox Live for the Xbox 360 and Kinect. To call it a game wouldn’t be entirely accurate, DFHAT is a mixture of 18 different activites that you can do alone or with up to six people at a time.

When you start the game you’re thrown into an activity without even knowing exactly what to do, but once you start moving and interacting with what is on screen, intuition kicks in. Activities are controlled by a director which chooses which scene, whether it’s smashing buildings or shooting fireballs at dragons — comes next. The director also moves quickly from activity to activity, sometimes even before you’re done, leaving kids constantly distracted. There are no actual objectives within each activity (other than to have fun) and so no winners or losers. And most of the activities are sufficiently interactive and varied that kids will never get bored.

DFHAT works especially well when you have a large group of children. DFHAT follows the motion of objects in front of the Kinect sensor so six people can play at one go. As a party game for younger kids this is the perfect entertainment solution, they can burst balloons for hours without you having to pick up the scraps later.

See larger image Kinect Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure (Video Game) List Price: $49.99 USD New From: $43.54 In Stock Used from: $41.95 In Stock Release date March 20, 2012.

Kinect Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure

If you’ve ever wanted the characters from your favourite Pixar movies to come to life in your living room, Kinect Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure, a game for the Xbox 360 Kinect, is going to get you animated. Based on some of the Pixar movies, the fun in Kinect Rush starts right as the game begins by making a cartoon avatar of you.

Once your avatar is ready you’re free to navigate within five areas based on Pixar movies — Cars, Up, The Incredibles, Toy Story and Ratatouille, each with their own series of adventures to explore as you unlock new areas within their own mini-game.

Each mission only takes about five minutes, which is long enough to keep both adults and kids interested without getting bored. And with you tilting and running and jumping on the spot the entire time, it’s a good thing each adventure is short so you won’t get too winded.

There’s a lot of Pixar charm in each of the missions, leaving you to replay favourite moments of the Pixar movies.

Download now: Kinect Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure

See larger image NBA 2K12 (Covers May Vary) (Video Game) List Price: $39.99 USD New From: $34.99 In Stock Used from: $27.65 In Stock Release date October 4, 2011.

Basketball fans, here’s a treat for you: How would you like to meet basketball legend Michael Jordan?

2K Sports, the developer of the NBA2K12 game, will be sending six
lucky people on an all-expense-paid trip to the United States to meet Jordan, and watch the Charlotte Bobcats versus
New York Knicks game in Charlotte, North Carolina, on April 26.

To win one of three coveted pairs of tickets, you need to have a copy of NBA2K12 and to register at www.meetmichaeljordan.com.

The contest is open to residents of Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Taiwan and South Korea aged 21 and above. Companions need to be at least 18 years old.

See larger image Katamari Amore (Paperback) List Price: $38.00 USD New From: $37.97 In Stock

Katamari Amore is the second installment of the quirky Katamari series on the iOS platform and it will be an unforgettable experience if you have not played it before.

In this game, you control a weapon of mass destruction that rolls up everything in the entire world, one object at a time. By doing so, you increase the size of your Katamari the sphere to which everything magically adheres.

You start with small things, such as sweets and dice, and progress to huge targets such as clouds and islands.

There are now virtual joysticks that let you control the Katamari with either one hand or both. This is more difficult but also more precise than the original system, where you had to tilt your iPhone in all directions.

Katamari Amore
Two stage packs are already available for purchase.

Each pack offers six stages and a mini-game; the first has a version of the classic Pac-Man game, which has you rolling up pellets and dodging ghosts.

Each stage features four variations – story, time attack, exact size challenge and eternal mode – for variation and re-playability.

A caveat: the learning curve for Katamari Amore is steeper. Despite having played most of the games in the series, I found it tough to complete the stages at the first go.

The graphics are wonderfully colorful but the music is drab and repetitive, something which, hopefully, the developers will rectify for future stages, as the Katamari series is known for its catchy soundtracks.

Flaws aside, Katamari Amore is fantastic for satisfying the fun-loving world destroyer in you.

The game offers one free trial stage, but you will not regret spending US$3.99 (S$5.10) to enjoy the full Katamari experience.

Download now: Katamari Amore

See larger image Kinect Sports Season Two (Video Game) List Price: $49.99 USD New From: $28.90 In Stock Used from: $28.94 In Stock Release date October 25, 2011.

Kinect Sports Season Two puts you in the game with six new sports (football, golf, baseball, tennis, darts and skiing) and groundbreaking features that use the Kinect’s full-body play technology. Now you can fire aces on court, score the winning homerun or sink that championship-winning putt. And the Challenge Play feature on Xbox live lets you take on your friends and family.

Click to order Kinect Sports Season Two now.

Surround yourself with magic as you fly, dance and dive into classic Disneyland attractions. Interact with more than 40 of your favorite characters — collect their autographs, accept their quests and experience the magic of Disney.
You can even participate in parades and spectacular fireworks displays, even soar over Neverland and fight with Captain Hook!

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Disneyland Adventures

Click to order Kinect Disneyland Adventures from Amazon now