You know that friend nobody likes? The one that keeps showing up because no one’s told him to buzz off? That’s what water levels are to videogames. Upon arrival, they kill the mood and alienate anyone who was on the fence about staying or leaving. In short, they tend to ruin the entire flow of a game that’s otherwise just fine, and very few titles have been able to do liquid environments right. ... » Read More

1 Oct 2009

The 12 most misunderstood videogame villains

PS2 Feature | Final Fantasy X

One reason we like games is that the stakes are high. The good guys are really good, the bad guys are really bad, and the princesses are really doe-eyed. But sometimes, games manage to work in villains that operate in shades of gray… and other times, they accidentally make a villain out of the most sympathetic guy in the story. ... » Read More

18 May 2009

The Top 7… RPG towns that explode

PS2 Feature | Final Fantasy X

There are lots of excellent reasons to want to blow up an RPG town. If you’re a villain, for example, you might level a place because it’s friendly to some resistance movement, or it’s in your way, or the heroes are stopping in briefly on their way to kill you. If you’re a game designer, you might do it to raise the stakes, or to give players some emotional reason to want the villain dead. ... » Read More

1 May 2009

Videogame music makes Bullitt better

PS2 Feature | Final Fantasy X

VIDEO: The best car chase ever, now with aural improvements. ... » Read More

31 Mar 2009

Zero to 100: Videogames by the numbers

PS2 Feature | Final Fantasy X

Numbers. Man, there must be millions of ‘em. Seems like every other game on the shelf has a number in it. Boy, I bet you could count to a hundred using just videogame titles and related items. Let’s see if I’m right. ... » Read More

17 Feb 2009

Confusing game endings explained

PS2 Feature | Final Fantasy X

Astrophysics are a touch bewildering. And love is a bit of a noodle-scratcher. But a convoluted, multi-layered plot about a genetically engineered pensioner; now that’s really complicated.The following game endings are all either vague, slightly ambiguous or just downright indecipherable without advanced degrees in picking up on minuscule - but vastly important – plot details. In an effort to make things a little easier, ... » Read More

11 Jun 2007

World of Final Fantasy

PS2 Feature | Final Fantasy X

As the most popular “cult” game series around, Final Fantasy has more spin-offs, merchandise, collectable whatnots and inspired curiosities than practically anything but Mario. If money was no object, heres what would be in our shopping ... » Read More

10 Apr 2007

The Dark side of Final Fantasy

PS2 Feature | Final Fantasy X

You thought Final Fantasy was all about cute cat-things named “moogles” and some brooding teens that save the world, right? Oh, you couldnt be more wrong. Little did you know that the pinnacle RPG franchise will tear your life to shit and make you a depraved maniac. Think were bluffing? Go ahead tough guy, read on about the dark side of Final Fantasy. Addiction Medical research shows that thousands of gamers worldwide cant operate without their daily fix of Final Fantasy. What do ... » Read More

23 Mar 2007

The games that shaped a generation: PS2

PS2 Feature | Final Fantasy X

5. Shadow of the Colossus SCEI | SCEA | 2005 In theory, this was just a third-person action game - but the fact that it was all boss battles against gigantic leviathans, strung together by a heartbreaking plot makes it a must-play What made it so great? Some games are games. Others are experiences, and few games demonstrate this better than Shadow of the Colossus. It's drenched in melancholy atmosphere, from the sparse, mournful soundtrack to the muted color palette, and expertly intersperses ... » Read More

9 Mar 2007

Final Fantasy week

PS2 Feature | Final Fantasy X

Final Fantasy is one of the most enduringly popular games in the history of video gaming. 2006's Final Fantasy XII, the last PlayStation 2 entry in the series, set a record for most copies shipped to retail on release. The series has struck a chord with fans the world over, by providing engrossing gameplay against a backdrop of astounding drama - for over 20 years. But which game in the series is the ultimate? Which entry has the best main character, the best villain, the best music or the ... » Read More

9 Mar 2007

Final Fantasy week, day five

PS2 Feature | Final Fantasy X

At last, we'll decide which FF delivered in the best possible ways. Some games get one thing totally right but then falter elsewhere - we'll lay down the law by saying which reigns supreme. Are you ready? 5. Final Fantasy V Thanks to a recent re-release on the GBA, this game may finally get the respect it deserves in the US. Though it has one of the weakest stories in the entire series, particularly sandwiched between the melodramatic IV and VI, the gameplay is among the best. The Job System ... » Read More

8 Mar 2007

Final Fantasy week, day 4

PS2 Feature | Final Fantasy X

As we near the end of our weeklong countdown, it's time to look at one of the biggest parts of any Final Fantasy - the music. Each game in the series features an astonishing number of quality tracks, from burning guitar rock, to tear-jerking ballad, to rave-friendly electronica. There's probably no other game series in the world that's had as many full-blown concerts in its honor, be they garage bands cranking out angsty riffs or a legitimate orchestra performing for a crowd of thousands. But ... » Read More

7 Mar 2007

Final Fantasy week, day 3

PS2 Feature | Final Fantasy X

With each new Final Fantasy, a tweaked battle system is revealed. Here, we consider how much each affected the series' gameplay as a whole. When most people think RPG, they think turn-based menu surfing. Final Fantasy IV finally got it right - but later games added on to it. We don't stop there - we also take into account the supporting gameplay systems that directly affect your fighting style. 5. Final Fantasy VII The game that brought RPGs to the masses did so with a very clever evolution ... » Read More

6 Mar 2007

Final Fantasy week, day 2

PS2 Feature | Final Fantasy X

Yesterday we decided, once and for all, who was the best Final Fantasy hero. Today we're going to have a bit more fun and sift through the oceans of bodies and broken realms to determine the baddest villain in the series' history. We're not necessarily gunning for the final boss though - they have a tendency to come out of left field. No, we're considering which character causes the most trouble throughout the quest, how much damage he inflicted and the scope of his crimes. 5. Kefka (Final ... » Read More

5 Mar 2007

Final Fantasy week, day 1

PS2 Feature | Final Fantasy X

The central character of any game defines it. It goes double for Final Fantasy. Some characters blend compelling personalities with a tale of personal growth; some simply fade into the background and let a grand adventure take place around them. Obviously, nobody from the second category is going to make this list. No, it's a place only for the most dashing, the most troubled, the most likable of Final Fantasy leads. Away we go. 5. Squall Leonhart (Final Fantasy VIII) No hero in the history ... » Read More

1 Aug 2006

What the hell were we thinking?!?!

PS2 Feature | Final Fantasy X

Chaos, mayhem, uproar and riots. That's what GamesRadar seems to have triggered with last week's feature, "The Ten Greatest Years in Videogame History ". We might as well have burned down the internet, for all the email and forum flaming we inspired. Some folks praised us, some wanted us crucified, and one called us "wankers", ignoring that the feature only covered the US market. Granted, we set ourselves up. We knew this feature was so vast, so subjective and so dependent upon reader ... » Read More

27 Jul 2006

The ten greatest years in videogame history

PS2 Feature | Final Fantasy X

Three weeks ago, our sibling site NextGen posted the article, "The Ten Greatest Years in Gaming." It was full of cool industry info, but the first thing we asked was, "So, the PlayStation was first designed as an add-on for the SNES. We get the irony, but what were we actually playing in 1993 that made it so great?" We checked it out. We made a huge list of the best games of the past 34 years, taped it to the wall, and fought for days about stuff like whether one Zelda is worth more than two ... » Read More

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