GadgITs

NO GUTS, NO GORE-Y! By Owen Anslow

                                                Viking: Battle For Asgard

FORMAT: Xbox 360/PlayStation 3

GENRE: 3^rd Person Action Adventure

RATING: 18 (lots of blood ’n’ guts)

OUT: Now

Verdict: EN-GROSS-ING

Score: 8/10

BLOODY hell – well, you kind of end up in one in this Norse little hack ’n’ slash. You are sword and axe-yielding Skarin, the last hope for the good folk off Midgard in the battle against Hel, an aptly-named evil goddess. To be honest, you’ll forget the story once you start button bashing. Sega have come up with a fun slasher that will have you perfecting your Viking war cry in front of the telly. Controls are simple enough and as time goes by you’ll learn more of the combos in which to chop up the bad guys (orc-like monsters). The good news is there’s always someone to fight and you won’t get tired of the superb slow-mo death move cut-aways. The bad news? Well, it’s only bad news if you’re a hardcore hack ‘n’ slash fan, in which case you might find Viking a tad easy. But it’s the quick loading, simple maps and arcade feel that makes the game successful. So what are you waiting for? Go out and get a slice of the action – chop, chop.

GTA IV TEASER

HERE, as promised, is the latest (and possibly last) Grand Theft Auto IV preview. Watch, love, then watch again . . . then check your diary for April 29, when this RockStar belter hits the shelves, and make sure you’ve got the week off work!

http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/g/grandtheftautoiv/

IT'S A GAS, GAS, GAS!

WE went along to the wheely cool Gran Tourismo 5: Prologue Pit Lane teaser at an underground car park near London’s Marble Arch this week. It was packed full of beautiful cars (Ferraris, TVRs, Jags) and beautiful women – really was great bodywork all round! Oh, and the game, of course. GT5 Prologue is a little taster of what’s to come in the full version next year - and it’s gonna be a long wait! The release marks the 10th anniversary of the Gran Turismo series, which has sold 50 million copies worldwide. Graphically, it's hot and the gameplay is fantastic too – can’t wait to lap it up.

WIN Vegas 2

WE'VE got 18 copies of Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 to give away PLUS an exclusive Limited Edition poker set. We've teamed up with our friends at GAME.co.uk and Ubisoft to bring you copies of this year's biggest hit so far.

To find out more about the game, scroll down to see our review.

For your chance to win, email the answer to this question to comps@notw.co.uk, with your name, address and age by midnight Saturday March 29. Please also state which format you require, PS3, Xbox or PC.

Question: Vegas 2 is made by a) Ubisoft, b) Disney, c) Microsoft.

First lucky winner out of the bag wins the Limited Edition poker set and a copy of the game. Next 17 win a copy of the game. Winners selected at random. Usual rules apply. Editor's decision is final.

Vegas 2 hits the jackpot, by Owen Anslow

Rainbow Six: Vegas 2
FORMAT: Xbox 360/PS3/PC
GENRE: Tactical shooter
RATING: 16+
OUT: Now

THIS one will make your heart beat quicker than a Vegas wedding. Ubisoft have raised the stakes yet again with this ace sequel to their award-winning next-gen FPS. The eagerly-await Vegas 2 takes us back to Sin City to thrash the terrorists and shoot-up some slot more machines. So what's changed? Well, not a lot actually, but that's not a bad thing. You still get all the great, tactical genius gameplay that made Vegas 1 so successful and with sharper graphics and a deeper plot, the experience is enhanced. One key change however are the bad guys - they've grown a brain since the last time we met. Improved AI means terrorists don't hang around in the line of fire like sitting ducks waiting to be picked off. In V2 they are tougher, somewhat organised and make YOU move from hiding with some deadly accurate frag grenades (oh, incendiary devices much improved too). For fans of Rainbow, a smile will creep across your face when you hear a familiar war cry from the bad guys of, "Who's with me?" Ubisoft have also introduced a system (similar to Call Of Duty 4 online) which tracks your style of gameplay and rewards you with experience points and weapons in all modes of play. And it's a nice touch to be rewarded after all that hard work - getting your boys to stack up, target a couple a bad guys with your snake cam and then breach and clear the room to save the hostages. During all the madness, the new PEC system informs you of successful kills (headshots, frag etc) and in what category (marksman, close-quarters or assault) you'll gain points in. The game’s improved online too (new maps, better multiplayer) and sucks you in and doesn’t spit you out till the early hours of the morning. In fact, it's hard to find fault with V2 and be warned - just like poker, this is an addictive game! But, if you're hooked, then sit back, screw in a silencer and let rip a burst from your MP5 . . . it's Vegas, baby!
VERDICT: This odds-on favourite is a sure-fire winner!
RATING: 9.3

Titanic in HD

Sky have added a third HD channel and to celebrate they’re showing Titanic in high definition for the first time in the UK tomorrow night.
James Cameron’s multi Oscar-winning blockbuster will be given a special screening on Sky Movies Premiere and Sky Movies Premiere HD at 6.30 pm.
Titanic also celebrates its 10-year anniversary this weekend after winning 11 Academy Awards, including Best Director for James Cameron and Best Picture in 1998.

Style call for stars

EVER wondered which phone celebs choose?
Well, Gadgits was at this week's Sony Ericsson Empire Awards and we got talking to a "phone stylist" who teamed up the stars of the show with a phone to suit them.
So, if these mobiles aren't what the big names use to call their nearest and dearest, or text their agent from the movie set, they'll know what to ask for next time they're in Carphone Warehouse.

WIN a PS3 and five games

LOCK and load! We're giving away a PS3 gaming console and FIVE copies of Turning Point: Fall of Liberty. We've teamed up with game makers Codemasters and Spark Unlimited to celebrate the launch of this new exciting first- person shooter. Designers have dared to imagine a dark world in which Winston Churchill died before rallying the Allied forces to victory in World War II.
As a result Nazi forces occupy Europe and the United States. So you must save the country, and the world, by joining the resistance and using guerrilla tactics to overcome superior Axis weaponry.
You take on the role of construction worker Dan Carson, who finds himself thrown into the fight for survival when the Nazis launch a surprise attack on New York City on September 23, 1953.
The global battle takes in New York City, Washington DC and London and features "cinematic gameplay", plus a soundtrack from TV's Lost composer Michael Giacchino.
Out now on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Games for Windows.

For your chance to win a copy, answer this question on an email and send to comps@notw.co.uk by midnight Saturday March 22. Which year did World War II end a) 1939, b) 1918, c) 1945. Please supply your name, address and phone number. Over 16s only. First correct answer selected at random wins the console and a copy of the game. Next four win a copy of the game. Usual competition rules apply. Editor's decision is final.

Review by Owen Anslow

Frontlines Fuel Of War

Format: Xbox 360

Genre: FPS

Rating: 16+

Out: Now

OKAY, so it’s not Call Of Duty 4 but Frontlines Fuel Of War is still a slick little FPS. Set in 2024, the Western Coalition (US & Europe) battle the Red Star Alliance (Russia & China) over the last scraps of oil left on Earth. With its arcade feel, nice graphics, fun guns and nifty gadgets, Frontlines is an enjoyable blast. Single player is rather easy but online is a riot with tank and helicopter scraps.

Lost

THE new version of Lost is flying off the shelves for PS3 and Xbox—and we have TEN copies to give away. Featuring top graphics and challenging mindgames, you find yourself in the jungle with the cast including Sayid and Kate. And you must piece together clues to advance through the game.
Just mind out you don’t get sucked into the blazing jet engine on the beach.
For your chance to win a copy, answer this question on an email and send to comps@notw.co.uk by midnight Saturday March 22. On which island is Lost set a) Fiji, b)Oahu, c) Sumatra. Please supply your name, address and phone number. Over 16s only. First ten correct answers selected at random win. Usual competition rules apply. Editor's decision is final.