Site News:

With new stock arriving in the lead up to Christmas, we now have gaming action figures from Halo 3 and Tomb Raider in-store and are also now focusing on more game/movie related toys.

Orders over $150 now receive free shipping!

To help our customers, we have now added more information through checkout regarding approximate delivery times and order weight range (before final checkout page where exact order weight is displayed).

Get Lara Croft on your Desktop!

Go to www.tombraiderchallenge.com to download Lara for some action on your desktop and stay updated with the Tomb Raider Challenge daily clues, game news, trailers and more.

Hot News:

Super Mario Galaxy Trading Card Fun Paks (Blister style)  have been released this December, which is excellent news for Mario fans and includes 4 trading cards (with trivia), a temporary tattoo card, a pop-out standee card, with 1 special foil card in approximately every 6 paks!

For Star Wars fans, the new Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated TV series commenced 29 November ‘08 and airs every Saturday at 12 noon on Channel 10. This series has been a huge hit in the US.

Star Wars “Where Science Meets Imagination” Exhibition
On now at the Sydney Powerhouse Museum
4 December 2008 – 26 April 2009

This exhibition looks fantastic.  You can go along to view costumes, props, with interactive displays from the Star Wars movies.  For more information visit powerhousemuseum.com

Top Game Pick of 2008:

This year has been an amazing year for games with too many to mention, but our top pick goes to Super Smash Bros. Brawl on Nintendo Wii for a well made game with loads of features.

Top Toy Pick of 2008:

Halo 3 Master Chief 12″ Action Figure – Large size figure with moving parts.

Games to look out for in 2009:

Killzone 2 (PS3) – 19 Feb 2009

This is our last wrap-up for the year, so thanks to all our readers, and especially our customers for their support during 2008, and wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and prosperous Near Year

Gaming:

It’s been a blockbuster month with some big game releases during October, including Fable II on Xbox 360, standard and collector’s limited edition.  The collector’s edition now includes the game disc, Bonus DVD with new “Making-of” feature, Bonus in-game content, which requires Xbox Live, including the “Hall of the Dead” Dungeon, “The Wreckager” Legendary Cutlass weapon and Spartan Armor and Energy Sword.  Fable II is set 500 years after the original game in Albion, with the environments being 10 times bigger than the original game!  What life will you choose!

View trailers

Other big titles included Far Cry 2, Midnight Club LA, Dead Space and Saints Row 2 (PC version release 24 January ‘09).

Movies:

Another game-related movie, Bond Quantum of Solace is due for release on 19 November and has received favourable reviews – get ready for a new “Bond” experience! The game version comes out in November on all major platforms (Xbox 360 version also on the 19 Nov’) and scores 8.7/10 at gametrailers.

Toys:

Futurama has to be one of the most whackiest, futuristic animated comedies ever created.  The Futurama Action Figures series 2, 3 and 4 were re-released recently, and with Christmas not too far away, for Futurama fans there is now an official special edition Action Figure Santa 2-Pack (by Toynami) featuring Santa Bender and Robot Santa. 

This has to be the best I’ve seen Bender – the Santa Hat and smiley grin is priceless! Look out for Series 5 expected in November featuring Calculon and Super King Bender!

Over the coming months we’ll also be introducing gaming figures from Halo 3, TombRaider, Sonic and more.

Games played/reviewed this month:

John Woo Presents Stranglehold (Xbox 360), 1 Player (+ Xbox Live Matches), Rated MA15+

This game is definitely for those who like pure shooting action whilst completing your objectives.  Playing as Inspector Tequila Yuen, you fight against Hong Kong crimelords through 7 chapters in places such as markets, harbours, restaurants, casinos, carparks and more.  Unleash massive destruction in your path, planting explosives, sinking ships, exploding buildings, destroying helicopters, undertake stand-offs and big boss battles.

What makes this game is some of the moves included, such as sliding on rails, rebounding off walls, rolling, diving, dodging bullets and sliding over objects. Once you earn enough style points and collect “cranes” throughout each level, you can undertake different special attacks with Tequila Bombs, from barrage attack for super heavy damage, and the spin-attack where you go into slow-motion whilst rotating and annilihating enemies in the local vicinity.  The precision aim attack is excellent as you can aim accurately at an enemy from a long distance, shoot and watch the bullet travel to it’s designated target.

Overall, there’s plenty of action with unique graphics, and would describe this game as a “good-time”, all round shooter”!

Also available on PS3 and PC.

Released in Australia: Thursday, 16 October ‘08

Starring Mark Wahlberg as Max Payne

and Beau Bridges

Rated MA15+

Having played the Max Payne video game series, we were keen to see how the movie fared with the game versions and went along for the first session.

Max Payne, the movie, has plenty of action and a good story plot.  Mark Wahlberg plays the part of Detective Max Payne, who is broody and a man of few words as he hunts for the remaining killer of his wife and child, so also encompasses a deep emotional element in his quest for uncovering the truth.

The overall atmosphere is dark set, with plenty of gunfighting action scenes and slow motion special effects.  The sound is fantastic and centres on Max’s weapons whilst shooting.  Other graphical effects are included within the storyline from the supernatural world, and felt very drawn with the whole feel of the movie.

They’ve done a great job of featuring some of the essential elements of the original Max Payne game release, including the subway station, lavatory, rainy/snow swept/littered streets, the bedroom scene of Max’s wife and child’s demise, and the final scene on the glass skyscraper.

In summary, we went in with no expectations and found the movie very entertaining and left the cinema wanting to play the games again!

Our rating:  8/10

For more information on the movie, visit official website

Currently stocking popular lines from the Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Trading Card game series, Legends Awakened is the latest release and 6th expansion in the Diamond and Pearl series, with theme decks, blister packs and portfolio available.

We love Mario!  There is now a range of licensed Nintendo Super Mario products from figurines, cute kids shopping bags, featuring Mario, Peach, Yoshi and Donkey Kong, to Super Mario kite for summer.

Family Lego PC range of games - Lego Racers 2, Legoland, Lego Island 2 – the Brickster’s Revenge and Lego Stunt Rally came out this month with Vista compatibility.  PC Lego Star Wars and Lego Bionicle Australian release date has been put back until March 2009.

PS2 Dancing Stage SuperNOVA 2 previously due out this month in Australia has now been cancelled.

Hot Upcoming Games:

Fable II – Legendary game with the first version on Xbox, due for release on 23 October ‘08 on the Xbox 360, with standard and collector’s edition.

Star Wars Clone Wars – Following on from the movie release (first animated production), looking forward to the game release on Wii and NDS due on 19 November ‘08.

Games Played/Reviewed This Month:

Scarface – The World is Yours (Xbox Version), Rated MA15+

The best thing about this game is playing as Tony Montana… cool, tough and out for revenge as you take back his turf and rebuild his empire.

Contains well laid out maps with 4 turfs in tropical Miami.  Complete missions and destroy gangs etc, whilst trying to keep your cop and gang heat down.  There’s a good selection of weapons included, which you can purchase and upgrade throughout gameplay.  Build up your balls meter and you get to utilise Rage Mode.

There’s a huge amount of items (exotics) to purchase which unlock certain aspects of the game.  Cool cars – jeeps, convertibles, limo, high speed sports cars, old classics, armoured vehicles, to boats - floatplane (used to cross turfs), racing, sport, fishing, attack boats, yacht and more.  Purchase investments, varying henchman, furniture, or deck your mansion with a new look/style.

There’s plenty of driving involved, as well as on foot and at sea, with some excellent music to choose from whilst cruising, from Hip-Hop, Rock, Reggae, to 80’s pop.  The vehicles control well and the graphics on the game are good, with some helfpul cheats available.

Also released on PS2 and Wii.

Lara Croft – Tomb Raider Anniversary (Xbox 360), Rated M

Tomb Raider Anniversary is jam-packed with puzzles to keep you occupied as you search for the Scion of Atlantis.  Complete interesting levels, as you climb, swim, grapple, wall run and more, through Greece, Egypt, Peru and the Lost Island, collecting artifacts along the way.  On your travels you’ll come across dinosaurs, including a giant T-rex, gorillas (which surprised me on a few occasions), crocodiles, tigers and centaurs, with the added bonus of the new Adrenaline Dodge to avoid their rage attacks and inflict some heavier damage.

You’ll also get to climb to great heights on various levels, dive into waterfalls from a high distance, etc for a great gaming experience.  The standard dual pistols are included, plus pump shotgun, dual caliber pistols and dual mini SMG’s.  Checkpoints are frequent so you can save often and there are some excellent walkthroughs on the web.  We recommend visiting Tombraiders.net – they have a comprehensive walkthrough if you need help.

Next Lara Australian release date is with upcoming game Tomb Raider Underworld, scheduled for 27 November 2008 on Xbox 360 and PS3.

Earlier this month Microsoft announced a price markdown on all Xbox 360 consoles here in Australia, effective from 2nd July 08, which is great news for anyone interested in investing in a unit.  Price reductions vary between $50-$80 depending on model.  New RRP prices listed below.

Xbox 360 Arcade:  Now $349.95  (Previous RRP Price: $399.95)

Xbox 360 Elite:  Now $649 (Previous RRP Price: $729.95)

Xbox 360 Pro HDMI:  Now $499 (Previous RRP Price: $579.95)

Two new cool features are included: 

• For something different, you can now test out your skills with Harmony Duet Mode. 

• Also now including PSP compatability, you can load your game, view SingStore and download tunes, plus access SingStar Online via remote play. 

Aerosmith – Dude (Looks Like a Lady)

Blur – Country House

For the latest downloadable songs visit SingStore 

PS2 Dancing Stage SuperNOVA 2 - DDR game which was expected to be released in Australia on 2 May 2008, has now been put back until 26 September 2008.

30 September 2008 – Game Update: