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Lara Croft And The Guardian of Light review
Electricpig opinions: Nokia Box, Flow Songs, new iPod Touch, and Google net neutrality
Meet the Six Million Dollar iPhone
Video of the week: Nokia Box teases mystery reveal

Lara Croft And The Guardian of Light review

Posted: 15 Aug 2010 04:01 PM PDT

Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light sees Lara ditch her more familiar Tomb Raiding antics in favour of some top down retro styled isometric action in this digital download available this Wednesday. Backed up by some awesome co-op and multiplayer action it’s already up there with our favourite games this year. Read on to find out why in our full Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light review.

The curvaceous Tomb Raider star has been AWOL in recent months, but Lara Croft is back in something totally different than anything she’s previously appeared in. Well, not totally, there are still tomb-like settings and such. But it’s certainly a massive change (Note the lack of “Tomb Raider” in the title), and a welcome one at that.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light’s story revolves around the mystical Mirror of Smoke – an artefact located in the Temple of Light. Upon locating it, Lara is ambushed by a rogue bunch of mercenaries who, in a rush to get their hands on it, inadvertently activate its curse, unleashing the evil Xoltl. Totec, a Mayan tribesman is also awoken. Thankfully he’s more helpful, and will now help Lara to save the world from the ensuing evil-ness.

Beginning Lara Croft And The Guardian of Light, it’s clear that developer Crystal Dynamics has gone for an entirely different Lara experience, with a story initially told in comic book style with well executed character voiceovers, as the aforementioned mercenaries get their hands on the Mirror of Smoke, activating the evil curse and unleashing evil. You’d think there would be an initial shock at seeing Lara from an new angle, but the transformation is all neatly transitioned with snappy tutorials getting you fully up to speed with controlling Lara in her new isometric world from the off.

Getting to grips with Lara is easy thanks to the well thought out controls (we reviewed it on an Xbox 360). As we’ve previously mentioned in our Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light preview, you make Lara walk with the left stick, while the right has Lara equip her weaponry, or a spear, that you can use to dart at enemies or stick into walls as an aid to get to higher platforms or hitting switches to progress. It doesn’t sound like much, but solving some of the game’s puzzles by figuring out where to plonk your spear to jump to is one of the more small but satisfying moments throughout.

Likewise pressing LB (L1 on PS3) lets out a grappling hook to latch onto previously unreachable areas and abseil over deathly pits. In some ways it’s almost typical Lara Croft from her Tomb Raider days, except the new angle makes it feel completely different. In a good way. It’s a real life-saver, particularly in Lara Croft And The Guardian of Light co-op as you use it to let your sidekick, Totec tightrope walk.

Bombs are one of the most important tools in Lara’s arsenal. You get an unlimited supply of these button activated blasters. Already equipped, simply press B on an Xbox 360 pad to lay one down, then B again to explode them, being sure to get out of its clearly marked blast radius. Against enemies it’s not the most effective tool but it’s essential for solving puzzles in Lara Croft And The Guardian of Light by blowing up parts of statues to open doors, moving large balls and activating switches while you’re stood elsewhere. It all makes for impressively varied puzzle solving action antics.

Plenty of action there is too. With lots of enemies bombarding the screen in Lara Croft And The Guardian of Light, at times you’ll feel like you’re playing the classic Smash TV as you find yourself shooting enemies from all angles. Throw in some clever but menacing boss battles in there and you’ve got enough to satisfy even the most demanding shooter fans. The set-pieces are remarkable too. You’ll find yourself having to scarper across crumbling bridges, flee from giant spiders, lizard-like things and all manner of dastardly pointy mechanisms and traps across rainforests, caverns and temples.

If all those settings in Lara Croft And The Guardian of Light sound familiar, it’s because they will be to Tomb Raider fans. Putting Lara in an entirely new setting wouldn’t have made much sense anyway. Visually the graphics and detail in the settings are up there with Tomb Raider: Underworld. The levels are as detailed as any you’ll find in Underworld right down to the explosion effects as debris and falling rocks scatter across the screen. It might be a download only title but developer Crystal Dynamics has pulled out all the stops to deliver a game Lara Croft fans can get excited about.

Another fabulous addition in Lara Croft And The Guardian of Light is the multiplayer. Using teamwork players can take control of Lara or her Mayan buddy, Totec to play through the game together. In co-op it’s Totec who uses the spears to help Lara jump to higher ledges. He’s also got a shield to use to shield her from bullets and arrows. Playing together can also unlock extra Xbox 360 Achievements and PS3 Trophies only attainable through teamwork. There are also gems and other goodies to collect, but to add a competitive element to co-op there’s only a limited amount, meaning it’s a race between you and your co-op buddy to attain the highest score per level. Add the ability to upgrade your weapons and collect magical artefacts to boost attack and defence stats and there’s something for everyone.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is an exciting package combining action and puzzle solving antics aplenty in a highly playable Tomb Raider inspired isometric reiteration that is both fun and clever in equal measure. Add co-op multiplayer and it’s even better, delivering the kind of instant pick up and play experiences we used to get on consoles of yesteryear.

Electricpig opinions: Nokia Box, Flow Songs, new iPod Touch, and Google net neutrality

Posted: 15 Aug 2010 05:00 AM PDT

It’s that time of the week, where we round up the opinions of Electricpig’s very own tech hounds. What have they been babbling about in their opinion pieces this week? There’s natter about the new song download service, Flow Songs, chat about the mystery Nokia Box promotion, why the iPod nano needs to “die” and Google and the possibility of a two-tier Internet.

James Holland bemoans needless promotional gimmicks

The Nokia Box promotion being bandied about by Nokia that comes with a USB key and an invite to a reveal got James Holland thinking about all the nuts viral and marketing gimmicks he’s received in the past, and why Nokia shouldn’t need to resort to the same tired tricks.

“I've been writing about gadgets for years, and every time a "mystery parcel" lands on my desk, my heart sinks. It's an age old tactic of hyping a product or event, but it always ceases to amaze.

“Take the Jabra Stone. It was an average Bluetooth headset, "teased" to the press by the delivery of (you guessed it) a polished rock. Seriously. Someone sent me a rock in the mail. When the name of your product is the only hook you have, you're in trouble.”

Nokia’s even included a #NokiaBox hashtag to encourage Twitter-based hype around its mystery product.

“What Nokia's attempting with Nokia Box is a more advanced version of the same thing: advanced, because they've had the foresight to print a hashtag on their packaging, to encourage a bit more hype through Twitter before the reveal. The trouble is, it's still an old trick.”

Problem is, these kind of tricks have often flattered to deceive, as overhype is stirred to drum up interest for products not worthy of it. Could things be different this time around? James?

“There might be a MeeGo-powered super-tablet inside, a slightly more mundane C-Series handset, or a new CEO with a plan to scupper the iPhone and Android, but I doubt it. Call me jaded, but when you've been on the merry-go-round before, it's hard to enjoy it over and over. August 18th will reveal all.”

What do you think it will be? Tell us in the comments section below.

Ben Sillis wants to see the end of the iPod nano

On observing the lack of iPod nano rumours this year our reviews man, Ben Sillis is feeling a tingly sense of relief about the possibility of them getting phased out.

“Once upon the time, the arguments about the size and the price made sense, and the iPod nano made obvious sense for anyone who wanted easy music access or something to strap on in the gym. It was and is still shockingly thin.”

But now, things are different, he says. “But then last year the iPod shuffle got smarter, with track controls migrating to the headphones, and capacity encroaching on the 2007 iPod nano model.” And when listening to music in the gym, for example you can’t tell the difference between a nano and shuffle. And with the shuffle smaller size “the iPod nano lost one of its biggest selling points” Ben argues.

“I'm tired of the iPod nano, and the only way it's going to get me interested again is if it runs iOS and lets you run all those useful fitness apps – and games. I'd like to think it will happen eventually – as I've said before, the name change from iPhone OS surely signals a move onto more devices.”

He doubts it’ll happen. But with iPhone sales soaring and iPod sales dropping, a new iPod nano will have to do something different.

“Sooner or later, those two lines on a graph are going to meet, and unless a new iPod nano does something seriously different from a new iPod touch, rather than just less, I want it to go.”

Do you agree with Ben? Let us know in the comments section below.

Jennifer Allan discusses the pros and cons of Flow Songs

Flow Songs is a music download service that lets you download songs direct from your radio, to be launched on Monday. Jennifer Allan took a look at the pros and cons of the service to help you decide whether to take the plunge.

The good? Purchasing tracks is easy. “Its one click to identify, one click to buy, and another to either stream it right there and then, or flick back to the station you were using.” Flow Digital is also powered by 7Digital. That’s a good thing, she says.

“7Digital generally has high quality tracks. It ingests content at a ridiculous rate too, and rakes over existing content to grab better versions as and when they become available.”

What about the cons? Not much of a con, but after the gloriously free 90-day trial you’ll need to pay £2.99 and pay for individual tracks priced at 7Digital’s discretion. It’s also expected that Pure will need to take a bigger cut in future.

The other con, which is a bigger snag, is that you’ll need a Pure internet radio. Take a pick from the five Pure has available, starting at around £100. Surely that’s a massive barrier to consumer interest? Pete Downton, Director of Connected Services believes there are 50,000-100,000 of the devices already in the marketplace, giving plenty of room for the service to expand.

Mic ponders the possibility of a two-tier Internet

Mic Wright voiced his opinion on Google and Verizon’s joint statement on their commitment to ensuring that data flows across the web equally. There was talk of premium services where Internet service providers can pay more for online use, but it got him thinking it could signal the beginning of a two tier Internet. That could mean, in Mic’s words one “bog-standard public version and a souped-up private fast lane.”

“In their proposal, Google and Verizon says that they want a situation with a ‘presumption against prioritization of internet traffic – including paid prioritisation’. That would mean that broadband providers wouldn't block or degrade content and applications from rivals or favour their own content.”

Mic goes on to say that if a premium internet existed that would leave any standard internet left out while Internet service providers focus on faster lines, causing it to stagnate.

“By encouraging a two-tier internet with what Google calls the ‘public internet’ and new premium services, we could quite easily see investment in the standard internet stagnate while providers focus on the faster lines. Providers wouldn't need to actively discriminate against ordinary internet users, they could simply drag their heels when it comes to investing in improving general broadband speeds and coverage.”

So what should the UK do? Put its foot down, that’s what, says Mic.

“While Google and Verizon may try to railroad regulators in the US into accepting their view of the internet future, the UK should take a stand and push back against a splitting the web in two. The best future for the web is one where the "public internet" remains simply the internet.

“If we don't kick up a fuss about fair treatment of data, we'll get even more barmy proposals like making the BBC pay for iPlayer traffic.”

Meet the Six Million Dollar iPhone

Posted: 15 Aug 2010 04:20 AM PDT

Here’s a bit of fun for a wet Sunday afternoon… How much is your iPhone 4 worth? I ask, because my iPhone 4 started doing something odd this morning… a curious software bug has turned it into the Six Million Dollar iPhone, complete with sci-fi sound effects. See the video of its screwy sound after the break – it’s easily the most entertaining mobile glitch I’ve seen. Have you got a better one?

Sure, resetting my iPhone 4 will almost certainly correct whatever iOS 4 glitch has made my sound go all wonky, making it sound like Steve Austin on a dash to the shops, but where’s the fun in that? As we speak, I’m miming slow-mo jogging around the living room, iPhone 4 and juddery sound effects in-hand.

Shout up if you’ve had similar iPhone quirkiness, an Android go bananas in your pocket, or a BlackBerry that got drunk on power and started acting up. Comments open as usual below, and if you’re after more tech to liven up a Sunday, check out our week in gadget photos.

Video of the week: Nokia Box teases mystery reveal

Posted: 15 Aug 2010 01:00 AM PDT

Nokia has whipped up a stirring of publicity (yes, we know we’re adding to it by posting this) by sending bloggers a mystery package hinting at an event set to go down on 18th August. It’s all very strange. But what’s inside the box? Take a peep at the video after the break and see for yourself, in our video of the week.

The box itself has the name of a city along with a #NokiaBox hash tag, while inside is a USB stick, that once plugged into a computer reveals a short teaser hinting at a reveal that appears to be something messaging related.

As PR stunts go this is perhaps one of the more intriguing ones. Will it be Nokia’s next big thing, or a damp squib?

We’re used to seeing things like this in the past. Just ask Electricpig editor, James Holland, who was quite scathing about the PR stunt in his weekly opinion piece – ‘Hey Nokia! The best products don’t need a hashtag‘, explaining why Nokia, of all companies shouldn’t feel the need to resort to such promotional gimmicks. What do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

In the meantime check out the video below to see what all the fuss is about.