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Gamer Herald - May 2008

Out of Office Message: Playing Haze

May 27th 2008 02:15
Welcome back to Gamer Herald! If you've been wondering where we've been the last few days... Or if you're angry we haven't posted the top four of the Video Game Sidekicks of All Time...

There's a good reason. We're HIGH on Nectar!

PS3 Haze Review Score
Sorry I can't come to the phone right now: I'm playing Haze!



A review copy of Haze, courtesy of our good friends at Ubisoft, arrived earlier this week, and we've battened down the hatches to work out whether or not this game is as bad as what those other sites reckon.

At Gamer Herald, you'll be pleased to know that 'home page advertising' does not affect our reviews.

If the game's good, the review and score will reflect that. It's as simple as that.

Standby for a full review of Haze, and the highly anticipated climax of our Top 10 Video Game Sidekicks.
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Top 10 Video Game Sidekicks - 10 to 5

May 22nd 2008 05:01
Gamer Herald - Top 10 Video Game Sidekicks
By Glen Atwell

Saddam Hussein video game
In his last few days on the run, Saddam tried every trick in the book to avoid capture

EVERY great video game character has a loyal, trustworthy and often hilariously funny sidekick. Gamer Herald has compiled a list of the Top 10 Video Game Sidekicks of all time, and today, unveils the first six to make the list.


But don't fret, it's not too late to have your say and influence which sidekicks will make the first four. Post a comment and let us know who you think should, or should not, round out the Top 10.



10
Name: Wakka
Game: Final Fantasy X
Platform: Playstation 2

Wakka Final Fantasy 10
Wakka: An unforgetable Final Fantasy character

In a game series that has spanned multiple roman numerals and consoles, Wakka is one Final Fantasy character that is truly unforgettable. He is the team captain of the Besaid Aurochs, the local blitzball team in Spira, and constantly uses the word 'Ya' when expressing his feelings. He enters FFX as Tidus' first friend and is very useful in early battles. Funny, charismatic and skilful, Wakka is the sidekick every game hero could do with!

Wakka final fantasy costume
Costume Nerds: Because imitation is the greatest form of flattery




9
Name: Epona
Game: The Legend of Zelda
Original Platform: Nintendo 64

Link Zelda Epona
Link and Epona: Please resist the urge to change their in-game names!

Did you know that Enya released a song called Epona? Probably not. Anyway, Epona is basically Link's left testicle in each of the titles she appears in. Epona first appeared in 1998, on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time cartridge for Nintendo 64. After her whip wounds healed, she returned to the N64 for Majora's Mask (2000) and then made the next-gen leap for the Wii launch title Twilight Princess in 2006. Gamers were allowed to change her name in Twilight Princess, but most didn't. Epona demanded that kind of respect. Anyone who renames Link to their own first name is pretty much a major twat.



8
Name: Daxter
Game: Jack and Daxter series
Original Platform: Playstation 2

Daxter sidekick Jak
Daxter has been accused of using Jak to springboard his own celebrity status

Daxter originally appeared in Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy as a sidekick of Jak. Despite appearing as what can only be described as 'a little critter', Daxter had a human-like persona and was quite humorous. Some would argue that Daxter's characterisation carried the ever-so-serious Jak through each game. It came as little surprise when Sony announced Daxter would appear in his own game, aptly titled 'Daxter' in 2006. Hmm... another sidekick using his hero as a mere springboard into the big bad world of video games. Daxter has appeared in the following games; Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, Jak II, Jak 3, Jak X: Combat Racing and Daxter.



7
Name: Clank
Game: Ratchet and Clank series
Original Platform: Playstation 2

Clank Ratchet sidekick
Clank: Proof that size doesn't matter

Did you know that Clank's serial number is B5429671? Once again, probably not. In many (video gaming) ways, Clank is very similar to Daxter, an originally unassuming sidekick that soon becomes bigger than his hero saviour. In the Ratchet and Clank series, Clank has a number of exterior modifications that give his hero many abilities. The 'Heli-Pack' allows the pair to glide, the 'Thruster Pack' allows Ratchet to strike dive and the 'Hydro-Pack' allows Ratchet to swim faster than normal. Clank's lovable sense of humour makes him one of the Top 10 Video Game Sidekicks. Clank appears in the following Ratchet and Clank games; Ratchet and Clank, Going Commando, Up Your Arsenal (great title!), Deadlocked, Size Matters, Future: Tools of Destruction, Secret Agent Clank.



6
Name: Knuckles
Game: Sonic The Hedgehog series
Original Platform: Mega Drive

Sonic Knuckles sidekick
Knuckles has aged just one year in the past 14!

Knuckles is a pubescent, testosterone fuelled teenage echidna, who was aged 15 when he made his games debut in the 1994 title Sonic The Hedgehog 3. Fourteen years later, Knuckles' official age is 16. Not bad going for an echidna in his prime! Knuckles lives on Angel Island, which, thanks to the power of the Master Emerald, hovers in the sky. He serves only to guard the Master Emerald and spends most of his time fending off attacks from Dr Robotnik (also humorously known as Dr Eggman). More recently, Knuckles appeared in the Wii title Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games, along with Sonic and Tails. He also makes a cameo appearance in Super Smash Bros Brawl.

Sonic and Knuckles game
Sonic & Knuckles: 1994 Megadrive box art that was well ahead of its time!




5
Name: Pikachu
Game: Pokemon series
Original Platform: Gameboy

Pikachu N64 pokemon console
I wish my PS3 had a Pokeball power button

If you held a photograph of Pikachu and Queen Elizabeth in front of most of the world's children, chances are they would make a cute, fuzzy noise and go ga-ga for the Chu. Forget Squirtle, Bulbasaur and even Raichu, Pikachu is the most popular Pokemon to ever grace the Earth. Ash and Pikachu combined to be a formidable team.

Pikachu costume pokemon
Alf had promised to 'spice' things up in the bedroom. Grr!


Weighing in at a mere six kilograms, Pikachu is electric-type Pokemon and stores electricity in his red-spotted cheeks. When threatened, or ordered to by Ash, the pint-sized pocket rocket fries his enemies with zaps of electricity. Pikachu is regarded as the Japanese answer to Mickey Mouse.

Orble readers - What do you think? Who should be crowned the number one video game sidekick of all time?
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WiiWare launched in Australia!

May 20th 2008 00:31
Wii prepares to conquer downloadable content market in Oz

Dr Mario WiiWare launched
Dr Mario, while not a truly new concept like other WiiWare games, has been remade with online play for Nintendo's new downloadable content service.


NINTENDO'S answer to Xbox Live Arcade, WiiWare, has launched in Australia and Europe today with an impressive line-up of downloadable games exclusive to the Nintendo Wii.

Games to launch with the service, available through the Wii Shop Channel, are:

-Lost Winds
-Star Soldier R
-Dr Mario and Germ Buster
-Toki Tori Take 2
-TV Show King
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King

Personally, I'm looking forward to taking my old-school Dr Mario skills online in the Wii Ware version, against players from around the world.

Gamer Herald's only concern is that with Virtual Console and WiiWare releases ramping up, how will Nintendo gamers be able to store so much downloadable content on just 512MB of internal memory?

Hopefully Nintendo has an answer soon.
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Grand Theft Auto IV: Album Released

May 19th 2008 00:58
The sweet sounds of GTA IV are coming to a digital download store near you

Grand Theft Auto IV album
What's better than GTA IV? A GTA IV album!

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Super Smash Bros Brawl: Release Date

May 14th 2008 12:05
Super Smash Bros Brawl to launch on 26 June

Super Smash Bros Brawl release date
Super Smash is coming to Wii in June!

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Time Crisis 4 Review

May 14th 2008 11:05
Time Crisis 4 is fun - and I'm a left hander

Time Crisis 4 Review PS3
High resolution box art within - Click if you dare!

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Left-handers 'left out' of new Time Crisis 4 game

May 13th 2008 01:30
Namco ensures left handedness is a disability once more.

g-con gun for time crisis 4 screenshot
The new G-Con light gun: right-handers only, thanks.

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New Skate It game to use Wii Balance Board

May 13th 2008 00:28
EA announces new Skate game to use Wii Balance Board

skate it! wii screenshot
Low res, low textured glory. But if the Wii Balance Board works, who cares?

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Driving fans rejoice: Formula One license in new hands!

May 12th 2008 07:28
And it's go, go, go for Codemasters

Codemasters is now developing racing games using the Formula One license.

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Wii Fit Review: can a computer make you fit?

May 12th 2008 06:43
Can you get fit playing games?

wii fit review
The Hula Hoop game is classed as an Aerobic Exercise, but lasts just one minute. Go for a run afterwards.

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Bioshock film to be directed by Gore Verbinski

May 12th 2008 00:35
The Big Daddy of films?

bioshock game becomes film
"Please turn off your mobile phones, or Big Daddy will drill a hole through your face."

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Race Driver: Grid vs Gran Turismo 5

May 11th 2008 23:29
It's all about the race

Race Driver Grid preview
Race Driver: Grid is genuine GT5 competition

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Australia's Top 10 SingStar Songs

May 11th 2008 04:36
Aussie classic tops SingStar most downloaded list

WITH more than half a million SingStar microphones in Australian homes and tens of thousands of song downloads from the SingStore, the nation's most loved tune has been revealed


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Haze Demo Review - PS3

May 11th 2008 02:56
Does Haze amaze or daze?

PS3 Haze Demo Review
Haze - Nectar of life

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Haze demo released on PS3 store

May 9th 2008 01:45
Haze demo now available from Playstation Store

Haze PS3 demo download
Haze: a Halo killer?

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GTA IV Multiplayer Patch: Hands On

May 8th 2008 10:09
Earlier in the day, Rockstar announced and released (yes, at the same time!) a patch to fix the problem-plagued Playstation 3 GTA IV multiplayer mode.

But does it work


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GTA IV Multiplayer Patch Released

May 8th 2008 06:35
Rockstar releases PS3 multiplayer patch

Grand Theft Auto IV developer Rockstar has announced a multiplayer patch to rectify the well-documented problems with Playstation 3 online play


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GTA 4 pulls 2 million on Xbox Live

May 8th 2008 01:57
OVER 2 million people have played Grand Theft Auto 4 (GTA 4) on Xbox Live since the game's launch last week.

Microsoft released its Xbox Live figures this week in a bid to show that its Xbox 360 console is still the platform of choice for gamers


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Wii Fit: First Impressions

May 7th 2008 12:57
Inhale through the nose, and exhale through the mouth

Wii Fit Hands On preview
Do not mock me, sir, by smiling and performing push-ups. Had you grimaced in pain, I'd be more convinced

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Steven Spielberg and EA launch Boom Blox for Wii

May 7th 2008 04:37
Spielberg's Wii game is ready to ship!

Wii Boom Blox Spielberg
Blox and animals - Recipe for an instant classic?

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Grand Theft Auto IV Review

May 6th 2008 10:47
Grand Theft Auto IV is the best next-gen title available, but don't believe it's bulletproof

GTA IV PS3 Review
Meet your new best friend - Niko Bellic

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Video gamin', Chopper style!

May 6th 2008 07:08
Rev up for a horse powered 360 experience in Australia

xbox 360 chopper bike
Aussies, you could win this sleek looking Xbox 360-themed Chopper

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Harvest Moon: Magical Melody Review

May 6th 2008 00:20
A rewarding, if time consuming, gaming experience

Harvest Moon Magical Melody Wii
Sooner than later, you'll have to stop horseing around and tend to the crops.

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Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09

May 5th 2008 23:29
Tiger's coach is your coach in 2009

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 PS3
The world's number one golf game will return for 2009

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GTA IV kills Playstation 3 console

May 1st 2008 02:29
UPDATE (8 MAY): Rockstar has released a patch addressing the following issues.

Read more about it here.
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