I think I’ve found my new favourite lifestyle photography shot. There is just so much that is so bad and yet so good in the above pic.
There’s the obvious disconnect between the grind the kid is performing and the one in the screenshot Activision has cunningly photoshopped onto the television.
There’s the paralysed expressions of faux excitement on the faces of the kid’s family.
And of course there is the complete absence of a console anywhere on or in the entertainment unit.
So yes, the much-maligned Tony Hawk: Ride is now responsible for my favourite ever piece of games lifestyle photography. Thank you Activision, now please don’t make another one, OK?
Also out this week: Final Fantasy XIII and Yakuza 3, two very different and yet very Japanese games. One is a dumb beat ’em up set in an endlessly fascinating world. The other a game of smart tactical combat set in an excruciatingly dull world. Oh, and one of them is my pick for the week.
What are you picking up this week?
New releases for the w/c March 8:
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (PS3)
What Is It? The same over-the-top military shooter PC and 360 owners were playing last week.
Should You Care? Again, if you’re sick of Modern Warfare 2.
Chronicles of Mystery: Curse of the Ancient Temple (DS)
What Is It? Simple point-and-click adventure in the vein of Layton but nowhere near as clever.
Should You Care? Probably best suited to your mum or your kid sister.
Dawn Of War II: Chaos Rising (PC)
What Is It? This expansions adds a Blood Ravens campaign to Relic’s well-received tactical RTS.
Should You Care? Also found in a Gold Edition with the original game.
Fat Princess (PSP)
What Is It? It’s been nine months since this was released on PS3, what’s another week of delay for PSP owners…
Should You Care? Unless that extra week suddenly means you’ve got lots of online PSP friends!
Final Fantasy XIII (360, PS3)
What Is It? Less an RPG, more a CG movie where you engage in tactical combat to watch the next scene.
Should You Care? Thing is, though, it’s really not that different to previous FFs. Bioware/Bethesda fans should, of course, steer well clear.
Last Rebellion (PS3)
What Is It? Pretty terrible, low budget JRPG that has an intriguing combat system but little else to recommend it.
Should You Care? Hmm, that sounds rather familiar…
Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition (PC360, PS3
What Is It? Repackaging of Capcom’s ill-judged shooter includes all its – mostly excellent, to be honest – downloadable content.
Should You Care? A smart choice if you’ve not played it yet.
Sonic Classic Collection (DS)
What Is It? Quite literally a collection of Sonic 1, 2, 3 and, er… Knuckles.
Should You Care? Forget the 3D Sonic games ever happened.
Tony Hawk: Ride (360, PS3, Wii)
What Is It? I’m picturing kids lined up at the fair to pay 50 cents for a piggyback from an ageing skater.
Should You Care? Which would be more fun than this.
Welcome To Violence Pack (Wii)
What Is It? MadWorld, The Conduit and The House of the Dead: Overkill, all in one box.
Should You Care? The latter alone is worth the price admission, so you’re getting two OK-ish games for free-ish.
Yakuza 3 (PS3)
What Is It? Do you remember The Bouncer, a deeply underwhelming brawler from Square Enix in the early days of the PS2?
Should You Care? Yakuza 3 is what you thought The Bouncer was going to be.
Leave a Reply