Wii U: Super Mario 3D World

Sunday, February 9th, 2014

The flagship Super Mario game for Nintendo's Wii U is arguably a year late, released twelve months after the launch of the console, but has it been worth the wait? New suits for Mario, full 3D levels, and simultaneous multi-player action sounds good to me. But I still remember Super ...

Wii U: Need for Speed: Most Wanted

Sunday, July 28th, 2013

I like a good arcade racing game, and I really want Need for Speed: Most Wanted (MW) to be a good arcade racing game. Previously on Tiger Ears was Burnout Paradise (BP) on the Xbox 360 and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (HP) on the Wii, both with their good points ...

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit

Sunday, June 26th, 2011

I like racing games, arcade racing games specifically, Burnout 2 on the Gamecube being my current pinnacle of racing entertainment. I had high hopes for Burnout Paradise on the Xbox 360, and whilst the handling of the cars and sense of speed were great the game has serious flaws that have ...

Guitar Hero provokes a conditioned response to coloured lights

Friday, December 4th, 2009

I am continuing my drumming lessons, learing different patterns and building the strength of my timing and co-ordination. I am also still practicing on the fake plastic drums fairly regularly, although not as frequently as I did with Guitar Hero: World Tour, perhaps because of the lack of motivation ...

Rock drummers don't have 'careers'

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

I finally bash my way through to the end of Guitar Hero 5, unlocking the last venue and reaching 500 stars. The career mode is far less rewarding than in its predecessor, Guitar Hero: World Tour. Whilst it is much better not to have to play unfavoured songs ...

Eurogamer 2009

Saturday, October 31st, 2009

I head in to London for Eurogamer Expo 2009, held this year on the bank of the Thames between Tower Bridge and London Bridge. I am finding less time to play games these days, as a good MMORPG can effectively fill up any spare gaming time by itself, but ...

More Guitar Hero 5

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

I'm bashing my way through Guitar Hero 5. I jump right in to the hard difficulty drumming, bypassing the medium setting. I think my months of practice in the previous game will let me progress rapidly at the harder setting. The earlier songs in career mode are ...

Hidden treasure

Sunday, October 18th, 2009

There is a strangely familiar feeling, comfortingly nostalgic, about running around Duskwood and finding the occasional metal-bound wooden chest incongruously jutting out of the grassy northen bank. I can't quite put my finger on what is causing the sensation of déjà vu, or why it is so strong, until ...

Breaking and fixing my Guitar Hero drums

Friday, October 16th, 2009

My new, heavier drum sticks make missed registrations on the fake plastic drums less likely to occur, as each strike hits with a firmer thwack. I may be able to use lighter strokes to get the same effect, but nothing beats accentuating the right notes. It's great fun ...

Brown and sticky

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

I am missing something. I clearly won't be taken seriously playing fake plastic drums if I continue playing with sticks that have 'Guitar Hero' emblazoned on them. Everyone will know that I'm only playing a game. I need to get a proper pair of drum sticks, then ...