#Win One of Three Copies of Rayman Legends for the XBox 360

Rayman Legends is the newest title in the Rayman series from Ubisoft.  Following Rayman Origins, our heroes take a 100-year nap, allowing nightmares to infest the Glade of Dreams. Once Rayman awakes from this mysterious sleep, he must set off on a new adventure with his friends to restore order in the universe.

Rayman, Barbara, Globox, and the Teensies are off wandering through an enchanted forest when they discover a mysterious tent filled with a series of captivating paintings. As they look more closely, they notice each painting seems to tell the story of a mythical world. While focusing on a painting that shows a medieval land, they are suddenly sucked into the painting, entering the world, and the adventure begins. The gang must run, jump and fight their way through each world to save the day and discover the secrets of every legendary painting.

Key Features

• 4-Player Co-op Gameplay: up to 4 players can play at once.
• Online Challenges: Connect with your friends through a variety of challenges that will test your skill and speed. Check the leaderboards to see where you rank around the world.
• Rayman Rocks!: Jump to the beat of a drum, punch to the bass line, even zip-line during a guitar sustain. Timing and rhythm are the key to beat these maps set to music. See if you have what it takes to become a Platforming Hero.
• 3D Boss Battles: The bosses have a big advantage over Rayman’s gang… an extra dimension!  Dragons and other epic creatures can attack from all angles, so you’ll have to be on top of your game to defeat them.

• UbiArt Engine Advancements: The UbiArt engine has expanded its abilities to now include 3D gameplay elements, a new lighting design, and a new rendering system which take Rayman’s award-winning graphics to the next level.
• The Award-Winning Team Is Back: The legendary team of decorated artists, designers and composers are teaming up again to create new worlds, new characters and a new soundtrack.

For your chance to win 1 of 3 copies of Rayman Legends for the XBox 360 simply fill out the Rafflecopter entry form below. where you can gain up to five entries in this giveaway.  Ends Thursday 19th November at 11.59pm.

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Win competitions at ThePrizeFinder.com

Smurfs 2 on the PS3

The Smurfs 2 is an Action-Adventure Platformer game from Ubisoft that follows the thrilling story of the second movie of the Smurfs. Players will take control of their favorite true blue heroes to succeed on their quest to rescue Smurfette from the evil Gargamel, immersing themselves in enchanting and interactive environments along the way. The Smurfs have to use all their skills to save the day.

Key Features:

Experience the Smurfs adventure just like they do in the movie whilst playing through 6 different worlds: Smurf Village, New York City, Spooky Woods, Mountains, Tropics and Paris.

Defeat 6 different boss battles including Gargamel, Azrael and the Naughties.

Play cooperatively with up to 4 players with 9 different playable Smurfs (4 starters and 5 unlockables) with one special ability per character including Freeze Potion, Super Pose, Exploding Gifts, Super Jump and Magical Floating.

Collect over 20 different Smurfs while succeeding in the different levels and take them to your Smurf Village HUB.

We were sent a PS3 copy of Smurfs 2 for the purpose of this review. Smurfette has been Smurfnapped by Gargamel and his new creations, The Naughties.  The friendly forest animals have been turned evil and the Smurfs have to bravely venture out from the Smurf Village using magic portals!  This game has instant appeal and 4 year old Freddy was able to navigate his chosen Smurf through the early levels, collecting berries, finding coins, freeing animals and using the special abilities.  It starts relatively easily and as the characters don't die (they just lose their berries if they have them), youngsters can progress without becoming too frustrated.

There are mini challenges to complete on each level which keeps the game play fun.  You have to complete each stage with a certain number of berries or free a certain number of animals etc. which makes it fun to go in and replay the levels to complete the challenges.  Finding coins helps to unlock the new Smurf characters, each with their own skills.  Different Smurfs will be able to do certain parts of each level, so to complete the game fully, players will have to go in again with their new characters.  It makes the longevity of the game better and gives young players a chance to replay early levels and hone their skills for the higher levels.

The game looks great and the music and dialogue is fun and entertaining.  The characters are very true to their movie counterparts and Freddy enjoyed spotting Papa, Smurfette, Brains, Clumsy, Vanity and the other Smurfs that he recognised from the first movie.

I really liked the 2D style gameplay as the big epic 3D games are just too difficult for myself and Freddy to navigate. It is not a multi-player drop-in/out game which is a shame as it would have made it easier for us to support Freddy when necessary and leave him to play independently at other times.  But saying that it's nice to play a good old co-op game together.

We are all really enjoying this game.  So far it is simple, straightforward and not overly complicated making it great for all ages.  The cut scenes are very sweet, telling the story of the game. They comprise of static pictures with narration in a storytelling mode and Freddy really enjoys them!

Pro-gamers will undoubtedly be able to complete the game very quickly and may find the gameplay too simplistic, but for kids, smurf fans and people like me who just want some light-hearted gaming fun, Smurfs 2 is a nice movie tie-in.

It is available now at Amazon and currently retails for £23.  Also available on XBox 360, DS, Wii and Wii U.

Wizarding With Harry Potter

The Interactive Harry Potter Game for the XBox 360 Kinect

The all-new Harry Potter for Kinect video game exclusively on KINECT™ for Xbox 360® from Warner Bros allows players to experience Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the wizarding world like never before!  Through the innovative KINECT capability, each player can scan their face to create a wizard avatar in their likeness – and then play as their avatar in the game. Using controller-free and voice recognition technology available only on KINECT, players will attend Hogwarts, interact with professors, students and friends, call out spells to cast against opponents, brew potions, and even fly as they race on broomsticks to be the first to catch the Golden Snitch in a Quidditch match.

GAME FEATURES:

• For the first time, create a witch or wizard character in your likeness that will become part of the gameplay through KINECT’s scanning technology.
• Experience unforgettable moments from all eight films -- from having your wand choose you at Ollivanders and being Sorted as a first-year student at Hogwarts, to battling You-Know-Who in a climactic wizard battle.
• Cast spells at your opponents by performing the proper casting manoeuvres and calling out spell names using KINECT’s controller-free and voice recognition capabilities.
• Hone your casting, brewing and duelling skills (among others) in class to unlock even more lessons and challenge
• Challenge a friend in competitive mini-games, or join forces against a mutual opponent in co-op games.
• Jump, duck and dodge the wild branches of the Whomping Willow, swipe at annoying and sometimes dangerous pixies, repel terrifying Dementors, swim among Grindylows in the lake, and shove opponents out of the way as you soar above the Quidditch Pitch.

We were sent a copy to play and the children have been transforming themselves into wizards waving their wands and shouting out spells as they immerse themselves into the magical world of Hogwarts.  The animation is quite realistic (even a little bit scary in parts which justifies it being a PEGI 12) and is very true to the imagery of the films.

The game incorporates all eight of the films, so you can recreate your favourite magical moment from the entire Harry Potter series.  There are competitive mini-games to play and you can join forces in the co-op multiplay mode to help each other out of tricky moments.  The game includes all the main characters including the terrifying Voldemort a.k.a. He Who Must Not Be Named, who you meet in a climactic showdown.  Scary stuff!

The real fun of this game is the fact you can create your avatar in your own (similar) likeness which heralds the beginning of an exciting technological breakthrough in gaming.  The use of voice recognition is also a great addition with huge potential for the future.  I look forward to seeing where this technology takes us next!

This is a must have for Potter fans who will enjoy immersing themselves in the magical world of wizardry.  It is not designed for younger children, which is a shame as little ones would love to see themselves on screen with Harry Potter.  But older kids will thoroughly enjoy this innovative game.  The Quidditch game is proving very popular with my children, bringing Hogwart's favourite sport straight to our living room.

Available now at Amazon.co.uk and other good stockists.

Rise of the Guardians Game Review

Let your imagination soar in Rise of the Guardians: The Video Game as you play as one of the classic childhood legends, including: North (aka Santa Claus), Tooth (aka the Tooth Fairy), Bunnymund (aka the Easter Bunny), Sandman, and Jack Frost. In this action-packed adventure game, each Guardian has their own set of extraordinary abilities that will help you take on the evil spirit “Pitch” and his infectious nightmares. Along the way, you’ll unlock new powers and spellbinding special moves that will increase your character’s strength and skills throughout the game, plus you can unleash cool team attacks with your fellow heroes. With drop-in-and-out multiplayer action supporting up to four players on consoles, you and your team of Guardians will work together to protect the hopes, beliefs and imaginations of children all over the world!

FEATURES

• Join Forces with Your Favorite Characters From the Film – Play as one of the classic childhood legends from DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming feature film, Rise of the Guardians, including: North, Tooth, Bunnymund, Sandman, and Jack Frost.
• Battle Pitch in an Epic Adventure – Take on Pitch and his evil nightmares in a deep and intuitive adventure combat game that includes new original enemies designed specifically for each Guardian’s realm.
• Unique Abilities and Upgrades – Unlock power-ups such as weapon upgrades for your character. Plus, earn unique new abilities including special combat moves like a snowball attack, summoning a swarm of miniature tooth fairies, and more!
• Explore Legendary Guardian Realms – Experience the imaginative worlds from Rise of the Guardians, including; Tooth’s Palace, North’s Workshop, Bunnymund’s Warren, and many more.
• Team up in Multiplayer – Swap between any of the characters in drop-in-and-out four-player squad based multiplayer action on consoles.

We were sent a copy of the game that is out today, to try out.  The whole premise of the Rise of the Guardians really appeals to my eldest children.  The idea that these childhood figures are not quite as cute and fluffy as we would believe is a stroke of genius.  They are in fact a kickass crew prepared to battle to protect children throughout the world as long as they still believe.

The game, which is a tie-in of the Dreamworks film, features an elaborate environment to explore where you take on the enemy using special powers.  Swarms of nightmare creatures attack in waves. The fights are quite fast and furious as the legends unleash their powers to keep the nightmares away.  It is visually stunning and the characters are very much like their film counterparts.  The video cut-ins progress the story line and add to the enjoyment of the game.  The ability to switch between characters and the drop in multiplayer option adds variety for some fun sessions and adds to the replay value.

The game play is often seen from above and Kizzy, 10, sometimes lost her character in the melee that was going on, but other than that she managed the controls well.  The attack moves are easy to administer It's a good looking game that has made me really want to watch the film!  I love the edgy characters and the dark interpretation of the childhood legends.  Younger players will be able to handle this game and have fun with the familar cast. More accomplished players, who enjoy a good action/adventure game, will like it too.

Rise of the Guardians is available to purchase now from good stockists for the DS, 3DS, Wii, PS3, XBox 360 and Wii-U.  The XBox 360 game is £29.87 at Amazon.  It is a PEGI 12.

Everyone Sing Review

We love a good sing-a-long in our house.  So games that feature music always become firm favourites.  My girls enjoy grabbing the mics and singing their hearts out together, which is something that I really enjoy witnessing!

Their latest game is Everyone Sing on the XBox which we've been sent to try out.  Compatible with up to four microphones, it allows up to four players to sing together in this first multi-format singing game.  Every single one of the thirty-five hit songs in Everyone Sing has multiplayer options, which means that the more confident singers can sing as the “lead” and less confident singers can be their backing singers. Each song has a version for 2, 3 and 4 players, so you can adapt how you will sing it and no-one will be left out. With multiple party modes including Pass the Bomb, Group Mode, Know Your Song and more, you can truly have the perfect party night in with your friends and family. 

Featuring 35 hit tracks including:

• Nicki Minaj - Your Love
• The Wanted - All Time Low
• Nicole Scherzinger - Poison
• Jessie J - Nobody’s Perfect
• Michael Bublé - Haven’t Met You Yet
• The Noisettes - Don’t Upset the Rhythm
• Dusty Springfield - I Only Want to Be With You
• Taio Cruz - Come on Girl
• CeCe Peniston - Finally
• Rizzle Kicks - Down With the Trumpets
• The Saturdays - Ego
• Gina G - Ooh Ahh… Just a Little Bit
• Pussycat Dolls – Don’t Cha
• Billy Ray Cyrus – Achy Breaky Heart
• A-Ha – Take on Me
• Girls Alound - The Promise
• Marina & the Diamonds - Hollywood
• Example - Kickstarts
• Lionel Richie - All Night Long (All Night)
• Boyzone - Picture of You
• Kate Nash - Do-Wah-Doo
• Black Kids - I’m Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance

The selection of songs on the game are quite diverse with some golden oldies alongside some modern hits.  The kids really love the selection, most of which include the song's video to sing along to.  The scoring system is accurate with your notes recorded on screen.  The system for picking who is playing and what part they are singing was a bit complicated at first (as we didn't have any instruction booklet with the test disc) but  the girls worked out what to do and played away happily together, taking turns as the lead singer.  Once a song is completed you get a percentage score which lead to some healthy competition between the girls.

This game is a PEGI 12 due to some of the song lyrics being explicit (what do you expect from Nicki Minaj!)  But I had no problem with Kizzy playing it and didn't hear anything particularly inappropriate.

Everyone Sing is avaialble now from game stockists such as Amazon and Play for the Wii, XBox 360 and PS3.

Just Dance - Disney Party

My children love dance games and they also love Disney, so the release of Just Dance - Disney Party from Ubisoft on the Wii is the perfect combination for them.  Featuring songs from much beloved Disney movies and from favourite Disney Channel TV shows, the whole family can dance along together.  We were sent a copy to try out.

The kid-friendly gameplay is suitable for even the youngest child, and Freddy who is 3 absolutely loved dancing to the familiar songs.  The talented youngsters on screen lead the way, as players copy their moves to score points.  The choreography is fun and the backgrounds taken from the shows or films are colourful and appealing.

Key Features

• 25 songs including hits from Disney Channel’s hottest shows and songs from beloved Disney Movie Classics.
  • Enjoy songs from the most popular Disney Channel shows: Shake It Up, Hannah Montana, A.N.T. Farm, Jessie, Wizards of Waverly Place, Camp Rock, Phineas and Ferb, High School Musical and Good Luck Charlie.
  • And hits from the Disney Movie classics that the whole family know and love: Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Tangled, Aristocats, Mary Poppins, Lilo & Stitch, Tinker Bell, Enchanted, The Muppets and Bolt.
• Brand new choreographies including all new duets.
• Disney universe brought to life with immersive visual effects and environments from the TV shows and movies while you are dancing.
• Family Fun and Party Fun
• Parents Corner

We love the selection of songs as it features some theme tunes from current favourite shows like Good Luck Charlie, as well as some good old classics such as The Bear Necessities and Everybody Wants To Be A Cat.  Having the Disney backgrounds to the dances is a really nice feature, immersing my little dancers into the wonderful world of Disney! It's such a familiar and comforting theme making the children instantly drawn to the game.

The choreography is not too complicated and is always full of fun moves that the kids love doing.  I really like the lyrics appearing onscreen allowing a sing-a-long element to the game in addition to the dancing.  My only reservation is that I'm not sure if I particularly like the onscreen, dancing real life children as much as the computer generated avatars in the adult versions of Just Dance games, but they are very smiley and friendly looking, and Freddy liked them and could relate to them.

There is a parental section where you can custom playlists, monitor usage and even set up a non-stop shuffle mode to keep the kids dancing without having to keep manually picking tracks for them.  It's a very useful tool if you want your little ones kept occupied for a while to let you get on with something uninterrupted!  It's great to get the little ones up and active and having fun.

The game, which has a PEGI of 3, is available now on Wii and XBox 360 Kinect at stockists such as Amazon and Play.  It will be a great Christmas gift for the little ones and will allow the whole family to indulge in some after-dinner Disney dancing!  A perfect way to wear off the Christmas Pud!!

Madagascar 3: The Video Game

Madagascar 3 Europe's Most Wanted

Fans of Gloria, Melman, Alex, Marty, King Julien and the Penguins are in for a real treat with the release of the new Dreamworks Madagascar 3 video game due for release in October.  Available for the Wii, 3DS, DS, XBox 360 and PS3, you can enjoy this new game whatever your preferred platform.

Based on the new upcoming animated film, Madagascar 3: The Video Game puts players in the role of their favourite characters in a new and original adventure.  The gang travel through Europe with a travelling circus, trying to make their way back to New York by putting on the show of their lives!

The game has a Story Mode and a Circus Mode with mini games.  The Circus Mode has become a big favourite with us because all the family can join in.  There are games based on the jaw-droppingly skillful acrobatic acts of the big top as well as games based on jobs like ticket sales and selling snacks.  There are laughs a plenty as Mason and Phil the monkeys throw fruit at the audience, and seeing Gloria on the tightrope  is also very entertaining.  The mini games are mostly very easy to control (except the trapeze game which none of us can yet master) and are quick so it's easy to take turns, keeping all the children happy.  You also don't lose your life if you get it wrong so it isn't frustrating to younger kids ... if you get something wrong your character will get splatted with bananas or King Julien will make a comment, but you get to continue the game.  I like that aspect of this mode.  The games really are fun and the circus theme is very appealing.

The Story Mode involves carrying out a series of missions in a drop-in two person action multiplayer game.  The two player mode is in split screen.   Playing as your favourite character and using their special abilities, you are set free in the city.  You can jump, roar, kick, smash and sprint your way across Europe on a brand new adventure, performing publicity stunts on famous landmarks in a bid to get back to New York while avoiding animal control.  We did find this mode a bit tricky at first and quite frustrating in parts.  I'm sure that experienced gamers would have no trouble navigating the maps and using the right character to achieve certain objectives, but playing with a 3 year old and a 9 year old proved quite difficult. On our first try Gloria jumped into a well and we spent the next half an hour swimming around in circles unable to get out.  However the close up of her Hippo bottom on the screen caused much hilarity!  It may take us some time to complete the story but at least the game has longevity!!  On screen prompts do help work out what needs to be done.

My children do enjoy games based on film characters and this is no exception.  The use of the animals' voices adds an element of  fun with their funny soundbites. They love taking control of Melman on the tightrope or Vitaly as he jumps through flaming hoops.  They are also working out how to navigate the story mode and which skills the animals have in order to solve problems. The game is colourful and fast paced.  The graphics are good and the controls work well.

It is a definite must have for Madagascar fans, and everyone will enjoy the fun of the circus theme.

It is released on October 12th and is available to pre-order now from Amazon and other video game retailers.

Rayman Origins for the XBox 360

Since we got our XBox 360, I have been so impressed with the great selection of games available.  The children are really enjoying testing out titles from Ubisoft and the latest game was met with huge excitement.  The release of Rayman Origins hails the resurrection of a nineties gaming great.  The return of this platforming legend was met with nostalgic whoops of joy from my 15 year old who was brought up on the delights of the strangely fun character and his 2D adventures.

The game designers have returned to their roots reproducing the 2D side scrolling platform adventure in glorious high definition, with amazing artistry and awesome animation for a new gaming generation.  The gameplay is smooth and the landscape is captivating and full of whimsy.  The soundtrack to the game is full of quirky sound effects that add to the fun.  You can't help but grin.

The action is varied and in parts quite challenging, but it is non-stop, quite crazy and seriously entertaining.  There are over 60 levels, many of which can be revisited to discover new paths and secrets.  You can play solo or enjoy a four player co-op experience (but as we only have one controller we could only play individually taking it in turns to control the characters through the rich environment.)  The jump in/out co-op games allow other players to join in without affecting the game's progress.  Very useful if a youngster gets stuck and needs a helping hand.

The game sees you helping Rayman and his friends as they try to restore peace to the Glade of Dreams and kick the Darktoons out.  Will the hilarious heroes save their homeland?

With epic bosses to defeat, the end of level challenges test your gaming skills to the max.  Hand eye, co-ordination and speed are tested.  It was great to see Ella and her dad enjoying this classic platform game together again!  It will keep them occupied for quite a while!

I really loved the attention to detail that has been lovingly included in Rayman Origins.  Collecting Lums, Electoons and other items makes non-stop fun. The 100+ characters are all quirky and madcap. The younger children loved watching the game in play.  It really is like a sumptuous cartoon.  I love games like this because 2 year old Freddy is happy to watch it rather than demanding the TV's return to CBeebies!

Rayman Origins is available for Wii, PS3 and XBox.  The XBox version is currently £34.69.  Whether you are filled with Rayman nostalgia, or if you are a newcomer to this classic platformer, Rayman Origins is a great buy and you will not be disappointed!

Happy Feet Two on the XBox 360

The latest game that my kids have been playing is Happy Feet Two from Warner Brothers Games, a musical, adventure for all the family. The gorgeous graphics portray the whimsical world of Antarctica beautifully, and the penguin characters are really cute and their dance movements are fun.  It is visually really impressive and very true to the movie.

New dangers are threatening the Penguin Nation and everyone has to work and dance together to save the penguins from extinction.  Players use dance moves to collect other penguins into their group, stun their enemies with their moves and manipulate their environment to solve puzzles.  The first level walks you through all the elements of the game, practising the moves needed as you collect notes.  The dance moves are great and had the kids giggling...especially the way the penguins jumped up onto the steps!   As you progress you use spins, jumps and other moves to bash through rocks and move items around.  Much of the game is based on hitting rhythms using the buttons on the controller.  There is also some racing as the penguin slides across ice and 'flies' through the air.

Playing as Mumble you get to recruit other penguins to join your adventure, tap to the beat and get into the rhythm.  It is a beat bumping, feet thumping, move busting game featuring original music.  You get to unlock new songs as you progress through the game.

Happy Feet Two can be played on 3D which is as yet not a feature we can test, although my husband keeps trying to convince me that we need a 3D TV.  So at some point (if he gets his way) I might be embarking on 3D gaming!  It is definitely the future of entertainment.

So far the game doesn't have much of a storyline.  However, Kizzy seems quite happy dancing her way through the levels collecting notes and recruiting various penguins into her troop!  The game controls well making it easy to walk through the environment so younger children can definitely have a go and make the penguins dance, spin and slide, which they will enjoy.  It is quite cute and the penguins are fuzzy little fellas who boogie for fun but  I hope the gameplay becomes a bit more involved with more challenging puzzles in later levels because I can see pressing buttons on the beat and sliding on the ice may wear a bit thin.



Fans of Happy Feet will enjoy this game, which is available in all formats.  We were sent it for our XBox 360 which retails at £34.99.  I would have loved a Kinect compatible feature which would have worked well with the dancing element of the game and got the kids up and dancing with Mumble rather than just controlling him by pressing buttons.  It is for 1 or 2 players with a 2 player co-op mode where you can work together.

Overall, I like that this game is suitable for the very youngest gamer.  The first level is easy enough for them to handle and enjoy, especially as you can make the penguins dance around freely.  The music is fun and the scenery is lovely.  Parents and kids alike will enjoy this game.  However, I think the game play seems a little limited so it may not keep the more hardcore gamers entertained for too long.  It's definitely a family game played for fun and laughs!