There were many trailers for upcoming games showcased at this year's E3, but none surprised the audience as much as the new Mortal Kombat trailer. The Mortal Kombat franchise has spanned a multitude of consoles and styles, and this upcoming game is recognised as the ninth main addition to the series.

Recent additions to the franchise have been met with criticism, as the Mortal Kombat titles never really stood up to competition posed by games such as Tekken and Street Fighter, but feedback from this latest trailer is quite positive. The 3D arena has been eschewed in favour of the traditional 2D battles, a trend that is becoming increasingly popular in current beat em ups. However, as with Street Fighter 4, the characters remain fully rendered in 3D, and the graphics are already looking amazing.

PlayStation 3 120 GB

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The new Mortal Kombat is marketed as bringing the franchise back to its controversial roots, and so a high emphasis on blood and gore is taking place. Traditional fatalities are back and more violent than ever judging by those showcased, and the new 'x ray' attacks are particularly gruesome. These involve the camera swinging into close up mode and the action slowing down to reveal the internal damage dealt with various attacks. Bones shatter and muscles tear as the full extent of internal injuries are revealed. It is a shocking yet innovative display.

After years of being stuck labelled as a mediocre franchise, many are whispering (and hoping) that Mortal Kombat might return to its former mastery. The trailers we have seen so far are certainly pointing Mortal Kombat in the right direction.

The 'Westerns' genre has been a difficult act to sell in the gaming world, most games based on the period flunk dramatically. However, Rocksteady's latest title, Red Dead Redemption, has won almost universal acclaim from critics and players alike. It is being hailed as the complete Western experience in videogaming.

Red Dead Redemption

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Red Dead Redemption is a sandbox game, which means you inhabit an open world and are largely free to explore it at your leisure. The storyline follows John Marston, a former outlaw who is blackmailed by the government to hunt down his former gang members and spread further law and order throughout the frontier.

Aside from the main plot, there is plenty for players to do. Gamers can hunt for food, play games of poker, take additional jobs and join stakeouts, to name but a few. The title also incorporates a morality system similar to such games as Fable, wherein your deeds will effect your fame and cause strangers to act accordingly. Red Dead Redemption makes extensive use of period accurate weapons and even different breeds of horses. The authenticity of the game is what has earned it such high praise.

Open world games are becoming well loved within the gaming community, and with Red Dead Redemption it's clear to see why. Players can immerse themselves in a vast and interactive world, free to play exactly as they see fit. Add in exciting gunplay and a bristling storyline, and you're set to join in the praise of Red Dead Redemption.

At long last, this week sees the release of God of War 3, the Playstation 3 exclusive which has been three years in the making. Continuing the vastly popular franchise from the Playstation 2, this is the first time we'll witness Kratos' adventures on a next gen console. Suffice to say, the wait has been well worth it.

The God of War franchise has always been a byword for action adventure mastery, and this title returns to show the rest how it's done. We join Kratos just where the last game left off, scaling Mount Olympus itself to lay siege to the remaining Gods that betrayed him. This gives rise to a number of new gameplay possibilities.

God of War 3 benefits from a dynamic camera, swinging and looping to follow Kratos in a stark contrast to the fixed camera of previous installments. The ascent of Mount Olympus also allows for some breathtaking gameplay elements, including flying high on wind pockets or battling Titans over sheer drops.

God of War III

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Graphically, God of War 3 is stunning. The character details are highly developed, right down to skin pores. The diverse environments offer a rich display of creativity, from the domain of the Gods to the depths of Hell. The gameplay continues to set the standard, with Kratos gaining access to an impressive array of new weapons, all of which will play a strategic part in your varied battles.

It was almost a forgone conclusion, but God of War 3 is an amazing title. Every possible facet of what makes a game great is rolled into one; epic storyline, amazing graphics and engaging gameplay. The franchise continues to blow all competition out of the water, and if you own a Playstation 3 you simply must check it out!

The new AVP videogame is out after several poor attempts at Alien, Predator and AVP games, begging the question have producers Rebellion finally created a videogame to satisfy the hardcore AVP fans?

Aliens Vs. Predator Hunter Edition

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The answer in brief is yes. Released for Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Games for Windows the new AVP videogame contains three campaigns, allowing the player to control the hunter, survivor or prey. Starting on the Coloniel Marines campaign, you begin as the rookie of the team on a small spacecraft that witnesses a gigantic Predator ship obliterate your mothership. Of course the only option available is for your vessel to land on an undisclosed planet.

The next cutscene features your character waking up after blacking out from the drop, and being told by Tequila (closely resembling Vasquez from Aliens) that this mission will become a "bug hunt". The next few stages are just for the player to get to grips with the controls, which will be familiar to most FPS players. Players will be fending off hordes of xenomorphs whilst waiting for an elevator to bring you to safety.

It's during this instance players will notice how impressive the lighting of the new Aliens vs. Predator is; was that a vent falling off? or was it a xenomorph on the ceiling? The answer is that you will not know until it may be too late! Lighting has been used to genius effect in creating tense and unsure gameplay. The weapons look and sound authentic to the Alien films.

If the Marines campaign is the closest to an FPS as possible in this AVP videogame, then the Aliens campaign is the furthest away from that. The scene opens with a xenomorph breeding laboratory with test subjects being harvested for their bioweapons research. However your Alien is different, as you decide to make your escape through your surrogate parent's throat, this indicates you're a more intelligent species of Alien. A power failure gives you the perfect chance to make your escape. Mission objectives are given to you telepathically from the Alien Queen, and your Alien itself is a living weapon, armed with razor tipped tail. Alien play style favours stealth and surprise attacks from the shadows, and it is the most versatile of the combatants.

The Predator campaign is a mix of the Marine and Alien campaigns. Being a Predator you rely heavily on your advanced technology and use of stealth to eliminate your prey. The predator campaign in this AVP videogame is to locate and retrieve the bodies of several "youngbloods"; Predators that have gone missing. The Predator will be the favourite of the three campaigns, due to all its weaponry and utterly gruesome steath kills.

Overall, the new AVP videogame will satisfy the hardcore fans as it remains faithful to both the Alien and Predator films. The graphics could have been improved slightly but the lighting and sound effects far make up for any visual gripes. Combining these elements with an excellent multiplayer mode has created the best AVP videogame to date.

The Star Ocean franchise has been around for a long time now, and remains a quietly successful alternative to the bigger JRPGs out there. Last year, the Xbox 360 was treated to the latest installment in the series; Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope. The game was highly regarded, but a Playstation counterpart was nowhere to be seen. Now, at last, gamers can pick up Playstation 3's Star Ocean.

The release of this title is not a straight port, but rather is titled the 'international' edition, and features some minor extras. Firstly, the original Japanese voice track has been added as an option. This is a welcome feature for those who prefer their JRPGs with a little more authenticity. Also, players can toggle the HUD display to reveal the original Japanese artwork for characters. Not a massive extra, but welcome nonetheless.

Onto the game itself, and Playstation 3's Star Ocean will not disappoint. The game builds on the combat system of previous entries in the series, offering a simple yet fun attack approach which is systematically levelled up as time goes on. New features like the Rush gauge add a new spin to the combat, rewarding quick handed players with further benefits.

The storyline that runs throughout Playstation 3's Star Ocean is suitably grand, as one would expect from developers Square Enix. A great feature is the optional Private Actions, which allows players to interact between their characters to gain a deeper sense of character development. This is not integral to the storyline, but is great for those wanting to fully immerse themselves with the characters.

It may have taken a while, but Playstation 3's Star Ocean is definitely worth the wait. The visuals, whilst maybe not up to Final Fantasy standards, are still beautiful and the storyline will reward you the more you put into it. Any fans of the genre should definitely look into this great title.

The videogame industry, just like any other industry, is a highly competitive arena. Major consoles and developers are constantly striving to promote their own goods and propel their products ahead of the competition. One way to forge ahead in this respect is by securing exclusive products which aren't available on other consoles. These games are often so sought after that in some extreme cases fans may buy a console just to play a certain game. Some Playstation 3 exclusives have just that power.

It's true to say that Playstation 3 exclusives have suffered a little lately. Their competition, Microsoft's Xbox 360, have successfully wrestled a few Playstation exclusives from Sony and won the right to host them on their own console aswell. The high profile example here would be Final Fantasy XIII, which both overjoyed Xbox fans but seriously annoyed Playstation owners. Others have gone before aswell, including Metal Gear, Tekken 6 and Tomb Raider Underworld to name a few.

But PS gamers shouldn't be too angry, they still have a host of brilliant Playstation 3 exclusives to enjoy. Little Big Planet, despite being released years ago, is still a massive hit and continues to generate custom through PS Store extras. The Ratchet and Clank series remains a much sought after exclusive too, along with Uncharted, which is being hailed as one of the best new series in gaming history.

Excitement is also building for a range of upcoming Playstation 3 exclusives aswell. Heavy Rain, the innovative new 'interactive movie' is exclusive to this console, along with lauded RPG White Knight Chronicles. And of course, who could forget the heavy hitter himself- Kratos. Yes, God of War 3 returns to our screens soon- only on Playstation 3.

Plenty to get excited about then. Sony still retains a number of brilliant exclusives, and the Playstation 3 remains arguably the most successful and technically proficient next gen console. Playstation 3 exclusives are employed to reflect the genius and power of the console itself- and few can argue with the results.

One game that is getting a massive degree of attention currently is Playstation 3's Heavy Rain. Released next month, this title is undeniably unique among its competition in the entertainment industry. While gamers are used to seeing the standard genres dolled up and revisited, Heavy Rain is a game which almost evades conventional genre.

Playstation 3's Heavy Rain is surely not a game in the standard sense. Explained most easily as a kind of 'interactive film', the game plays around a series of events which are changed or impacted by gamer choices or input. Now, we have seen this kind of game before, like in old entries such as Fahrenheit, but never before has it been attempted in such scope.

Participants will control all aspects, from mundane tasks to rip-roaring road chases. One section even tasks gamers with applying a female character's makeup. Everything in Playstation 3's Heavy Rain is interactive down to awesome detail. As such, the game offers massive replay worth and various endings.

The sixaxis pad is also used to great effect in this game, replicating the circumstances onscreen to a great extent. Terrifying scenarios like an unexpected assault will see the controller vibrate and the buttons confuse themselves to reflect genuine panic. Playstation 3's Heavy Rain helps you feel like you're actually in the game, which is what most games aspire to do.

No doubt Heavy Rain will split audiences. The pace is glacial at times and the lack of continual action will grate on players more used to typical games. On the other hand, it is a bold venture into a new world of entertainment and may actually pave the road for more like it in the future. Playstation 3's Heavy Rain will doubtless offer many debating points when it is unleashed!

Since its early beta days, Playstation Home has grown into a flourishing community of players. Generally described as a kind of huge, interactive 'Sims' interface, Playstation Home permits you to interact with fellow users across the world through a digital avatar. Players can chat, play games and watch interactive trailers and promotions. In addition, the emergent trend of Playstation Home exclusives is bringing in droves of fresh gamers.

Playstation Home exclusives can comprise of different features, including special game-based clothes or skins, reward based trophies and mini-games. Many PS3 titles use the trophy system, bestowing them upon users for passing certain challenges or unlocking specific things across the game. These trophies are Playstation Home exclusives and are viewed digitally in your 'space' ; so if you invite a fellow player into your space they'll be able to see your gaming perfection!

In order to promote their titles, many games producers create Playstation Home exclusives ahead of release to gather interest in their titles. These can include promotions, short demos or even exclusive skins and clothes primarily based on the title itself. As an example, ahead of the release of Street Fighter 4, Capcom made Ryu and Ken garments as special Playstation Home exclusives, available to purchase through the clothing stores.

By winning or unlocking specific trophies, Playstation Home exclusives will be accessible to you. By completing arcade battle in Tekken 6, users unlock a great cupboard for home space- in the style of a Tekken arcade machine! Just by owning Batman: Arkham Asylum on the PS3, you can unlock an exclusive Batcave area for you to visit whilst online!

The list of Playstation Home exclusives is almost endless, with loads of quality content being added all of the time. It is a neat way to widen the attractiveness of both the PS3 and the titles you will be playing on it, so boot up now and find out just what's on offer!