As we head into the weekend, you want something familiar that'll ease you
into it, and what better than two discs of Freddie Mercury, who would have
been 60 earlier this month, courtesy of
DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Roberts.
Also, today is your last day to enter the competition to win a copy of the
Freddie Mercury DVD!
An arcade in your own home with Xbox Live on the 360...
First up in this round-up of new games, Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged: Volume 1 (£24.99 on Xbox 360
and out now) is the first retail collection of Xbox Live Arcade games. Now you can play all the great
games available through Xbox Live -- without an Xbox Live connection!
Games include: Geometry Wars, Texas Hold'em, Outpost Kaloki, Wik: Fable of Souls, Bejeweled 2:
Deluxe and Hardwood Backgammon. Plus a FREE one-month subscription to Xbox Live Gold.
Xbox Live Arcade is fully integrated into the Xbox 360 console. You can jump straight into Xbox Live
Arcade from the Xbox 360 Dashboard, where you can download new games, access their game collection,
check out new releases and experience cool around-the-game features. With Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox
360, casual gamers will find a wide variety of game genres available for download, including
action arcade titles, coin-operated and retro classics, puzzle games, casual sports games, light
strategy titles, and card and board games.
You're in the army now with Joint Task Force on PC DVD-ROM...
The Definitive 21st Century Strategy Game has Arrived. Get your boots dirty as you lead the fight to
secure the world's most volatile regions. Bring officially licensed military technology to bear
in real-world situations, overflowing with embedded media, refugees, and deadly insurgents.
Do you have what it takes to win the war of tomorrow?
Game features include:
Features officially licensed hardware from top defense contractors.
Stay on the right side of the media to increase your reputation.
Troops gain rank and stay with you throughout the game.
Complete 20 dramatic missions across five interwoven, story-driven campaigns.
ONLINE Play together co-operatively of compete for rank as one of three factions.
Joint Task Force is out now on PC DVD-ROM for £34.99.
Updated cinema listings...
Stuck for something to do this weekend? The list of the films showing at
Manchester Showcase Cinema
can be found on this page, and won't differ much from what's on in the rest
of the country.
The new films out include: Children of Men, Dirty Sanchez, Trust The Man and
Clerks 2.
A sonic masterpiece, adventurous, exquisite and full of confidence is how
DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Roberts
described this new album, so I think it's a safe bet that he liked it
rather than recommending the CD go forth into the guille-o-time (sorry :)
Normally, the average hack'n'slash game with ninjas running around doesn't
do it for me, but in this one comes an element of stealth normally reserved
for a game of the calibre of the Hitman series, and it's that which seals
the deal on a great piece of gaming fun.
Sonja Kristina: An '80s classic re-released on CD...
Having had success in the '70s, at a time when men ruled the rock world,
with the band Curved Air, I have to say Sonja Kristina looks pretty hot on
the cover of this 1980 solo album, but will
DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Roberts
confirm whether her talent matches her looks...
Get your motor running - Formula One on Sony PS2 and PSP...
First up in this new round-up of new DVDs and Games, Formula One 06 (£39.99 on PS2 and
£34.99 on PSP) is all about speed, competition and fast-paced action. If you're a novice, switch on
the improved driver and racing aids to race for fun, or turn them off for a full length Grand Prix experience
if you're a Formula One professional.
Formula One 06 features the ability to Network Play between PlayStation 2 and PSP. This means players can
now compete online across platforms to see who the fastest Formula One 06 racer is. In other words, if you
own the PlayStation 2 version of the game and your friend owns the PSP version, you can still compete on the
same circuit.
For the first time, the experienced Studio Liverpool development team has been hard at work on both titles,
to ensure the 2006 games remain innovative and fresh.
Brand new features include:
Accessibility: Thanks to new racing aids, any gamer can pick-up and play Formula One 06 and enjoy the
exhilaration of driving a Formula One car. Equally, if you're a confirmed F1 driver, you can scale the gameplay
to make it more simulation oriented. Either way, you will have access to a Tips and Learning Centre to
constantly improve your racing skills
Cross Platform: Race online between all PlayStation platforms!
Realism: Race in this year's championship with all the 2006 drivers, cars, teams, circuits and rules!
So... take a seat, put on your racing gloves and get ready to experience the action-packed racing fun that
is Formula One 06 on PlayStation 2 and PSP.
Click on the following below for more info on each version:
PS2:
PSP:
Creepy times ahead in Forbidden Siren 2 on Sony PS2...
The story begins on the isolated island of Yamijima Island of Darkness - located a short distance from
the shores of Japan. At midnight, on one fateful night 29 years ago, an under water electric cable snaps
causing a total blackout on the island. The events of that ill-fated night result in the disappearance
of the island's inhabitants, and to this day, the horrifying incident remains shrouded in mystery.
The player begins their story in the present day, with an eclectic group of characters finding themselves
visiting Yamijima Island, each for very different reasons. The cast ranges from a magazine editor, who
comes to report on the island's past; a blind novelist and his faithful dog; a fugitive, and a fortune-teller.
During the passage to the island a raging tempest hits, turning the sea blood red. Mamoru Itsuki, the
magazine editor, is caught in the violent winds and becomes easy prey to a mysterious giant. Found washed
up on the shores of Yamijima, Mamoru meets with the young Yuri Kishida, a mysterious girl who is being
pursued by the Shibito (The Living Dead). Yuri asks Mamoru for help and the two characters form an alliance
and together, their journey begins. Yuri is played by Mai Takashi who is an up and coming actress in Japan.
Shibito body movement has changes in the sequel. Characters will not be moving like traditional zombies
but instead men will slowly move up and down. Whereas women shibitos will move forward and backward. Very
similar motion to water and they take on previous life habits. On route, they soon meet with two
Self-Defence Force soldiers who came into trouble during the storm, necessitating an emergency helicopter
landing on the island. Upon their meeting, a siren suddenly sounds, and the red tsunami lures people to
the Netherworld.
The Yamibito (People of the Dark) are a new third race of beings and add another deadly presence as the
mystery of this ill-fated island unfurls they are weak to light.
Forbidden Siren 2 is out now on Sony Playstation 2 for £29.99 and fans of the original are
surely in for a treat.
A new Wrestling double-bill on DVD...
Released on October 9th for £17.99 is a 2-disc boxset that comprises of ECW One Night Stand
2006 & the very first ECW PPV event, from 1997, the rather strangely-named Barely Legal.
The first disc includes WWE Championship Matches, World Championship Matches, Kurt Angle's Open Challenge
in which he fights Randy Orton, plus special features in the form of Battle Royal: WWE vs. ECW - Head to Head
- June 6th 2006, Post-Show Fan Comments and the opening segment of the premiere of ECW on Sci Fi.
Disc 2, Barely Legal, features the ECW World Championship Match, 3-Way Dance, ECW Grudge Match,
ECW World Television Championship Match, plus International Six-Man Tag Matches and
the ECW Tag Team Championship Match.
Following last year's CD release, Cripple Crow, brought out again on
vinyl earlier this summer, Devendra Banhart put on a gig at the Academy 2
in Manchester recently which really impressed
DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Roberts.
Take a look at the review which includes exclusive concert pictures.
A contender for Dido's singer-songwriter crown, as well as being the 'new Carole
King',
DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Roberts
rates this multi-instrumentalist Russian lady highly. Find out what makes
her so special.
Jason Statham goes up against Ray Liotta in Revovler on DVD...
This most recent film from British director Guy Ritchie came up for a lot
of flak upon its cinema release, which hit hard as it followed on from hit
action flicks Lock Stock... and Snatch, so surely with a cast
that includes Ray Liotta, Francesca Annis and Mark Strong it has something
to recommend it? Read on...
Over 3 CDs containing 45 tracks, this collection contains everything you'd
ever want from Gary Moore, from blues to rock and even including a disc of
the man playing live, as confirmed by
DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Roberts.
Stuck for something to do this weekend? The list of the films showing at
Manchester Showcase Cinema
can be found on this page, and won't differ much from what's on in the rest
of the country.
The new films out include: Night Listener, Black Dahlia, The Queen, Talldega Nights and
DOA: Dead or Alive (right).
Coming soon: Family drama from Gerald Durrell on DVD...
First up in this new round-up of forthcoming DVDs, this adaptation of the classic memoir by naturalist
and conservationist Gerald Durrell tells the story of his childhood years before the Second World War
when his mother took the family to live on Corfu. Exploring a new world of fascinating animals and
insects, the young Gerald (Darren Redmayne) also makes friends with some of the more colourful
characters on the island, including local taxi driver Spiro (Brian Blessed).
Featuring all ten episodes in the series, My Family and Other Animals is released on
September 18th for £19.99 from Second Sight Films Ltd.
For your chance to win a copy of this DVD, visit the competition page right now
from the link at the top-right of this page.
I Didn't Know You Cared - The Complete Collection on DVD...
From the books of Peter Tinniswood comes one of television's greatest comedy families, 'The Brandons'.
There's miserable pessimist Uncle Mort (Robin Bailey), his sharp-tongued sister Annie (Liz Smith)
who is constantly arguing with husband Les (John Comer), their laid-back son Carter (Stephen Rea)
and his not so laid-back fiancé Pat (Anita Carey), and finally old Uncle Stavely (Bert Palmer),
who carries his friend's ashes around his neck in a box and only enters the constant bickering with
a cry of "I 'eard that! Pardon?"
Pat is desperately trying to turn reluctant Carter into a 'young executive' and march him up the
aisle, but she's not being helped by the men of the house who feel it their duty to educate him on
the perils of marriage...
By the time I Didn't Know You Cared: The Complete Collection
is released on September 25th for £59.99, all four series will be on DVD
individually, but this is your chance to get them in one full and complete boxset from Second Sight
Films Ltd.
For your chance to win a copy of this DVD, visit the competition page right now
from the link at the top-right of this page.
A Wrestling double-bill on DVD...
First up here, and out to buy now from Silver Vision for £24.99 is Pride: Shockwave 2003,
with matches including Royce Gracie vs. Hidehiko Yoshida, Don Frye vs. Gary Goodridge,
Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Quinton Jackson vs. Ikuhisa Minowa.
Special Features include bonus matches, uncut fighter interviews, fighter intro highlights,
more interviews, a gallery, biographies and a Fight Glossary.
Next up, UFC 60: Hughes vs. Gracie DVD (£17.99, released 2nd Oct)
and the matches featured include: Matt Hughes vs. Royce Gracie, Brandon Vera vs. Assuerio Silva,
Diego Sanchez vs. John Alessio, Joe Riggs vs. Mike Swick and Alessio Sakara vs. Dean Lister.
Courtesy of
DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Roberts,
this is the second full album release from Philadelphia outfit Espers. It
sees the band opt for a darker, fuller sound while sticking with
their unique mix of psychedelic rock similar to that of Animal Collective,
Faun Fables and Devandra Banhart (look out for a gig review for the latter
online shortly).
Do you believe in reincarnation? Or once you're dead is the spirit gone
forever? Either way, Nagisa Sugiura is a young actress who's just got her
big break playing a murder victim in a new horror movie based on real-life
events, but when she starts having grisly flashbacks about something which
she never originally witnessed, are things getting a little too close to
home?
It's been five years since she last sang with Catatonia and three years since
her debut solo album, so how has life changed for the Welsh warbler now she's
shrugged off her ladette image and settled down to marriage with two children?
DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Roberts
finds out.
Stuck for something to do this weekend? The list of the films showing at
Manchester Showcase Cinema
can be found on this page, and won't differ much from what's on in the rest
of the country.
The new films out include: Beer Fest, Right At Your Door and
Pulse.
With The Rock in control as Sarge, can what was a fantastic game in its heyday
be turned into the mother of all action movies, or is it simply long past
its time? Video games-turned-movies have had a chequered past, so
DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Dan Owen
straps on his BFG and gives us the score.
Sci-fi action in a repressed world in Equilibrium on DVD...
In the future, society's falling apart because people are allowed to think
for themselves, so the best of the best, John Preston (Christian Bale),
is going to make sure that will is carried out, until he realises it's
complete nonsense and that mankind should get back to how it used to be,
but how to achieve that?
London-based Aussie Martin Craft has released his second album following
his support slot with The Magic Numbers, and as
DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Roberts
confirms, this album is like a '60s folk gem and definitely a
melody-driven beauty.
Stuck for something to do this weekend? The list of the films showing at
Manchester Showcase Cinema
can be found on this page, and won't differ much from what's on in the rest
of the country.
The new films out include: Crank, Adrift, Little Man, The Sentinel, Terkel in Trouble and
The Wicker Man (2006).
A bonanza of new Wrestling Entertainment on DVD...
First up is a selection of four new titles from Silver Vision for wrestling fans, Rites of Passage
(£15.99, out now) takes you on a journey through the explosive world of Mixed Martial Arts, from
the ritualistic fighting of Brazil to the slick productions of Japan and Hawaii. Enter the minds of
these extreme athletes as they tour the world in search of glory. Witness first hand a behind the scenes
introspective into this intense sport and learn why these modern day gladiators compete.
McMahon (£24.99, released 18th Sept) takes a look at the blurred reality between Vince McMahon,
WWE Chairman and Mr. McMahon, TV’s “boss from hell”, including candid comments from WWE Superstars and
other members of the McMahon family. All of his most infamous moments are collected, as well as his
greatest matches and rivalries.
D-Generation X (£17.99, out now) is crotch-chopping, brash, obnoxious, naked,
rule-breaking, icon, showstopper, muscular, beautiful, blood-covered, pyro blasts, main events,
obscenity-laced, declaring war, pissing everyone off, DX-rated home movies, sweet chin music.
Learn all about D-Generation X. Kids, put your parents to bed! They can't handle watching this!
Finally in this segment, Judgment Day 2006 (£17.99, released 4th Sept)
is the PPV event running for 177 minutes including the World Heavyweight Championship,
King Of The Ring Final, Cruiserweight Championship and WWE Tag Team Championship.
More regular wrestling releases on DVD...
And in this section is the latest releases for a set of ongoing titles starting with
Cage Rage 16: Critical Condition (£12.99, out now) which contains a number of matches
including Anderson Silva vs. Tony Fryklund, Dave Menne vs. Alex Reid, Paul Daley vs. Dave Strasser
and Amar Suloev vs. James Nicholl, running in total for 188 mins.
Next up, the Pride 15 & 16 Double DVD (£19.99, released 4th Sept) takes in matches
including Tokimitsu Ishizawa vs. Ryan Gracie and Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Quinton Jackson in the first
event and matches including Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Mark Coleman and Don Frye vs. Gilbert Yvel
in the second event.
And you'll know what to expect from UFC 17 & 18 Double DVD (£19.99, released 18th Sept),
which includes matches from Pete Williams vs. Mark Coleman and Dan Henderson vs. Carlos Newton in the
first event while the second contains matches including Bas Rutten vs. Kosaka Tsuyoshi and Pat
Miletich vs. Jorge Patino.
Finally, UFC 59: Reality Check (£17.99, out now) is the latest event for the
UFC World Heavyweight Title, with matches including Andrei Arlovski Vs. Tim Sylvia,
Nick Diaz Vs. Sean Sherk, Tito Ortiz Vs. Forrest Griffin and Evan Tanner Vs. Justin Levens.
It's not often a CD gets a later reissue on LP, but that's what's happened
with a brand new cover for this album from a man who, as
DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Roberts
tells us, clearly has a fondness for the '60s hippy era.
A musical trio out this week from Wienerworld Ltd on DVD...
Three new music titles are out this week and all of them deep-rooted in the '80s, definitely the best
decade for music. First up is a new 20-track live concert, Howard Jones: Live at Salt Lake City,
in which he plays classics such as New Song, Life in One Day, No-One is To Blame, You Know I Love You
Don't You and his early ballad, What Is Love?.
Next up, The Steve Morse Band: Live in Baden-Baden, Germany is brought to you from a band that formed
from the ashes of '80s "pioneering fusion ensemble" The Dixie Dregs and this DVD contains two sets broadcast
on German TV in March 1990 from cult rock/jazz guitarist Steve Morse.
Finally, if your only experience of this last band was a Top 20 hit in 1986, Radio Africa - and
that was certainly the case for me - increase your knowledge with this 20=track set at 1986 gig
Latin Quarter: Live at Full House Rock Show in Hanover, with songs including No Ordinary Return,
Sandinista, New Millionaires, Burn Again and Modern Times.
All titles are £15.99 and out now. For more info, click on the respective packshots above.
Ninety-Nine Nights on Xbox 360 - will it take you as long to complete...?
A brand new epic fantasy-action game from Microsoft for its flagship Xbox 360 console, Ninety-Nine Nights
has just been released and combines large-scale combat and exhilarating action, with over 100
different weapons and fighting styles, plus magic skills and spells. There are multiple playable
characters, each with their own dedicated plot line and you'll be able to wield armies with precision
and skill against ever-evolving virtual opponents.
From the collaboration between famed game developer Tetsuya Mizuguchi of Q Entertainment and director
SangYoun Lee of leading Korean developer Phantagram comes the Xbox 360-exclusive Ninety-Nine Nights.
The title is a fantasy action game for Xbox 360 that allows players to experience an immersive and
emotional story though the eyes of good and evil while they fight among hundreds of fellow soldiers
through an epic adventure of fantasy and action.
In a struggle between light and dark, a new world order is established after the destruction of the
mysterious power stone. Warriors are destined to battle in a place far beyond their imagination, as
a magnificent story unfolds from multiple perspectives.
In Ninety-Nine Nights, players destroy entire armies with precision and speed unlike that offered
in any other game. Each playable character will feature his or her own strengths and weaknesses as
players attempt to choose the right combination of magic and might to overcome their adversaries. With
more than 100 weapons to master and the art of several forms of magic, players enhance their attacks
and become true deadly forces amid stunning next-generation effects.
With hundreds of combatants on-screen at once, players wield their armies with precision and skill
in massive-scale battles against ever-evolving virtual opponents. Each on-screen virtual character is
a threat as opponents with unmatched AI will react and attack of their own volition, testing the
skills and fortitude of even the best gamers. Ever-changing weather, terrain and structures contribute
to the dynamic battles as well, leading to unique and surprising changes in gameplay.
In Ninety-Nine Nights, players must decide upon their path and choose the side of either good or
evil in the struggle for the Stone of Union. In the epic and emotional campaign, gamers play through
a fabulous fantasy realm with unparalleled depth. Each character has his or her dedicated plotline
that ultimately intertwines with that of a larger story. Players can experience seven views of the
story through the eyes of each character they choose to play.
The rollercoaster to hell: Final Destination 3 on DVD...
The first two movies in this series were outstanding pieces of work where
you don't know quite where and how the next death is coming from, so as
this bunch of fated teens hop on the rollercoaster to hell, does it take
you down the same path just as brilliantly?
DVDfever.co.uk reviewer Elly Roberts
is seriously impressed with this brilliant neuvo-country band that blends
Mark Knopfler's voice with bucketloads of Americana.
DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TXW32R4 32" widescreen TV
connected to either a Creative Dxr2 DVD-ROM player or Microsoft Xbox and
played through a Sony STR-DB930 amplifier.
PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
Since Nov 2005: Intel Pentium D 830 3.0Ghz, 1Gb RAM, 128Mb nVidia GeForce 6700XL, Windows XP
Since Aug 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.66Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb GeForce4 MX440 graphics, Windows XP
Since May 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.6Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb ATI Radeon 9600TX graphics, Windows XP
Since Jun 2002: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, 64Mb ATI Radeon 8500LE
Since May 2000: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, Voodoo 3 3000 AGP
