Games Reviews

Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Secret Agent Clank, Wall-E and Space Invaders Extreme

Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Rated 5/ 5 )

Wii, Nintendo, £34.99

Super Smash Bros. Brawl is the Wii follow-up to the insanely popular GameCube best-seller Super Smash Bros. So what’s all the fuss about? Basically, this title allows you to choose your favourite characters from the Nintendo back catalogue – plus a few thrown in by Sega and Konami, too – and set them against one another in almighty scraps. Although there’s an enjoyable singleplayer campaign, where Brawl flies is in its onand off-line multiplayer, both ofwhich will see you replaying Super Smash Bros. Brawl all summer – and beyond.

Secret Agent Clank (Rated 3/ 5 )

PSP, Sony, £24.99

After years of being the bridesmaid but never thebride, Clank finally gets an outing as the hero of his own game. While the rambunctious gameplay that makes Ratchet and Clank so popular plays a part here, there’s an element of stealth that gives thisa new slant, along with some puzzles and high-speed chases. As you’d hope from a game that puts Clank in the driving seat, the range of groovy gadgets and cunning devices is mind-boggling. A fun departure for Ratchet’s Man Friday. HHH

Wall-E (Rated 2/ 5 )

PC, PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, THQ, £29.99 - £39.99

Who knew that a robot could be so cute? Disney’s Wall-E looks like a manga version of Johnny 5 and all he wants is to findsomeone to love. The latest in a long line of adorable Pixar heroes, Wall-E should be a shooinwhen it comes to being a great gaming character. However, as is so often the case, a game that has top raw materials in the form of awhole film of cool action and endearing characters manages to be uninspired and a chore to play.

Space Invaders Extreme (Rated 3/ 5 )

DS, PSP, Square Enix £19.99

It’s been 30 years since Space Invaders first wended its intergalactic way across our screens and that’s the best testament possible to both its irrefutably iconic design and its playability. Bright, simple and addictively tricky, the game still appeals after more than three decades of increasingly hi-tech titles attempting in vain to steal its thunder. Space Invaders Extreme (above), a handheld version of the arcade classic, has been gussied up with a pumping soundtrack and some swooping moves, but at its core it’s the same old game – and much the better for it.