insured

GAMES
Moto GP 3 (XBOX)
Handling on previous Moto GP
incarnations was like riding a Speedfight
100 with flat tyres, but Climax seems to
have fixed it for the best version so far.
Unlike MGP2 which offered stunt races,
arcade modes, and online play, Moto GP3
focuses on realistic presentation. You'll
quickly learn how important racing skills
are. It's not arcadey; it's not all that kind
or friendly, but for simulation racing fans
with knowledge of Moto GP, this game is
for you.
Climax has shucked any extraneous
modes from the past and focused
instead on a great set of extreme
courses, pure Sim racing and a
knockout set of online modes. You can
play with as many as 16 folks online
and though there’s a little lag, it's still
just as fast offline. It's easily the best
Moto GP yet.
Battlechasers
Wipeout Pure (PSP)
In past years, Wipeout has expanded with four sequels of
varying quality on three different consoles; while the series'
popularity peaked following the release of the first PSX sequel
Wipeout XL, it has become less and less relevant in recent years
thanks in part to a mediocre showing on the Playstation 2. It's
rather astonishing that the series has returned to help launch a
new Playstation console; what's more surprising, is just how
great it is.
This is the finest looking Wipeout title ever produced; it's also
worth mentioning that you won't find a better looking PSP title at
launch, either. The courses set outside the cities are lush; forests
adorn Blue Ridge while gamers will race through the clouds in Sol
2. Four classic tracks have also been included and the developer
has given them a virtual makeover. While I’d initially hoped to
witness a graphically superior version of Wipeout 3's amazing
Manor Top course, I’m impressed by the new Tron-esque
treatment. Presentation is key to the Wipeout series and for the
most part Pure does not disappoint.
Wipeout Pure is
one of the finest
launch titles
available for PSP.
The package
comes complete
with beautiful
visuals,
outstandingly
polished
gameplay, a
thumping score, Wi-Fi multiplayer, and the promise of additional
downloadable content in the future. New features such as Zone
mode should appeal to all fans. While a few issues keep it from
being completely flawless, there's no doubt that Pure will stun
even the most stubborn onlookers. It can be rather difficult at
times, so be wary. But players who give themselves to Wipeout
Pure will get plenty in return.
Battlechasers
MUSIC,
GAMES,
DVDs –
you’ll find
them
reviewed
here
World Snooker
Championship 2005 (PSP)
New out on the year’s hottest lifestyle
gadget is World Snooker Championship
2005, the ultimate simulation of the
great gentleman’s game. The title offers
everything, from official names,
likenesses and commentary to a neverending
stream of game modes and
even a createyour-own
player
section, making it
the finest
Snooker release
to date. With
more than 100
professional
snooker players
to push all the
way to the
Crucible as well
as other games
like Bar
Billiards, Pool
and Snooker
Plus, this game
will have you occupied well into
the new snooker season.
Clever AI motion-captured animations
and chique graphics, complemented by
great sound and stunningly accurate
gaming venues makes this an essential
purchase. Easy to pick up and
impossible to put down, make sure this
is on your lifestyle essentials list, right
next to bread and water. Matt Cross
FILMS
The Machinist
Christian Bale shed four-and-a-half
stone to become The Machinist so it
would have been a painful waste of
time and well-earned fat had this film
been completely rubbish.
Thankfully it’s not. Bale is, as always,
accomplished and effective in another
of the almost customary dark roles he
seems to attract. Jennifer Jason Leigh
is fine in support and the story is a gem
too. Director, Brad Anderson, borrows
quite heavily from cult classics such as
Fight Club and Momento but that is not
necessarily a bad thing and he gets
away with it by having more than his
fair share of original ideas.
Most refreshing of all is the simple selfeffacing
finale, rejecting the ambiguous
conclusions made famous by the films
that inspired it. There are no questions
to be answered and the twist will make
you feel guilty for all the things that
maybe you shouldn't have got away
with. Plus, show this film to your
girlfriend and she'll never diet again!
Neal B
Twisted
The brainchild of Phil ‘Battlechaser’ Littlechild is the first Britproduced
DVD to show the world how widespread the autoscooter
phenomenon actually is... Over 90 minutes of crazy-ass
scooter footage set against a suitably hip soundtrack mixed by DJ
Lloyde. With visual contributions pooled together from numerous
sources around the world (wide web) Twisted offers a veritable
continental breakfast of
stunting talent, jackass
scooter antics, sprinting,
custom scoots, galore.
Kind of like a pizza piled
high with every
conceivable topping. I
don’t mean that in a bad
way ’cos this is damned
good and the likelihood is
you’ll be popping the disc
into your DVD player more
than just once to get another taste of the action.
Where MTV's Jackass unleashed a generation of idiots willing
to go out and hurt themselves, Twisted could well be the scooter
equivalent. Thank f**k someone finally decided to get off their
arse and make a film to tell it how it really is… Essential! PR
Twisted can be purchased direct from Phil Littlechild by
emailing him at: battle.chasers@dsl.pipex.com, via eBay, or
for further details, log on to www.italjetdragster.com
18 NOVEMBER 05