The mouse and keyboard combo is indeed the best way to play a variety of games on the PC, and -regardless of platform- the only proper way to enjoy both RTS and FPS gaming. Now, even though admittedly a gaming focused mouse can be a thing of beauty (and great price), it’s the more extravagant, more specialized stuff I’m currently interested in. And no, I’m not talking about PC gamepads. After all, you can simply grab a PlayStation-PC converter, any console controller you fancy and have all the dual analog fun you care for. What I’m talking about is the impressive specialist stuff.

So, uhm, let’s start with the Logitech G25 racing wheel complete with all its weird paraphernalia, including the six-speed shifter and metal pedals. This rather beautiful set is fully compatible with a huge variety of PC racing games, though only a few (GTR2, Test Drive, RACE and rFactor) take full advantage of the shifter and the supported 900-degree (!) steering. Impress your friends, look utterly silly, wear your driving gloves and drive on! This will be as close as you’ll ever get to some proper rally action without actually harming the environment. Or yourselves.

Saitek’s Pro Yoke Flight system, on the other hand, seems to be definitely focused on improving your flight simulator abilities. Not that you couldn’t attempt driving a virtual car with the thing mind you, but you wouldn’t want to spoil that cherished geeky feeling, would you? Oh, and lots of steel bits, 14 buttons, 3 throttle levers and a variety of other pointless stuff will make sure you’ll never get bored of the latest MS Flight Simulator, while living the excitement any Airbus pilot feels while flying for 15 hours over the Pacific.

Then again, I would rather fly a simulated F-16 and shoot things with the help of the HOTAS Cougar Joystik by Guillemot/Hercules. It might be a more expensive option, but it’s sleek, extremely realistic, sturdy, shiny and absolutely perfect for flying into any sort of aerial combat. Apparently comes with a full-sized throttle too and should also do a fine controller for your average space sim.

Not that the vibrating MaxFighter F31-U joystick wouldn’t do for a session of Wing Commander or X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter. Should save you quite a bit of desk space and definitely some of your hard-earned cash. Looks nice too.

Admittedly though, Logitech’s slightly more expensive Force 3D Pro offering is definitely the more impressive offering. Probably more versatile too, as I’ve actually seen it being used for some above average FPS fragging. Yes, despite the built-in throttle thingy and an array of 12 buttons. Oh, and it does look like something that escaped the Star Trek universe.

I’ve always thought that a DVD covering retro games would be quite an interesting concept and that’s why I was (deeply) intrigued and (quite a bit) touched when I discovered the existence of the Retro Gaming: Volume One DVD. It’s supposed to be a two hours long documentary covering 400 retro games from such consoles as the Sega Master System, the Sega MegaDrive, the Nintendo Entertainment System and even the Game Boy. Interesting, yes, but can I recommend it? Well, not yet, no, as I haven’t seen the thing yet, though I’m definitely grabbing one as soon as possible… Oh, and anyone seen it?

Apparently the vast majority of the video gaming crowds already knew this simplest of truths and would probably even call the game a classic, but I just wasn’t convinced. All it took though were a few hours of playing through this Gears of War thing and I can definitely say it’s a fun game, a great shooter and an incredibly polished offering. Everything works the way it should: the camera is always well positioned, the graphics are excellent, the controls are responsive, the enemy AI seems cunning, the sounds are terrifying and even the story manages to be vaguely amusing. Happily it doesn’t take itself too seriously either and thus avoids being as offensive as, say, the over-hyped HALO 3. Oh, and its stealthy-shooty-third-person gameplay is a nice change from the standard FPS perspective too.

On the other hand Gears of War isn’t the masterpiece the average Microsoft fanboy would have you believe, but then why trust a MS Word addict in the first place? There’s no innovation, nothing particularly inspired in the art direction nor anything to remember in a few years, unless of course you thought the Doom movie was worthy of a Palm d’Or. Truth be said, GoW is a silly popcorn flick disguised as a quality video game. Simple as that. Enjoyable as that.

It was Bullfrog and Peter Molyneux that brought the satirical business sim to the gaming masses and Theme Park was the Trojan horse they used to achieved this noblest of goals. Now, as this was the 90s and the game was released for the PC, Theme Park was in lovely 2D, was extremely easy to play and felt wildly innovative and complex, when in fact its sequel, the utterly brilliant Theme Hospital, would soon surpass it. Oddly though, the hospital-based franchise died, whereas Theme Park went on to spawn sequel after sequel and even inspired a particularly talented team to go on and come up with the excellent Rollercoaster Tycoon series.

And now, finally, Theme Park DS got released and surreal park management has been made available for some truly on the go entertainment, proving that the DS can be the platform of choice for reviving classic PC games. There is absolutely no reason I can think of not to arrange pathways, plants, rollercoasters, refreshment stands, tacky shops and weird attractions while enjoying a lovely bus ride. Or getting pushed around in the tube.

Interestingly, Theme Park DS is an almost straight port of the the very first Theme Park PC game and this means its (relevant) simplicity is well suited for handhelds. The interface has been brilliantly arranged over the console’s two screens, the stylus does a fine job of replacing the mouse, the graphics have been slightly touched-up and a few little tweaks have been added, but it essentially still is the same game. It sports the same mini-games, the same punter-robbing gameplay, the same addictive value, the same humour, the same design options and the same old minor flaws (e.g. you can’t rotate the camera). It’s the same classic properly remade.

Interested? Care to help EA understand the sheer necessity of revitalizing Theme Hospital? Want to live out your weird entertainment tycoon fantasies? Well, better grab a copy then.

If you haven’t noticed, well, this is the second part of ButtonSmasher’s top third party Wii games feature. So, uhm, in case you’ve missed the first part and think you actually care to have a quick read, then, by all means, do click here.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

Ok, it’s not the best rhythm game out there, but it definitely is the best one the Wii has to offer. Yes, despite the atrocious rendition of a certain classic punk song and the slightly unbalanced two-player mode. Just ignore the game’s minor flaws, battle the rather steep learning curve, grab your small toy guitar and click away to some truly classic tunes. On par with Wii Sports when it comes to party games.

LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga

It’s lovely, humorous, immediately accessible and the first game to (almost properly) let you swing a lightsaber with your very own Wii Remote. What’s more, being a compilation of the previous two LEGO Star Wars games that also features tons of extras, updated graphics and a few reworked levels, The Complete Saga offers amazing value for a very modest price. The kids will love it too you know.

Trauma Center: Second Opinion

Not unlike Under the Knife for the DS, Second Opinion is a unique and innovative offering casting you as a doctor in an oddly stylish soap-opera like environment. The game looks great, the Wii controls are spot on, the difficulty is almost cruel and the operations feel realistic enough to create the necessary tension. Brilliant and gory!

Scarface: The World is Yours

Scarface definitely isn’t much more than another brutal GTA clone, but being one of the rare examples of said sub-genre on the Wii and also being a game about one of Al Pacino’s best movies, it just had to make this very list. Thankfully, it’s a very solid game too, what with its excellent controls, fun gameplay, smart physics, gratuitous violence and passable graphics. Typical video game entertainment.

Dewy’s Adventure

As far as under-appreciated games out there go, Dewy’s Adventure must be the champion of the last two or so years. How very unfair, I say. Besides its fantastic graphics and lovely retro tunes, you see, this is an excellent, tough and quite innovative platform game with a few smart puzzle elements and some very interesting game mechanics. Oh, and don’t be fooled from its cute exterior, for this is a bastard to beat.

Honorable mentions

- Eledees (a.k.a. Elebits)
- Sonic and the Secret Rings
- Rayman Raving Rabbits
- Mario & Sonic at the Olympics
- Metal Slug Anthology

Seems like the Virtual Console is nigh on impossible to stop and Commodore Gaming just can’t help exploiting our -truly commendable, if I may say so- nostalgic sentiment. Want proof? Well, the announcement of downloadable Commodore 64 games for the Wii should be proof enough. Excellent retro gaming news too. And another reason to grab a Wii and stock-up thousands of them lovely Wii Points.

Truth be said, the addition of C64 games to the Virtual Console doesn’t really come as a shock, as it was something that was widely rumoured even before the Wii was launched. Then again, a rumour is so much less than a proper announcement, and even less than an announcement that actually mentions the first two games to hit the service: International Karate and Uridium. Besides, I was really starting to worry the whole idea had been abandoned. Oh, and for a change, Europe will be the first region to get Commodore 64 support.

Games will cost a hefty 500 points each and I have to say that Nintendo really has to look into a more realistic pricing structure. The average (boxed) C64 tape, you see, can be grabbed at eBay for less than the equivalent of 300 points. On the other hand, the prospect of harassing Little Computer People from the comfort of your couch should be irresistible.

Back during the days when the NES was ruling the world of video games with an iron fist, every developer was making the best games they could solely for Nintendo’s console. Actually, the thing was so popular and Nintendo so absolutely powerful, that developers were only allowed to release a set number of games per year and have said games manufactured and of course edited/censored by the almighty Nintendo. What’s more, developers weren’t allowed to make games for other consoles.

Then, happily, the 16-bit era came and Nintendo’s dictatorial methods and monopoly took a hit. And then another during the PlayStation era. And then another. And another, till everyone felt certain that quality third party support was something the company had lost forever.

Finally the Wii with its incredible popularity came along and despite the initial lack of third-party interest, the subsequent onslaught of shoddy ports and mini-game collections, it’s now more than obvious that quality non-Nintendo software for Nintendo consoles is on the rise. What follows is a two part feature on what I consider to be the best 10 such games released so far.

Resident Evil 4

RE4, though most obviously a GC/PS2 port of the peasant-zombie killing marathon and definitely not the most original of games, was the first non-Nintendo game to be released on the Wii and manage to get some stellar reviews. And rightly so. The game offers everything the excellent GameCube version did, them PS2 extra levels, updated graphics and some fantastic new controls. In a nutshell, that’s survival horror at its best.

Geometry Wars: Galaxies

A sequel to the Xbox 360 cult classic and the most enjoyable thing you can do with the Classic Controller. Not that it doesn’t support a variety of Wii-specific control schemes, mind you, but Geometry Wars: Galaxies was obviously meant to be enjoyed with Nintendo’s ridiculously precise dual analog controller. Oh, and so that you know, this is a vastly improved and greatly enriched version of the same weird Robotron-eque shmup the Xbox crowds loved. Hugely addictive and purely hardcore, though oddly accessible.

No More Heroes

Violence, style, weird humour, odd weapons, a brilliant soundtrack, smart visuals and frantic arcade action, all wrapped up in an excellent little package with a distinct -though discreet- retro feel. If you love yourself, love punk and/or love to be entertained you’ll grab this game, overlook its (very) minor flaws and love every lovably brutal moment it has to offer.

Zack & Wicki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure

The first full-blown point-and-click adventure to hit the Wii and it managed to prove the Wii Remote and the genre were always meant for each other. Quiet a feat that. Happily and despite the uninteresting story and not particularly likable characters, this is both an evolution in adventuring and a highly enjoyable old-fashioned puzzle solving point-and-clicker at the same time. Graphics are nice too.

Mercury Meltdown Revolution

I know, I know, a puzzle game doesn’t always sound that exciting, but if you miss Mercury Meltdown Revolution you’ll be missing one of the best Wii titles available. The game, you see, offers a completely intuitive interface that let’s the players immediately immerse themselves in its 150 plus levels and enjoy them brilliant physics, colourful graphics and incredibly smart puzzles. One of them easy to learn - hard to master games, then, that as an added bonus requires a sublimely balanced mix of dexterity and wits.

On to Part II… 

Console games offering hundreds of gameplay hours and favorably comparing to Diablo in terms of sheer addictiveness aren’t exactly commonplace, and that, dear readers, is just one of the reasons why Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories for the PlayStation 2 is worth your attention. Further reasons include the fact that this is one of the best and deepest strategy RPGs ever crafted, some extremely cute and aesthetically pleasing cartoon graphics, an immense variety of weapons, randomly generated levels, extreme character customization, a sleek interface and a truly loony story. Oh, and it’s easily the best Nipon Ichi creation yet.

A word of caution though before you go off buying stuff and returning to complain and moan. Disgaea 2, just like its predecessor (it’s been only slightly toned down in the complexity department), is neither for the casual gamers out there, nor for those simply looking for mindless action fun. This is a pure offering to the hardcore gods of tactical fantasy gaming and only their most ardent followers should apply, even though cases of non-RGRs falling in love with Disgaea 2 have indeed been documented. Anyway. Expect a tough, but utterly rewarding game, that has already been loved by each and every reviewer that tried it.

And it’s so much better priced than your average Nintendo DS game too! Aww, that’s so sweet of you dear Square Enix. We really appreciate it you know. And as Final Fantasy: XII Revenant Wings is an excellent game indeed, sports fantastic graphics and is the first innovative FF game in years, well, there’s absolutely no reason for us not to immediately grab a copy. Besides, how many RTS RPGs with great stories does the DS have to offer?

Now, why would I be writing a review (of sorts) for a spectacularly unremarkable 5 year old game, that was released to public apathy and less than stellar reviews? And why would I bother with a game that dared tempt the PC crowd without a proper save feature, while offering only lackluster multi-player options? Why would I, of all people, care discussing another generic FPS? Well, because I’m oddly enjoying the thing, that’s why. Shockingly have been doing so for the past 20 or so hours too!

Better though start at the beginning (tsk, tsk). Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior is -as you already know- a standard FPS set in Games Workshop’s dark and gritty sci-fi/gothic world of Warhammer 40,000, where -as you should already know- there is only war and apparently many interesting stories to be told. You, the player, assume the role of a young warrior of the Tau Empire and set out to fight for the greater good in general and, in a more specific way, against the rather fascistic Empire of Man. Actually, you get to live through the frenetic first 24 hours of your service while battling through 21 hour-long levels, essentially making this a properly real-time FPS in the strictest of senses. Interesting innit? Regardless. It still is longer than the average shooter though.

Fire Warrior also happens to be the first action game set in the Warhammer 40k universe and, frankly, this must have been why I actually chose the thing. Let me put it like this… Shooting Space Marines? Yes, please. Walking through Tau spaceships in glorious 3D? Definitely. Being a nameless grunt in a war-torn universe? Sure. Playing a lazy PS2 port on the PC? Well, uhm, not that I’m thrilled with the prospect, but guess I could put up with it.

The problems with Fire Warrior, you see, are firmly rooted in its dirty console past. The game sports an incredibly annoying auto-save/checkpoints feature that forces you to replay levels again and again (only to be killed seconds before beating them), has pretty clumsy controls, very poor AI, astonishingly few tweaking options and an obviously tacked-on online multiplayer side. Then, it doesn’t even try to add anything new to the genre and its sole innovation is a rather failed copy of HALO’s shield system. And don’t get me started on the extreme linearity of the thing or the truly archaic need to collect colour-coded keys…

On the plus side -and besides the setting- Fire Warrior does manage to do some things rather well. Or at least, well enough to help you relax, turn your brain off and enjoy many hours of frenetic shooting a la Serious Sam. You get 15 different weapons to experiment with, an impressively balanced difficulty curve, a great (for FPS standards) plot, a variety of well-presented locations, bits of horror, a couple of smart set-pieces, boss battles and tons of enemies. What’s more, there are quite a few fantastic cinematic sequences and I bloody love fantastic cinematic sequences. I am quite fond of them unlockable WH40K artwork goodies too.

So, to cut a short review shorter, should you grab a copy? Well, if you don’t mind Fire Warrior’s flaws and lack of originality, care for a simple though highly atmospheric and extremely addictive FPS to last you for a week or so, then, by all means, I think you should. After all, Warhammer 40,000 Fire Warrior is indeed dead cheap. Oh, and Warhammer 40k maniacs that can forget their miniatures for a while will definitely appreciate it too. Obvious, that.