Opinion: Eight Greatest DLCs Of This Gaming Generation

The widespread use of DLC may be one of this generation’s most controversial developments, but there’s no doubt we’ve seen some genuinely brilliant add-ons and expansions released in recent times. Mark Butler takes a look at eight DLCs he considers to be the very best. In recent years downloadable content has become synonymous with cash-grabbing, penny-pinching cynicism in the eyes of many gamers – with Day One extras, cut-content... Read More

Game News: Amazing Deals On Bethesda DLC Available Now On Xbox Live

Acclaimed add-ons for Bethesda classics Oblivion and Fallout 3 have become available at bargain bin prices on Xbox Live. From today until July 16th, the Oblivion expansion Shivering Isles is just 1200 MS Points, but even cheaper is the game’s other DLC Knights of the Nine and every single one of Fallout 3′s add-ons – The Pit, Operation Anchorage, Broken Steel, Point Lookout and Mothership Zeta – which are all available at... Read More

Opinion: Moral Choice And The Witcher 2 – Nobody Does It Better

There is much to be impressed by when experiencing fantasy epic The Witcher 2 – but Mark Butler argues that it is the game’s handling of moral choice that really sets it apart. Warning: Major Spoilers Below The other day I finally got around to completing the Enhanced Edition of The Witcher 2, and it’s fair to say that the complex RPG proved to be a memorable gaming experience for all manner of reasons – not least the sheer audacity of its... Read More

Opinion: The Last Of Us – And The Trend For Post-Apocalyptic Games

Naughty Dog’s intriguing new IP is the latest in a spate of post-apocalyptic games. Mark Butler explores the reasons behind the booming sub-genre, and asks why its themes are proving so popular with developers and gamers alike. The surprise news that Uncharted developer Naughty Dog have been hard at work on a new action-adventure title – set in a bleak, desolate world overrun with bloodthirsty, mutated humans – has undoubtedly been... Read More

Opinion: Crime Pays When It Comes To Games

Inspired by Skyrim’s dark delights, Mark Butler looks at the benefits of carrying out evil acts in games – and asks whether those afraid of getting their hands dirty are missing out on some amazing experiences. Some people really are holier than thou when it comes to games with a moral dimension. You know the kind of people I mean. Gamers who refuse to harm a hair on a single non-hostile NPCs head – even if it means they’ll... Read More

Opinion: Has Horror Taken Over Mainstream Gaming?

Many have suggested that serious horror titles have all but disappeared from today’s gaming landscape, but Mark Butler argues that horror themes and influences have come to permeate many of the medium’s biggest titles and franchises. The story of horror gaming over the past 25 years or so is not just one of evolution within the genre; it is also a tale of near-unprecedented, wider influence on the video games medium as a whole. Horror... Read More

Mad Mack: It’s Time To Embrace The MSORPG

This week disgruntled gamer Dave ‘Mack’ McConkey turns his attention to the enticing possibilities of Massive Single-Player Online RPGs – a potentially joyous new genre free from irksome brats and two-a-penny heroes.   (NB. FMV does not necessarily share Dave’s views, and accepts absolutely no responsibility for any offence his diatribes may cause.) It’s time for the third Mad Mack article, and I’ve got to be honest, if this was even... Read More