The iMP 2 in 1 Component AV Cable lets PSP owners hook their handhelds up to a TV set in order to make use of the larger display. The dilemma here though, is whether one really needs such a product.

The cable itself is well-made, except for the rather clunky switch near the output connectors. This allows the signal to be switched between component or composite output, depending on the type of signal one’s TV can accept. While the switch casing is large and clunky, the switch itself is impractically tiny, and could definitely have been better designed. That’s not too much of an issue though, as owners would very seldom find need to make use of the switch. The reason for this is that the cable’s composite output is of limited use, as PSP game video can only be displayed over a component connection.

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of the iMP 2 in 1 Component AV Cable.

There are few figures that enjoy such timeless adoration and fascination in gaming as the ninja. The formidable warriors of Japanese yesteryear have made appearances in countless games, and the Tenchu series has been a particularly popular and long-running outlet for ninja adventurers. Tenchu: Shadow Assassins finally brings the series to the PSP, being a somewhat scaled-down but still reasonably impressive port of the well-received Wii game.

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of Tenchu: Shadow Assassins.

The Naruto license has become a very lucrative videogame property indeed. Before 2006, the games weren’t released outside of Japan, but since then the market has been inundated with Naruto games, with several titles per year from various publishers hitting just about every current gaming platform. One of the more popular Naruto game series in the West has been the Clash of Ninja line, which began on the GameCube and worked its way to the Wii in 2007. Naruto Clash of Ninja Revolution 2 European Version is the latest entry in this series, and the second to be released for the Wii.

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of Naruto Clash of Ninja Revolution 2 European Version.

The Buzz! series finally makes its debut on the PlayStation Portable with Master Quiz. It’s a rather obvious move, considering that Buzz! has been one of Sony’s biggest franchises, especially in Europe, and was one of the cornerstones of the PS2’s highly successful campaign to capture the casual market during the previous console generation. It is, however, also a somewhat surprising move. Buzz! has always been first and foremost a social game, designed to be played by a group of friends or family members in front of the TV. With its snazzy presentation, great quiz design and buzzer controllers, it’s been offering players the closest possible experience to participating in a game show short of actually going on TV.

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of Buzz! Master Quiz.

Eidos and Crystal Dynamics have been quite generous in how they’ve continued to support Tomb Raider: Underworld through DLC. Just a few months since its release, we’ve already been gifted with two sets of additional costumes for our heroine, as well as Beneath the Ashes, a new Tomb Raider episode released as a downloadable expansion to Underworld. Hot on the heels of that first episode comes Lara’s Shadow, the second expansion. Like its predecessor, it’s exclusive to the Xbox 360 version of the game, available as a download from Xbox Live Marketplace. Unlike Beneath the Ashes, however, Lara’s Shadow refuses to play it safe.

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of Tomb Raider: Underworld - Lara’s Shadow (DLC).

Tomb Raider fans have been spoiled these last few years. Not only did Lady Croft’s seminal series see a glorious return to form after having veered so terribly off-course before, but fans were treated to no fewer than one new Tomb Raider game per year for the last three years. Lara’s re-emergence culminated in last year’s Tomb Raider: Underworld, an excellent entry sporting the same beautiful environments, fantastic puzzles and superb platforming that the series has been known for. It seems like it might be a few years before we see another Tomb Raider entry, but fortunately Crystal Dynamics and Eidos have treated fans to Tomb Raider Underworld: Beneath the Ashes.

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of Tomb Raider: Underworld - Beneath the Ashes (DLC).

Downloadable game services such as the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Arcade and WiiWare are among the most exciting additions of the current console generation. With the game arcade scene having been in decline for several years now – especially locally – one can depend on these services to provide a steady stream of arcade gaming to satiate our cravings.

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of Burn Zombie Burn!.

The boys of the Startling Developments Detective Agency are back for even more comic hijinks and apocalyptic adventures. Following on directly from Episode One, this second episode of Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness is by no means a major departure or overhaul for the budding franchise. Instead, Episode Two takes the formula established by its predecessor and polishes it to an impressive sheen.

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness - Episode Two.

For the past eleven years, Penny Arcade has entertained millions of gamers with its satirical, cynical and surreal look at not just the gaming industry, but life in general. Cementing its status as gaming’s foremost and most recognisable webcomic, Penny Arcade has branched out into not just extensive merchandising, but also charitable work and even an annual gaming convention. The latest slice in the Penny Arcade pie is Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, an episodic video game series. The first two (of presumably four) episodes are available on various platforms, including the PlayStation 3, downloadable from the PlayStation Store. So, does Penny Arcade Adventures Episode One make for engaging comic relief, or do the jokes fall flat?

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness Episode One.

The SOCOM franchise was one of the jewels in the PlayStation 2’s crown, with no fewer than three critically acclaimed and popular instalments. Widely praised for its deep, tactical gameplay, the SOCOM games were also almost solely responsible for multiplayer gaming on Sony’s last-generation wonder. Needless to say, the series’ first entry on the PlayStation 3 has been hotly anticipated. Released in North America last October, SOCOM: Confrontation sold well but met with a chilly critical reception, mostly due to the large number of technical deficiencies and bugs which, in some cases, even rendered the game unplayable.

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of SOCOM: Confrontation.

If you are anything like me, you would have been heartbroken at the end of last year’s magnificent Prince of Persia. While the game had a beautifully moving and harrowing ending that served as a fitting finale to the adventure, it was very difficult to accept that our escapade with the Prince and Elika had come to an end. Fortunately, the good people at Ubisoft Montreal Studios have heard our cries, and taken mercy upon us. Enter Epilogue, the first and hopefully not the last downloadable expansion to the Prince of Persia experience.

Epilogue is not quite what its name implies: gamers who expect a full conclusion to the main game and a complete sense of closure will not find it here. Rather, Epilogue functions as an episodic continuation of the game – almost a mini-sequel – providing an addendum to the main narrative. If there’s one thing that the developers of Epilogue cannot be accused of, it’s being lazy. Instead of churning out a rehashed chunk of the main game (as DLC is so often wont to be), Epilogue has been used as a platform for trying out some new design and gameplay ideas. In this way, Epilogue contains enough substance and novelty to be a worthy purchase for fans of the game.

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of Prince of Persia Epilogue (DLC).

Entertaining backseat passengers has long been a source of frustration for many drivers, with parents in particular having to suffer through headache-inducing choruses of “Are we there yet?” While some modern cars come with built-in DVD players to entertain those in the backseat, these can be prohibitively expensive. Fortunately, i.Sound has come to the rescue with an innovative accessory that turns the PSP into a fancy entertainment solution for backseat passengers.

Continue reading El33tonline’w review of the iSound Drive-in Cinema.

As wonderful as the PSP is, it seems as if Sony didn’t always fully consider portability when they designed it. A major concern for many PSP owners has been the state of their screen. When carrying the system around (inside one’s pocket, backpack, handbag, whatever the case may be), and taking it out whenever or wherever for some gaming time, there is always the risk of the screen getting scratched. Fortunately, HORI have introduced an ideal solution in the form of their Protective Filter.

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of the HORI Protective Filter Portable.

Having an intense gaming session rudely interrupted by a controller that runs out of battery power has brought frustration to many a PS3 owner. While an official controller charge cable comes with the console, it’s far too short, meaning that one has to stop playing in order to charge the controller. Consequently, PS3 owners have been craving a play and charge solution such as the one available to Xbox 360 owners. To this end, iMP have released their Play and Charge Cable. Plugging into the PS3’s USB ports, it’s designed to allow the PS3 controller to be charged while playing.

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of the iMP Play and Charge Cable.

Many PS3 owners will be familiar with the work of independent developer thatgamecompany from their game flOW, which was one of the earliest downloadable titles released on the PlayStation Store. An oddity that was really an “interactive experience,” with only the vaguest game-like qualities, flOW was written off by some as being little more than a tech demo for the PS3’s SixAxis motion control functionality. This wasn’t really fair, as flOw was a surprisingly relaxing and soothing experience, and while it wasn’t exactly much fun, it was engaging enough to mark thatgamecompany as an up-and-coming developer to keep an eye on.

Their latest offering, Flower, shares quite a few similarities with flOw, but is also significantly different. Unlike flOw, Flower is a “proper” game, replete with levels, a narrative structure and various distinct objectives guiding the gameplay. And what a game it is! Flower is a pleasant and unexpected surprise, a game as fresh and beautiful as its title suggests, and one which manages to set a standard that few 2009 games could reasonably be expected to match.

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of Flower.