As with what you would expect from previous rock band game’s the free play option returns along with the music store and training mode, but its games story mode that brings it to life. The old formula remains where fans help you unlock more gigs, more songs and new venue’s, but with everything being made out of Lego bricks, and the signature cutesy humour that has become a major selling point for the Lego endorsed games make this a real gem.

One of the best things about this game are the rock power challenges, three’s are challenges specific to certain songs and certain venue’s in which you have to accomplish a set goal before the song ends. One especially memorable example of this is the brick ton manor rock power challenge involving Ray Parker Jr. and a number of pesky spirits.

The set list in Lego Rock Band if anything justifies Lego’s and hamonix’s ideas behind this game, it isn’t like their making it ultra easy for the kids, or even as if they have dumbed things down for them. They have made a credible title that the adults can have just as much fun with as the kids will. The only problem’s I have is that the game is basically a gigantic commercial for Lego, I mean; I know that sounds obvious with it being a Lego game. But do the notes on the fret boards have to be red, green, yellow, blue and orange Lego pieces? And do the loading screens have to give you Lego facts? (Did you know that if you laid all the Lego bricks made in one year next to each other they would cover the world 5 times!)? The last fault I have, is nothing to do with this game, I just feel that the genre of rhythm action games is becoming stagnant and a little over populated which is a shame, because this should not be overlooked.

Lego Rock Band’s multiplayer element isn’t exactly groundbreaking or original, just copy and paste from the previous games, just insert Lego. And hopefully some people with genuine skill at the game.

With customisation options on just about everything in the game including your road crew and rock hangout, and tons of replay value with new songs being added to the rock band store each week, this is going to be one that will keep the family entertained over the long winter months.

Graphics: 9
Gameplay: 8
Controls: 9
Multiplayer (person dependent): 5
Overall: 7

The game literally has everything. And portrays it in the most beautiful form of cell shading seen this side of a current or previous gen console.

From what I have seen so far the story revolves around one of four characters each searching a post apocalyptic wasteland for untold riches and power. Each one of the characters has their own class and specific class skill set which unlocks at level 5 and can be upgraded one step along the set skill tree for every level gained, this in turn adds skill boosts to your character. The game itself plays like the ultimate gangbang between Halo, Left 4 Dead, Mass Effect, Shadowrun, Fallout 3, Crackdown and Mad Max. Each borrowed element fits the game and game world perfectly and after the first hour you stop noticing the similarities and see Borderlands in its true light. The game that every RPG that has been released on the XBOX 360 so far has been striving to be.

The multiplayer element that has been included with Borderlands could not be more fitting, a drop in drop out affaire with up to four players. Whoever is the game host will have the other players inside their game world and will continue to play from the point they last reached.

The only two niggling problems with that are that weapon drops do not have a player-related time limit to them, so you could have been slugging away at one of the “special” creatures, it drop a fancy new shotgun or sniper riffle for you, and then somebody else could run in and grab it before you, and unfortunately that is the same with quest rewards as well, the party share EXP. But it’s only the person who trades in the completed the quest that will get any item reward.

The developer has taken this into account though and has added a “duel” function so that players can fight each other at any point they like. The perfect way to settle any item related feuds.

When all is said and done, I can say from personal experience that this game will demolish your time. Today I played for eight hours continuously, and only gave up long enough to write this.

Graphics: 9
Gameplay: 8
Controls: 9
Multiplayer: 8
Overall: 8.5

The rookie and his fellow squad mates all control similarly to master chief from the previous halo games. The only slight differences are that the ODST’s cannot jump as high, nor can they take as much punishment as a Spartan, for long-serving fans of the series their has been a couple of tweaks to old favourite features, the Halo: Combat Evolved scoped magnum has made an extremely welcome return and as you would expect it is an incredibly satisfying weapon. And also a health system that is very like the one from the original halo is used here, each ODST has both a stamina bar and a health bar, stamina is like a shield that will regenerate over time, whereas health will not.

The rookie’s levels of the campaign mode all take place at night, the city of new Mombasa serving as an extremely haunting, yet rather beautiful HUB world come battleground. The overturned cars and distant billowing smoke giving an impression of desperation as you traverse the many dangers that lurk in the shadows. As you roam around the city you may come across audio files left behind by a young woman named Sadie, a headstrong wannabe marine struggling through the city as it is being invaded. These files serve in the same way as the tape recorder did in Bioshock, giving both a background to the story, as well as a thrilling B story.

Bungie have also included a low light visor for use by the ODST troops which as well as helping you find your way in the dark, will also highlight friendly’s, enemies and the buildings around the city so you can pick a path more easily.

Firefight mode for lack of a better comparison is what horde mode is to Gears Of War, in that it pits a team of people against an ever increasing number and ever increasingly stronger enemy. The level designs for this are excellent, taking some of the best locations from the game and altering them for the multiplayer experience, the one problem with this through is that Bungie didn’t include a matchmaking feature. So you can only get a game together if you play solo, or you have a group of friends that want to play.

The second disc included in the box brings together all of the map packs used for Halo 3’s multiplayer experience, plus 3 new and exclusive ones which take the form of a few fan favourites.

Between the game and its exclusive content you couldn’t ask for any more for its retail price. It’s a prime example of how Bungie feel about the fans of their games and the lengths they are going to for them.

Graphics: 9
Game play: 8
Controls: 9
Multiplayer: (when you can organize a game of firefight) 8.5
Overall: 9