Ankh: Heart of Osiris

The complex society of Ancient Egypt is a matter of endless research and debate among historians. Sadly, Heart of Osiris pays little due to this ancient civilisation, instead, casting Egyptians as doe-eyed folk with American accents. The reason soon becomes clear — Ankh: Heart of Osiris is a point-and-click puzzle adventure in the mould of Monkey Island, aimed at a younger audience, with dialogue and graphics that resemble Disney’s Aladdin.

The control system couldn’t be simpler, but the convoluted puzzles soon become frustrating, time-consuming and joyless. Entering a bar, for example, involves talking to several characters and combining several objects. Getting into the Ivy on a Friday night would be easier. Heart Of Osiris is a competent game with tidy graphics, solidly put together — but it fails to hold the attention. Ankhs, but no thanks.

God of War 2

It’s good to see that amid the hoopla surrounding the release of the PlayStation 3, Sony is not neglecting its old warhorse, the PlayStation 2; this action-adventure title is easily one of the finest games released this year and holds its own against other PS2 classics. The story picks up with Kratos — the new God of War — being betrayed by Zeus, stripped of his power and hurled into Hades. With the help of the Titans, he gets a reprieve, and then a shot at revenge.

There’s so much to admire about God of War 2, it’s difficult to know where to start. The control system is easy to get to grips with, and the in-game action moves seamlessly from fighting, to quick-time mini-games, to puzzles, to platform jumps. The sound and music of movie quality and the graphics give a few next-generation titles a run for their money. Throw in a gripping plot and addictive replay value, and God of War 2 covers the PS2 in blood-soaked glory.