If there is one thing that is commonly and unkindly said about video games to the point that it is almost cliché , it must definitely be the total lack of any coherent or sensible storyline.

More often than not, a story line in games is often a very thin thread which conveniently and awkwardly strings all the elements together and then it all boils down to shooting something or someone, hacking and slashing something or someone, so on and so forth.

Fortunately, this is not the case with Quantic Dream’s PlayStation 3 exclusive, Heavy Rain. This is a heavily plot driven game, and will at first seem like a series of Quick Time Events ( QTE’s) strewn and woven together to make one whole game.

To say that is like saying Bayonetta is just another hack and slash game and that Bayonetta ( the lady ) is just a sexy witch with four guns who slays angels. That would not do the game any justice and is very much over simplifying things in both cases.

Heavy Rain has a unique control system, wherein you move a character and in a particular situation you are prompted to execute a certain action. This will vary from mundane things like changing a baby’s clothes to more complex actions like chasing a criminal.

If you fail to hit the button at the right moment, the story goes on and branches out to another possible scenario leading to a different ending. No abrupt or sudden endings, no “Game Over” flashing on the screen.

Yes, it’s different. No, you won’t be doing precision head shots on a horde of zombies or shot gun blasting the unholy undead on this one, nor will you be racking up mega point combo shots in this game. However, this game will demand your sole and undivided attention as you watch the scenes unfold right before your eyes.

Miss a QTE ( for the lack of a better word ) and you cannot go back. There are many ways to skin a cat as well as there are ways in keeping you on the edge of your gaming seat, and this can be as engrossing as unloading tons of lead at the creepy undead. More so, since this time you actually have a storyline to keep track of.

Heavy Rain is hot off the grill has just been released. Gamers who are desperately growing tired, sick or bored with the slew of ubiquitous shooters and hack and slash games must pick this one up and give it a try.

Like seeing a blue moon in a cold dark night , games like this aren’t seen or made very often. If you watch a movie once, and it will always end the same way.

If you play Heavy Rain, not only will it be like watching a movie and playing a game at the same time but you can also unlock 20 or so possible endings. So give yourself a break and try out something different for a change.

Give your itchy trigger finger a break and play Heavy Rain, a game with a REAL story line.

Colin McRae: DiRT 2 is a racing game developed and published by Codemasters. It builds upon the Colin McRae franchise by including better visuals as well as enhanced gameplay. When the game is first launched we have to create a profile for the game and select a commentary name. After that we can select the difficulty setting and other options before starting a race.

In DiRT 2, we have got a caravan that we take around the world to take part in several different rallying tournaments. As we win races and reach higher levels, more cars as well as tournaments get unlocked for us to compete in. There are several types of races in the game. These include Rallycross, Rally, Trailblazer, and Domination among others. Vehicles can either be rally cars, SUVs or ATVs. A novel addition in DiRT 2 is the flashback feature. Through it you can rewind the game ten seconds during a race and then continue from the previous point. This is very useful if you suffer a crash and your car gets damaged you can rewind the game and then avoid the crash on the second try.

The graphics of the game are superb. Effects such as sunlight and foliage are very realistic and the trail that cars leave behind is also very realistic. The most amazing view in the game is the cockpit view. It is highly realistic with all the onboard dials working perfectly. Whenever a crash or bump occurs, the camera also moves ahead or backward mimicking the g-forces that the driver faces. It also realistically shows you the view through the windshield and if it gets cracked your visibility is affected.

The car physics of the game are unparalleled. Cars slide around very realistically in a muddy environment but as soon as tarmac approaches the grip improves tremendously. Also, when you go into a puddle the car realistically starts aquaplaning until the water leaves the tires. Driving in gravel causes the ride to become very hard and this effect is best noticed in the cockpit view. The only things that I felt missing in the game were track and weather deteriorations. Besides that the game is nothing short of spectacular. The damage is also highly realistic and can even be turned off. The game is available for Xbox 360, PSP, Wii, Windows and PlayStation 3. The game is compatible with several PlayStation 3 Accessories like racing wheels as well as accessories for other consoles as well.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (MGS4) is one game which stands out above all other games in the PS3. Technically brilliant in all aspects and highly critically acclaimed by gaming critics, this PS3 exclusive is one of the reasons why you MUST own a PS3. To date, 4.75 million copies of the game have been sold.

In a nutshell, MGS4 is an action adventure game. What sets it apart from the hack and slash and button mashing crowd is the way the game is played. It takes tactical skills and a certain degree of patience to pull off some of the moves, like stealth skills and sniping. The game is set in an alternate world of political intrigue, espionage and utilizes several real-world historical events which blend in seamlessly with the story line. Add the tactical game play with the engrossing story-line back drop and you are in for one very interesting gaming experience.

With regard to graphics and audio, very few games can even be considered at par with MG. Some newly release games of the same genre pale in comparison not just to the visual eye-candy and mind-boggling audio MGS4 has to offer but also to the controls and game interface. MGS4 was considered by many as THE Game of the Year when it came out as the flag-bearer of the next gen consoles, particularly that for the Playstation 3. Game critics and gamer reviewers just don’t hand out “game of the year” awards out of a whim, so this is a solid testament that this game is not just about flashy graphics, but almost everything about it is just as good.

The Metal Gear Solid series have been around for ages now, but the game still retains the flavor fans have come to love and identify with this game. Solid Snake is still the main man, although this may perhaps be his last and final assignment (that is until Metal Gear Solid Rising came out…). Even if Snake may seem to have aged quite a bit, make no mistake that he has mellowed down when it comes to getting the job done. The trademark stealth kills, Close Quarter Combat and sophisticated spy gadgets and weapons are very much still a part of Snake’s arsenal and bag of tricks, and newer weapons and gadgets have been added for MGS4.

Action adventure games are a dime a dozen and often have hare-brained story lines with a plot that could be neatly written on the head of a pin. MGS4 is not one of them. For those sick and tired of cheesy dialogues and game story lines which could have been written by a 10-year old kid, MGS4 is the perfect antidote for your gaming woes.

Notice that not much was mentioned in detail about the characters, the settings of the story and all the other unique stuff this game has to offer. That would be giving it away and would spoil the game. If you have a brand new PS3 slim or already have a PS3 and you missed out on this terrific title, then experience the game firsthand.

Okay, you may have heard of the game before and there have been 4 made since it first came out ages ago in the PS2. If you haven’t, here’s a quick rundown. It’s Dance Dance Revolution with a guitar. You see the notes flash in the screen which rise vertically, and you hit the proper button at the right moment. The cool thing about it is that you get to do this while jamming to the sounds of the Van Halen and other gods of rock and roll. Now, isn’t that a lot better than looking down right silly while wildly doing an air guitar in front of a mirror?

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and Guitar Hero World Tour are the latest incarnations of this extremely popular game and are available for the PS3. Bundled with the game is the guitar controller, and that’s a nice thing. Even better is the full-bundle package will all the instruments for the World Tour edition, but not everyone has that.

One day, your buddies drop by your house to do a Guitar Hero jam and you see an ocean of look-alike black or white Les Paul guitars. And since everybody wants to be the lead, no one ever thought of getting a drum set or a basic bass guitar. A band without drums and a bass guitar. It’s like Van Halen without Eddie Van Halen. To top it all off, you just have one dongle. To the uninitiated, a dongle is a USB device which you plug into a PS3 so that it will wirelessly receive signals from you guitar controller. You need one dongle for one guitar controller or for a drum set.

Fortunately, there are PS3 accessories for Guitar Hero which will save you and your fledgling rock band from sinking into oblivion. If you have the complete bundled package for the World Tour edition, no problem. If not, then read on. First, buy an extra set of dongles. You then can square off with a friend and see who owns who in the world of rock. You most definitely need a set of drums. Browse through the net and buy a nice set of drums for your jam session. And don’t forget the USB microphone for the lead singer. Well, a headset is nice but who sings wearing a headset?

For a game that is fun and relatively easy to play, Guitar Hero is hard to beat. No mindless button mashing or endless leveling up just to get through a single level. However, miss a beat you loose a rhythm and nothing falls into place. Now, get your friends and their rigs together, turn on the PS3 and let it rip.