Skip to main content

Long read: The beauty and drama of video games and their clouds

"It's a little bit hard to work out without knowing the altitude of that dragon..."

If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Premium Downloads - 18th to 25th Jan

But what about Rockstar? Fox?

Gosh, must have slurped one coffee too many. Eyes a little pinned open and beginning to see things and best not try too hard to think but just plough on and fill some of this space with some words. Lots to talk about if you consider Nintendo and its generation-leading sales figures, or if you are roused into debate by Rockstar and its continued efforts to get Manhunt 2 in UK shops, or if Fox News and its ignorance towards nudity in Mass Effect boiled your blood, or if Sony saying PS3 will beat 360 in Europe by summer makes you frisky. Or, or, or.

Or you could settle into your gaming platform of choice and enjoy some downloadable additions to your favourite games (or buy some entirely new ones). Particularly recommended by us is PixelJunk Monsters on PSN (GBP 3.49), which is smashing if you like the idea of revitalised real-time strategy where you play as a little monster and build towers and take over the map and did we mention it looks very nice. We said 8/10, eventually.

Or you could buy Syphon Filter: Combat Ops on your PC and play it on your PSP as if you were in the future, because it is a multiplayer game for six of you and very fun. Bit more at GBP 6.99, though.

Elsewhere those of you with a Wii have a hearty addition in Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers this week, which adds sexy Cammy, sexy Fei Long, sexy T Hawk and sexy Dee Jay to the mix. It was originally on SNES and will cost you about a fiver.

Or, if you have a 360, you should make use of the "sorry for being rubbish over Christmas" free Live Arcade game Undertow. Offer only runs until 8am GMT on Monday morning, though, so get in there quick - and you should, because we gave it 8/10. Yes we are forced to mark everything the same by evil spaghetti monsters.

Xbox Live Arcade

  • Undertow - Free until 8am (GMT) Monday morning

Xbox Live Marketplace

PAL content

  • Kingdom of Fire: Circle of Doom: Hair Accessory Pack - 130 Microsoft Points (GBP 1.11 / EUR 1.51)
  • Kingdom of Fire: Circle of Doom: Animal Accessory Pack - 130 Microsoft Points (GBP 1.11 / EUR 1.51)
  • Kingdom of Fire: Circle of Doom: Hats Accessory Pack - 130 Microsoft Points (GBP 1.11 / EUR 1.51)
  • Kingdom of Fire: Circle of Doom: Mask Accessory Pack - 130 Microsoft Points (GBP 1.11 / EUR 1.51)
  • Kingdom of Fire: Circle of Doom: Weird Accessory Pack - 130 Microsoft Points (GBP 1.11 / EUR 1.51)
  • Kingdom of Fire: Circle of Doom: Complete Accessory Pack - 500 Microsoft Points (GBP 4.25 / EUR 5.82)
  • Virtua Fighter 5: Item Pack 3 - 200 Microsoft Points (GBP 1.70 / EUR 2.33)

US/Canada

  • Rock Band: "Wonderwall" by Oasis - 160 Microsoft Points (GBP 1.36 / EUR 1.86)
  • Rock Band: "Live Forever" by Oasis - 160 Microsoft Points (GBP 1.36 / EUR 1.86)
  • Rock Band: "Don't Look Back in Anger" by Oasis - 160 Microsoft Points (GBP 1.36 / EUR 1.86)
  • Rock Band: Oasis Pack - 440 Microsoft Points (GBP 3.74 / EUR 5.12)

PlayStation Store

PAL PS3 games

  • PixelJunk Monsters (GBP 3.49)
  • Judge Dredd PSone (GBP 3.49)

PAL PSP content

  • Syphon Filter: Combat Ops (GBP 6.99)
  • Judge Dredd PSone (GBP 3.49)

US PS3 games

  • PixelJunk Monsters (USD 7.99 for a limited period)

US PS3 content

  • Rock Band: "Wonderwall" by Oasis (USD 1.99)
  • Rock Band: "Live Forever" by Oasis (USD 1.99)
  • Rock Band: "Don't Look Back in Anger" by Oasis (USD 1.99)
  • Rock Band: Oasis Pack (USD 5.49)
  • Stranglehold: Map Pack (USD 14.99)

US PSP content

  • Jet Moto (USD 5.99)

Virtual Console

PAL regions

  • Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers (SNES) - 800 Wii Points (GBP 5.60 / EUR 8.00)

US/Canada

  • Adventures of Lolo (NES) - 500 Points (GBP 3.50 / EUR 5)
  • Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers (SNES) - 800 Wii Points (GBP 5.60 / EUR 8.00)