VideoGamer.com Plays

What we've been playing this week.

Tom Orry, Editor - The Lost and Damned, Xbox 360
Having not played GTA 4 properly for quite a while (I messed about with the PC version, but focussed more on what was new) it was great to sit down for a good deal of this week with The Lost and Damned. I don't know if it was just me expecting too little from this new episode, but it's blown me away. There's more here than I imagined, including more than just the new story. One of my favourite little touches is the new episode of Republican Space Rangers that you can watch on the TV set inside your gang's hangout. This is probably more non-PC than the very best episodes of South Park and is likely to offend anyone who doesn't look at it with the understanding that it's satire. I can't wait to see what Rockstar adds with the next DLC.

Wesley Yin-Poole, Deputy Editor - Dawn of War II, PC
With the review now live, and the game out, there's isn't much left to say about Relic's Warhammer 40K RTS. What I didn't mention in the review is what a rare breed Dawn of War II is: it's a PC exclusive triple-A game. What was the last one of those? Crysis: Warhead? Nothing else springs to mind. I don't count the WoW expansions, since they're not brand new games. I was talking with my hardcore PC gaming flatmate the other day about the game - he's big on Dawn of War, and will buy the sequel, but as a hardcore PC gamer he's buying it for the good of the platform as well as personal pleasure. Hardcore PC gamers should buy Dawn of War II, he reckons, to help the game to as many sales as is necessary to convince publisher THQ and others that the PC is still a viable platform. I find myself wondering if I've ever bought a game just to help the platform it's released on or the company behind it. Have you ever done that?

Neon Kelly, Previews Editor - Passage, PC and iPhone
I only discovered Passage yesterday, when Seb told me about it during the recording of this week's podcast. It's a strange little thing really - not so much a game, but more of an interactive piece of art. The game lasts five minutes and is effectively a representation of someone's entire life: You slowly move from the left-hand side of the screen to the right, negotiating obstacles and picking up rewards as you go. As time ticks on, your little pixel-bloke will slowly age until he eventually becomes an old man. Early on in the game, you'll get the opportunity to meet the love of your life; if you walk up to her, she'll stick by you forever... until she dies, at which point your heartbroken little man will slow to a crawl. On my second playthrough I decided to ignore my love-to-be, and because she wasn't with me I was able to do a lot more exploring. Funnily enough, I picked up a lot more gold but I really missed her company.

I'm not sure if Passage is really a game, but I found it to be thought-provoking, depressing and moving in equal measures. You can stick it on your iPhone for 59p, or you can try it here for free.

James Orry, News Editor - Football Manager Live, PC
Season 2 has kicked off and I'm pleased to report that I am, as reported last week, in the Premier League. It looks like the season ahead will be a tough one though, with the teams around me packed full of big name players. Anything better than relegation will be a successful campaign. I've only really been putting in about an hour a day over the last week, ensuring the team stays match fit and also ensuring my manager coaching continues. I've also had to fork out the best part of £1 million on a host of stadium improvements to increase my capacity to above the required 16,000 seats. The biggest positive from the week has been notable improvements to several of my youth players - two of which are now on the verge of being ready for a place in the first team squad.

For more on what we've been up to this week check out the brand-new VideoGamer.com Podcast.

Let us know what you've been playing in the comments section below.