Many times we see games blending different genres together to create something new and exciting. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. Slam Bolt Scrappers, developed by independent studio Fire Hose Games, mashes what can only be described as Tetris meets Tower Defense into a chaotic free-for-all battle to be king.

Is this action puzzler fit to wear the crown, or is it destined to be thrown into the scrap heap?

The first-person shooter genre is one of the most dominant of this generation. The success of Call of Duty alone is staggering. Back in late December, Activision announced that Black Ops had surpassed $1bn in sales and that over 600m hours had been logged playing the game. The game is still topping the charts today. Call of Duty isn’t the only franchise flying the flag for first-person shooters either; there is also much fanfare for Killzone, Battlefield, Medal of Honor and Resistance, to name just a few of the big hitters.

Recently, Sony has been rereleasing some of their Classic PS2 games on the PS3 under the ‘Classics HD’ title. While the games themselves are a fantastic trip down memory lane, the issue of box art has been raised, mainly they don’t look too good. Here’s my take.

This is the first of our revamped weekly FirstPlay articles, detailing the content of each episode of the digital magazine, and what we thought of it. Some episodes are chock-full of great content, whilst others are occasionally lacking, so our intention with this feature is to give our opinion on each episode, so that you can decide whether or not it interests you.

There are many people who may feel swamped at the sheer amount of options and things to do in the epic Gran Turismo 5. But never fear! PS3 Attitude is here to help! We’re here to provide some of the best tips and tricks, which are tried and tested by the best experts out there: you guys.

We are now in the year of the rabbit; that means, if you’re into astrology this is going to be an exciting year for you and your PlayStation 3, what with rabbits being known for their artistic talents and good taste. However, those who consider astrology to be a lot of superstitious nonsense may require further persuasion.

We advise unbelievers to look at the games released in January – LittleBigPlanet 2, Dead Space 2 and Mass Effect 2 – because these alone point to a good year. Each one is a blockbuster title and likely to be in contention when the awards are being handed out. What’s more, this selection is diverse and offers something for almost everyone. There are worse ways to start a year, that’s for sure.

Well then, dear PS3 lovers… it will soon be the Year of the Rabbit, the happiest of all the Chinese zodiac signs.

In Chinese astrology the Rabbit is considered to be happy and popular. Rabbits are known for their artistic talent and good taste. You might say there are certain attributes of the Rabbit that foretell of a great year for Sony’s flagship console.

So, is that the case? Or will 2011 be more a ‘dog of a year’ than a metaphorical ‘lucky rabbit’s foot’?

We’ve been toiling through the comments section for the past few week, looking through and enjoying all your interesting thoughts, and now we’re finally in a position to announce our Platinum Community winners for December.

It’s been a month of drinking, eating, and spending time with loved ones, and a month for announcements – big announcements. The following games were unveiled: Uncharted 3, The Elder Scrolls V, Mass Effect 3, SSX Deadly Descents, and a new Tomb Raider; it is a very impressive list. We also learned more about some of 2011’s most exciting games: Homefront, DiRT 3, L.A. Noire, Batman: Arkham City, Resistance 3 and Bulletstorm.

There weren’t many new releases, but the Vietnam expansion pack for Battlefield: Bad Company 2 was a highlight. We also got some demos – and yes, a demo can be a highlight, but only just. Here is the re-cap of the month…

If you asked me at the beginning of March what my favourite game of the year was likely to be, without a doubt I would have said Heavy Rain. With its incredible atmosphere, innovative gameplay and compelling story, it kept me engrossed for no less than five full playthroughs. However, on 9th March 2010 along came a game that completely blew me away: Final Fantasy XIII.

Sometimes, there are games you can always go back to no matter what. Even though Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, Bayonetta, and God of War III are all awesome, they never fully satisfied my needs as a gamer. There was just something missing and they all felt too familiar. Unique experiences like Heavy Rain are great and all, but it’s not exactly what I’m looking for in a game. Is it a must have? Absolutely. There’s only so much you can get from Heavy Rain though, and that’s a problem when you want more.

This year, there was one game that went beyond pushing buttons, understanding an intriguing story, or simply having fun. It became something far more significant, shaping the way I think, the things I want to do, and provided experiences that are both nostalgic and new at the same time. That game was Super Street Fighter IV, my 2010 Game of the Year.

2010 has been host to many fantastic games, both exclusive and multiplatform. Seanoc has already mentioned heavy hitters including Bayonetta, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, and his selection for GOTY, Gran Turismo 5. While they are all spectacular games in their own rights, they hold nothing against the fallen God of War. That’s right; I’m speaking of Kratos in God of War III, my choice for Game of the Year 2010.

Selecting a game of the year is rarely easy, and it has been no different this year.

Dear friends of PS3 Attitude,

The team at Attitude Towers would like to wish everyone a merry Christmas and hope that you all have a wonderful day. We also hope that you got what you wanted, and didn’t receive a copy of Naughty Bear from a well-meaning grandparent – sorry 505 Games.

As Gran Turismo 5 launches today, there will undoubtedly be some of you wondering whether or not to buy the game or not. Here’s 5 things you should know about GT5.

So, it’s finally here – the driving simulator to end all driving simulators. But the question is, do you pick up the standard edition of the game for £39.99, or get some extra content with the Collector’s Edition for £59.99? Don’t worry; PS3 Attitude is here to help.

Nuketown – Call of Duty: Black Ops’ small multiplayer map, based on a suburban nuclear testing area – has divided opinion across the net and on PS3 Attitude. There’s no doubt that it has a flawed spawn system, which will see you repeatedly die (through no fault of your own), but that hasn’t stopped gamers from voting for it again and again. It is by far the most popular map on Black Ops – but is popularity an accurate measure of quality? After all, just look at some of the nonsense that tops the film and music charts.

PS3 Attitude brings you three different opinions: Echo loves it, Danny_D loathes it and I’m (Seanoc) on the fence – it sure does hurt sitting on this picket fence. Read on to find out the reasons why we think the way we do about Nuketown…

Medal of Honor, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Vanquish, Fallout: New Vegas, Sonic the Hedgehog: Episode 1, FIFA 2011, PES 2011 and Enslaved: Odyssey to the West: these are just some of the games that have stormed the charts in October.

If July will be remembered for its summer shutdown, then October will be known for its abundance of games. What’s more: they were mostly quality. Yes, some underachieved, and others were predictable, but all were worth a play, and play we did…

It’s been a busy ten weeks here at PS3 Attitude. It is easy to forget just how many great developers are out there, so our intention with this feature was to take the time to thank them for their dedication to the videogame industry.