One-Shot (28/10/09)

NHL 10, based on the demo, is highly playable. It's slick, rich, and as gorgeous as you'd expect from the EA Sports stable. However, the control system is... less than accessible. Instead of an obvious, traditional, and highly practical "x is pass, o is tackle, square is shoot" type deal, the player is treated - no, subjected - to an interface that makes Resident Evil 5's online shenanigans look well designed. It's like someone's been fiddling around with the option screen, assigning commands to obtuse buttons. The potential ease of rectification, of course, is the most grating thing. File under: debacle.

One-Shot (13/03/09)

What to do when you wish to write about football (again) when it will repel readers like the Irish League repels excellence? Exploit today's potential for horror, making it a macabre One-Shot double feature!* That's not at all predictable. Two things I say I will do but probably won't:

1. Forego my prior plans to buy Resident Evil 5 cold by downloading the demo first (PlayStation Network, how I love thee.) Thanks for planting the seed, Chris!
   
2. Watch Friday the 13th (1980) like I meant to do this time last month, thereby freeing up space on the Sky+ box.

What? Like you've never watched Halloween on Halloween, My Bloody Valentine on Valentine's Day, or Mayday!** on May Day?!

* And do it anyway. Go on, United!
** I hereby call "dibs." Back off, Roth.