The Overlord is back to cause even more trouble. Immerse yourself in twisted parodies of classic fantasy scenarios, featuring angry dwarves, wimpy elves and messed up zombies. After becoming the all-powerful Overlord, learn how to master a horde of impish creatures, known as Minions. Controlling them successfully is crucial if you want to wipe out your foes and conquer the land. Accompanied by your pack of slavishly loyal rascals, lay waste to anything that stands in your way to become even more powerful...

Overlord: Raising Hell for the PS3 has taken 2007's Xbox 360 and PC Overlord title and bolted on the additional expansion content as well as exclusive PS3 features. The PS3 version allows gamers to explore and conquer five extra supernatural realms; and seven additional online multiplayer maps (including the 'Capture the Maiden' map; and 'Protect Your Power.')

While some will question why on earth PS3 owners should pay £50 for a game that's been out on other platforms for ages, the additional content almost make up for the delay in getting this into the shops.

The game, which has an amusing story written by Rhianna Pratchett, is pretty straightforward to play. You are the Overlord and can traverse the various lands around you, completing quests as you go. On your travels you are accompanied by your minions who help you carry items, move obstacles and attack your enemies. There are four different breeds of minions, all of which have distinct powers and abilities that are useful in overcoming the numerous obstacles that lay in your path.

You start off with brown minions (who are the best fighters) and as the game progresses you can add red (which can tackle fires), blue (which can travel through water) and green (which are immune to poisonous gasses) minions to your army.

The game is very tongue in cheek, and pretty addictive for the most part. But there are problems and they're pretty big ones too.

Firstly, navigation has to be done mostly from memory. While there's a mini map on screen, it doesn't cover very much ground and there's no compass to tell you which way is North (which doesn't help when characters tell you to head in a certain direction). There's a map enclosed with the game, but that's so crude as to be almost useless. So, the logical next step would be to take the hard copy of the map and then try and work out where on the mini map you are and then navigate your way from there. But, as I've already mentioned, there's no compass on the screen, so matching the two maps up is pretty difficult.

The map issues are most problematic whilst trying to complete the missions or attempting to find items that are required to get further into the game. So you can spend a long time revisiting old locations in a bid to find something you've missed and this becomes very frustrating after a while.

Another problem is the camera angle. The computer controls this, and while you can tap a button so that the camera resets itself behind your character, this is not really helpful in the height of battle - nor is it easy to send your minions off in the right direction. Now I know that the reason you can't use the second analogue stick for looking around your environment is because it's used to control your minions, but it does make for awkward situations at times.

There are other small nit-picks, like the fact that despite the game's insistence that you can be evil if you wish, there's no real difference in game play; and the pointless inclusion of the jester character is just incredibly annoying.

Despite this games many flaws, there's still a lot of fun to be had attacking "sheepies" and sending your minions out to do your dirty work. Certainly one worth taking a look at - it's maybe worth renting before you decide to buy though. Still, it kept me amused for hours, but then I am a man of simple tastes.

8

Darren Rea