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Game Of Death!
Back in the eighties (if you remember that far back), computer games were hard. Rock hard. As in 'There's no way you're ever getting more than 10% of the way through this' hard. Games like Ghosts 'n' Goblins or Green Beret, where you took on a whole army single-handed with a knife! Masochistic madness by today's standards, but there was something to be said for the unflinching brutality of such titles. The arrival of Demon's Souls this week on PS3 is an unexpected nod to the good old days when a game would chew you up, spit you out and dance on your broken body. An RPG from Namco-Bandai, Demon's Souls isn't just hard, it's like all the diamonds in the world learned Krav Maga and turned up at an England match wearing German colours just to crack some skulls. It's a game where, when (not if) you die, you have to play the whole level again at half health to recover your body, and where, every time you die, the game actually gets harder. Just to punish you! There aren't words to describe how brutally unforgiving Demon's Souls is; how infuriatingly, maddeningly, torturously difficult this game can be – or how unputdownable it is as a result. If you're the kind of quicksave monkey who like a game to hold his hand, then this will likely be the death of you. However, if you own a PS3 and have the nerves of steel required to brave a game where even the tutorial can kick your arse, you'd be mad to miss out. What's the matter? Too scared? James Dyer
Online Editor, Empire | | |
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|  | | | Oh God, I've got tea in my eye!
Vintage Nick De Semlyen | | |  | | |
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Would it Work: A Legend of Zelda Movie?
Everything appears to be adaptable in the eyes of the Hollywood executive looking for their next hot property. Be it board games with little metal terriers or dead-eyed theme park attractions - nothing is off limits. It then comes with ample surprise that the silver screen hasn't firmly squashed video games' creative mind-grapes to an expensive electronic gloop, yet.
Read more. | | | |
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Video: Russell Brand & Jonah Hill Get Him To The Greek
In his latest comedy outing, Russell Brand plays a trumped-up buffoon who wears skinny jeans and runs around like a loon, enjoying the good times and generally living the life of Riley. So not the biggest acting leap, admittedly, but with Jonah Hill and Puff Daddy on board too, it's funny enough that you just don't care. We spoke to the stars (apart from Puff, alas; he was busy that day) while they were down in London town and asked what we should expect from the two of them and their views on '80s remakes. As you do. | | |
|  | | If Movie Bands Played Glastonbury...
Glastonbury - the greatest music festival in the world - starts on Thursday. Empire won't be there, because we can't stand the thought of slumming it in a tent and having to go number two in a plastic prison, but we did get to thinking, in our top movie magazine kinda way, about the line-up we'd like to see on the Pyramid Stage if - and this is where it gets high-concept, folks - the groups involved were movie bands. From out of the movies. So get out your lighters (or your lighter apps on the iPhone) and push your way to the front for this little lot. |
|  | | Guess The Movie Mullet Quiz
Too long the unlovely runt of the haircut litter, the mullet has become a byword for the movie maverick - men with curls on their neck and mayhem in their hearts. If this haircut could talk it would say, "Stand clear people, anything could happen." To celebrate the latest in the coiff cascade - '80s-homaging action star MacGruber - here are a few of the characters who brought hockey hair to Hollywood. All you, the eagle-eyed reader, have to do is match the mullet with the movie... |
|  | | 100 Best Films Of World Cinema
As the World Cup rumbles on in South Africa, now's the time to celebrate the great breadth of world cinema out there. From Brazil to Japan to France and Senegal, from Neo-Realism to Dogme to J-horror, we've compiled a list of the very best films not in the English language (note: features, not documentaries). So rustle up some sushi, strike up a gauloise and make sure you've locked your bicycle as we count down the top 100... |
|  | | 50 Greatest Video Game Characters
Whether hearty plumber, battleworn grunt or cutesey farmyard animal, the colourful stars of video games have become emblems of their respective eras. Mario, Sonic and their ilk are the De Niros and Bogarts of the gaming world, closer to the hearts of die-hard console-addicts than any Hollywood icon could be. With this in mind, and after much soul-searching, arguing and quiet contemplation, we have painstakingly assembled our list of the greatest gaming characters ever devised. Most will be old friends, some will be new acquaintances but each and every one is a standout - be they cultural icon, inspired innovation or a masterpiece of character design. The rogue's gallery of gaming legends starts here... |
|  | | Design Your Own Dungeon!
Are you a king of Quark? A pharaoh of Photoshop? If so, this is your chance to have your talent showcased in Empire, by designing a B-movie poster featuring Kim Newman for the horror guru's regular Video Dungeon page. We've provided the assets – photos of Kim brandishing different weapons and an astonishing array of expressions – so all you have to do is create your own background and effects. Go funny, go scary, go crazy... the finest work will be showcased in the magazine in the coming months. |
|  | | Empire DVD Rental: 30 Days Free Trial + Free Cinema Tickets
Choose from over 65,000 titles and avoid the hassle and expense of buying or renting from the high street - why don't you try Empire's DVD rental service today! | | | |
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An iPhone 4! No, wait that's not true. I actually had to QUEUE FOR BLOODY HOURS to get one of those. Sigh. | | | |
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|  | | | |  | |  | |  | |  | | | Breaking news: Football is gay. | | Brain functions exposed. | | Ultimate skydive snap. That thing beneath them? That's the space shuttle!. | | Gandalf goes to the world cup - one of the best things ever. |
If you have any timewasters to share, then e-mail them in to me. | | | |
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Get Him To The Greek 
Like most of the recent exports from Apatown, Get Him To The Greek — aka Russell Brand's My Filmy Wilm — is patchy, but home-run hilarious from time to time. If only it didn't detour into darkness so often, this could have been a genuine treat. | | | |
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This Week's Video Trailers And Clips
Every week, our video player will update to show trailers and clips from the week's movie releases listed above. | | |
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The Princess And The Frog 
Exactly as good as Musker and Clements' earlier efforts, so a return to the form of Disney's early 1990s classics. The animation is gorgeous, the heroine feisty and the animals amusing — but this may be too scary for the very small. | | | |
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