From video games to books on football, there are plenty of things JOE wants, and all donations to the cause will be willingly accepted
Need for Speed Rivals
We've been fans of this game for a very, very long time, and in its frankly terrifying 20th incarnation, the folks at Ghost Games have produced another cracker.
We've been lucky enough to play this game on PS3 and XBox One and while their are some graphical improvements on the next gen version, the PS3 version is far from shabby, with lots of gorgeous on and off track detail and a super smooth ride.
The game play is identical too. At the start of the game you get to choose between being a cop and being a racer. In cop mode, your job is to chase down and capture various speed demons. The more baddies you catch, the more kudos you will earn, meaning better cars and new missions opening up.
But the cop mode is a little bit less interesting than the racer mode, which just feels better and has more scope for variety. You can race other cars, evade the fuzz and compete in time trials, and it really is more fun being on the wrong side of the law.
As any folks who have played Need For Speed before will know, the game is not exactly a full simulation racing game, with the emphasis clearly more on fun and thrills. It delivers these in spades, and the open world nature of the game means there is lots and lots to see.
There is an online mode also, which we haven't had much chance to delve into yet, but that should extend the shelf life too.
Sapien Men After Shave Cream
For those of you out there who are concerned about getting organic and vegan-friendly skin care products, then the lads at Sapien and Surya Brasil have you sorted.
Alright, we're aware that might not be your biggest concern, but the fact that their latest range is ethically and sustainably harvested to support the local economy and indigenous population is a real plus, and it's nice to see a company with a conscience.
JOE is particularly enjoying the After Shave Cream, and given the fact that Movember just ended and we'll need to be shaving a bit more this month, it's worth taking care of our skin a bit. It soothes and protects the skin, and contains aloe, one of nature's miracle plants that is pretty much the solution to every skin problem under the sun.
It is fragranced, but not too heavily, so you get a fresh, clean smell with a hint of citrus, but plenty of earthy tones to it. Your skin will thank you for it afterwards too. You can pick up any of the range, including the facial scrub, haril gel or shower gel, on the
Your Tonic website here.
Fear & Loathing in La Liga Q&A session with Sid Lowe
JOE's favourite La Liga pundit Sid Lowe is in town on Wednesday evening to have a chat about his latest book and all things interesting about one of the best leagues in the world, La Liga.
Lowe's book is, as one would expect from a man with a PhD, incredibly well researched, and takes a balanced and neutral point of view as it attempts to look back through the history of the fixture that the Spanish league is most well known for,
el clásico. The fixture and the league has been home to some of the most talented players the world has ever seen, from Alfredo Di Stéfano and Ferenc Puskás to Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi in more recent times, and Lowe charts the rivalry from its early roots through to today.
It is, of course, much more than just two teams meeting, it's often seen as a clash of ideologies, two nations coming together in a heated battle on the pitch, where tempers can flare, the fans are whipped up into a frenzy, and the hype surrounding the game can often overwhelm the fixture itself. However, Lowe attempts to strip down this veneer and look at what the fixture is at its core, and what it means to Spanish society, in particular during such a tough time for the country economically.
Sid will be answering all sorts of questions about the book and Spanish football on Wednesday this week in the Sugar Club in Dublin, and
you can get tickets here, or opt for a bundle deal where you can get the book and a ticket all together. We'll be there anyway, so keep an eye out for our 1997 Real Zaragoza jersey. We're not football hispters, we swear!
