THE VIDEO GAME PAGE The latest trends, tips and reviews
“Skate It” (EA; Wii)
2008 IN REVIEW Try as they might, game developers once praised for
taking advantage of the Wii’s motion-sensitive controller
JUST RENT IT!
to make innovative games are now handcuffed by the lim-
itations of said controller. Case in point, “Skate It” from
EA, a competent, different and mostly cool skateboard
game that nevertheless becomes frustrating and weari-
some all too quickly because even the basic Ollie-come-
Nosegrind is just a (seemingly) random result of your
Here’s a roundup of games worth renting, basic waggle on the Wii-mote. It optionally incorpo-
rates the Wii Balance Board to decent effect, but really
but fall way short purchasing just adds some wobble to the waggle. Rated Everyone
(6+) for mild violence.
By SHAUN CONLIN
Cox News Service “Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol
Encore 2” (Konami; Wii)
W
ith the holiday season’s typical flood of new releases, there were many This game is proof-positive that the Nintendo Wii is
great games that came to market along with quite a few lame ducks trying the worst platform for karaoke and the best platform to
to cash in on your holiday shopping dollar. In between all that, out came rehash lousy old games by changing the box art so as to
some titles that were neither; good games but lacking polish or long-lasting appeal, bilk some cash out of uneducated, “family friendly” con-
,
but are otherwise perfectly suited to a one-day weekend, or week-long rental. sumers. Rated Everyone (10+) for lyrics.
“Lips” (Microsoft; Xbox 360) scant offering of downloadable tunes
also available at $2 a pop). Plus, “Fracture” (LucasArts; PlayStation 3, Xbox 360)
If you really want a comprehen- “Lips” comes with a pair of wireless, A truly cool concept for naught, “Fracture’s” primary
sive, long-playing karaoke video- motion-sensitive microphones, which action shtick is your ability to deform the world’s terrain
game experience, you’ll want to buy are not only easy to pass around, but to suit your needs. Create a grumbling hill to hide behind
“SingStar” for PlayStation 3. But if are also used to score players on their (or many of them), create a ditch to roll a conveniently
you’ve an Xbox 360 party with friends fist-pumpin’, tambourine-whackin’, spherical bomb along, and so on. It’s truly worth checking
and cocktails on your mind, rent strike-a-pose prowess. Lots of forget- out, but like Tom Sawyer’s painted fence, the novel task
“Lips,” a competent sing-along game table fun. Rated Teen (13+) for lyrics, becomes a chore in no time, and the rest of the post-apoc-
with a decent, diverse batch of tunes mild cartoon violence, suggestive alyptic, genetically enhanced one-man-army shoot-’em-up
just waiting to be brutalized (and a themes, use of tobacco. is a tad too cookie-cutter to keep you coming back. Rated
Teen (13+) for animated blood, mild language, violence.
“Need for Speed: Undercover” (EA; PlayStation 3)
As the franchise that practically invented — and then abandoned —
the cop car-chase genre eons ago by introducing the concept of tearing Sega
around with a purpose be-
yond crossing the finish
line, “Need for Speed:
Undercover” is a has-been “Sonic Unleashed” (Sega; Xbox 360)
that seems to rely on high-
Though “Sonic the Hedgehog” traded in “edginess”
definition gloss and some
for laurel-resting schlock many moons ago, that didn’t
throw-away “stories” that
stop Sega from serializing the heck out of their mascot.
try to give the rudiments of
In “Sonic Unleashed,” the “blue dude with ’tude” does Ubisoft
it all something akin to “re-
his rushing, rolling, coin-collecting thing in big, beauti-
newed purpose.” It would
ful high-def 3D, but good luck trying to figure out where
have been a better revisit to
to go or what to do because the levels are oddly designed “Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway”
the driving, crashing, cop
car-chase games of old, but
Electronic Arts and the sloppy/lazy camera perspective just makes mat- (Ubisoft; PlayStation 3, Xbox 360)
ters worse. It’s worth renting for the added jaunt as an Though a terrific, immersive WWII-
that aforementioned high-def gloss also happens to have the game
alter-ego “Werehog,” which is more about fighting themed shooter, replete with the franchise’s
chugging like a slideshow from time to time. Too bad. Rated Teen (13+)
through levels rather than zipping through them. Rated trademarked emotional oomph and genuine
for mild suggestive themes, mild violence, mild lyrics.
Everyone (10+) for animated blood, fantasy violence. sense of pathos, “Brothers in Arms: Hell’s
Highway” is only worth a single play
through. While it offers a war-is-hell experi-
ence that shouldn’t be missed, the game also
“Hasbro Family Game Night” (EA; Wii) suffers a video-games-are-stupid design flaw
The neat thing about Hasbro tabletop games like “Connect Four,” in that your band of brothers in arms don’t
“Boggle,” “Battleship,” “Sorry!” and the like is that you can gather the always come off as compliant comrades but
family around to play them just about anywhere, the kitchen table, the RV , starkly robotic programming subroutines
the cottage, the picnic blanket ... but because you all probably spend way that can’t see the bullets for the trees and
,
too much time in front of the TV set anyway you can also now play a half- will walk into enemy fire even though you
dozen Hasbro games on your Wii, virtualized. It’s patented family fun to told them to duck and cover — or they’ll
be sure, but now you don’t even have to look at each other; you can inter- duck and cover when they’re supposed to be
act remotely without so much as a sideways glance. A terrific novelty protecting your behind. Idiots in arms?
,
worth visiting for an evening or weekend rental, but really after that, go Rated Mature (17+) for blood and gore, in-
Electronic Arts
to the park and play catch or something. Rated Everyone (6+). tense violence, strong language.
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate for Cox News Service. (800) 255-6734. *For release the week of December 22, 2008.
THE PLAYER’S PAGE The latest trends, tips and reviews on video games
2008 IN REVIEW “Wario Land: Shake It!”
Everyone play!
(Nintendo; Wii; $49.99)
While Wii is often decried as the system where every
other game is just a waggle-fest, “Wario Land: Shake
It!” (left) seems to spite the naysayers by making an
entire game out of shaking, twisting and pumping
the Wii’s celebrated, motion-sensitive controller. The
problem is, it’s really good, surprisingly addictive
and not without a certain guilty-pleasure charm.
Looking for games for the whole family? So what if “waggle is the new button-mash”?
Here’s a collection a stellar E-rated titles. Sometimes mash is good. Now, waggle is, too.
Rated Everyone (6+) for comic mischief, mild
cartoon violence.
By SHAUN CONLIN
Cox News Service
“Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts”
E
choes of the recent holiday shopping frenzy remain in that you’ll need to buy (Microsoft; Xbox 360; $39.99)
a game or two for that spiffy new game system. There were many new titles Some said it couldn’t be done, but
that came available quite suddenly in the last quarter of 2008 — only some of the long-running Banjo-Kazooie
them good, and not all of them necessarily ideal for play by all ages. Here’s a quick franchise has managed to become
rundown of the better games rated E for Everyone by the ESRB. relevant again thanks to a bril-
liantly retooling that forgoes the
“World of Goo” (2DBoy; PC, WiiWare; formerly boring bauble-collecting
aspects of the series and now sees the
$19.99, $15 or 1500 Nintendo Points) unlikely bear-and-bird duo cobbling
Though technically a throwback to the days of wimpy consoles and limited side- together vehicles out of chance parts
scrolling, platform-hopping action, “World of Goo” is more artistic endeavor than scattered about each level then driving/
retro rehash. It’s clever in its delivery of deceptively simple (but hectic) puzzles flying/piloting those vehicles though
and beautifully (albeit frantically) rendered in its minimalistic (and exhaustively the patently huge, challenge-laden worlds.
goopy) presentation. Old school goes to art college. It’s all good. Rated Everyone Rated Everyone (10+) for cartoon violence,
(6+) for comic mischief. comic mischief.
“MySims Kingdom” (EA; Wii; $49.99)
Targeting grade-schoolers but also a nice
respite for older players, “MySims King- Nintendo
dom” (right) is an engaging little town-and-
populace/build-and-interact simulator that “NHL 09” (EA; PlayStation 3, Xbox 360; $59.99)
actually employs the Wii Remote’s motion- It’s not just the best hockey game this year, it’s likely the
sensing and pointer capabilities to great best sports game, too. “NHL 09” (right) is so utterly compe-
effect — a waggle and jab game this is not, tent, thorough, robust, attractive, deep, long-playing and all
which is so terribly refreshing, it’s not even those other superlatives one uses to describe a video game
funny No wait, yes it is. Rated Everyone (6+)
. that excels on all fronts — especially the “fun to play” bit.
for comic mischief. It helps that hockey is the greatest sport on earth (note:
the author may be biased). Rated Everyone (10+) for mild
Electronic Arts violence. Electronic Arts
“Pure” (Disney Interactive;
PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360; $29.99, $59.99) “Lego Batman: The Videogame” (Warner Bros.
Though Disney is better known for Mickey Mouse games and Goofy “Little Big Planet” (Sony; Interactive; PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox
TV-show tie-ins, “Pure” not only stands out as atypical Disney fare but PlayStation 3; $59.99) 360; $29.99-$49.99)
as exceptional, straight-up ATV racing, stunt driving and, of course, Quite alone in the PlaySta- Considering the success of “Lego Star Wars” and “Lego Indiana
,
crashing. It’s easy-to-play hard-to-master fun throughout. Rated Every- tion 3’s arsenal of killer M-rated Jones,” “Lego Batman” was practically inevitable. While delivering
one (6+) for mild violence. games, “Little Big Planet” is both the same childlike wonder of bashing, shooting and collecting action
“Animal Crossing: City Folk” a picturesque, all-ages, platform-
hoping adventure that even non-
of previous titles, “Lego Batman” is based on the comic books rather
than any of the Batman films, so the movie-spoofing humor is missing.
(Nintendo; Wii; $49.99) PS3 fans can sink their teeth into Instead, “Lego Batman” relies on generalized superhero and super vil-
Though it’s an aging franchise that (it requires no more than two but- lain riffs and gags. Rated Everyone (10+) for cartoon violence.
has done little to reinvent itself for the tons on a direction pad to play)
new-generation Wii, “ Animal Crossing: and also a seriously wonderous
“make your own game” toolset
“Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution” (2K Games;
City Folk” (left) is nonetheless one of
the best, harmless, engaging and enjoy- with a zillion selectable objects PlayStation 3, Xbox 360; $39.99)
able little township-full-of-happy-people to mix and match and integrate “Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution” deliveres real-time strategy
simulators out there. It’s also the first with each other, resulting in (RTS) designed specifically for consoles, seriously streamlining the
game to feature WiiSpeak, which lets near-infinite possibilities, all of it ,
interface, removing much of the exceedingly persnickety micro-mana-
you conference call live with other shareable. It’s remarkable. Rated gerial aspects of large-scale war-strategy gaming found on the PC
households playing with their happy Everyone (6+) for comic mischief, version, but keeping the core pleasure of playing armchair general
people. Rated Everyone (6+) comic mild cartoon violence. (or armchair Gandhi, as you wish) intact. Rated Everyone (10+) for
Nintendo mischief. alcohol and tobacco reference, mild suggestive themes, violence.
THE VIDEO GAME PAGE The latest trends, tips and reviews
2008 IN REVIEW “Mirror’s Edge” (Electronic Arts; PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360;
$49.99-$59.99)
Rated ‘T’
In this day and age, rare is the game that comes along and defies com-
parison, but there’s nothing quite like “Mirror’s Edge,” a Parkour-inten-
sive action game that dumps most game conventions like maps and on-
screen stats and heads-up displays in favor of non-stop, full-throttle
running, jumping, climbing and clamoring your way across an urban
landscape like it’s your own personal 10,000-acre, 40-story jungle gym
— with the odd stint of shooting and fighting bad guys for good
By SHAUN CONLIN
and terrific measure, just to give it all a point and a sense of urgency to boot.
Rated Teen (13+) for blood, language, violence.
“Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution 2”
Cox News Service (Tomy; Wii; $49.99)
Filling a serious void in the Wii game catalog,
W
ith your game system of choice in hand, the available games to buy are “Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution 2” (left) of-
,
many and it’s often difficult to discern the gems from the junk. The furious ,
fers up a stylish, edgy anime-flavored fighting
tumble of new releases that came to market over the holiday shopping sea- ,
adventure. Thankfully waggling the Wii
son only exacerbated the problem. Here’s a quick list of what’s both new and hot in Remote to pull off super-killer kung fu is
games rated “T” (for Teen) by the ESRB. .
optional, not mandatory Old-school but-
ton-mash forever! Rated Teen (13+) for
“SingStar” (Sony; PlayStation 2, cartoon violence, mild suggestive
themes.
PlayStation 3; $29.99-$59.99)
Video gaming’s best karaoke is available in numerous genre-
specific guises on PlayStation 2 and as two volumes on “Mortal Kombat vs.
PlayStation 3 (with additional content of most any genre avail-
able for purchase online), the “SingStar” series sets itself apart DC Universe”
by offering all the karaoke a wannabe crooner could possibly (Midway; Xbox 360;
hope for and one-upping the competition by using the original
recordings and music videos of original artists.
$59.99)
Sure, it’s a shameless
Tomy bilking of one tired, old
“Guitar Hero: World Tour” band kit (Activision/Red fight-game franchise
Octane; PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360; waxing at freshness by
“World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King” incorporating a bunch
$189.99-$199.99) of comic book super-
A multimillion-selling franchise with mass appeal to air-guitarists (Activision Blizzard; PC; $39.99) heroes into the jam-
and rock-star wannabes, “Guitar Hero: World Tour” is the latest in There’s no denying the unmitigated popularity of packed roster of brutal
the rhythm-based, button-tapping music game series that now, for “World of Warcraft,” now boasting nearly 12 million sub- brawlers, but “Mortal
the first time, coughs up the whole kit and caboodle of fake musi- scribers (paying a monthly fee just for the privilege of Kombat vs. DC
cianship: a wireless drum-kit controller, a guitar/bass controller playing). What’s more, the massively multiplayer (MMO) Universe” nonetheless
(second available separately), a microphone and, of course, the game game’s latest expansion pack, “Wrath of the Lich King,” sold a whop- comes off as a frivolous-
itself, which features nearly a hundred play-along tunes with still ping 4 million copies in just its first month of release. For all its virtual alter- ly fantastic pummeler ...
more mash-along tunes available for purchase/download. What’s ego fantasy play it’s a game with much broader appeal than its “Teen” rating
, so long as you don’t ex-
more, you can also compose, record, edit and share your own music would suggest, with little girls playing as brawny knights and grown men play- pect Superman to win
online, though some musical aptitude is required if you want any- ing as diminutive elf queens. Rated Teen (13+) for blood and gore, suggestive any fights, because they
body to like it. Rated Teen (13+) for lyrics, mild suggestive themes. themes, use of alcohol, violence. wimped him out.
“Tom Clancy’s End War”
“Scene It? Box Office Smash!” “Buzz Quiz TV” (Sony; (Ubisoft; PlayStation 3; $39.99)
(Microsoft; Xbox 360; $59.99) PlayStation 3; $59.99) Due to the in-
The second in Microsoft’s movie-based nate lack of a
trivia-game franchise is a much more Similar to “Scene It? Box Office
keyboard and
competent and long-lasting title than its Smash!,” “Buzz Quiz TV” for
mouse, real-time
initial offering. “Scene It? Box Office PlayStation 3 offers trivia via wire-
strategy (RTS)
Smash!” not only offers a huge batch of less button-bonking bulbousness
games rarely
questions and a number of ways to trivialize (four wireless, bulbous controllers
fare well on con-
them, its online components are much more included) played TV game-show style
soles. There are
robust; you or your entire household can go with a more diverse, more compre-
a couple of re-
up against other players or households hensive collection of Q&As and
cent exceptions,
around the world or down the street. What’s mini-game trappings but also with
of course, with Ubisoft
more, you can download new question packs an annoying cheeseball of a virtual
“Tom Clancy’s
to keep it fresh. Rated Teen (13+) for use of game-show host. Rated Teen (13+) for
End War” being the most notable, mainly for the fact that it
alcohol and tobacco, violence, crude humor, alcohol references, mild blood, mild
utilizes a headset that allows you to just sit back and bark or-
blood, mild language, sexual themes. suggestive themes, mild violence.
Sony ders while voice-recognition software makes it so on screen
(kind of like phone chess). It’s pretty cool.
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate for Cox News Service. (800) 255-6734. *For release the week of January 5, 2009.
THE VIDEO GAME PAGE The latest trends, tips and reviews
2008 IN REVIEW “Gears of War 2”
(Microsoft; Xbox 360; $59.99)
M-rated
Oh, no! Not again! Yes, those
bug-like aliens aren’t quite done
with the whole invasion thing so
it’s up to you and three of your
no-neck buddies to fight the good
fight some more. That said,
standouts
“Gears of War 2” is not at all bor-
ing or tired. In fact, it’s better
looking and way more heavy
handed this go around — like a
good sequel ought to be — while still sporting the
By SHAUN CONLIN series’ key gameplay mechanics; that stop-and-pop,
Cox News Service crouch-and-cover-based warfare played from the
third-person perspective. Rated Mature (17+) for
blood and gore, intense violence, strong language.
T
hough the recent holiday-shopping season certainly belonged to
Nintendo’s Wii, there were also a good many blockbuster games that
came available for other game systems. Here’s the final rundown of
holiday shopping titles that were either too technically demanding or sim-
“Resistance 2”
ply to un-family friendly for Nintendo’s little white waggle muffin; games (Sony; PlayStation 3; $59.99)
rated M for Mature by the ESRB. Oh, no! Not again! Yes, those other bug-like
aliens aren’t quite done with the whole invasion
thing so it’s up to you and three of your no-neck
“Call of Duty: World at War” buddies to fight the good fight some more. A
(Activision; Windows PC, Xbox 360; $49.99-$59.99) straight up first-person shooter, “Resistance 2”
Though offering very little in the way of advancement or innovation, looks too huge to handle, ominous and awesome
“Call of Duty: World at War,” fifth in the series, nonetheless does the fran- for it, but the action is actually doled out in small,
chise proud as yet another harrowing WWII shoot-’em-up, where nothing confined segments of do-or-die. Rated Mature
happens until you follow orders to make something happen, and with its (17+) for blood and gore, intense violence, strong
online multiplayer component sporting that trademarked ranking system language.
that rewards you with perks, weapons and weapon attachments as you
progress. Someday they’ll be able to make a game that lets you step over a
, “Left 4 Dead” (EA; Windows PC, Xbox
knee-high pile of sandbags. Rated Mature (17+) for blood and gore, intense
violence, strong language. Electronic Arts / Crytek 360; $49.99, $59.99)
Zombie movies are a mainstay of pop culture
“Crysis Warhead” (EA/Crytek; PC; $29.99) for good reason: they are morbid and usually hi-
“BioShock” (2K Games; PlayStation 3; $39.99) Though a conventional sci-fi shooter at heart, “Crysis larious about it. After all, zombies look like peo-
Warhead” (above), a stand-alone expansion to ’07s ple, but they’re not actually people, right? You
The 2007 Game of the Year, “BioShock” finally made “Crysis,” continues its testament to the thrill of high-
its red-faced way to PlayStation 3 late in 2008; still a can watch someone cap the undead in the head
powered PC gaming. It’s a game of cunning and guile as and cheer rather than cringe, because an un-
supremely engrossing, plot-twisted game of mutating much as running and gunning, a game of juggling cyber-
survival in the forgotten experimental city of Rapture dead dude can’t go around making any more un-
suit skills and weaponry to fit the momentary task at dead dudes anymore. It’s all good. It’s all better,
hidden deep in the lonely sea; still mixing it up between hand, like leaping like a lemur or running like a bullet or
role-playing upgrades and attribute enhancements to in fact, thanks to “Left 4 Dead,” an unabashed,
gunning like a nuke. At $30, “Warhead” is notably short- morbidly hilarious game of zombie slaughter
your character, who otherwise runs around first-person- er than the original “Crysis” as it plays out a mere sub-
shooter-style; still amazing on all fronts and now playable on PS3 as that does, in fact, play out like a movie for you
,
plot of the original story but its online multiplayer and up to four buddies. Rated Mature (17+) for
well. Rated Mature (17+) for sexual themes, strong language, blood and modes do offer more content and variations than the
gore, drug references, intense violence. blood and gore, intense violence, language.
original, all of it totally fun — and gorgeous and silky
smooth if you happen to have a rig that’ll run it at full
“Fable II” throttle. Rated Mature (17+) for blood, strong language,
violence.
(Microsoft; Xbox 360; $59.99)
Not your typical tale about a boy and his dog
— though there is a dog — “Fable II” (left) is il- “Fallout 3” (Bethesda; PC,
lustrative of a new breed of role-playing games PlayStation 3, Xbox 360;
for a new generation of game systems.
Adventuring through the world of Albion is a $49.99-$59.99)
positively huge affair, astonishingly detailed and Another role-playing/shooter hybrid,
utterly enchanting because of it. As with the “Fallout 3” (right) likewise offers up a seriously
previous “Fable” title, this polished sequel sees elaborate role-playing game of missions to find
the game world and its denizens shaped by your so-and-so during a quest to liberate such-and-
actions and inactions; play the hero, play the such after upgrading the thingamajig with a re-
thug or play the deadbeat who spends his day ,
furbished doohickey but disguised as a first-
chopping wood to earn just enough money to person shooter; OK, a first-person shooter with Bethesda
spend evenings at the bar gambling it all away awkward pacing and way too many conversa-
on pub games. Rated Mature (17+) for blood, lan- tions about doohickeys, but nonetheless, one of the coolest, genre-bending, post-apocalyptic
guage, sexual content, use of alcohol, violence. games of mayhem and trepidation and inventory management out there. Rated Mature (17+) for
Microsoft blood and gore, intense violence, sexual themes, strong language, use of drugs.
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate for Cox News Service. (800) 255-6734. *For release the week of January 12, 2009.