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Columns > This Week In Games > #19: January 29th 2006
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by Michael Anderson
January 26, 2006
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Michael Anderson reports in every week to keep parents informed about what's recently arrived in stores!
Want to know what new games have arrived in stores in the past couple of weeks? I'll tell you – and let you know what the early reviews are saying. I'll call out games that kids will probably love – even if the reviewers aren't impressed. Remember to look at the bottom of the article for game release more than a month ago that are just getting reviewed. I'll also alert you to games with very strong adult themes, so you can be ready to discuss them with your kids if needed. Finally, because there are plenty of gems to be found, I'll look for bargains to highlight, and a game that is older but still available, works on current generation hardware and is definitely worth checking out ... if you can find it.
Featured Game of the Week:
Psychonauts (PS2, Xbox & PC, Rated T – GamerDad Score 4.5/5). This hard to find game was nominated for the Game of the Year for Ages 10+. But it is one of those games that few played, and is very hard to find. The console versions are occasionally found in stores, but the PC version is only available from Amazon.com for $22.99. The GamerDad review says "The 3D platformer may be a tired and overused genre, but Psychonauts breathes new life into it with uniqueness and style. Every gamer owes it to themselves to play this game! There's a good "GamerDad" moment at the end, too." Check out the GamerDad review here!
Dubious Distinction of the Week:
The Nintendo DS had some of the best games last year ... but this isn't one of them. Dragon Booster – for the DS, Rated E for Everyone, Average Review Score ~40%. Dragon Booster is a popular kids cartoon series about a world in which humans and dragons coexist, but the humans start to exploit the dragons and then to race and modify them. Coincidentally, our world is full of game companies and games, but unfortunately the game companies try to exploit the gamers by releasing un-fun junk like this and get gamers to buy it buy tying it to a license they enjoy. Don't let this happen to you!
Now for some recently released games on the major platforms. Games are grouped with consoles together, then handheld systems and finally PC games. Within each section, they are grouped by ESRB rating, from E to M.
Gaming Consoles (XBox360, PS2, Xbox, GameCube, and Multi-Platform)
- Torino 2006 (PS2 & XBox, Rated E) – Early Buzz: definitely less fun than competitive guessing how many athletes that get ‘up close and personal' features will actually win awards ... in other words, this is terrible.
- Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition (PS2, Rated M) – Early Buzz: minor updates and extras make it questionable for owners of the original, but the budget price for this special edition make it a great buy if you missed out on this great title from last year.
Handheld Game Systems
- Touch Golf (DS, Rated E) – Early Buzz: the stance was good, the line-up was right-on, and the swing very nice – so why did this one end up in the rough?
PC Games
- GT Legends (PC, Rated E) – Early Buzz: gorgeous and fun, this driving sim has some bugs and might have been released a bit undercooked.
Bargain Basement:
- Star Wars Republic Commando (PC, Rated T – GamerDad Score 4.5/5). Star Wars games tend to hold their prices for a long time based on the popularity of the license, so when a good deal comes along – like this one from Amazon.com for $24.99 for the PC version. The GamerDad review says "It is a very 'Star Wars' experience. ... while it is certainly darker and more intense at times than the Jedi Knight games, the squad based action has a strategic feel of detachment, lessening the impact. You can stretch this game to kids as young as ten if they have played something like Spider-Man or the earlier Dark Forces games on PC." Check out the GamerDad review here!
- Dragonball Z Sagas (PS2, Rated T – Average review score ~70%) This game got some decidedly mixed review scores, so it is one that I cannot heartily recommend, but if you have (or are) a DBZ fan, you can get this for only slightly more than a rental at Amazon.com for $9.99.
- Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (XBox & PC, Rated M – Average review score ~91%)GamerDad Score 4.5/5). Bad movie, great game! That is the general feeling among gamers. This game got ignored due to the lackluster film, but was one of the best shooters in 2004, and has just had a price drop at Amazon.com to $12.97.
Catch Me If You Can!:
- Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (PS2, Rated T – GamerDad Score 5/5). You can grab this great 3D action platformer from EBGames.com for $19.99. The GamerDad review notes that this "isn't just your typical 3-D action platformer sequel. Insomniac has basically given us more of the same of the first game, with the emphasis being on MORE! More weapons and gadgets, more enemies, more battles, more replay value...if you like silly 3-D platformer romps, this is about as close to perfection as you can get." Check out the GamerDad review here!
Catching Up with Game Reviews:
- Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Duel Academy (GBA, Rated E) – for a game with advanced AI and card mechanics, the game should do more to help you succeed. As a result, this is for hardcore fans with loads of card and game experience determined to be the ‘king of games'.
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Columns > This Week In Games > #19: January 29th 2006
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