Video Game Freaks

An Indiana Jones Product That Actually Improves on the Original

Kris Saelen — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:51:00 +0000

Unlike the often uneven source material from which the game is based, Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues actually makes you glad that the creators decided to continue the playing in the world they had previously created. The sequel game improves on its predecessor in almost every major way, creating an overall fun and even exciting game appropriate for all ages. Taking the bulk of its inspiration from the over the top fourth Indiana Jones movie, Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull, the creators decided on a silly, happy interpretation that lets the player laugh at the movie a little.

The improvement in how levels are structured in this game creates a free and more customizable playing experience. Instead of a linear storyline, each level has a hub world that allows you to explore and solve puzzles at your own pace and in whatever order you like, creating a much more expansive sense to the play that really increases the overall enjoyment of the game. Stuck on a difficult puzzle? Just skip it and come back later without getting frustrated or hopelessly stalled.

Other improvements include the new importance of currency, requiring the studs you collect throughout the game to purchase items to solve later puzzles. Each new character you control has special skills that allow for plenty of variety in game play, keeping the action fresh instead of repetitive. Crack Indy’s whip to hang from ceilings or even drag around enemies, control a character who has a wrench to fix broken items, or have fun just blasting things to pieces with a bazooka. What’s more, the ability to build your own customized levels is a fun bonus feature. Sure, there are weak elements – vehicle controls in particular are complicated and frustrating – but the overall experience of the game is a puzzle addict’s dream, and we think you’ll be sad when the action is over.

Avatar Tie-In Kills the Magic

Kris Saelen — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:02:35 +0000

While the high tech geek in me can love the Avatar movie for the colorful, wondrous work of technology that it was, I can’t help but be brought back down to Earth by the overwhelmingly disappointing tie in game. Everyone knows that movie tie ins are vastly hit or miss, and when they miss, they miss big. Never was this more true than with Avatar, which takes what was already a thread bare plot from the movie and beats it to death. Although in this version you’re offered the choice of staying with ecoterrorist group RDA or siding with the peaceful blue Na’vi, neither path will lead you anywhere interesting.

A bad script and even worse voice acting strips any sense of magic from the plot line, instead leaving you with an overlong, fairly basic first person shooter game. In Na’vi mode, you can use a variety of melee weapons that offers some entertaining combat options. However, in RDA mode, the completely lack of interesting choice only points out the technical glitches the game is prone to with even more stark clarity. AI characters often make moves that offer no logical sense, and even you can end up stuck in weird positions.

The scenery, although impressive at first, quickly becomes about as humdrum as the game, offering little but monotony and distinct sense of deja vu. It might be helped by decent vehicle play, except that when you’re in a vehicle the camera bounces so violently that all you’ll want is the monotony of walking through the jungle back. While the 3D aspect of the game is a nice feature (if you have a hi-def TV, anyway), it certainly doesn’t make up for the variety of ways in which the game fails to be anything interesting.

Planet 51 Offers Cartoon Antics For Kids

Kris Saelen — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:21:14 +0000

As bright and colorful as you would expect a game based on a kid’s movie to be, Planet 51 offers a mindless sort of escapism that works best on fans of the movie – namely, children.

The plot is an incoherent mess if you haven’t seen the movie (and is even a bit confusing if you have), but that doesn’t stop a lot of the missions from being just entertaining enough to enjoy.

Lem, the young Planet 51 native who experiences a first encounter with “alien” Chuck, performs a variety of engaging odd jobs throughout the game – taxi driver, parking lot attendant, even a dog catcher. The variety helps the game play stay fresh and original, even if the story itself is nonsensical.

Thankfully, driving on Planet 51 is entertaining, offering fun and unusual directional controls and even a PG kind of violence, allowing the player to bash other cars when they’re close or to even escape from the police after a bought of dangerous speeding. The occasional race against Voorde offers even more satisfying speed and fun.

Less interesting are the interspersed missions with Chuck, who dodges obstacles in a thoroughly uninteresting way – on foot. And even worse than those are the irritating missions where you play as Rover, whose slow movements are only made worse by stimulating missions like collecting rocks. Luckily, these missions can be skipped, but wouldn’t it have been better not to include them in the first place?

Still, the impressive surroundings of Planet 51 make for an harmless, enjoyable ride, even if it is one aimed toward younger audiences. It’s something smaller kids can enjoy and parents will be comfortable with, and there are definitely worse things to aspire toward. Don’t agree? Leave a comment below and try to convince me that I’m wrong.

Relive the Rage with Darksiders

Kris Saelen — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 08:32:08 +0000

Ever curious about exactly how the end of the world would go down? Play Darksiders for one potential answer. As War, one of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse, the end of the world isn’t just a spectator sport – it’s your job. Unfortunately, according to the plot line, you started it all a bit too early. Tracking down why through the ruined remains of Earth’s civilization, you’ll enjoy a long single player storyline, some excellent battle scenes, and truly mind bending puzzles.

Though there are a lot of intriguing features to Darksiders, originality is certainly not one of them. From the storyline to the game play, the entire scenario has a distinct “I’ve played this game before” kind of feel. Certainly, the character and even the fighting style are eerily similar to God of War. Not necessarily a bad thing, but certainly something that can cause a rather extreme case of deja vu. Luckily, the fighting that was so successful in that game translates well here – battles are fluid and powerful, with satisfying results. Wide weapon sweeps can take out a large number of enemies, and easy switching between two weapons means that game play stays fresh and interesting.

Unfortunately, it’s also a bit complicated. While the sheer number of items you find in this story certainly holds your interest successfully, it also becomes increasingly more difficult to perform functions with all of them. Three or four step processes become more and more commonplace, which could easily irritate even the most patient gamer.

Luckily, the excellent puzzles go a long way in mitigating this blunder. Offering plenty of options and encouraging creative thinking to solve your problems, the puzzles keep the game interesting where the storyline completely fails to do so. The overall experience becomes a fun one, even if it is a little familiar.

Keeping A Good Thing Going with Modern Warfare 2

Kris Saelen — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:57:15 +0000

Thrusting you directly into the action where its prequel left off, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 immediately immerses players in a thrilling and adrenaline-pumping battle to keep the world safe. With rotating characters, exotic locations, and creative battle sequences, game play is intense, rewarding, and thoroughly addictive. The main campaign is a bit short, clocking in at around five hours. While it’s a bit disappointing to be able to blow through it so fast, the smooth game play helps console you. Challenging enemies mean that winning actually offers a sense of satisfaction missing in so many of today’s games.

What I do sort of wish was missing, however, were some of the more disturbing undercurrents that the occasionally muddy plot offers. While I suppose the ethical questions raised by the infiltration of a terrorist cell (during which you must behave as an actual terrorist) are worth examining, I can’t help but feel that the tightly paced plot doesn’t allow the proper time for a full resolution and processing of the issues the game is trying to examine. The result is a dark, occasionally disturbing muddle of ethical gray area that makes victory a little less sweet – fine for a TV show, perhaps, or a movie, but maybe a bit much for a video game to handle properly.

The Special Ops Mode subverts all of these problems by concentrating solely on single campaign based missions you can perform solo or with a friend. Varied in both nature and the different skills required, this mode allows a lot of excellent action without all of the confusing emotional fallout. Playing with friends is a rewarding experience that can really enhance the game play. What’s more, the tried and true Multiplayer function made so successful in Call of Duty 4 is still a shining star in this game. With loads of new perks, features, and weapons, this aspect of the game will keep old fans thrilled with both its consistency and its improvements.

PDP N-7345: Cool Duo Case and Stylus Pen

Kris Saelen — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 05:25:01 +0000

The PDP N-7345 Nintendo DS Lite Licensed Duo Case and Stylus Pen may be a mouthful to say, but it’s an outstanding way to keep your Nintendo DS games and stylus safe when you’re on the go. It comes with separate compartments to hold up to six games and a stylus, making it very, very convenient.

If you’re worried about not liking the ’style’ because of the picture we have of the PDP N-7345, rest assured that this Duo Case (with included stylus pen!) comes in a wide variety of colors and a choice of characters on the case.

Now that we have that out of the way, you should really be interested in this Nintendo DS game case. You don’t want to be “that gamer” who has game cartridges falling out of pockets, into couches, etc. The PDP N-7345 makes it super easy to keep your games safe and all in one place when you’re on the go.

There’s nothing to say you can’t use this Nintendo DS game case to store your games at home. In fact, it’s a convenient way to keep your game area tidy while protecting your games from dust and other contaminants. And at the price, it’s easy to get enough cases for ALL your games, not just the ones near and dear to your heart. Smile.

Seriously, this is an economical and stylish way to carry or store your Nintendo DS games whether you’re on the go or chilling out at home. With so many different styles available, there’s a PDP N-7345 that’s sure to please everyone.

If you own a PDP N-7345 Duo Case, let us know what you think! What design did you go with? Are you as happy with it as most people seem to be? We want to hear from YOU!

Best Game Console for Christmas 2009?

Kris Saelen — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:03:57 +0000

Xbox Elite Console

As the Holiday Season continues, many people might still be trying to decide which gaming console to purchase as a gift – either for the full family or just a single person. That’s one of the things you should consider when choosing what type of gaming system to purchase. Should you get the Nintendo Wii? The Playstation 3? Or how about the XBox 360? It can all be a little confusing until you take a look at the gaming systems.

Nintendo Wii for Families

While not necessarily just for families, the Nintendo Wii makes a great gift for an entire family, with games that will keep them entertained (and in shape depending on what games you get – the Wii fit is a good gift.) That’s not to say you can’t get a Nintendo Wii for a single person, but it makes a terrific group gift on your holiday list.

Playstation 3 for Roleplayers

If you’re getting a game station for someone who is into role playing and strategy games, the Sony Playstation 3 might be the best game system to purchase in 2009. With a great selection of games (of all types), the system is made for solitary gamers who occasionally like to get online to challenge others.

XBox 360 for Halo

Xbox 360 online is a hit with many people who are really into gaming, making this system a winner for them. With a lot of great online games that will keep them busy for hours, the Microsoft Xbox 360 might cost a little more, but it’s worth it. If you can, go for the extra storage. There’s a lot of great deals out there this year.

The Winner?

Well, that’s up to you. As mentioned, these game consoles are good for anyone really, because they have such a wide selection of games. Do you disagree or agree with our generalized look at gaming consoles circa Christmas 2009?

Let us know
in a comment below!

Wii Nerf Racing Wheel

Kris Saelen — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:18:48 +0000

This Wii Nerf Racing Wheel is a controller that can take your gaming experience to the next level. Available for a very terrific (and cheap) price, there’s nothing else that’s cheap about this Wii controller.

The authentic Nerf foam is probable what most people like about this controller because it’s so comfortable. Beyond being comfortable, however, it can really heighten your gaming experience when playing Nintendo Wii racing games.

There are many other cheap racing wheels for the Wii available, but the Nerf foam really makes a difference in this one. And when you consider the price, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular with so many people.

You haven’t played Mario Kart until you’ve played it with this racing wheel from Nerf. It takes the game to a whole other level. And you don’t have to worry if you crash and accidentally “toss” the controller to the ground. It’s Nerf, man.

There are some people out there who won’t like it for one reason or another, but there are many reviews for this product that go on and on about how well they like it. The racing wheel seems to be a “love it or hate it” type of item.That said, there are quite a few people who love it and chances are you may be one of these people.

For the price, it makes sense to get two or three, especially if you have big Nintendo Wii parties with lots of people. This may not be the best piece of Wii equipment you ever buy, but it just might be one of the funnest. If you’re into racing games, you really want to give this racing controller from Nerf a chance. You might just find that it’s Nerf-tastic.

If you have one, we’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below and let us know what you think.

Energizer Power & Play Charging System for PS3

Kris Saelen — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:57:00 +0000

If you’re like most gamers (or owners of the Playstation 3), you have a great set of wireless controllers for the PS3. Sometimes it’s hard to keep them charged up and stored well between use. We’ve all been there – tossing the controller down after a long gaming session.

That’s all changed. Now there’s a better way. Not only will it let you keep your controller looking good between uses, it will keep it charged up and ready to go too. And it’s from a name you know and trust – Energizer. The Energizer Power & Play Charging System for PS3 is a wonderful way to keep your controllers charged. It also is a great way to keep your controllers safe when you’re not using them. The aforementioned controllers tossed on the floor have a tendency to get stepped on – which is NOT good for a controller – PS3 or otherwise.

Back to the Energizer Power & Play Charging System for PS3, though. This little piece of equipment is simple in design, but it works and works well. That it looks good while doing it is just an extra bonus. What’s really fantastic about this PS3 controller charger is that in just two and a half hours, it can fully charge up to four wireless PS3 controllers. That’s right, it doesn’t take that much time at all. This is good news for gamers everywhere.

There is room for you to hold two controllers on this recharger, but it also has USB so you can charge up to two more PS3 controllers that way. This is a very useful and easy way to make sure your controllers are charged before game time. Keeping your gaming area neat and not messy is just a bonus.

If you’ve used the Energizer Power & Play Charging System for the PS3, we’d love to know what you think. Leave a comment below. We’re sure you’re going to be very pleased with this charging system for your PS3 controllers.

Pelican DS LITE Nintendo 3D Case is Very Nice

Kris Saelen — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:55:49 +0000

This is a very inexpensive and wonderful way to transport and protect your precious Nintendo DS Lite games. It holds up to eight. And at the price, it’s easy to get a second or even a third to protect ALL your games all the time – even if you’re not transporting them. The stylish design of the case even looks good when used in your home to store your Nintendo DS Lite games.

If you’re like most people who own the Nintendo DS Lite, you have a TON of games lying around willy-nilly. This is not only messy, it’s not really good for your games either. That’s where this nifty case from Pelican (a PDP product) comes in. Each one you buy can hold up to eight games. So, no matter whether you’re on the go and want to protect your Nintendo DS Lite games or you just want to keep them more organized at home, it’s easy and doesn’t cost a lot.

If you truly have a lot of games, it makes sense to buy more than one Pelican DS Lite case for your games. Here’s why – you can have one for your adventure games, one for your sports games, one for your travel games. Do you see where this is going? At the price, it’s easy to get an Pelican DS Lite Nintendo 3D case for every game genre – or at least the ones that you have games in.

There are other ways to store your games (the aforementioned willy-nilly all over the floor or apartment) or even in a shoe box in the closet, but Pelican’s case is an elegant and safe way to store and travel with your Nintendo DS Lite games, wherever you go.

If you have one and have decorated yours with stickers or by painting it, we’d love to see it! Leave a comment below and let us know what you think about this wonderful Nintendo DS Lite case for games. Thanks.