Console Video Games

A mixed bag of new releases

By Amy Phillips and Becky Spilver -- School Library Journal, 1/1/2007

This month the focus is on video games released in late 2006. But this column wouldn't be complete without a mention of the two new video gaming consoles released in late November: Nintendo's affordable (list price about $250) Wii and Sony's costly (list price about $600) Playstation 3. These two next-gen systems join Microsoft's Xbox 360. The Wii's console is small (1.75" h × 6.25" w × 8.5" d) and comes with an innovative wireless motion-sensing controller that allows players to mimic movements (swing like a golf club or a bat, slash like a sword, etc.) to control play. While it doesn't play audio CDs or video DVDs, its Photo Channel allows for viewing and editing photographs. This console is lots of fun and can operate all Gamecube titles. The Playstation 3, which can play most Playstation and Playstation 2 games, comes with a revolutionary new DVD player and also has a wireless controller. The battery of the controller can be charged, but it is not removable and can't be replaced—so when it dies, gamers will have to purchase a new one. The system reads digital photos, supports most major types of music files (but it can't play back music from an iPod), has a built-in memory card reader, and runs quietly. With these new systems, future games are likely to become even more graphically oriented and have a movie-like quality. The impact of these new consoles on gaming is minor, due to their present limited availability and small game library, but they are certainly something to watch. The titles reviewed here have been rated E (everyone, ages 6 and older), E10+ (ages 10 and older), or T (teen, ages 13 and above) by the Entertainment Rating Software Board. To find out more about this rating system, visit their web site at esrb.org/ratings/index.jsp. Librarians can purchase video games from distributors such as Baker and Taylor, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and Thomas Klise/Crimson Multimedia. Also, consider taking a non-traditional route and work with local retailers. Manufacturers list prices have not been included because prices fluctuate widely depending on the market and the popularity of a game

Gr 4 Up—Based on the popular line of fashion dolls and a direct-to-DVD movie (Bratz Passion 4 Fashion Diamondz), this game provides very little in the way of gaming. Players take on four main characters: Cloe, Jade, Sasha, and Yasmin. Each character has her own adventures. The premise of the game is to win a spot n the America Rocks Fashion television show and the diamond go-go boots. Characters wander about accomplishing ridiculously simple tasks and gathering Blingz tokens. An in-game verbal tutorial is provided. Graphics look like they were hand-drawn by a child, and there are too many load screens. In a market that is sorely lacking girl-appeal games, this is a very poor entry.

Gr 8 Up—This unusual entry in the sports genre is designed to immerse gamers in the world of hunting by focusing on hunts in Alaska. Players select between male or female persona for their characters, and can choose either from open season or a series of different adventures. There are three levels of difficulty. The main areas where players can hunt or fish are the North Slope, Seward Peninsula, and Koyukuk. In addition, gamers can enter dog sledding contests. Before setting out to hunt specific game, players must purchase hunting tags and choose their guns, fishing equipment, and cold weather gear from an outpost. There are over 30 different hunts. The game's brief tutorial only covers how to hunt, not how to fish or sled. While this is one of the few games centered on hunting, it is disappointing. The graphics lack realism, the sound effects are repetitive, and the controls are difficult. Because of the game's poor quality, it is not recommended for purchase.

Gr 9 Up—The premise of this action game is that aliens have invaded and are masquerading as humans. One alien is now a swinging, hip President of the United States, Cryptosporidium 138. The gamer takes on the persona of Crypto. The Soviet Union sets out to destroy Crypto and he must stop them and other enemies. The gamer must complete a variety of different tasks assigned by Orthopox 13, Crypto's superior. The game is set in the 1960s and parodies the Haight-Ashbury period by having people living in the park, talking about free love and implied drug use, and dressing like hippies. Crypto sounds like John Wayne and the Soviet agents are stereotypes. While this game has potential to be funny and action-filled, it falls short. The game play is easy to pick up, so it would be a favorite with older elementary and middle school users. However, the dialogue and content is sexual in nature and would be appropriate for older teens. The disconnect between the game play and story line makes this a poor purchase choice.

Gr 7 Up—Loosely based on the history of China, the game is centered on three ancient kingdoms: Wei, Shu, Wu. The goal is to unite China. Players choose their primary characters from one of the three kingdoms. The game proceeds like a game of Risk. Players engage in battle with the other kingdoms for control of sections of China. The game differs from other strategy games in that the battles are fighting sequences in which players fight animated characters instead of moving symbolic figures around on a flat map. In addition to battling against their opponents, gamers must make choices to help them raise more armies. The game includes a free mode where players choose a specific battle. There are four levels of difficulty: novice, easy, hard, and chaos. The games begins with two scenarios, and four more that can be unlocked by winning battles. There are almost 50 characters that a player can end up manipulating; the majority of them must be unlocked. While the game doesn't provide a tutorial, it does include an encyclopedia covering the officers from the three kingdoms. This game would make an interesting addition to circulating collections, but would not be recommended for programming due to its complexity.

Gr 6 Up—Based on the animated film set in London's underground sewer system featuring Roddy, a pet mouse, and Sid, a sewer rat, this is a fairly solid entry into the movie tie-in/action genre. With decent graphics and an in-game tutorial that guides players through the standard jump, attack, and movement skills, this is a good choice for those beginning to develop their gaming skills. Players follow the story line of the characters from the movie in over 10 levels and various mini-games. One drawback is the camera angles—players can get "caught" in a corner or behind objects and must frequently re-orient themselves. For comprehensive middle-school collections.

Gr 7 Up— Guitar Hero II is a blast. In the game, players work their way up from garage band to rock star. To accomplish this, gamers must play a series of songs to prove themselves. These songs are "played" on the guitar controller which is sold with the game. Before entering the garage band concert, players can take three tutorials that show the different methods for using the controller. When these are completed, the player can decide to begin a career, do a quick play, practice, or compete against a second player. The practice allows the player to try different songs at different speeds. Quick play is a great way to do a brief session. The songs are simulated, but users must play the primary notes. In "Career" mode, players create a band headed by different personalities ranging from Johnny Napalm (punk rocker) to Judy Nails (alternative musician) to Casey Lynch (hard rocker). Once the band is created, the gamer must please the crowd by correctly playing the selected song. The game has a wide variety of covers ranging from oldies to current groups, such as "Monkey Wrench" by the Foo Fighters or "Message in the Bottle" by The Police. There is implied swearing, but the offending word is bleeped. Overall, the game has great tutorials, practice areas, and diverse game play. The guitar controller makes this game an excellent choice for library programs, but it is not recommended as a circulating item.

Gr 8 Up— Marvel Ultimate Alliance is a battle between the forces of Nick Fury and Dr. Doom. Players enter the adventure as a member of a team made up of Thor, Wolverine, Captain America, and Spiderman. As they progress, the players can switch between 20 Marvel characters and unlock others. The game is a combination of role playing and action. It centers on the super heroes working to defeat a legion of villains from taking over the world. There are a variety of missions, and players decide how the story line will progress by their actions and dialogue selection. While there is no tutorial, there are extensive "Help Hints" which instruct players on almost all the action in the game. There are three levels. As players progress, they unlock side adventures involving individual super heroes. The game play is easy to pick up. Gamers can play in cooperative or arcade mode with friends. While there is some violence, there's no blood involved. Interludes of high quality animation help the story progress. The combination of an engaging story line in an action and role playing game centered on the Marvel Comics universe make this a must for any young adult collection.

Gr 8 Up—Based on a Japanese animé series, this is a fun, fairly typical fighting game. Players can choose from story, single-player arcade, multi-player, and practice modes. Even in story mode, the game is all about real-time battles between ninja characters. There is unlockable content, including a choice of 23 playable characters and 30 arenas. Gamers can choose from one-on-one, one-on-two, one-on-three, two-on-two, or free for all battle modes. While the premise is straightforward, graphics make this game a treat. In spite of the lack of an in-game tutorial, game controls are fairly easy to master and in-game help screens can be accessed to provide reminders about more complicated maneuvers. By their nature, fighting games are violent, and the general demeanor of the characters in this game makes it most appropriate for an older audience. Recommended for teen collections.

Gr 6 Up—This movie tie-in game is a mixed bag. In the animated film, Eliot, a mule deer, convinces Boog, a 900-pound domesticated bear who lacks survival skills, to give up his pampered life. Players can assume the characters of Boog and Elliot in a standard action/adventure format, where characters have to accomplish certain tasks and complete levels to progress through the story line. There are 20 stages to master as well as a variety of mini-games, most of which can be unlocked as the game progresses. Game controls are a bit clunky and there are too many loading screens, which interrupts the flow of the game. Graphics are good overall, but the characters in the mini-games are small on the screen and can be hard to distinguish at times. While this game is a bit lackluster, it is fairly simple to master, making it a acceptable introduction into the action/adventure genre. Recommended only where a comprehensive collection is desired.

Gr 3–6—While it might make parents cringe, this is a fun game for younger players. The gamer gets to play Spongebob, Patrick Star, and Evil Plankton in nine dream worlds, with a variety of levels to master. While the dream-world setting makes the continuity a bit strange, the game is very simple to play and is a good introduction to gaming for inexperienced players who need repetitive tasks to master the skills. There are racing, flying, destruction, and walking segments for the player to master and proceed on to the next level. Game controls are very easy to learn and the graphics are acceptable. More experienced gamers won't find much of interest here, but younger novice players will have fun.