droolicious : playstation 2

Logitech Wireless Axe: the Next-Best Thing to Having Real Strings?

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 14 May 2009 13:30:00 GMT

Sure, you could get a real guitar for the price of this $199.99 Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller, but if you don't actually play a real guitar, well, why lower your standards?

Officially licensed for Guitar Hero, the PlayStation 2- and 3-ready controller features solid-body construction, a real wooden neck, a rosewood fingerboard, and metal frets and peg handles, along with a touch-sensitive neck slider and Star Power button that let you rip through all those Metallica solos. It's got a 30-foot wireless range, too, so you and the fam can really make the living room your stage.

Unleash your inner rock god, you big nerd, at Logitech.

Goosebumps HorrorLand Ships Today

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:04:00 GMT

R.L. Stine's ever-popular kiddie-horror books return to videogame consoles today with Goosebumps HorrorLand for Nintendo DS, Wii and PS2.

Welcome to HorrorLand, where nothing is as it seems.

Set in a creepy amusement park, the game throws players into a typically Stine-ian plot twist when the park's menagerie of monsters and 30-plus horrific attractions are found to be all too real. Kids fight mummies, ward off vampires, get the ride of their life on the "Roller Ghoster," and try to survive long enough to see HorrorLand's shocker of a surprise ending.

Puttin' around in one of Goosebumps HorrorLand's many minigames.

While HorrorLand's many carnival-style minigames are a lighthearted diversion, some of the scenes may be a little creepy for younger players (hence the E10+) rating. The action's no more realistic or graphic than anything in the Goosebumps books or TV series, though, and kids from around age 8 onward will delight in getting to be such a big part of the story. But don't just take our word for it -- check out the official trailer for a slightly longer peek at Goosebumps HorrorLand's scare tactics:

Very Big Toys: Monster Lab to Keep Halloween Going Through November

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:04:00 GMT

In Monster Lab, you play an Igor-style apprentice who's tasked with creating a Frankenstein of your very own out of some 150 monster parts. Sounds like any kid's dream Halloween game right? Well, you'll have to wait until Nov. 4 (or Nov. 30 for the PS2 version) to get your ghoul on, but we've got some teaser video and screenshots to keep you and the little monsters sated till then. Plus, if you're like me, the year pretty much ends after Halloween, anyway, so having something gruesome to look forward to in November is like finding an extra treat at the bottom of your candy bag.

Shown above, Eidos' trailer for the game can provide more context than these admittedly out-of-context screen shots do, but considering Monster Lab's basic premise -- make your monster; explore the land; seek out other monsters to clobber in battle; and embark on a series of quests and mini-games -- we don't suspect the game will take long to figure out:

Rated E10+, Monster Lab hits stores Nov. 4 for Wii ($39.99 from Amazon) and DS ($29.99 from Amazon), and Nov. 30 for PS2 ($29.99 from Amazon).

Unveiled Today: AirG Controller for Upcoming 'PopStar Guitar'

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:04:00 GMT

Guitar Hero and Rock Band purists may be sniggering, but thanks to a nearly 50-song set list that includes the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Maroon 5 and other pop groups that teens and tweens actually dig (no offense to Aerosmith and Blue Oyster Cult, of course), XS Games' upcoming PopStar Guitar for Wii and PS2 seizes on both games' inherent flaws.

Going a step further toward kid-friendliness, the Wii version of PopStar Guitar will bum out purists even more, as it doesn't even require a guitar controller to be played. Unveiled today, the AirG peripheral (pictured above) turns your Wii Remote into a veritable air guitar. Just slip it on, throw on the game and start fretting -- well, without needing to "fret," of course. (Sorry; couldn't resist.)

Hey now, you're a PopStar: Shredding off-screen (left, obviously) and on with the AirG.

Rated "T" for Teen (but presumably more "Tween" in reality), PopStar Guitar for Wii includes two AirG controllers and is currently set at $59.99. The $29.99 PS2 version doesn't included a proprietary controller, but it'll work with any PS2 licensed guitar peripheral. Both versions of the game are due to hit stores Nov. 11 in time for the holidays.

Monopoly Razes Atlantic City, Dumps Dollar, Goes Global

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:04:00 GMT

If you caught CBS' The Early Show yesterday, you probably already got a first glimpse at Monopoly Here & Now: The World Edition, the completely overhauled version of the world's most-played board game (half a billion players and counting, according to the game's parent company, Hasbro). This time out, Mr. Monopoly's empire has expanded far beyond Atlantic City's borders, thanks to a six-week worldwide voting campaign that found some 5 million people chiming in on how they'd like the new version to look.

As you might expect, the results are pretty wide in scope: From a whole new global currency (the "M"-represented Monopoly Dollar), to a complete overhaul of the playing spaces (they're now cities, with the 4-million "M" Montreal claiming the blue high-rent spot most of us remember as Boardwalk), all the way to to more worldly-looking houses, hotels and playing pieces:

For all it adds, Monopoly Here & Now: The World Edition also scales back on some familiar items: For instance, paper money has been replaced by bank cards and an electronic banking unit, and the familiar old utilities have given way to green-themed renewable sources such as wind and solar energy. Plus, thanks to EA's upcoming video-game versions, including the Aug. 27 debut of the game on mobile phones (via download) and at Pogo.com, you can do away with the board altogether.

Monopoly Here & Now: The World Edition is also slated to hit Wii, Xbox 360, PS2 and PS3 in October, but if you're online for the game's Aug. 27 Pogo.com and mobile rollout (at 14:00 GMT, specifically), you can join players across the globe in an attempt to set a world record for the most people ever playing a game of Monopoly at the same time.

Oh, and fear not, classicists: You'll still be able to buy the old-school, Atlantic City-centric edition with your worthless U.S. dollar. As for the rest of the world, see you in Montreal...

The Babble Review: Kung Fu Panda the Game

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:04:00 GMT

Unfortunately for the often great kids' movies that spawn them, video games based on CGI animated flicks tend to be so generic, bug-laden and unplayable that they end up doing more harm to the franchise than good (I'm looking at you, Ratatouille). So my expectations going into Kung Fu Panda, the new game based off the awesome Jack Black flick many Babble readers have no doubt been standing in line for the past few weekends, were a little less than high. Sometimes, though, it's good to be wrong: Not only is Kung Fu Panda one of the better movie spinoffs to hit game consoles in recent memory; it's also one of the more enjoyable kids' games that've landed in our mailbox this summer.

In a Nutshell: If you're an experienced gamer, you'll probably want to skip Kung Fu Panda altogether. With its tiny learning curve and relatively simple controls, the game can be beaten in a little less time than it takes to sit through the movie. It's a great game for younger players, though, with a fun script (complete with a dead-on Jack Black sound-alike) that uses the film's story as a springboard for bigger tales, as well as a big, jolly sense of humor to balance its cartoonish kung-fu fighting. And just as importantly, unlike so many movie-themed games, it plays as though it's more than a quick cash-in, with actual care put into easily botched stuff like graphics, gameplay and storyline.

Age-Appropriateness: Full disclosure: I reviewed the Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS versions of Kung Fu Panda with my two sons, 7 and 5, fighting for controller time by my side, so right off the bat I defied the game's "E10+" ESRB rating. Odds are, though, that you may not be considering more than the "E" in a game's rating to determine whether it's suitable for your under-10 kiddoes, and with Kung Fu Panda itself being so appealing to a younger audience (in the theater where we saw it, giggling, cheering preschoolers far outranked any 10-year-olds), I figure it's only sensible to put the game in the hands of the age brackets that are probably asking for it. The good news is, at least one of those age brackets had no problem diving into the game and enjoying it -- more on the other in a bit.

Po and two of the Furious Five take on the evil Tai Lung.

Plot and Gameplay: Kung Fu Panda follows its jelly-bellied title character, a bumbling-but-aspirational panda named Po, across multiple stages on his quest to become the fabled Dragon Warrior and stop the recently prison-busted Tai Lung from returning to destroy the village that spawned them both. Sounds just like the movie, right? Well, unlike the movie, the game packs a host of other animal bad guys to take on, and if you thought Tai Lung's nerve strikes were nasty, just wait till you have to rescue a group of baby turtles from the Croc Gang while flying down whitewater rapids and dodging flying arrows. Other levels allow you to play as Po's warrior counterparts, the Furious Five, or as their master, Shifu, while taking on similarly nasty animal crews created just for the game.

Close call: Crane hoists Po and a baby turtle up, up and away from a hungry croc.

As with other multi-console games, your experience with Kung Fu Panda is going to differ depending on the system on which you're playing it. However, even though the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions offer some bonus content and unlockable items , their basic action doesn't differ much from that of the Wii, PS2 and PC versions. Also, with minigames and missions being key parts of the game, the action isn't completely focused on combat (and I do use that term in the jolliest sense here). Of course, combat makes up the best parts of Kung Fu Panda's action, and your kids will have a blast figuring out the different moves and combos for each character as they clobber their way through the game.

Getting Personal (My Kids' Hands-On Experience): Where gameplay was concerned, my 5-year-old suffered most: After getting his butt kicked in a few rounds of combat and not being able to grasp the controls and combo moves as quickly as he'd hoped, he gave up on the Xbox 360 version. Unfortunately, even though the DS version offers a relatively simpler side-scrolling experience (read: you move from one side to the next, hurdling over obstacles and jumping up to different levels as you go), it ended up being twice as frustrating for the little guy, and he gave up after being unable to clear the first few screens. (Poor kid is still just learning to read, so the reading required to follow instructions -- par for the course in many DS games -- usually ends up being a point of frustration, anyway.)

A shot of Tigress in combat, from the Nintendo DS version.

The good news is that his brother, though three years younger than the ESRB's recommended age for Kung Fu Panda, had no trouble getting cozy with the controls and knocking out the bad guys -- although after playing the far more expansive, open-ended and graphics-rich Xbox 360 version of the game, he rarely went back to the DS version. Out of curiosity, I went back to the DS version and found it a blast, and if your kids are familiar with a game like Spider-Man 3 -- which combines the sort of side-scrolling action mentioned above with clever touchscreen controls (in this case, you move with the directional pad and put together your fighting moves with the stylus/touchscreen), they should have no problem getting cozy with this different, but equally solid, version of the game.

Grab your own copy of Kung Fu Panda the Game at Amazon.

EA's Hasbro Family Game Night Arrives on Wii, PS2 This Fall

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:03:00 GMT

With EA's upcoming Hasbro Family Game Night for Wii and PlayStation 2, you can have all the fun of family board-game night, but without the broken pieces and missing instruction manuals. In stores this fall, the game brings together old-school classics like Connect Four (pictured), Boggle, Yahtzee, Battleship and Sorry! (as well as the new Sorry! Sliders), while its customizable playing area lets you build your own digital rumpus room around the playing boards.

Each game also appears in an alternate version -- from the presumably literally titled Reverse Yahtzee to the no-idea-what-it'll-look-like Boggle Portal Cubes -- and depending on the game, up to four players can join in the action. Oh, and Mr. Potato Head hosts the whole thing, but we don't think he'll break out his angry eyes unless you really start playing dirty.

For more info on Hasbro Family Game Night and other EA titles, visit ea.com.

Free LEGO Indiana Jones PC Game Demo Available Starting Today

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:03:00 GMT

We'll forgive you if you didn't bookmark LucasArts' LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures website the other day like we suggested -- we parents do have 8 million or so more important things to worry about, after all. However, if you only make one trip to the site, today's the day, as LucasArts and Games for Windows have released a demo of the upcoming LEGO Indy-themed video game, which is hitting stores June 3. Head here for the demo, and mark your calendars: The movie opens May 22.

If you don't have a PC or don't care about game demos, grab your junior archaeologist and head to Cartoon Network's LEGO Indiana Jones site for a round of fun (and funny) LEGO Indy mini-movies. And don't forget your hat...

LEGO Indiana Jones Game Site Launches; Demo Coming May 13

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:09:00 GMT

Just as we were getting cozy with Cartoon Network's LEGO-themed spin on everyone's favorite Nazi-fighting, AARP-card-carrying archaeologist, LucasArts rolled out its own LEGO Indiana Jones website, this one based around the LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures video game that's hitting stores June 3.

Loaded with fun Flash content, the site is also packed with news, trailers and game details, as well as a treasure-hunt feature that lets you collect points toward stickers, wallpaper and other gimcracks promoting what, if past experiences with LEGO Star Wars are any indication, is looking to be the summer's most awesome kids' game. (Illicitly obtained copies of Grand Theft Auto IV excepted.)

As you and your kids are playing around the site today, be sure to bookmark it: LucasArts and Games for Windows have a PC demo of LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures slated for release on May 13, nine days before the latest Indy movie hits theaters. The final game, which is rated E 10+, will also ship for Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS.

From Our Archives: Video Games That Won't Turn Your Kids Into Couch Potatoes

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:02:00 GMT

Sure, that Xbox 360 makes a great babysitter when you're nearing day seven of the holiday break and everyone's got cabin fever, but if you're looking for a way to sate your kids' game cravings that won't add girth to their bottoms, you've got quite a few choices this year. Here, then: a round-up of your Babble bloggers' favorite calorie-burning kid games from the past year.

How do we love Wii? Let us count the ways: Its motion-sensitive controller and huge list of kid-friendly titles literally put you into the game, and assuming you can still find one of these hot sellers on shelves before Christmas, you and the kiddoes can burn off those calories via the Wii Sports pack that comes bundled with the core system. As Babble's own Karen Murphy pointed out earlier this year, Nintendo has even started donating Wiis to select YMCAs as a way to get kids and parents playing (and feeling the burn!) together.

We drooled over this one several times this year, and not just because it hasn't been dinged by lead-paint recalls: Aimed at the littlest gamers, Fisher-Price's Smart Cycle is a combination video game/exercise bike that plugs directly into your TV (no game console required) and lets kids zip through various levels of fast-paced, vaguely educational racing action. It's not actually powered by kids' feet (now that would be innovative), but it'll definitely keep them moving. It's listed at $100, but both Amazon and Toys "R" Us have dropped the price for the holidays.

From our recent gift guide: Kids not yet old enough to get down with Dance Dance Revolution will dig Konami Kids Playground, a series of games that, along with teaching fundamentals for both brain (shapes, colors, numbers) and brawn (coordination and motor skills), utilizes a cool DDR-style mat controller that plugs into your PlayStation 2. You need to pick up the $40 Frogger: Hop, Skip & Jumpin' Fun game (pictured), which comes bundled with the controller, to get started, but from there, games average around $30 each.

Finally, of course, there's Dance Dance Revolution proper, which, as MetroDad noted earlier this year, has even started infiltrating the public school system. If you're looking for a way to bond and battle with your brood, it's still probably the healthiest gaming addiction to span multiple generations, with the new DDR Universe 2 (pictured) adding features like freestyle mode (where you can boogie down without those familiar flashing arrows to torment you) and a wider-than-ever selection of tunes from the '70s to today.

So, Babble readers, what do you think: Are these genuine fitness tools, or are we just dumb for smart marketing? The parental death match begins in the comments.

Video Game Round-Up: Licensed Fun for Everyone, Part 2

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:03:00 GMT

(Screenshot from D3's new Ed, Edd n Eddy: Scam of the Century)

Last week, I rounded up five new licensed video games aimed at kids; this week, part two of my feeble attempt to crawl out from beneath the landslide of licensed properties, with more tie-ins to movies, toys, TV shows and books still yet to come before the holidays. Hooray!

Dr. Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas! (Destination Software)
Available For: DS
The Deal: Aesthetically based as much on the animated spinoff as on Dr. Seuss' classic book (with Jim Carrey thankfully out of sight), this game puts you in the role of the Grinch -- meaning, yes, you use your DS skills to navigate obstacles as you sneak through Who houses, pilfer Who presents, and generally rob Whoville of its Christmas joy. Ho-ho-ho indeed! (It does eventually bring you 180 degrees toward good cheer.)
Who'll Dig It: Any kid whose heart is two sizes too small.

Go, Diego, Go! Safari Rescue (2K Play)
Available For: DS
The Deal: Like its Dora counterpart, this simple-but-fun game puts kids on a quest -- play as Diego to rescue the jungle animals that've had their identities mixed up by a magician's mischievous spells -- and incorporates some nifty features along the way. Among other tricks, you can snap photos with Click, call animals through the DS' microphone, and blow into the mic to ride a hot-air balloon.
Who'll Dig It: Diego fans. (Surprise!)

Ed, Edd n Eddy: Scam of the Century (D3)
Available For: DS
The Deal: Cartoon Network's trio of tricksters lose their trusty scammer's playbook to the neighborhood kids, spending the game's 13 levels tasting their own medicine while uncovering special items and abilities, unlocking minigames, and ultimately recovering the Book of Scams from the dreaded Captain MelonHead.
Who'll Dig It: Fans of the series, obviously (the loose, scribbly animation stays true to the toon's image), although you don't need to be an Ed-head to enjoy the mischief here.

Hot Wheels: Beat That! (Activision)
Available For: Xbox 360, PS2, DS, PC
The Deal: No surprises from the umpteenth Hot Wheels spinoff, although kids won't care: Race through five competitive modes, compete against friends via the multiplayer option, and get special codes (or, just visit the site above to grab 'em) to unlock bonus vehicles. Cool points, however, for recreating the feel of a bedroom track, complete with other toys to dodge and high-speed action beneath the floorboards.
Who'll Dig It: My 7-year-old is a good barometer for most any Hot Wheels game, so let's ask him: Loud noises? Fast cars? Cool-looking tracks? Gold. If you're serious about racing games, skip it.

Shrek: Ogres & Dronkeys (Activision)
Available For: DS
The Deal: In this Shrek-themed spin on the Nintendogs idea, you train and raise your ogre or dronkey offspring, play games (blocks, catch) to sharpen their reflexes and earn bonus items, and finally send the wee beasties into the world for adventures and interaction with other characters from the series.
Who'll Dig It: Any kid who's a fan of train-'em, play-'em-style gaming -- we parents already have our hands full with real monsters.

Holiday Gift for Gamers: Ceramic White PlayStation 2 with SingStar Pop

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:02:00 GMT

The buzz on it has been growing for a while, but the sweet-looking SingStar PS2 Pack ($149.99) is finally available everywhere. Unfortunately for those of us not into karaoke games, the only way to score a PlayStation 2 console in ceramic white is to buy this complete bundle, which includes the core system (plus DualShock controller) along with two microphones and a copy of SingStar Pop. At under $150, though, it's a small price to pay, especially if you're not ready to make the much bigger investment in a PS3. Considering the number of great kids' games that continue to roll out for the second-generation system, anyone reading this via Babble probably falls into that category.

Video Games: Crash of the Titans Ships for Multiple Platforms

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:32:00 GMT

Crash Bandicoot made his debut 11 years ago on the Sony PlayStation, which means that, assuming my math is right, many of us hadn't started breeding when we first got down with the mischievous, planet-saving marsupial. Today, 14 games into the Crash series, the game's developers are still writing code with us in mind: See the Clash of the Titans and (in the game itself) Brokeback Mountain references in the new Crash of the Titans, both guaranteed to soar over our kids' heads while we giggle into our cupped hands.

Crash Of The Titans still finds our hero facing off against the evil Dr. Neo Cortex, who this time has discovered a mysterious substance called "mojo" (another term that'll be fun to explain to kids) and is using it to build an army of mutants out of the Wumpa Islands' peaceful inhabitants. As Crash, you spend the game battling the mutants, a.k.a. Titans, while collecting mojo and showing off your new acrobatic fighting skills; and this time, you've got an added skill called "jacking" that lets you take control of the Titans. (In two-player mode, you can even, er, jack yourself as the mutant-hero Carbon-Crash.) A learning game this isn't, but kids will eat it up -- as will the more slapstick- and action-loving parents among us.

Rated E 10+, Crash of the Titans is available for PS2, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, GBA and PSP.