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DUKE NUKEM FOREVER.... OR NEVER!

Thirteen once again proves to be unlucky; this time for Duke Nukem. The thirteenth game in the Duke Nukem series has been more than a decade in the making, and there is still no word on the release date.

In April of 1997, it was announced that Duke Nukem would become Duke Nukem Forever, and a whopping twelve years later, Nukem lovers are still awaiting information on when they can get their hands on the game. The launch was planned in 1998, there was a hint of seeing the game in 2000, and in 2001 we got a peek at the official two- minute game play trailer. Sometime in 2006, 3D Realms had been circulating demo discs of this much-awaited game, and several gamers were absolutely sure its time had come.

Recipients of the demo disc even got some bonus features; including information on why the game has been so long in the making. It seems the developers were working on making the game runnable on all platforms. However, with this goal comes a lot of rewriting of code for each platform.

To avoid this cumbersome process, they reportedly rewrote the code using a special framework, as an Ajax application. This, in lay terms, means that this game would work on every platform, including, yes, wait for it.... the web browser! So, why we didn’t get to see the game sooner is anyone’s guess.

For several reasons, at this point it would logically seem very futile to hazard a guess on its ultimate release.

This is mainly owing to the most recent controversy the game has been fraught with. This month has seen the shutting down of the 3D Realms Studios due to financial constraints. Subsequently, they were slapped with a law suit by publishers, Take-Two Interactive for failing to deliver Duke Nukem Forever as per their contract, in spite of millions of dollars being paid for the game.

Following the studios closure, several former 3D Realms employees uploaded demo clips and concept art onto the internet, which was eventually retracted, albeit a little too late.

Although, Take-Two Interactive continues to hold the publishing rights to the game, 3D Realms (who are still operating as a small company) has no funding to complete the game. That said, whether this game will ever find its way to a gamers PC or console remains to be seen. My advice: Don’t hold your breath.

EAT THEM TO WIN


This is the definitive game for all foodlovers! The Munchables is all about blobs that amble around a very colourful fantasy world with their gaping gobs devouring everything that gets in their way.


Namco Bandai has developed and published their latest offering, which is inarguably a blend of features hand-picked by the dozen, from their two most popular games of yore Pac-Man and Katamari Damacy.

The stars of Munchables are two very likable hungry blobs: Chomper and Munchy. Don Onion, their archenemy, is attempting to take over their world with the help of his evil drove of space pirates, and it is up to our protagonists to save the world from his clutches. It is as simple as that.
The game features eight levels. As Chomper and Munchy go through each level, they must eat their enemies to grow in size. Mind you, they can only eat enemies that are lower in level than them. Enemies have the level number indicated on the top of their head. Anything that is of a higher level must be broken down into smaller pieces before being consumed, and this is achieved with a head-butt from our heroes. However, as soon as you head -butt them, you need to consume the pieces quickly, since they will reassemble themselves into something bigger after a while. As you eat more enemies, you grow in size, and as you grow in size you up levels. Game play is extremely simple. The joystick helps in movement, the A button is used to ‘eat’, the B button used for head-butting as mentioned earlier, and the up button can be used to jump.
The whole world is stylised around food, with even the bosses being food items you will encounter Brocco Lee and Big Choco who you must battle to further your quest. The simplicity of game play, the foodthemed world, the cheerfully colourful world and humorous characters, guarantees to be appealing to kids and adults alike.

THE MUNCHABLES
Published by: Namco Bandai
Developed by: Namco Bandai
Genre: Platformer / Action
Platform: Wii
Number of Players: 1-2
Release Date: May 26, 2009
ESRB Rating: Everyone

THE RATING GAME

Each computer game or video game is rated based on its content. This ratings are designed to provide concise and impartial information about video games.
Every parent who is concerned with what video games their children are playing, will want to read this. Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), a self-regulatory, non-profit organization, aims to help you make educated decisions before purchasing a game.
ESRB was formed in 1994, and was formerly known as Interactive Digital Software Association. The organization awards each game a rating, enforces guidelines in terms of advertising those games, and ensures responsible on-line privacy practices in favor of the interactive entertainment software industry. They are operational in Canada and US.
Games are rated on the basis of their content, and the rating is displayed not only on front of the game’s box, but any media related to the game, and on their websites too. Along with the rating, ESRB also provides a list of content descriptors, that will better aide you in making a purchase decision. Further, if you need the rating of a specific game, you can go to the ESRB website (www.esrb.org).
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS
Alcohol Reference -
Reference to and/or images of alcoholic beverages
Animated Blood -
Discolored and/or unrealistic depictions of blood
Blood -
Depictions of blood
Blood and Gore -
Depictions of blood or the mutilation of body parts
Cartoon Violence -
Violent actions involving cartoon-like situations and characters. May include violence where a character is unharmed after the action has been inflicted Comic Mischief - Depictions or dialogue involving slapstick or suggestive humor
Crude Humor -
Depictions or dialogue involving vulgar antics, including “bathroom” humor
Drug Reference -
Reference to and/or images of illegal drugs
Fantasy Violence -
Violent actions of a fantasy nature, involving human or non-human characters in situations easily distinguishable from real life
Intense Violence -
Graphic and realisticlooking depictions of physical conflict. May involve extreme and/or realistic blood, gore, weapons and depictions of human injury and death
Language -
Mild to moderate use of profanity Lyrics - Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol or drug use in music
Mature Humor -
Depictions or dialogue involving “adult” humor, including sexual references
Nudity -
Graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity
Partial Nudity -
Brief and/or mild depictions of nudity
Real Gambling -
Player can gamble, including betting or wagering real cash or currency
Sexual Content -
Non-explicit depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including partial nudity
Sexual Themes -
References to sex or sexuality
Sexual Violence -
Depictions of rape or other violent sexual acts
Simulated Gambling -
Player can gamble without betting or wagering real cash or currency
Strong Language -
Explicit and/or frequent use of profanity
Strong Lyrics -
Explicit and/or frequent references to profanity, sex, violence, alcohol or drug use in music
Strong Sexual Content -
Explicit and/or frequent depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including nudity
Suggestive Themes -
Mild provocative references or materials
Tobacco Reference -
Reference to and/or images of tobacco products
Use of Drugs -
The consumption or use of illegal drugs
Use of Alcohol -
The consumption of alcoholic beverages
Use of Tobacco -
The consumption of tobacco products
Violence -
Scenes involving aggressive conflict. May contain bloodless dismemberment Violent References - References to violent acts Courtesy: ESRB.org
ESRB RATING SYMBOLS
EARLY CHILDHOOD
Titles rated EC (Early Childhood) have content that may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.
EVERYONE
Titles rated E (Everyone) have content that may be suitable for ages 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language.
EVERYONE 10+
Titles rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes.
TEEN
Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language.
MATURE
Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.
ADULTS ONLY
Titles rated AO (Adults Only) have content that should only be played by persons 18 years and older. Titles in this category may include prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity.
RATING PENDING
Titles listed as RP (Rating Pending) have been submitted to the ESRB and are awaiting final rating. (This symbol appears only in advertising prior to a game’s release.)

ZOMBIE LAND

The goal of the game is not to completely eradicate the zombie hordes, but to survive them.

So, who loves movies like 28 Days Later and Dawn of the Dead? If you are yelling, “I do, I do!” and waving your hand in the air frantically, then Left 4 Dead is the game for you.

The zombie apocalypse is here and you get to choose if you want to be a zombie or a survivor. If that is not good enough, you can play this game with upto seven other friends.

The story goes that you are one of four survivors of the zombie holocaust: Zoey, Louis, Francis and Bill. The fetid stream of un-dead force the survivors to work together to fight themselves to safety. Armed with a few stopgap and actual weapons, they battle their way to safe houses and ultimately a rescue point.

If you play the zombie side of the story, you work to eradicate all the survivors by coordinating fatal ambushes. Yes, that is actually more fun than playing a survivor! The goal of the game is not to completely eradicate the zombie hordes, but simply to survive it. If you, however, decide to take on the role of one of the four special infected zombies, your goal changes. Of course, ensure that none of the four survivors make it to safety.

THE FOUR CAMPAIGNS

The game is divided into four campaigns set in very stereotypical zombie scenarios - hospitals, airports, small towns and farms. Each campaign has five chapters. In each of the first four chapters you have to make your way to a safe house. The conclusion of the last chapter in each campaign, requires you to signal a rescue team to come and get you.

There is a single player mode where you play any one of the four survivors of the apocalypse. However, the game is certainly best played in multiplayer mode with other humans, due to the lack of dynamic play and cooperative action from the artificial intelligence bots. That said, the AI bots do come in handy when it comes to healing your character. The game basically demands amazing team-work if you are to emerge victorious and this is obviously best achieved with interactive human co-players.

There are also a few interesting “special” infected zombies namely, Boomer, Hunter, Smoker, Witch and Tank who have special ‘powers’. Boomer, for example will spew zombie-attracting vomit on you. You get to chose which one of these you want to play in Versus mode.

AI IS JUST SUPERB

Much has to be said about the AI director. It is the sole reason one is able to look forward to playing this game over and over again, almost endlessly with the same fervor. The AI director is what decides where you will find the bad guys and your ammo and it makes sure that you have an absolutely unique experience every single time you play the same level. This ensures to keep you on the edge of your seat with anticipation, even if you’ve played this game several times.

One may complain about the games graphics not really being at par with other modern shooter games, or how sometimes the AI bots actions let you down if you are playing without human co-players. But, the game’s brilliantly engrossing game play, the fact that this is not a game you need to put away as soon you’ve survived all levels once, and the inventiveness of characters you can chose to play as, awards it a two-thumbs up.

LEFT 4 DEAD

PUBLISHER Electronic Arts
DEVELOPER Valve Software
GENRE Sci-Fi First-Person Shooter/Horror
NUMBER OF PLAYERS 1-8
RELEASE DATE November 17, 2008
ESRB RATING Mature 17+ for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
PLATFORMS PC &Xbox360
GAME SCORE 8.4/10

The game that still rocks on

That’s Grim Fandango. An awesome game that no genuine adventure gamer can forget if ever one had tried one’s hand at it.

PUBLISHER: LucasArts
DEVELOPER: LucasArts
GENRE: Adventure
RELEASE DATE: Sep 30, 1998
ESRB DESCRIPTORS: Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco & Alcohol, Animated Violence
GAME SCORE: 9.8/10

There will not be a single adventure gamer who hasn’t at least heard of Grim Fandango. The game was received with several affirmative reviews at the time of release, and was the recipient of several accolades for its artistic design. Even today, it still finds its way into publishers’ alltime top lists.

THE WORLD OF SOULS

Grim Fandango is a remarkable blend of ingredients that go into making this an astounding adventure game: murder, greed, capitalism, crime, deception, and love. The game revolves around the protagonist Manuel Manny Calavera. Highly-motivated and somewhat cynical, Manny is a skeleton who is trapped in the Land of the Dead, a limbo-akin world. This is where souls that depart from the real world come to and their worthiness is appraised to gain entry to the Land of Eternal Rest, or the Ninth Underworld. Souls are assessed by the crimes committed during their lives in the real world. Sinners are made to take a four-year journey on foot, and many end up taking jobs en-route abandoning their quest. Reasonably righteous souls can avail of aid and the most virtuous need to take the journey in just four minutes on the Number Nine train.

MANNY’S JOURNEY

Manny’s job is that of a travel agent for the Department of Death, for clien tele who are taking the journey to the eternal rest. In the course of work, enticed by a robust commission that promises a comfortable retirement, Manny inadvertently sends Mercedes Meche Colomar, a moral and upright soul on the four-year walk to the underworld that is fraught with peril. The game revolves around the journey Manny takes to find Meche, in an attempt to redeem himself. Equipped with a scythe, a sidekick, and his wit, Manny treads the same perilous road as Meche, only to find himself in the thick of an ominous conspiracy. Manny must make his way to the Edge of the World, and rescue Meche from Domino, his co-worker and archrival.

The player has the choice of keyboard, joystick, or gamepad to control Manny and his actions. Game play is much like most LucasArts games where the player must communicate with other characters to collect information. Various objects in the game are intended for use with parts of the environment that you are in, or with other people in the environment, to solve puzzles. This is achieved by examining and collecting several objects as you progress and you will know when to interact with a character or collect an item when Manny turns his head towards the object or person as he passes them. The good thing is that while Manny can get sprouted (a death-within-death situation), he can never really die! So LucasArts ensures that you will never find yourself in a “deadend” situation.

Grim Fandango is the first offering from LucasArts that used the GrimE engine, which uses 3D graphics to represent the main objects and characters, on pre-rendered backgrounds in 2D.

The game has a very film noir feel to it, and this is mainly illustrated by many characters that smoke in the game. The settings are based on elements of the Aztec world, a fact that is exhibited most of all in the architecture. The other Aztec-inspired feature is that of the Day of the Dead, the celebration of afterlife.

The background score of the game is Latin and jazz-inspired. Most of the characters are Mexican, and you will often hear the English dialogue sprinkled with Spanish words. While the voice actors have done a top-notch job, a lot of credit goes to script that is teeming with witty retorts and entertaining puns.

Each character is well rounded, and this amongst several other features, grants every player with a sense of gratification. The game is so riveting and appealing, that in all certainty, the end will leave you longing for more.

Need for Speed

With cop chases and tacky cut scenes, looks like this computer game is highly inspired by the movie The Fast and The Furious.

Electronic Arts released Need for Speed: Undercover last November, continuing a seeming tradition of releasing a new version of Need For Speed every year.

EA’s Need For Speed: Most Wanted was very well received when it came out and it looks like they have attempted to apply the same formula for Undercover too. Both games share the same exaggerated cop chases and tacky cut scenes and if you are the sort to enjoy these parameters, you are sure to love the game.

DON THE ROLE

You play the role of an undercover officer, in this very unimaginatively titled game and have to work along side Chase Linh, played by the gorgeous Maggie Q. Your aim is to intercept and thwart the nefarious smuggling and thieving activities of a group of street racers. The very predictable story line, unfolds in the form of cut scenes, at the end of every race.

The game features live action that is akin to what you would see in Hollywood movies and honestly seems very inspired by The Fast and The Furious. The game transports you onto the streets of the fictional open-world city - the Tri-City Bay Area. A new feature of the franchise is the very transparent system of levels that seems seriously motivated by role-playing games.

Every victorious conclusion of a mission enhances your stats. These stats allow you to level up your driving skills. As the levels increase, you get to drive more cars. You can also access more upgrades. The point is, if you’re not leveled up satisfactorily, you can’t buy a better ride, even if you have enough cash for it. The real issue with this whole idea is that there is no indication as to when you will be leveled up!

With 55 car upgrades, including fairly achievable cars like the Audi TT, as well as glamorous cars like the Bugatti Veyron, there are no dearth of good cars to play with. You however, start playing with an abysmal vehicle and work your way up to better rides. You will be greeted with choices of new cars from Nissan, Dodge, Cadillac, Ford, Porsche, Lamborghini, BMW, Aston Martin, Mitsubishi and many more manufacturers.

As you progress, either you can tune specific facets of your ride or you can buy an upgrade package. Menu options are not different from the other NFS games and choices like eliminator events where the last car in a lap gets eliminated, basic circuit races and sprint races, are not anything new. There are also one-on-one races in which you meander through traffic to impress the bad guys.

SOME FLAWS

One major flaw in the game’s design is the poor driving physics. Your car will seem impossible to turn when you stomp the foot brake and braking in a low-end vehicle is best performed with the hand brake. The driving physics may be based on real-life science, but it is apparent that the game is more geared for game play than practicality.

Playing against the computer highlights the ineptness of the artificial intelligence system. A race against the computer most often ends with the computer controlled car to pass you more often than not; even with the same-powered vehicle and without even using nitrous!

It can also make better turns, obviously reducing its lap times. The track design in itself is nothing new or grand.

There is nothing special about Need For Speed: Undercover, and the event-based game is seemingly lost in focus and design. Having said that, it may still have enough oomph to keep super-keen NFS enthusiasts engaged with its ordinary story that unfolds in between 180m/h races.

IN THE WORLD OF ASSASSINS




Travis Touchdown - hero of the game - finds himself at the bottom of an assassins’ organisation after an unexpected turn of events. He will have to prove himself worthy and defeat 10 bloodthirsty killers.

All Wii owners who find themselves complaining that there are no truly satiating mature games for Wii, need to get themselves a copy of No More Heroes. Considering the violence, sex, language and absurd subject matter, it is no real wonder that ESRB has rated it Mature 17+. But, these are a few of the many features that make No More Heroes one of the best games for Wii.

No More Heroes - online game - tells the story of Travis Touchdown. Travis has many obsessions - anime, action figures, porn, video games & card collections, to name some. The story starts when Travis wins a light saber in an online auction. Armed with his light saber also known as katana, Travis decides to become a hit-man to score with girls. An unexpected turn of events leads Travis to realise that he is actually at the bottom of the league of assassins. In an attempt to prove himself worthy, he has to eradicate ten of the best assassins in town. Here commences Travis’ journey in bizarre Santa D e s t r o y, California, a dull, dry, dusty and desolate town.

SUDA-51, creator of 2005’s killer7, and director of this game, is known for showcasing wackiness, over-thetop humour, and obscenity in his games, and this game is no different. The lunacy resonates through every possible aspect of the game, characters, references, game play et al. Right at the start, you observe this as your trainer encourages you to workout in the nude, and through the game as the thugs you battle lament the loss of their organs when you slice them in two.

There are several zany characters as well; Sylvial the sophisticated seductress constantly teases Travis with her French accent and leaves him high and dry; there are boss characters who attack you with killer shopping carts, some that sing lounge music in the middle of baseball fields, and some that throw prosthetics at you. Each of the ten assassins you have to do in, also, have well-drawn up dark backgrounds, leaving you with a sense of satisfaction.

In terms of weapons, you can upgrade your katana or even buy new ones. In keeping with the other whimsicalities, you can mow lawns, and fill gas at local gas stations to increase your coinage, apart from the coins you are awarded when you kill your nemeses. Every time you manage to halve one of the mercenaries causes a seeming endless stream of blood and coins, resulting in your screen filling up with red and glittering gold. Through the game, you can earn power-ups and unlock a ‘dark side’ power, which add much excitement to the game play.
Travis can find health to-ups through out Santa Destroy, and interestingly enough, he must also ensure that his katana does not run out of electricity. Game play includes old school button bruising, along with some Wiimote waggling, and the successful combination of the two makes for an exhilarating play. There are several missions throughout the game, and although most of the game play requires the same wrist action, in the scheme of things, this hardly becomes boring. When you aren’t busy massacring enemies, you are free to roam in a moderately open-world Santa Destroy on your motorcycle.

As you play, it is apparent that in creating the game, no idea was chucked for being too far out and it is in its nonconformity that the game shines. Love it or hate it, this blood-spewing cartoon animestylised game is sure to leave you with a ‘never done that before, but glad I did it’ sense of contentment.

NO MORE HEROES

PUBLISHED BY
Ubisoft / Marvelous Entertainment DEVELOPED BY Grasshopper Manufacture
GENRE
Action NUMBER OF PLAYERS 1
PLATFORM
Wii
RELEASE DATE
January 22, 2008
ESRB RATING
Mature 17+ (for Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language)
GAME SCORE
9.2/10

Rich kid blues - A new generation Game




Bully is all about Jimmy Hopkins, a rich kid dumped by his parents at an infamous boarding school where he has to survive bullies, nerds and even teachers.

BULLY (A.K.A CANIS CANEM EDIT)
PUBLISHER: Rockstar Games
DEVELOPER: Rockstar Vancouver
GENRE: Action Adventure
RELEASE DATE: Oct 17, 2006
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1
ESRB: Teen (for Crude Humor, Use of Tobacco & Alcohol, Violence, Sexual Themes, Language) PLATFORMS: PS2,Wii, Xbox 360, PC GAME SCORE: 7.8/10

Care to venture a guess about what Rockstar’s Bully is about? If you said you play a kid standing up to bullies, then you got it right.

In this third person adventure game, you play Jimmy Hopkins, a red-haired 15-year-old. His newly re-married mother and her new rich husband have decided to sail off on a honeymoon cruise for a whole year. This would have been great, had they not dumped Jimmy at Bullworth Academy, one of the country’ most infamous boarding schools.

Jimmy, now, has a whole school year to find a way to climb up the social ladder, by warding off bullies, teachers and some nerd who are out to get him. The settings are brilliant, and it would seem Rockstar has thought of everything including shrubbery at the end of the field where Jimmy goes to smoke his granny’ cigars.

There are the usual dorms, a playground, a cafeteria, and your run-of-the-mill classrooms.

Just like in a real school, as soon as the bell rings, you have to get yourself to class, or face the wrath of the prefects for playing hooky.

Most of the game play is fairly linear and very GTA-inspired (Rockstar’s prime offering), with missions scattered around the school ground and mini games that can be played in classes. You know there is a mission to play where you see the yellow ‘halo’ like the ones you would have seen if you have played GTA. The point of the missions is to earn the respect of various student types, namely nerds, jocks, preps, greasers, and bullies. In the course of the game, these student groups will either act as aides or obstacles depending on your reputation. While this is a very interesting concept, it makes little sense when you are playing a mission that requires you to mar factions with whom you have just earned your brownie points with through a previous mission.

Mini-games form a big part of game play as Jimmy must attend two classes on most days. Mini-games come in a few varieties too: in English class, Jimmy is required to come up with as many words as possible from a given set of letters with the countdown timer ticking; passing art class requires Jimmy to draw boxes while avoiding dangers. The Challenges themselves are not very demanding. Most are concise and modest, and grant suitable rewards upon their completion. Jimmy has to avoid getting into the bad books of his teachers by ensuring he wears the school uniform, and getting to bed before a certain hour. Time is a very important factor in the game, and keeping time through the game adds to the tension, and the fun. The only real issue that most gamers have with this game is its somewhat antiquated graphics. Also, with the X-box version, load times are pretty slow. What is really brilliant in this game is the innovative story line, and while Jimmy’ character starts off as a spoilt brat, the challenges that require him to defend other students completely redeems him. All this makes this offbeat Rockstar offering a real gem.

Five must-have iPhone Games




Thousands of games at Apple’s App store have made the iPhone a decent alternative to Nintendo’s handhelds. Some gems from iPhone’s game library.


Nintendo has owned the portable videogame market – first with the Game Boy, now with the DS – for so long that most of us gave up hope of ever seeing a viable competitor. But it’s become impossible to ignore the new kid on the block: Apple’s iPhone, whose game library has quickly overwhelmed Nintendo’s.
There are now more than 9,000 iPhone games available at Apple’s App Store. The quality varies widely, and the market is so flooded that it’s hard to sort the good from the bad. But since the prices are low, you can buy 10 or so games for the price of one Nintendo cartridge.

None of them will have the depth of, say, Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, but It may be better suited for on-the-go action.
iPhone’s touch-screen controls aren’t as precise as those on dedicated game machines, but I do enjoy wading through the App Store’s offerings. Here are some recent standouts.

ZEN BOUND (CHILLINGO, RS 250)
The best iPhone games are those that seem like they couldn’t have worked on any other device. Each level of this gem shows a 3D sculpture with a string attached, and the idea is to rotate the object with your finger until most of its surface is wrapped by the string. Never has a game been more appropriately named; the challenging yet stress-free Zen Bound creates an eerie sense of calm.

FLIGHT CONTROL (FIREMINT, RS 150)

The most popular game at the App Store,you use your finger to guide aircraft safely onto runways, but it isn’t long before the skies are filled with planes waiting for you to bring them home. A crash is inevitable – but that only makes you want to try again to get a better score.

OREGON TRAIL (GAMELOFT, RS 300)
Sure, pioneer travel was awful, but this revamp of an ‘80s classic brings it to life with vivid animation and wacky humor. Try not to let your kids get abducted by eagles.

MAGNIFICIENT GIZMOS & GADGETS (PUBLISHER X, RS 100)

This nifty physics-based puzzler will appeal to anyone who ever thought it would be fun to build a Rube Goldberg machine.

WORDFU (NGMOCO, RS 50)
Roll the lettered dice and find as many words as you can. It’s a lighter, faster version of Boggle, and not quite as satisfying.

EXPLORE INDY'S WORLD




Last year saw the release of the much-awaited addition to the Indiana Jones movie collection – Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. This year, Indy Jones fans can look forward to Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings, the latest video game offering from Lucas Arts.

THE STORY
The story revolves around the adventure-loving professor’s quest for The Staff of Moses, a rare biblical relic. Although the story begins with him in Sudan, his real journey starts in San Francisco’s Chinatown and takes him all over the world, until he finally lands in the Panama jungles. The story, set in the year 1939, takes place a year after The Last Crusade.

In the game, you play Indy, and the first level serves as an intro to the basics of the combative action. It is also, where you first learn about your new archenemy, Magnus Voller. The weapons you will use throughout the game tend mostly to be your fists, your whip and your wit. Keeping in mind the archeology professor’s resourcefulness, the game features several interactive screens. So every now and then, you will find something in the environment that will help in battling your enemies or in getting out of sticky situations.

Items that can be used to toss at enemies range from billiard balls and shovels, to fish and other people! Considering the professor’s general aversion to firearms, you see the pistol only in a few scenes in the game. With the cross hairs to aim with, shooting at opponents is as simple as aiming with the remote and pressing the B button. Reloading just requires a quick flick of the remote. There is also a flight sequence, where you fly a plane using the remote as the control stick. You will know whether an object is interactive, by the icons that appear on those objects. An interesting feature of the game is that as you explore and collect hidden artifacts and glory achievements, you unlock bonus contents like combat arenas, original Indy Jones movie trailers and skins.

THE PLUSES AND MINUSES
The game features regular action based game play, along with puzzle solving sections that provide good breaks from the tedious waggle feature of Wii. From punching and jabbing uppercuts at your opponents, to cracking your whip, the game makes full use of most, if not all, of Wii’s Wiimote features. There are two main modes of play: co-op and multiplayer. A friend can join you in play as Henry Senior or you can combat with three other friends using airplanes and tanks in the combative mode.

It is definitely worth checking out the beautiful and exotic locales and the ancient ruins and jungles that look grand and detailed. That said, the games graphics themselves, are no better than the first two games in the series.

Although the game is being offered for DS, PS2 and PSP as well, the marketing seems to be heavily Wii-centric. The fact that the game is not available on more current gaming platforms like PS3 and Xbox360, or even as a PC game, is causing quite an uproar in the gaming community. The Wii version also includes an exclusive version of Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, which can be unlocked pretty early in the game. This classic point and click adventure, is exactly the same as the 1992 PC game, but has been customised to use the Wiimote.

Complete with his trademark fedora and trusty whip, Indiana Jones is certainly one of the most loved fictional heroes of all time. His dry sense of humour and inclination for getting into trouble is brought to light in the game. From river rafting and elephantrelated escapades, to booby traps and running away from rolling boulders, the game stays true to the protagonist’s character.