Nintendo DS Lite ($129.99; Nintendo.com)
(Recommended)
It has only been a year and a half since Nintendo released the original DS, turning the handheld market on its ear with a quirky approach to game playing. Using the Dual Screens of the DS and a stylus to control action sure seemed odd at the time. But after a year and a half the DS has not only been a certifiable success- it’s also rated as the top handheld in the industry, despite a more powerful and versatile competitor in Sony’s PSP.
So where does the House of Mario get off in releasing the same system with a shiny new package in less than two years? I suppose we can thank Steve Jobs for this by introducing a new iPod every year that looks smaller and cooler, but does all the same things the older, larger one did. Nintendo’s just following suit- can you blame them?
For those who’ve not yet taken the plunge into the DS, now is a perfect time to- as the system is not only cheaper than before, but smaller and brighter than ever. The DS Lite is true to its name in being about ¼ smaller than the original DS and a heck of a lot sleeker. Taking another cue from the iPod, the DS Lite now comes in glossy white- both a plus and a minus. With the old DS, its ugliness meant that no one gave it a second thought to fold it up and chuck it into the back of a backpack or car. Doing so with the DS Lite means taking a risk on (gasp!) marring the sleek exterior. Like the iPod Nano, the only way to keep it pretty means purchasing a separate case- something most parents will want to keep in mind if they want to save themselves from giving the “that’s why you can’t have nice things” lecture.
Aside from the smaller, prettier package, the DS Lite also boasts a brighter screen. The difference can really be seen when comparing the original DS to the Lite- colors are remarkably more brilliant and good-looking games, like “New Super Mario Bros.” really benefit from the illumination. Of course, that also means that the screen accentuates the not-so graphically impressive titles (yea, I’m looking at YOU “Resident Evil”).
The positioning of the stylus and microphone have switched to more convenient locations, but everything else is still where it was before- just tinier. The feel of the buttons are more solid, again less toy-like; and the weight is… well… “Lite.”
As much as I love the size, and the improved portability, shrinking the unit down does have its downsides when it comes to the hand-cramp-a-thon that occurs during extended sessions of play. Plan on taking a break if you are playing on a long trip, otherwise you may be reduced to permanent, claw-like hands. This is especially pronounced when playing a game like “Metroid Prime Hunters” which already has a fair share of discomfort due to the layout of controls, but when played for a long time on the DS Lite- mercy me!
Ultimately though, there are no complaints. Gaming, like fashion, is pain sometimes. And when you have a gaming machine that’s as fashionable as the DS Lite, be prepared to Mellencamp the night away:
Come on baby make it hurt so good.
Friday, July 7, 2006
Rockstar Games presents Table Tennis Review
(X360; $39.99; Rated E; rockstargames.com)
(four stars)
When infamous developer Rockstar Games announced that they were developing an all-new title that would utilize the power of the Xbox 360, all the folks in Videogameland were a-twitter about what it would be. After all, when the developer of “Grand Theft Auto” says they’re making something brand new, people pay attention. As excitement built around the unknown title, no one in their wildest dreams would have expected that the poster-child for game censorship would unveil- a Ping-Pong game?
What the..?
After much head-scratching and reasonable skepticism, Rockstar revealed its first screenshots, and dang it if it didn’t look really good. Surely though, from a company as nefarious as Rockstar, there’s an ace up their sleeve.
But no. Not in “Rockstar’s Table Tennis.” There are no guns, no hookers, no rampant violence to enrage Senators and PTA moms alike. It’s just Ping-Pong, in it’s purest, truest, most detailed form. In fact, the only thing controversial about the game is the fact that Rockstar made an uncontroversial game.
But in looking at the history of the developer it makes sense. After all, Rockstar has proved itself in almost every genre with “GTA,” “Manhunt,” “Midnight Club,” “Red Dead Revolver,” and “The Warriors.” Where else is there a challenge to the company, but into the sports genre? And so, bizarre enough, “Table Tennis” was the next-most logical step.
And you know what? It is pretty darn good.
Produced as a “budget title,” “Table Tennis” may not have all of the bells and whistles of a traditional sports game. There are not create-a-player features, no extensive stat-tracking, and no career mode. In fact, the only modes of play are Exhibition, Tournament, Training, and Multiplayer. There are only a handful of characters to choose from and an equally small number of arenas to play in. Simply put: when it comes to options, “Madden” this is not.
The attention paid in the game, however, is in the details: clothing wrinkles, sweat beads, and hair mattes. More importantly, the responsive control and game physics are so pinpoint sensitive that it would be hard to imagine improving upon the mechanics of the game in further releases. The player has total control, using both analog sticks, to control the ball in direction and spin. After progressing through the Tutorial, players will mature from a “Ping-Pong” player, to a “Table Tennis” connoisseur- developing strategies of not just how to return the ball back to their opponent, but when and where.
Putting those talents to the test against the training machine is one thing, challenging another player is a different story. Rockstar’s detail can, again, be seen in the challenging artificial intelligence of the computer-controlled opponents. Once you feel confident enough, take your game online to be shamed by all of the Forrest Gumps on Xbox Live who’ll give you such a paddle-whoopin’ you’ll think you just joined Sigma Chi.
But shortly you’ll realize that after you’ve successfully learned to out-strategize your opponent during a rapid-fire 50-hit volley, the *whoosh* sound of a missed return has never sounded so sweet.
And that’s when “Rockstar’s Table Tennis” has you, in the same way its predecessor had audiences in 1972 when it was called “PONG.”
(four stars)
When infamous developer Rockstar Games announced that they were developing an all-new title that would utilize the power of the Xbox 360, all the folks in Videogameland were a-twitter about what it would be. After all, when the developer of “Grand Theft Auto” says they’re making something brand new, people pay attention. As excitement built around the unknown title, no one in their wildest dreams would have expected that the poster-child for game censorship would unveil- a Ping-Pong game?
What the..?
After much head-scratching and reasonable skepticism, Rockstar revealed its first screenshots, and dang it if it didn’t look really good. Surely though, from a company as nefarious as Rockstar, there’s an ace up their sleeve.
But no. Not in “Rockstar’s Table Tennis.” There are no guns, no hookers, no rampant violence to enrage Senators and PTA moms alike. It’s just Ping-Pong, in it’s purest, truest, most detailed form. In fact, the only thing controversial about the game is the fact that Rockstar made an uncontroversial game.
But in looking at the history of the developer it makes sense. After all, Rockstar has proved itself in almost every genre with “GTA,” “Manhunt,” “Midnight Club,” “Red Dead Revolver,” and “The Warriors.” Where else is there a challenge to the company, but into the sports genre? And so, bizarre enough, “Table Tennis” was the next-most logical step.
And you know what? It is pretty darn good.
Produced as a “budget title,” “Table Tennis” may not have all of the bells and whistles of a traditional sports game. There are not create-a-player features, no extensive stat-tracking, and no career mode. In fact, the only modes of play are Exhibition, Tournament, Training, and Multiplayer. There are only a handful of characters to choose from and an equally small number of arenas to play in. Simply put: when it comes to options, “Madden” this is not.
The attention paid in the game, however, is in the details: clothing wrinkles, sweat beads, and hair mattes. More importantly, the responsive control and game physics are so pinpoint sensitive that it would be hard to imagine improving upon the mechanics of the game in further releases. The player has total control, using both analog sticks, to control the ball in direction and spin. After progressing through the Tutorial, players will mature from a “Ping-Pong” player, to a “Table Tennis” connoisseur- developing strategies of not just how to return the ball back to their opponent, but when and where.
Putting those talents to the test against the training machine is one thing, challenging another player is a different story. Rockstar’s detail can, again, be seen in the challenging artificial intelligence of the computer-controlled opponents. Once you feel confident enough, take your game online to be shamed by all of the Forrest Gumps on Xbox Live who’ll give you such a paddle-whoopin’ you’ll think you just joined Sigma Chi.
But shortly you’ll realize that after you’ve successfully learned to out-strategize your opponent during a rapid-fire 50-hit volley, the *whoosh* sound of a missed return has never sounded so sweet.
And that’s when “Rockstar’s Table Tennis” has you, in the same way its predecessor had audiences in 1972 when it was called “PONG.”
Ear Force X2 Review
(all platforms; $99.95; turtlebeach.com)
(Recommended)
There are certain understandings that are in place at The Game Guy’s home. One of those understandings is that Mrs. Game Guy hates the sound of blaring gunshots and action music immediately after work and when trying to fall asleep. Mrs. Game Guy and I have a different understanding as to the word “loud,” but because of my love for her, I acquiesce to her requests to keep it down to a level detectable only by sonar.
But I’m a man with needs, and one of those needs is to get my game on. Getting my game on means being immersed in the game experience, and I’m not satisfied until I actually believe that someone is sneaking up from behind to shiv me.
Enter the Ear Force X2’s a set of wireless headphones designed for gamers. More specifically designed for Xbox Live. The X2’s are the first headphones to integrate in-game sound and the ability to communicate with friends through the integrated microphone that plugs directly into the Xbox 360 controller.
Previously, to listen through headphones and communicate online, players would have to find a set of cans large enough to cover the Xbox communicator. Accomplishing this task usually involved some pretty heavy modifications to fit an Xbox headset into the earcup of a headphone. I’ve attempted it, and it usually became a pretty painful process after about 30 minutes of gaming.
With the integration of microphone and headphones on the X2, players can pipe the multiplayer chatter in stereo without compromising the in-game music and sound effects. Adjusting the noise-canceling microphone means being able to play late into the night without disturbing the wife- that is, as long as I chatter with my teammates in no louder than a whisper.
For a wireless set of cans, the X2’s produce a pretty good bass response and resonance. Granted, the problem with any set of wireless headphones is the maximum volume that can be produced without distortion. I may like my music loud, but not so loud that my ears bleed, and the X2’s accommodate that range just fine. Once in a game, the sound is crisp and clean.
The headphones are not, however, in 5.1 surround. This means that in games where sound positioning is critical to knowing where gunfire or enemies are, players will be at a disadvantage if relying on sound cues. When playing “Call of Duty 2,” I swear I heard someone behind me at all times, it turned out it was the headphones trying to squeeze 5.1 into stereo. Maybe not ideal, but certainly more ideal than not having any sound because it’s too late at night.
It should also be noted that though the X2’s are marketed for Xbox 360, they can be used as a communicator with the original Xbox as well. For that matter, they can be used as regular wireless headphones with any component in your entertainment center. The wireless base unit has the ability to split the sound into the headphones and stereo system, TV, etc. so players can use the headphones when needed without any issue.
At almost $100, this isn’t a purchase to take lightly and a set of high-end wired headphones will produce a greater range and depth of sound. So if sound quality is the only issue- wired cans an extension cord might be the way to go. But for those Xbox’ers out there needing to get their game on late into the night and not saddled with cumbersome cords- the X2s are the only way to go.
(Recommended)
There are certain understandings that are in place at The Game Guy’s home. One of those understandings is that Mrs. Game Guy hates the sound of blaring gunshots and action music immediately after work and when trying to fall asleep. Mrs. Game Guy and I have a different understanding as to the word “loud,” but because of my love for her, I acquiesce to her requests to keep it down to a level detectable only by sonar.
But I’m a man with needs, and one of those needs is to get my game on. Getting my game on means being immersed in the game experience, and I’m not satisfied until I actually believe that someone is sneaking up from behind to shiv me.
Enter the Ear Force X2’s a set of wireless headphones designed for gamers. More specifically designed for Xbox Live. The X2’s are the first headphones to integrate in-game sound and the ability to communicate with friends through the integrated microphone that plugs directly into the Xbox 360 controller.
Previously, to listen through headphones and communicate online, players would have to find a set of cans large enough to cover the Xbox communicator. Accomplishing this task usually involved some pretty heavy modifications to fit an Xbox headset into the earcup of a headphone. I’ve attempted it, and it usually became a pretty painful process after about 30 minutes of gaming.
With the integration of microphone and headphones on the X2, players can pipe the multiplayer chatter in stereo without compromising the in-game music and sound effects. Adjusting the noise-canceling microphone means being able to play late into the night without disturbing the wife- that is, as long as I chatter with my teammates in no louder than a whisper.
For a wireless set of cans, the X2’s produce a pretty good bass response and resonance. Granted, the problem with any set of wireless headphones is the maximum volume that can be produced without distortion. I may like my music loud, but not so loud that my ears bleed, and the X2’s accommodate that range just fine. Once in a game, the sound is crisp and clean.
The headphones are not, however, in 5.1 surround. This means that in games where sound positioning is critical to knowing where gunfire or enemies are, players will be at a disadvantage if relying on sound cues. When playing “Call of Duty 2,” I swear I heard someone behind me at all times, it turned out it was the headphones trying to squeeze 5.1 into stereo. Maybe not ideal, but certainly more ideal than not having any sound because it’s too late at night.
It should also be noted that though the X2’s are marketed for Xbox 360, they can be used as a communicator with the original Xbox as well. For that matter, they can be used as regular wireless headphones with any component in your entertainment center. The wireless base unit has the ability to split the sound into the headphones and stereo system, TV, etc. so players can use the headphones when needed without any issue.
At almost $100, this isn’t a purchase to take lightly and a set of high-end wired headphones will produce a greater range and depth of sound. So if sound quality is the only issue- wired cans an extension cord might be the way to go. But for those Xbox’ers out there needing to get their game on late into the night and not saddled with cumbersome cords- the X2s are the only way to go.
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