Coming off of a stellar month for games with March, April is actually shaping up to be pretty slow. There’s not a lot in the way of hot releases or quality titles that will be hitting the shelves, so I’m actually scraping the bottom of the barrel when it comes to this month’s selection of games. Gamecube owners will notice something rare on this list however, a console exclusive game in the form of Odama. PS2 and Xbox owners (and Teen Titan fans) get the brawler Teen Titans based on the recently ended cartoon, whilst Lara Croft fans get a return to form with the new Tomb Raider Legend for the Xbox 360. We’ll also get to see the newest game craze from Japan with Brain Age, a mental stimulator for the Nintendo DS. Like I said, not much, but considering your backlog for March, that’s probably a good thing. Let’s take a slightly closer look at these four titles, and see if any of them warrant your attention.
TEEN TITANS for PS2, Xbox – Personally, I had a hard time getting into the cartoon. As far as an “American Anime” the production values were pretty high, and it had some entertaining moments, but it didn’t hold my attention like Justice League Unlimited did. However, Titans did draw in the younger crowd, and that’s definitely who this game adaptation will appeal to. Titans allows you to pick from Robin, Beast Boy, Raven, Cyborg and Starfire, with all five characters appearing on screen at once. You can cycle between them with a flick of the D-Pad, or have a friend (or 3) join in for a bit of multiplayer mayhem. The game bears a resemblance to X-Men Legends, but without a lot of the depth and customization of the Marvel title. Titans does look like the perfect kids game though; bright, flashy, and easy to get into. The graphics could use a bit of polish, and the lack of clips from the show is a bit disheartening. We’ll see if Majesco can put a final coat of polish on the title before release, and see how it all shapes up.
ODAMA for Nintendo Gamecube – What’s this you say? A new title only for Gamecube? And it’s not Twilight Princess? Yes, yes, I know, shock and awe, right? Odama looks to be a really unique title, labeled by Nintendo as a “Pinball Military Strategy” title. A what? Yeah, exactly. You’ll be controlling a large army, and through the use of the microphone (included with game) you’ll be able to issue tactical commands and to bring forth…a giant pinball. This pinball, the Odama, can cause havoc on the field, but improper use can work against you, as the Odama will knock out both opponent and friend. You’ll want to position your troops to avoid the pinball, while the Odama creates mayhem for the other side. Needless to say, the game is unique, and I’m anxious to see how well this is pulled off.
TOMB RAIDER LEGEND for Xbox 360 – Lara Croft has fallen on hard, hard times. Two abysmal movies, a slew of horrible game sequels…she is truly one step away from video game hell. Legend looks to change all that around, however, with the introduction of a new character model, and a back to basics approach that will see Lara more focused on platforming and actual tomb raiding than before. With the success of games like Prince of Persia, I’d have to agree this is a wise decision, and I’m hoping it can be pulled off. A Next-Gen Lara Croft adventure should be full of grandeur and beauty, and from the early shots of the game, it’s shaping up to be just that. Let’s hope that the gameplay and controls can be pulled together in time for the release, and we might have an honest to god playable sequel on our hands.
BRAIN AGE for Nintendo DS – Brain Age, an incredibly popular title in Japan, is finally making its way to US shores this month. Budget priced at $19.99, this “game” is set up to challenge your mind thru a series of exercises founded in math and reading challenges. Set up by a Touhoku University Professor, and utilizing the touch screen function of the DS, Brain Age should appeal to all you puzzle solvers out there, and might be a good tool for some of the more forgetful gamers as well. This game is designed to stimulate the brain, with the hope of improving thought and memory. I’m no fan of math myself, but I’ll even give this a try when it hits. I’ve seen your test scores buddy, you might want to do the same.
- Dustin Chadwell currently resides in Ohio, USA. He's been playing video games since the Atari 2600, and believes he can whoop anyone's ass in Joust, and Galaga. Probably not Halo 2 though. New technology tends to confuse him.