Quantcast
Airborne a rip-roaring good time – Metro US

Airborne a rip-roaring good time

Medal Of Honor: Airborne

Publisher: EA

Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC

Rated: T — Teen

Game type: Shooter

Rating: **** (out of five)

What’s the premise?

It’s time to hit the silk a member of the U.S. Airborne and hit the ground running behind enemy lines in an all-new wrinkle for this enduring World War II shooter franchise.

This game is most similar to…?

Medal Of Honor: Allied Assault.

Is it suitable for younger gamers?

They might think the parachuting part at the beginning of each level is pretty cool, but that feeling will likely wear off fast when the anti-aircraft fire starts exploding around their character’s ears.

One player or more?

The campaign mode is, sadly, just one player, but the multi-player options are pretty fun, including the standard deathmatch fare and a nice “protect the area from paratroopers/invade the area as paratroopers” game.

What’s missing?

Allied AI to match your enemies’ would be good. I found my fellow paratroopers failed to support me on many a mission and I ended up having to take out a lot of bad guys on my own (only to have my guys finally show up). Meanwhile, the enemies employed some pretty decent strategies the kept the tension high and the action fast and furious.

The (not-so) secret to success is…?

Fall with purpose. Being a paratrooper isn’t just falling out of a plane, it’s about guiding yourself to the optimal landing zone to begin each mission. Don’t be afraid to drop onto rooftops or into alleyways to take advantage of a different starting point.

And in the end?

The non-linear format that lets you decide where to begin missions and how to carry them out is smart and fun, making Medal Of Honor: Airborne more fun than falling out of a plane.

Phoenix Wright — Ace Attorney: Trials And Tribulations

Publisher: Capcom

Platforms: Nintendo DS

Rated: T — Teen

Game type: Puzzle

Rating: *** 1/2 (out of five)

What’s the premise?

Hold it! The hottest (and possibly only) courtroom simulation around it back in court as Phoenix Wright’s checkered past is revealed and he faces his toughest case ever against a mysterious and clever new prosecutor.

This game is most similar to…?

Phoenix Wright — Ace Attorney.

Is it suitable for younger gamers?

Here’s a good rule to follow: If an episode of Law And Order can hold your kid’s attention, they’ll probably be OK with this game.

One player or more?

It’s just you, counselor.

What’s missing?

Ice picks to stab yourself in the brain for when the heavyset senior defence attorney starts going on ad nauseam about his hemorrhoids.

The (not-so) secret to success is…?

Pay attention. While it’s easy to get lost in the theatrics and Anime-style action, this is really a puzzle game and you need to keep track of the clues in order to advance.

And in the end?

Original idea. Fun game. Case closed.

Game Party

Publisher: Midway

Platforms: Wii

Rated: E — Everyone

Game type: Party

Rating: ** (out of five)

What’s the premise?

Choose between seven “party” games — darts, table hockey, skill ball, hoop shoot, ping cup, shuffleboard and trivia — and then try ’em out with the motion-sensitive Wii-mote.

This game is most similar to…?

Carnival Games, Wii Play.

Is it suitable for younger gamers?

My four-year-old — a big fan of Carnival Games — tried it out and quickly got frustrated by the lack of intuitive gameplay and of variety.

One player or more?

It’s a party game and, no matter what you’ve heard, it takes more than one to party.

What’s missing?

Hmmm… I’ll second my son’s sentiments and say intuitive gameplay and variety (I mean, really, just seven games?).

The (not-so) secret to success is…?

None of these games are rocket science, although figuring out how to make them go can sometimes feel like it.

And in the end?

There are many better “party” game collections out there.

jonathan.kuehlein@metronews.ca