NFL Tour
Publisher: EA
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Rated: E — Everyone
Game type: Sports
Rating: *** 1/2 (out of five)
What’s the premise?
Get your favourite NFL players out of their gear (not like that, you big perv!) and into some high-intensity seven-on-seven football action featuring dynamic hits, outrageous catches and more fireworks than Canada Day and the fourth of July combined.
This game is most similar to…?
NFL Street.
Is it suitable for younger gamers?
There’s little that should dissuade adults from letting kids enjoy this game, although many of the hits are of the thunderous and painful-looking variety.
One player or more?
This game just oozes smack talk. You’re definitely going to want to pull off a few monster plays on your friends.
What’s missing?
NFL Tour is the evolution of the successful NFL Street franchise, but it lacks some of the features that made it so solid, like wild urban environments to play in and mega-power ups.
The (not-so) secret to success is…?
Mix it up. Just like in real football, you’ll need to mix up your plays on both offence and defence or your opponents will rough you up.
And in the end?
NFL Tour is an enjoyable “guys’night in” kind of title, but it’s also a bit of a step backwards from its NFL Street predecessor.
Advance Wars: Days Of Ruin
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Nintendo DS
Rated: E10+ — Everyone 10 and over
Game type: Combat strategy
Rating: *** 1/2 (out of five)
What’s the premise?
It’s the end of the world — but you feel fine. After a nightmarish meteor shower devastates the planet, you must work with the remaining armed forces to save humanity from roaming groups of armed ne’er-do-wells.
This game is most similar to…?
Advance Wars: Dual Strike.
Is it suitable for younger gamers?
It’s not graphically violent, but the intent is there. Use your own discretion.
One player or more?
Hop on your local network or go Wi-Fi and show a friend whose army is mightiest.
What’s missing?
Remember kids: Video games aren’t about reading. The lack of verbalized dialogue sucks a lot of the energy out of the game and having to read scroll after scroll of text gets tired very fast.
The (not-so) secret to success is…?
This is pretty competitive turn-based tactical warfare, so make sure you use smart matchups of forces along with the terrain to your advantage.
And in the end?
If combat strategy is your thing, you’ll get right into Advance Wars: Days Of Ruin.
Jonathan P. Kuehlein
