Illustration by Donna Racer
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Web Exclusive...
Top Video Games for Grownups
By Damon Brown, September 2005
These picks get high scores, so get ready to play!
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According to Douglas Lowenstein, president of the Entertainment Software
Association, older gamers "prefer games where you can just get in and
play." Below are some of the top video games—specially selected with
grownups in mind—that allow you to do just that. While the difficulty
levels vary, most of these titles' rules are simple to grasp, even for
novices. In addition to their high "pick-up-and-play" value, the
selections don't require complex joystick or controller maneuvers, and most
of them feature clear visuals that are easy on the eyes.
Want to share the fun of gaming with the little ones in your life? As a
bonus, we've included a few top picks to play with children.
TOP GAMES TO PLAY SOLO
Bust-A-Move by Majesco and Ubisoft
($20 to $30 on Playstation 2, XBox and GameCube; Super Bust-A-Move 2, Ultra Bust-A-Move, and Bust-A-Move 3000)
Difficulty: Low
Replay value: High
A notoriously addictive puzzle game with vivid graphics, Bust-A-Move
provides loads of fun on all three systems (Super Bust-A-Move 2 on
Playstation 2, Ultra Bust-A-Move on Xbox, and Bust-A-Move 3000 on
GameCube). Like Tetris, it has a simple premise: eliminate a descending
wall of bubbles by matching them by color before they hit bottom. There's
also a two-player mode, and with the XBox version you can join Microsoft's
XBox Live club and play with people worldwide over the Internet.
Final
Fantasy X by Square Enix
($20 on Playstation 2)
Difficulty: Medium
Replay value: Medium
With an intricate storyline, complex characters, and beautiful visuals in full
3-D, Final Fantasy X is truly one great adventure. Set in a war-ravished
mythical world, a young warrior explores varied, vast lands while he learns
magic spells, uses dazzling fighting techniques, and battles gigantic monsters
that fill the screen. The main adventure can last dozens of hours, while the
side missions and treasure hunting provide endless entertainment.
Namco Museum by
Namco
($20 on Playstation 2, Xbox, and GameCube)
Difficulty: Low
Replay value: High
Namco Museum—a compilation of arcade-perfect versions of
Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man, shooters Galaga and
Galaxian, the classic Dig Dug, and the racing game Pole
Position—is a blast from the past, especially if you prefer
fast-paced, old-school arcade games from the '80s. Most allow two players,
and all titles have plenty of play options, such as difficulty and speed.
Super Mario Sunshine
by Nintendo
($20 on GameCube)
Difficulty: Medium
Replay value: Medium
The latest game in the Super Mario Brothers series will test both your action
and puzzle-solving skills. Armed with a versatile water gun, Mario travels on
various tropical islands battling unusual enemies, searching for hidden
passageways, and collecting fun items like jet packs. Good for a mental
workout, Super Mario Sunshine can be solved in days, but the replay
value comes in searching for all the well-placed treasures.
The Sims
by EA
($20 on Playstation 2, Xbox, and GameCube)
Difficulty: Medium
Replay value: High
The Sims, one of the most popular video games of all time, lets you
create a character and control virtually all aspects of his or her daily life.
Kind of like having your own reality TV show, you watch your little computer
person get a job, fall in love, and, if you don't take care of your
creation, die. There is no real way to lose the game, making it a good pick for
a casual diversion. Great for novices, you can play alone or with a friend.
TOP GAMES TO PLAY WITH FRIENDS
Champions of
Norrath: Realms of Everquest by Sony
($20 on Playstation 2)
Difficulty: High
Replay value: High
Champions of Norrath is an addictive blend of arcade action and
Dungeons-and-Dragons-style adventures. Up to three of your friends can play and
you can choose from five characters—ranging from a strong swordsman to an
agile elf—that get more powerful by defeating monsters and finding
priceless treasures. If you need to take a break, a well-designed
"save" option allows you to pick up where you left off. You can also
play online with other adventurers around the world.
Hot
Shots Golf FORE! by Sony
($40 on Playstation 2)
Difficulty: Medium
Replay value: High
It's easy to get the swing of Hot Shots Golf FORE!, thanks to the
game's laid-back pace and clear interface. You and your friends choose from
dozens of silly characters and take to the links over 15 wacky courses
(18-hole, short 3-par, and miniature golf). You can also play online, competing
against other people in tournaments. The game is much less intense (and more
entertaining) than the competing, more serious golf titles.
Karaoke Revolution Volume
3 by Konami
($60 including microphone, $40 without microphone; works with any PlayStation
2-compatible USB headset or microphone on Playstation 2)
Difficulty: Low
Replay value: Medium
Using the latest in video game technology, Konami gives you an excuse to laugh
at your friends. Everyone takes a turn singing the lyrics to popular songs and,
before you know it, your living room has turned into a karaoke bar. About three
dozen selections are available, from "New York, New York" to
"Love Shack," and a hilarious animated character sings along. Scores
are based on how well the crooner's pitch matches the pitch of the music.
The game comes with one microphone headset, but it's worth paying $20 for a
second one so you can sing duets with your friends. It's a great title to
start with if you haven't played video games before.
Madden NFL
2005 by EA
($30 on Playstation 2, Xbox, and GameCube)
Difficulty: Medium
Replay value: Medium
If you like football, you really can't go wrong with the Madden
series. The 3-D perspective of Madden NFL 2005 puts you on the field in
the center of the action, and the game's NFL license means that you're
playing with official football players and teams. With the Playstation 2 and
XBox versions, you can use an Internet connection to play against people all
around the world. The game is updated every year with a few new features, but
buying an older edition is fine as long as you don't mind old player
rosters. Big, clean visuals make it easy to follow what's happening on the
field.
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! by
Nintendo
($50 on GameCube)
Difficulty: Medium
Replay value: High
Grab a go-kart and race against the computer, bring some friends for some
multiplayer action, or even play two-against-two, with one person driving and
the other using defensive weapons against the other karts. The high-speed
hijinks, starring Team Mario and other memorable characters, are a hoot,
especially when you have multiple people vying for the finish line. Be prepared
to give your thumbs a workout.
TOP GAMES TO PLAY WITH KIDS
Ape Escape 2 by
Ubisoft
($20 on Playstation 2)
Difficulty: Medium
Replay value: High
Age range: 8 and up
Ape Escape 2 centers around Jimmy, a kid who accidentally releases
hundreds of high-IQ monkeys from a laboratory. Equipped with only a net and a
smattering of gadgets, Jimmy must catch all of the monkeys before they wreak
havoc on the world. Ape Escape 2's premise continues to get
sillier—and funnier—as the game proceeds. However, underneath all
the monkey business and cute cartoon graphics, the game is really about problem
solving. For instance, the bananarang (a boomerang that looks like—you
guessed it—a banana) can be used to coax a particularly stubborn monkey
down from a spot you can't reach, while using the water gun can disorient
him so he can be easily captured in your net. The game is challenging, but
rarely frustrating.
Donkey Konga by
Nintendo
($50 on GameCube)
Difficulty: Medium
Replay value: Medium
Age range: 5 and up
If the youngsters in your life love music, then they'll get a kick out of
watching classic video game character Donkey Kong moving to the beat of an
eclectic range of tunes, from Santana to the Partridge Family. In this charming
game based on the Mario/Donkey Kong series, you control the animal hero. Hit
your own cute pair of bongo drums that come with the game, and he bangs on his
drugs with the same rhythm; you clap, he claps (through a microphone inside the
drums). The difficulty level is adjustable, but it does take a few sessions to
get the hang of the bongo controller.
Katamari
Damacy by Namco
($20 on Playstation 2)
Difficulty: Low
Replay value: High
Age range: 8 and up
Katamari Damacy is one of the oddest games available on the Playstation
2, but the premise is simple: you control a small green alien who must roll up
random objects on Earth, collecting them into a ball that grows larger and
larger until it gets to a certain size. The game begins with you collecting
thumbtacks, coins, and sticks of gum, but soon you're rolling up houses,
cars, and trees like a surrealist Godzilla. Katamari Damacy is a
nonviolent title, and that, along with its oh-so-cute Japanese cartoon style,
makes it a terrific game to play with kids.
Pikmin 2 by
Nintendo
($50 on GameCube)
Difficulty: Medium
Replay value: Medium
Age range: 10 and up
Conceived by mastermind designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Pikmin 2 has you and
a friend controlling two tiny aliens exploring a garden. You'll find hidden
treasures, scope out dark passageways, and battle anteaters, ladybugs, and
spiders—threats to all things smaller than an inch. Pikmin 2 is a
graphically beautiful game, down to the gigantic blades of grass and gaping
human footprints, and the fun, lighthearted style appeals to the kid in all of
us.
Shrek 2 by
Activision
($20 on Playstation 2, Xbox, and GameCube)
Difficulty: Easy
Replay value: Medium
Age range: 5 and up
The video game version of Shrek 2 captures a lot of the fun, silliness,
and humor that made the movie a hit. The action/adventure title is equal parts
enemy fighting and puzzle solving, though the game is nonviolent and easy for
kids to understand. The visuals, particularly on the XBox version, are almost
movie-perfect. While Activision settles for actor stand-ins here (no Mike Myers
or Eddie Murphy), the imitators are impressive. If you are willing to buy some
extra joysticks, up to four people can enjoy the adventure at the same
time.
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