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Think of the Children for August 6th

Think of the Children for August 6th

Written by Dan Keener on 8/6/2008 for DS   PC   PS2   PS3   PSP   Wii   360  
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Last week was a fantastic haul, as there was an enormous amount of titles rated, including highly anticipated games on several platforms. Well, this week we get the quantity, but the quality has slipped markedly. There are a few goodies on the list (including this weeks Intriguing Title and Wii versions of a classic franchise), but there is also a lot of casual and kids games out there. In addition, the 360 and PS3 just about didn’t show for the dance, with a very measly offering.

One of the big names on this list is a couple of old-timers (relatively speaking). Both Mega Man and Mega Man 2 from Capcom for the Wii Virtual Console were rated this week. Mega Man was supposed to hit the VC on Monday, but it doesn’t look like that happened. Mega Man 2 is slated for a September release on the VC. Other rated Wii and DS titles to look forward to are The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon (DS), Don King Presents Prizefighter (DS) and Earthworm Jim 2 (Wii).

As usual, the casual and kids games were prevalent. This week we saw Barbie Horse Adventures: Riding Camp (DS), High School Musical 3 Senior Year / DGamer (DS) Tinker Bell + DGamer (DS), Brain Games Crosswords & Word Puzzles (PC) and Enchanted Fairy Friends: Secret of the Fairy Queen (PC). Other oddities from this week’s list: Playboy Games Pool Party (Mobile Phone) rated with only a T for Teen and Earthworm Jim 2 was also listed as being rated for the Genesis system. Gotta be a mistake on the ESRB’s part on that one….

The Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 gave their all last week, as only a single title was rated this go around. The ESRB finally got around to releasing the rating of Sea Life Safari, the Xbox Live Arcade title that was released on June 18th 2008. Otherwise, there was nothing. Nada. Zip. After last week’s heavy hitters, I guess I’m not too surprised.

The Intriguing Title(s) of the Week is another Star Wars game, Star Wars The Clone Wars: Jedi Alliance. I’m a Star Wars geek at heart, so these Clone Wars games help keep that fandom burning. The great thing is that even though the Wii (or in this case the DS) aren’t HD capable, Lucas Arts usually squeezes out the best possible gameplay and graphics available on the chosen platform. This game will feature co-op play through the wi-fi and will supposedly feature real-shadow outlines instead of the usual shaded circle or blob. Hopefully it will get about as cutting edge as the DS will allow. Star Wars The Clone Wars: Jedi Alliance on the Nintendo DS is scheduled to be released on November 1st, 2008.

Title Publisher Rating Platforms
Barbie Horse Adventures: Riding Camp Activision Value Everyone DS
Dancing with the Stars: Get Your Dance On! Activision Value Everyone 10+ DS
Enchanted Fairy Friends: Secret of the Fairy Queen ValuSoft Everyone PC
High School Musical 3 Senior Year / DGamer Disney Interactive Studios Everyone DS
Mega Man Capcom Entertainment, Inc. Everyone Wii
Mega Man 2 Capcom Entertainment, Inc. Everyone Wii
Midnight Bowling Gameloft Everyone Wii
Midnight Pool Gameloft Everyone Wii
Monster Jam: Urban Assault Activision Value Everyone PS2, PSP, Wii
Potpourrii Abstraction Games Everyone Wii
Professor Heinz Wolff's Gravity Koch Media Everyone PC, DS, Wii
Sea Life Safari Vivendi Games Everyone Xbox 360
Sinking Island Encore Software Teen PC
SPORE Electronic Arts Everyone 10+ Macintosh, PC
Six Flags Fun Park Brash Everyone 10+ PC, PS2, Wii, DS
SimCity Creator Electronic Arts Everyone DS
The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon Vivendi Games Everyone DS
Sid Meier's Civilization IV Colonization 2K Games Everyone 10+ Macintosh, PC
UNO® Undercover™ RealNetworks Everyone Macintosh, PC
Hurry Up Hedgehog! Oxygen Games Everyone 10+ DS
Earthworm Jim 2 Interplay Prods Everyone Wii, Genesis
Don King Presents Prizefighter 2K Teen DS
Brave: Shaman's Challenge SouthPeak Interactive Everyone DS
Brain Games Crosswords & Word Puzzles On Hand Software, Inc. Everyone PC
Burger Rush RealNetworks Everyone Macintosh, PC
Cabela's Big Game Hunter 2009 Activision Value Teen PC
Igor The Game SouthPeak Interactive Everyone DS
Ninjatown SouthPeak Interactive Everyone DS
Tropix RealNetworks Everyone 10+ DS
Pong Toss - Frat Party Games JV Games Inc. Everyone Wii
Playboy Games Pool Party THQ Wireless Teen Mobile Phone
Tinker Bell + DGamer Disney Interactive Studios Everyone DS
Star Wars™ The Clone Wars™: Jedi Alliance™ LucasArts Everyone 10+ DS
Here is the final tally on who, what and where everything was rated for the last two weeks. There were 45 rated titles on 9 platforms. DS (15), PC (10) and Wii (5) had the most games rated. There were 29 of the 45 titles rated at E10+ or lower, 4 rated at T for Teen and none rated at M for Mature.

Got a comment on the article or a rated games, put it in the section below or send me an e-mail. Until next week, make sure you know what your kids are playing……

*The weekly Intriguing Title of the Week (and any game that is tossed in that paragraph) is identified based on a game on the list that catches the eye of the author for any number of reasons. Good, bad or otherwise, feel free to agree, disagree or add some constructive input to the discussion.

* The product in this article was sent to us by the developer/company.


About Author

Like many gamers in their 40's, I developed my love of gaming from my Commodore 64 after we wore out our Intellivision. I spent countless hours wandering around the streets of Skara Brae, as my life was immersed in The Bard's Tale series on the C-64, D&D Titles and any/all Epyx titles (California Summer and Winter Games) and sports titles.  After taking the early 90's off from gaming (college years) minus the occasional Bill Walsh College Football on Sega, I was re-introduced to PC games in the mid 1990's with a couple of little games called DOOM II and Diablo. I went all-in with the last generation of consoles, getting an Xbox 360 on launch weekend as well as adding a PS3 and Wii in subsequent years.  I now am into the current-generation (latest?) of consoles with the WiiU and Xbox One.  Recently, I was able to get back into PC gaming and have enjoyed it very much, spending most of my time going solo or playing with my fellow GamingNexus staffers in controlled multiplayer action.

While my byline is on many reviews, articles and countless news stories, I have a passion for and spent the last several years at GamingNexus focusing on audio & video and accessories as they relate to gaming. Having over 20 years of Home Theater consulting and sales under my belt, it is quite enjoyable to spend some of my time viewing gaming through the A/V perspective. While I haven't yet made it to one of the major gaming conventions (PAX or E3), I have represented GamingNexus at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in nine of the last ten years.

Personally, I have been a staff member at GamingNexus since 2006 and am in my third tour of duty after taking off the last year and a half.


 

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