Virtual getaways await in 'Primal,' 'Vendetta'
By Marc Saltzman
Gannett News Service
In these uncertain times, immersing yourself in a video game can help you forget news reports of war, mysterious illnesses and economic problems.
Two releases this month fill the bill perfectly.
"Primal" is a gratifying fantasy adventure starring a young woman and her trusty gargoyle sidekick, while "Def Jam Vendetta" is a fun fighting game that pits well known hip-hop artists against one another in a no-holds-barred brawl.
These console titles are $50 each.
'Primal' play engaging
Sony Computer Entertainment; for PlayStation 2; "M" for Mature; www.playstation.com; 
stars out of five.
This dark action/adventure stars Jen Tate, a contemporary young woman with the ability to morph into demonic form, and her sidekick Scree, a loyal and resourceful gargoyle.
In this lengthy tale, the unlikely duo must travel to four unique worlds to stop a malicious plan designed to upset the balance between chaos and order. Along the way, Jen discovers why she was chosen for this epic journey.
In true video game fashion, Jen and Scree must rely on each other's skills to survive. Jen is adept at hand-to-hand combat, especially when she transforms into one of four powerful alter egos, while her pint-size associate can climb walls. He also can "possess" statues to help solve many puzzles throughout the game. Scree also serves as a power source to fuel Jen's supernatural abilities.
"Primal" is played from a third-person perspective that is perfectly suited for viewing the varied indoor and outdoor environments. The game also has impressive lighting effects and Hollywood-style transformations such as Scree turning to stone or Jen morphing into beast form.
Players won't have to wait between levels in "Primal" thanks to the game's "dynamic loading" system. That's a plus because this title's great story, realistic visuals and immersive game play will keep you glued to the screen for hours.
Fresh approach in 'Vendetta'
EA Sports Big; for PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube; rated "T" for Teen; defjamvendetta.ea.com; stars out of five.
The movie "Fight Club" meets hip-hop music — that's basically the premise behind "Def Jam Vendetta," a fighting game featuring virtual likenesses of a dozen or so Def Jam recording artists such as DMX, Ludacris, Method Man, Redman and Scarface. Naturally, the game is laced with plenty of "fly" hip-hop and rap tracks, including original intro and victory sequences for each of the Def Jam artists-turned-fighters.
The story-based mode follows an up-and-coming street brawler out to settle a personal score with a bitter enemy, the D-Mob boss. By fighting in 10 venues, and against a handful of colorful foes, challengers must raise cash and unlock new moves and finishing blows.
The game includes more than 1,500 unique wrestling, kickboxing and martial arts moves. Your fighters also can take advantage of over-the-top special attacks by ruling the ring and racking up points on the "Blazin.' "
If you want a plot-based story to get going, you can indulge in the straightforward arcade fighting modes such as one-on-one, tag team and free-for-all options, with support for up to four players going at it in the ring at once.
Overall, Electronic Arts deserves kudos for breathing new life into the aging fighting genre with this title's fresh approach.
