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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, December 3, 2003

Season's best bets for video gamers

By Mike Antonucci
Knight Ridder News Service

Video-game fanatics know what to look for at this time of year. They know by experience and instinct how to sort through wave after wave of heavily promoted games.

This guide is for everybody else. If you're overwhelmed by the range of choices, or trying to buy for somebody else, this is your cheat sheet. It's not close to comprehensive. It's a surgical slice of an inventory that becomes overstuffed at the holidays.

Most of what's listed is in the $40-$50 range, but watch for sales. The age ratings are in three categories: M (mature, 17 and older), T (teen, 13 and older) and E (everyone, 6 and older).

For family play

  • Eye Toy for PlayStation2 (E): Using a small camera that connects to the PS2, the player — you — is put on the TV screen. The action depends on your body motions, such as waving your hands through the air with the effect of wiping off a grimy screen. Get it before it's sold out.
  • "Karaoke Revolution" for PS2 (E): Video-game karaoke challenges from Konami. If not the freshest game of the year, a sensational party game.
  • "Mario Kart: Double Dash!!" for GameCube (E): The essence of this Nintendo racing game is multiplayer fun.
  • "Railroad Tycoon 3" for PCs (E): Elaborate model railroading by computer, published by Gathering.
  • "Ape Escape 2" for PS2 (E): Your job in this UbiSoft game is to chase helmet-wearing monkeys. Enough said.
  • The GameCube console: It's around $99 now and still the gateway to superb Nintendo games for all ages.

For children

  • "SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom" for PS2, Xbox, GameCube and PCs (E). The latest THQ game featuring Nickelodeon's breakout star.
  • "Fairly Odd Parents: Breakin' Da Rules" for PS2, Xbox, GameCube and PCs (E): Right on SpongeBob's heels in TV popularity and adapted for a console game by THQ.
  • Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire editions for GBA (E): Pokemon is still alive and kicking, as sales for these Nintendo games proved.
  • "Backyard Basketball" for PS2 and PCs (E): The "backyard kids" characters mixed with depictions of NBA stars as children. One of Atari's best products.
  • "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" for PS2, Xbox and GameCube (E): The Turtles are a pop-culture institution, but parents who don't approve of this Konami game's fighting theme should pick something else.
  • "Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure" for PS2, Xbox and GameCube (E): Skateboarding with Disney characters.

For the hard-core gamer

  • "SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs" for PS2 (M): An elite single-player urban warfare game from Sony. But the bigger lure is online team play.
  • "Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand" for GBA (E): Konami put a solar sensor in the game cartridge to make vampire-hunting more effective in good sunlight. It's a slick innovation, but more patience and strategy is required.
  • "Jak II" for PS2 (T): A deep, clever and exceptionally challenging action-adventure sequel from Sony.
  • "Tony Hawk's Underground" for PS2, Xbox and GameCube (T): Activision's great skateboarding series adds a storyline component.
  • "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic" for Xbox (T): A richly detailed role-playing game from LucasArts.
  • "Viewtiful Joe" for GameCube (T): A fighting game from Capcom with an almost hypnotic visual style.

For anyone who wants to savor a great game

  • "Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando" for PS2 (T): For the average player, there will be weeks of furious action mixed with amusement.
  • "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" for PS2, Xbox, GameCube and PCs (T): Exotic, addictive sword-and-dagger fantasy from UbiSoft.
  • "Madden NFL 2004" for PS2, PS One, Xbox, GameCube and PCs (E): Months of entertainment for football fans in this Electronic Arts best seller.
  • "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004" for PS2, Xbox, GameCube and PCs (E): Another EA gem that reflects the highest quality in video games.
  • "The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker" for GameCube (E): Beautiful and absorbing. A Nintendo adventure classic.
  • "Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3" for GBA (E): One of the most memorable Nintendo games of all time in a hand-held version.

Suggestions to put your favorite gamer in control

Want to get a savvy gift for a gamer that's not just another game? Consider these possibilities:

  • Game controllers with pizazz. We particularly like the Logitech "Extreme Action" PlayStation2 controller with leather grips (www.logitech.com) and the Nyko Air Flo controllers (www.nyko.com) that minimize sweaty hands because fans in the grips blow fresh air on players' palms.
  • There's more than one online video-game rental service, so if you're looking for a convenient way for someone to sample games before or instead of buying, that might be a good option. Gamerang (www.gamerang.com) is touting its gift certificate offers for one-, three-, six- and 12-month subscriptions.
  • Memory cards. If you want to look really smart, even though you know nothing about video games, just find out if the intended recipient of your gift has a PS2, Xbox or GameCube. Then buy an always- helpful memory card for said machine. Check out some online sites (www.amazon.com and www.ebgames.com, among others) to familiarize yourself with prices.