VIDEO GAMES
War, skateboards and mob bosses rule
By Marc Saltzman
Gannett News Service
Video game publishers usually have one big hit during the all-important pre-holiday season.
This year, Activision (www.activision.com) has three.
The Santa Monica, Calif., company is enjoying commercial success and critical praise for its three latest titles: "Call of Duty," "Tony Hawk's Underground" and "True Crime: Streets of L.A."
While each game caters to a different kind of player, all three are exceptionally fun.
'Call of Duty'
'Call of Duty' Platform: PC Price: $49.99 Rating: "T" for teen Score:
"Call of Duty" is an intense, gritty World War II-themed action game played from a vertigo-inducing first-person perspective.
REVIEW
out of five
Gamers first play a U.S. soldier who, along with his squad members, must help tear down the Nazi regime. Later in the game, they assume the role of a British special forces operative, and eventually, a member of the Russian infantry.
When engaged in the numerous and diverse campaigns — such as fighting through European towns and forests or using stealth to infiltrate enemy territory — allied bombers fly above, explosions rattle the ground below and bullets are whizzing by in all directions.
"Call of Duty" can render more than 300 soldiers in one scene. This helps reinforce the game's epic (and sobering) scale.
'Tony Hawk's Underground'
'Tony Hawk's Underground' Format: For PlayStation 2, Xbox and Gamecube Price: $49.99 Rating: "T" for teen Score:
Activision has replaced its 4-year-old "Pro Skater" series with a brand-new skateboarding franchise, entitled "Tony Hawk's Underground" (a.k.a. "T.H.U.G.").
REVIEW
While at its heart the game is still an arcade-based skateboarding simulation that challenges players to perform tricks for points, the emphasis is less on Tony Hawk and other pro skaters and more on, well, nobodies like us.
"T.H.U.G." stars an up-and-coming "skate punk" who is trying to break onto the pro scene. In the PlayStation 2 version of the game, players can even import a photo of themselves and map it onto a skater's body.
There are other reasons why this story-driven title is billed by the company as the most customizable console game to date: players can also create (and share) their very own tricks, combination moves, mission objectives and environments.
Another new feature is the ability to hop off the board and explore the levels on foot.
"T.H.U.G." features more than 70 musical acts, from rockers KISS to hip-hop stars such as Jurassic 5 and punk acts, including The Clash.
'True Crime: Streets of L.A.'
'True Crime: Streets of L.A.' Format: PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube Price: $49.99 Rating: "M" for mature Score:
Fans of "Grand Theft Auto"-style driving and fighting games will feel right at home with "True Crime: Streets of L.A.," a title that takes place throughout 240 square miles of an accurately recreated Los Angeles.
REVIEW
Gamers play as Nick Kang, a tough ex-cop now working for an organization determined to dismantle the Chinese and Russian mobs. The story does take a few interesting turns, but it wouldn't be fair to give the details away.
Some of the 100-plus branching missions include car chases (who wouldn't love to race down Sunset Boulevard?), while others are accomplished on foot. Gunplay and Hong Kong-style martial arts are both required to defeat the bad guys.
The game also includes the voices of Christopher Walken, Gary Oldman and Michael Madsen, and a soundtrack compiled from more than 50 licensed and original West Coast hip-hop tracks.
Savvy gamers can also unlock Snoop Dogg as a playable character.
