Video games not all blood and gore

By Don Oldenburg
Washington Post

Not all video games are filled with violence or scenes that leave parents cringing in horror. If you're looking for some tamer video games, here are a few suggestions.

"EyeToy: AntiGrav"; SCEA (PS2; rated E)

This full-feature challenge lets players guide their hoverboarding character through challenging environments, around obstacles and along fast-paced courses using only the movements of their bodies. Pretty cool, if not perfect.

"Atari Flashback"; Atari (rated E)

Great gift for the nostalgia freak! Packaged together are a vintage-style Atari game console, two joysticks and 20 of Atari's 1980s titles, when video gaming was finding its two-dimensional legs. Included are such classics as Asteroids, Planet Smashers, Warlords, Desert Falcon and the previously unreleased "classic" Saboteur.

"Sly 2: Band of Thieves"; SCEA (PS2; rated E)

Cunning raccoon Sly Cooper's second comic crime caper provides richer game play and a deeper story than his first. With allies Bentley the Turtle and Murray the Hippo, the devious Sly must avoid cops and criminals while stealing parts of the robotic villain Clockwerk that have fallen into the hands of the outlaw Klaww Gang. Colorfully animated like a feature cartoon.

"Pikman 2"; Nintendo (GC; rated E)

As Captain Olimar, the red-nosed, none-too-bright space adventurer, you return to the planet of the pikman — friendly, intelligent flora that gave you a new leaf on life in the original 2001 title. Your mission is to collect junky artifacts — with the help of your little flower-power friends. Somehow compellingly cute.

"Scaler"; Global Star Software (PS2, XB, GC; rated E)

An animated adventure strictly for younger kids, it stars a shape-changing lizard that wiles and claws its way past menacing reptiles as it attempts to save the world. Colorful special effects and otherworldly visuals make up for the sometimes plodding plot of this good intro to the genre.