Video games
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 08.07.2008
SoulCalibur IV
($60, 360, PS3) — Fighting games no longer seem all that fresh or relevant, but it's tough to argue that. If you're into the genre at all, you absolutely must play "SoulCalibur IV."
The series has long been a benchmark of excellence in fighters, and the fourth entry is an incremental upgrade that maintains the standard and upgrades the graphics to high definition.
Each platform has its own special "Star Wars" character, adding to the fray of muscular, ludicrously proportioned people and beasts. The Xbox 360 version has Yoda, a sprightly and quick scrapper, while the PlayStation 3 version has the powerful but slow Darth Vader. Both games include Darth Vader's apprentice, a new character who will appear in "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed" later this year.
The multitude of combatants are well-diversified and balanced, with few standing out above others with distinct advantages. Online play is smooth and fast, and there's a character creator that lets you design your own pugilists.
1942: Joint Strike
($10, 360, PS3) — A rebirth of a 1980s arcade and consoles classic, the vertically scrolling shooter lets you take an American aircraft and shoot through a swarm of Japanese enemies.
You pick up medals and weapons upgrades on the fly, dispatching enemies flying in formations reminiscent of space shooters. Younger gamers might not see the attraction in the repetitive, overly difficult play, but fans of the old series will want to give the new game a look for its online cooperative multiplayer.
We Love Golf
($50, Wii, Rated Everyone 10+) — A complicated but gratifying motion-controlled swing is the center of one of the stronger Wii golf titles, although I still prefer "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08" as the one at the top of the growing heap.
You wind up and determine your power through your backswing, then move the controller forward to hit the ball, keeping time with an onscreen meter. An alternate, three-button-click swing would have made the game more accessible. At least the courses play fast and loose, and rounds pass quickly.
Online play greatly expands the replay-ability, as you hack through challenging, cartoonish courses. You can also unlock characters from older games, including "Street Fighter II" 'Ghosts 'n Goblins" and the "Resident Evil" series.
— Phil Villarreal
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