Picks of Coming Video Games
Fusion Frenzy Two Xbox360, Microsoft, $49.99. When the Xbox launched in the fall 2001, many gamers passed on Fusion Frenzy (a title best played among friends in the same room). This party game was just one of a number of titles overshadowed by Bungie's instant classic shooter, Halo. FF was cooler than many gave it credit for, however, with more than 45 mini-games based in different environments (ice, water, downtown, coliseum, etc.). We hope FF2 gets a better reception because it will probably be the best party game the 360 will have to offer. This time around, you're a game- show contestant who will battle three other players over seven planets. Some of the popular game types are back (Sumo and platform contests return), while some are completely new. Anyone down for a slam-dunk contest in low gravity? The full use of Xbox Live puts the title over the top with the ability to create your own online tournaments and post high scores. Par-tay!
Fusion Frenzy Two
Xbox360, Microsoft, $49.99.
When the Xbox launched in the fall 2001, many gamers passed on Fusion Frenzy
(a title best played among friends in the same room). This party game was just one of a number of titles overshadowed by Bungie's instant classic shooter, Halo. FF was cooler than many gave it credit for, however, with more than 45 mini-games based in different environments (ice, water, downtown, coliseum, etc.). We hope FF2 gets a better reception because it will probably be the best party game the 360 will have to offer. This time around, you're a game- show contestant who will battle three other players over seven planets. Some of the popular game types are back (Sumo and platform contests return), while some are completely new. Anyone down for a slam-dunk contest in low gravity? The full use of Xbox Live puts the title over the top with the ability to create your own online tournaments and post high scores. Par-tay!
Battlestations: Midway
PC, Eidos Interactive, $39.99.
This game, featuring WWII mayhem, has been anticipated for a while, and not because it is a WWII game - there are hundreds of those - but because of the way it is played. Gamers take control of just about every basic unit in the Pacific theater in battles that can require just as much strategy as manual dexterity. Subs, battleships, destroyers, aircraft carriers (including the aircraft) are all controlled in a third-person mode with pretty simple controls. They have to be simple because one will often have to switch among all the vessels (60 in all) at your command at many times during battle. That is where strategy is important. Many overhead maps, damage control graphics, and other helpful items make victory an easier goal. The online component supports eight players. Multiply that by the number of available units (60), and this really is a game of epic proportions. The game hits the Xbox 360 on the same day, but boxers know the deal, as a demo was released earlier this month.
Real World Golf 2
PlayStation 2, Mad Catz, $49.99.
Before anyone had even heard of the motion-tracking Wii controller, Mad Catz (a third-party maker of console controllers) was working out the kinks with its Real World Golf game. With a USB-like tracking device and dollar-store-ish plastic golf club, one could take to the fairways of your game room and swinging down the virtual greens. There were many kinks in the first game, including the missed tracking of your swing more often than not. Most problems have been ironed out this time around. The swinging tutorial is much better, a new putting mechanism takes most of the guessing out of your greens game, and it is much better than any physically demanding virtual golf game out there (yes, I am talking about the Wii). There are still a couple of issues with the swing, but if the first game was like John Daly, this game is Phil Mickelson. The third might just be able to claim to be Tiger Woods-like if they keep refining.