Picks of Coming Video Games
Ultimate Brain Games Telegames, Nintendo DS, $29.99. If 2006 was any indication, the Nintendo DS handheld system seemed more intent on raising your IQ than your reflexes. It offered Brain Boost, Big Brain Academy, Brain Age. Granted, this was probably more manipulative marketing than true attempts at offering mental mastery, but the notion that the DS is for smart people (or those wishing to trade up on their faculties) stuck. Telegames is capitalizing on the hype with this compilation of board games that is hard to beat. Chess, Checkers, Backgammon, Mahjong, Dominoes, and Reversi are a few titles in the pack, and every one of them even Gramps would play with you. The stand-out feature in this game is that two DS systems can link up for play with just one copy of the game. Telegames also releases Ultimate Card Games this week for those who want to raise the stakes.
Ultimate Brain Games
Telegames, Nintendo DS, $29.99.
If 2006 was any indication, the Nintendo DS handheld system seemed more intent on raising your IQ than your reflexes. It offered Brain Boost, Big Brain Academy, Brain Age. Granted, this was probably more manipulative marketing than true attempts at offering mental mastery, but the notion that the DS is for smart people (or those wishing to trade up on their faculties) stuck. Telegames is capitalizing on the hype with this compilation of board games that is hard to beat. Chess, Checkers, Backgammon, Mahjong, Dominoes, and Reversi are a few titles in the pack, and every one of them even Gramps would play with you. The stand-out feature in this game is that two DS systems can link up for play with just one copy of the game. Telegames also releases Ultimate Card Games this week for those who want to raise the stakes.
Model Train 3D
Abacus, PC, $29.99.
All of those mall holiday displays with the train tracks running through the little snowy village made this kid-at-heart a little misty-eyed. Who didn't want a huge train set in the basement back in the day? Well, you can reminisce till your heart's content with this title. All of the major model train manufacturers are here in every HO scale, with 60 locomotives from all over the world and 34 railways plans. Now for the truly sick parts: Layout creators can construct the railways in 3D and ride in the locomotive as their lead engine travels through the creations. So, many of us might not have the time or resources to do the basement thing anymore, but with the Abacus titles we can get as close as possible.
Backyard Basketball
Atari, Sony PlayStation 2, $29.99.
With many more PlayStation 3 systems on shelves lately, chances are many younger siblings will have a lot more access to PS2s than ever before. Backyard Sports, possibly the best developer of sports games for kids, sets up an alley-oop for them with this year's new b-ball game. All the NBA teams are included in this game. Unlike any other game, there are 10 "backyard" teams ,and Shaq, A.I., Lebron, and others take to the hardwood as kids in this four-on-four game. The controls are simple and fun. For those wondering, you can customize teams, so if you realy want to put Allen Iverson in a Nuggets uniform, you can.