| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2010 6:59 am |
||||||||||
 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
Business 
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Help shopping for the video gamer on your list The video game aisle can be intimidating for aspiring Santas who haven’t touched a joystick since “Pong.” But it has something for everyone: riveting solo adventures, online multiplayer battles and fun-for-the-whole-family social games. Here are some of the best picks for this holiday season:“Uncharted 2: Among Thieves” ($60, for the PlayStation 3, rated T for teen) Rakish adventurer Nathan Drake hunts for Shangri-La in this sequel, which mixes gunplay, fisticuffs and acrobatics with a witty, unpredictable story. One of the most beautiful video games ever published, it’s an interactive version of a Hollywood blockbuster — one of the good ones, like “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” “DJ Hero” ($120, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii, rated T) “The Beatles: Rock Band” ($60 for software only, $250 with instruments, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii, rated T) Rock-loving gamers have been grooving on “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band” for a few years, but fans of hip-hop and dance music have been left out. “DJ Hero” corrects that, putting you behind the wheel of a fake turntable and letting you scratch and mix dozens of combinations of club tracks. It’s like hosting a rave in your living room. For those who prefer classic rock, “The Beatles: Rock Band” lets you relive the career of the Fab Four, from a Liverpool club to their London rooftop farewell. It’s a loving tribute. “New Super Mario Bros. Wii” ($50, for the Wii, rated E for everyone) The latest Mario Bros. installment returns to the 2-D, side-scrolling action that made the spunky Italian plumber famous. This time, though, up to four people can play cooperatively, so more experienced gamers can guide newbies across the familiar fire pits and floating platforms. Now you can finally show your grandma — or your kids — what the original magic was about. “Professor Layton & the Diabolical Box” ($35, for the Nintendo DS, rated E10+ for 10 and older) Anyone who loves puzzles such as crosswords and sudoku will adore the latest chapter in the Professor Layton series, which weaves about 150 brainteasers into a clever mystery. Forget about those so-called “brain training” games; the exercises in logic, math, observation and object manipulation here really work out the gray matter. “Dragon Age: Origins” ($60, for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, rated M for mature) “Demon’s Souls” ($50, for the PlayStation 3, rated M) Then there are the hardest of hardcore players who want the toughest challenges you can throw at them. “Dragon Age” is a classic tale of sword-and-sorcery that will test the skill and strategy of even the most jaded “Dungeons & Dragons” nut. “Demon’s Souls,” another quasi-medieval epic, is so tough it will have mere mortals tearing their hair out. For the dedicated gamer, there’s nothing more satisfying. “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” ($60, for the Xbox 360, PCs and PlayStation 3, rated M for mature) This season’s monster hit continues the global battle against terrorists, and it’s bigger, louder and more brazen than its predecessor. A simulated airport terrorist attack has already drawn protest, and there’s plenty more in “Modern Warfare 2” that’s not for the squeamish. Older players with stronger stomachs will love it. |
- Sorry, Hawkeye; M*A*S*H gets bowled over
- Former Whidbey student shot
- County archive software paid for but waiting for set-up
- Ruling expected on Sultan beating statement
- ‘Roadkill’ caucus seeks a voice for centrist Democrats
- Police seek witnesses in two accidents
- PAWS calls out for critter care-givers
- Boeing has a busy test schedule
- Ex-Boeing engineer jailed for espionage
- Morning mystery: What happened to House Bill 3181?
- Lynnwood sets height limit on grass: 8 inches
(10) - State Senate votes to toss I-960's tax-raising hurdle (9)
- School levies in Snohomish County all passing, Marysville bond failing (7)
- Schools do well in levy elections (7)
- A tidy lawn could be law in Lynnwood (4)
- County archive software paid for but waiting for set-up (3)
- Lynnwood makes law against too tall lawns (3)
- Two suspects sought in Everett shooting that injured two (3)
- Vote on school levies by Tuesday (3)
- Sorry, Hawkeye; M*A*S*H gets bowled over (2)
- Jackson girls outlast Meadowdale owdale
- OBT raises barre in children’s program
- Junior firefighters
- School levies passing
- Mavericks topple Wolfpack
- Get a second look at Second City Feb. 13
- Sports Briefs
- Warriors advance 11 to regional meet
- Arlington's Cascade Valley Hospital celebrates expansion, national award and 100 years of service
- Business Licences Feb. 2010
- Technology tips for launching your own business
- Business Events Feb. 2010
- Tech Talk: No excuse today for going without a Web site
- State already raising fees and rates that restrict business growth
- Some legislators again targeting people’s initiative petition rights
|
 
|
|
|
|
| TODAY'S TOP JOBS |
| View All Top Jobs |
| Top Cars |
|
| Top Homes |
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT |
|
|
|Contact Us
|Advertiser Services
|Home Delivery
|Newsstand Locations
|Classifieds
|Feedback
|About the Company
|Work@the Herald
|Site Map |
|
COMMENTS | Be the first to comment
Log in or register to post a new comment.
To read other terms and conditions, click here