Daniel Kaufman
Issue date: 5/18/08 Section: Arts
Unlike the movie industry, blockbuster game releases generally fall toward the end of the year, taking advantage of the season's holiday gift rush to move units. With publishers gearing up for this deluge, June through August tends to be a slower period for gaming enthusiasts. Luckily, there are still a few compelling reasons to stay in the air conditioning during the coming months.
"Wii Fit" (Wii): Too lazy to get a gym membership? You're in luck. Nintendo's next big push to expand gaming further into mainstream culture is Wii Fit, a physical fitness title for their explosively popular console. It contains over 40 different routines, disguised as interactive games to help players become more aware of their bodies and get in shape. The game comes packaged with the Wii Balance Board, a sort of step aerobics platform/scale hybrid that is used for many of the activities. It records mass changes over time, enabling users to track their progress and, like an old arcade game high-score list, provides incentive to continue playing."Metal Gear Solid 4" (PlayStation 3): The latest and supposedly last game in the venerated franchise, "MGS4" is sure to be one of the best titles released this year. This entry features markedly aged series protagonist Solid Snake sneaking through active battlefields and war-torn locales in an effort to stop his murderous twin brother. Director Hideo Kojima has a knack for creating unique, fearless stories and gameplay, making the series one of the industry's most controversial. Several concessions have been made to western design this time around, including a long-overdue, revamped control scheme. Ultimately, Metal Gear Solid's incredible pedigree makes this a sure thing for the series' fans and players looking for something out of the ordinary.
"Ninja Gaiden 2" (Xbox 360): In 2004, the classic 2-D series "Ninja Gaiden" was revived and re-imagined as a modern 3-D action game. Its smooth controls, sharp graphics and punishing difficulty earned a devoted following of hardcore players, leading to several remakes in the following years. Finally, a true sequel is close to release, giving both fans and newcomers a reason to celebrate. Experienced gamers can look forward to new weapons, a deeper and more flexible combat system and even greater numbers of relentless enemies. A regenerating health system and forgiving checkpoints should prove welcome additions to casual players, as will the less intense "Path of the Acolyte" difficulty level. Expect ludicrously proportioned female characters and a nonsensical, pointless plot, but an otherwise great game.
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Final Fantasy IV" (Nintendo DS): The revered 1991 Super NES role-playing game (RPG), originally released in America as "Final Fantasy II," gets a complete remake on Nintendo's latest portable system. "Final Fantasy IV" was of the first Japanese RPGs to really attract Western attention to the genre, and its influence can still be felt today. This incarnation features completely redone graphics and music as well as additional content not found in the first title. The original's muddled script, which unnecessarily confused the story for countless gamers, has also been retranslated to make better sense of the dialogue. The mechanics and plot may seem somewhat quaint by modern standards, but role-playing fans and gamers interested in history should check out this remixed classic.
"Alone in the Dark" (PS3, PS2, 360, PC, Wii): One of the pioneering survival-horror gaming franchises, "Alone in the Dark," has had some problems staying relevant in recent years. The story centers on Edward Carnby, hero of the original game, who travels to Central Park to investigate reported supernatural activity. Developer Eden Games has placed an emphasis on creative problem-solving by implementing a robust item interaction system. For example, using a combat knife on blood pack will cause it to leak, allowing players to create a trail of blood to lead enemies to a desired location. If this sort of flexibility plays out through the entire game, "Alone in the Dark" will be worth a look from gamers in search of thoughtful, cerebral horror. © 2008 Tufts Daily
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