| ||
| ||
| ||
 |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Xbox Halloween games are kooky, spooky
By Marc Saltzman
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of Marc Saltzman, a freelance technology journalist whose reviews also appear on the Gannett News Service. It's not unusual for console players to crave scary video games around Halloween. But this year, it seems the titles are just as kooky as they are spooky, evident by two new exclusive Xbox games. Check out "Voodoo Vince" and "Grabbed by the Ghoulies." Both titles are published by Microsoft and cost $39.99. 'Voodoo Vince'"No pain, no gain" is an adage that best describes the action found in "Voodoo Vince." The game stars a burlap voodoo doll that must inflict damage to himself in order to hurt enemies bent on preventing him from finding his kidnapped keeper, Madam Charmaine. As this unlikely hero traverses the streets and sewers of New Orleans, and swamps of Louisiana, he must stick pins into his body or jump into a blender to defeat the creatures that stand in his way. There are roughly 30 of these voodoo attacks, each one accompanied by a humorous animation. Vince can also pilot a handful of vehicles -- including a high-speed boat to navigate through the bayou -- and he must complete a number of puzzles and minigames peppered throughout his quest. While the game is entertaining while it lasts, it's on the short side, and with little reason to play the adventure over again. For this reason, gamers may prefer to rent the title over the weekend rather than buying. "Voodoo Vince" is a unique take on the 3-D platform genre, with plenty of humor, challenging puzzles, good music and attractive visuals. 'Grabbed by the Ghoulies'
From the creators of such coveted video games as "GoldenEye 007" and "Banjo-Kazooie" comes a hauntingly fun new tale, "Grabbed by the Ghoulies." The game is a combat-based adventure that is suitable for players of all ages. Players assume the role of Cooper, a young boy out to rescue his girlfriend trapped in haunted Ghoulhaven Hall. Much of the game play involves fighting monsters using a huge arsenal of weapons, many of which can be plucked directly from the environment. The left analog stick on the Xbox controller is used to move Cooper around, while the right stick controls his actions, such as punching or kicking or throwing objects. In total, there are approximately 100 weapons and 100 rooms to explore, each one more difficult to get through than the last. The game also includes numerous puzzles and obstacles (such as traps and other surprises) that require some brains to get through. While the cartoon like graphics are cute, they hardly take advantage of the Xbox's power. Many of the enemies and objects in the rooms lack detail. This noticeable shortcoming shouldn't detract much from the fun -- and often frantic -- game play offered in "Grabbed by the Ghoulies."
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
