Video Game Reviews by Jeb Haught

DEVELOPER: Chair Entertainment

PUBLISHER: Microsoft

SYSTEM: Xbox Live Arcade download

PRICE: $15.00

ESRB RATING: Teen

REVIEW RATING: 4.5 stars (out of 5)

Modern game developers spend millions of dollars creating complex interactive adventures, but every once in a while, a budget title comes along that outshines them all. Normally I'm not a fan of old-school, side-scrolling shooters, but "Shadow Complex" melds the old with the new in fantastic ways.

The story line focuses on an average bloke named Jason who discovers a rogue paramilitary group that, oddly enough, kidnaps his girlfriend. Now he must infiltrate their underground hideout and save the damsel in distress. Sure, the chronicle isn't compelling, but this game has other hooks to keep players interested.

For starters, the outstanding visuals are presented in 3-D but the game is played in 2-D. This means Jason can go left, right, up and down, but not "into" or "out of" the screen. All levels, items, characters and vehicles are three dimensional and drawn in high detail. This unique visual style looks very cool.

Throughout his adventure, Jason finds numerous weapons and armor pickups that not only enhance his abilities, but also let him access new areas. Using his flashlight illuminates hidden areas or doors with the color of the weapon needed to access that area. For example, if a door lights up green, then a grenade is needed to get past it. If it lights up red, then blast it with a rocket!

Fun new abilities include breathing underwater and using a jetpack to get an extra boost when jumping. There's even a "super-run" that lets Jason smash through objects and run up walls. These enhanced abilities prove that this title is much more than your average shooter.

Featuring around eight hours of action, plenty of cool weapons and gadgets, awesome visuals and unique game play, "Shadow Complex" is better than most full-priced games.

'Active Life: Extreme Challenge' Forces Players Off the Couch

DEVELOPER: Namco Bandai

PUBLISHER: Namco Bandai

SYSTEM: Nintendo Wii

PRICE: $59.99

ESRB RATING: Everyone

REVIEW RATING: 2.5 stars (out of 5)

Last year, Namco Bandai set their mini-game compilation apart from countless others by incorporating a plastic floor mat and exercise simulations along with the Wii's unique motions controls.

This year, the focus moves from training to sports with the release of "Active Life: Extreme Challenge." Too bad the result isn't very "extreme."

Fifteen different "extreme sports" challenges are available for players in tournament, challenge and free-play modes with the ability to create their own challenge sequences. This doesn't mean there are 15 different sports since some are merely variations of the same activity, like BMX Flatland, BMX Street and BMX Speed. Funny, but I never considered Double Dutch to be "extreme."

Each challenge features a unique controls scheme, as some use the Wiimote but all use the Active Life Mat. I would prefer more of the unusual controlling challenges, such as sitting on my rear and moving side to side for Street Luge. Too many challenges require little more than standing in the middle of the mat and jumping when prompted.

Most of these challenges are fun for a while, but they can become repetitive very quickly. In addition, they don't offer much freedom as players usually have to follow on-screen prompts to complete a challenge. The experience is made even worse by the fact that motions with the Wiimote don't always register in-game. As a result, most people will never beat the hardest challenges.

Judging by the simplistic game play and comic-book visuals, this game is aimed at a younger audience. It's also one of the first to incorporate the use of a saved Mii in actual game play. I can see how it might be fun for youngsters to play this title side-by-side as they can watch each other make fools of themselves, but older gamers will quickly lose interest.

"Active Life: Extreme Challenge" may not be cutting edge, but it's a great way of disguising exercise.

REVIEW SCORING SYSTEM

5 stars = Must Have

4 stars = Pretty Good

3 stars = Above Average

2 stars = Bargain Bin

1 star = Don't Bother

RATINGS KEY

Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)

E: Everyone

E10-plus: (Everyone 10 and older)

T: Teen (13 and older)

M: Mature (17 and older)

To find out more about Jeb Haught and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS.COM