Video Game Reviews by Jeb Haught

DEVELOPER: Sony Santa Monica

PUBLISHER: Sony

SYSTEM: Sony PlayStation 3

PRICE: $59.99

ESRB RATING: Mature

REVIEW RATING: 4.0 stars (out of 5)

Sony's "God of War" series set a high benchmark on the PS2 and PS3 by combining excellent game play and awesome visuals with an epic story. Each sequel was bigger and badder than the last, but I'm not sure if the human brain can handle anything more intense than "GoW 3." Thankfully, both the story and game play have been toned down for "God of War: Ascension."

Since Kratos destroyed the Gods of Olympus in the last game, it makes sense that "GoW: Ascension" is a prequel. The anti-hero begins this game as a mere mortal, but he makes a pact with Ares to ensure victory on the battlefield. His newfound powers make him unstoppable, but he's tricked into killing his own family and then sets about annihilating every freakish enemy he encounters.

Fans of the series will be familiar with his wanton destruction, but Kratos' personality seems to be devoid of feeling. Instead of constantly bellowing his rage at the Gods, he seems too melancholy for battle. Just like an emo kid clad in black, at any moment I expect him to say, "I'm Kratos, and I'm sad."

Thankfully, the melee combat is dominated by his Blades of Chaos, which offer quick and flashy combos as well as ultra-brutal finishing moves! A cool new whip-grapple maneuver lets Kratos hold enemies in place or fling them about, and he can now imbue his blades with elemental powers to further their destruction! On top of that, Kratos can pick up various weapons off downed enemies to aid in combat.

"GoW" fans have been asking for online multiplayer for years, and now they can choose between several modes. Deep customization and cool environments are also available, but the game play can be lacking when groups of combatants collide.

Nevertheless, "God of War: Ascension" is a worthy game that will surely satisfy action fans.

'Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3'

DEVELOPER: CyberConnect2

PUBLISHER: Namco Bandai

SYSTEM: Microsoft Xbox 360 (PS3)

PRICE: $59.99

ESRB RATING: Teen

REVIEW RATING: 3.5 stars (out of 5)

It's not surprising that the "Naruto: Shippuden" anime series has lost some popularity, possibly due to oversaturation.

I definitely don't miss the days when multiple games were pumped out each year by no less than three different publishers. "Naruto" fighting games are boring, but adventure games like "Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3" can be very worth their weight in shurikens!

Players who aren't familiar with the unusual ninja, Naruto Uzumaki, and his struggle to contain the nine-tails demon that dwells within will likely be confused by the story. However, fans of the series will surely appreciate the depth and faithful storytelling that lets them feel as if they're actually playing recent scenes from the anime itself.

Throughout the story, players come up against lethal enemies, friendly rivals, and even the occasional towering demon. Most of the game is spent either watching lengthy cut-scenes or engaging in tense 3D battles, but there are also light exploration elements. One of my favorite new features is "Ultimate Decisions," which branches the story based on each player's choices. Sadly, this feature isn't used very often.

Combat may seem too easy at first, especially when tapping the main attack button is all it takes to perform fancy moves. However, the chakra meter enhances combat in several ways including: adding power to basic moves, linking attacks and performing powerful ninjutsu maneuvers. One of the more impressive uses is to activate Awakening mode when characters are low on health, which can turn some characters into huge monsters.

This game's online mulitplayer consists entirely of one-on-one combat and team battles. Fans will love the ability to choose from over 80 characters that fight with different moves and ninjutsu. Playing online is a nice distraction, but I prefer the single-player adventure mode.

"Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3" isn't perfect, but it's still one of the best Naruto games available.

REVIEW SCORING SYSTEM

5 stars = Must Have

4 stars = Very 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)

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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.

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