Video Game Reviews by Jeb Haught

DEVELOPER: Activision

PUBLISHER: Activision

SYSTEM: Sony PlayStation 3 (Xbox 360, PC)

PRICE: $49.99

ESRB RATING: Everyone

REVIEW RATING: 3.5 stars (out of 5)

After watching the recent movie, "Monsters vs. Aliens," I decided to experience the world through a monster's eyes by playing the video game of the same name. Past experience has led me to be apprehensive of movie-based games, but much to my surprise, playing "Monsters vs. Aliens" is actually less painful than receiving an anal probe (so I hear)!

This cute title lets fans assume the roles of the macho half-ape, half-fish known as The Missing Link, the "just a hair under 50-foot-tall" Ginormica, and the grotesquely gelatinous glutton, B.O.B. But rather than making them all slightly different within the same types of levels, the developers have opted to create three distinctive play styles.

For starters, The Missing Link level plays like a standard action brawler as the personable pugilist can bounce and swing around with great agility while bashing enemies and using his powerful tail whip. He can also unleash a mighty blast that is capable of destroying all enemies onscreen.

Playing as the gigantic Ginormica is a bit of a disappointment because all she does is use vehicles for roller-skates and then ride around every level. Sure she can grind rails, throw heavy objects, and occasionally perform a shoulder-ram, but this gets old fast.

Oozing around as B.O.B the blob is the most enjoyable of the three, but his sections are also quite maddening! Instead of engaging in constant combat, he travels through mazelike portions of each level trying to find his way out. It's very fun to move through partially solid objects, hang on the ceiling, and absorb enemies Kirby style, but why do I keep getting killed because the game doesn't recognize that B.O.B. is on a solid surface?

Co-op multiplayer helps make "Monsters vs. Aliens" better than the standard movie-based title, but mature gamers will tire of it quickly.

'Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2' Is a Blast from the Past

DEVELOPER: KOEI

PUBLISHER: Namco Bandai

SYSTEM: Microsoft Xbox 360 (PS3, PC)

PRICE: $59.99

ESRB RATING: Teen

REVIEW RATING: 3 stars (out of 5)

After releasing countless hack and slash games based on ancient Japanese feudal warfare, KOEI decided to take the "Dynasty Warriors" series into the future with "Dynasty Warriors Gundam." This title was much more popular than the original series because, well, fighting hordes of robots is much cooler than fighting hordes of humans, even when you know deep down that the difference is only skin deep.

Actually, I'm being facetious because the appearance of everyone on the battlefield is the main feature that sets "Dynasty Warriors" apart from "Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2." Just like the original, the new title features incredibly repetitious combat against thousands of identical enemies in extremely unimaginative environments.

"Go on," you say? Well, there are some new features, like the ability to build Gundam suits from parts obtained in battle as well as gaining access to new levels by forging friendships with other Gundam pilots.

The problem is, players must trudge through several hour-long-plus battles in order to gather enough parts or create a strong enough bond, and the lackluster game play makes it a tedious chore. When the game announces that you have just slain 500 enemies, you know you're in for some long combat sessions, and I truly pity anyone who dies before a level is completed.

Fans of the Gundam anime will appreciate the ability to follow the same storyline by playing the Official mode in addition to experiencing individual pilot storylines in Mission mode. This title also introduces new story material and lets players experiment with Gundam suits from nearly all Gundam timelines. Unfortunately, only fans of the series will have the patience to experience this new material.

Unless the developers are willing to seriously upgrade the visuals, game play, and artificial intelligence for future sequels, the "Dynasty Warriors Gundam" series will always feel outdated.

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.

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