DEVELOPER: Zoink!

PUBLISHER: Ripstone

SYSTEM: Sony PlayStation 3

PRICE: $12.99 Download

ESRB RATING: Teen

REVIEW RATING: 4.5 stars (out of 5)

Countless video games make vain attempts at humor, and wading through all the potty jokes and groan-inducing one-liners isn't easy. Every once in a while a game actually makes me laugh out loud, and "Stick it to The Man!" is the latest game to do just that. Fortunately, it rounds out the package with interesting game play and unusual visuals!

Rae Doewood is an average worker drone who tests hardhats for a living. Ironically, he's struck on the head by a mysterious item that falls from the sky as he strolls home from work. When Rae awakens, he discovers that an ethereal pink arm that only he can see emerges from his head. Now Rae must undertake a hilarious adventure to figure out why The Man is trying to kill him.

This unique puzzle platformer adds exploration and combat to mix things up. Similar to a grappling hook, the "head-arm" can be used to propel Rae onto ledges or peel back the corner of a building to reveal what's inside, but that's just the beginning!

The newly acquired freaky pink arm also lets Rae read the thoughts of people, animals, and robots, which becomes very handy. For instance, reading the thoughts of a tired secret agent will let Rae actually grab the sleep icon from his thoughts and put the agent to sleep.

Also fun is trying to figure out the madcap puzzles that let me advance to the next level. These can range from trying to figure out how to make a dog happy to turning a whale into a hot air balloon in order to escape an insane asylum. Add highly stylized visuals to the mix, and the result is an adventure you'll never forget!

"Stick it to The Man!" is wacky, madcap fun that's sure to appeal to anyone with a twisted sense of humor.

"World of Warplanes"

DEVELOPER: Wargaming

PUBLISHER: Wargaming

SYSTEM: Windows PC

PRICE: Free with Microtransactions

ESRB RATING: Teen

REVIEW RATING: 4.0 stars (out of 5)

Flying games tend to either frustrate virtual pilots with full-on simulations or eschew realism in favor of fast-paced action. Wargaming.net straddles the fine line between the two with their free-to-play WWII-era flying game titled "World of Warplanes." While this game won't appeal to die-hard realists, it does provide endless hours of fun for players willing to fly the unfriendly skies.

After a handy tutorial, ten tiers of airplanes from five countries are at the player's disposal to fight in 15 v 15 PVP-only matches. As players advance, higher tiered warplanes that are significantly more powerful become available. Tiers are also used for matching players with other pilots of similar skill.

Three types of deadly warplanes are at the player's disposal. Fighters are the most maneuverable, so they're used strictly against other planes. Ground-attack planes are made for taking out ground targets, and heavy fighters can be used for both. These planes can also be customized with useful modifications like more destructive weaponry and faster engines.

Controlling each warplane is fun and intuitive, but the controls won't appeal to "Flight Simulator" fans. For starters, there is no throttle, so the plan stays at a constant speed that is altered by climbing and diving. A boost button offers a temporary speed increase, and ability to stall the plane throws in a welcome bit of realism. I also like the handy crosshairs that show where to shoot in front of each target to achieve a hit.

In addition to enjoyable game play, this title offers some of the best visuals I've ever seen in a flying game. Not only are the airplanes themselves extremely detailed, but the gorgeous ground scenery is a joy to behold.

For a free-to-play MMO flying game, "World of Warplanes" is flying high.

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+: (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.