Video game review: Super Mario Galaxy

The latest adventure for the Italian plumber with a soft spot for Princess Peach takes place in outer space. As you’d expect from the developers at Nintendo, the galaxies and planets you visit are wild and wacky. Using both the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, you’ll guide Mario from planet to planet in a search for star bits, power stars, and grand stars. You need the energy from these stars to chase after Bowser, who has - once again - kidnapped your beloved princess. Physics makes up a great deal of the innovation in this game. Gravity is something to consider when running and jumping, because when you fall off the edge of a planet, your demise comes about because of black holes. While this is by no means a true two-player game, a second person can help you out by picking up another Wii Remote and using it to collect star bits and fire them at enemies. Super Mario Galaxy is quirky and very playable - just what we expected. Rated everyone.

[originally published in the Georgia Straight]

Video game review: Sonic Rush Adventure

Sonic and Tails crash their airplane on an island and are "saved" by the egotistical but charming Marine. She takes the two adventurers in, and explains that, in her environment, pieces of metal and jewels can be combined to create vehicles. This new adventure from Sega gives you the experience of speeding through serpentine levels that you expect from Sonic, but adds some exploring, too. You'll use the DS touch screen to navigate watercraft – from water bikes to sailboats – from one island to another. As you zip through the levels collecting the usual rings, you'll also collect objects that can be used by Tails to construct vehicles. Slip slidin' away? Struth! Rated everyone.

[originally published in the Georgia Straight]

Video game review: Warhawk

Available on-line through the PlayStation Store on your PS3, or in stores – where it comes with a headset – Warhawk is the kind of game you'll either play with friends or make friends while playing. You'll need a high-speed Internet connection for your PS3 if you don't already have one, as the gameplay here is only on-line, and is only multiplayer. Up to 32 people can play on a variety of maps, ranging from infantry to jeep and tank action, to dogfights in the air while flying the aptly named Warhawk fighters. You'll want to spend most of your time in the skies, where you'll have the most fun: the Sony Computer Entertainment developers have come up with a great control scheme for flying the planes, which can hover and move up and down, as well as fly forward, pitch, and roll. Go get 'em. Rated teen.

[originally published in the Georgia Straight]