PS2 games worth playing

As a follow-up question to yesterday's answer, rawbean is asking what PS2 games might be worth checking out.

Which brings up a great point: the PS2 is a great gaming system, even in light of the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Plus, you can get a new PS2 for just over $100 these days and you can find a plethora of used games available for cheap - online and at various trading locations. In fact, it seems to me that the Ps2 is still the most popular gaming system in the world.

So, given that, let's start working on a list of PS2 games that newbies might want to pick up, or that the rest of us might want to keep in our library.

I've already said that Katamari Damacy belongs on that list, but here are some others.

Okami is a beautiful and engaging game in which you play a wolf and must rejuvenate the environment by painting it.

Rez is a modern-day shooter - think Asteroids all grown up - with an incredible musical soundtrack that is generated by your play.

Ico is an action-adventure in which players take on the role of a young boy who must save a princess from some ominous, shadowy figures.

Shadow of the Colossus, created by the same developer that brought us Ico, which seems to be a sequel of sorts. Beautiful and, yes, emotional.

God of War is more of a hardcore game that requires quick responses and some coordination in pushing buttons, but the storyline - set in the world of Greek mythology - is second to none, and playing it will spike your adrenaline nicely.

Add your PS2 game suggestions in the comments.

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]

Are you ready for Halo 3?

Lots of talk over at the Future Shop Community Forums about the pending release of Halo 3.

This board has information about the midnight launches that will be held across the country. (Except Quebec. What's up with that?)

This board is talking about how soon preordered and mailed copies of the game will arrive. It turns out that some people already have their games in hand.

This board is tracking the line lengths. Apparently there are already some lineups in Ontario. (What's up with that?)

Anybody out there planning on lining up? Anyone calling in sick tomorrow so they can play all night?


LUNCH: hamburgers, yum