Ahmed
BrentonLego Star Wars, The Hexology
October 10th 2006 07:14
‘Lego Star Wars: The Videogame’, and its sequel ‘Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy’ are the epitome of fun to play games that smash down age barriers. They are available on all platforms, PC, Xbox, ps2, Xbox 360 (sequel only), and GameCube.
The advantage of these two games is that they are simple to play, they encourage exploration, they take place in a popular universe among adults and children alike, they are made of Lego (which is probably simply an advertising ploy) and they feature very good graphics for a children’s game.
The controls in the game are very simplistic, which is of course a good thing. One distinct advantage it has is that the camera isn’t controlled by the player, it is done automatically which will make the game a very enjoyable experience for kids who simply couldn’t control the camera themselves.
Gameplay involves basic puzzle solving which necessitates exploration, very good for growing minds. It also involves more conventional action such as light saber battles and gun fights. Also has lots of vehicle control, Star Wars vehicles in Lego form its great fun for everyone.
You can play as every major character from the Star Wars saga in the respective trilogy with plenty of unlockable extras. Combined with the games designs to force the player explore the world around them it ensures that this kind of game is not only fun but also one that may very well give children an open mind in the nature of problem solving.
Violence wise this game features nothing other than Lego pieces. Sure you see characters being dismembered or fall apart, but at the end of the day, they are only Lego pieces. If anything the deaths are quite creative.
All over great game, fun to play, multiplayer for siblings/parents to play at the same time among a myriad of other good qualities makes these game some of the better ones for kids.
True to Lego tradition, everything looks great
The controls in the game are very simplistic, which is of course a good thing. One distinct advantage it has is that the camera isn’t controlled by the player, it is done automatically which will make the game a very enjoyable experience for kids who simply couldn’t control the camera themselves.
Gameplay involves basic puzzle solving which necessitates exploration, very good for growing minds. It also involves more conventional action such as light saber battles and gun fights. Also has lots of vehicle control, Star Wars vehicles in Lego form its great fun for everyone.
Emotions run rampant in this game
Violence wise this game features nothing other than Lego pieces. Sure you see characters being dismembered or fall apart, but at the end of the day, they are only Lego pieces. If anything the deaths are quite creative.
All over great game, fun to play, multiplayer for siblings/parents to play at the same time among a myriad of other good qualities makes these game some of the better ones for kids.
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Comment by Jay
I haven't got around to buying the latest game yet - indeed I have two unopened PS2 games on my shelf, which I should at least make an effort at playing before I buy any more! It is on my list though...
Ahmed - any chance you will be reviewing any of the GTA series on this Blog? Or is that not fitting with the 'Kids' bit of the title?
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
I was thinking about bringing to light violent games in this blog and write/review about them but it probably isn't really something that should be of focus for this blog.
Then again...
Comment by Jay
You should request the box set - though they'll have to deliver it in a van there are so many GTA titles now!
I agree you don't want to focus on violent games - I like the cutie ones as much as the rest. In which case you'd better talk about the old days of Sonic - he da man, I mean, hedgehog!
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Problem is there aren't enough FUN games being released anymore. Hopefully with the Nintnedo Wii thatll change.
In the meanwhile I'll be improving on my sweet talk to I can convince Rockstar I am a professional journalist...
Comment by katyzzz
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You talk about kids, games and computer technology.
I'd like you to see what I am doing. You might like to promote your own site there as I am trying to
encourage family activities around the computer which lead on to other things.
I look forward to seeing your comments there. katyzzz
Comment by Ahmed
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Comment by Jay
Comment by Ahmed
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Keep in mind if I were to review it I'd only have bad things to say abot it, I never liked the GTA series, shoddy physics, crappy graphics (on PC atleast), terrible sound and just plain boring gameplay...
Comment by katyzzz
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What's a PSP? I thought you'd do better than google and this would get you 2 votes.
katyzzz
Comment by Ahmed
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It can play movies, mp3's and has better graphics than the Nintendo DS (which is nintendo's current portable console). It is also losing in terms of sales to the Nintendo DS on a 4 to 1 ratio in Japan.
It is supposedly 'portable' but the battery won't get past 4 hours.
Comment by katyzzz
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And here's another two.
katyzzz
Comment by Jay
I have a PSP and I think it is the best portable gaming system ever developed. The graphics are amazing and I have never yet encountered a problem with a game I have purchased. You are possibly right that the battery life is shorter than desirable - but I use it mainly for train journeys, which (hopefully) are never longer than the four hours you suggest.
I also have EVERY installment of the GTA series (on one console or another) and I think they are brilliant. They are the most playable games I have ever encountered. I can't think of any other game where there is so much to do and such a vast and imposing world to do it in. Even once you have completed ALL the storyline missions there are hours of play available in exploring the vast world.
To be honest, that is what I am interested in. I don't buy a computer game because the physics are top notch. I might buy a game because the graphics are great, but if the game is unplayable it won't interest me for very long.
Anyway - that's my two cents! I won't ask you to review the GTA series again in case it gets taken apart, then I'll be upset
Comment by Ahmed
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I suggest you try other games such as elders scrolls if you want similar to GTA open endedness.
Another game 'Mafia' (i think that was its name) might also be of interest to you, it basically is GTA but set in 1930's new york and you belong to the mafia... much better than the newer 'the godfather' game.
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Comment by Jay
So is Elder Scrolls like Warcraft? Or just better?? One thing I like about the GTA series is it is set in a world I can relate to. I've played Warcraft since it first came out but it has never harnessed my interest in quite the way that the GTA series has.
I did consider buying the Mafia game you suggest - but then I read a bad review on it so decided not to. Maybe I will try again?
oh and by physics I mean the cars are like they were running on an ice lake...
Maybe true in some cases - but many of the cars stick to the road like glue, until you try to do something stupid. It is far easier (and more fun) to control a car in GTA than in, for instance, GT4. Yet GT4 is reputably one of the best driving games in recent times. I guess GT4 is aiming for realism whereas GTA is trying to make driving fun, which I think it does.
Still, I guess this is all personal opinion? I eagerly await your review...
Comment by Ahmed
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You read a bad review of mafia? Most critics judged it as equal to GTA 3 except set in a different era.
Well GT4 is a driving sim, werein GTA is, erm... how do you put it? not a driving sim. You sure you'v played GTA San Andrenas? Because really, the cars slip so easily its annoying.
Oh, one last thing, have you heard of 'Just Cause'? Its also an open ended world, except the main character i a spansih revolutionary out to over throw a government. You'll like it if you like GTA, a lot of its elements are similar, but expanded upon.
I already did a review of it too: videogamerkids.com/just-cause
Comment by Jay
You read a bad review of mafia? Most critics judged it as equal to GTA 3 except set in a different era.
Yeah - though I think it was a user review so maybe I should have ignored it. I see Play.com are selling it for £9.99 at the moment - might be worth purchasing?
I have played GTA
I saw an advert for Just Cause on TV a while back and I immediately thought GTA but in a different era. Maybe I'll have a look for that online too...
Laters
Jay
Comment by Ahmed
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Umm, I played GTA: SA on pc, I found that I just kept readjusting the camera when the car was moving with the mouse, its default position didn't bother me too much though. Perhpas its just preference, I very much doubt its something specific to the ps2 gta, then again, it could be given it was released much later on the PC/Xbox....
BTW which next-gen console are you loking into getting?
Comment by Jay
Yeah that's what I mean. To adjust the camera on the PS2 you had you to use one of the analog sticks - can't remember which - possibly the one you were using to steer with. If you just held the analog stick UP that would move the camera so it looked down on the car and you couldn't see where you were going! So I basically spent all my time moving the camera around while driving - not ideal at all!
BTW which next-gen console are you loking into getting?
Not sure - I had the original PlayStation and I now have a PS2 and a PSP, so my gaming experience has always been fairly Sony oriented. But the PS3 is SOOOO expensive - I just don't think I can justify the expenditure, especially since I don't get much time to play games at the moment.
The Wii is about £200, which is far more reasonable. But then I'm not actually sure if like it?!? Maybe I should try the XBox 360 - but then I'm loathe to put money in Microsoft's bottomless pockets...
Comment by Jay
Comment by Ahmed
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The xbox 360 will have GTA 4 coming to it, just like the ps3 on the same date, it also has another GTA copy-cat game 'Saints Row', but it is quite a bit weaker than the ps3 in terms of number crunching (like the difference between the xbox and ps2).
I guess you have either one of two choices, buy the xbox 360, make bill gates even richer, or buy the Wii and expand your horizons.
I'd recommend you buy the Wii, simply becasue it will be the most unique thing you'll ever play, it'll make you feel like you just started playing all over again I reckon. You only miss out on GTA, not that big a loss?
As for motion sensing with the Wii, it is definately far more advanced on the Wii than the ps3. The ps3 has a tilt enabled controller, the WIi has a motion sensing controller. There are even rumours that Sony cobbled together a tilt enabled controller after seeing Nintendo's support for its motion sensing controller. Another reason sony's controller is tilt enabled is because it lacks rumble, not a fault of engineering but one of business, as they would have to pay a certain royalty to a competitor (*cough* Microsoft *cough*) if they added a dual shock rumble pack inside the ps3 controller. The tilt is seen as simply a substitute to rumble on the ps3.
The Wii wil have motion sensing and rumble, MS doesn't want to sue nintendo for suing rumble because while they would win the court case in the US, they would probably lose in japan, europe and australasia given Nintendo created rumble first.
Comment by Jay
Comment by Ahmed
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Wii will always be the cheapest by far mainly because it doesn't have the number crunching the xbox 360/ps3 has however the games still look great and for what you are paying for most people who have gone hands on with multiplatform games that are on the wii as well as 360/ps3 agree that the Wii is always most fun to play.