ShareThisBattlestations: Pacific
Platform: Xbox 360, PC.
Genre: Real-Time Strategy.
Publisher: Eidos Interactive.
ESRB Rating: T for Teen.
Grade: 4 stars (out of 5).
Rare is the game that can seamlessly blend real-time strategy with an engaging action option for those who want to dive into the thick of the battle instead of playing general.
The original "Battlestations'' game was decent but unfulfilling, and luckily Eidos has delivered a sequel that takes everything up and notch and delivers a well-rounded title. Shifting the combat from the European to the Pacific theater of WWII was a smart move, and everything about the presentation and mission design is logical and delivers the goods.
Primarily you are going to be moving aircraft carriers, destroyers and subs through a variety of combat missions. Overtaking islands, thwarting Japanese attack groups and, not to pressure you too much, saving Western civilization. The variety of units at your command makes up for the sometimes lack of creativity in the mission types, and no matter what each unit (whether aerial or floating) provides plenty of oomph to the battles.
The strongest aspect to "Battlestations: Pacific" is its deep online offerings. There are several game modes that just rock. Siege and Island Capture really show off the game's strengths and make going online against others (or teaming up with them) a lot of fun.
Rarely does a game boast such effective online and offline game modes, and this alone makes this a successful sequel. There are occasional quirks that may frustrate you, but overall you will be hard pressed to dislike what Eidos has done with "Battlestations: Pacific.''
Klonoa
Platform: Wii.
Genre: Platformer.
Publisher: Namco Bandai Games.
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone.
Grade: 3.5 stars.
"Klonoa'' is a long-ago franchise from the PlayStation days that I never played, so getting this first experience with the character is probably different than older gamers who remember the original release.
Klonoa himself is an odd looking fellow. He looks like a cross between a rabbit, a dog, a cat and who knows what else. He is tasked with saving the world that he inhabits, so you'll be controlling him through plenty of fights and a diverse and wonderfully designed selection of levels.
You'd scarcely know that this was a retooling of a decade's old game when playing it. The platform sequences play like they are wholly original and new, dolling out some clever tricks here and there that do not age the game one bit. Mix that in with some clever fighting controls blended together with puzzle solving, and what "Klonoa" gives you is a game with a lot of depth to it.
Sadly, that depth is short-lived since the game is much too short. The game can easily be finished in less than a day, and with no other game modes really to speak of, the replay/keeper value is nil. You can probably get by on just renting" Klonoa," but trust me, it's one of the best renters you can find.
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Platform: Wii, Xbox 360, DS.
Genre: Action.
Publisher: Majesco.
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone.
Grade: 1 star.
I have not see the film yet on which this game was based, but I can only imagine that it is filled with more charm, wit and substance than the tie-in game.
"Battle of the Smithsonian" is absurdly short. There are stronger words that I could use to describe how short it is, but my editors would bind me with duct tape before letting them through. But trust me, for the money you are spending, you'll want to question the folks over at Majesco for why they released a game that is possibly shorter than the movie itself.
At any rate, if you are so inclined to check this game out, what you will get is your basic action game with all the characters from the film's trailer. You can then engage in some basic game play that younger gamers will likely enjoy. Platform sequences abound, and there are some other puzzles thrown in and some vehicle missions that do a serviceable but not overly impressive job.
Be smart and rent this game first before buying it. You'll be able to return it to the store faster than you think.
(E-mail Chris Campbell at game_on_games(at)mac.com)
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