Video Games
Van Helsing
Rated: T for Teen, for violence
Reviewed by Walter Chaw
Better than the movie, but the movie stinks, Van Helsing for the Xbox is a surprisingly decent third-person action title but can be solved after about four-and-a-half quick hours of repetitive gameplay. Bad camera angles and horrible narrative mimic the film that, let's face it, looks as much like the video game as the other way around. Getting good at the old shoot-and-dodge is all you really need to do to beat the thing and, let's face it, that's about as interesting as Whack-a-Mole. With a non-intuitive set camera angle construct, the only real challenge to the game is getting in a position so that whatever it is that's beating you to a pulp is visable. It's a ridiculus design problem that smacks of not-enough play-testing. Barely worth a rental, certainly not a purchase - but if you insist, copie of it should be available in the secondary market in a few weeks at around $15.00. Tops.
GAMEPLAY - D
GRAPHICS - A
SOUND - A
OVERALL - C-
Viva Piñata
Platform: Xbox 360
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone
Viva Piñata is fun, it's cute, and it teaches you to plant? Let me explain…in Viva Piñata, you play gardener whose job it is to make a poor empty lot into a beautiful garden with lot's of piñata's. Your main objective in the game is to breed piñata for children birthday parties. You start out with a run down empty lot, you put down soil, grow grass, dig rivers and ponds, and as your garden grows more and piñata come to visit with different specifications on what the need to become residents at your garden. As you maintain and monitor your garden, dangers lurk. At night you can get mean piñata that want to try to make the others piñata's sick by spitting up bad candy. Once a piñata's sick you have to call the doctor to come and revive him. However, you can make the bad piñatas turn a new leaf you can meet the requirements for their residency and they will become good. There's also a two player mode where you can help the other gardener. With special upgrades for your tools, an endless supply of funny accessories for your piñata, and a vibrant colorful world that screams with fun things to do, it’s always a party with Viva Piñata!
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