More Gifts for Gamers

So, our gaming coverage in the print edition wasn't enough for you. We understand. Luckily, we have more where that came from. Below we review A Boy and His Blob, WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010, and Axel & Pixel. All three have kid appeal but only two might be appropriate for the pre-teen or single-digit aged.

A Boy and His Blob
Majesco, $40

Based on the game of the same name released in 1989, A Boy and His Blob for the Wii tells the story of a boy, a blob, and an evil slime (literally) that has taken over Blobolonia. Oh, it gets weirder. Your blob is pretty much useless – except for being cute – until you feed him different colored jellybeans that turn Blob into different and helpful items. For example, a ladder to climb up or a parachute to soften your landing (see above) or a trampoline to reach a high platform.

The game is a combination of a 2-D action game and a puzzle game. You’ll have to do all the standard running and jumping, but you’ll also have to figure out the right combination of Blob candy that will get you to the end. The movement controls are pretty simple until you need to execute some of the more complicated Blob transformations, which involve a combination of buttons that can easily get twisted causing a misfire. Overall the levels are numerous and fun with a fair smattering of difficult areas.

The game looks good, but I think there’s a kneejerk reaction to give games with hand-drawn animation an automatic stamp of “chaming” and “beautiful.” It scores on the first count but the latter isn’t as appropriate. Even considering its 2-D gameplay the backdrops look shallow especially with such compelling characters in the foreground. The game looks its best when creating low-lighting atmospherics that make certain areas more challenging and more fun to look at.

Like so many Wii games the load times can be frustrating and the Wiimote can be a bit unwieldy, but the largely engrossing gameplay makes up for most of the game’s weaknesses.

With rampant cuteness like this dripping from the screen you’d think that hitting the button to make the boy hug Blob would grow tiresome. You would be right.



WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010
THQ, $60

Rated "Teen," this one might not be age-appropriate due to some blood and either an empowering or sexist view of women. It depends on how you look at it. If you let your kid watch wrestling on TV then you know what you're getting the young one into.

I’ll make this quick.

They put out a new WWE game every year, and while, yes, this is probably the best of the bunch – with its myriad of creation modes (create a character or a storyline or a finishing move or a highlight reel), stripped down gameplay, a million and one different ways to play, a strong online sharing component, and enough moves to let you fulfill your dreams of fighting in tights – I still can’t help but feel like I’m playing one long, interactive commercial for the WWE. I guess that just makes it all the more like the real thing.



Axel & Pixel
2K Play, $10

First, a tangent: I should say that this downloadable game for the Xbox 360 is not $10 but, in fact, 800 Microsoft Points. I question if there is enough space on the internet for me to completely bitch about this faux monetary system, but let me just say that there is a reason people think Bill Gates is the devil. Let me also say that not only does it help kids avoid any responsibility concerning actual currency, but has the effect of leaving you with extra Microsoft Points that gamers feel the need to add to just so they can spend them. Let me lastly say the words “devious” and “underhanded.”

None of this is Axel or Pixel’s fault. They are just an artist and a dog respectively who find themselves sucked into a dream world that combines photorealistic backdrops and entertainingly animated characters creating a world that is childlike and surreal.

The gameplay is largely point-and-click. Move the cursor around and explore the world in an attempt to find the tools and actions you need to get from point A to point B, with your dog in tow. A few levels add more of an action element but they come and go quickly and are only replayable a few times before growing tiresome. The worlds and comedic protagonists (who manage to evoke laughs despite speaking in gibberish syllables) are what will draw you in and keep you enchanted for 24 levels. And maybe even going back to find the bonus secrets in almost every level.

Parents might want to watch and enjoy the show as well and help the kids through some of the stickier points of this interactive storybook. Well worth the $10.