February 20, 2009

'Deadly Creatures' a creepy adventure for the Wii

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Bugs are frowned upon in computer software, especially video games. But in the case of THQ video game Deadly Creatures, they're the main attraction.

The adventure for the Nintendo Wii features an interesting story told through the eyes of two unusual lead "characters": a scorpion and a tarantula. As they navigate the desert, they witness the action of two men — voiced by actors Dennis Hopper and Billy Bob Thornton — search for treasure in a landscape littered with dangerous animals and insects.

Players hear bits of conversation as they traverse a small tunnel, or watch key moments while perched on a ledge. The method is very clever and unique.

The game breaks down into 10 levels, five for each creature. While the tarantula is quick and nimble, the scorpion is both bigger and stronger. Attacks are handled using a combination of remote and nunchuk flourishes and well-timed button presses. Taking advantage of its agility, the tarantula can pounce on foes, for example. The scorpion, meanwhile, can deliver tail stings and whips.

Level objectives are pretty straightforward, with directives such as "find your way to the surface." Creatures will climb up walls, slip inside small crevices and even walk upside down on ceilings to reach their destination. The variety of objects keeps you engaged in this very large world, such as sneakers to crawl through or a broken-down truck to trek across.

Overall, the tarantula is a more interesting creature to control. Because you can't string together strikes as easily, you're forced to think more strategically about how best to vanquish enemy creatures. The scorpion, on the other hand, can dish out hits more quickly. Therefore, it's easy to just flail and press buttons frantically to beat down opponents.

Foes ranging from wolf spiders and black widows to gila monsters and rattlesnakes lurk in the wilderness. Yet your greatest nemesis is the perspective. The game's camera stalks your every move, yet struggles to keep pace when the action picks up. As a result, you're left viewing battles from awkward angles, blinded to approaching threats. Prepare to consistently press down on the remote's directional pad to center your view.

Don't be scared off by the creepy-crawly critters that adorn the box art for Deadly Creatures. Despite some noticeable flaws, this adventure offers plenty to embrace.



Source: USA Today

Nintendo DSi

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Yesterday morning Nintendo of America announced that the latest evolution of its DS portable, the DSi, was due to hit stateside on April 5 of this year, priced at $169.99 MSRP. The device is the next system upgrade in the line of DS handhelds, and not a successor to the DS itself (much like the GBA SP or Micro releases for Game Boy Advance), though it promises to bring even more technology to the Big N's innovative pocket platform. Adding in two cameras, internal memory for music, pictures, and downloadable software, a SD port for additional memory, a new front end inspired by the Wii's channel system, and a pair of slightly larger screens, the DSi hopes to bring new lift into the already impressive DS hardware.

Where the real question comes in though, is in some of the changes and sacrifices the hardware asks players to make, and with that we hear the questioning cries of Nintendo fans everywhere as they shout "Should I, or should I not drop the cash and upgrade to DSi?"

Well, we're here to help. Yes the DSi is a bit pricey, and for those of you still catching up on your backlog of awesome Advance titles (or strumming away with Guitar Hero On Tour) the GBA slot has been removed, but there are benefits to the upgrade as well, and therein lies the rub. In order to make sense of it all, the IGN Nintendo Team has jotted down its own personal take on the system in a more personal editor-by-editor format.

Read more!

Source: IGN
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