By Jae-Ha Kim and Misha Davenport
Chicago Sun-Times
September 26, 2003
BOKTAI (Konami, E for Everyone, Game Boy Advance)
Finally, a game that gets avid players off the couch and out of the house! Literally. You play as Django — the last in the line of vampire hunters. You’ve been dispatched to kill all of the immortals. Your weapon of choice? A gun that actually harnesses the sun. Game play is a cross between the dungeon searches seen in the “Legend of Zelda 2” and the stealth and ammunition aspects of “Metal Gear Solid.” The latter comes as no surprise, as the game was designed by Hideo Kojima who also created “Metal Gear Solid 2.” The characters are all well animated, and the game’s hues are soft and almost watercolor-like. Even though the game as a whole is rendered very well, you’ll still find it’s all about the sun sensor. “Boktai’s” greatest asset — the tiny black chip built into the game cartridge that detects sunlight — is also its Achilles heel. While you needn’t be outside (sunlight coming in from a window suffices), the sensor can’t be fooled by flashlights and lamps. Nothing is quite as frustrating as when you’re just about to defeat a level boss and a cloud rolls in and essentially blocks your access to ammo. Still, clouds pass by and when the sun’s out, “Boktai” shines. –Misha Davenport
DISNEY’S EXTREME SKATE ADVENTURE (Activision;E for Everyone, PS2)
Let’s call this game Tony Hawk Lite. Designed for newbie players who aren’t yet up to the task of grinding like Hawk, this Disney title offers easier tricks with some fun novelty value. You get to take on the persona of characters like Buzz Lightyear, young Tarzan and even Simba. Is it realistic that the future Lion King is extreme skating? No, but then again he’s a talking lion. Unlocking new levels will make you feel somewhat accomplished. But winning new clothes for your skaters is a neat little perk. The graphics pop and the sound is surprisingly realistic. –-Jae-Ha Kim
STARSKY AND HUTCH (Gotham Games; T for Teen, Xbox)
This mission-based racing game faithfully recreates the feel of the ’70s TV show. Game play consists of tooling around the streets of Bay City in your bitchin’ red Ford Torino, firing at perps and performing various death-defying stunts to keep the “ratings up.” If viewership falls to zero, you’re sent to cancellation city, baby. It’s an interesting hook, but not enough to save such a jive game. The graphics are cartoony and portions are unpolished. To top it off, there are long load times. Still, it’s worth a rental. When’s the last time you got behind the wheel of a Torino? –Misha Davenport
CHICAGO’S TOP 10
The hottest games sold in Chicago on amazon.com last week:
1. Disgaea: Hour of Darkness PlayStation 2
2. Splashdown: Rides Gone Wild PlayStation 2
3. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 PlayStation 2
4. The Simpsons: Hit and Run PlayStation 2
5. Madden NFL 2004 PlayStation 2
6. F-Zero GX GameCube
7. Madden NFL 2004 Xbox
8. NBA Live 2004 PlayStation 2
9. WWE Raw 2 Xbox
10. The Simpsons: Hit and RunGameCube
What’s your game … Carlos Bocanegra?
“I like ‘Halo’ on Xbox because you can play up to 16 players at once. We usually play four at a time and just kill each other. It’s fun.” — Chicago Fire defender Carlos Bocanegra
