Excitebots: Trick Racing

Excitebots is the newest "Excite" title for Wii. It is an updated version of Excite Truck, one of the original releases for the Wii. Fans of Excite Truck will be in familiar territory, with many of the same locales, bonuses, and tricks. But this is no simple rehash, as there are plenty of new twists and tricks to be had.

The original Excite Truck took awhile to grow on me. I doubt I would have purchased the game at all, but it was included in the Wii bundle I bought. Once I warmed to it, I quickly became obsessed with the game. The action is furious and the game is challenging, almost too much for my tastes. But I found myself having such a good time, despite some frustration, that I stuck it out until the bitter end.

Excitebots is enough like Excite Truck that I found myself hooked from the very start. At the same time, there is plenty of new content to keep the game play fresh. While many of the tracks are similar to Excite Trucks, the similarity is superficial. Excitebots takes the premise of Excite Truck and cranks it up a notch. Unlike most race games, the goal isn't necessarily to come in first place. It's more important to rack up stars by completing tricks, playing mini games, and picking up various bonuses along the way.

The "accumulation of stars" point is the best and worst part of Excitebots. The extra challenge of completing tricks and collecting bonuses adds a lot of interest and excitement to the game. But being required to complete a series of tracks with superior ratings before being allowed to progress is something I find particularly frustrating. I admit, however, that it is great incentive to keep coming back to the game.

The "bots" part of Excitebots is what really sets it apart from any other game. Instead of flying around the tracks in cars, karts, buggies, or trucks, the vehicles of choice are animal-shaped robots - lizards, ants, hornets, hummingbirds, scorpions, etc. Also new to Excitebots is a series of mini games including bowling, darts, and soccer. Online play is supported, as is an excellent two-player mode.

Tired of basic racing? Take a break with some of the mini-games, or go for a spin around the track making the best poker hands with Poker Racing.

Excitebots is compatible with the Wii wheel, unlike Excite Truck. I prefer the wheel, as it adds that extra little touch of realism to the game (plus I'm glad to have another use for it besides Mario Kart!) However, the wheel is not necessary; you can play just as well with the basic Wiimote. The controls are simple, intuitive, and responsive.

If you appreciate a unique racing experience with a bit of a challenge, you're sure to enjoy Excitebots.

Heatseeker (for Nintendo Wii)

Fast Flying Frenzied Fun


Heatseeker is a fun game, but maybe a little much for the lesser experienced fliers out there.

I like a good flight experience. As I said in another review, I am no connoisseur, but I enjoy a little violence in three-dimensional space on occasion. Right out of the box, Heatseeker is almost that experience. Normally, I prefer to fly less advanced aircraft, prop planes or smaller WWII era jets. The super fast, modern jets take some getting used to, at least for me.

The most obvious thing about Heatseeker is that it is FAST, at least compared to most flying games in my experience. Fortunately, you have equally fast (and deadly) armaments to help you out. Yes, you have a gun, but you’ll find that of little help when you have a sky full of enemies screaming around you at mach 3. That is when your unlimited supply of guided missiles comes in. Lock on, launch, and watch the pretty fireworks.

Heatseeker is loaded with options that can increase or decrease the enjoyment level, depending on your tastes. An impact camera gives you the opportunity to watch your missiles slam into the bad guys, providing a little break from the action and some visual excitement. However, you’re stuck waiting for the movie to end before you can get back to the action. This can be a good thing if you want a little break, but it can also be frustrating when, in the heat of the battle, you are forced to wait for your next kill. Once the novelty wears off, just turn the camera off for full fledged, unobtrusive fighting.

The biggest challenges have to do with the controls. Admittedly, flight can be a challenge on the Wii. Some games, like Blazing Angels, use a much more intuitive approach. Heatseeker uses the Wiimote for flight controls, and the nunchuck for some control options and secondary weapons. And for me, it doesn’t quite work. The controls are VERY sensitive, which with some practice, is a good thing. But I spent a fair amount of time slamming into the open ocean before I began to “get the hang of it”.

Again, sim enthusiasts may want to steer clear of Heatseeker. It is definitely much more an arcade shooter than a true flight sim. Pro control options allow a much more realistic flight experience than some games, but the unlimited supply of munitions and sparse take-offs and landings all put this game in the “arcade” category as opposed to “sim”.

Overall, Heatseeker is a fun game for those with some flight experience under their belt, and patience to get comfortable with the somewhat awkward controls.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Wii)

Stop reading now and go buy the thing.

Seriously, go.

I had heard about Guitar Hero, and being a musician and teacher, the concept sort of frightened me at first. I've seen all kinds of music "games" and learn to play this and that in thirty days, etc. Almost without exception, the game/program/video/toy is a complete joke, a waste of money, and usually not any fun.

My opinion started to change earlier this summer. My young nephews were visiting, and they brought along their Playstation 2. As I washed dishes in the kitchen, I heard Black Sabbath and Rush emanating from the living room. My curiosity piqued, I stepped into the living room to see my nephew sitting on the couch, plastic guitar in hand, jamming along to some of the greatest songs of my youth. Music I NEVER would have imagined him enjoying, let alone ever being exposed to.

I'm not advocating Guitar Hero as an educational game. Sure, it certainly can help to instill a better sense of rhythm, but playing the game is so unlike playing an actual guitar that any comparison is almost laughable. The greatest thing about Guitar Hero, other than it being a complete blast to play, is that it exposes today's youth to dozens of examples of GOOD music, from a time and place when actual talent was required to be a musician. Notice: not a sign anywhere of Britney, boy bands, or any of the typical atrocious pop that passes for music these days.

If you haven't played Guitar Hero, an explanation of the game won't do it any justice. It's like swimming in the ocean, it can be described a million different ways, but until you've experienced it, you have no idea.

This newest Guitar Hero doesn't seem to have that much more to offer, but it doesn't really matter. If they kept making Guitar Hero II over and over again with a new set of songs, I would buy every one. (The original Guitar Hero's multiplayer mode isn't as good as GH II.) There are new characters, new styles, guitars, and of course songs. But none of that really matters, because once the notes come flying at you, you won't even notice who you are and certainly not what you're wearing!

This new version supports multiplayer online play. Online play seems to be all the rage these days, but it's just not my thing. But the option to be able to play with a friend (or a stranger) in a distant part of the world only adds to the value.

The biggest, and to my knowledge, only problem with Guitar Hero III for Wii is that currently you cannot buy a second standalone guitar controller. My favorite part of Guitar Hero is the multiplayer mode, where you can compete or cooperate with a friend. Especially since Guitar Hero III has a COOPERATIVE CAREER MODE, you'd think offering a standalone controller at release would be a no-brainer.

If you've read this far, you've already wasted too much time. You could have been half way to the store. Go, go NOW! You won't regret it.

Carnival Games (Wii) - A Carnival In Your Living Room!

We in our family are suckers for the Wii "party games". We can never have enough fun multiplayer games to keep the gang interested. This is why Carnival Games for the Wii caught my interest right away.

No ifs, ands, or buts, this is a fun game. Relive those hazy summer weekends walking up and down the county fair boardwalk. Throw some darts, knock over some fuzzy guys, shoot some ducks and stars.

This is a perfect game for the Wii, where the multitude of games require a simple point-and-shoot or a quick aim and toss. There are only a few necessary skills required, and the games are nicely sectioned so the repetitive motions don't get TOO repetitive. Skeeball, knock-over-the-bottles, pop-the-balloons, all fit into the "aim and toss" category, while shoot-the-ducks, throw-the-football, and others fall into the "aim and shoot" category. Filling out the games selection is a number or more unique games, such as ring-the-bell (strength test) or roll-the-bowling ball-over-the-hump. Fun!

There are several extras to unlock, and PLENTY of prizes and tickets to win. We've only played the game for one evening, but I'm already looking forward to many more hours of entertainment.

Not everything is perfect, however. Most notably is the lack of Mii support. You must create a Mii-type character to participate. The Carnival Games character generator pales in comparison to the myriad variety supplied in the actual Mii generator. It seems silly to me that they couldn't, or wouldn't, support the native Mii characters. Also, the multiplayer mode should have been implemented much more smoothly. For many games, such as ring toss and ball throw, it seems obvious that several players could play concurrently, just like the actual carnival game. However, this is not the case. Players must take turns, throwing one ball, dart, or ring and wait a seemingly interminable amount of time while the carnie gives his advice (or admonishment) before the next player can go. However, some games DO allow multiple players to compete at the same time.

All in all, this is a surprisingly fun game for so simple a concept. All the classics are represented, and are done exceptionally well. Some games are simple but addictive, while others are quite challenging and can be frustrating. Add to this the relatively inexpensive price tag ($40 as opposed to $50 for most new releases) and you have an all-around winner.

Snakes & Arrows (Limited Edition MVI DVD)

I gave up on Rush several albums ago, in the early 90s. I do not blame Rush, however, I blame myself. But after several years and several albums passed by, I rediscovered a long lost friend while playing a video game. A song on the game soundtrack just happened to be a Rush song I had not heard before!

A little research and a trip to the used CD store later, I filled in the few albums I had missed since I stopped paying attention in the early 90s.

Rush was once-upon-a-time one of my all time favorite bands. But, and true Rush fans will attest to this, they have a habit of almost completely reinventing themselves every four albums or so. I get it. I'm a musician, too, and I understand the need and desire for new and fresh and challenge. I just found it difficult to keep up with their musical meanderings.

The late 90s Rush was like an old friend you haven't seen in awhile. Although the passion was always there, back was the ferocity and aggression I missed from the EARLY days. Neil Peart's strenuous liner notes noted new and harder influences and it was apparent in the music.

Over the next few years, I became reacquainted with my old friend. So I got a little excited when I heard they were (finally!) releasing a new full length CD. And then I got VERY excited when I realized they were releasing the same, but in a feature-packed deluxe DVD- audio version. I waited and waited while my pre-order from Amazon was repeatedly delayed and eventually arrived.

After all that, was it worth?

Yes. I'm not overwhelmed, but I haven't been by a new Rush album since the mid-80s. They take time to get used to, like dipping your tootsies in the pool or sipping your soup. What has always impressed me most about the group is how much sound is being created by only three guys. Rush is a smorgasbord of sound and rhythm, and sometimes a little much to take in all at once. The music can be hard, and not like a rock, but more like a trigonometry test. They ain't your daddy's pop band.

But a few things are obvious. The sound quality is killer. The PCM 96k 24 bit stereo channel is clean, clear, brilliant, and amazing. The disc also includes the ubiquitous 5.1 mix for that more contemporary sound. Whether or not you are a Rush fan, if you appreciate good music, there's no denying that an evening with this disc on a quality sound system is time well spent.

The video portion is fine - nothing great, no surprises. It offers a nice and LONG glimpse at the behind-the-scenes thing. Rush fanatics will revel in it's inclusion, those not so fanatical will likely not find it worth bothering with. The members of Rush, virtuoso percussionist and lyricist Neil Peart especially, apparently have no problems with discussing their work, and do so unabashedly.

One of the nicest surprises is the inclusion of high quality MP3 versions of all the songs. This is great not only for the convenience, but I can imagine the guys in the band saying, "These guys buying the DVD version are going to have trouble ripping the songs, not like a CD. Hey! Let's GIVE 'EM some MP3s!" Gotta love that.

I'm not the type of person to discuss every song on the album and I won't do so now. I will sum up by saying that SNAKES & ARROWS isn't that much of a departure from the modern Rush. It does have some of the best songs I've heard from them in awhile, and it's very quickly growing on me. It's a meld of old and new Rush, same great taste, less calories.

Living Colour: On Stage at World Cafe Live

I’ve been a Living Colour fan for a long time, well before they hit anything near mainstream and then shortly disappeared from the pop culture radar. I’ve even managed to see them live, which if you knew anything about me personally, is a testament to how much I like them.

So I was pretty hyped to hear that one of my more favorite bands was FINALLY coming out with a live concert DVD. Hyped, but hesitant. After all, it’s been twenty-something years or so since I first discovered Living Colour. I’ve watched with increasing trepidation over the years as my musical icons age not-so-well. Oh, Jimmy Paige… what did you do to yourself!

I should not have been concerned. These.guys.ROCK. Vocalist and showman extraordinaire Corey Glover is amazing. I would seriously consider giving up a not-too-unimportant portion of my anatomy to be able to sing like him. Guitarist guru Vernon Reid shreds like he was born to it, with a surrealistic mix of finesse and raunch that few can match. Drummer Wil Calhoun is as solid as ever; laying a flawless foundation that simultaneously supports and enhances the other musicians’ brilliant performances. And of course, bassist Doug Wimbush is up to his usual wizardry.

As great as it is to finally see these guys in the comfort of my own home on a quality DVD, all is not well. First and most importantly, the show is too short. Clocking in at just under an hour, my craving was barely sated before it was all over. Predictably, the crowd is lame. It was just a little bit disconcerting to watch the guys’ faces as they rocked their hearts out before a less-than-enthusiastic crowd. As much as I was enjoying the performance, I achingly longed for a more appropriate crowd. (Being a performing musician myself, I know full well how the crowd’s reaction can make or break a show.) Admittedly, the crowd finally comes alive for the encore performance of Cult of Personality. Imagine that. And perhaps this is more of a nit than an actual complaint, but Doug Wimbush sings one song! Mr. Wimbush does a fine job, and in any other setting my reaction would have been significantly less subdued. But… DUDE! You have freakin’ COREY GLOVER in the band! ‘nuff said.

The song choice is adequate if not totally exciting. The usual crowd pleasers are there, but considering this ground breaking group has five full length albums and an EP or two floating around out there, do we really need to hear Glamour Boys again?

All in all, and especially considering the lack of concert footage available, this disc has easily garnered a place among my favorites. If you call yourself a fan, there’s no question you need this disc. If you’re among the curious, I encourage you to check it out. If you like what you see and hear, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Time’s Up, the band’s seminal musical creation, IMHO.

Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII

For Nintendo Wii

I’ll get right to the point: this is a fun game.

I’ve flown everything from an F-15 on my old Commodore 64 to a TIE Defender through interstellar space. I’ve been in dogfights against the Red Baron, Japanese Kamikaze, and Darth Vader. I like flying. I’m no connoisseur, but I enjoy a little violence in three-dimensional space on occasion.

Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII for Nintendo Wii, quite frankly, is MY kind of game. It’s challenging, but not too hard. I’m not ashamed to admit I need to restart from a checkpoint every once in awhile. Although most of the time it’s because I tend to fly too low and crash into things. Buildings. Ship masts. The Eiffel Tower. That kind of thing.

There is a nice selection of planes, and plenty of unlockable extras. In addition to the standard Campaign mode, you can jump into immediate action in the Arcade mode, or fly with a buddy in the sweet multi-player mode. A better non-network multiplayer flying experience does not come easily to mind.

Like seemingly all Wii games, the controls take some getting used to. One peek at the game manual and I was instantly overwhelmed with the myriad control options. I left the default, Arcade Nunchuck Sensitive, and hoped for the best. I found the controls very intuitive, just like holding your hand out the window of a moving car and “flying” your extended digits. Using the default control options, the Wii remote becomes almost superfluous, being used only for optional controls. All the good stuff is in the ‘chuck.

True flight enthusiasts and sim heads might not be too pleased. Part of what I like about the game is it’s inattention to realism in the appropriate spots. For the most part, you have unlimited ammunition, including bombs and rockets. You need not be concerned about running out of fuel. Take offs and landings are sparse, and (thankfully) easy. Just remember to put the landing gear down!

I believe the game is trying to be original with a weird target-centered camera view option. I find the thing annoying, and don’t quite see the point. It’s much more useful when approaching a stationary bombing target than tracking a rogue enemy ace, but I prefer to find my foes the old fashioned way.

While this game may lack the more realistic and exciting aspects of say, Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe, it also lacks the frustration that too much realism can bring to a game. In my opinion, it’s an even trade. Right now I’m having a really good time flying around knocking Jerries out of the sky without giving a thought to my round count, fuel gauge, or whether or not my wings are going to rip off because I’m in too steep a dive.