The GameFam 2005 "D'oh!-There's-Only-1-Week-Left" Last-Minute Holiday Gift Guide
Since I started GameFam almost exactly 6 months ago, I've focused my reviews entirely on games my kids and I have played together (save for the "Not For Kids" section, of course). I thought that parents would appreciate a different parent's perspective on how my kids actually liked playing a particular game, as opposed to how they might like to play it.And since we have a limited gaming budget as a family, I don't have the luxury of playing every new game that comes out (though GameFly is a huge help), not to mention that the Xbox 360, Sony PSP, and the Nintendo DS, GBA and GameBoy Micro are mere pipe dreams at this point.
So when it came to putting together a holiday gift guide for parents, I wasn't sure whether to...
- stick with the games that we'd played, to the exclusion of many terrific games, or
- include games we haven't played, which would mean no first-hand experience for several of the top games.
This list will include only games that have been released from January, 2005 - now (basically, since last holiday season).
If you want some more choices and don't want to pay full retail for newer games, there are plenty of great games from the previous few years on the right sidebar (in the ever-expanding "Reviews: yay :)" section), and you should be able to get them at a much lower price. You may not be able to get away with it with older kids, but young kids won't care if the awesome game you just bought for them was made 2 years ago, as oppposed to 2 months ago.
Seeing as there are only single-digit shopping days left this holiday season, I'll end my little preamble and get right to the games (The list currently stands at 31 games, though I may do some tweaking on the fly).
QUICK-REFERENCE GUIDE
(Scroll down for more detail, handy-dandy links, and of course, pretty pictures)
MULTI-PLATFORM
- LEGO Star Wars
- Karaoke Revolution Party
- Chicken Little
- Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit
- Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves
- We Love Katamari
- Guitar Hero
- Dance Dance Revolution Extreme 2
- Mario Superstar Baseball
- Dance Dance Revolution Mario Mix
- Mario Party 7
- Super Mario Strikers
- NBA Street V3
- Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
- Harvest Moon: Another Wonderful Life
- Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 3
- Zoo Tycoon 2
- Platypus
- Cosmic Blobs
- Nintendogs
- Mario Kart DS
- Animal Crossing: Wild World
- Sonic Rush
- WarioWare Touched!
- Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
- Kirby Canvas Curse
- Harvest Moon: More Friends of Mineral Town
- WarioWare Twisted!
- Mario Tennis Power Tour
- Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap
- Tokobot
MULTI-PLATFORM
Hey! You just scratched my lightsaber with your LEGOs!
Hey! You just vaporized my LEGOs with your lightsaber!
Like chocolate & peanut butter, this combination may sound strange to some, but for some reason, it just works...really, really well. This is a terrific game for kids, and is one of the few kid-friendly games for the Xbox. EDIT: To clarify that last sentence, there are plenty of kid-friendly games for the Xbox that also appear on the PS2 and GameCube, but the exclusives are few & far between.
Sing! Dance! Have fun! Great game for parents to play with their kids, or for a group of kids to play together.
While more "on rails" than wide-open games like Ratchet & Clank and Sly Cooper (both of which encourage free exploration), Chicken Little was still fun to play, and my kids really enjoyed it.
My kids and I enjoyed playing 2003's Wallace & Gromit: Project Zoo, and this game should be fun for fans of the show, or for anyone who enjoyed the movie that the game is based on.
PLAYSTATION 2
Another outstanding addition to the Sly Cooper franchise. We just finished it a few days ago. This time, in addition to Sly, Murray & Bentley, you get to play as several additional characters. There are also some fun 2-player mini-games. Girls will like the fact that the 2 female characters hold their own, instead of helplessly waiting to be rescued by the men. My daughter certainly does.
Take last year's amazing original Katamari Damacy. Add co-op play and more multiplayer. Stir.
The only ESRB content descriptor is "Mild Lyrics", so it seems as though the only thing that earned the game the T rating are the songs themselves (here's the Guitar Hero song list), as opposed to inappropriate game content, so it looks like you should base your decision on what songs you want your kids to hear. If anyone has played it and can confirm or refute my educated guess, please share with the class.
Take the successful DDR formula, then add in head-to-head online competition. The PS2's Eye Toy peripheral lets kids see themselves in the game and interact with on-screen items.
GAMECUBE
We played this one together for hours. The games are fun, as are the mini-games.
Kids love dancing, and kids love Mario. That's why this game is near the top of our rhythm game wish list.
More great party games, but this time, Nintendo brings an innovative touch with a microphone peripheral for some of the games.
We can't wait to play this one. The reviews look very good so far. My kids have loved all of the sports-themed Mario games, except for Mario Golf Toadstool Tour, which is more complex than the others, since a golf swing is more complex than a baseball or tennis swing. Then add in club choice, wind, etc.
Yeah, I know. What's a multiplatform game doing in the GameCube section? Since I write mostly from firsthand experience, I focus on games for younger kids, so although this is a multiplatform game, and an excellent sports game in it's own right, I only put it in the GameCube section, because of the playable Nintendo characters. Although it is considered an arcade sports title (as opposed to a serious sim), it ain't easy to play for young kids. However, your older sports fans will love it, and the young 'uns will enjoy trying to play with Mario, et al.
Great way for the kids to release some energy (and build up some calluses) in a fun way.
A charming farming-themed game with a female lead character, which is nice to see.
XBOX
Has head-to-head online competition like DDR Extreme 2. Freestyle mode allows kids to try the game without worrying about matching formal steps.
PC
The first Zoo Tycoon was terrific. The sequel puts you in the middle of the action. My daughter loves the camera mode, which lets her take snapshots of the animals (and anything else that strikes her fancy).
I reviewed this game in early November, and my kids and I recommend it highly. The developer used real clay to make the game look as good and play as well as it does.
What's that? You say your kids love claymation, but you're looking for something that's kinda like digital Play Doh? Well, you've come to the right place. Cosmic Blobs, the "3D Graphics Software for Kids!!" allows kids to unleash their creativity by making their very own 3D "digital claymation" creations. Props to GamerDad for finding this one.
DS
DS Killer App #1 - Puppy Training sim. FYI, this isn't the packaging for the game, but rather for the DS Teal Bundle, which includes Nintendogs Best Friends Version. I felt compelled to use this photo since there's a beagle on the cover.
DS Killer App #2 - Race as several Mario all-stars. Challenge your friends via the Nintendo WiFi Connection.
The sequel to 2002's popular Animal Crossing on the GameCube, this version introduces real-time interactive play via Wi-Fi.
Sonic fans, rejoice! The classic blue-hedgehog-based speed platformer makes a terrific debut on the DS.
180 micro-games with the DS's innovative touch control. Fun!
Funny, innovative action RPG sequel to 2003's Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga.
Excellent, fun, innovative game that takes advantage of the DS's touch and double screens like few, if any, others.
GAMEBOY ADVANCE
Handheld farming fun!.......no, really.
200 microgames. Built-in gyro sensor means that you move the actual GameBoy to control the action.
The GBA version has many of the elements of the GameCube's Mario Power tennis, as well as an RPG mode.
Worthy GBA addition to one of the most iconic franchises in the history of the video game industry.
PSP
It was tougher to find kid-friendly games for the PSP than, say, the DS or GBA, but this one looks pretty interesting. Team up with the handy-dandy Tokobots, which combine to form different items you'll need in your race to save the world.
Well, that's my $.02. Did I leave out any games that you think I should have included? Feel free to share your opinion.
For those of you who want recommendations for specific age ranges, especially for older kids, check out the "GamerDad Holiday Shopping Guide 2005".
posted by Dan at
7:11 PM
1 Comments:
Thanks. I had to do some research to find the good games we haven't played yet, though the vast majority were on my radar screen already.
By
Dan, at 9:07 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home