[IMG:L]Summer blockbusters are in theaters right now, yes — but you can put ‘em in your Xbox, Wii and Playstation, too. Here’s a rundown of the 10 most notable movie-related games of summer …
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
(Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP, PC)
What’s the Deal? The Autobots are back to battle the Decepticons across the virtual world in this action-packed game sequel based on the Michael Bay film.
Why It’s Cool: Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox reprise their roles for this second game, which introduces online gameplay for the first time. What might be a five-minute experience in the movie, like Shanghai, is now an open world ripe for destruction — if you’re playing the Decepticon role like the new Audi R8 Sideways Transformer. Taking to the air as Starbreeze adds another dimension to gameplay: air combat.
Extras: Players will be able to battle against menacing bosses like the massive Devastator, which makes the 30-foot-tall Optimus Prime look like a child. (June 23)
KEEP READING: Who You Gonna Call?!
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Ghostbusters: The Video Game
(Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP, PC)
What’s the Deal? While the movie version of Ghostbusters 3 has recently been given new life, gamers will get a head start with this original video game.
Why It’s Cool: Atari lined up Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson to reprise their classic Ghostbusters characters for this new game; even the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man is back in action! Players assume the role of a rookie in 1992 just as all hell breaks loose in Manhattan — again.
Extras: The PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC Teen-rated game offers photorealistic Ghostbusters and more intense scares and humor than the cartoonish Wii, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS versions. (June 16)
KEEP READING: Real American Hero
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G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
(360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP)
What’s the Deal? After seeing the rise of COBRA in Paramount’s big-screen adaptation, gamers have to take on the evil organization in this virtual sequel.
Why It’s Cool: It’s G.I. Joe! The only thing better than playing with those awesome Hasbro toys is getting to control Snake Eyes, Duke, Heavy Duty and nine other characters in interactive virtual environments. The game offers players the chance to get behind the wheel of vehicles like Snow Cat — and Mobat, too!
Extras: Cooperative gameplay ups the replay value as friends can team up and take on COBRA in the engaging campaign storyline. (Third Quarter 2009)
KEEP READING: Take That, Voldemort!
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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
(Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP, PC, Mac)
What’s the Deal? Voldemort’s evil is invading Harry’s Hogwarts sanctuary, but gamers have a secret weapon: the Wii remote controller!
Why It’s Cool: EA focused on the Wii platform first and then built out the other games around it. The Wii remote allows players to conjure up spells and then attack enemies with the flick of a wrist. Of course, the visuals are better on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, but families will get the most value out of the Wii version.
Extras: The Wii game introduces mano-a-mano magic battles for the first time, which allows Muggles to become Wizards. (June 30)
KEEP READING: John Connor, Meet … Rose McGowan?
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Terminator Salvation
(Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC)
What’s the Deal? Set two years before the new movie, gamers get to experience how John Connor rose to power to take on SkyNet and the machines.
Why It’s Not Cool: You can literally shoot your way through this game in under five hours, and the firefights get old quickly with only a half-dozen robot enemy types to destroy. The split-screen action is so ‘80s, and the lack of online cooperative play pretty much kills any replay value. Also, where’s Christian Bale? He is, after all, the central character in the game. All you get from the movie are Common and Moon Bloodgood.
Extras: Rose McGowan stars as video game-exclusive character Angie Salter, an ex-elementary school teacher who joins up with Connor’s Resistance fighters. (In stores now)
KEEP READING: A Pixar Game As Good As the Movie?
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Up
(Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP, PC)
What’s the Deal? The oldest video game star, Carl Fredricksen, goes up, up and away on a journey with wilderness explorer Russell and Dug the dog.
Why It’s Cool: Although this is the last Pixar game from THQ (the license reverts to Disney Interactive Studios), the game publisher has improved with each new offering. Up to four players can take part in the action in the latest game, which allows parents to play with their children. Colorful characters like Kevin the prehistoric bird offer humor along the way.
Extras: Gameplay blends classic platform action with air and water-based levels to spice things up. (In stores now)
KEEP READING: It’s Indy, Minus Those Crystal Skulls
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Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings
(Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PSP)
What’s the Deal? Indiana Jones is on the hunt for Moses’ Staff of Kings, which evidently can do much more than part water — such as invoking plagues and bringing down pillars of fire from the sky.
Why It’s Cool: No Crystal Skulls, for starters. It offers multiplayer support (including cooperative gameplay), and aside the usual adventuring with his whip and gun, Indy will pilot a biplane, ride atop a wild elephant and go whitewater rafting in Staff of Kings.
Extras: The Wii game includes an unlockable version of the classic PC point-and-click adventure, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis. (June 9)
KEEP READING: A ‘Wolverine’ We Can Sink Our Claws Into
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X-Men Origins: Wolverine
(Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP, PC)
What’s the Deal? After an underwhelming big-screen story, gamers can sink their adamantium claws into this excellent action game.
Why It’s Cool: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber and will.i.am go virtual in all versions of this game. The “Uncaged Edition,” available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, offers intense, gory, Mature-rated content that will keep anyone (17 or older) coming back for more. The Wii version, meanwhile, lets junior Wolverines build up those biceps by swatting enemies.
Extras: The movie action is just the beginning, as Activision adds comic-book enemies like Sentinel to the mix. (In stores now)
KEEP READING: Stick with the Movie Version of …
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Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
(Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS)
What’s the Deal? Majesco Games has regurgitated the plot of the Ben Stiller movie with an extremely short game that’s at least worth a rental for kids.
Why It’s Not Cool: Stiller’s likeness is in the game, but the sound-alike actor is horrible. The game is too short even by today’s mainstream audience standards: You can literally beat it in about the time it takes to watch the movie — which is a more fun experience, to boot. While there are plenty of gameplay elements, there’s just not enough here overall to warrant the price of admission, er, purchase.
Extras: Larry Dailey’s puzzle-solving offers unique challenges like getting a rhino to knock over ice obelisks to create a ramp. (In stores now)
KEEP READING: Seth Rogen Makes His Video Game Debut
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Monsters vs. Aliens
(Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PC)
What’s the Deal? Gallaxhar’s alien army is invading Earth, and it’s up to Ginormica, the Missing Link and B.O.B. to save the planet in this funny, family-friendly romp.
Why It’s Cool: First off, Activision hired Seth Rogen (making his video game debut) and Will Arnett to reprise their comedic roles as B.O.B. and the Missing Link, respectively. Beyond the humor, this game offers four styles of gameplay tailored to each monster: platform action for the Missing Link, on-rail (and on-skateboard) running levels for Ginormica, shooter action for Dr. Cockroach and stealth for B.O.B.
Extras: Cooperative play allows gamers to jump into the fray as Dr. Cockroach, PH.D., at any time and blast away aliens. (In stores now)
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THE 2008 ULTIMATE SUMMER GUIDE
