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‘Despicable Me’ leads movie-themed games

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Toledo Free Press
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Despicable Me: The Game Minion Mayhem (D3Publisher)

Smaller is better here as this DS game wins the quality battle over the basic version (**, rated E10+ for mild cartoon violence available on Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable), but all entertain. Help Gru, voiced by Steve Carell, steal the moon and beat Vector. The Wii version’s sounds, weapons/gadgets and actions are great, but the scenes are often small on the screen unless players have a large screen television. The magnet guns, freeze rays and battle-ready vehicles offer several options, so Dr. Nefario offers helpful audio hints. Players can also assemble those hilarious yellow minions and play as Gru or Vector in the multiplayer modes. In the Nintendo DS exclusive Despicable Me: The Game/Minion Mayhem, players can have more fun managing the mischievous little minions throughout several basic levels (*** out of four stars, rated E for comic mischief).

Attack of the Movies 3D Wii game

Attack of the Movies 3D (Majesco)

Experience monsters, combat, space and sea in 3-D throughout six worlds of arcade shooter fun. Use the Wii remote, Zapper or game controller to conquer each scenario, which vary among six themes that echo familiar film franchises — insect invasion, robot rebellion, cosmic combat, deep-sea danger, into the emperor’s tomb and graveyard gunfight. This enjoyable “pick-up and play” game also features multiple weapons and includes four pairs of 3D glasses. The game runs a bit short in overall time and challenge, but the affordable $29.99 price offsets that minor vice (**1/2, rated T for animated blood and fantasy violence, also available on the Xbox 360).

Kick-Ass (WHA Entertainment)

This third person perspective beat ‘em up is now available at a new lower price of $9.99 for the Sony PlayStation Network (PSN). Play as Kick-Ass, Hit Girl, or Big Daddy while ripping through a crime-filled New York City. This high challenge game includes 12 story missions plus two bonus rounds with plenty of bosses, sub-missions, unlockable items and mini-games. A multiplayer local co-op gameplay mode helps develop skills that require quick decisions (***,  rated M for blood, drug use, gore, intense violence and strong language, also available on iPhone and iPad).

Pros temporarily hit the pine in ‘Backyard Sports’

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Toledo Free Press
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The ‘Backyard Sports series’ features baseball as well as basketball, football, hockey, and soccer with memorable original kid characters supporting the pint-sized pros. In Backyard Sports: Sandlot Sluggers, kids like Joey MacAdoo, a sister duo, and others headline some great baseball play on eight different neighborhood ball fields. This well-established sports game series takes a time out from pro athletes for this neighborhood kid baseball set complete with a story mode, season, playoffs, and home run derby.

Players begin with a boy or girl character then can bat through the story mode or choose a 7 or 14 week season or playoff season — both include a simulate option so players do not have to play through every game and every team.

Important options include a 10-run mercy rule, difficulty settings (easy, medium, or hard), and inning length (1, 3, 5, or 9). The flexible lineup allows players to switch the batting order, but an individual player statistic view (shown on the top screen) would certainly help.

The detailed player movement options are lacking, but overall still solid for a handheld game. Players cannot where they hit the ball and chose among power swing, line drive, bunt left or right in a nice touchscreen quadrant at each at-bat. Each pitch works within the same four-option format as players choose among several options depending on the pitcher including screwball, curve, fast, slide, and change-up.

The special power-ups add momentum and humor to the gameplay. The booger ball, air ball, and mirage are the self-explanatory pitching wild cards while batting power-ups include the meteor ball, fire bat, icicle, ticking time ball, or whiffle ball. Two new commentators named Ron and Wally tag team for the play-by-play banter on and off the field. Even foul balls that accurately move back towards the touch screen give players that extra entertainment. A simulated glass crack would have been great too.

Players have a few character customization options, but not enough to replicate themselves. The limited graphics do not warrant such a close copy anyway while the interactive fields pick up the action very well. Some light-colored trailing visuals on the ball would help in some daylight situations (***1/2 out of four stars, rated E for comic mischief. Also available on Nintendo Wii, PC download, and Xbox 360).

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