PixlBit

Crazy Taxi and Need For Speed's illegitimate, violent son.

Whether due to hardware limitations or a reputation for simpler fare, the Wii hasn't seen much of the sandbox/open world genre. Considering the drop in horsepower and the inability to implement the “switch to any car, any time” gameplay, I'm surprised Ubisoft bothered making this Wii version at all. Still, effort was clearly spent in building this version from the ground up -- it uses the pointer controls for shooting (which is very handy), and it's got DS connectivity (remember this feature, Nintendo?). It does a decent job creating a large San Francisco-looking city to drive around in, free of load times. However, too many bad ideas and cut corners make it all seem pretty average.

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Battlefield 3 escapes its single player experiment.

Is Jesus your co-pilot?  I sure hope so, ‘cause you’re better off with a 2,000 year old carpenter at those helicopter controls than me.  Despite my inability to steer the helicopters, I’m still having a blast in Battlefield 3’s multiplayer.  The vestigial single player campaign aped from Call of Duty is a different story.  But nobody’s buying this game for the single player, and they shouldn’t.  Battlefield games mean multiplayer and this installment should make all couch commandos giddy.

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Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but Assault Horizon takes it too far.

If Modern Warfare was a rock star, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon would be its psycho groupie stalker.  Assault Horizon doesn’t just love Modern Warfare, it wants to be Modern Warfare.  Like Buffalo Bill pretending to be a woman by wearing a suit made of skins in Silence of the Lambs, the latest Ace Combat is unsettling in its desire to be something it’s not, which is a real shame because underneath that hand-stitched COD suit is a solid game just begging to be recognized.

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One stand-out title buoys this collection of rehashes and spin-offs.

While Pac-Man & Galaga Dimensions is a brand new game, it’s comprised mostly of existing titles. Both the original Pac-Man and Galaga make their appearance alongside their modern revivals, Pac-Man Championship Edition and Galaga Legions. Exclusive to the collection are two brand new games, Pac-Man Tilt and Galaga 3D Impact. Though 3D Impact offers a neat AR experience, its inclusion is mostly forgettable, leaving Pac-Man Tilt to carry the title. The problem here is that Pac-Man Tilt is mostly enjoyable, but occasionally infuriating due to its mix of traditional and motion controls.

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