Game Review: iCarly (Wii, DS)

ICARLYWII_BOXiCarly is a popular sitcom on the kids’ cable channel Nickelodeon. Teenager Carly runs her own Web site and she and her friends make crazy videos to post online. While filming, the gang goofs off, learns a lesson or two, and sometimes they’ll go on the occasional adventure. Now you can join in and help make crazy iCarly Webisodes, too, with iCarly for the Wii and DS.

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Game Review: Adventures To Go (PSP)

ADVENTURES_BOXFinn Courtland is a warrior-in-training who helps out his struggling family by taking on odd jobs in town. Luckily for him, a new facility for training warriors just opened up. At Adventures To Go, you order what kinds of enemies you’ll fight and what types of land you’ll explore, then wizards will conjure up whatever you ordered. Finn uses Adventures To Go to help him make money and complete the odd jobs collected in town. Join Finn and his ragtag ream of adventurers as they make a profit and maybe even save the kingdom in the process.

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Guest Review: Afrika (PS3)

AFRIKA_BOXAfrika is a wildlife photography game on the PlayStation 3. Featuring lush, realistic graphics and animation, Afrika has more than 70 African animals to discover over 100 photography missions. We’re going to do something a little different with this review, though. I actually didn’t write the meat of this review. A co-worker and good friend of mine enjoys playing PS3 games with his son, James Kessler, so I decided to have 9-year-old James review it (plus I don’t have a PS3). So read on for his take on the game:

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Free Wallace & Gromit Game!

GROMITNormally I don’t like putting press releases up here on this blog page, but if it’ll help you folks get a free PC game, I don’t mind.  In honor of the award-winning clay animated duo Wallace & Gromit’s 20th anniversary, TellTale games is offering one of their episodic Wallace & Gromit games this week for free!  They’re excellent, family-friendly, point and click PC adventure games, so read on to find out how to get your free episode as well as other Wallace & Gromit goodies and tidbits.

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Game Review: Tales of Monkey Island: Episode 4: The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood (PC, WiiWare)

MONKEY_LOGOWhen we last left Guybrush Threepwood: Mighty Pirate™, he had narrowly escaped the jaws of a giant manatee, only to be double crossed by the lady pirate hunter who teamed up with him in the first place. Now, back at the island where he started from, Guybrush faces a court trial not by law-abiding citizens, but fellow pirates with false accusations! Now Guybrush must do a bit of Phoenix Wright courtroom drama—pirate style, so he can continue his quest to rescue his wife and rid the Caribbean of the Pox of LeChuck!

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That was a “BOY” movie, Mommy!

ASTROIn my opinion, movies cost way too much nowadays. Seriously, if you take two people to a movie, you might as well buy the DVD. So usually I just wait until movies hit the dollar theater now. If I do see a regular priced movie, I try and see it at the early bird showing so I only have to pay five bucks for it. Here are a couple of movies I’ve seen recently at the dollar theater and early bird showings.

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Game Review: Forza Motorsport 3 (Xbox 360)

FORZA_BOXWhen racing enthusiasts think of the most intricate and detailed driving simulators, the Forza Motorsport series of video games comes to mind. Hardcore gearheads and tuners are all excited about the new Forza 3 game, and for good reason. But what about casual and younger, less experienced gamers? What makes Forza 3 so great is that it doesn’t leave them in the dust either. Don’t worry, hardcore Forza fans, the developers didn’t ‘dumb down’ the game at all. This review is going to be a bit different because we’re going to look at all the great new features that make Forza 3 fun for the whole family!

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Game Review: Shimano Xtreme Fishing (Wii)

SHIMANO_BOXWhile there is a glut of fishing games on the Wii, one nice thing about them is that each one offers a different experience. If you want a more realistic, laid back fishing game for casual players, you can get hooked on Reel Fishing: Angler’s Dream. If you or your kids want a more cartoony, arcadey Mario Kart styled fishing game, you can reel in Rapala We Fish. But what about the teen and up crowd who are into extreme sports and new ways to fish, like Bowfishing? Well, now those types of armchair anglers are covered with Shimano Xtreme Fishing.

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Game Review: Bakugan: Battle Brawlers (Wii, DS, 360, PS2, PS3)

BAKUGANWII_BOXAs they say in the business, Bakugan is ‘hot’ right now. More than 55 million Bakugan toys were sold in 2008, meaning that every four seconds; one Bakugan toy is bought in the US. Just like any other popular playthings, Bakugan has its own cartoon show as well. Right now, Bakugan toys are in McDonald’s Happy Meals and it’s the top game for boys ages 6 to 12. So what IS Bakugan, anyway? Well, it’s like a cross between a collectible trading card game such as Yu-Gi-Oh or Pokemon, mixed with the classic playground game of…marbles?!? Yup, marbles! Marbles that turn into…monsters! No wonder why it’s so popular with the kids. And now you can enjoy the fun of Bakugan with the recent release of the video game for all major consoles (Wii and DS versions reviewed here).

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Game Review: Half-Minute Hero (PSP)

HALF_BOXSome of you gamers around my age can probably relate to what I’m about to say. Back when I was in high school, I was totally enamored with 16-bit RPGs like Final Fantasy 4, FF6, and Chrono Trigger. And since I had few responsibilities outside of school, I had lots of free time to enjoy these lengthy, time-consuming adventures. Fast forward to the present. Today’s 3-D RPGs are all overblown, long-winded, and take up WAY too much time. And now that I’ve got a job and other life commitments, I don’t have as much time to play the RPGs I once loved. What’s a gamer to do? I needed a hero. A Half-Minute Hero. It’s a PSP RPG that you play in 30 second increments! Yes, really, it’s true! Intrigued? Read on to find out how it works:

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