Wisconsin State Journal from Madison, Wisconsin • 65

GAMES Sunday, November 30, 2003 G9 Wisconsin State Journal The season's best bets for video-game enthusiasts By Mike Antonucci Knight Ridder Newspapers Video-game fanatics know what to look for at this time of year. They know by experience and instinct how to sort through wave after wave of heavily promoted games. This guide is for everybody else. If you're overwhelmed by the range of choices, or trying to buy for somebody else, this is your cheat sheet. It's not close to comprehensive.

It's a surgical slice of an inventory that becomes overstuffed at the holidays. Most of what's listed is in the range, but watch for sales. The age ratings are in three categories: (mature, 17 and older), (teen, 13 and older) and (everyone, 6 and older). For family play Eye Toy for PlayStation2 (E): Using a small camera that connects to the PS2, the player you is put on the TV screen. The action depends on your body motions, such as waving your hands through the air with the effect of wiping off a grimy screen.

Get it before it's sold out. "Karaoke Revolution" for PS2 (E): Video-game karaoke challenges from Konami. If not the freshest game of the year, a sensational party game. game from LucasArts. "Viewtiful Joe" for GameCube (T): A fighting game from Capcom with an almost hypnotic visual style.

For anyone who wants to savor a great game "Ratchet Clank: Going Commando" for PS2 (T): For the average player, there will be weeks of furious action mixed with amusement. "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" for PS2, Xbox, GameCube and PCs (T): Exotic, addictive sword-and-dagger fantasy from UbiSoft. "Madden NFL 2004" for PS2, PS One, Xbox, GameCube and PCs (E): Months of entertainment for football fans in this Electronic Arts bestseller. "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004" for PS2, Xbox, Game-Cube and PCs (E): Another EA gem that reflects the highest quality in video games. "The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker" for Game-Cube (E): Beautiful and absorbing.

A Nintendo adventure classic. "Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3" for GBA (E): One of the most memorable Nintendo games of all time in a handheld version. Suggestions to put your favorite gamer in control Want to get a savvy gift for a gamer that's not just another game? Consider these possibilities: Game controllers with pizazz. We particularly like the Logitech "Extreme Action" PlayStation2 controller with leather grips (www.logi tech.com) and the Nyko Air Flo controllers www.nyko.com) that minimize sweaty hands because fans in the grips blow fresh air on players' palms.

There's more than one online video-game rental service, so if you're looking for a convenient way for someone to sample games before or instead of buying, that might be a good option. Gamerang (www.gamerang.com) is touting its gift certificate offers for one-, three-, six- and 12-month subscriptions. Memory cards. If you want to look really smart, even though you know nothing about video games, just find out if the intended recipient of your gift has a PS2, Xbox or GameCube. Then buy an always helpful memory card for said machine.

Check out some online sites (www.amazon.com and www.ebgames.com, among others) to familiarize yourself with prices. children. One of Atari's best products. "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" for PS2, Xbox and GameCube (E): The Turtles are a pop-culture institution, but parents who don't approve of this Konami game's "kick-butt" fighting theme should pick something else. "Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure" for PS2, Xbox and GameCube (E): Skateboarding with Disney characters.

For the hard-core gamer "SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs" for PS2 (M): An elite single-player urban warfare game from Sony. But the bigger lure is online team play. "Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hands" for GBA (E): Konami put a solar sensor in the game cartridge to make vampire-hunting more effective in good sunlight. It's a slick innovation, but more patience and strategy is required.

deep, clever and exceptionally challenging action-adventure sequel from Sony. "Tony Hawk's Underground" for PS2, Xbox and GameCube (T): Activision's great skateboarding series adds a story-line component. "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic" for Xbox (T): A richly detailed role-playing "Mario Kart: Double for GameCube (E): The essence of this Nintendo racing game is multi-player fun. "Railroad Tycoon 3" for PCs (E): Elaborate model railroading by computer, published by Gathering. "Ape Escape 2" for PS2 (E): Your job in this UbiSoft game is to chase helmet-wearing monkeys.

Enough said. The GameCube console: It's $99 now and still the gateway to superb Nintendo games for all ages. For children "SpongeBob Square-Pants: Battle for Bikini Bottom" for PS2, Xbox, GameCube and PCs (E). The latest THQ game featuring Nickelodeon's breakout star. "Fairly Odd Parents: Breakin' Da Rules" for PS2, Xbox, GameCube and PCs (E): Right on SpongeBob's heels in TV popularity and now adapted for a console game by THQ.

Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire editions for GBA (E): Pokemon is still alive and kicking, as sales for these Nintendo games proved. "Backyard Basketball" for PS2 and PCs (E): The "backyard kids" characters mixed with depictions of NBA stars as gsT Madison Area Concert Handbells presents Dr. Susan Udell, Saturday, December 13 7:30 p.m. Asbury United Methodist Church 6101 University Avenue Madison, Wisconsin Tickets are available at Borders Tickets: $10 Adults $5 (608) 271-3514 www.madisonhandbells.org Why Are These How to push new California governors buttons f- .0 pop out is the unadvertised inclusion of a playable demo for another game, "T3: Redemption," that Atari has scheduled for next year. The controls seem clumsily designed, and you'll be particularly conscious of that when you have to deal with ammunition shortages in the first-person mode (some of the game is in third-person perspective, too).

The graphics are a bit muddy, too. Tip: Sharply increase the brightness of your TV picture. Still, the game is smartly priced at $30. Either that wasn't decided until late or there has been some miscom-munication, because I found some Web retailers listing it at $50, while Amazon.com had it right and even a bit further Let's be clear: It's an average game in most respects. But Schwarzenegger's direct involvement adds a special oomph.

It gets repetitive, of course, but there's a kick to hearing that signature voice saying "lock and load" as you're mowing down enemy terminators and flying killer-bo ts. I sampled the Xbox version extensively last week. I'm not close to completing it, but I made lots of progress and "unlocked" some of the bonus material, which includes film clips and stills of the concept art that was used in the development of the game and movie. None of that made much of an impression, perhaps in part because of some overlap with the extras on the two-disc DVD edition of the movie. What did Fireside Gift Certificates for everyone on their list -parents, grandparents, husbands, wives, children, teachers, pastors, and aunts.

Even bosses and their hardworking assistants. Available in any amount, they treat your special guests to season tickets, individual shows with fabulous dining, or treasures from our beautiful gift sllOppeS, dtli iic truinv in1 t1tt vrait Celebrate Madison's Favorite Holiday Tradition! Music Director Sunday, December 14 3:00 p.m. First Congregational United Church of Christ 1609 University Avenue Madison, Wisconsin Book Shops or at the door Youth ages 16 and under Santas Dancing For Joy? Because their Christmas shopping is done! These Santas ordered shopping done, too! Order at 1-800-477-9505 or www.firesidetheatre.com Bus. Hwy 26 PO Box 7 Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 Grandest Holiday the Whole DIRECT FROM NEW YORK! A November 28-December 23, 2003 Isthmus Playhouse in the Madison Civic Center VIDEO-GAME REVIEW Jedi Academy doesnt live up to predecessor By Erik Stetson Associated Press Recent "Star Wars" movie sequels haven't lived up to the expectations of many fans. But what about a sequel to the acclaimed Star Wars video game? "Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy" for the PC is a follow up to last year's "Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast," which earned legions of fans with its compelling story and ferocious hand-to-hand combat in a three-dimensional world.

Academy, however, fails to make the grade. While Outcast wove a tapestry of love, loss and revenge into a gripping story, Academy is broken into a collection of independent missions which players can choose in any order. There is a plot stopping a cult from resurrecting an ancient, evil Jedi but it's diluted by the pick-and-choose mission format. There's roughly the same set of Jedi powers, including Obi Wan's mind trick and Darth Vader's choking grip. But the biggest difference with Academy is that players have more control over how you develop your skills in the Force.

Outcast tied the growth of Force powers to your progress in the gameAcademy does the same, with basic abilities like enhanced jumping, but also lets players add to a light- or dark-side power of their choice after finishing each selectable mission. There are other minor tweaks with Academy. Gamers can customized the look of their characters and light sabers, but the games' three-dimensional graphics are about the same. It's not all bad news, young padawan. Academy's light saber options have been expanded to include a double-bladed light saber staff like Darth Maul's.

Players also can fight with a saber in each hand instead of just one. And Jedi moves which often involve lots of clinging to and running up walls are easier to perform with a mouse and keyboard in Academy. Jedi jumping is impressive, but flawed. It's all too easy to leap entirely out of a battle, triggering several seconds of "floating" before the action resumes. As with Outcast, Academy offers several multiplayer modes, including one-on-one duels and team-oriented sieges.

The series definitely has reached a crossroads, and it's going to need more focus if LucasArts wants the series to be successful in the future. Returning to its plot-driven roots is one option. Dumping the plot entirely in favor of a purely combat-oriented game is another. For I To By Mike Antonucci Knight Ridder Newspapers It's fun to be a gun-toting, video-game cyborg governor. All those Arnold Schwarzenegger movies on DVD are also extra fun, now that his election has given them wonderful new subtext.

It's like, hey, he whupped that outer-space monster and soon he'll fix the state budget. Wow. But even better, at least for gamers, is the opportunity to play as Schwarzenegger or more precisely, as his Terminator character from the most recent flick in that series. In Atari's "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" just released for PlayStation2, Xbox and GameCube it's the Governa-tor's voice and virtual likeness that distinguish the action. Traditions Family!" Magazine Disc Man 908 6092 vj I MlLWAUKfl TlllAtKt Best Seats, Call Now! (608) 258-4141 J14 S24 Youth, Seniors, Students S19-J29 Adults Audiences 5 and up.

save on 3 or more shows, call (608) 255-2080. MADISON FAMILY THEATRE COMPANY 2003 2004 Theatrical Season www.madisonfamilytheatre.org holiday One of the in the U.S.. rraiue Jim Brickman yv FRIENDS A JOYFUL EVENING OF MUSIC. MEMORIES. LAUGHTER cV SONG! JEFF T1MM0NS KRISTY (01 98 DEGREES) STARLING ANNE TRACY AT jMnVllkMAN I COCHRAN SILVERMAN New holiday CD available now! norm Matron Cwc Cnr Tew OMict, 211 SMIl SlrMI 608-258-4141 ttcketrmster 60t.2S5.4S4S Itcktlmifrixim Ion ttwn, tutt HttlY-WHiityt 608-l'M-4l67 Rroip OtKOWM rmnnv DEC 26, imW8 Madison Civic Center OTD0 Orrf tot Charge-by-Phone at 414-276-4545 or Online at www.ticketmaster.com Tickets available at the The Milwaukee Theatre Box Office and all tichtmmmtr Ticket Centers including Boston Stores, and select Piggly Wiggly stores.

Groups of 15 or more: 414 www.radioclty.CMl.