By Jae-Ha Kim and Misha Davenport
Chicago Sun-Times
October 3, 2003
TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 2004 (EA Sports; E for Everyone, PlayStation 2)
Let it be said that I hate real golf. The putting, the driving, the ugly polyester clothes — they all seem so pointless. But when it comes to video games, there are few that can beat Tiger’s for sheer playmanship. This version ups last year’s game with a fun feature allowing players to create their own ubergolfer to play with the pros. My guy may have looked like a dork with his buck teeth, squatty legs and glasses, but he kicked Woods’ butt around the course for a good half hour. Playing on the PGA tour is fun, but give some of the other options a shot as well. “Battle Golf” is particularly fun, with the winner snaring the opponent’s prized club. –Jae-Ha Kim
VOODOO VINCE (Microsoft; T for Teen, Xbox)
Xbox has finally found its platform mojo. “Voodoo Vince” is a 3-D platform game featuring a wisecracking voodoo doll with a penchant for abuse. Fortunately, his pain is your gain. When a 2-ton safe falls on him, its the surrounding enemies that are flattened. The plot unravels when Vinces maker, the voodoo high priestess Madam Charmaine, is kidnapped by henchman for the evil Kosmo who is after Charmaines zombie powder. Its up to you as Voodoo Vince to save her. The game also features over 30 different levels that take you everywhere from the bayou to the backalleys of the French Quarter. The characters and highly detailed environments remind one immediately of Tim Burtons masterpiece “A Nightmare Before Christmas.” “Voodoo Vince” is a stitch and the most fun youll have this side of Fat Tuesday. –Misha Davenport
SIMPSONS: HIT AND RUN (Vivendi Universal; T for Teen, GameCube)
“Hit and Run” is the best video game based on the “Simpsons” franchise. For those of us who have had to suffer through dreck like “Simpsons: Skateboarding” — that isn’t saying much. “Hit and Run” is a mission-based driving game and a decent knockoff of “Grand Theft Auto” –though less violent and much funnier. Main gameplay puts you literally in the shoes of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa — and for some strange reason — the Kwik-E-Mart’s Apu. Through the course of the game, you’ll also be able to drive vehicles as supporting characters like Cletus the Slack-jawed Yokel and Comic Book Guy. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments that almost make you forget the many graphic glitches in the game. –Misha Davenport
CHICAGO’S TOP 10
The hottest games sold in Chicago on amazon.com last week:
1. Madden NFL 2004 PS2
2. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance Game Boy
3. Pokemon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire Game Boy
4. The Simpsons: Hit and Run Xbox
5. Mario Kart: Double Dash! GC
6. Jak II PS2
7. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 PS2
8. DDR Max 2: Dance Dance Revolution PS2
9. Mario Party 5 GameCube
10. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 Xbox
Biz bytes
Game Boy Advance players won’t need cables to link handhelds together anymore, thanks to Nintendo’s plan to include a free device (similar to Bluetooth technology) with its upcoming “Pokemon” title, due out in 2004.
