Sat, Aug 30, 2008

Caliente

NASCAR, tennis headline new game releases

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 07.17.2008
NASCAR 09 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, $50-$60)
There's nothing at all wrong with "NASCAR 09" other than the fact that it's a game about NASCAR. If you adore the sport, eat up every race on TV and head up to Phoenix twice a year, it's an absolute must-play.
For anyone else, the game is just cars going around in circles ad nauseam with occasional pit stops. This sure ain't "Mario Kart Wii."
When you're not on the track, you work to sign sponsors and customize your car, with Jeff Gordon's narration coaxing you through the easy-to-use menus.
Still, the game looks and plays pretty much the same as last year's version. It seems this year's new features could have easily been added to the old game via a downloadable patch.
Spore Creature Creator (PC, Macintosh, $10) — You can get a taste of what it's like to be an animator or video-game designer with this computer game, a prelude to the long-awaited evolution-synthesizing "Spore," due out in September.
Choosing from among 228 appendages, torsos, eyes and other body parts, you can create the creature of your dreams or nightmares and see it in action by having it perform in videos you can share online. Those who enjoy making Mii characters on the Wii should be into this.
Top Spin 3 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, DS, $30-$60) — Displacing "Virtua Tennis 3" as the most realistic-looking tennis sim on the market, "Top Spin 3" can easily be mistaken for a TV broadcast.
Hefty player-creator, career modes and online action add to the depth, but newcomers beware — the control scheme utilizes just about every button on the controller and takes at least a couple hours to comprehend. Once you have the controls nailed down, you truly feel like you have the skill of a tennis pro, with the ability to place the ball on any part of the court, using your creativity to try for some daring winners or surprise drop shots.
It's disappointing that top players such as Ana Ivanovic and Rafael Nadal weren't included, and also that the Wii and DS versions don't go online.
— Phil Villarreal