Random Flavor: Lego Star Wars

If you've been keeping up with "Flavor's Random Pick" (which I'm toying with renaming "Random Flavor" as in this post's title) you may have noticed that I tend toward two things: hand-held games and games I can play with my kids. In a weird way, this pick breaks both molds while actually adhering to both.

Lego Star Wars came out back in 2005. It allowed you to play through episodes 1, 2, and 3 which was actually very cool because episode 3 hadn't even come out in theaters yet. I remember watching Ep3 on the big screen and recognizing certain scenes from playing the game.

When I first got the game, I didn't intend to play it with my kids. I thought it would be something okay to play while the kids were around, but it wasn't thought of as something they would play. I do remember letting my oldest (and the only one that was alive at the time) play it a bit, but she just pushed buttons and such. It was a great game then, and now that the kids are a little older, it's a great game for them to play. The animated violence consists of characters breaking into lego bricks, so it's not real graphic. You can easily play cooperatively with a 5-year-old, and a 3-year-old could still tag along if you help them a lot.

Oh, and as I mentioned, this game was not a hand-held game. I played it on my XBox (not 360) back when it came out. Now, though, it is available for almost every game system. If you want it on the go, you can get it for the DS or PSP. If you want it on a home console, pick your favorite and I'm sure you'll find it.

It's also worth noting that, even if you're not into Star Wars, you may find a Lego videogame that you are into. The franchise has branched out to other movie franchises, so you can now find Lego Batman, Lego Harry Potter, Lego Indiana Jones, etc.

If you're looking for a fun game, and you haven't tried any of the Lego games, check one out. If you're looking for something to play with your kids and they're into any of the movie franchises that have a Lego game, go for it. You can't really go wrong with any of them, and if you're reading this blog you already have one of the systems to play it on.

Hatsworth DS = Metal Slug + Pokemon Puzzle League ( = Flavor's Random Pick)

"Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure" is a great game. It seems like the sort of title that most people would simply pass over or never hear of. Hopefully, I can do my bit to change that.

Imagine, if you can, the best possible outcome if you took a game like Metal Slug or Alien Hominid and mixed it with a game like Pokemon Puzzle League, Bejeweled, or Zoo Keeper. My guess is that your imagination falls short of what developer Tiburon has created.

The game has a silly wittiness about it. On the top screen, you play Henry Hatsworth, and run through levels searching out treasure and vanquishing enemies to the puzzle world. On the bottom screen, you must use your puzzle skills to completely vanquish those enemies from existence. All this is set to music that seems appropriate for an episode of Cowboy Bebop. At this point, you should be thinking, "How can this all possibly fit together?" Your brain ought to tell you that this equation does not compute, but, just this once, it might be wrong. The correct answer is that it fits together incredibly and surprisingly well.

I usually don't do "reviews" of games, because I figure that anyone can Google the game and see that IGN gave it a 9.0 and GameSpot gave it an 8.5. My intent here is to simply spread the word about a game that you might not otherwise consider even reading about. Here's EA's official trailer for the game. Though, be warned. If you value your real life, you might not want to get this game, as it will eat up loads of it.

Peggle DS (Flavor's Random Pick)

PopCap Games' Peggle has finally made its way to a proper hand-held gaming platform. Q Entertainment is to thank for developing the Nintendo DS version of Peggle, and if their name doesn't ring a bell for you, think of Meteos, Lumines, and Rez HD. So here we have one of the most addictive games around brought to the DS by the developer of some of the best hand-held puzzle games around.

To me, this is the type of game that really should be on the DS and/or PSP. PopCap Games has made a good living out of bringing casual games like this to a wide audience on the PC, but, to me, this is the sort of thing that just feels at home on the go. I think that's the first time I've purposely worked an oxymoron into one of my posts.

I've played Peggle on the PC, and it is a very well made, fun, and addictive title. I was a bit skeptical, though, how well it would translate to the small, mouseless, dual-screened handheld of mine, so I took it for a bit of a test drive this past weekend. I have to say that I was not disappointed in the least. In fact, I don't think I'll be playing Peggle on the PC, anymore. If you've read any of my posts, you can probably tell that I've got a thing for the DS, PSP, or any other handheld games. If a game is just as fun on both platforms, I'd rather put it in my pocket (or backpack as it may be).

To me, Peggle DS has all the fun of the original. There really is only one screen of gameplay, because the other is mostly just used for status information like how many balls you have left. Of course, that means that you can't get the same level of graphics as you would on the PC version. The lack of a mouse is a minor drawback. On the PC it's very natural to use the mouse. On the DS, you can use the stylus to control the game (and even zoom in to make tight shots). Personally, I didn't feel like I needed the stylus control. I used it for a while, and then I got good at using the d-pad and shoulder buttons.

If you don't know what Peggle is, then, first of all, I'm surprised you read this far into my article. Second, you need to check this game out. As you might have guessed, I'd recommend the Nintendo DS version. If you're not yet convinced, check out a review at IGN. If demos are you thing, you can find a free trial of the PC version at PopCap Games' website.

If you already know what Peggle is, then you should already know if you like it. If you do, then I think you'll like the DS version. If you don't, I don't expect that you would find anything new to excite you about the DS version. It's as easy as that. Go pick it up. You know you didn't need all those extra hours of your life, anyway.

Nintendo DS Games For Toddlers (Flavor's Random Pick)

If you're a parent, like I am, that's into handheld gaming, you might want to check out UFO Interactive's line of Smart Games for kids. This line includes titles such as "Smart Kid's: Gameclub," "Smart Girl's: Playhouse," and "Smart Boy's: Gameroom." Having 3 daughters, I am most familiar with the "Smart Girl's" line of games, but really it's mostly just the art style that's specific to girls. Boys (especially those in the 2 to 6 year old range) would get just as much out of any of the games as would girls, but I can completely understand why you might not prefer to have your son seen playing "Smart Girl's: Magical Book Club."

I know that Nintendo is trying to target the younger kids with a lot of their DS titles, but, from what I've seen, most of the good games start at about age 6. If you have a kid younger than that, there really isn't a whole lot that they can do that will keep their attention and challenge them. I have found the "Smart Girl's" games to be great for my daughters. My 2-year-old is really starting to learn stylus skills (which seem to translate fairly well to mouse skills on the PC). Of course, she can't read, but she has, fairly quickly, learned how to navigate the entire game. There are puzzles, matching games, drawing pages, musical games, etc. that keep her occupied whenever we are out somewhere that she can't run around. My 5-year-old is just starting to outgrow the game a bit, but she still likes to play it, especially if she can show her little sister how to do things. She still plays it, but she has started getting into games with deeper story lines, now that she's learning to read. Still, any of the Smart games will keep the girls occupied and learning whether it be just for a couple minutes or a couple hours. If you have kids in the 2-6 year-old range, I highly recommend that you look into these titles.

Flavor's Random Pick: WordJong Nintendo DS

Gameblend Studios' hit, WordJong, has made its way to the Nintendo DS, and it's well worth playing! WordJong is like a cross between Scrabble and Mahjong. It plays like a solitaire version of Scrabble if you were to replace the challenge of landing on triple word scores (and the like) with that of drilling down through Mahjong tiles.

The result (Word Jong for the Nintendo DS) is a very enjoyable portable word game. If you like Scrabble, I don't see how you'd dislike this game. The "Daily Puzzle" keeps you coming back each day, and the "Temple Challenge" keeps you striving to improve your rank. These single-player modes are the meat of the game.

The multi-player (local Wi-Fi or hotseat) mode doesn't have an extensive set of options for different games, but you will see that even slight adjustments to the limited options do make for enough of a new experience. My only complaint about the multi-player is that it seems to always let the host player (the one that sets up the game) to go first. This can be a huge advantage depending on the options used.

There is an online Wi-Fi mode that I have yet to try. I have to assume that it's just like the local Wi-Fi mode, though.

I should also mention that there is a version of WordJong for the Nintendo Wii that was released last month, so if that's where you prefer to do your gaming, check it out. Both the Wii and DS versions have been getting good reviews, so I don't think you can go wrong either way. As you may have noticed, though, I'm partial to the handheld systems.

Flavor's Random Pick: Guitar Hero: On Tour (w/ peripheral)

I was going to post about Guitar Hero on the DS at some later date, but I noticed that it's currently on sale. I figured you'd rather hear about it now while it's cheap than later when the limited time offer might be off. Guitar Hero translates from the home consoles to the Nintendo DS handheld surprisingly well. If you're used to playing Guitar Hero on any system, this will be an easy transition for you. Plus, it's MUCH more portable than lugging around an XBox 360 and a guitar controller.

Of course, when something like this is ported to a handheld, some things get cut (like one of the controller buttons for example), but I don't think you'll be disappointed with the result. The game is still the same, fun, Guitar Hero that you've grown to love, and now you can play it on the go.

The Guitar Hero controller attachment plugs into Slot 2 (the GameBoy Advance cart) slot of your DS. Sorry, if you own a DSi, you don't have a slot for the Guitar Hero controller to plug into. Then, you put your hand into the strap on the controller which lets you hold the DS in one hand. That leaves your other hand free to strum the guitar using the included guitar pick stylus on touch screen.

For a limited time, Play-Asia has the Asian version of Guitar Hero: On Tour with the controller attachment on sale for only US$39.90. That's a steal! If you want even more songs, I'd suggest picking up Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades (without the controller attachment). The one controller will work for both games.

I think you'll be hard-pressed to find a negative review of either game. I mean, if you don't like Guitar Hero, that's one thing, but if you do, and you want a portable version, this is it! Here's an ad for it just so you can see what it looks like.

Flavor's Random Pick: My Chinese Coach

If you want to learn Japanese, French, Spanish, or Chinese and you're a gamer, chances are you'd like learning the "My Coach" way.

These edutainment titles by UBI Soft are great for someone that wants to learn a new language, especially if they have time to sit like on the bus, subway, train, couch, library, etc. If you have a trip planned to a foreign country, and you want an excellent learning and translation tool to bring with you on the trip, this is it!

So, let's just pretend that you're going on a trip to China. We all know that you're going to bring your DS with you. I mean, that's what it's for, right? You've got plenty of time in the plane, so start going through the "My Chinese Coach" lessons.

The in-game teacher will educate you about the words and phrases for the lesson. You can hear her speak each of them. If you want to, you can enter a mode where you speak into the microphone and try to match her pronunciation. Though, that's probably going to annoy the people around you on the plane.

Then, you have to "master" each of the words and phrases from the current lesson. To do this, you play mini-games that help you memorize them. Early games include a Whack-A-Mole style game and a multiple-choice quiz. When you progress to new lessons, you unlock new mini-games.

Once you arrive in China, you can start using your new phrases. Oh, you don't remember them all? Do you need to use a word or phrase that you didn't learn yet? That's no problem. There's a dictionary built in to the game. You can use it like a portable phrase book or English to Chinese dictionary. Though, it's way better than that, because you can hear the pronunciation of each word. With a tonal language like Chinese, that can be very important. In the worst case, you could just show the DS to someone and ask them to listen to the phrase so they know what you're trying to say.

I am using My Chinese Coach to try to learn some Chinese. I am also listening to a Chinese language instructional audio book when I drive my car. It's just too hard to play DS while driving. The audio book requires you to speak along with the lessons, which isn't ideal for learning on mass transit. It's also not much of a game, and I assume that readers of this blog are mainly gamers. To me, the language "tapes" are the traditional way to learn, but the DS games are the new cool way to learn and also get a portable translator.

If you have a DS (or a PSP in some cases), try one of UBI Soft's My _____ Coach titles. I have also tried "My Spanish Coach" for the DS. It is the same game, but of course it is teaching Spanish instead of the aforementioned Chinese. If you're trying to learn a language, I feel like you can't go wrong with one of these titles. Even if you're taking a class in school, I think it would be a great tool to aide your progress!

My Japanese Coach
My French Coach
My Spanish Coach
My Chinese Coach

Flavor's Random Pick: Pipe Mania

Pipe Mania, aka Pipe Dream, has been around for quite some time. I think that I still own a GameBoy cartridge of it somewhere in my basement, though versions of the game even predate that. On top of those, there are countless clones and spin-offs with similar gameplay. I have even played one called "Home Before Dark" on my daughter's Webkinz account in which your goal is to line up paths for pets to get to their houses before the sun sets.

The current incarnations of Pipe Mania have been released recently on the PSP, Nintendo DS, PS2, Wii, etc.


Pipe Mania is a simple game to learn. The different incarnations throughout the years and on different platforms may present the playfield differently and the input mechanism may vary, but the game is always the same. You are in charge of placing pieces of pipe in such a way so that the liquid can safely reach its destination. These pipe pieces are arranged in a queue so that you can see the upcoming pieces which allows you to make better decisions about where to place the current piece. That's really about all you need to know to play the game, and it ends up looking something like this (screenshot from the PSP version).



The new (PSP, DS, PS2, Wii, etc.) versions of the game introduce some new elements: attacks that come while building your pipeline, hidden treasures, and unlockables, but at the heart of the matter, it's still the same game that you've either come to love or you should try and see if you love. You're not going to find deep storyline, strategy, or role playing elements here. My recommendation is to pick this game up on a handheld console (which will probably be a recurring theme for my posts since that's where my interests really lie). You can pick up Pipe Mania and play a level in for a few minutes, run through many levels, or really try to maximize your points in any given level by making long and interesting pipelines. It's a great game that way, so you can easily play it whether you have 5 minutes or several hours.

I have tried both the Nintendo DS and the PSP versions, and I have to say that I prefer the game on the PSP. I found that after a while, I didn't even use the stylus on the DS, and PSP's larger screen seemed to fit the playfield better. Of course, you get an extra screen on the DS, but it didn't seem to add anything to this particular game. All I'm saying is that if you own both, pick up the PSP version. If you only own a DS, don't hesitate to grab it for that platform, though. It's good either way, and I have to assume it's just as fun on the PS2, Wii, or PC.

As always, Play-Asia has all of the Pipe Mania versions you could possibly care for here.

Flavor's Random Pick: Delta Warp

Delta Warp is one of those titles that you probably missed when it was released. It had several strikes against it. First of all, it was on the often overlooked Neo Geo Pocket platform. On top of that, it was made by a relatively unknown company called IOSYS, and it was a puzzle game without any block building, bubble shooting, piece dropping, etc. Well, it's actually a fun puzzle game that works rather well. A buddy of mine that goes by the name TideGear has an excellent short description/review of Delta Warp which can be found over at Retro Thing. Here's an excerpt.

"The gameplay and rules are fairly complex, for an action puzzle game, yet the game is intuitive enough to ease the learning curve quite a bit. The action is based around controlling a delta (aka triangle) as you flip it along its three edges moving it through adjacent triangle-shaped spaces in each stage."

These carts aren't easy to come by, but currently Play-Asia has some pre-owned copies in stock here.