GameDaze: 'The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword' and 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 -- Defiance'
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Reviews are out of four stars.
Each time I alert my wife that I'm reviewing a "Zelda" game, her first question usually isn't "Is it any good?"
No, she asks: "Did they bring back the short, tubby guy from the first game who jabs his sword all the time?"
It's been a quarter-century since Link was introduced to gamers in the original "The Legend of Zelda," so her question isn't easily dismissed. That landmark title birthed a franchise that has been one of Nintendo's most famed.
"Skyward Sword" (Wii; Nintendo; E, for Everyone) isn't the bellwether game of the series, but probably the last major tent-pole release for the Wii before Nintendo rolls out its Wii U console sometime this year.
Trouble is afoot once again in the land of Hyrule, this time brought on by a somewhat goofy villain named Demise. Link now flies around from one island or dungeon to another, receiving quests from villagers and exploring deep caverns to earn glory and riches. Travel itself is time-consuming and bland, but the action picks up once you touch down on terra firma.
Since "Zelda" made its way to the Wii, the combat has evolved into a combination of slinging arrows and slashing foes with a sword. In some games this has felt intuitive, other times not so much. This edition tries desperately to be perfect, but can't attain it. Too often your sword swipes are unresponsive, or glitches show up at the most inopportune moments possible (Demise's henchmen boss fights), and leave you more relieved than excited when you emerge victorious.
Puzzles have winks and nods to games of the past, and controller issues aside, the boss fights are each unique, and require you to be nimble in finding the weak spot and exploiting it.
Perhaps my hopes were too high for the last "Zelda" game for the Wii, and that clouded my appreciation. But series fans should know there is plenty to enjoy, and "Skyward Sword" is definitely worth owning.
Hand-held gamers who have missed out on the high-intensity firefights that are a regular console experience can rejoice -- a first-person shooter has arrived, and it's carrying the "Modern Warfare 3" banner to boot (DS; Activision; T, for Teen).
You play as National Guard and Special Forces units fending off the invading Russian army in parallel story lines to what is taking place on the console versions. It isn't the most visually appealing game to watch unfold, but "Defiance" does an admirable job of bringing the tension and fluidity of gunplay to the DS's system.
The locations vary, from snowy encampments to the Hoover Dam and a climactic battle in Baltimore, but everything is so pixelated that you won't stop to take in the scenery. Two control options for shooting are available, but it's best to avoid the stylus and use the D-pad and face buttons. Otherwise, you'll be felled in a hail of Russian gunfire.
The campaign is enjoyable enough for on-the-go gamers, but the true gem of this release is the online multiplayer. Multiple maps and modes are available, and unlockable weapons and a smooth progression system make it the best feature in the game, bar none. "Defiance" doesn't present a pretty view of America, but when you're beating back the Russian army, your focus is about victory, not vistas.
-- Chris Campbell, Scripps Howard News Service
First Published January 26, 2012 12:00 am
