Family Video Game Guide Part 1

I said that it'd be coming, and now it's here! There are so many quality video games out there this year, so many in fact, that a bunch of people are claiming 2008 has been the best year in the gaming industry ever. While this is great for the guys and gals who are invested in video games as a major hobby, those buying for their kids, friends or family can be a little intimidated. Below I have my own personal list of games that would be great for kids and families of all ages. I'm going to focus only on the E and E10+ rated games in this installment and in the next few days I will include the T (Teen) and and few M (Mature) rated games as well. I was going to put it all in one post, but that's a little more than one Joey T can handle!

Within each rating update, I will do my best to include one game for each system as well as a game that can be played on every major system available so that no one is left out in the cold regardless of what systems your family owns.

E for Everyone

The following games are rated "E for Everyone" or "E10+" which is for ages 10 and up. According to the ESRB or Entertainment Software Ratings Board, these games, "rated E (Everyone) have content that may be suitable for ages 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language." While "titles rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes."

Lego Batman

Available for: Wii, Xbox360, Playstation 3, Playstation 2, DS, PSP and PC

Price: $29.99 to $49.99

# of Players: 1-2

This is a very fun adventure game centered around a completely original story-line in the Batman universe. Players control Batman, Robin, Batgirl, The Joker, Two-Face and more from the full cast of heros and villains in two seperate campaigns that take you across over thirty levels. Across the levels, players jump, swing, build, drive and fly through Gotham City. The best part about this game is its accessability. All of the Lego games provide unlimited lives. So even the most novice of players will be able to go through the entire game without any frustration. Not to mention, each cutscene ranges from mildly funny to hilarious. I had a lot of fun with every Lego based game, but Batman is the best of the bunch.

See Also: Lego Star Wars and Lego Indiana Jones

Boom Blox
Available for: Wii

Price: $39.99

# of Players: 1-4

This is a neat game that mixes Jenga with baseball. Essentially each puzzle will present the player with a series of blocks that they need to knock down using a variety of different balls. Using the Wii Remote, you just swing as if you are throwing the ball and try to knock down the specified blocks. Its simplicity is its grace as it is very easy to pick up and play, but hard to master. This game can definitely provide hours of original gaming that the whole family can enjoy.

littlebigplanet

Available for: Playstation 3

Price: $59.99

# of Players: 1-4

Talk about originality. littlebigplanet is, at its core, a platforming game that is not too unlike a classic Mario or Sonic game where jumping, collecting and pressing switches reigns supreme. However, where littlebigplanet shines is with its user generated content. Everyone who purchases the game not only gets all of the levels that the developer Media Molecule put in the game, but also the ability to create a level that they want to build. The levels are built in an extremely intuitive editor that just about anyone could operate with a little help from the games built in tutorial videos and stages. It's one of my favorite games of the year and with the user generated levels, there is no end in sight.

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts
Available for: Xbox 360

Price: $39.99

# of Players: 1-4

If you had a Nintendo 64 in your household back in the late 90's, you might remember a couple of titles called "Banjo-Kazooie" and "Banjo-Tooie" where players controlled a bear who had a bird in his backpack as they tried to take down an evil witch. Well, Banjo and Kazooie are back in this third installment of the series. This game is a 3D platformer that has players collecting many different objects including Jiggies, notes, parts and more. In this installment, players are also able to build any sort of vehicle that comes to mind. Want to build a car that jumps as high as a mountain? You can in this game and then you can take it online and race against your friends. It's a neat twist on a great series that anyone would enjoy.

That's it for today, but (hopefully tomorrow) I'll have the next update with all of the T (Teen) rated games for the older kids!