Today I'm going to focus on games that are rated T for Teen. According to the ESRB, or Entertainment Software Ratings Board, T for Teen games "have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language."
It's important to not just go off of the ratings on the box though, make sure you investigate a little further into what each of the games contain by visiting their respective ESRB page. I'll have links for those included with each game summary.
All of the prices for each game are the MSRP, but there are plenty of deals out there right now. Also, clicking each link will take you to the product page at Amazon.com which, as of this writing, has $10 to $20 off most titles. You can also save a few bucks by going to your local used-game shop.
Available For: Playstation 3
MSRP: $59.99
# of Players: 1
ESRB Info
I was going to put Uncharted 2 in this spot, but I figured that many Playstation 3 owners already picked that one up so I'll put it down in the notables at the bottom of this post. inFamous, however, is quite the achievement for its developer, Sucker Punch, that previously worked on the Sly Cooper series for the Playstation 2. Rather than just cashing in on that franchise, they took a risk on a new IP (intellectual property) and started from scratch. Boy did it pay off! The game centers around a city akin to New York after an explosion causes havok to ensue. At the center of that explosion was one man, our protagonist Cole. You can take Cole through two different moral paths; deciding to be good or evil is a main aspect of the gameplay and it really deserves two-play throughs to experience everything. Add in tight controls, great storytelling and epic battles and inFamous surely shouldn't be passed up.
Available For: Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and PC
MSRP: $49.99 to $59.99
# of Players: 1
ESRB Info
To say that Batman games have been lacking ever since the NES would be an understatement. For whatever reason, bringing the Dark Knight into the virtual realm seemed to elude most developers. Enter Rocksteady. This team did what many fanboys thought was impossible by making a game that recreated the atmosphere of Gothem City and the Batman universe and made it fun to play. The stealth aspects in the game are very well done, but the game really shines with the action and the gadgets. Batman would be helpless without his utility belt and players certainly will get to use and upgrade Batarangs, explosive gel, grappling hooks and more. The best part about the game is players don't have to be a fan of Batman in order to enjoy the game. That's the true test of a licensed game and Arkham Asylum stands on its own two feet even if DC Comic's most popular hero wasn't in the center.
Available For: Wii
MSRP: $49.99
# of Players: 1
ESRB Info
There's not a whole lot of depth in this Japanese hack-n-slash adventure, but the crisp visuals and tight controls more than make up for it. And the boss fights. Oh the boss fights! This 2D side scroller, gives players a chance to let out their aggression by ripping through area after area of enemies. The main draw for the game is building and collecting swords and beyond that, there isn't much to the game. With that said, I still had a blast with Muramasa when I played through it. There's about 10 to 12 hours in there of good ol' slashing fun. If your gamer is into Japanese anime or enjoys a sprinkling of role playing elements in their action games, then you can't miss with this one.
Available For: Playstation 3 and Xbox 360
MSRP: $29.99
# of Players: 1-2
ESRB Info
I'm not a huge fan of fighting games, but every once and awhile there will be one that I get into and I can't put down. The last time that happened was Soul Calibur 2 and now it's all about Street Fighter IV. Most of the characters fans know and love are back but the art style is what really pops this time around. The colors are vibrant and the hand-painted look makes the characters really jump off the screen. Keep in mind that there is another version on its way out next spring with more characters and modes, but for a great game at a bargain price, this should be a home run.
Notable mentions:
The Beatles: Rock Band for Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii
Guitar Hero 5 for Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 for Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS and PSP
Tomorrow I'll take a look at some of the Mature rated games on the market, since there are probably adult gamers on your list as well.
Here's today's Web Waster:
RulesForMyUnbornSon - Here's a cute site that gives little bits of advice for the youth of our world to keep in mind as they grow and mature. It's sort of like a coffee table book for the web.
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