“Rogue Galaxy”

By Steven Sifert

Daily Staff Writer

Game: “Rouge Galaxy”

Platform: PlayStation 2

FYI Rating: 8/10

“Rogue Galaxy” is the latest role-playing game from Level-5, developer of such classics as “Dragon Quest VIII” and “Dark Cloud” for PlayStation 2.

The game features a story we’ve seen before in “Star Wars,” and most recently in Square Enix’s excellent PS2 RPG “Final Fantasy XII” – a young, restless desert boy joins up with a group of characters with various demeanors to travel across various lands and defeat the forces of evil. Although the plot is formulaic, it’s a formula that remains quite attractive and made more interesting by the eccentricity of many of the game’s characters.

Random battles occur as you wander, in which you use your party of three characters to attack enemies in real time. However, a gauge limits you from attacking nonstop. When the gauge reaches empty, it refills in seconds, allowing you to resume an onslaught of attacks. It’s a strategic system that is not only fun but fast-paced compared to most standard console RPGs. Defeating enemies will net the characters experience, while also improving the potency of their weapons. Eventually, you gain the ability to fuse weapons together, increasing their power even further.

The game’s graphics are cel-shaded, which means characters and environments look flattened and cartoon-like although rendered in a 3-D world. Some character designs are a touch on the bizarre side, but the game’s overall aesthetics are quite pleasing. The sound in “Rogue Galaxy” is one of its finest points. Music is appropriate for the given situations, and many songs have very memorable themes. Good-quality voice acting brings the characters to life, although you might find it distracting at first that the main character, Jaster Rogue, is voiced by Will Friedle – best known for his role as Eric Matthews in the ’90s television series “Boy Meets World.”

The game’s main quest is lengthy and will likely take dozens of hours to complete. There are myriad side quests to carry out during the course of the game, such as collecting and battling insects and fighting your way through optional dungeons, which will extend your play time even further.

When it comes down to it, “Rogue Galaxy” might seem like a rehash of many elements to the veteran console RPG gamer, but they are presented well enough here that the game as a whole shines and is worth checking out.

“Wii Play”

By Steven Sifert

Daily Staff Writer

Game: “Wii Play”

Platform: Nintendo Wii

FYI Rating: 7/10

Nintendo’s “Wii Play” feels like a spiritual successor to “Wii Sports,” the five-game sports collection packaged with every Nintendo Wii. However, this time you are presented with nine different games bundled instead with a Wiimote, the console’s handheld controller.

Most of the games on “Wii Play” incorporate the Mii (a self-created Wii avatar) you are playing with, as well as any others that might be lurking around on your system. You’ll be able to play each of the nine games on “Wii Play” by yourself or with a friend.

“Shooting Range” will have you rapidly shooting targets, as well as incarnations of those pesky ducks from the NES classic “Duck Hunt,” with your Wiimote. On the final level, you’ll also have to save your Mii from being abducted by UFOs which you must quickly shoot down. “Laser Hockey” is an excellent psychedelic interpretation of “Pong.” “Table Tennis” is what the name implies, but is simplified by the fact that you need only to position your paddle in the appropriate spot to hit the ball back to your opponent. “Find Mii” has you hunting down various Miis in a “Where’s Waldo”-type game. “Billiards” is essentially a game of 9 ball where you play until all balls are pocketed in the least number of shots possible. “Pose Mii” is a unique game where bubbles drop down and must be popped before reaching the bottom of the screen. The only way to pop these bubbles is by posing your Mii in one of three positions as silhouetted on the bubble. “Fishing” is probably the tamest game of the bunch, where you attempt to catch fish worth a varying degree of points in a set amount of time. There is no baiting hooks or reeling your catch in here – just simple movements with the Wiimote, simulating moving the rod around in the pond and then yanking fish out with a single motion. “Tanks!” is reminiscent of a couple of Atari’s classics in which tiny tanks do battle from an overhead view. “Charge!” rounds out the list and will have you steering a cow with the Wiimote turned sideways and held like a steering wheel. You’ll have to knock down scarecrows lining the track for points and reach the finish line before time runs out.

For the most part, control in the games is excellent and very precise.

Overall, “Wii Play” is an excellent diversion, but the simple games lack lasting appeal. But for those planning on buying an extra Wiimote, the price tag is just $10 more than the price of the remote alone, making “Wii Play” most definitely worth the price of admission.