ELECTRIC ARCADE--January 2009

By Alex Simon

Welcome to our newest column at The Interview, Electric Arcade, where we review and discuss the latest video game releases for PC and home gaming systems alike.

Screen capture from Gears of War 2.



We kick off this month's edition with the highly-anticipated release of Microsoft's GEARS OF WAR 2 (XBox 360), taking up where part 1 left off, GOW 2 puts you in the role of Marcus Fenix, who must lead humankind in a battle for supremacy against The Locust Horde. Stunning, state-of-the-art graphics and sound, created exclusively for the high-tech wares of the XBox 360, help raise the bar on this outstanding action game, which combine eye-popping visuals with some truly stunning, and frightening, opponents. Enemy AI is quite good and requires the player do more than your typical "run and gun" shooter. Rated M.


BANJO-KAZOOIE: NUTS & BOLTS (Microsoft, XBox 360) is the third installment of the family-friendly game series that allows players to use their imaginations to build wild contraptions and inventions to do battle against the wicked witch and retain rightful ownership of Spiral Mountain. Nice opporunity for kids to develop their resourceful skills along with typical gaming fun. Features six different worlds to explore with over 100 challenges; Xbox LIVE compatible; 100 unique parts and blueprints you can use to build vehicles and inventions. Rated E.


LIPS (Microsoft, Xbox 360) is a karaoke-style game that allows players to sing along with some of rock's greatest hits, as well as the latest hitmakers and their music videos. With choices ranging from 1950s classics like "Stand by Me," to new music such as Duffy's "Mercy," LIPS features over 40 songs ready to go, and allows you to import your own music, as well. Comes with two, standard-size microphones. XBox LIVE compatible. Rated T.
Screen capture from Lips.


Scene It? Box Office Smash (Microsoft, Xbox 360) brings movie and trivia fans together for a game that provides hours of laughter as you challenge your friends and family to see whose movie knowledge reigns supreme reliving some of your favorite moments from the silver screen. Continuing the franchise’s social and engaging trivia experience on the Xbox 360, Scene It? Box Office Smash features all-new questions, more high-definition (HD) movie clips and several new puzzle types, giving you a trivia game overflowing with images as well as audio and video clips from hundreds of films you know and love.

The new game allows up to four teams to challenge one another from the comfort of a living room or via Xbox LIVE. Xbox LIVE lets players virtually put themselves into the game through custom avatars that respond to your play and react to one another throughout the course of the game. This special bundle edition comes with four wireless controllers. Rated T.


You're in the Movies (Microsoft, Xbox 360) puts the gamer in the middle of a real movie that you youself make, with more than 40 mini-games and clips from Hollywood classics old and new. Comes with an Xbox LIVE camera, which captures players' actions, which are then spliced into short films. You can become a B-movie superstar and appear in a series of chessy, low-budget-style clips, or become an action hero in a multi-million dollar blockbuster, a silent movie star, or step into the director's chair and call the shots while your friends and family act them out.

Clever game also takes you through the role of producer, trying to get a distribution deal, cutting a trailer, and more. It's like film school in a box! Great fun for film buffs and aspiring filmmakers alike. Rated E.
Screen capture from You're in the Movies.