VIDEO GAME REVIEWS

'2006 FIFA WORLD CUP'
(EA Sports) for Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, GameCube, PC, Xbox, PSP, DS, GBA.
Rating: E
Grade: A
As play in the 2006 FIFA World Cup begins this week, gamers who couldn't afford to go and cheer on their favorite national team can pick up a controller or hand-held and guide their team to victory in the world's greatest sports tournament with "EA Sports' 2006 FIFA World Cup."
The game plays similar to previous EA FIFA titles, so there's nothing new to grasp there. The main difference obviously being that there is national pride on the line instead of club bragging rights.
No matter whether you want to play as the Americans or the Netherlands, all 32 teams in this year's World Cup are ready to play, and well over 100 other national teams are available in other game modes to play from if your national team didn't qualify.
I tested this game on the Xbox 360 and PS2, and while it is certainly better looking on the 360, there are a number of unlockables and bonus features that only the PS2 and regular Xbox have that are not included on the 360.
As an enormous soccer fan, there is nothing quite like the atmosphere and excitement of watching live World Cup soccer.
Sure, a video game will never equal it, but it does allow you to take the reigns and become world champion from your living room.
--Chris Campbell, Scripps Howard
'LEMMINGS'
(Sony) for PSP; Rating: E
Grade: A-
No one likes to kid about suicide, but if you are talking about controlling a horde of creatures bent on self-destruction, "Lemmings" is the game for you. These guys have been around for almost two decades now, but their re-invention for the PSP is a welcome refresher for those who never got into the earlier games. "Lemmings" are narcissistic types who want all the attention and will blow themselves up otherwise, but in a cute, comical sort of way.
Since it's a puzzle game, you can imagine that in controlling large numbers of them your purpose is to guide them through a number of tasks like digging tunnels, blocking paths or building bridges -- whatever it takes to move on to the next of the nearly 150 levels this game offers. One bug that is intentional or not is the ability to order "Lemmings" around once you have paused the game.
Now, nowhere can I remember pausing a game in order to change the course of its gameplay (though being able to do this in Madden or "Oblivion" would be helpful at times) but apparently you can here. If you are having trouble, simply pause the game, assign tasks to a whole squad of Lemmings, un-pause and there you have it -- instant success.
Of course, this is not nearly as enjoyable ... why should it be? ... but the option is there if you want it. And by the way, be sure to try out the level editor.
Nothing like creating the pitfalls for your own lemmings to suffer through. Puzzle fans will enjoy either re-introducing themselves to this franchise or saying hello to it for the first time.
--Chris Campbell, Scripps Howard
'Field Commander'
(Sony Online) for PSP
Rating: T
Grade: B
Sony seems to have piggybacked a lot of what was successful for "Advance Wars" on the Nintendo DS and retooled it for their own purposes and released it as "Field Commander" for the PSP.
Let's be clear: this is a great game and strays just far enough away to not be overt, but the pieces are there and at least if they were going to mimic they chose a good muse.
"Field Commander" is your basic turn-based military strategy game, with some twists and bonus features tossed in for good measure. What makes the game stand out is how you can alter the landscape of the battlefield to determine your strategy. Typically you play on the pre-designed levels, but in "Field Commander" you can level forested areas and cities for strategic advantage.
Along with the inclusion of special ops commandos, there are lots of special features that make the strategy aspect different from other titles in this genre.
Those wanting a strategy game that does not involve dragons and wizards will be wise to add this title to their PSP collection.
--Chris Campbell, Scripps Howard