‘UNCHARTED: DRAKE’S FORTUNE’

December 16, 2007 at 2:00a.m.

(Sony) for PlayStation 3

Genre: Action-Adventure

Rating: T; Grade: B

Friends used to say that “Tomb Raider” was nothing more than “Indiana Jones,” but with a girl. These friends would probably say that “Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune” is probably “Tomb Raider,” but with a guy. It’s a simple association, but that would not do justice to what is an enjoyable game, nonetheless.

“Drake’s Fortune” taps heavily into the “Indiana Jones”/”Tomb Raider” cache of stories. You play as Nathan, a smart-aleck adventurer on the hunt for long-lost treasure. Naturally, there are others out for the bounty, too, so you’ll have to fend off the goons, save the girl and listen to your sidekick crack half-witted jokes. But don’t let that fool you — because it’s really enjoyable.

The game play is a mixture of platforming and third-person shooter. The environments are stunning — mainly the jungles in which you’ll spend most of your time. Gun battles are much more challenging than they could be, because the enemies have tougher skin than a steel-plated wall, while about three shots will put you down for good.

Add to the beautiful graphics well-done dialogue and voice acting, and you notice how much a difference it makes when companies invest in good writers and actors.

PS3 owners should have no trouble talking themselves into this game.

‘MASS EFFECT’

(Microsoft) for Xbox 360

Genre: Role-playing; Rating: M

Grade: B

“Mass Effect” is a deep and complicated game, but that shouldn’t frighten anyone away from delving into its rich story and a gaming experience that is far from shallow.

This is probably the most multilayered RPG for the Xbox 360 since “Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.”

The game takes place in the vast ether of space, and you play as Shepard, the soldier who must save the galaxy by hunting down the classic bad guy who’s unleashing doom.

Much of the game is split between dialogue scenes in a choose-your-own-adventure format. That’s followed by some third-person shooting with RPG elements as the base. The dialogue is fantastic, because for an RPG game not on a PC, your decisions about how to respond really do make a difference in how the game is played.

The game play may confuse those with little true RPG experience. While it looks run-and-gun visually, it’s actually anything but. You need to pause the screen constantly to dole out instructions and unleash weapons or powers, and those who find this kind of game play unsatisfying will have a hard time here.

The cinematics are amazing, and probably rank among the best ever in gaming. There are some technical glitches, but it will be the game play that wins or loses fans. Those feeling sketchy should probably rent it first, but don’t be scared to let yourself get immersed in the fun.

‘MARIO PARTY DS’

(Nintendo) for DS

Genre: Party; Rating: E

Grade: B

The most recent “Mario Party” for the Wii was so-so, but the franchise has found a suitable new home on the DS.

Anyone who has played a previous “Mario Party” game will feel right at home here, as the controls and game play are very similar to what’s been a successful genre for Nintendo for years.

“Mario Party DS” takes full advantage of the DS controls, so as you progress you’re never playing a mini-game the same way. Sometimes you’ll use the touch screen; other times you’ll blow into the microphone or do some classic button-mashing. The variety keeps you locked in — there’s rarely a dull moment.

The single-player mode is fine, but since you can play with up to four people with only one cartridge, this game is best with several people. The multiplayer aspects are superb and really make this game shine. That’s why it was not called “Mario Party All By Yourself.”

— Chris Campbell, Scripps Howard