‘RATCHET & CLANK FUTURE: TOOLS OF DESTRUCTION’

‘RATCHET & CLANK FUTURE:
TOOLS OF DESTRUCTION’

(Sony) for PlayStation 3

Genre: Action; Rating: E

Grade: B+

The aspects of “Ratchet & Clank” that made it such a successful franchise for Sony are almost lost in a sea of possibilities in “Tools of Destruction.” Luckily, it is saved by fantastic game play. The action never ceases, and consistently looks like you are playing in an animated feature film.

There’s no story to speak of. Gamers are most likely playing this game because they’ve played the previous iterations, and want to see how the series translates to the PS3 for the first time.

Translate, it does, with vibrant color schemes and constantly shifting environments that make this a game to view as well as experience. You’ll have tons of gadgets and weapons, so don’t be surprised if you find this game a tad too easy. But to the detriment of the game, almost every possible variance of game play is thrown in, so there’s a real lack of consistency from one level to the next.

You won’t be disappointed with this new adventure. Just don’t expect to understand what it’s all about.

‘CLIVE BARKER’S JERICHO’

(Codemasters) for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC

Genre: First-person shooter

Rating: M

Grade: C

Clive Barker, no stranger to horror, previously brought us “Hellraiser,” “Candyman” and “Nightbreed,” just to name a few. So having this auteur of all things demonic slap his imprint on a video game seems like a match made in heav ... well, hell, I guess.

You control a band of time-traveling mercenaries who use the word of God and a heavy dose of ammunition to defeat forces of evil created by God himself. The set pieces are amazing to behold, and if it were a book or a movie, “Jericho” could be entertaining.

But this is a video game — and one with lots of holes. First, you can control any team member (there are six) at any point, and each one has unique weapons and magical powers. This sounds cool, except that the AI is ridiculously stupid and everyone dies too fast and too often; you’ll spend more time reviving teammates than actually shooting anything.

The level design is counterintuitive, as it wants you to be tactical in using your squad, but gives you no opportunity to do so, offering only the same motions over and over. Visually, the game is all Barker’s influence, and you can see how if the game play were stronger, this would be a hit.

‘FOLKLORE’

(Sony) for PlayStation 3

Genre: Adventure; Rating: T

Grade: B+

“Folklore” is almost the perfect game for those who are into Sue Grafton and other notable murder-mystery novelists. The story is the driver of this game. You will either get into it and stick through for the finale, or throw your hands up in frustration trying to understand what all these “folk” are about.

You play as two characters, Keats or Ellen. The purpose is to solve murders. This means that occasionally they have to travel to the netherworld, and there you’ll encounter “folk.” Once they are defeated, you suck out their souls and use them as weapons against future enemies.

This sounds bizarre, but once you get used to the idea, it’s actually pretty cool. Visually, the game is great at creating a sense of mood and not getting too hokey.

The problem this game has is keeping your attention if you don’t get into it right away. If the story doesn’t grab you, the game won’t, either.

— Chris Campbell, Scripps Howard