‘Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy’

‘Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy’

(Majesco) for Wii

Genre: Shooter; Rating: E

Grade: B

“Blast Works” is not “HALO 3,” nor is it “Grand Theft Auto 4.”

Instead, “Blast Works” is the opportunity for you to design and play your own shooter. Yes, that’s right. It’s a game creator.

It’s for the Wii, so you already know the graphics will be limited but the experience memorable.

You start by playing a 15-level campaign that helps you learn the dynamics and possibilities of the game editor, but once you’re done, it’s off to the editor where anything is possible. Of course, you can skip it altogether and start creating your game right away, but it’s not recommended.

You are given three basic shapes (circle, square, triangle) and you can stretch and color them as you like to create whatever you want in terms of your fighter ship, enemies and bosses, and the surrounding environment. And when I say anything, I mean anything. I created one where I made the University of Kentucky logo and slaughtered everyone else in the SEC. Another time, I had a dog take down an army of mangy cats.

The technical limitations are certainly present, and there is a chance some gamers won’t truly “get it,” but there is no denying that this is another fantastic way of putting a personal touch on the gaming experience.

‘Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit’

(Atari) for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Genre: Fighting; Rating: T, for Teen

Grade: A

“Burst Limit” is one of the better “DBZ” offerings by far, and though it has some disappointing elements and a not-so-easy control scheme, once you get the hang of it there are fun times to be had.

“DBZ” is a fairly deep anime franchise, so it will be hard for a non-fan to jump right in and feel comfortable with the characters and their backstories. There’s much replay value here, though, since you’ll be constantly unlocking other characters and reliving classic “DBZ” battles from multiple perspectives.

The controls are a tad difficult to learn, but they are the same for every character, just with different results. There are also ways to customize the game.

Online play is excellent, especially because novices aren’t instantly penalized against more experienced players. This is a worthy addition to your collection no matter your knowledge of “DBZ.”

‘Enemy Territory: Quake Wars’

(Activision) for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC

Genre: Shooter; Rating: T

Grade: D

Sorry, Activision, but the “Quake” franchise just isn’t that popular, and even seasoned gamers will find little enjoyment in “Enemy Territory.”

There’s no single-player campaign. The whole game is all multiplayer, all the time. The gameplay is deep, if you can ever figure it out.

The PC version is much stronger and provides a much more robust experience — even if it’s several years older.

— Chris Campbell, Scripps Howard