‘Super Mario Sluggers’

‘Super Mario Sluggers’

(Nintendo) for Wii

Genre: Sports; Rating: E

Grade: C

There is no substitute when Nintendo pumps out a Mario-themed sports game, where average gamers and younger kids can all pick up a controller and have fun without all the sim-related minutiae that is overwhelming and burdensome. There is no substitute, in this case, except for perhaps a better game.

This is not to say that “Super Mario Sluggers” is a total dunce, because it is not. But it certainly lacks the flair and pizzazz that previous “Super Mario” sports titles have had. The main reason might be from the Wii’s overwhelming desire to be appealing to mass audiences. While this notion has been the driver of the Wii’s overall success in gaming, the fear is that it will eventually drive all its games to be bland and working too hard to satisfy too many, which certainly is the case here.

The controls are easy to grasp. If you’ve played any of the numerous baseball games for the Wii, this won’t take long to figure out. Some typical Marioesque tricks and style points have been added. Using weapons in the outfield a la “Mario Kart” and having teams built around characters with different strengths and weaknesses a la “Super Strikers” are present here, among others you will recognize quickly.

Yet beyond the staples you come to expect, there is very little new or exciting. The baseball is just OK. Hitting and fielding work just fine, but pitching can be a tad difficult, especially when you are playing alone and the camera is in a nontraditional location. Also, the graphics are shockingly poor. Maybe knowing how amazing “Mario” games can be causes you to end up getting the blahs when watching “Sluggers” play out.

You certainly would not be judged poorly by going out and buying “Super Mario Sluggers.” You should just know going in that it won’t be the full-fledged “Mario” experience you have come to enjoy.

‘Tales of Vesperia’

(Bandai Namco Games) for Xbox 360

Genre: Role-Playing; Rating: T

Grade: B

It took nine months to arrive, but I can clearly say that “Tales of Vesperia” is the first RPG of the year that had me coming back for more — and easily ranks as the best RPG on the Xbox 360 in 2008. Well, at least until the monster holiday season of games starts rolling out.

Visually the game is stunning, with vivid colors, engaging animations that have you constantly glued to the screen and a distinctive, odd assortment of characters and creatures. And it has an easy control system and equally understandable upgrade mechanic that should not be hard to learn.

The visuals are helped along by the story, which while not wholly original in nature (a basic good-vs.-evil tale with friendships and loyalty tested along the way) is still entertaining.

Another aspect that makes this game so enjoyable is how battles are handled. You really control only one character while (thankfully) the AI handles the other three in your group and does an admirable job of fighting off enemies. The controls amount to little more than button-mashing, which is disappointing over the long term, but it is not enough to drag down the overall experience.

Pick up this game and play it. It’s just too good to avoid.

— Chris Campbell, Scripps Howard