“Guitar Hero: Metallica”

“Guitar Hero: Metallica”

Activision for Xbox 360,

PlayStation 3, Wii, PS2

Genre: Music

Rating: T

Grade: C

No surprise here, but you’re either a Metallica fan or not. And this will be the determining factor in whether you shell out the cash for the “Guitar Hero: Metallica” game.

Getting me to play this game was not too hard. I have always enjoyed Metallica, even if I consider myself a bit more of a purist with the band’s music. I think it took a bad turn with the “Black” album and never looked back, so my preferences will always favor the music from “And Justice for All” and “Master of Puppets” CDs.

There is a mix of old and new Metallica tracks in the game. Other artists of similar style are sprinkled into the game also, though some of the tracks (such as “Ace of Spades”) seem to be in every guitar-themed game these days, so we need to start finding new songs to give gamers for the money they are spending.

Most of the game play is unchanged, otherwise. There is an added kick pedal if you want to get your Lars Ulrich on and attempt some true drumming mastery. I can barely handle one (drumming is not my forte; I’m more than happy to make a fool of myself on the guitar and singing), so you’d better prepare yourself for high difficulty levels.

“The Godfather II”

EA Games for Xbox 360,

PlayStation 3, PC

Genre: Action

Rating: M

Grade: C

My buddy Kelly and I were thrilled with the first “The Godfather” video game. Sure, it had its repetitive moments, but there was nothing better than taking control of New York City and living the dream in becoming don of the Corleone family. Considering that “The Godfather II” is easily in the top 10 of the best movies ever made, we had high hopes for EA’s sequel.

Taking place in NYC, then down to Florida and Cuba, gives the game a chance to show off all the great moments from the film, but overall the game is surprisingly dull and full of glitches that will annoy you to no end. It could be a case of our expectations being too high, but on second and third tries, there is little doubt that “The Godfather II” game is just a letdown.

First off, the game play is almost exactly the same as the first game’s. Yes, it was great then, but that was three years ago. It feels stale now. Furthermore, the visuals don’t look like they’ve been upgraded at all.

Don’t get me wrong. Shaking down business owners and creating your own empire is still fun. Taking over casinos and strip clubs is pretty funny, and decking your mobster out in a fedora and Cuban gear has the quirky feel of the time period. And once you are rewarded with soldiers to defend your business interests, everything flows pretty smoothly.

But problems keep returning. Those soldiers you earn are the dumbest in recent gaming memory. They don’t follow their own orders, they don’t really kill enemies, and they run in circles more than the greyhounds in Florida. I spent a couple missions just trying to get them through a building’s front door before turning the console off in disgust. Even when you go over and play the multiplayer online, nothing feels fluid or well-designed. And the special “The Don” mode is not nearly as thrilling as it seems.

“The Godfather II” fails to live up to expec-tations.

Chris Campbell, Scripps Howard News Service