Action & Adventure Video Games

Konami's Silent Hill survival horror series returns to its roots in this re-imagined version of the 1999 original. The storyline and setting are the same as in the PlayStation game, which has you controlling a distraught Harry Mason as he desperately searches for his missing daughter, Cheryl. New to the game are characters that respond differently according to how you approach them. Also included are psychological twists on the original plot; a mobile phone that functions as a GPS device and connects you with characters you've encountered; and a new soundtrack by composer Akira Yamaoka. Throughout his journey, Mason must be prepared to confront ghastly, misshapen creatures and other horrors in nightmare sequences that can trigger at any time. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

After more than three years without a release, one of Sony's signature platform franchises returns with more exploration, more gadgets, and more vehicular combat in Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier. Gamers once again join the heroic elf Jak and his surly sidekick Daxter as they travel to the ends of their planet to search for ancient Precursor technology that may alleviate a crisis caused by rapidly dwindling supplies of the world's "eco." But finding a new source of eco will not be easy, because the duo must suffer through their own Manichean struggles with light and dark eco, all while battling beastly creatures and fighting sky pirates out to secure the valuable resource for their own subversive desires. Luckily, players are armed with special abilities, a variety of powerful weapons, and five customizable ships for air battles. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Jurassic: The Hunted is a fast-paced first-person shooter that sends players back through time, to pit them against the monstrous creatures that ruled the title era. Survival itself is the greatest measure of success, as the player is challenged to outgun and outsmart aggressive oversized enemies such as raptors, Triceratops, and Tyrannosaurus. Various game modes have players scavenging the prehistoric environment for useful weapons and equipment, defending makeshift fortifications under siege, and in all-out boss battles and arena fights against giant, ferocious opponents. A bullet-time styled "adrenaline burst" feature allows players to slow the action down during key sequences, for a one-time chance to take careful aim at a dinosaur enemy's most vulnerable points. The budget-friendly game puts players in the role of expert survivalist Craig Dylan, who has been hired to help protect a team of researchers investigating a temporal distortion on a heretofore-unknown island. When Dylan is mysteriously pulled backward through time to the era of the dinosaurs, he has only his wits and his weapon skills to keep him from becoming some terrible lizard's lunch. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

The Cartoon Network's Ben 10 series returns to PlayStation 2 as the lead protagonist ventures into outer space for the first time to defend exotic worlds. The storyline follows archenemy Vilgax, who has created a formidable team of young Ben Tennyson's rivals in his bid to take over the universe. To succeed, you'll need to master each of Ben's ten alien forms to solve puzzles and to battle hordes of enemies. Gameplay features a mixture of platform-style exploration, fast-paced combat, and puzzles built around each of Ben's distinct forms. Use each alien's special powers to undermine Vilgax's diabolical plans while saving multiple planets in the process. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Based on Nickelodeon's educational entertainment television series for preschoolers and designed for the youngest of console gamers, Ni Hao, Kai-lan: Super Game Day is a collection of easy-to-play mini-games featuring six-year-old Kai-lan and her young animal friends, Rintoo the tiger, Tolee the koala, and Hoho the monkey. The ten mini-games involve gentle and engaging activities such as catching butterflies, popping bubbles, playing badminton, and racing in boats. The games can be played alone or against a friend, and the presentation is designed to promote ideas of friendly competition and good sportsmanship. All games have simple controls. As in the animated series, characters encourage multicultural appreciation, with both American and Chinese themes. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

The first video game based on the Bakugan license combines the action of the collectible card game with a storyline penned by writers of the animated series. Players will engage rivals in a series of battles to develop their unseasoned Bakugan brawler into a fierce competitor. The action first involves throwing Bakugan cards onto the ground before tossing a Bakugan ball toward them. When two balls land on the same card, they will transform into powerful monsters that will fight over the card. Bakugan Battle Brawlers offers an assortment of distinctive battle arenas, featuring various shapes, sizes, traps, and other distinguishing elements. Forty Bakugan are available to collect and defeat, with hundreds of cards included to fine-tune strategies. Battle the computer or challenge friends to a multiplayer match with custom rules. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Based on the Cartoon Network's animated series, The Secret Saturdays: Beasts of the 5th Sun has you controlling young Zak Saturday and his family in a battle to protect creatures known as Cryptids from such nemeses as Van Rook, Piecemeal, Munya, and V.V. Argost. You'll travel to ten exotic locales around the world, from sweltering jungles to underwater cities, while solving puzzles, leaping across platforms, and battling foes in each area. Zak Saturday uses a grappling hook-type device called "the Claw" to swing across areas and strike enemies. Over 45 playable characters are included, the majority of which are new Cryptid types that can fly, swing, and perform various other actions. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Based directly on the 2009 computer-animated film interpretation of Osamu Tezuka's influential sci-fi cartoon series, Astro Boy: The Video Game is a side-scrolling combat game for PlayStation 2 that follows the story of the origin of the mighty robot boy. The game features both traditional indoor platform-style levels and in-air flying shooter levels, as players take control of Astro Boy and his arsenal of futuristic abilities. In his quest to save the world, Dr. Tenma's greatest creation faces an army of robot enemies, both in the mysterious Surface region and back home in Metro City. As he defeats opponents and accomplishes goals, Astro Boy can increase the powers of his weapons and abilities, including his Laser Fingers, Rear Machine Guns, Arm Cannon, and Drill Attack. Two players can battle the bad guys together in the game's same-screen co-op mode. Voice actors from the film, Freddie Highmore as Astro Boy and Kristen Bell as Cora, reprise their roles in the video game. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Based on the Cartoon Network's animated series, Super Hero Squad features pint-sized versions of Marvel's comic book heroes and villains, with content aimed at a younger demographic of four- to ten-year-olds. The squad is on a mission to retrieve a series of Infinity Fractals before they can be assembled into a sword with ability-altering powers. Since Dr. Doom and his "Lethal Legion" of cohorts are also trying to recover the Infinity Fractals, you'll have to thwart their progress at every opportunity. Playable heroes and villains include Captain America, Spider-Man, Falcon, Hulk, Iron Man, Juggernaut, Dr. Doom, Wolverine, Silver Surfer, Thing, Thor, and Ms. Marvel. Each character possesses distinct super powers and combo attacks, with the gameplay consisting of punching, kicking, and blasting rivals while traveling across themed environments. Advance through six campaigns by yourself or with a friend in the "Adventure Mode," or engage up to three friends for competitive action in the "Battle Mode." ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Based on the computer-animated television series airing on the Cartoon Network, Republic Heroes has you engaged in a war between a battle droid army and the Jedi. Set between seasons one and two of the series, the game has you tracking down a bounty hunter named Cad Bane and the villainous Kul Teska across more than 30 missions. Playable characters include Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Commander Cody, Captain Rex, Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, and Ahsoka Tano. Fight as either a Jedi or a clone trooper across 3D environments overflowing with enemies to shoot, slice, and shatter. Lightsaber-equipped Jedis can use Force powers and perform acrobatic maneuvers, while clone troopers use jetpacks and wield high-powered weapons like rocket launchers and thermal detonators. Team up with a friend at any point with the game's drop-in cooperative system. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide