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Show I GAMING U WHAT CO THAT PBWFA CAU- - ASTAtUOH MO A MfRE CHAMPIONSHIP RACE HOpsef Animated behavior: Another batch of 'toon-base- d games Lou Kesten ing to parents: The Game Boy "Monster House" may be too difficult for younger players. when computer Three stars out of four. I "Barnyard" (THQ, for the Remember seemed like a It was barely a PlayStation 2, GameCube, decade ago when "Toy Story" $39.99): It's hard to dislike a first dazzled audiences and game that lets you play as a cow. In "Barnbicycle-ridin- g changed Hollywood's approach to cartoons. Now it yard" you are the new cow on the block, the latest addiseems like there's a new animated feature film every other tion to a freaky farm where week and, to judge from the the critters walk on two legs, blase response that greeted talk, play practical jokes and "The Ant Bully , " there may be . indulge in other humanoid a glut. shenanigans. There's not much movof a plot; instead, characters those Accompanying ies has been a flood of video from the movie ask you to help out with their chores, whether games, no doubt targeting the same parents who are desperthey're chasing off raccoons, ate to keep the kids busy durrounding up baby chicks or haing the long summer months. rassing the mailman. If you get One such game, THQ's adapta- stuck on one mission, you can tion of "Cars," was released in skip it and go find another job or just ride your bike around seven different versions and the farm for a while. With such has become one of the year's . . free-forgameplay, it's kind Most 'toon-basegames are of like "Grand Theft Tractor." The graphics are crisp and colfairly enjoyable, and parents can be confident that young orful, the controls are easy to learn and there's a ton of stuff players won't be exposed to do. Don't use "Barnyard" to any cursing or graphic violence. But it's hard for a to teach your kids about biolgrown-ugamer to get excited ogy, though; the bulls here are about a game based on "Moncalled cows and have udders ster House" or "Barnyard." which they use to shoot milk at coyotes. Three stars. Then again, you might be surI "The Ant Bully" (Midway, prised by how good some of for the PlayStation 2, Game-Cubthese games are. I "Monster House" (THQ, $29.99): Its premise for the Game Boy, $29.99): The seems better suited for a game d "Monster House" game than a movie. A brat named for the PlayStation 2 and Lucas is shrunk to the size of a GameCube is a mildly diverting bug, and has to learn the ways of an ant colony before he can adventure with a few spooky surprises; I'd give it two stars. return to normal. That could It didn't prepare me for "Monbe the starting point for a playster House" on the Game Boy, ful romp which is one of the most enjoy- like "Honey, I Shrunk the able releases for Nintendo's ag- Kids" or the Nintendo game Instead, "The ing handheld in a long time. It's g more like a game, Ant Bully" is a drab, repetitive with the haunted house serving bore in which Lucas fights the as one giant dungeon. On each same pill bugs, spiders and floor of the house you're atwasps over and over again. tacked by possessed household More irritating is the constant objects, which you can fight hectoring of the ants, who are with your water gun or stun always nagging you about the with your camera flash. Each importance of teamwork even of the three kids from the film though you're the only one DJ can who's getting anything .done. has different talents climb, Chowder can lift heavy They're so annoying that you things and Jenny can squeeze wouldn't blame Lucas for bethrough tight spaces so you coming an exterminator once need to switch among them to he grows up. One and a half stars. progress through the house. Fans of the original, 2D "Legend of Zelda" will feel right at On the Net home with this game's puzzles, I "Monster House," "Barnin which you have to discover yard'': www.thq.com "The Ant Bully": the secrets of each level before moving to the next. A warn THE ASSOCIATED PRESS best-sellers- CNH CHAKMS SfWUTl I v i r-Z NATURE. HAVE PIRAT& j Mmi BUT OfF THE DONKEY KONG'S A GAIS-8o- BW JASON.' s7' GoRiLLA.' THAT'S Ijigy Y NOlE SCHOOL BtOOP BUPBLooP; 7 fi 7 TURN BUP 8UP BLEEP fT"' W) 19 - EVEN M OUR OWN BACK YARD, WE CAN STHJ. ENJOY THE (MET LULLABY ISWTTHS GREAT, KIDS? FROM THfe AMA20M.. HAVE AMAZON fARPoTC... Double CHect before ye oudcr. A J ; j i m ( d p K- I T TT 2 T COULD W PUT Trie V.iire,i I T I HI 'f T'h'" r "t e, pub-hone- skewed-perspecti- "ChJbi-Robo- , l T Vrrilil fli M iJ ill if 3 ? f i' W I I H0P YOU '!rjST I BEUEVE IN BEING ." ' THE HATCH- - uisur f ii b oe- - w TY.. tsi, rue. - r- s-- ,- IN Tpp MOUTH. i;S |
