"Snoopy Flying Ace"
(360, $10, Everyone 10+)
It's astounding that one of the most exhilarating flight sims to come along in years is a downloadable Snoopy game aimed squarely at the younger set.
Taking off on the "Peanuts" Beagle's fantasies of riding his doghouse into flight combat during World War I, you get an aircraft with a devastating weapon set of your choice, then take off to shoot it out in the not-so-friendly skies.
The game nails the controls, making them so smooth and intuitive my 3-year-old had no problem doing barrel rolls and locking on to enemy fighters.
The main campaign is adequate, but the online play is mesmerizing, with compact maps jammed with soaring competitors that never leave you alone for more than a few seconds. The action is frantic and tense but, most important, fun.
People are also reading…
"Toy Story 3"
(360, PS3, Wii, $50, Everyone 10+)
Most movie-based games, especially those aimed at kids, are half-hearted garbage. "Toy Story 3," however, is a cut above, doing its best to become a virtual toy box that puts all of the Pixar characters at your disposal.
There's a story mode to the game, but the bulk of the fun comes in Toy Box mode, which allows you to roam an open world with the character of your choice and accomplish various tasks to unlock more toys. You can rearrange the building layout and look of the characters, add vehicles and horses and generally just goof off without having to clean up the mess.
It's nice that Toy Box mode is available because the main story is on the difficult side and probably too challenging for young kids.
Also available on PSP and DS.
"XBOX 360 S"
($299)
Microsoft's slimmed-down, sexed-up console redesign seems more geared to tease current owners into re-upping for a new console than convincing non-360 owners to take the plunge.
Granted, there's plenty here for those who have yet to buy a Microsoft console. The 360 S - labeled simply as the "Xbox 360" packs a 250GB hard drive, integrated 802.11n Wi-Fi and a slick cooling vent that spices up a glossy black finish.
The system runs cooler and quieter than the previous model, and also boasts an outlet designed specifically for the upcoming motion and voice-controlled Kinect accessory. Past Xbox 360s will be able to use Kinect, but will need to plug the device into a wall. Not so for owners of this redesigned beauty.
Although the 360 S is a spectacle, there's no pragmatic reason for a current Xbox 360 owner to upgrade. But I won't blame you if you're seduced by its look and somehow find an extra $300 in your checking account.
