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Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny

3 1/2 stars

“Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny” is an impressive PSP release. Based on “Soul Calibur IV,” the game is a well-realized take on the fighting series, albeit with a few changes to fit the platform.

There’s no arcade mode, for one thing – players can choose among several kinds of trials, a challenge-based story mode and quick matches against the computer, or play against local human opponents over Wi-Fi.

The graphics are fantastic – close up, it’s clear that the models are less complex and have lower-resolution textures than their console cousins; but in action, they look smooth and detailed. The game plays like the rest of the series – the moves are familiar and easy to pull off with the PSP’s control layout.

The game features the main cast of “Soul Calibur IV,” but the bonus characters are different. Instead of Darth Vader or Yoda and the Secret Apprentice character from “Star Wars,” the game includes “God of War’s” Kratos and a newcomer called Dampierre who fights with hidden spring-loaded knives.

Sony PlayStation Portable; $39.99

Age rating: Teen

Bookworm Adventures Vol. 2

3 1/2 stars

“Bookworm Adventures Vol. 2″ is nearly indistinguishable from the original, aside from minor tweaks and additions (and slightly better visuals). A trial of the game is available, and it can be bought in a package with the original for $29.95.

The game play remains the same: Form words from a 4-by-4 grid of random letters to inflict damage on monsters before they can defeat the bookworm. The longer the word, the greater the damage. Spelling long words can also produce colored letter blocks that impart bonus effect when used in a word.

The bookworm will earn various treasures, as before, but this time around, he can only carry two into a chapter. The third slot is taken up by a companion, such as Mother Goose, who produces a health potion every once in a while.

PC (Popcap.com download); $19.95

Age rating: Everyone

– Justin Hoeger

Batman has
been lured
to Arkham
Asylum by
the Joker and
must fight
to survive the
dastardly
deeds of the
crazed
criminal and
his cronies.

“Batman: Arkham Asylum” isn’t just a great superhero game – it’s a great game, period. It plays largely like a combination of “Metroid Prime” and “Splinter Cell” with an emphasis on stealth and exploration over combat, though there is plenty of fighting.

As the game begins, Batman is returning a handcuffed Joker to Arkham Asylum after an attack on the mayor by the deranged criminal. But the Joker is soon free again, and the asylum is overrun by his army of goons. His own capture was part of a plan to trap Batman on Arkham Island to face an array of his worst enemies, among them Bane, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn and Scarecrow.

The game looks great, and the environment is dark and decrepit – and not just because the game takes place at night. This Arkham and the characters in it feel like “Batman: The Animated Series” by way of Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight,” not least because several key parts are voiced by actors from the cartoon: Kevin Conroy is Batman, Mark Hamill returns as the Joker, and Arleen Sorkin reprises Harley Quinn. Hamill is in especially fine form, and the new voices are fitting as well.

Batman is in for a long night. The Caped Crusader is underequipped for the job – he starts with his grapple gun, unlimited Batarangs and the scanners in his cowl, which can be calibrated to track clue trails.

He’ll find more of his wonderful toys – such as a claw that can rip out vent grates from a distance, and explosive gel that blasts holes in weak walls – allowing him to bypass obstacles and reach new areas.

As Batman defeats enemies and solves puzzles, he’ll earn experience points that allow him to choose upgrades for his moves and gear.

Batman’s formidable hand-to-hand skills are on full display here; his methods are nonlethal but highly effective. On the ground, he can quickly strike in any direction, counter or leap out of the way of incoming attacks, swing his cape for a stunning blow, and employ various other moves. Some of his tools double as weapons, and he can strike from above to string up his enemies, glide in for kicks and so on.

Regular foes don’t pose much of a threat unless in large numbers, but those with guns can take Batman out quickly if he’s seen. Stealth is best.

The asylum is a sprawling complex with catacombs and several buildings, and Batman will make his way through them all. Each of the game’s rooms is something of a puzzle – for example, in some areas, he’ll have to figure out how to get past poison gas, while in others, he’ll have to defeat a half-dozen goons without being detected to save hostages.

Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny

3 1/2 stars

“Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny” is an impressive PSP release. Based on “Soul Calibur IV,” the game is a well-realized take on the fighting series, albeit with a few changes to fit the platform.

There’s no arcade mode, for one thing – players can choose among several kinds of trials, a challenge-based story mode and quick matches against the computer, or play against local human opponents over Wi-Fi.

The graphics are fantastic – close up, it’s clear that the models are less complex and have lower-resolution textures than their console cousins; but in action, they look smooth and detailed. The game plays like the rest of the series – the moves are familiar and easy to pull off with the PSP’s control layout.

The game features the main cast of “Soul Calibur IV,” but the bonus characters are different. Instead of Darth Vader or Yoda and the Secret Apprentice character from “Star Wars,” the game includes “God of War’s” Kratos and a newcomer called Dampierre who fights with hidden spring-loaded knives.

Sony PlayStation Portable; $39.99

Age rating: Teen

Bookworm Adventures Vol. 2

3 1/2 stars

“Bookworm Adventures Vol. 2″ is nearly indistinguishable from the original, aside from minor tweaks and additions (and slightly better visuals). A trial of the game is available, and it can be bought in a package with the original for $29.95.

The game play remains the same: Form words from a 4-by-4 grid of random letters to inflict damage on monsters before they can defeat the bookworm. The longer the word, the greater the damage. Spelling long words can also produce colored letter blocks that impart bonus effect when used in a word.

The bookworm will earn various treasures, as before, but this time around, he can only carry two into a chapter. The third slot is taken up by a companion, such as Mother Goose, who produces a health potion every once in a while.

PC (Popcap.com download); $19.95

Age rating: Everyone

– Justin Hoeger

Batman has
been lured
to Arkham
Asylum by
the Joker and
must fight
to survive the
dastardly
deeds of the
crazed
criminal and
his cronies.

“Batman: Arkham Asylum” isn’t just a great superhero game – it’s a great game, period. It plays largely like a combination of “Metroid Prime” and “Splinter Cell” with an emphasis on stealth and exploration over combat, though there is plenty of fighting.

As the game begins, Batman is returning a handcuffed Joker to Arkham Asylum after an attack on the mayor by the deranged criminal. But the Joker is soon free again, and the asylum is overrun by his army of goons. His own capture was part of a plan to trap Batman on Arkham Island to face an array of his worst enemies, among them Bane, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn and Scarecrow.

The game looks great, and the environment is dark and decrepit – and not just because the game takes place at night. This Arkham and the characters in it feel like “Batman: The Animated Series” by way of Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight,” not least because several key parts are voiced by actors from the cartoon: Kevin Conroy is Batman, Mark Hamill returns as the Joker, and Arleen Sorkin reprises Harley Quinn. Hamill is in especially fine form, and the new voices are fitting as well.

Batman is in for a long night. The Caped Crusader is underequipped for the job – he starts with his grapple gun, unlimited Batarangs and the scanners in his cowl, which can be calibrated to track clue trails.

He’ll find more of his wonderful toys – such as a claw that can rip out vent grates from a distance, and explosive gel that blasts holes in weak walls – allowing him to bypass obstacles and reach new areas.

As Batman defeats enemies and solves puzzles, he’ll earn experience points that allow him to choose upgrades for his moves and gear.

Batman’s formidable hand-to-hand skills are on full display here; his methods are nonlethal but highly effective. On the ground, he can quickly strike in any direction, counter or leap out of the way of incoming attacks, swing his cape for a stunning blow, and employ various other moves. Some of his tools double as weapons, and he can strike from above to string up his enemies, glide in for kicks and so on.

Regular foes don’t pose much of a threat unless in large numbers, but those with guns can take Batman out quickly if he’s seen. Stealth is best.

The asylum is a sprawling complex with catacombs and several buildings, and Batman will make his way through them all. Each of the game’s rooms is something of a puzzle – for example, in some areas, he’ll have to figure out how to get past poison gas, while in others, he’ll have to defeat a half-dozen goons without being detected to save hostages.

Meet the Beatles, from their early days throughout the band’s career, in “The Beatles: Rock Band” video game.

As remastered Beatles box sets arrive in stores this week, so does the first video game based on the legendary rock group’s repertoire: “The Beatles: Rock Band.” The game is available on its own or in a limited-edition bundle that comes with several Beatles-theme “Rock Band” instruments.

This isn’t the first rhythm game to focus on a single band. Aerosmith and Metallica have been the subjects of “Guitar Hero” releases. But those games included songs by groups other than their stars.

“The Beatles: Rock Band” has 45 songs, and while that’s a smaller number of tracks than last year’s “Rock Band 2″ or the recently released “Guitar Hero 5,” the track list concentrates exclusively on the Fab Four’s music.

This version of “Rock Band” offers a Quickplay mode, a new Story Mode that has the player charting a course through the band’s years of success, Chapter Challenges for completed story segments and several multiplayer modes. There aren’t any costumes to buy or characters to customize, but getting high star ratings in the Story Mode unlocks photos of the band, and each chapter is preceded by a neat movie sequence.

Here’s the thing: Those particulars don’t really matter. What matters about “The Beatles: Rock Band” is in the title: It lets anyone who can pick up the guitar controller join one of the greatest rock bands that ever was. Get a group of players together, hook up extra microphones to sing in three-part harmony, and everyone’s a Beatle. (The game’s training mode allows separate vocal parts to be isolated for practice runs.)

The available tracks range from pop hits such as “Twist and Shout,” “Paperback Writer” and “Can’t Buy Me Love” to later recordings such as “Come Together,” “Helter Skelter” and “Dear Prudence.” More tracks are planned for release as downloads, including the remaining songs from the “Abbey Road,” “Rubber Soul” and “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” albums.

The band’s experimentations require some compromises: For example, several songs don’t have guitar parts, and the player instead stands in for a cello or a sitar. It works, though – trying to keep up with the string arrangements of “I Am the Walrus” is just as entertaining as shredding through “I Me Mine.”

The game looks great within the confines of the “Rock Band” formula, and the sound quality is exceptional.