Online Games, Game Cheats, Latest Games

Gambit and Daredevil face off with S.H.I.E.L.D. troopers in “Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2.”

In “Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2,” a battle between superheroes and the villain Nitro has left hundreds dead, prompting Congress to pass the Superhuman Registration Act: All beings with unusual powers must reveal their identities and register with the government, or face capture and imprisonment.

The super community is split down the middle. Iron Man heads up the faction that’s legalized and has been put in charge of hunting down the rebels, led by a disillusioned Captain America.

The player gets to choose which side to join after the first few levels of the game, which affects which missions will be available, which famous Marvel characters the player will be able to use and which they’ll fight against.

“MUA2″ plays a heck of a lot like the original. Players select a team of four superheroes and take them into beat-’em-up combat with a light RPG flavor. Up to four players can control these heroes, online or off.

Powers and abilities fall in line with each character’s nature. Wolverine attacks with his claws and heals over time, Mr. Fantastic stretches his limbs, the Human Torch throws fire, and so on. Many characters need to be unlocked, but once they’re available, a player can swap them in and out of the team at will. Forming specific groups of superhumans, such as the Fantastic Four, imparts a bonus for that team.

A new combat feature is Fusion attacks. Built up over time by defeating foes, Fusions allow any two characters to join for a powerful special move.

In a similar vein to “MUA2″ but not as complex, and aimed at a younger audience is “Marvel Super Hero Squad.” Based on the cutesy, big-headed line of Marvel toys and the show that goes with them, this two-player game features several heroes as they try to stop a nefarious plan by Doctor Doom and his minions.

Much of the game is a straightforward brawler that two players can participate in. Each hero has a few attacks and combos that employ button presses and movements of the Wii Remote or Nunchuk.

There is also a four-player battle mode similar to “Super Smash Bros.” or “Power Stone” – heroes and villains fight it out in customizable free-for-alls or team matches. The moves here are slightly different and more varied than in the brawler segments.

PICKS AND PANS

Wet

3 stars

If Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” movies had been made into a game, it might have looked something like “Wet.” Gun-for-hire Rubi Malone carries a sword and is definitely on a roaring rampage. But she also uses guns, firing them while running along walls, leaping through the air or sliding along the ground.

The action switches to slow-mo when Rubi pulls off an acrobatic move, allowing the player to target multiple enemies for quick kills. Extra points are awarded for mixing up Rubi’s moves while taking down hordes of henchmen.

The visuals are impressive; a graphical filter overlays the action, lending the look of scratched film and projector flicker to the proceedings.

Microsoft Xbox 360, also for Sony PlayStation 3; $59.99 • Age rating: Mature

Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes

2 1/2 stars

Set within the timeline of the “Clone Wars” computer- animated series, “Republic Heroes” offers a few flavors of “Star Wars” action for two players.

“Republic Heroes” switches between Jedi-focused and clone trooper-focused levels. In the former, players control Anakin, his apprentice Ahsoka, and other Jedi as they make their way through levels full of enemy droids and obstacles. Jedi attack up close with lightsabers and hurl waves of Force energy, and they’re agile. They can also hop onto and take control of certain droids.

In trooper stages, players control heavily armed soldiers as they run and gun through the level, picking up weapon boosts, such as thermal detonators, along the way.

The game is fun, though easy. The controls are generally responsive, though precision jumping and taking cover can present problems at times.

Nintendo Wii, also for Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, PC; $49.99 ($29.99 to $49.99 for other versions) • Age rating: Teen

Dragon Quest Wars

2 1/2 stars

A light strategy game starring monsters from the “Dragon Quest” series, “Dragon Quest Monsters” is an entertaining spinoff. On the player’s turn, the stylus is used to move monsters and select their actions. Then the actions are executed and the other side goes through the same process.

There’s a training mode to familiarize new players with the game’s concepts; after that, players can customize their own battle setups. There’s quite a bit of strategy involved in setting up a solid offense and defense with the various monsters and their powers, and with only four units per side, each move counts.

Nintendo DSi (DSiWare download); $5 (500 Nintendo Points)

• Age rating: 10-plus

– Justin Hoeger

Gambit and Daredevil face off with S.H.I.E.L.D. troopers in “Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2.”

In “Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2,” a battle between superheroes and the villain Nitro has left hundreds dead, prompting Congress to pass the Superhuman Registration Act: All beings with unusual powers must reveal their identities and register with the government, or face capture and imprisonment.

The super community is split down the middle. Iron Man heads up the faction that’s legalized and has been put in charge of hunting down the rebels, led by a disillusioned Captain America.

The player gets to choose which side to join after the first few levels of the game, which affects which missions will be available, which famous Marvel characters the player will be able to use and which they’ll fight against.

“MUA2″ plays a heck of a lot like the original. Players select a team of four superheroes and take them into beat-’em-up combat with a light RPG flavor. Up to four players can control these heroes, online or off.

Powers and abilities fall in line with each character’s nature. Wolverine attacks with his claws and heals over time, Mr. Fantastic stretches his limbs, the Human Torch throws fire, and so on. Many characters need to be unlocked, but once they’re available, a player can swap them in and out of the team at will. Forming specific groups of superhumans, such as the Fantastic Four, imparts a bonus for that team.

A new combat feature is Fusion attacks. Built up over time by defeating foes, Fusions allow any two characters to join for a powerful special move.

In a similar vein to “MUA2″ but not as complex, and aimed at a younger audience is “Marvel Super Hero Squad.” Based on the cutesy, big-headed line of Marvel toys and the show that goes with them, this two-player game features several heroes as they try to stop a nefarious plan by Doctor Doom and his minions.

Much of the game is a straightforward brawler that two players can participate in. Each hero has a few attacks and combos that employ button presses and movements of the Wii Remote or Nunchuk.

There is also a four-player battle mode similar to “Super Smash Bros.” or “Power Stone” – heroes and villains fight it out in customizable free-for-alls or team matches. The moves here are slightly different and more varied than in the brawler segments.

PICKS AND PANS

Wet

3 stars

If Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” movies had been made into a game, it might have looked something like “Wet.” Gun-for-hire Rubi Malone carries a sword and is definitely on a roaring rampage. But she also uses guns, firing them while running along walls, leaping through the air or sliding along the ground.

The action switches to slow-mo when Rubi pulls off an acrobatic move, allowing the player to target multiple enemies for quick kills. Extra points are awarded for mixing up Rubi’s moves while taking down hordes of henchmen.

The visuals are impressive; a graphical filter overlays the action, lending the look of scratched film and projector flicker to the proceedings.

Microsoft Xbox 360, also for Sony PlayStation 3; $59.99 • Age rating: Mature

Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes

2 1/2 stars

Set within the timeline of the “Clone Wars” computer- animated series, “Republic Heroes” offers a few flavors of “Star Wars” action for two players.

“Republic Heroes” switches between Jedi-focused and clone trooper-focused levels. In the former, players control Anakin, his apprentice Ahsoka, and other Jedi as they make their way through levels full of enemy droids and obstacles. Jedi attack up close with lightsabers and hurl waves of Force energy, and they’re agile. They can also hop onto and take control of certain droids.

In trooper stages, players control heavily armed soldiers as they run and gun through the level, picking up weapon boosts, such as thermal detonators, along the way.

The game is fun, though easy. The controls are generally responsive, though precision jumping and taking cover can present problems at times.

Nintendo Wii, also for Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, PC; $49.99 ($29.99 to $49.99 for other versions) • Age rating: Teen

Dragon Quest Wars

2 1/2 stars

A light strategy game starring monsters from the “Dragon Quest” series, “Dragon Quest Monsters” is an entertaining spinoff. On the player’s turn, the stylus is used to move monsters and select their actions. Then the actions are executed and the other side goes through the same process.

There’s a training mode to familiarize new players with the game’s concepts; after that, players can customize their own battle setups. There’s quite a bit of strategy involved in setting up a solid offense and defense with the various monsters and their powers, and with only four units per side, each move counts.

Nintendo DSi (DSiWare download); $5 (500 Nintendo Points)

• Age rating: 10-plus

– Justin Hoeger

Gambit and Daredevil face off with S.H.I.E.L.D. troopers in “Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2.”

In “Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2,” a battle between superheroes and the villain Nitro has left hundreds dead, prompting Congress to pass the Superhuman Registration Act: All beings with unusual powers must reveal their identities and register with the government, or face capture and imprisonment.

The super community is split down the middle. Iron Man heads up the faction that’s legalized and has been put in charge of hunting down the rebels, led by a disillusioned Captain America.

The player gets to choose which side to join after the first few levels of the game, which affects which missions will be available, which famous Marvel characters the player will be able to use and which they’ll fight against.

“MUA2″ plays a heck of a lot like the original. Players select a team of four superheroes and take them into beat-’em-up combat with a light RPG flavor. Up to four players can control these heroes, online or off.

Powers and abilities fall in line with each character’s nature. Wolverine attacks with his claws and heals over time, Mr. Fantastic stretches his limbs, the Human Torch throws fire, and so on. Many characters need to be unlocked, but once they’re available, a player can swap them in and out of the team at will. Forming specific groups of superhumans, such as the Fantastic Four, imparts a bonus for that team.

A new combat feature is Fusion attacks. Built up over time by defeating foes, Fusions allow any two characters to join for a powerful special move.

In a similar vein to “MUA2″ but not as complex, and aimed at a younger audience is “Marvel Super Hero Squad.” Based on the cutesy, big-headed line of Marvel toys and the show that goes with them, this two-player game features several heroes as they try to stop a nefarious plan by Doctor Doom and his minions.

Much of the game is a straightforward brawler that two players can participate in. Each hero has a few attacks and combos that employ button presses and movements of the Wii Remote or Nunchuk.

There is also a four-player battle mode similar to “Super Smash Bros.” or “Power Stone” – heroes and villains fight it out in customizable free-for-alls or team matches. The moves here are slightly different and more varied than in the brawler segments.

PICKS AND PANS

Wet

3 stars

If Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” movies had been made into a game, it might have looked something like “Wet.” Gun-for-hire Rubi Malone carries a sword and is definitely on a roaring rampage. But she also uses guns, firing them while running along walls, leaping through the air or sliding along the ground.

The action switches to slow-mo when Rubi pulls off an acrobatic move, allowing the player to target multiple enemies for quick kills. Extra points are awarded for mixing up Rubi’s moves while taking down hordes of henchmen.

The visuals are impressive; a graphical filter overlays the action, lending the look of scratched film and projector flicker to the proceedings.

Microsoft Xbox 360, also for Sony PlayStation 3; $59.99 • Age rating: Mature

Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes

2 1/2 stars

Set within the timeline of the “Clone Wars” computer- animated series, “Republic Heroes” offers a few flavors of “Star Wars” action for two players.

“Republic Heroes” switches between Jedi-focused and clone trooper-focused levels. In the former, players control Anakin, his apprentice Ahsoka, and other Jedi as they make their way through levels full of enemy droids and obstacles. Jedi attack up close with lightsabers and hurl waves of Force energy, and they’re agile. They can also hop onto and take control of certain droids.

In trooper stages, players control heavily armed soldiers as they run and gun through the level, picking up weapon boosts, such as thermal detonators, along the way.

The game is fun, though easy. The controls are generally responsive, though precision jumping and taking cover can present problems at times.

Nintendo Wii, also for Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, PC; $49.99 ($29.99 to $49.99 for other versions) • Age rating: Teen

Dragon Quest Wars

2 1/2 stars

A light strategy game starring monsters from the “Dragon Quest” series, “Dragon Quest Monsters” is an entertaining spinoff. On the player’s turn, the stylus is used to move monsters and select their actions. Then the actions are executed and the other side goes through the same process.

There’s a training mode to familiarize new players with the game’s concepts; after that, players can customize their own battle setups. There’s quite a bit of strategy involved in setting up a solid offense and defense with the various monsters and their powers, and with only four units per side, each move counts.

Nintendo DSi (DSiWare download); $5 (500 Nintendo Points)

• Age rating: 10-plus

– Justin Hoeger

Tyler Winston, 14, flanked by dad George Winston and friends, plays the video game “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2″ at the Antelope home of Steve and Tracey Mercado early Wednesday, just after the game’s midnight release.

Around the nation on Veterans Day, millions gathered to wage simulated war, not in honor of America’s veterans but in celebration of a slick, record-breaking video game release.

At the tick of midnight, store openings and long lines of gamers greeted the highly anticipated combat game, “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2,” and the buzz continued through the daylight hours.

On a quiet Antelope cul-de-sac, six high-definition TVs, including two 52-inch models, were set up in a sports memorabilia-festooned man cave for the occasion, and six devoted gamers – two teenagers and four adults – stared raptly at the screens.

“When they’re all online together, it’s like a little platoon,” said Tracey Mercado, whose husband and son were in the thick of the action. “You’ll hear, ‘Sniper! There’s a sniper in the tower!’ It’s very entertaining, I’ll tell you.”

In a scene repeated in dens and TV rooms around the world, the Antelope team played through the night, knocking off animated bad guys from Afghanistan to Russia to Rio de Janeiro, quitting at 4 a.m. when their pizza high finally wound down.

Then the team – Steve Mercado, 41; his son, Steven, 14; George Winston, 43, his son, Tyler, 14; Lawrence Anderson Jr., 40; and Tim Ross, 42 – gathered early on Veterans Day for more “Call of Duty” warfare.

“It’s a hobby,” said Mercado, a Postal Service employee. “It brings friends and family together. It’s all about the kids for the most part. I’m clearly the worst player out of all of us.”

“Thank you for admitting that,” said Ross, an electrician.

“It’s a testosterone thing,” said Mercado, the only military veteran in the group. “And the fact that the game was released on Veterans Day is patriotic.”

Although figures were not immediately available, industry experts expected “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2″ to shatter video game sales records. British newspapers reported that more than 1 million of the games sold there in one day’s time.

The clamor for the video game, the sixth in the “Call of Duty” series, was such that more than 10,000 retail outlets across the country opened at midnight Tuesday, according to the game’s publisher, Santa Monica-based Activision.

The floor at GameStop on Madison Avenue was quieter by Wednesday afternoon, but associate Cecilia Barragan was still talking about the business the shop had done the day before. On the store’s counter, a sign-up sheet was filled with signatures for an upcoming “Call of Duty” tournament.

“We had nonstop calls about ‘Call of Duty,’ ” she said.

The store’s midnight distribution of pre-ordered games lasted two hours. The game’s Xbox 360 version had sold out by 3 p.m. Tuesday, and the Playstation 3 compatibles were gone by evening, forcing the store to call in new orders.

At 6:30 p.m., 30 people were already in line, waiting to pick up copies beginning at midnight. And that was on top of the 500 pre-orders sitting in the storeroom.

Barragan said customers’ main complaint was the fact that the company’s server had crashed, leaving gamers disconnected, unable to compete online. Not surprisingly, massive global gamer anguish gave rise to a slew of unprintable statements on the company’s Web site.

But even with the game’s popularity – GameStop Corp. executives say the number of pre-orders was the highest in company history – tough times forced some at the Madison Avenue store to scale back orders or put off purchases.

“It’s a huge game, but with the economy, we’ve had people who did cancel,” Barragan said.

The game retails for $59.99, but the Holy Grail is its Prestige Edition, a $149.99 package that comes equipped with night-vision goggles.

“Everybody wants those night goggles,” said Rosemary Arrington, a manager at Best Buy on Arden Way. “We sold out the first day.”

In the Antelope man cave – Steve Mercado calls it “the war room” – the team went for the cheaper version, minus the night goggles.

The game’s appeal is simple and direct: Some people like to shoot things. Most of the time, we call them guys. The game brings death, destruction, loud sprays of gunfire, spreading pools of blood, a sophisticated musical score and really cool graphics into the homes of otherwise peace- loving people.

“I would hope it helps people realize not to go into the military, if you ask me,” said Mercado.

One of the game’s levels has generated particular controversy among less permissive parents for its depiction of hordes of innocent bystanders being mowed down by terrorists.

“I played that mission, and I didn’t want to shoot them,” said Mercado. “It hurt my stomach. Lawrence was like, ‘Do your job! Do your job!’ The whole airport gets slaughtered.”

“It’s just a cartoon,” said Anderson, who works for AT&T. “It’s not real. I’ve been playing video games since Atari was out. I know the difference between real and fake.”

And were the younger team members upset?

“Not really,” said Tyler.

“I know it’s a video game,” said Steven.

On ordinary days, they play the game together online after dinner. But Mercado and his friends planned the Veterans Day gathering months ago when they learned the new version would be released.

“I’m fascinated with military stuff,” said Ross. “It’s a chance to do that without really shooting anybody.”

From left, Lawrence Anderson Jr., Steve Mercado, George Winston, and Tim Ross, focus early Wednesday on the “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2″ battlefield: The six high-definition TVs in Mercado’s game room.

Tyler Winston, 14, flanked by dad George Winston and friends, plays the video game “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2″ at the Antelope home of Steve and Tracey Mercado early Wednesday, just after the game’s midnight release.

Around the nation on Veterans Day, millions gathered to wage simulated war, not in honor of America’s veterans but in celebration of a slick, record-breaking video game release.

At the tick of midnight, store openings and long lines of gamers greeted the highly anticipated combat game, “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2,” and the buzz continued through the daylight hours.

On a quiet Antelope cul-de-sac, six high-definition TVs, including two 52-inch models, were set up in a sports memorabilia-festooned man cave for the occasion, and six devoted gamers – two teenagers and four adults – stared raptly at the screens.

“When they’re all online together, it’s like a little platoon,” said Tracey Mercado, whose husband and son were in the thick of the action. “You’ll hear, ‘Sniper! There’s a sniper in the tower!’ It’s very entertaining, I’ll tell you.”

In a scene repeated in dens and TV rooms around the world, the Antelope team played through the night, knocking off animated bad guys from Afghanistan to Russia to Rio de Janeiro, quitting at 4 a.m. when their pizza high finally wound down.

Then the team – Steve Mercado, 41; his son, Steven, 14; George Winston, 43, his son, Tyler, 14; Lawrence Anderson Jr., 40; and Tim Ross, 42 – gathered early on Veterans Day for more “Call of Duty” warfare.

“It’s a hobby,” said Mercado, a Postal Service employee. “It brings friends and family together. It’s all about the kids for the most part. I’m clearly the worst player out of all of us.”

“Thank you for admitting that,” said Ross, an electrician.

“It’s a testosterone thing,” said Mercado, the only military veteran in the group. “And the fact that the game was released on Veterans Day is patriotic.”

Although figures were not immediately available, industry experts expected “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2″ to shatter video game sales records. British newspapers reported that more than 1 million of the games sold there in one day’s time.

The clamor for the video game, the sixth in the “Call of Duty” series, was such that more than 10,000 retail outlets across the country opened at midnight Tuesday, according to the game’s publisher, Santa Monica-based Activision.

The floor at GameStop on Madison Avenue was quieter by Wednesday afternoon, but associate Cecilia Barragan was still talking about the business the shop had done the day before. On the store’s counter, a sign-up sheet was filled with signatures for an upcoming “Call of Duty” tournament.

“We had nonstop calls about ‘Call of Duty,’ ” she said.

The store’s midnight distribution of pre-ordered games lasted two hours. The game’s Xbox 360 version had sold out by 3 p.m. Tuesday, and the Playstation 3 compatibles were gone by evening, forcing the store to call in new orders.

At 6:30 p.m., 30 people were already in line, waiting to pick up copies beginning at midnight. And that was on top of the 500 pre-orders sitting in the storeroom.

Barragan said customers’ main complaint was the fact that the company’s server had crashed, leaving gamers disconnected, unable to compete online. Not surprisingly, massive global gamer anguish gave rise to a slew of unprintable statements on the company’s Web site.

But even with the game’s popularity – GameStop Corp. executives say the number of pre-orders was the highest in company history – tough times forced some at the Madison Avenue store to scale back orders or put off purchases.

“It’s a huge game, but with the economy, we’ve had people who did cancel,” Barragan said.

The game retails for $59.99, but the Holy Grail is its Prestige Edition, a $149.99 package that comes equipped with night-vision goggles.

“Everybody wants those night goggles,” said Rosemary Arrington, a manager at Best Buy on Arden Way. “We sold out the first day.”

In the Antelope man cave – Steve Mercado calls it “the war room” – the team went for the cheaper version, minus the night goggles.

The game’s appeal is simple and direct: Some people like to shoot things. Most of the time, we call them guys. The game brings death, destruction, loud sprays of gunfire, spreading pools of blood, a sophisticated musical score and really cool graphics into the homes of otherwise peace- loving people.

“I would hope it helps people realize not to go into the military, if you ask me,” said Mercado.

One of the game’s levels has generated particular controversy among less permissive parents for its depiction of hordes of innocent bystanders being mowed down by terrorists.

“I played that mission, and I didn’t want to shoot them,” said Mercado. “It hurt my stomach. Lawrence was like, ‘Do your job! Do your job!’ The whole airport gets slaughtered.”

“It’s just a cartoon,” said Anderson, who works for AT&T. “It’s not real. I’ve been playing video games since Atari was out. I know the difference between real and fake.”

And were the younger team members upset?

“Not really,” said Tyler.

“I know it’s a video game,” said Steven.

On ordinary days, they play the game together online after dinner. But Mercado and his friends planned the Veterans Day gathering months ago when they learned the new version would be released.

“I’m fascinated with military stuff,” said Ross. “It’s a chance to do that without really shooting anybody.”

From left, Lawrence Anderson Jr., Steve Mercado, George Winston, and Tim Ross, focus early Wednesday on the “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2″ battlefield: The six high-definition TVs in Mercado’s game room.