Since its Friday and we'd rather be playing games today than writing about them, we thought we'd share some of our favorites with you!
What are your favorites for each category? Post them in our comments section.
What started out as a popular arcade game has become a great activity for kids of all ages - moms and dads, too. By following arrow cues on the screen and moving your feet in the correct sequence on the dance mat controller, you earn points. Make your moves correct more that four steps in a row and you earn combo points. Your accuracy is rated from BOO to PERFECT with a few levels in between.
DDR Extreme 2 is the best DDR to date and is the best one for beginners. It has a beginners mode in the Free Play area that is not too daunting for the average person. Once you have gained confidence at the beginner level, you can move up to Light, Standard and Heavy. This version has some great songs - ones you will recognize - like Genie in a Bottle, Play that Funky Music, and Pump up the Volume.
The Dance Master Mode is a lot of fun too. You pick from two songs and then try to perform the challenge - could be get a certain number of points, certain number combo, or similar. As you pass through the matrix it becomes progressively more difficult. As you complete sections of the course you earn the ability to unlock new songs. This is a great way to work out, moms!!
There is also a Workout Mode, but I prefer the Dance Master Mode if I am working out alone. For a fun afternoon of family fitness, take turns in Free Play mode. The person who's turn it is, dances on the mat for a score, and those who are waiting practice using an imaginary mat. One afternoon my daughters and I did this for about 3 hours - let's just say I was sore the next day.
Dance Dance Revolution is really a great family activity! It brings together fitness and fun that all ages can enjoy.
Rated E for Everyone, Pixar's Cars video game serves up lots of fun for all ages! Basically you relive the movie through the game. You can race in the Piston Cup, explore Radiator Springs, go Tractor Tipping with Mater, change Lightning's paint scheme and more. The graphics are just as good in the game as they were in the movie.
The game has multiple modes, including story mode, arcade mode, mulitple player mode and bonus games. Younger players may find the games confusing at first, but keep trying. Older, more experienced gamers may not find the games as challenging as some other race games, but overall, the game is a good value due to the quality of the graphics, variety of activities, and of course, the characters.
Tips:
Do you have anymore Cars tips or cheats? Post them here in our comments!
*****
Speaking of Cars, can you imagine what it might cost to insure those cars and drivers? Even if it was just temporary, I think I would want insurance for anyone driving my cars and would want to compare car insurance prices first. By choosing my state, various services and add ons, I would want to arrive at the lowest price possible.
Disney's Virtual Magic Kingdom is a great game for girls and boys from ages 7-16. It's interactive, but very well moderated. Here are some tips we have learned along the way:
Do you have anymore VMK tips? Post them here in our comments!
Burnout 3 Takedown is a high energy game full of things boys like best - racing cars and crashes. Pick from 70 cars and 40 different tracks. Race your car to the front of the pack and take out your opponents along the way. The graphics are really good and it is full of action, but it is rated Teen.
For those who have the game already, here are a few tips:
During a race, Take Downs will slow down the other racers, and give you more boost to get you even farther away from the pack.
In crash mode, try to get the 2x, 4x, or crash breaker pick-ups.
To unlock the fire truck collect all 20 all crash headlines.
To unlock the oval racer special, collect all signature takedowns.
You can use impact time to steer your car whenever you crash to score aftertouch takedowns or get to places other crashers can’t reach (or get pick-ups) by using the R1 button.
Disney's Virtual Magic Kingdom is an online place for tweens to hang out. Membership is free, no email address required. The game is moderated by VMK's staff and is only open certain hours each day.
Each user creates a screen name and selects a character. Once you have created a character, you select your own virtual room which you can decorate with items you pick up throughout the game. Earn virtual credits by playing games, doing quests, and participating in special events. Purchase virtual items in the shops using your credits. Users can chat with others, make trades and create a friends list.
The Disney team has done a great job with the security in VMK - many words are auto censored including numbers and other potentially personal info.
Look in Disney movies and other products for secret codes for rare and unusual items. You can also visit Disney theme parks for other specials.
If you go to Disneyworld in Orlando, check out an Orlando Vacation Rental and make it your home base while you visit the different theme parks. Orlando is the number one vacation destination in the US and one of the fastest growing communites, too. The Orlando area offers a wide range of life styles for all ages, including upscale gated neighborhoods; golf course communities; charming, old-fashioned towns, rural communities and areas with excellent schools. You'll be close enough to the 7 theme parks to catch all the action, collect your VMK codes, and see all your favorite characters.
This is the debut of our Video Game Tips site. We will be providing tips, tricks, cheats, and reviews of online games, PS2, GBA, XBox, and other handheld games.
