Button Mash This

In honour of Valentine’s Day… it’s all about playing TOGETHER. Sharing means caring with my list of multiplayer favs for love day. So grab your significant other and snuggle up whilst competing in these video games built for two.

RACING GAMES
Guys love cars. And the Burnout series has been satisfying the male desire to virtually destroy expensive shiny things for years now. I love the Burnout games because the focus is not necessarily on better performance, but rather on total and utter destruction… the worse driver you are, the better! So it seemed like an appropriate choice for couples who are always ragging on each other’s driving skills. Take the fighting during rush hour gridlock off the highway and re-direct that road rage into happy co-player explosions instead. There’s loads of different versions to pick up — Burnout 3: Takedown and Burnout: Revenge for the consoles or Burnout Legends and Burnout Dominator for the PSP handheld — each with their own levels of greatness. But if you really wanna blow their minds away and get that heart racing, you may wanna try out the newest game to the franchise, Burnout Paradise.

FIGHTING GAMES
When your girl doesn’t know how to play video games but she makes an effort to play with you (because she loves you!), she’ll just mash her thumbs all over the controller until something happens on screen. For this reason, fighting games are perfect for mutual entertainment. While you’re trying to impress her by remembering some complex intricate button combination for the ultimate finishing move, she’ll just be wailing away relentlessly with little regard to strategy until she wins — and she will because those damn button mashers always win! And you’ll think it’s adorable because you’ll just be glad it wasn’t one of your buddies who totally tore your virtual torso into pieces! Who better to own your sorry ass anyways? When it comes to this genre of games, 3D is where its at. So try a Soul Calibur title. And if you managed to get her hooked onto it long after February comes and goes, then keep in mind Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. Brawl comes out on March 9 for the Wii.

RHYTHM GAMES
I have yet to meet anyone who will not try a rhythm game. This genre is a special breed amongst gaming culture because it’s easily the most accessible and it appeals to the masses by seducing you with classic licensed music that puts everyone in the mood. Why not serenade each other in a SingStar duet or bust out your sexiest moves on Dance Dance Revolution. But if you’re both up for the sweaty challenge, than nothing beats neverending rock sessions playing Guitar Hero or Rock Band.

Still haven’t found the right present for your special someone? Just get them a DS already, seriously. Even if they have never mentioned it before or showed any interest. Trust me. I’m convinced it’s THE best present in the world and no one can resist this handheld king. 5 year olds play them. 35 year olds play them. Boys and girls play them… together even… and online even if they live far away from each other, ideal for the long distance relationship troopers. It’s also perfect for commuters, so they’ll have something keeping them occupied while travelling on the bus or subway to your house. With a HUGE catalog of software currently available in every style and flavour you could possibly imagine, there is bound to be at least a handful of games your love will just adore as much as you. Be warned though, they may end up spending more time with it than with you! <3

In honour of all the ridiculous snow in Toronto lately, I thought it’d be fun to compile a list of “games for snowy days”… and they’re all pretty cheap as well. So put down your shovels and pick up your controllers… it’s time to play!

LOST PLANET: EXTREME CONDITION [xbox360, ps3]
I bought a 360 on new years eve. And although I have yet to play any other game on it except Rock Band, there’s a LONG list of titles I’m dying to pick up and try. Among them is this one… about blasting gigantic alien bugs on some far off distant planet in subzero temperature on nearly barren terrains. And that’s pretty much it, but what more do you need really? The graphics look absolutely sick and because it’s been out for a year now (to the day), it can be found in most gaming stores for around $30 on the 360. The PS3 version is due out two weeks from today on Feb 26.

PROJECT SNOWBLIND [xbox, ps2]
Not all of us can afford to hop onto the “next-gen” (I think it’s safe to call it current gen now) bandwagon. For those of you still rocking it “old school”, I highly suggest this 1st person shooter. Admittedly, there’s little to do with snow (I chose it entirely based on the name alone!). But this title was considered a great alternative for playstation owners wanting a Halo-like experience. Personally, I enjoyed it more than Halo… though I’m not much of a Master Chief fan myself. You can find it for under $20 - used or new, if you look around. So there’s no excuse not to try it!

SSX BLUR [wii]
I can’t forget about my beloved Wii now, can I? Snowboarding game - kind of a given, eh. No matter which way you slice it, the SSX franchise has been pumping out great installments of their alternative sports game since the days of the original SSX on the PS2. Man, we’ve been playing this one for a looong time. So if you’re tired of the same old traditional control scheme, why not give it a go on your wii-mote and nunchuck. It’s also a budget title now - priced at a mere $25. Working up a sweat flailing your arms about is sure to keep you warm and toasty all through the winter!

I usually have no interest in anything Microsoft or X-Box related. But with the popularity around a franchise like Halo, it’s kind of hard for even the most devoted among us, like ourselves and fellow game bloggers Infendo, to resist posting about items like these.

Personally, I don’t think they are that hideous. Speaking as a Nintendo fan, I’ve grown more than accustomed to heavy big-N branding on most of my accessories. Mario and his large extended family are on everything from cases to… well more cases. But heck, we like it that way! So what do you think — exploitation or marketing genius?