Video Game Review

CHICAGO – It takes some time to truly appreciate the accomplishments of the development team behind the multiplayer portion of the highly-anticipated “Battlefield 3.” At first, it’s total chaos. Running, explosions, buildings breaking, planes crashing, more running — in the moment, the multiplayer of “Battlefield 3” is such an adrenalin rush that it can be difficult to truly assess it critically. You’re too busy trying to not to get killed again.

CHICAGO – “Frogger 3D” should have been a slam dunk. Take a beloved, nostalgic franchise and upgrade it for an exciting new console.

CHICAGO – Either you’re old enough to have played “ICO” and “Shadow of the Colossus,” two of the most influential video games of all time, or you’ve surely heard about them over the years that critics have been placing them on higher and higher pedestals. Do they live up the adoration that has been placed at their feet?

CHICAGO – After months and months of speculation, “Grand Theft Auto V” has officially been announced as in production by Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive Software. Rockstar Games started the hype for the next game in the very popular open-world franchise when they changed their sites to an image of the game’s logo with the words “Trailer 11.02.11.”

CHICAGO – “NBA 2K12” is tough. And I mean that in the most complimentary way. I’m old enough to remember basketball games that were all about the timing of a button press but 2K Sports has revolutionized the way we simulate the game in the comfort of our own homes. The detailed controls along with the best audio/video presentation yet produced for this award-winning series make this a strong contender for the best sports game of the year.

CHICAGO – Rocksteady’s “Batman: Arkham City” is everything you’ve hoped it could be and everything you’ve read that it is and more. It is the best game to hit the market since “Red Dead Redemption” and a likely choice for 2011’s Game of the Year unless something miraculously tops it in the next two months.

CHICAGO – The world of “Ratchet & Clank” has always seemed like a perfect fit for co-operative play. It’s right there in the title. The award-winning games have long been about teamwork between their central characters and so turning them into a co-op family adventure probably seemed like a no-brainer.

CHICAGO – A release date has been set for the next generation of portable game playing from Sony. The Sony Vita will be released to the US, Canada, Latin America, and Europe on February 22, 2012.

CHICAGO – For years, there were competitions for the allegiance of certain sports fanatics. There were dozens of baseball games and there’s still a heated debate between the 2K fans and those loyal to “MLB The Show.” But when it comes to hockey, there’s no contest. No one else even grabs a puck. The world of simulated ice hockey belongs to EA and their latest conquest, “NHL 12,” proves why.

CHICAGO – Imagine this — an X-Men game in which you don’t play a known member of the legendary team. Want to rage with Wolverine’s claws, shoot beams with Cyclops’ eyes, or rain chaos with Storm? Well, you’ll have to go back to the last “Marvel Ultimate Alliance” game to do so because they’re not playable here.