GAME OF THE WEEK: MOVING AND SHAKING FOR ALL THE FAMILY

Oct 2 2008 by Iain Laing, The Journal

Title: Family Trainer: Outdoor Challenge

Platform: Wii

Genre: Sports

Price: £49.99

ASIN: B0019KAP9G

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We all know the science behind what a bit of Wii Fit can do for your weight and yoga performance, but the Wii is all about fun while Family Trainer looks to get everyone involved in the fitness thing with a dance-mat style peripheral and some crazy sports.

From river rafting and mine karting to log jumping and rope skipping, this will work more than just your arms, as your feet get in on the act for total body gameplay. It’s well presented and ticks every family appeal box you could imagine. Without taking itself too seriously, Family Trainer manages to dish out a hefty dose of console fitness for all ages – and where else can you ride through a mineshaft, Indiana Jones-style?

PURE ADRENALIN RUSH IN THE OFFROAD-RACING WORLD

Title: Pure

Platform: Xbox 360

Genre: Racing

Price: £39.99

ASIN: B001910ITC

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In a gridlocked, over-populated genre, Pure takes you to the highest peak of the great outdoors, screams “This is different!” and then throws you off the mountain.

That’s the kind of feeling you can expect midway through a race, but you’ll have no time to appreciate the beauty of this game as you try to bust half a dozen extreme stunts in your descent to terra firma. Perfecting the full repertoire of tricks is more than an added extra to winning races – it’s crucial to your success. All this makes for over-the-top racing fun that should be snapped up as soon as you’ve wiped the mud from your visor.

SPOILT FOR CHOICE IN THE ICE HOCKEY GENRE

Title: NHL 2K9

Platform: Xbox 360

Genre: Ice Hockey

Price: £39.99

ASIN: B001EEDFOE

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Hot on the heels of this month’s release of EA’s brilliant NHL 09, 2K9 was always going to have its work cut out to match or even surpass the on-ice achievements of its rival.

Overall, this puck-fest comes a creditable second, opting for a cross between arcade and simulator action with the kind of cool presentation that gives 2K9 its unique feel. Controls are simple and intuitive enough to start slap-shotting pretty soon, but there are plenty of intricacies to master as the difficulty ramps up. The obligatory online option boosts replay value but, head to head, there’s only one winner – just.

PROVE YOU CAN LOOK AFTER YOUR PETS

Title: My Pet Hotel 2

Platform: Nintendo DS

Genre: Animals

Price: £29.99

ASIN: B00170MX7U

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If you or your children are animal lovers, you won’t fail to find a furry friend that tickles your fancy here. And there’s no smell.

In fact, it’s probably the ultimate pet care programme for people thinking of buying the real thing as you get the chance to look after your very own fish, budgies, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, dogs or even horses. The premise is as you’d expect: feed them, keep their enclosures clean, play with them, get new toys for them and ride them (well, the horses) in the countryside. It’s all colourfully and cutely delivered on the DS and will no doubt prompt questions of “Can I have a real one?” in households up and down the country. Furry, feathered fun.

TROT ON, UNLESS YOU’RE HOT FOR HORSES

Title: Tim Stockdale’s Riding Star

Platform: Nintendo DS

Genre: Equestrian

Price: £29.99

ASIN: B00170MWSA

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After two decades in the equestrian world, Tim Stockdale could tell you a thing or two about horseriding, but is virtual equestrianism one jump too far for the British legend?

Well, there’s no doubt that Riding Star fulfils every young girl’s dream of riding a horse, taking part in showjumping, dressage and cross-country. Smooth gameplay and good graphics make this a solid title of this kind, adding to the growing horseplay on the DS. As you can imagine, horses really need to be your thing if you’re to get the most from this title, and Grand Theft Auto IV fans need not apply. But if you want to perfect your grooming, jumping and everything in between, Tim’s your man.

WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT

Wii gamers will be disappointed to hear Rockstar has announced it has no immediate plans to port its smash hit Grand Theft Auto IV on to Nintendo’s motion-sensing machine. However, the developer has been working on a release for the DS. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is pencilled in for release in winter.

In the charts this week, the force was strong as the latest Star Wars title storm-trooped into top spot, leaving Wii Fit in second place. Mario Kart Wii climbed three places to third and Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning made an impressive top 10 debut at four.

GAMES CHART: ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE

1. (-) Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

2. (5) Wii Fit

3. (6) Mario Kart Wii

4. (-) Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning

5. (2) Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09

6. (1) Mercenaries 2: World in Flames

7. (10) Wii Play

8. (7) Carnival: Funfair Games

9. (9) TNA Impact

10.(3) Spore

Charts by Chart Track, Elspa (UK) Ltd