06/01/2011

Allen Rausch

When looking for gaming options during tough economic times, it’s good to remember that many publishers will re-release excellent games a few years after their initial release as part of a line of value-priced classic games.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, by Nintendo for Wii and Nintendo Game Cube, $19.99, Rated T.

When looking for gaming options during tough economic times, it’s good to remember that many publishers will re-release excellent games a few years after their initial release as part of a line of value-priced classic games. Case in point are four new “Nintendo Selects” games recently released that can net you three really good titles and one undisputed classic for only $19.95 a piece.

The absolute star of the collection is The Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess. Originally released in 2006, this installment of the long-running action-adventure series calls on the player to rescue the land of Hyrule from mysterious shadow monsters that are pulling the kingdom into a dark dimension. Twilight Princess was hailed as a work of genius when it was first released. While the graphics are showing their age five years on, the challenge of solving puzzles, fighting monsters as both a human and a wolf, and exploring the vast land of Hyrule is as much fun as ever. This title alone could easily consume your entire summer.

The other games in the collection are also nothing to sneeze at. Mario Super Sluggers is a sort of “baseball party” filled with mini-games and a simplified version of America’s pastime starring Mario and his friends. Animal Crossing: City Folk is an adorably gentle, slow moving, totally non-violent “life simulator” that involves planting and harvesting vegetables, decorating your house, catching insects, and exploring a park-like universe with surprises around every corner. Finally, Wii Sports, the original pack-in game that came with the Wii system, is available in a box for those who never played it. While all are good deals, getting Twilight Princess for a mere $19.99 is basically a steal.

Also out …

• Mario Super Sluggers, by Nintendo for Wii, $19.99, Rated E.

• Animal Crossing: City Folk, by Nintendo for Wii, $19.99, Rated E.

• Wii Sports, by Nintendo for Wii, $19.95, Rated E.