I think I've been shell-shocked. I've stared down the sights of one too many rickety rifles, cleared out an incredible number of German foxholes, and seen far too many debris-littered countrysides inspired by the visuals of Saving Private Ryan. A few years ago, European Assault may have been a great game, but for a veteran of the many WWII shooters out there, this war's been going on too damn long.
But for new recruits who have yet to see the horrors of the battlefield, European Assault ain't half bad. The enormous, open-ended levels let you scout for additional objectives and mini-bosses, and you're frequently flanked by companions, which allows for some simple squad commands—though weak A.I. tends to limit those orders to "get off your ass and do something" or "you're in the line of fire, so duck anytime you feel like it." But as long as you're not dying for your tour of duty to end, the latest Medal of Honor offers plenty of Nazi-blasting fun.
DONKEY KONGA 2: HIT SONG PARADE (T) (3.5 stars)
Nintendo
GameCube
If the first Donkey Konga was the banana, Donkey Konga 2 is the peel. It certainly adds something to the original, but nothing particularly appetizing. With few new innovations, the sequel is more of an expansion pack with new songs. And while the rhythm gameplay is still embarrassingly addictive, the new songs don't suit the dynamic as well as the old ones. Imagine Incubus, Pink, or Good Charlotte tunes played with bongos.
METAL SLUG 4 & 5 (T) (3.5 stars)
SNK NeoGeo
PlayStation 2
These enduring, quarter-gobbling classics still rock, though they get harder to find as arcades grow scarcer. So Metal Slug 4 & 5 have come to PS2 with their unique brand of goofy, side-scrolling violence. But as awesome as these titles are, $40 seems pricey. They could have three other games on the disc, call it an anniversary collection, and sell it for $20.
GRAND THEFT AUTO: SAN ANDREAS (M) (5 stars)
Rockstar
Xbox
At last, everyone who thought Halo 2 was last year's best game can see how wrong they were. San Andreas finally makes it to Xbox, and its satirical versions of LA, San Francisco and Las Vegas have never looked better. This port leaves out the lengthier load times and adds a customizable sound track—not that you need one when you have the game's own remarkably diverse radio stations. A must-play for everyone. Period.
Matthew Scott Hunter has been known to mumble, "Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start" in his sleep. E-mail him at
[email protected].