STUART LITTLE 2: Sony Computer Entertainment of America, MSRP $39.99, PlayStation, PS One. Rated E for everyone.
Stuart Little's got quite an adventure going. He and his cute-canary friend, Margalo, are journeying around Manhattan in a game that's certain to entertain young players. But more than that, it's a wonderful primer to get a newbie started on video games.
Developed by Magenta Software, the game's moves are both simple and well-explained. The story's cute, the colors bright, the characters very likable. But the best part is that the game, while simple, is constructed with real challenges that require strategy. That's a good thing. And it's challenging enough that it's not just for the very young. Older players have to think their way through it, as well.
Graphically, the characters look better than the settings, though they are nicely varied. By the time you're through, for instance, you'll know Stuart Little's house very well. You'll also have swum through an aquarium, visited Central Park and done a fair amount of cross-city traveling, part of it by small plane.
It takes seven levels to conquer, at which point most adults will probably set the game aside and be done with it. Younger gamers will happily go back again and again.
MARK OF KRI, Sony Computer Entertainment of America, MSRP $49.99, PlayStation 2, Rated M for mature audiences.
"Stuart Little 2" couldn't be more different from "Mark of Kri," a SCEA (the San Diego office did it all) offering that's also aimed at a very different audience. It earns its M rating, since to reach the goal you have to hack, slash and arrow your way through your enemies.
The fate of the world rests with a fellow named Rau, who carries the mark of Kri and is therefore uniquely equipped to battle enemies to keep evil from being unleashed into the world.
He travels with a large black bird who serves at times as his eyes on a broader world (you can send it ahead to get a bird's-eye view, which is important if you're going to spot the enemies and goals lurking just out of sight. The bird's also a big help at retrieving items and distracting foes. Rau carries a broadsword, bow and arrow, an ax and a spear. And he uses them. A lot.
Gamers who like fast adventure or pure strategy buffs likely won't like "Mark of Kri." But it does in fact require some strategy — sometimes just plain sneakiness — to move on to the next level. You have to shoot a gong, for instance, to distract a guard so you can sneak around and attack.
SCEA has come up with an interesting system that uses both analog sticks and every other button you can imagine in attacks that allow Rau to battle up to nine enemies at once, using a combination of moves and weapons. It's pretty sophisticated stuff. It's not easy, though it quickly becomes fairly intuitive.
The sound effects are a weakness. The music gets monotonous, and the grunting gets downright irritating.
It also loads very slowly, which I found irksome.
The graphics and the need for both strategy and daring are going to win this game some major fans. Just remember, if you're of an age to call "Stuart Little 2" your favorite game, you shouldn't even be in the room when "Mark of Kri" is played.
E-MAIL: lois@desnews.com