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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Gamers’ gift guide: Know ratings, consoles to navigate game world

Isaac Handelman Correspondent

To parents of young gamers, the holiday shopping season can seem like a minefield. Which games will work with your kid’s console? Which titles are appropriate for young eyes, and which are better left to older teens and adults? Well, parents, this last-minute gift guide will help you navigate the ratings and the gaming jargon to ensure that your child sheds tears of joy, not sorrow, after they tear through your thoughtful wrapping job to reveal that brand new game.

Under the headings below, you’ll find games that work with each console, arranged by age-appropriateness. Keep in mind that games listed under younger age categories may also appeal to older children depending on their interests. Also, many of the titles described below are “multi-platform” games, which means that they are available on more than one console. Check the telltale colored band at the top of the game box for a clear indication of which console that particular disc will work with, and ask an employee if you’re confused.

Also, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the rating scale developed by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board, the primary method of content rating for games. Here are the important ones:

 E for “Everyone” – Appropriate for all ages.

 E10+ for “Everyone 10 and up”  – Appropriate for age 10 and older.

 T for “Teen”  – Appropriate for age 13 and older.

 M for “Mature”  – Appropriate for age 17 and older.

Now you’re ready to shop.

Xbox One

Young children

(ages 5-10)

• “Fantasia: Music Evolved,” Rated E: This music-oriented title was developed by Harmonix, responsible for the “Rock Band” and “Dance Central” games. It’s garnered considerable praise from critics and is sure to bring the entire family together with its Disney-oriented dance tunes and focus on rhythm. The catch is that “Fantasia” requires the use of the Kinect peripheral, a boxy black camera that sits below the TV. ($59.99 at amazon.com)

• “Skylanders: Trap Team Starter Pack,” Rated E10+: The “Skylanders” franchise is infamous among parents for the myriad extra toys that can be purchased to earn players additional in-game characters.

Pre-teens and teens (ages 11-15)

• “Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare,” Rated E10+: “Garden Warfare” is a multiplayer shooter game that places players in the shoes of a vast array of living plants. Its goofy, wildly creative aesthetic ensures that it’s nowhere near as violent as many of its genre brethren, making it a great pick for younger gamers looking to get in on the shooter scene. ($39.99 at GameStop.com)

PlayStation 4

Young children

• “LittleBigPlanet 3,” Rated E: For PlayStation gamers, it’s tough to go wrong with “LittleBigPlanet.” Small children will be drawn in by the game’s beautiful, hand-knitted aesthetic. They will also have the ability to team up with family members for the four-player “adventure mode.” Older players will have the know-how to mess around in the title’s extensive creation suite, which lets players craft their own games. ($59.99 at GameStop.com)

Pre-teens/teens • “DriveClub,” Rated E: This ambitious car-racing title encourages socialization and interaction with other players. The game has stunning graphics and has been heralded as being accessible for inexperienced players while possessing plenty of depth to be explored by seasoned racers. ($59.99 at amazon.com)

Wii U

Young children

• “Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker,” Rated E: A spinoff of the wildly popular “Mario” series,  “Captain Toad” is a fine pick for Wii U players of all ages. Its adorable characters and bright, colorful worlds should entrance young players, while its engaging puzzles and varied nature will keep them playing. ($39.99 at GameStop.com)

Pre-teens/teens

• “Super Smash Bros. for Wii U,”  Rated E10+: “Super Smash Bros.” is a continuation of one of the most popular fighting game series in gaming history, but no prior experience with the titles is needed for your kids to enjoy the title’s fun, frenetic action. Plenty of depth exists for kids that like to get fully immersed in games, and more-casual players will find lots to enjoy in the game’s enormous character roster and insane group battles, which allow up to eight players to duke it out on a single Wii U. ($59.99 at amazon.com)

Nintendo 3DS/Nintendo 3DS XL/Nintendo 2DS

All 3DS/3DS XL/2DS game boxes simply say “Nintendo 3DS,” but fear not; every 3DS game is compatible with both the 3DS XL and the 2DS. They are not, however, compatible with the Nintendo DS, Nintendo DS Lite, Nintendo DSi or Nintendo DSi XL. Ask a clerk if you’re confused.

Young children

• “Pokemon Omega Ruby/Pokemon Alpha Sapphire,” Rated E: Pokemon games release in pairs, which can make purchasing them as gifts a confusing proposition. But “Omega Ruby” and “Alpha Sapphire” are nearly identical, so pick the one whose box art your kid will dig the most. These accessible role-playing games are loved by gamers of just about every age. ($39.99 at GameStop.com)

Pre-teens/young teens

• “Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS,”  Rated E10+: This fighting title is mechanically identical to the Wii U version of the game (see above) and contains some nifty options to play with others on the WiiU. ($39.99 at amazon.com)

PlayStation Vita

Be careful not to mistake your child’s PlayStation Portable (PSP) for a PlayStation Vita. The two consoles look quite similar, but their games are not compatible.

Pre-teens/young teens

• “Freedom Wars,”  Rated T: This unique action title pits players against one another in fast-paced multiplayer battles. Its stylized look isn’t for everyone, but the exciting blend of action and strategy should make it an appealing option for your Vita-owning child who, quite frankly, is starved for games due to the overwhelming lack of support for the platform. ($29.99 at GameStop.com)

• “Final Fantasy X-X2 HD,” Rated T: A remastering of two of the most revered titles in the history of role-playing-games, this dual-pack gives Vita players the alluring chance to take the games’ complex narrative and stellar combat on the go. ($29.99 at GameStop.com)

Xbox 360

See descriptions in Xbox One section

Young children

• “Fantasia: Music Evolved,” Rated E.

• “Skylanders: Trap Team Starter Pack,” Rated E10+. Pre-teens/young teens

• “Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare,” Rated E10+.

PlayStation 3

Young children

• “LittleBigPlanet 3,” Rated E: See description in PlayStation 4 section.

• “Skylanders: Trap Team Starter Pack,” Rated E10+: See XBox section.

Pre-teens/young teens

• “Minecraft: PlayStation 3 Edition,” Rated E10+: Though the Minecraft sensation has already swept most of the world, the game’s PlayStation 3 edition released only a short time ago, meaning that PS3 gamers are less likely to have already experienced the game’s cave-digging, pig-chasing goodness. ($19.99 at GameStop.com)

Wii

Young children

• “Skylanders: Trap Team Starter Pack,” Rated E10+: See discription in the XBox section.($74.99 at amazon.com)

• “Just Dance 2015,” Rated E10+: The “Just Dance” series has become an annual powerhouse of the games industry. Each installment imbues the series with a pack of the newest pop songs as well as old favorites that might just encourage you to jump off the couch and dance with your kids. ($39.99 at amazon.com) 

PC

If your kid plays games on a computer powered by the Windows operating system, then these titles are compatible. Be sure to check the system requirements on the box to make sure your computer can handle the game, and – as always – ask a clerk if you’re confused.

Pre-teens/young teens

• “World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor,”  Rated T: If you’re all right with encouraging investment in a highly addictive game, then the latest expansion set, “Warlords of Draenor,” is guaranteed to make your WoW-playing offspring squeal with delight. ($49.99 at GameStop.com)

More online:

A longer version of this story with recommendations for older teens and adults can be found online on the Tech Deck blog, www.spokesman.com/ blogs/tech-deck.