Bats, balls, fists

By Doug Elfman
The Game Dork

I do enjoy comparing video games to art, ex-girlfriends and philosophy. But a whole slate of sports and fighting games just came out, so I need to cut to the bone this week.
• "Def Jam: Icon" -- This is the coolest fighting game in a while. You portray Ghostface Killah and other rappers who beat on each other in real settings, like gas stations and penthouses.
Heavy beats of their rap songs cause earthquake shakes and rattling buildings. Even better, you throw rivals into obstacles, such as a gas pump, scratch music like a DJ, and the gas pump blows up and tosses your rival (on fire!) through the air.
It retails for $60 for PS 2 and Xbox 360. Plays very fun, alone or online; looks great; it's difficult; rated "M" for blood, strong lyrics and violence. Four stars out of four.

• "Virtua Fighter 5" -- This sequel in the street-fighting series doesn't offer much new, but it does a capable job of resurrecting "Virtua Fighter" characters and their signature punches and kicks for the PlayStation 3 for the first time.
It retails for $60 for PS 3. Plays pretty fun, like an old-school fighter (but lacks online gaming); looks very good; it's moderately difficult; rated "T" for suggestive themes and violence. Three stars.

• "Major League Baseball 2K7" -- Fantastic baseball. The game play is very easy to figure out, but not too easy to win. Pitching is particularly sweet. And there are 300 real player attributes. For instance, New York Yankees pitcher Chien-Ming Wang takes forever to finish his windup.
Retails for $60 for PS 3 and Xbox 360; $30 for PS 2 and Xbox; and $40 for PSP. Plays addictively fun alone or against gamers online; looks great; it's moderately difficult; rated "E." Four stars.

• "NBA Street Homecourt" -- Draft your own streetball teams, such as the trio of Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal and Jason Kidd. This is like old "Street" games (20-foot-high dunks, etc.), except it was made for high-definition Xbox 360 and PS 3, so the look is even more lifelike.
Retails for $60 for Xbox 360 and PS 3. Plays fun in a limited way (there's not much gaming beyond crazy trick plays); looks awesome; it's easy to moderately difficult; rated "E." Two and one-half stars.

• "MVP '07 NCAA Baseball" -- This is one of the worst-looking baseballers on the market. Players look like bad cartoons. But if you're looking for a workhorse game and don't mind the butt-ugliness, "MVP" plays similar to just-fine baseball games from 2002.
Retails for $30 for PS 2. Plays passably OK; looks yucky; it's easy to moderately difficult; rated "E." Two stars.

• "MLB '07: The Show" -- This baseballer would have been great five years ago. Now, it seems old, looks silly and relies on very old game play mechanics where you pitch by plotting points on an arc.
Retails for $40 for PS 2 and PSP. Plays poorly (but offers online gaming); looks archaic; it's moderately difficult; rated "E." One star.

• "Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007"-- "Winning Eleven" used to be the best soccer game, but this winter that honor goes to "FIFA Soccer '07" (three and one-half stars), a superior-looking game that makes dribbling easier.
Retails for $50 for Xbox, $40 for PS 2 and PSP; $30 for DS. Plays OK; looks poor; it's moderately difficult; rated "E." Two stars.