In praise of ladders, paper bags and palm trees

"Graffiti Kingdom"
In "Graffiti Kingdom" one can not only be a mop bucket, but take that bucket out for some serious battling.

You are Prince Pixel tasked with rescuing the Canvas Kingdom from a demon ... and that’s all the background you need to know. This is a kid-friendly fantasy game with the usual assortment of poor dialogue "crafted" to appeal to children as well as cloying, repetitive music.

So put the game on mute. The real hook is a drawing tool that allows players to create their own creatures and test them in battle.

Anyone with even half of a right brain can master the tool. Using the PlayStation 2 thumbstick, players draw two-dimensional shapes. A click of the button turns a circular squiggle into a three-dimensional object that can rotate along the X, Y and Z axis. Change the width of the shape, then add color. Draw and attach arms, legs, tails and various flappy things, applying the same level of customization.

“Graffiti Kingdom” animates the newly created blob, accentuating deformities. One of my creatures was cursed with one leg being shorter than the other and it hopped around. But another creature with long spindly arms smacked down evil minions like a Claymation Wilt Chamberlain.

The player can map out various kicks, punches and jumps to their keypad for each monster, including movement style -- do you want it to shuffle or dance? You can also pick from an assortment of yelps and growls. In later stages of the game special powers, weapons and additional appendages — such as wheels or wings for flying — become available.

The animation style bears a passing resemblance to old fashioned Claymation, lending creatures a more tactile, sculptured and whimsical quality.

Taito In "Graffiti Kingdom" a simple drawing tool enables killer creations.

Game play combines basic punch-kick-punch fighting with some of the most creative strategizing in console gaming. In other games what passes for strategy is often simply finding secret passages or hopping from one precarious perch to another. "Graffiti Kingdom," on the other hand, requires that players conquer difficult situations by drawing their way out of them. Everything from facing a particularly nasty boss to trying to leap over an insurmountable wall comes with a right brain solution.   

Players may not be able to draw their way out of a paper bag. But drawing a paper bag with a missile launcher? Now that's something else entirely.

"The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction"
The title says it all. Game makers Radical Entertainment have created large free-roaming environments loaded with combustible vehicles and fuel tanks. 

Playing as the green guy, players search for a cure to his anger management problem all the while battling General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross who throws troops, helicopters and the occasional secret weapon at him.

And what does the Hulk throw back in return?  Everything but the kitchen sink.

Much of the assets populating this game's colorful and three-dimensional environments can be manipulated to devastating effect. Palm trees can be uprooted to swat cops like golf balls. No city bus or passing car is unpluckable. And fleeing soldiers can be picked up and hurled into their band of brothers with ease.

Vivendi It's not easy being green

Game controls are built around enabling a mind-numbing number of combinations attacks like backslaps and stomps, punts and hammer smashes, even a deadly knee groin move. Ouch!

Even when not actually destroying objects, the Hulk is destroying objects. His hundred-foot high jumps end up cracking the pavement.  Running up the walls of buildings — a neat little trick — rupture cornices and send debris clattering to the street below.

There's just enough explosive details and real-world physics tricks to keep the player interested long after the plot wears thin. Those seeking the answer to the long sought question of whether or not a hovering helicopter can be downed by hurling a fast food sign at it will not be disappointed.

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