GAME REVIEWS

ESO 2 Students School Year 2010-11 INS La Llauna

Task 7

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Looking for a way to chill out during your

summer holidays?

Looking for a game to play with your

friends?

If you read these game reviews, you’ll

probably find a game that suits you.

ESO 2 students from La Llauna recommend

some of their favourite games. They

include board games and computer or

video games.

Enjoy!

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BOARD GAMES

Blokus

Blokus is a strategy family game. This game was

created by Bernard Tavitian in 2000.

To play this game you need a special board and

twenty-one pieces of four different colours that the

pack game includes. Your goal is to put as many pieces as possible on the

board. Each player has twenty-one pieces of different sizes and different

colours (blue, yellow, red and green). You've got to put your pieces on the

board making them touch only at the corners. Flat edges of the same colour

can't be connected. This rule only affects the pieces which have the same

colour. This game is a strategic game because you have to try to block your

opponent's pieces while you're trying to put all your pieces on the board.

This game is good because it trains your brain when you try to think of a

strategy and you can have fun with your family or friends, too. The worst

things about this game are that the game has some small pieces that can get

lost and that the game can end up with an argument between players because

it is an absolutely competitive game.

I recommend Blokus because I have enjoyed it every time I have played

although sometimes I argue with the other players about the rules.

by Berta

4

Cluedo

Cluedo is a popular mystery deduction board game. It is a

funny game for the whole family.

You need a board, a dice and cards. The game is for two to

six players. The object of the game is to discover the culprit.

The game is played like this. You choose a case and have to throw the dice.

There are 10 points where you can get clues. You choose a letter and it says,

for example, “Go to Mr.White’s house" or "I give you all the information I have

about Lady Celeste and do what I say.”

The best thing about this game is that it is exciting and makes you think. It is

neither easy nor difficult.

I recommend this board game because you can have a great time playing it

with your friends or family.

by Judit

Cluedo is a popular murder/mystery deduction board game.

At the beginning of the game you choose three cards: one suspect, one

weapon, and one room card. You put them into a special envelope so that no

one can see them. These cards represent the facts of the case. Players throw

the dice and move along the board. The object of the game is to deduce the

details of the murder. Players announce suggestions to the other players, for

example, "I suggest it was Professor Plum, in the Library, with the

candlestick."

The best thing about this game is that it is a strategic game, and the worst

thing is that it is a bit long.

I recommend this board game because I think this game is very competitive

and you can play with all your friends or family.

by Anna

5

Dominoes

This is a board game with tiles with numbers from zero to

nine. In Spain the game is from zero to six.

To play the game your opponent plays a tile, and you must

play a tile with the same number and you should try to

repeat your number as many times as you can, or your

partner’s value. By repeating your numbers, you can avoid

your opponent playing, so you can dominate the game. The object of the

game is to accumulate the biggest amount of points.

I recommend this game because it is very funny, and you can play it in a party

or in a friends’ or family meeting.

by Clàudia

Dominoes was created in the eighteenth century. The name of the game

comes from French. This game is popular in Spain.

Playing this game is very simple. You only need 28 dominoes tiles. The object

of game is to place the dominoes first. Each player receives 7 tiles. They have

two numbers, you have to play the tile next to another one that has the same

number. When one player can't play any tile, the turn passes from player to

player. The first person to play all his tiles is the winner.

The best thing about this game is that it's very easy. This game is easier and

shorter than other games like chess or Monopoly. The worst thing is that it's

only based on luck.

I recommend this game because it is very easy to play and you can play with

your friends.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominoes

by Roger

6

Dominoes originated in China. It is a game for all the family and is very

popular.

You are the winner if you run out of dominoes. You have to join pieces with

the same number. The pieces are rectangular and divided into two equal parts

with a number from 0 to 6 points. The total set of domino consists of 28

pieces but there are other variations of dominoes like one from 0 to 9 points

and the total set of domino are 55 pieces.

I think that it is very funny and it’s very easy to learn. The worst thing is that

it isn’t colorful and is sometimes boring.

I recommend this board game because it’s very entertaining and funny.

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domin%C3%B3

http://www.hispanosnet.com/reglas_juegos/reglas_domino.html

by Mar

7

La herencia de Tía Ágata

This is a board game. All the players have

special cards. Each card is a different

character and you should hide your card so

that other participants can’t see them. Four

people can play this game.

In the game there are 16 character figures, for example, the inheritor, Yithe

or the hairdresser, Sabino. Little by little they will be eliminated keeping the

part of the inheritance that corresponds to them. It is not an easy game

because there are many traps.

The worst thing of the game is that there are too many traps so it is a bit

more difficult. It is also entertaining because you have to solve a mystery, and

the best thing is that it is very funny. You can have a great time with your

friends or family.

I recommend this game because it is not the typical boring board game and it

is a skill game.

by Elena

8

Memory

Memory is a card game. You only need mental ability

and memory. It’s for children between 3 and 9, it’s

famous all around the world.

Playing this game is very easy, you only need a deck of

cards that can vary according to the number of players, but usually there are

28 cards; and you also need a flat surface to put the cards. The object of this

game is to be the player with the most pairs of cards. To start playing, first

you must put all the cards face down and shuffle them. Then, in turn, each

player should turn over two cards. If the pictures are the same, the cards will

be removed and the player will get one point, then the player can play again.

If the pictures are not the same picture, the player must put again the cards

where they were before and the next player plays. The player with more pairs

wins.

The best thing of Memory is that it is easy to get. If you don't have money,

you can create your own cards, and it is very easy to play. There are also

different types of cards with different pictures, for example, food, animals,

objects ... The worst thing about this game is that if you don't have good

memory, you have got little chance of winning.

I like this game and I recommend it because it is easy, funny, it isn’t difficult

to get and you can have a great time.

by Berta

9

Monopoly

Monopoly is a board game invented by Charles B.

Darrow. It’s a popular game around the world. At the

moment there are more than 1.700 versions in 37

different languages.

At the beginning, playing this game is a bit difficult, but then it becomes

easier. You need a Monopoly Board, two dices, a counter for each player,

houses and hotels, cards and money. The board has got 40 squares divided

into 8 different colours. There are streets, railways, the Go square, a jail and

six more squares where you have to draw one card and do what it’s written on

it. The players throw the dices in order and you move your counter. You’ll

land on a square which represents a property. When you are there, you can

buy it. You must do it because the object of the game is to get a lot of

properties (streets and railways). When you have bought all the same colour

squares, you can build houses or hotels. Each time you land on a property

someone else owns, you have to pay the quantity that the card says. If there

are houses or hotels, it will be more expensive. There’s a special square, jail.

If you land there, you’ll spend there three turns and you can’t buy anything

meanwhile! Another special square is the Go square. Every time you pass it,

the bank will give you some money. You win when you’re the only person who

has money.

The best thing about this game is that it’s very exciting and many people can

play(from two to nine). The worst thing is that it can last a long time. Once, I

was playing for more than three days! Anyway, I love it!

I recommend Monopoly because you can have fun with your friends and at the

same time it’s very competitive because everyone wants to have money and

win.

by Laia

10

Pasta Gansa

Pasta Gansa is not very popular among children in Spain.

This game is a bit difficult to understand. You need a board, a dice and a

counter for each player. The object of the game is to have more dollars than

the other players. The board has 31 squares (each square represents 1 day of

the month). You have to throw the dice and move your counter. If you land on

''correos'' you have to draw one card from ''correos''. If you have to pay, you

pay at the end of the month.

The best thing about the game is that it's really funny and interesting and the

worst thing is that when you spend a lot of time playing this game, you get

bored.

I recommend this board game because I think that it's a really interesting and

exciting game!

by Víctor

11

Rubik’s Cube

Rubik's cube was invented in Budapest. It's a cube with

nine squares on each face (3x3 cubes), and you can

spin each row of squares vertically and horizontally.

There are six colours that are usually green, blue, red,

yellow, white and orange. There also exist 2x2, 4x4

and 5x5 Rubik's cubes.

Rubik's cube seems easy to play, but it's actually really hard to achieve what

you have to do. To play it you just need the Rubik's cube. The aim of the

game is to make all the faces of the cub remain in one colour (one colour per

face). You usually play this game alone, but you can also play it with another

person with another Rubik's cube, competing to see who's the first to form all

the faces.

The best thing of the Rubik's cube is that you don't need any counters or

boards to play it, so you can play it anywhere. The worst thing is that it

involves a long time, concentration and, most of all, practice. I've always

tried to make the cube, but I've never fully completed it!

I recommend Rubik's cube because it's a challenging game to play and, if you

are stubborn and like to achieve your goals, this is your game!

http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/collections/games/rubiks-cube

by Noelia

12

Snakes and Ladders

Snakes and Ladders is an ancient Indian board game.

Now it is very popular around the world. It is very

funny and you can play with your family.

Playing this game is very easy. Two or more people

can play this game. When you land on a snake you go

up, but if you land on a ladder you go down. The

object of the game is to be the first person to reach square 100. You only

need counters and a dice to play.

The best thing of this game is that anybody can win because it is a game

based on luck and it is a competitive game. The worst thing is perhaps it

never ends.

I recommend this game because it is very funny and easy to play and it is

more competitive than other games. You can play with your friends and with

your family.

by Carles

13

Spillikins

It originated in China. The game has

different names in different countries, for

example in Europe it’s generaly known as

Mikado.

This game consists of throwing the sticks

vertically. And then removing them one by one without touching the other

sticks. When you have finally removed all the sticks, you count the score

according to the color of each pole.

The best thing about this game is that it's very simple but sometimes it's

difficult and exciting, and also you can play on your own. The worst thing is

that you must be very patient.

I recommend this game for all ages because you exercise the mind, your self-

control and concentration. And it isn’t expensive!!!

http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/collections/games/spillikins

by Raquel

14

Tic-Tac-Toe

Tic-Tac-Toe or Noughts and Crosses is a traditional

pencil and paper game. It is played around the world.

There are a lot of variants of this game but I'm going to

explain only one.

Tic-Tac-Toe is very easy to play. This game is only for 2

people. You only need a paper and a pencil, and you draw a 3x3 grid (9

squares). One of the two starts drawing a personal mark (normally, one draws

a cross and the other one a zero) wherever you want. You take turns to draw

your mark and when one of the two draws three marks one after the other, he

wins. If nobody wins, it's a tie.

I think that the best thing is that it's easy to play because you only need a

pencil! If you get bored in a maths or Spanish class you can play with your

partner and the teacher can't tell you anything because you aren't talking; but

the worst thing is that the game is very short.

I recommend this game because you can have a good time with your friend

because it's an interactive game and it's very funny!

You can play with the computer here:

http://www.portalsolidario.net/ocio/tresen.php

Webpages:

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tres_en_l%C3%ADnea

http://www.mamilogopeda.com/2011/01/3-en-raya.html

by Alba

15

It’s a board game for 2 players. It’s a very old game, they think that it

originated during the Roman Empire. You can play it with pen and paper or

with a Tic-Tac-Toe grid, 3 circles and 3 crosses.

Playing this game is very simple. One player draws circles and the other

crosses. Normally crosses start the game but it depends. The object of the

game is to complete 3 consecutive squares of the board with your figure in a

horizontal, vertical, or diagonal row. All you have to do is to draw one of your

figures in a square when it is your turn.

The best thing about this game is that it’s easy to play, and that you can play

it with only a pen and paper. The worst thing about the game is that a lot of

times no one wins, so there’s a draw.

I recommend this game because it’s really easy to play, it isn’t expensive and

I personally have a great time playing the game.

by Laura

Tic-tac-toe, also called wick wack woe and X's and O's, is a popular game in

many countries of the world like Spain or Britain because it’s simple and

entertaining.

Playing this game is simple. First of all you need a board or a paper divided

into nine equal square boxes. Secondly, you need six counters, three of them

in circle form and the other three are crosses. Only two players can play and

each one represents one of the two symbols of the counters. The object of

the game is to place the counters in the boxes until you put three of your

counters in line horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

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On the one hand, the best thing of the game is that it is very simple to play

and to understand its rules. Another good thing about this game is that you

don't need special materials to play, sometimes you only need a paper and a

pen. On the other hand, the worst thing of tic-tac-toe is that it is very easy to

draw, and in this case you must start all over again.

I recommend this board game because it is very simple to play and children of

all ages can play.

by Júlia

17

The War

The war is a card game. It originated in

Spain. This card game is for the whole family

and friends.

You need a pack of cards and a mat. The

object of the game is to get your opponent's

cards. You deal half of the cards. The players throw one card. The person who

has the highest card takes the letters of the game. It's said “war” when the

cards are the same. The person who has the highest card wins the war and

takes the cards. The most important cards are the king, the knight and the

jack. You have to play very fast.

The best of this game is that you don't need skills and many people can play.

It's very competitive.

I recommend this game because it is one way to spend the time with your

family and friends, and you can have a great time.

by Natán

18

UNO

UNO is a popular board game among children but it is for

all ages. UNO was born in the United States in the 70s.

The game was invented by the owner of a hair saloon.

The game has got different types of cards: special and normal. Playing the

game is easy. We need a pack of UNO cards. To win we need to get rid of all

the cards but the most important rule is that when you only have one card,

you have to say UNO before one of the other players because if one of the

other players says it before you, you have to draw two cards. There are 108

cards and each player has 7 at the beginning of the game.These cards are of 4

different colours and each card has one number (from 1 to 9) except the

special cards , for example, +2,+4 or the wild card.

The best thing about this game is that it’s for all ages so you can play with

your friends, your family, etc. The best is also that it’s very funny and really

easy to play. The worst is that this game is based on luck so if you have good

cards it’s fun but if the cards don’t suit you, it can be very boring.

I recommend this game because it’s so funny and competitive. And you can

have a good time with it.

by Marta

19

COMPUTER GAMES

Call of Duty

Black Ops

This is a shooting game. The series Call of

Duty is very large, but this is one of the latest

games. I like this type of games.

The object of the game is mainly to kill the

maximum number of people but there are other types of games like capturing

the flag. You only need the game, the console, and the controller. I have it

for Wii but this exists for Xbox and Playstation 3.

The best thing about this game is to kill people and some of the games in it

but some people don’t like this type of games. The worst thing about this

game is the graphics, for Wii they are not bad but I don’t like them very

much.

I recommend this game if you like shooting games and if you like killing

people, and you can play online (this is the best thing).

by Ferran

20

Doctor Who – Evacuation Earth

This computer game is based on my

favourite TV series, Doctor Who. You

need a Nintendo DS to play this game.

It's based on a lot of puzzles that you

have to solve during the story.

Doctor Who – Evacuation Earth is not

available in Spain, so I had to buy it on

the Internet, in a very reliable web called Amazon.

The best thing of this game is that the characters’ voices are Matt Smith's and

Karen Gillian's voices, the real TV series actors. It's in English and I see the TV

series in English, so it's very easy to understand.

The worst thing is that, contrary to the TV series, it's a bit childish... But I

recommend all Whovians!!!

If you are not fan of Doctor Who, you may not enjoy the game so much...!

by Alicia

21

Dragon Age

Dragon Age is a video or computer game, it’s a role

game. It was created by Bioware, an enterprise linked

to EA. There’s Dragon Age: Origins, launched in 2009,

and Dragon Age II, launched in 20011.

To play with the games you need the CD and a console

(a computer, a Play Station or an XBOX).These games are set in a fictional

world called Thedas, in the Middle Ages. In the first game you belong to an

order of great warriors, the Grey Wardens, who must fight horrible and evil

monsters, the Dark Spawns (they look like giant, grey, angry gremlins), who

destroy everything in their path. The second game starts when you’re running

away from the Dark Spawns who have destroyed your hometown. You run

away to a city called Kirkwall where you have to get a name to survive and

start a new life. In both games you meet different characters that stay with

you and help you to fight.

The best thing about these games are the stories and the relationship you can

start with the other characters and the fight is very exciting. Moreover, you

improve your fighting skills. The worst thing is that it is quite an old game and

so the graphics aren’t very good and the gameplay could be improved.

I recommend these games to people who like videogames, especially role

games. It’s a game to play alone because it’s still not possible to be played by

different people at the same time.

by Ruth

22

Just Dance

Just Dance is a new Wii game. It is

very funny and you can do sport.

Just Dance was invented last year

(2011) approximately in

September. It was inspired by

other dance games but this one is

different.

The object of the game is to dance very well and win but it is very difficult. A

lot of people like this game because a maximum of four people can play this

game. The person that has the highest score is the winner. This game has

three versions and an extra one and it has modern and old songs. The game is

not only for children. Adults can also play this game because it is interesting

and funny.

In my opinion this game is very entertaining and funny. I play this game with

my friends and my family and we love playing Just Dance!

by Marta

23

Modern Warfare 2

Modern Warfare is a computer game developed by

Infinity Ward.

The object of the game is to kill people. I love this game

because I think playing it is a great experience and you

can enjoy the experience of war.

I hate this game because there are many hackers hidden at one end of the

map.

I recommend this game because in the game you get into the war and you can

burn adrenaline and enjoy it with friends.

by Albert

24

N.O.V.A 2

(Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance 2)

N.O.V.A 2 is an iOS game (Apple).

You are a soldier of a space army

(humans and aliens united). Six

years later of the first N.O.V.A the

civil war explodes and you are the

only one who can stop this war.

The game is easy to play. It’s a multi-touch control game. There are two

control pads, one on the left and one on the right. The right one is the shot

button and the left one is used to move. There are six more buttons: pause

button, grenade button, change weapon, reload button, jump button and skill

button. This game has a gyroscopic control so you move the iPhone/iPod and

the screen moves too.

One of the best things is that you can unlock new skills and weapons. The

worst thing is that, as a multiplayer, it goes too slow and is sometimes boring.

I recommend it because it’s exciting, it’s easy to learn how to play and there

is a lot of action and shots.

by Leonardo

25

PACMAN

It was created in Japan and it’s famous all around the

world. It’s a game for all ages, it’s a classic game.

Playing this game is very easy. You only need a computer,

some luck and some skill. The object of the game is to eat

all the fruits, pieces or balls (there are some different names) and avoid the

ghosts because they try to kill you and you can’t touch them unless you eat a

big fruit.

The best thing of this game is that it’s very easy to play and it’s really

exciting. It’s wonderful and colourful. The worst thing is that it’s an individual

game and it’s always the same but a bit more difficult.

I recommend this computer game because it’s free, very exciting and in the

new versions you can play with friends.

by Gerard

26

PES 2012

Pes 2012 is a game developed and published by Konami on

September 27, 2011. It’s very popular all around the world. It’s

similar to FIFA. This game is for consoles Play 3, Wi and Xbox.

Playing this game isn’t easy because you need a joystick to

play and move the players, choose the options, etc. The buttons of the

joystick are a bit difficult to control because there are a lot of buttons. Pes

2012 has got more options to play: League, UEFA Champions League, Cup, or

Football Life, for example.

The best thing is that you can choose many options to play but the worst thing

are the graphics because, for example, when one player is running with the

ball, another player can take the ball but he doesn’t touch the ball.

I recommend this game because it is very funny and competitive. I can’t stop

playing because it is very addictive.

by Mario

27

Pocket Tanks

Pocket Tanks is a computer game. It’s not

popular but I like it. I love this game because

when I was child, I played it with my brother.

Playing this game is very simple. You are a tank

and the object of the game is to win the

adversary. Before you start the game, you choose your weapons. Many

weapons are so funny! Afterwards, you battle with your opponent. To injure

the opponent you need to calculate the strength of the shot and the angle.

The adversary is another tank.

The best thing about this game is that it’s based on skill because you can

choose your favourite weapons. If you calculate the force or the angle

wrongly, you often lose the game. The worst thing is that the graphics are

bad.

I recommend this computer game because it’s very easy to play and it’s

perfect when you have nothing to do. It’s fantastic!

http://www.blitwise.com/ptanks.html

by Daniel

28

Sing 4

Sing 4 is a Wii game. This game is about

singing different songs alone or with more

people and get the highest score. There are

more Wii games for singing but I like this one.

You can play the game alone or with more people. You have to sing some

songs and get the highest score. There are different categories: Duo, Trio or

Quartet. There are two versions of all the songs. In the game, you can listen

and watch the video clips of all the songs (Jukebox), sing the songs and listen

to your version of it.

The best thing of the game is all the game, but the worst thing is the limited

number of songs. I would like to have more and sing all the songs I love.

I recommend this game because I love singing and in this game there are a lot

of lovely songs that a lot of people like, and you can play with friends or

family and have a good time. The best songs for me are Haven't met you yet

by Michael Buble and My life would suck without you by Kelly Clarkson. I love

these two artists.

by Clàudia

29

SingStar

SingStar is one of the world's most popular games. It is a

music video game developed by London Studio and

published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game is

based on various music videos accompanied by all their

lyrics to be sung by two or more players.

Players sing with the music to score points. Players

interact with their console via SingStar microphones while a video of a famous

singer sounds as background music. Players have the lyrics at the bottom of

the screen. There are different colors to differentiate the part of the song

that each player has to sing. The game analyzes a player's voice and compares

it to the original song.

My favorite thing about SingStar is that it makes you feel an authentic pop

star. You can imagine you're at a concert singing your favorite songs, enjoying

it and having a great time! But one thing I hate about SingStar is that

sometimes the microphones break down or stop working for a while, and you

have to reconnect, restart the game ...

I recommend this game to all the people who like singing and dancing. You

can enjoy it with friends. It is a game where you can all play. You will laugh a

lot and you will have a great time!

by Maria

30

The Sims 3

The Sims 3 is the third sequel of

the popular series The Sims. It is a

computer game for one or two

players because you need a

desktop or laptop and you have to

share a single mouse.

You have to create a character

that is called Sim. Later you have to dress it up, name it, and choose if it is

going to be a boy or a girl. Then you have to assign it a life, a house, a family,

a job … among other things. With this character you can travel, go shopping,

go to the gym, make barbeques and many more things.

The best thing is that you can have a good time handling your Sim, and the

worst thing it is that you can spend hours and hours in front of the computer

and it is not healthy.

I recommend this game because it’s funny and entertaining.

by Wendy

The Sims 3 is a game for PC, Mac and consoles. This game is very popular

around the world. The Sims 3 began in 2006.

Playing this game is difficult because you have to handle all the family and

their house. This game has expansion packs that include new objects to

decorate the house. There are clothes, accessories and shoes for the “Sims”

(virtual characters). You can go to the shop or library by their car. When the

Sims die, Death comes and sometimes we can make a deal with her to survive.

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The best thing about this game is that it’s very funny. It’s difficult, but it is

very entertaining. The worst thing for me is that you play individually and you

become addicted and have to be many hours in front of the computer, which

isn’t very wise, but I like it because I decorate and I handle all the family.

I recommend this game because it’s very funny. It’s expensive but this game

is better than many others, the graphics are very realistic and there are more

objects and clothes thanks to the expansion.

by Marta