So you’re not a kid, and you don’t have the whole summer off. That’s no reason to spend your summer just like you spend the rest of your year.
You might mistakenly think I’m suggesting that you spend your day off out in the sunshine, at a lake or beach, or maybe hiking, enjoying that great summer weather. Au contraire, summer is the perfect time to stay inside and click your free hours away playing a really good computer game. No matter who you are, chances are there is a computer game that will addict you. You don’t even have to have good hand-eye coordination to enjoy games these days.
If you haven’t tried a simulation game yet, RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 might be the one that transforms you into a sim-freak. This addictive game allows you to build theme parks from the ground up with realistic looking and behaving rides. You design the roller coasters from scratch, controlling everything from the steepness of the drops to the number of curves in the coaster. Roller coasters aren’t the only thing you’ll have to keep track of in this game, though; you’ll also have to provide amenities to attract customers, as well as oversee all aspects of theme park management, which will keep you occupied for weeks. No previous simulation experience required.
If coasters aren’t your thing, but the idea of a simulation intrigues you, Hoyle Casino Empire is another addictive choice. In this game, you run a casino in Vegas, stocking it with slot machines, blackjack tables, showgirls and cheap buffets, hoping to attract the high rollers and avoid the goombahs. You control all the action in your casino, including the game odds and your connection with the local mafia. As you furnish your casino, you also have the chance to host (and play) poker or blackjack games as you work your way up the casino ladder.
Need more action in your life? The basic premise of Hitman 2 casts you as a professional assassin who comes out of retirement to find a target and do what hitmen do to targets, aided by various weapons, including such hitman-mainstays as piano wire, poison and guns of all varieties. The non-linear quality of this strategy/stealth/action game makes it interesting, as there are multiple ways to approach each level and situation.
Can’t travel this summer? Get your adventure fix with everyone’s favorite archaeologist in Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb. This action-adventure title features Indy in a variety of lush locations, fighting, shooting and puzzle-solving his way to another priceless treasure cache. If you liked Tomb Raider, you’ll love this game, which features outstanding sound, music, graphics and voice acting.
Just because you’re an adult now doesn’t mean you can’t act like a kid, and it doesn’t take a Playstation or X-Box to take part in the wonderful world of electronic gaming. Fire up your computer and get to time-wasting.
[Heather Mann is a girl and a gamer. Hmm.]READ MORE PROGRESSIVE CULTURE | POST COMMENTS BELOW
