Video game roundup

Reviews of some of the new electronic and computer games:

"LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures"

First the "Star Wars" saga was made into a charming video game starring LEGO characters; now it's Indiana Jones' turn. "LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures" doesn't include the events of the newest film, but that's fine; what's here is plenty fun.

The game play is almost identical to the "LEGO Star Wars" games, only without The Force, blasters or light sabers. Instead, there are whips, fists and a mess of helpful tools. Shovels dig up artifacts, and wrenches fix broken machinery. Hats fool Indy's enemies into thinking he's one of them.

Completing levels unlocks new characters, and each stage has areas that are accessible only by certain characters who aren't available on the first go-through.

The graphics are crisp in the Xbox 360 and Wii versions, though the 360 game looks considerably sharper. The Wii version allows for motion-controlled whip swings, though that's sort of a gimmick — it's just a flick of the wrist. Either version will do — both offer the same kid-friendly game play and familiar movie scenes, LEGO-style.

Publisher: LucasArts

System: Nintendo Wii, also for Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, PS2, PSP, Nintendo DS, PC

Price: $49.99 ($29.99 to $49.99 for other versions)

Age rating: 10-plus

"Teenage Zombies: Invasion Of The Alien Brain Thingys"

The undead eat brains, as everyone knows, so when the Earth is invaded by an army of evil, destructive brains in jars, three young zombies rise from their graves to go snacking.

A cheeky premise and sense of humor don't make "Teenage Zombies: Invasion of the Alien Brain Thingys" a great game, but it's an amusing diversion for a while. It has some good ideas, but it doesn't look too hot and it plays sluggishly.

Players can switch at will between three zombies. Lefty, a one-armed ghoul who was a basketball player in life, can reach high ledges and smack down foes. Half-Pipe was a skater in the mortal realm, and uses his board to get around in the absence of his lower body. And Fins has somehow merged with an octopus to create an undead horror that can climb walls and shimmy along wires with his tentacles.

The side-scrolling levels require the player to switch often between these undead achievers to defeat the brains. They each have several power-ups (like a rivet gun for Lefty's stump, or acid puke for Fins) that allow them to fight and travel more effectively. The levels are peppered with touch-screen mini-games, as well.

Publisher: Ignition Entertainment

System: Nintendo DS

Price: $34.99

Age rating: 10-plus

"Wits & Wagers"

Based on the board game, "Wits & Wagers" duplicates its mechanics for up to six players online and four players offline. It's a fun and briskly paced party game, though not much of a looker.

The rules are simple: Each game has seven rounds, and each round has a question with a numeric answer — for example, what is the length of the Mississippi River? Each player makes his best guess, then everyone bets chips on up to two of the guesses made by any other player.

The goal is to bet on the guess that's the closest to the correct answer without going over; betting on the right guess can pay big depending on the odds. Whoever has the most chips after seven rounds wins.

Publisher: Microsoft

System: Microsoft Xbox 360

Price: $10 (800 Microsoft Points)

Age rating: Everyone