I Love Video Games! PSP, Xbox 360, Wii, and More!

There's just something so fun about a great video game, and some of my most cherished childhood memories, involve my old NES. My friends and I used to compete against each other in Mario Brothers, Mike Tyson's Punchout, and the Legend of Zelda. We would get irritated when losing, albeit not as much as when we played on an athletic field, but there were some heated matches. Sometimes I sit back and laugh thinking about how we thought those games had amazing graphics, because they are considered horrible with regards to today's standards. I couldn't agree more with Ralph Baer, who was featured in this month's issue of Game Informer, when he remarked about how far the gaming industry has come in the past twenty years.

If you are passionate about video games, be sure to subscribe to this magazine. I look forward to its arrival each month, and it is among my favorite periodicals in publication. My wife knows that it might be okay for my Rolling Stone to "accidentally end up" in the recyling bin before I've read it, but this one not being read would cause me to forget about the "Honey Do" list for more than a month. I don't have every gaming platform, but I come close with a NES, Super Nintendo, Playstation 2, Xbox 360, Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo DS, and a Sony PSP. My parents have a Wii that I enjoy playing on when time allows, and although I'm not a PC gamer, I like reading about what is available. If you want to know what can be purchased at your local video game store, or what is going to be coming soon, be sure to get this magazine.

Each issue is about one hundred pages long, as you can expect at least a couple of hours worth of reading material. The best parts are the average of three games being featured each month, and here's where you can get an inside scoop, about whether you want to purchase a game, rent it, or avoid it all together. Each of these featured articles are well written, by authors who have relevant experience, and their knowledge can sometimes be astonishing. A lot of times they will compare the game in the article, to an obscure one from years past, and I've actually sometimes been blow away with how accurate their comparisons are. These guys must have the coolest job ever.

A big plus of these feature articles, is the screen shot pictures you'll get the chance to see. For instance, in this months issue, there's a major article on the soon to be released Mike Tyson's Punchout for the Wii. There are some screenshots that you can look at, and compare it to the original game from the 1980's. I loved looking at the newly updated Von Kaiser and Don Flamenco, and if this game is as good as it looks and was reviewed, I might just have to steal my parents Wii and hide it at my house. The preview section is another fine area to look at upcoming releases, and although the staff is sometimes limited to small parts of a game or its not at its final cut, you can obtain useful information from these small snippets. This is a fine way of making your own "wish list", and learning what date to expect to be able to buy a particular game.

You can't help but admire the staff of GI's ability, to accurately rate games appropriately. They've been spot on, and I have to thank them for helping me to avoid clunkers that cost $50, and find gems for $19.99. I have not been able to detect any anti/pro industry bias in their reviews, and I like how their rating system is reflected with a number system, along with categories such as Concept, graphics, sound, playability, entertainment, and most importantly replay value. This makes it so easy to discern whether a game will fit your needs, and I also think the "second opinion" is of value if you are on the fence. There's a few screenshots next to these reviews, which helps on a visual level as well.

I have only a few minor complaints about this magazine. The print is very small, and as I'm getting a bit older, I have no choice but to read this with reading glasses. I wish they could increase the font size a bit, but if this is the only way they are able to cram in so many articles in each issue, then its almost worth it. Due to being in the minority, I have to expect this, but I'd love to see more feature articles on sporting games. While to their credit, they do extensively cover the Madden and NBA Live franchises, I'd like to see more with hockey, fishing/hunting, and soccer. Most gamers like role playing and shooters, so the majority of articles cover these for good reason, but a few more on sporting versions wouldn't hurt.

These do not detract from my love of this magazine, and I will continue my subscription when its near expiration again. There are plenty of places you can find Game Informer, and if you are crazy, you can spend $5.99 to get one at its cover price at most bookstores. The best way to purchase this is to subscribe via internet discounters, or at a used video game store, which is what I do to get it at $14.95 a year plus with some extra deals. It is delivered on time each month, and it has been a big help in learning about what is going on with technology and video games, as well as finding perfect recommendations for what to get for my numerous consoles. This is a must have magazine, and gamers everywhere anxiously await for every new issue.