Joseph Saia

Music and rhythm video games are often some of the most popular and entertaining titles on the market, and only the most stoic and socially awkward people can fail to enjoy a round of Dance Dance Revolution or Guitar Hero every so often.

Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction sounds like it should be a plumbing simulation. But it’s actually a platformer that fuses traditional platforming elements with a heavy emphasis on shooting, making it a refreshing break from the usual ‘run ’n jumps’ that bludgeon the player over the head with collectibles.

What do a sandwich, a three-subject notebook, and a copy of the admittedly old yet still solid Madden NFL 2004 for Playstation 2 all have in common? They all cost less than $5.

Tilt the analog stick forward and mash the same button over and over again. Such is the formula prescribed by many modern action games, in which the player fights through hordes of look-alike enemies for hours on end, only to be rewarded with an embarrassingly written cinematic scene and progression toward another hour-long grind (I’m looking at you, Dynasty Warriors).