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ENCHANTED ARMS

Rating 3 out of 4

From: Ubi Soft

Price: $59.99

For: PS3

Rated: T for alcohol references, mild fantasy violence, mildlanguage, simulated gambling and suggestive themes.

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As fans of Japanese role-playing games from the likes of Square-Enix (and now, Ubi Soft) have probably realized, men in these gamestend to dress as flamboyantly as women. So androgenous are thecharacters, that it is, in fact, sometimes hard to tell the sex of agiven character. There are cultural reasons for this in Japan, butit sometimes makes it difficult for American gamers to follow alongwhen those games are imported Stateside.

"Enchanted Arms" is no different. Set in a school of magic, themain action centers around a student named Atsuma who may or may nothold the power to save or destroy mankind. His classmate Toya iskind of like a typical high school jock who is everybody's friend.The third in the triangle is Makoto, who, despite the fabulousclothes and manicured nails, happens to be a pretty good fighter,too. Makoto is in love with Toya and is jealous of anyone oranything that comes between them.

Of course, what sets this apart from the usual RPG is that Makotoisn't a she, but rather a he. Makoto may very well be the firsttranssexual in a video game (readers: correct me if I'm wrong).

Outside of "The Crying Game" elements, there are few surprises.It's a solid RPG with all the whistles and bells of the genre, butnothing more. Still, I can't fault it for succeeding at what it wastrying to do.

The game borrows a bit from Jewish folklore in that humanity isat war with artificially created creatures called "golem." And muchlike the Jewish golems, most of them are brainless and bent onnothing but destruction.

The turn-based attacks that make up much of the gameplay requiresome strategy. Each of the characters and enemies have one of sixattributes: earth, wind, water, fire or light and dark. Water doesdouble damage against fire, wind against earth, etc. So, you want tohave your fire-based character attack enemies with water attributes.Players also have the ability to create their own golems frommaterial and gems they collect and have them join their army.

This solid but predictable RPG will keep you busy for at least 40hours.

email: mdavenport@suntimes.com

CAPSULE REVIEWS

CAKE MANIA

(Majesco; DS; $19.99) Rating

3 out of 4

Sometimes, it is possible to find new life in old formulas.Majesco has published Sandbox Games' "Cake Mania." It is essentially"Rootbeer Tapper" set in a bakery. But the new game is hardly just apale comparison to the arcade classic. Think of it more as a funhomage.

You play as Jill. Upon returning from culinary school, you findthat your grandparents' beloved bakery has been forced out ofbusiness by the price-cutting jerks at the Meglomart. You'redetermined not to go down without a fight, so you reopen the bakeryin your house. Customers come in, show you the shape of the cake andthe color of frosting they want, you select the right cake to cookat the oven, the right frosting at your frosting table, give themthe complete cake and take your money (and tip, if you're quick).

Some customers are more demanding (two-layer cakes, each with adifferent color of frosting) and some are impatient. The latter canbe bribed with cupcakes (provided you've purchased the microwaveupgrade between rounds). It's a fun, challenging and slightlyaddictive game. Alternate version available for the PC. Now ifyou'll excuse me, I've got to get back in the kitchen. (Rated E)

COOKING MAMA COOKOFF

(Majesco; Wii; $49.99)

Rating 1 1/2 out of 4

There's something off, all right. The original "Cooking Mama"game for the DS was a delight. You cleaned vegetables, chopped meat,fried and boiled things all with the DS stylus.

Shouldn't things improve when a game makes its way to a home-video game console? Majesco has the recipe all wrong. The motion-sensor controls don't work as you would expect them to. Peeling apotato is even harder with Wii-mote than it was with the stylus. Inone recipe, you have to crack an egg or two by moving the Wii-mote.It's too sensitive, however, and you usually end up repeatedlysmashing your eggs. It all ends up a half-baked, frustrating mess.Mama's stereotypical Japanese accent ("Just rike mama") might alsobe offensive to some (Rated E for alcohol references).

BIZBYTES; VIDEO-GAME NEWS

Sony halts 20-gig PS3

It's out of here. Sony has discontinued the 20-gigabytePlayStation 3 game console so it can focus on a more popular -- andexpensive -- model that has a bigger hard drive.

Since the launch of the PlayStation 3 in November, consumers havebeen buying the 60-gigabyte model 10 to 1 over the cheaper unit,said Dave Karraker, spokesman for Sony Computer EntertainmentAmerica Inc.

Both models have much of the same hardware inside, but the 60-gigabyte console, which costs $600, has built-in wireless supportand slots for memory sticks and other storage media.

Retailers still have several thousand 20-gigabyte models on storeshelves, Karraker said last week. The 20-gigabyte consoles willcontinue to have a suggested retail price of $500 until supplies runout.

"Better to put resources toward the ones that retailers want,"Karraker said.

Severe production shortfalls in the months after the PlayStation3 debuted meant that thousands of consumers had to wait in longlines and still couldn't buy a console.

UPCOMING RELEASES

Circus Empire (PC) April 23

Fairy Godmother Tycoon (PC) April 23

Made Man (PC) April 23

Ancient Wars: Sparta (PC) April 24

Bionicle Heroes (Wii) April 24

F.E.A.R. (PS3) April 24

Model Train 3-D (PC) April 24