Grown-up sports like tennis and golf are fine if all you want to do is get a little exercise or schmooze with the boss. But they lack that slightly dangerous spark of the great games of our youth. Where’s the mano-a-mano, kill-or-be-killed thrill of dodge ball? Where’s the run-for-you-life terror of tag? Where’s the wakka-wakka-wakka of Pac-Man? To find games that can match the dizzying thrills and chills of these classics, you have to go to a place like Dave & Buster’s (1024 N. Clark St., 312-943-5151; 1155 N. Swift Rd., Addison, 630-543-5151). There’s no better place to kick off your second childhood: Each location features about 300 of the newest video games, including a variety of racing and shooting games that let patrons work out their pent-up aggressions on each other. Time-Out Amusement At North Pier (312-527-2947) can’t match Dave & Buster’s potpourri of video games, but it does give thrill seekers the chance to play soldier without having to feel the sting of those painful paint balls. Time-Out offers Laser Storm, in which players chase each other around a darkened room taking electronic pot-shots at each other for the price of $6 each for 10 minutes. Those looking for a more Rollerball ambience in their space-age sports can try WhirlyBall (1880 W. Fullerton Ave., 773-486-7777; 800 E. Roosevelt Rd.., Lombard, 630-932-4800). Two teams of five players face off in souped-up bumper cars, battling to hurl a 12-inch whiffle ball at a target 9 feet off the ground. It might sound like a silly game, but WhirlyBall addicts are willing to shell out the $190 it takes to reserve a court during peak hours. More budget-minded sportsmen and women can always turn to simpler diversions: Lakeview Links (3206 N. Wilton St.; 773-975-0505) offers Ping-Pong and miniature golf.
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