Hundreds of thousands of cell phones will find their way into gift-wrapped boxes next week. Color screens and the ability to download bite-size games are now standard features on most mobile phones.
Some of this year’s best phones, like Samsung’s new RAZR-esque A900 (only on Sprint Nextel) and Sony Ericsson’s 710a (Cingular), use high-res screens to play great-looking 2-dimensional games. Verizon Wireless’ VCast service allows for 3D gaming on handsets such as the LG VX9800 and VX8100, with some games, such as Gameloft’s “Massive Snowboarding,” with graphics approaching the original PlayStation’s.
If you’re giving a phone to a gamer this holiday — either the hard-core player or the casual gamer who plays poker on Yahoo! — consider downloading a game or two before wrapping the handset so they have something to dig into right away.
Peter Jackson’s King Kong (Gameloft) — The 800-pound gorilla of the box office is just as fearsome on the smallest screen. Available on most carriers, this game lets players be man and beast. The Kong scenes are the best, as players can beat down a thundering T. Rex as easily as dialing Grandma.
Driver Vegas (Glu Mobile) — Glu’s ride to Sin City is the first mobile-exclusive sequel to a console game. Gamers ride into Vegas with a vengeance, chasing bad guys down the Strip in some sweet rides. Casino shootouts break up the hot rod action in this lengthy game.
Tower Bloxx (Digital Chocolate) — This deceptively simple puzzler is both a block-stacking game and a city planning simulation. Players must erect skyscrapers to maximize city population, but it takes precision to build the most inhabitable structures. Certain buildings can be put up next to specific structures, so foresight pays off handsomely.
Brady Bunch Kung Fu (Mobliss) — This is one seriously goofy game. The Brady clan has eaten some bad meat and turned into anime-style fighters. Alice attacks a disco-suited Greg with her mop of fury, while Cindy and Bobby settle old scores with crazy moves. “Brady” fans (and there are a lot of them) will enjoy.
Chronicles of Narnia (Disney Mobile) — Kids love to play with their parents’ phones, so why not load up one with this fantasy action game? Gamers can fight off the White Witch and stand beside the fierce lion Aslan while Mom and Dad concentrate on driving home from the holidays.
