Licensed games are always based on existing book, movie, comic, and TV franchises. They bring your favorite characters to life through interactive gameplay.
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The Nominees:
THE SIMPSONS GAME (Wii)
Developer: EA Games
Publisher: Electronic Arts
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Without a doubt, The Simpsons is one of the most popular TV shows running right now, as well as one of the longest lasting in the history of television. While the show itself experiences highs and lows, a summer blockbuster this past year, The Simpsons Movie, inspired a videogame of the same name. While every major videogame system on the market received the title, I'd actually suggest that the Wii version is the best overall package. The controls are fun, and the gameplay is typical of an action game. The graphics are among the best aspects of the game, as they really do a great job of capturing the spirit of the show. The Simpsons Game is a great title for those looking for a fun action game or for those huge fans of the series.
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NARUTO: PATH OF THE NINJA (DS)
Developer: TOSE
Publisher: D3
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Naruto: Rise of a Ninja makes a good case for being the best fighting game of 2007, and is easily the best Naruto game released to date. It follows the first 80 or so episodes of the Naruto TV show, and is a unique hybrid of action and straight-up fighting. The main quest features a variety of mission objectives, and while it starts out slow, it quickly becomes very fast paced and exciting. The multiplayer mode is definitely the best aspect of the game; it's deep and fun, and it's a pity you can only play locally with two players. Regardless, it's a fantastic game that any 360 owner and fighting game fan ought to own.
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CONAN (X360, PS3)
Developer: Nihilistic
Publisher: THQ
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As much as we loved this year's strong line-up of shooters, we just didn't feel right standing on our couches bellowing "To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women!" upon completing Call of Duty 4. Thankfully, Conan's balls-out action, complemented by slick, combo-heavy swordplay and God-of-War-like puzzling, perfectly matched the sentiment. Reducing relentless armies to a pile of blood-spewing limbs, and taking on an ugly (in a good way) assortment of enormous boss beasties with only our brawn and blades didn't hurt either. Few other games this year had us celebrating their completion with a brimming stein of Hyborian mead.
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SPIDER-MAN 3 (X360, PS3)
Developer: Treyarch
Publisher: Activision
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2007 started out as the year of the Spider-Man. Spider-Man 3 was one of the most anticipated movies to come out of this year, and the game was nearly as eagerly desired. The game expanded upon the storyline of the movie, adding in new villains and a slew of different challenges. One of the game's biggest claims to fame was its vast open world, which you could explore at your leisure using the game's fantastic web-slinging. While the combat engine seemed like it could use a little work, the web-slinging made you feel as if you were actually the wall-crawler, swinging from building to building while thwarting criminals.
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HARRY POTTER: THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX (Wii)
Developer: EA UK
Publisher: Electronic Arts
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Wizards both good and bad had to start somewhere, and like the previous installments it is at Hogwarts. This time around Harry and his friends Hermione and Ron must overcome Lord Voldemort in a way that they have never truly faced him: in the flesh. So it will take every ounce of magic skill they have, along with a few friends, to defeat their nemesis. On the Wii, you guide Harry with the Wii remote and Nunchuk to perform every magic trick, from simple levitation spells to the more complex attack spells. Can the motion sensing controls deliver on the requirement of being the greatest young wizard alive prepare to flick your wrists to magical perfection.
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