HPL Games, Reviews, Cheats, and Beyond

How to check out a Video Game.

2012-01-12T19:13:00.002-05:00

Youth and Parent Services has a new system for checking-out video games:

You must check out your video game at our self-check station. Please see a librarian if you are new at this and have any questions.
Present your receipt to the Youth and Parent Services Reference Desk and a Librarian will retrieve your game for you.
Games are returned downstairs just like usual.

That's it! Easy as snagging a 'Power-Up!'

Holiday Gaming

2011-12-08T13:43:00.001-05:00

As the holidays draw near, we'd like to know what your favorite games to play with family and friends are? Do you get-your-game-on in Mario Sports Mix, belt out some notes in Glee Karaoke Revolution? Scratch your head to questions in Trivial Pursuit? No matter what system you have this season (or might be getting!) our collection has something for everyone. We want to hear from you!

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.

2011-12-05T15:36:00.006-05:00

Its finally here--The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword! This long awaited Link title has received a perfect 10 score rating and Game of the Month in this month issue's Game Informer. Also, read more about it in this month's Nintendo Power. Rated E 10+ for ever gamer 10 and older!

The legend of Link in video games.

2011-09-26T12:09:00.007-04:00

Hey teens! The October issue of Game Informer has a great article about "The Evolution of Link." It covers one of Nintendo's greatest heroes of all time, Link. From his humble yet revolutionary beginnings in 1987's "The Legend of Zelda," to the greatly awaited "Skyward Sword," (release date November 20, 2011).

Read about it on our magazine rack in Teen Territory!

(Don't forget about our back issues, available to check-out!)

Gamer Biography

2011-05-16T13:56:00.005-04:00

Ever wonder where games designers get ideas for all those games? Well why not read about one of the founders of Nintendo? Shigeru Miyamoto got his start in video game design and programing, and was responsible for games like The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong and Super Mario Brothers. Ask your librarian for other great biographies and video game recommendations!

Rio!

2011-05-09T15:09:00.005-04:00

Play the Rio game before you see the movie! (Or now that you've seen the movie--play the game!) Play over 40 action-packed mini games featuring Blu and his crew! Available for PS3, Wii and XBOX 360.

Don't forget, we've got plenty of fantastic books about Rio and Parrots! Be sure to ask your librarian for recommendations :)

Marvel vs. Capcom 3!

2011-04-04T17:23:00.005-04:00

Fresh for 2011, Marvel vs. Capcom 3: The Fate of Two Worlds includes such amazing Marvel characters as Captain American, Iron Man and Thor, and Capcom Favorites like Ryu, Chun-Li and Viewtiful Joe! Available for PS3 and XBOX 360! Rated T for teens.

Raving Rabbids!

2011-03-10T19:12:00.006-05:00

Just in time for Spring! Rayman: Raving Rabbids and Rayman: Raving Rabbids TV Party for the Wii are two great ways to beat April Showers!

Like rabbits? Learn more here.

Skate3 for Xbox 360

2011-03-04T20:22:00.002-05:00

Alex likes Skate3 for Xbox 360 because you can go to the Super Ultra Mega Skate Park, where you can go on the super big ramps and you can do quad flips, back flips, and front flips. You press the two back buttons to do this, then press the left joystick down.

He would recommend this game for anyone who likes skateboarding.

Tron, and on and on...

2011-02-28T18:04:00.005-05:00

Before TRON: Legacy becomes available for DVD and Blu-ray, try your hand at the video game TRON: Evolution, available for PS3, & XBOX 360 and TRON: Evolution Battle Grids Wii.

Can't get enough of the world of TRON? Or just want to see how the whole Legacy began? Why not enjoy the original movie? Rated PG and available on DVD.

When 2011 gives you snow & ice...

2011-02-21T18:37:00.008-05:00

...play hockey! EA Sports NHL 11 is available for XBOX 360:
...and NHL 2K11 is available for Wii:

DJ Hero!

2011-02-11T20:22:00.002-05:00

Alex, 4th grade, likes DJ Hero for Wii. His favorite thing about the game is scratching and his least favorite part of the game is when there aren't a lot of notes in the board, because it isn't as much fun to play.

His favorite song to play is Paper Planes by M.I.A. and he things, overall, the game is pretty easy.

Tips for people playing the first time: start on beginner and do all the tutorials so you know what to do - they really help!

Madden 11

2011-02-06T14:21:00.005-05:00

In the spirit of the Super Bowl XLV, why not try Madden 11 available for PS3, Wii and XBOX 360.

Don't forget to stop by the 'J 796.332's' to read-up about all your favorite teams!

The BIGGS

2011-02-04T20:18:00.003-05:00

Anthony, 4th grade, likes The BIGS for Wii. It is a Major League Baseball game that allows you to bat, pitch, and use the nun chuck to play outfield. You can also climb up the walls to rob homeruns (which means, if something is about to be a homerun, you can stop it.) You can also slide with A, or steal bases with Z and the arrow toward whatever base you are trying to steal. You can also get the catcher by pressing both A and B.

The BIGS is pretty much Anthony's favorite game. He would recommend this game to pretty much anyone who likes baseball.

Mario Kart

2011-02-04T20:07:00.002-05:00

Ben, 4th grade, likes Mario Kart for Wii, and just played it for the second time ever! He likes Mario and Toad the best, but mostly Mario when he goes in the race car and it goes fast.

He likes all of the tracks equally and would recommend it to someone who likes racing games.

Mario Super Sluggers

2011-02-04T19:54:00.002-05:00

Joe, a 5th grader, loves Mario Super Sluggers for Wii because he likes saving home runs.

He also likes to challenge Bowser Jr., who is an evil villain.

The goal of the game is beat Bowser Jr., find teammates, and have fun!

Joe recommends this game to everyone!

Little Big Planet

2011-01-21T20:14:00.002-05:00

Alex, 4th grade, likes Little Big Planet for PS3. His favorite part is the part where you use the paint ball gun to shoot targets. The hardest part of the entire game is the last level because you have to defeat a robot that is very strong and it takes a really long time. Then, if you do beat the level, you unlock a person that is as thin as a piece of paper and when he turns you can see how thin he is. It's cool.

There is a book of cheats called the Little Big Planet Guide, and it is very helpful.

And big news, today, they came out with Little Big Planet II!

Ben 10 Ultimate Alien Cosmic Destruction!

2011-01-13T13:52:00.006-05:00

Ben 10 Ultimate Alien Cosmic Destruction available for the Wii, XBOX360, and PS3. Also enjoy Graphic Novels, and DVDs.

Snow got you stuck indoors?

2011-01-11T14:38:00.001-05:00

Snow got you stuck indoors? Well here are a couple of Wii suggestions to work your brain and body out:

Bakugan Battle Brawlers; collect over 35 Bakugan using 17 Brawlers!

Boom Blox Bash Party; Throw blocks and knock down buildings, what's not to like?

Did You Know?

2010-12-28T17:58:00.006-05:00

Did you know that you can check out video games on our Self Check Out kiosks? Just make sure you stop by the Circulation Desk so they can unlock the cases.

How to Train Your Dragon

2010-12-13T14:06:00.004-05:00

Available for XBOX360 and Wii is How to Train Your Dragon. Don't forget to try the How to Train Your Dragon novel series by Cressida Cowell, and also check out the movie on DVD and Blu-ray. As always, ask your librarian for similar material if you just can't get enough dragons!

Toy story 3

2010-12-09T18:45:00.006-05:00

Toy Story 3; now out on all three consoles, DVD and Blu-ray!

Want to learn how to draw some of you favorite Toy Story figures? Just try Learn to Draw Toy Story, available now.

Wandering through WondLa.

2010-11-29T13:41:00.006-05:00

Tony DiTerlizzi, author of the Spiderwick Chronicles and Kenny & the Dragon has just imagined The Search for WondLa. So what's that have to do with our gaming blog? Well, WondLa uses augmented reality where the reader can scan certain pages with a webcam or smart phone camera to explore parts of the new world. It's not exactly a video game, but it is a totally cool way to experience the story. For more information, (AND video games) visit the website wondla.com.

Did You Know?

2010-11-22T13:32:00.003-05:00

Did you know that we've moved our video game collection to the side wall? Video games can now be found below our Blu-ray collection right next to the Videos and DVDs; they are shelved according to console, Wii, XBOX 360 and PS3. Just come in and ask one of our friendly Librarians to walk you on over to their new location :)

Thanksgiving gaming ideas

2010-11-22T12:53:00.005-05:00

Family and friends coming over and you're looking for something to do? Here are some great family gaming suggestions fun for all the aunts, uncles, cousins or ultra-cool grandparents!

Wii Party, Trivial Pursuit, Family Party Fitness Fun, Hasbro Family Game Night 2, Carnival Games.

Lego Harry Potter

2010-11-19T19:08:00.003-05:00

Joseph says Lego Harry Potter is the best game he ever played. He loved it so much when he took it out from the library, that he is now going to ask for it for Christmas!

So far the hardest part of Year 1 was learning luminos, which is a spell to light the way, but it was the most satisfying, and also the most fun.

Anyone reads or sees Harry Potter should try out this video game. It goes up to three players, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, so it's good for a group!

Information contributed by Joseph, grade 5.

Mario Galaxy 2

2010-11-16T13:38:00.004-05:00

If you're a Mario fan, Mario Galaxy 2 is bigger and better than ever. Fly around from world to world, galaxy to galaxy and let your imagination run free* Makes a great rainy-day game. Available for the Wii console.

Aragorn's Quest

2010-11-15T13:25:00.003-05:00

If you're a Lord of the Rings fan, or are merely humbled by The Hobbit, you might like to check out Aragorn's Quest, available for both the Wii and PS3 consoles.

While Lord of The Rings is a huge franchise including movies and games, don't forget it all started with a few books written by J.R.R. Tolkien. Why not check out some of the many works our collection has to offer.

SpongeBob

2010-11-11T14:34:00.007-05:00

Everyone's favorite sea sponge is back in SpongeBob's Truth or Square! Rated E for everyone, this makes a great game to play with the family; Available for the Wii and XBOX 360 consoles.

Can't get enough SpongeBob? Don't forget we've got a great collection of SpongeBob books and DVDs also. Stop on by for SpongeBob Squarepants Battle for Bikini Bottom located on our J computers.

Goosebumps

2010-11-09T20:10:00.006-05:00

It's not too late to be horrified! Not only do have Goosebumps. HorrorLand for Wii, we've got a whole great collection of Paperbacks, Graphic Novels, and DVDS. Come get your post-Halloween fill today!..If you dare!

Super Smash Bros

2010-11-05T20:04:00.001-04:00

Ben (4th grade) thinks that Super Smash Bros is great fighting game. His favorite character is Bawser because he can shoot fire.

Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games

2010-11-05T19:46:00.003-04:00

Jonathan (4th grade) thinks that Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games is the most exciting game in the world. He plays it all the time and he enjoys playing the dream snow board cross, dream alpine, and dream figure skating. When you want to change the event you get money and you can go shopping in the village. The game allows up to four players.

Super Mario Galaxy 2

2010-11-05T19:31:00.002-04:00

"Super Mario Galaxy 2 is one of the most fun Mario game ever!" says Oskar (3rd grade). He shares that there are so many adventures and it has so many creative levels.

Wii Sports

2010-11-05T19:22:00.002-04:00

Robert (3rd grade) thinks that Wii Sports is really fun to play. Baseball and boxing are his favorite.

NeW GaMeS!!!

2010-11-01T15:16:00.006-04:00

New games have arrived at the Youth and Parent Services Department! Browse our full VIDEO GAME LIST HERE. Please check back soon for info about individual games.

Marvel-us!

2010-10-14T19:04:00.007-04:00

Graphic novels and video games go together like peanut butter and jelly, and no other game demonstrates this better than Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2. Don't forget to check out our own comic book titles from Marvel, like Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Wolverine...available for pretty much any age group.

Clone Wars...Nothing but Clone Wars...

2010-10-11T16:12:00.008-04:00

Whats the difference between a "Crab Droid" and a "Commando Droid"? Want to know more about Ahsoka Tano or Mace Windu? Learn about the characters in Star Wars, the Clone Wars. Republic Heroes video game with the Star Wars the Clone Wars Character Encyclopedia.

Star Wars, the Clone Wars. Republic Heroes is available for PS3, Wii, and XBOX 360. Star Wars game fans might also like to try Star Wars. The Force Unleashed, also available on all 3 consoles.

Sports, Books, and Video Games.

2010-10-07T17:55:00.011-04:00

What do sports, books, and video games have in common? Let us show you. Take a sport video game you love, and read up on the subject. Can't get enough Soccer? Try the following:

Fifa Soccer 10

and Soccer Skills: How to Play Like a Pro

Baseball season got you psyched? Try these:

Major League Baseball 2K10

and Baseball.

Now you can be a pro-athlete on the console and the field!

Books for the Game Designer

2010-09-30T15:28:00.007-04:00

So, think you've got what it takes to be a video game designer? Well here are a couple of titles to get you started.

The Video Game Developer by Chris Jozefowicz ->

Video Gaming by Trudi Strain Trueit ->

Let-go of my Lego video games!

2010-09-30T14:07:00.004-04:00

Up here in the Youth and Parent Services department, we just love Legos. That's why we have a tub of them to build with, host "Lego Club" programs for young Lego enthusiasts, and have Lego Star Wars on our J computers to play for after-school downtime. We're also happy to announce our video game selection for circulation includes Lego Batman The Video Game, Lego Indiana Jones 2 The Adventure Continues, and Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4, for ALL THREE systems PS3, Wii and XBOX 360.

Did you know?

2010-09-27T17:57:00.008-04:00

Did you know that you can search the OPAC for video games under software? This search method sure comes in handy when looking for a game under the same name as the movie or book it's based on!

Type the name of the game you're looking for in the TITLE field.

Then click the Narrow Your Search tab.

Then scroll down in the Material Type field and highlight SOFTWARE. Your results will be limited to available software and video games.
Easy!

Read-Watch-Play!

2010-09-27T17:39:00.004-04:00

Three great books-turned-movies-turned-video games in our collection are

Alice in Wonderland, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs,

and Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4.

It's always fun to read, watch, and play--then discuss the differences!

Welcome Back Game Enthusiasts!

2010-09-22T11:08:00.005-04:00

Welcome back from a long summer away~hope you enjoyed all

Huntington Public Library's summer programs. New games are coming, and what better way to unwind as the days get shorter and shorter?..but don't forget to do your homework first.

Check back soon for upcoming video game info!

2010-08-13T19:18:00.004-04:00

Ryan likes the New Super Mario Bros. Wii game. His favorite part is when you get to battle Bowser in the last castle. You have to get through a series of villains and many many blocks to beat this level.

His least favorite part of this game is when you have to collect all of the star coins for World 2. This part of the game is pretty hard.

Ryan would recommend this game for his friends to play.

Information contributed by Ryan (grade 4)

Jeep Thrills

2010-07-30T19:08:00.011-04:00

Elisa likes this driving game because, when you're driving the jeep there's a lot of other competitve jeep drivers that are hard to beat. Plus the trails are all different, mostly windy. You even get to design your own jeep, which is the most fun part, but it can also be hard becayse you have to unlock certain ones (which you can do by driving really well).

"It's addicting... very addicting."

Elisa's least favorite part is when there's this twisty, fast trail that turns into a jump off because it's so hard.

Information contributed by Elisa (grade 4).

Pure for Xbox 360

2010-07-23T20:11:00.005-04:00

Teddy thinks Pure is an awesome game (for cool people) about ATV racing. There are three options for playing: 1. Racing, 2. Sprint, and 3. Freestyle.

You can race by yourself for practice or you can go right into the race game.

Sprint is like a shorter version of the regular racing game. It's a smaller track and you go as many times as you want around it. It keeps a record of how fast you go around, so each time you do, you can beat the record.

Freestyle is cool because you get to pull off the "awesome-ist" tricks you can.

Also, two of the characters, Todd Andrews and his sister are rivals.

If you like wipeouts, there are some really good spots for it. There are two houses that you can crash into. It's fun to watch them smash against it.

Cafeful! If you miss a jump in Alto Vista, you could die instantly.

Information contributed by Teddy (grade 4).

Ghostbusters for Wii

2010-07-23T19:59:00.008-04:00

Ryan likes the game Ghostbusters for Wii. His favorite part is when you have to defeat the architect at the end of the whole game.

He thinks the hardest part is the level with the 13th floor because it's hard to navigate.

Some gaming tips: Try not to destroy items because then you will have to pay money. Also, don't touch the black slime - it lowers your health.

The movie (Ghostbusters) is innapropriate for very young kids, but the game is ok for everyone age 7+.

Information contributed by Ryan (grade 4) and Teddy (grade 4).

Rayman Raving Rabbits

2010-07-23T19:01:00.004-04:00

Brendan loves Rayman Raving Rabbits for Wii. His favorite part is when you shoot the bunnies. But he says the hardest game is the ball-puzzle because there are little holes that you have to avoid and you have to do the whole thing in 30 seconds.

Information contributed by Brendan (3rd grade)

Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues DS

2010-07-16T20:00:00.009-04:00

According to Brendan, Lego Indiana Jones 2 for Nintendo DS is mainly better than the first Indiana Jones game. The players have more super powers than they did in the first adventure, however the game only has one story line. Brendan says his favorite thing is that you can ride motorcycles.

Information contributed by Brendan (grade 3).

NHL 10

2010-07-16T19:18:00.004-04:00

NHL 10 for Xbox 360, according to Brendan, is the best Xbox game there is. Why? You feel like you are really in the stadium, he says. Plus, you can pin and cross check other players.

He says that it is a great game to play with your friends.

Information contributed by Brendan (grade 3).

Lego Star Wars the Complete Saga Wii

2010-07-09T20:10:00.003-04:00

A tip on attacking in Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga for Wii: This version of the game is different from the Clone Wars light saber duels game because you shake the remote to attack.

Jonathan recommends to use the C button to force and shake the nunchuk, the A button to jump, and the B button to block.

Information contributed by Jonathan (grade 4).

New Super Mario Bros. Wii

2010-07-09T19:57:00.001-04:00

In the New Super Mario Bros. Wii game, Bowser Jr. kidnaps Princess Peach on her birthday and it's up to Mario, Luigi, and the two toads to rescue her.

Ethan especially likes jumping on the heads of enemies using Yoshi. He would also like to share a tip: Try to go down every pipe - you might find surprises. But watch out because some pipes do not send you down.

Information contributed by Ethan (grade 5).

Club Penguin Elite Penguin Force Herberts Revenge

2010-07-02T20:03:00.000-04:00

Club Penguin Elite Penguin Force Herberts Revenge is a fun game for Nintendo DS. You get to foil Herbert's plans even more than you do on the computer game. However, you can play missions that you've gotten to play on the computer, including the Veggie Villian and Waddle Squad.

The best part, according to Ryan, is when Herbert floods the island and you have to use his statue from his underground base that he made.

Here is a tip: When you have to play mini games for a mission, you can look to the bottom right of the bottom screen and press skip.

Information contributed by Ryan (grade 4).

Nintendogs (for DS)

2010-07-02T19:29:00.001-04:00

Do you play Nintendogs? Here is a tip from Nikki on saving money.

To save money, first, you have to buy a cheap dog with (suggested) short hair and feed it the cheaper, dry food and water. This way your dog can get energy. Next you need to go on a walk to the store with the bone on it (above or below your house). Keep taking your dog to that store and to the park or the train center (open field).

The reason you have to do this is to get into contests. But to get into the disk competitions you'll obviously have to buy a disk. Practice in the park with the open field and no dogs. You can check this by using your control pad, and if you see shaded gray animal figures inside of that park, it has dogs. Practice throwing the disk in the park so that you can later enter in the disk competition, which will earn you money if you place first, second, or third.

Also, you'll have to buy the kind of shampoo that your dog needs - long hair or short hair. (Nikki recommended the short haired dog earlier because that shampoo is cheaper to buy.)

Information contributed by Nikki (grade 5).

Lego Batman

2010-07-02T19:11:00.000-04:00

Batman Legos is a fun, creative game with all your classic Batman characters, including Mr. Freeze, The Joker, and many more.

Ryan says, "My favorite part is in Mr. Freeze's ice cream factory."

Teddy says, "My favorite part is when you fight poison ivy, because it's fun and challenging at the same time."

Ryan and Teddy agree, their least favorite part is when you have to be the scarecrow in the batplane.

You may not believe this, but contrary to popular believe, the Penguin in this game is not the partner of the Joker.

A tip on game play: Save your studs; don't buy any characters and/or vehicles, so when you finish the game you can buy everything.

If you've never played the game, you should know that you need to be one chapter in to unlock Arkham Aslym. Then you will be able to create a character. That's the only way you can create your own custom character.

Information contributed by Ryan (grade 4) and Teddy (grade 4) and Nikki (grade 5).