Review: Dragon Ball Z – Ultimate Tenkaichi (PS3)

When I first heard about Battle for the White House I didn’t know what it could be about. I imagined either a political sim or some kind of quiz game, actually. It turns out it’s more of a minigame collection, but in an interesting twist, it features several of the 2008 US presidential candidates, some of whom have actually recently dropped out of the race.

No matter, it’s still a funny concept. The game’s due out next month, but mobile games publisher Gameloft was actually nice enough to drop the game onto my phone this afternoon for me to look at. I haven’t had an extended period of play in the game yet, but so far, I’m amused. I selected Barack Obama from a group of possible candidates and then, in the Crowd Breaker game, worn out after a press conference, headed for my limo, only to find it mobbed with animal rights activists bearing anti-fur signs. What else to do but swing my bat, sending baseballs sailing into the jeering crowd in order to clear a path. What? Well, it’s basically Arkanoid, but with baseballs. And anti-fur activists. And Barack Obama.

I’ll be back with a full review when I’ve finished the game. In the mean time, read the press release.

A New Kind of Political Contest Plays Out on Mobile Phones

As Gameloft Announces ‘Battle for the White House’

Satirical Mobile Game Features Candidates From Both Major Parties

New York – Political in-fighting takes on a whole new meaning as Gameloft®, a leading publisher and developer of mobile games, today introduced ‘Battle for the White House’, a new mobile game that spoofs the current 2008 presidential elections.

‘Battle for the White House’ allows players to assume the roles of the leading candidates: Democrats Hillary Clinton; Barack Obama, John Edwards, and Republicans Rudolph Giuliani and Mitt Romney, as they square off against one another in completely re-imagined ways.

2008’s presidential hopefuls face such daunting challenges as:

* Boxing – a new way to debate as candidates lace on the gloves to settle debates the old fashion way. See America’s Mayor take on The Pride of Arkansas.
* Debate – you are about to take part in a decisive debate and its imperative that you excite the crowd with a blazing performance. Will Hillary ham it up with the Hustle? Can Thompson titillate with the Tango?
* Sabotage – having sabotaged an opponent’s speech, you must now escape undetected;
* Parade – Smiling and waving has never been so easy, has it? Convince the fence-sitters to vote your way as you march down the election trail;
* Ballot Ball – like log-rolling only better! Steer a giant ball of ballots downhill as you avoid larger obstacles and “gain” constituents by rolling over them;
* Sneak In – Forget hanging chads! Personally collect the ballots as you race through a maze and gain power ups as you get closer to worming your way into the White House;
* Touch the Sky – need a boost in the polls? Adjust the ‘angle’ of your campaign and kick your competition out of the race;
* Crowd Breaker – you can’t please everyone and so it time to get rid of the protesters that block the path to your limo.

‘Battle for the White House’ will be available on all major mobile carrier decks in February 2008. To check the game’s availability with your carrier, text “WHITE” to 82174 on your mobile phone.