Video Games for Young Teens

Which video games do you buy for a 13- year- old? It's a difficult call. While you don't want to give them Grand Theft Auto, you also want to stay away from Care Bears and Dora the Explorer. Thirteen IS a vulnerable age; you run the risk of getting something a little too mature, or you could end up insulting them by giving them something well below their age level. I'll go out on a limb and say that most thirteen year olds won't appreciate this.

Cabela's Big Game Hunter (GBA)

While animal violence is most likely not an issue here, the main problem is that this just isn't a good game. I doubt that many people (in any age range) will enjoy a game where you can't tell the difference between a rodent and a tree. I'm usually an advocate for "gameplay over graphics," but this game is an eyesore.

An alternative: Big Game Hunter is really not worth the $20 tag on it; for the same price you can get Metroid Prime for the GameCube. As long as alien violence is not a problem, this game has better quality visually and overall. While I'm skeptical as to the amount of time your kid will spend on Cabela's Big Game Hunter, Metroid has a multitude of different stages to keep him/her occupied for a while. Another plus is that this game isn't just for thirteen-year olds. It's rated T (13 and up) but I know first hand that people much older than that have enjoyed playing this game.

Street Racing Syndicate (GBA)

Again, I'll turn back to the price here. You can't get a good game for $15. It's almost a proven fact. Now, there may be one or two exceptions, but for the most part there's a reason some of these games are cheap. One thing I honestly don't understand from Video Game Gifts for a 13 Year Old was the author's concern for the 13-year-old's protection from profanity or suggestive themes, yet this title appears on the list. This game is by no means one of the worst out there, but something has to be said about the ethics of illegal street racing.

An alternative: Burnout, Need For Speed, or Grand Turismo. Burnout 3: Takedown features one of the best parts about a racing game: crashing. The object of the game is to take out your opponents while avoiding crashes yourself. A Teen rating and a price tag of only $20 makes this game a good buy for the Playstation 2. For those who favor a handheld console, Burnout Legends is a worthy alternative for PSP owners. Need For Speed, like Street Racing Syndicate, features illegal street racing. In NFS: Hot Pursuit 2 for the GameCube, you can choose to be either the cop or the racer while NFS Underground focuses more on the nightlife aspect of "underground" racing. Both are rated E. Grand Turismo is another great racing game to consider. Unlike Need For Speed, Grand Turismo features 100% law-abiding racing on real track environments. Hailed as one of the best racing simulators to date, GT won't satisfy your destructive side but it does rank in the top racing games available.

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (Xbox)

This is one of those games it's better to check out first. Ask the child's parents, or if you yourself are the parent, try to judge your thirteen year old: does he or she still read comics? And, the deciding factor, does he or she enjoy Marvel comics enough to endure a mediocre game? I'm not saying that this game is bad, the fact is just that it's not particularly good either.

An alternative: Star Wars. Normally I'm not a huge fan of games based off movies, but the Star Wars saga is my one exception. Knights of the Old Republic and Lego Star Wars are my two top picks. Legos might seem a bit young, but it's a humorous take on traditional Star Wars games, but on a smaller scale and with much less violence.

Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged (Xbox)

This is an OK collection, but a bit pricey for what it is. $40 for the game, plus Xbox Live charges if you choose to play online. I am not too familiar with the Xbox, but so far I haven't heard anything particularly bad to discourage me from recommending this game.

Capcom Classics Collection (Xbox)

With the Capcom Classics Collection, you can't go wrong. A considerable number of classic arcade games for only $20 is a pretty good deal for a taste of old-school gaming brought to a contemporary console.

Another suggestion: Mario Party (GCN).

Guitar Hero (PS2)

Guitar Hero is one game I can fully recommend. The title sounds a little cheesy but it's actually not a bad game. In fact, it's a safe alternative to DDR for those who prefer not to leave the couch.

Other suggestions: Any DDR game. It's a blast once you get the hang of it, plus what parent could argue against a game based entirely on physical activity?

WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain (PS2)

Another game I can recommend. WWE Wrestling is a great pick for thirteen-year-old boys.

Other suggestions: Super Smash Bros Melee (for those Nintendo fans or those who prefer a more cartoonish fighting game).

Chronicals of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (GCN)

If your child really liked the movie, I suppose he or she'd like this game. The problem is, most movies don't make good games. I think that half the problem is that the game can never live up to the movie, and so there's a subconscious comparison that makes the game seem rather lackluster. Narnia was such a brilliant movie that I'm reluctant to try the game.

An alternative: Kingdom Hearts. Kingdom Hearts is a great investment for Narnia fans. It's not too heavy and perfectly child-appropriate-you'll see old Disney faces as well as a fair mix from Final Fantasy. Graphics are smooth and aesthetic despite being an older game for the PS2, plus and engaging storyline offers upwards of 40 hours of gameplay. This game is one of my personal favorites, which just goes to show that an E rating doesn't mean it's only for kids.

The Incredibles (GCN)

Again, the only problem I have with this is that it's a movie game. If the child has seen the movie, the game is a complete waste of time and will probably be dropped after several hours. In other words, it's not worth the time or the money.

Suggestion: Just buy the movie.

Bottom Line: Thirteen-year-olds are hard to shop for, so you absolutely MUST know what you're looking for before you go out and buy anything.