Not Just for Kids: Games You Might Have Avoided but Shouldn't- Part Two

In last week's blog I talked about the fact that many gamers will simply avoid games if they look too childish or feminine. I mentioned Super Princess Peach and Viva Pinata specifically, but there are certainly a large number of other quality games that have been underappreciated for the same reason. Here's a list of eleven of such games, some you may have heard of or even played, others you may never have heard of, and still others that you may have simply avoided. After browsing through, tell me if there are any other games that you've played that largely went under the radar due to their perceived childish or feminine nature.

Re-Volt: The bright, colorful, kid-friendly box art on this RC Car racing game belies a solid arcade racer with unexpected depth, loads of unlockable cars, highly varied courses and one of the most entertaining course editors ever included in a racing game.

Super Princess Peach: The tables have been turned and this time it's Princess Peach rescuing Mario. Controlling the umbrella-toting princess's moods to get through each level may not sound like the most macho fare, but if there is one thing that Nintendo has figured out how to do properly, it's make a great platforming game and this is no exception.

Beyond Good and Evil: For some reason I always thought this was a children's game when I saw it on store shelves. Maybe it was the idea of playing as journalist armed with a camera which reminded me of Pokemon Snap. Turns out it is a gem of an action/adventure/stealth game with a good plot, great storytelling, and a sequel in pre-production.

Viva Pinata: One of Microsoft's attempts to establish the Xbox 360 as a family-friendly system, this Rare developed game has you tending a garden full of colorful animals called "Pinatas" with names even more absurdly cute than the animals themselves. The surprising combination of deep, rewarding gameplay with a high factor of accessibility makes this game perfect for anyone of any age, just be ready for a possible cute overload.

Barbie: Secret Agent: I'm sure you're thinking that this one must be a joke, but think again! Considering the multitudes of Barbie games that have been made, one of them has to be worthwhile, right? Well this is that one. I like to think of it as Metal Gear: Barbie. Or perhaps this makes more sense; get rid of the vast quantities of pink, swap out Barbie for a weathered Englishman and you've got yourself a good 007 game. Just don't ever let anyone see you playing it.

Zak and Wiki: From the big "E for everyone" esrb rating to the stupidly cute golden monkey with the satellite ears and obnoxiously big adorable eyes to the bright and simple primary color scheme, the game packaging screams "kids only." Don't let it fool you! Despite some of the puzzles being too obvious on the one hand or controller-chuckingly arbitrary on the other, Z&W was largely a fun, refreshing and entertaining adventure game worth the $40 (US) price of entry. It is also one of an exclusive group of games that makes the Wii-mote an integral and intuitive part of the game rather than an afterthought.

Fur Fighters: To its detriment, Fur Fighters has the look of a kid-friendly bargain-bin game at first glance. If, on a wild impulse, you were to purchase the game and play it, you would find a well-polished third person shooter with a maturity level and sense of humor located halfway between Banjo-Kazooie and Conker's Bad Fur day.

Cookie and Cream: It's hard to defend a game about a two bunnies with a flowerpot and an umbrella on their heads as anything other than unapologetic kid fodder, but I have yet to play a more enjoyable co-op platformer. Imagine a game like Lego Star Wars with less emphasis on button mashing and battles and more emphasis on problem solving and platforming... and pastel colors... and umbrellas.

Professor Layton and the Mysterious Village: If you hadn't heard anything about this game you might believe, based on the cover art, that it's nothing more than a loose collection of puzzles suitable for children around age ten. In actuality it is a collection of about 150 puzzles of varying difficulty strung together by genuinely interesting story complimented by beautiful hand-drawn FMV cutscenes.

Backyard Baseball 2005: If I had to rate games based on box art alone, this would have been lucky to get a 4/10. 2005 was a bit late to be bragging "Now in 3D" and the developers don't try to hide that the game was made with kids in mind. Why, then, would you want to play this game? Because it was critically acclaimed as one of the best and most addicting baseball games, and for good reason. If the movie "The Sandlot" were a game, this would be it, except without the shame of being picked last for teams.

Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus: I foolishly passed on this game for a long time thinking that it was just another cookie-cutter juvenile platformer. The title sounded like a bad Saturday morning cartoon and the faux-cell shaded look seemed ripped off. It wasn't until last year that a friend of mine let me borrow it and I was pleasantly surprised to find an engaging platformer with likeable characters and fluid controls. The humor was at times self-referential and at other times parodied other games and movies. While it was a bit short, there are two equally worthwhile sequels.