| Fans of Genndy Tartakovsky's "Samurai Jack," | | | | gets five "lives," and you can see the red meter |
| which wrapped last year on the Cartoon Network, | | | | slowly shrink as he is bombarded with digital |
| enjoy the quirky storytelling and stunning visuals, | | | | mayhem. Try to at least hold on to the fourth |
| also the martial arts sequences. Naturally, it was | | | | "life" when getting to the second level. After you |
| only a matter of time before the online gaming | | | | clear each level the "life" you're currently on is |
| industry turned the time-traveling samurai's | | | | replenished (Jack must have been drinking his |
| adventures into video games.I haven't tried any | | | | trademark green tea.) When you get to the third |
| of the games available for gaming console | | | | level, try to keep at least three "lives," although |
| systems, confining my efforts instead to Cartoon | | | | you can get away with two. You need at least |
| Network's own Web Site. Its Games section | | | | two to have a chance during the final skirmish |
| features six games based on "Samurai Jack," | | | | with Aku.At the end of the first two levels you |
| including "The Way of the Warrior," in which the | | | | do battle with a giant adversary more powerful |
| young samurai trains through several simulations | | | | than the others: a skeleton warrior on the first, a |
| for his eventual battle with the shape-shifting evil | | | | basket-head warrior on the second. The good |
| sorcerer Aku (deliciously voiced by veteran actor | | | | news is you can watch its "life" meter and track |
| Mako in the series and console games).The other | | | | your progress on defeating it.The second level is |
| games invariably feature Jack battling Aku's | | | | filled with gears running amuck to mow you |
| minions--robots, beetle insects, and the like. Two | | | | down, blades slashing at you, and on all three |
| of the games feature a final showdown with | | | | levels you run the risk of falling in slime or on |
| Aku."Code of the Samurai" was a tie-in with a | | | | sharp spikes, which make you lose a life. Tip: Time |
| Samurai Jack marathon, so when you access the | | | | your jumps to avoid the gears, but don't get too |
| game, the interface asks you "Enter Code or | | | | jumpy, otherwise you fall into the slime.The third |
| Play." I advise pushing Play since the original | | | | level features spikes, moving platforms and even |
| marathon was two years ago.Once you get into | | | | wider jumps, if that's possible. Tip: The vapor |
| the game, you have to fight through three | | | | demons can appear anywhere and are more |
| treacherous levels before you even get to | | | | poweerful than the adversaries in the first two |
| Aku.The first level features crumbling ledges, | | | | levels. But this workout is just practice, flexing |
| motorized spikes, machine-gun fire as you ride | | | | your muscles for the clash with Aku.The final |
| rock lifts up mountains, and of course, the | | | | stage features ledges that sink into lava--you |
| inevitable baddies waiting to attack you. Tip: When | | | | have to jump fast before you fall in. The |
| riding the rock lifts, duck and jump to avoid the | | | | computerized Aku is quite impressive, and just as |
| machine gun fire. Seize the opportunity when the | | | | in the series, flies off several times before Jack |
| second lift descends or ascends close to the lift | | | | can deliver the final blow. But be brave, be |
| you're on, otherwise you'll have to avoid the | | | | steadfast, be victorious, and you, gamer, will |
| gunfire until the lift comes back within reach. The | | | | defeat the evil scourge! The conclusion to the |
| level features two lift challenges, all with a | | | | game is satisfying and delivers the anticipated |
| computerized attacker waiting at the top of the | | | | emotional payoff.Play your destiny now at |
| cliff.The creatures on all three levels are | | | | reviewer/screenwriter Kristin Johnson composes |
| adversaries that fans of "Samurai Jack" will | | | | personalized poems, speeches, toasts, vows, and |
| recognize: zombie warriors, Terminator-style | | | | family memories. Visit to order your personalized |
| robots who look like they have baskets on their | | | | memories. She is also co-author of the Midwest |
| heads, and Aku's minions that turn into vapor | | | | Book Review "enthusiastically recommended" pick |
| when you attack them.Tip: Try whenever possible | | | | Christmas Cookies Are For Giving: Stories, |
| to hit the targets with a good quick thrust of | | | | Recipes and Tips for Making Heartwarming Gifts |
| Jack's katana. The game says other weapons are | | | | (ISBN: 0-9723473-9-9). A downloadablemedia kit is |
| available to Jack, but for some reason you only | | | | available at our Web site, or e-mail the publisher () |
| see him use his katana. Go slow and time your | | | | to receive a printed media kit and sample copy of |
| attacks so that the targets can't hit you first.Jack | | | | the book. |