Hands in the toy box
GAME DAY
Need a gift tip? Try Mighty Muggs -- or maybe a dose of Air Traffic Chaos.
Here at Game Day, we believe you're never too old to play with toys, even if you saw the original "Star Wars" in a theater the first time it came out.
So when we spied Hasbro's Mighty Muggs line of dolls upon its release last November, we were smitten -- even if they aren't our usual video game fare. Topping our holiday wish list this year is a recent addition, the funny fish-looking guy from "Return of the Jedi," Admiral Akbar -- a cool, quirky gift that can be appreciated by adults and kids alike.
"Made from 100% recycled awesome," as it says on the box, Muggs are artistic urban vinyl-inspired dolls that stand about 6 inches tall. Each starts with a similar, bulbous body shape, then gets a cartoon-inspired imagining of characters from the "Star Wars" universe, "Indiana Jones" films and Marvel comics (GI Joe and Transformers are on the way). And for every Luke Skywalker, Indiana Jones or Spider-Man, there are obscure characters such as Lando Calrissian, Short Round and Red Skull.
But perhaps the best thing about them is the price: Most common Muggs are at stores like Target for as little as $9.99.
Video game picks
Two video games that appeal to almost every kind of gamer would also make great gifts. Boom Blox for the Wii and Buzz Quiz TV for PlayStation 3 won't top the wish list of most hard-core gamers, but they should. Besides being easily accessible, these two are fun to play with a group.
Boom Blox relies on the simplicity of throwing a ball to knock down blocks. Though some would dismiss the game as strictly for younger kids, older gamers can get addicted to the puzzle-solving elements (as well as the explosions) once they give it a try.
Buzz Quiz TV, meanwhile, comes with wireless five-button controllers that allow players to be a part of a great game show. Hit the big red button on the buzzer and then answer the trivia question to win -- fun stuff anyone can do. (Microsoft offers a similar "quiz show with wireless controllers" called Scene It? for the Xbox 360.)
Details: Boom Blox, Nintendo Wii platform; $39.99; rated Everyone (cartoon violence, comic mischief). Buzz! Quiz TV, PlayStation 3 platform; $59.99 (comes with controllers); rated Teen (alcohol reference, mild blood, mild suggestive themes, mild violence).
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