Deadly Creatures (Nintendo Wii)

Deadly Creatures features a unique gameplay experience that reincarnates you into an unlikely pair of protagonists: a Tarantula and Scorpion. I was pleasantly surprised by the game when I took it for a test-drive at THQ.

Developed by THQ’s critically acclaimed Rainbow Studios, Deadly Creatures marks a new chapter for the team; departing from their previous racing games to explore a new thrilling world that’s mostly been ignored by video games.

You’ll begin Deadly Creatures by overhearing the muffled voices of two Arizona men digging for money, or a dead body, or both. These two characters, played by Billy Bob Thornton and Dennis Hopper, add a convincing side-story and you’ll hear them scuttling above you throughout your adventures.

Your first foray in the venomous desert is as a stealthy tarantula; somewhat of a ninja, it crawls on walls and imprisons enemies in its web. This contrasts with the game’s other protagonist, the armoured scorpion; he’s more of a brawler and you’ll swap roles every other level in a Western-style dual between the two.