4. Explore a Nuclear Zone without Radiation Fears
Here’s one place that might be safer explored in the virtual world rather than the real one. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl is a first person shooter game set in, you guessed it, Chernobyl, of nuclear disaster fame. Granted, this is a fictionalized futuristic scenario where a second catastrophe has striken the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Graphic details are based on the real world ghost town of Pripyat and the bleak surrounding area, albeit with some artistic license. It’s a survival horror game with RPG elements, but if you really want to explore this abandoned region of the Ukraine, there are Chernobyl tours there today.
5. Go on Safari Without Leaving Home
If taking the kids on an African Safari is too daunting a task, give them a simulated experience through the magic of Wii. Nintendo’s Wild Earth: African Safari game lets them shoot wild animals – photoshoot, that is. Players get to witness exotic creatures in their (virtual) natural habitats through various games, missions and experiences. There’s no real life worries of being trampled by a thundering herd of zebras. As an educational eco-game with geographic learning and environmental messages thrown in, parents can almost feel good about their kids’ zoning out in front of a screen.
6. Drive Around Urban America
In the classic Driver series of PlayStation games, you are the wheelman making your way through various US cities on different driving missions. San Francisco, New York, Miami and Los Angeles versions were developed. While they’re not pixel-by-pixel accurate depictions of each town’s layout, they are impressive representations. The game takes you through different modes, including Pursuit, Getaway, Checkpoint, and Carnage. Don’t forget to stop and appreciate the inner-city scenery every now and then during your high-speed vehicular mayhem.
