This is a product that is wholly average in design, and one that is hard to recommend. I don’t know who would benefit or be entertained by it. I advise people to wait and see what the DSi downloadable applications will offer, instead.

A linear, uninventive and utterly boring action game from start to finish, the splatter-fest that is Onechanbara makes us wonder how a game with bikinis this skimpy could be a very bad thing. I like a good hack-and-slash action game but this Bikini Samurai Squad makes mindless fun feel really quite unentertaining.

Deadly Creatures should renew your interest in your Nintendo Wii if you’ve had a falling out recently with the lack of titles to play. It’s fun for all ages and packs a thrilling rollercoaster of a ride till you finally complete the storyline.

X-Blades may prove a pleasant enough distraction for hack-and-slash gamers thirsty for something new. Repetitive gameplay and bland design keep it from becoming anything outstandingly great.

Like LostWinds, LIT is one of the definitive WiiWare releases. With plenty of challenging content and creepy style to spare, LIT is a must-play for horror fans.

The camera problems and unavoidable monster grind prevent X-Blades from reaching its full potential. But if you're willing to endure its problems (or fit into the "clueless gamer" group described above), X-Blades is worth a try.

X-Blades is one of those games that I really wanted to like, but while it’s average entertainment, it really does nothing to move it to the next level.

The interface needs to be reworked from the version received, but when it comes to the gameplay, this is a stand-out title.

One of the best Tenchu sequels ever made.

Minimal load times, fast-paced on-the-ice action and a steady array of power-ups make for a game that plays well, controls well and has only a slight learning curve. What hurts the game is the lack of game options - there are really only three ways to play it and two are online.

A fun and fast game, the graphics, gameplay and sound are all above board on this one. Easily worth the ten bucks.

The main saving grace for Rygar: The Battle of Argus is that it’s one of the easier Wii action games to play. Unfortunately, it suffers from a total lack of originality for those who are familiar with the 3D action game genre.

Afro Samurai is a good game that could have been a lot more. What this game needed was another month or two in order to squish all of the bugs, poor interior camera control, and weak bosses. If this was done, this game would have been one of the first "must have" games" of the New Year.

Initially a jaw-dropper but quickly a repetitive action game ruled by hack-n-slash mechanics, Afro Samurai is worth playing but does not warrant more than a rental.

Nobunaga's Ambition: Iron Triangle is for the hardcore gamer willing to take on all strategy games, not just mainstream hits.

Operation Anchorage has no shortage of action, but the experience is awfully short-lived.

I liked the fact that there were so many mini-games that could be replayed separately from the game, but these alone cannot hold up the entire game.

Coraline for PS2 isn’t a terrible game — it is, however, a dull, routine, by-the-numbers movie adaptation. It’s as bland and forgettable as the movie and book are fresh and original, and it’s a real shame that some of that magic couldn’t come across in interactive form.

Coraline follows the movie in terms of the plot but what we have here is a rather dull, lifeless and by-the-numbers DS game that’s actually quite disappointing.

This game had great potential, but unfortunately it fails to deliver. Only the most hardcore baseball fanatics are going to be able to stomach the breadth and depth of this title. I'm a pretty big baseball fan, and it was even too much for me.

Big Bang Mini is a distinctive game that simply wouldn’t work on any system but the DS—but there it works brilliantly. With so much content, challenge, and visual insanity packed into a $20 title, this game deserves a spot in any DS owner’s library.

Skate 2 is a solid, albeit incremental, improvement over the first Skate.

Skate 2 does manage to pull of some refreshingly new and stylish moves that should please fans of the first game. Despite its few technical problems, though, it makes the trip back to San Van well worth it.

A great continuation of a solid RPG franchise, Ar Tonelico 2 is worth the time and effort you'll put into its lengthy quest.

The bad aspects in the game just overtake all the good it tries to accomplish, resulting in just an average game-show game.

While there are a few issues here and there, Second Evolution is a solid update of a compelling RPG from the past.

Commander in Chief tries to give you a feeling of running a world power, but instead feels like a lame duck presidency.

Using the fun Star Wars: Battlefront style, Conquest has all the right elements but they’re not implemented as smoothly or as it should have been on the Xbox 360. The controls make for some frustrating button-mashing battles even with some fun match types or the various heroes you can use on the many battlefields.

Moon is a solid first-person shooter, especially considering it’s on DS, but it certainly has its fair share of shortcomings and annoyances.

Fusionfall is an ambitious idea that may not have hit all the marks, but this is a solid first effort in an untapped market - a children's MMORPG.

This is well-made, well-developed title. The end result isn't the new gold standard, but the idea and implementation sure are good.

A good idea for the Wii, and one that should have worked better than it did. The control system really should have been tested more before the final release. It is a shame, because there are lots of varied and attractive games included in this compilation. Best for families with older children that don’t frustrate easily.

Young players and monster truck fans may find Collision Course a mildly enjoyable, if seriously flawed, racing romp, but most should pass on this pedestrian racer.

There are times where you’ll appreciate the throwback to old detective games, but then you’ll realize that Interpol: The Trail of Dr. Chaos needed a lot more work graphically to keep your attention past the first few cities.

Elebits: The Adventures of Kai and Zero is a fun little adventure game that’s simple enough for young gamers to enjoy, but substantial enough to keep us older gamers happy. It’s a unique, charming little adventure, and DS owners with a taste for the cute and colorful will find it worth their time.

I felt bad cause I beat the game up so badly, but then I played it again, and now I don't feel so bad.

This is a must-have game for the Wii. It transcends generations, and even though expensive, will last for a long time.

Hats off to the dev team for bringing the genre back to life in a visually appealing way that is a lot of fun to play.

This is not a game you should play for the gameplay. That sounds strange, doesn't it? But Rise of the Argonauts' developers wanted to create an RPG, a genre that used to put the story first.

Telltale finishes Strong Bad’s Cool Game 4 Attractive People with a bang as 8-Bit Is Enough is hands-down the strongest episode out of the bunch.

If you’ve never played Persona 3, then it’ll be overwhelmingly fresh entry to the RPG genre. If you’ve actually played Persona 3, then there have been more then enough changes to warrant a revisit through the world of Inaba.

Well set up, because you set it up, but an effective and fun combat system.

I can't say it was terrible, and I liked the idea behind the game, but it never properly executes on its promise to make you ambidextrous.

Nothing deep here but even though the game has very arcade-like roots, taken as a package it works. The scored missions give a reason to try to achieve a quick and efficient solution. This may not be a game that you will sit down and spend hours with, but in increments you should walk away with a smile on your face.

The only enjoyment you’ll find in Dragon Ball Z: Infinite World is the fact you have a wide range of characters to choose from. Otherwise, avoid DBZ: IW as it’s an uninspiring cash-in on the franchise.

For super fans of Super Stardust HD for the PS3, this title is going to be a little bit of a let down. There aren’t as many modes and the control difference is noticeable and a slight hindrance to enjoyment.

Taking Everyday Shooter on the road is a nice attribute for fans of the game, but it’s not nearly as fun as it was when it debuted in 2007. Without two analog sticks, it’s not nearly as functional.

Safecracker offers plenty of puzzle-solving fun on the Wii. While the game itself isn’t any different from any other puzzle game on the PC, it is different from most offerings on the Wii, which are mainly platform, action or shooter games.

SPRay is a decent game that will certainly appeal to its target audience: younger gamers. Other than that if players are looking for a decent action game then they will want to check out this game.

Not worth the time of any M&M's lover, and should be vehemently avoided by fans of the action/adventure genre. Do yourself a favor and buy a few bags of M&M's instead – they're much cheaper, several times more enjoyable, and won't leave you with a horrible aftertaste.

Your kids may love M&M's, but there is no chance they will derive anything from this game but the urge to quit and play something else.

There’s nothing here that will have you itching to go back and play through after your first run through.

If linearity is not an issue for you, Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars is a rewarding action/adventure. And even if it is an issue, those who enjoy the genre will find a lot to like about this game.

Prince of Persia: The Fallen King is a game that just sort of falls into no man’s land. It’s not bad, and it’s not particularly good. While there are a lot of good ideas, the execution isn’t polished enough to realize that potential.

Nancy Drew: The White Wolf of Icicle Creek is a slightly above average adventure game for teens and is pretty fun to play. However, this Wii version isn’t quite as good a platform as the PC.

Grand Theft Auto IV is a solid port, adding in some compelling features to reward PC gamers for their patience. However, they’re going to want to sit tight and wait for Rockstar to issue a patch to fix the game’s stability problems.

Featuring the most seamless climbing, swinging and platform-hopping controls of any game, Prince of Persia is an outstanding sequel.

The easy to grasp platforming elements are smooth and comfortable and the environments are very well executed. Elika is quite possibly one of the best AI supporting characters yet implemented into a game.

Taking a page from other "from the ground up" remakes of other Square-Enix remakes like Final Fantasy IV on the DS, Re:Chain of Memories is a great way to check out an adventure that many may have missed the first time around.

The first five games in the KOF series are faithfully duplicated for the Wii in all of their glorious, if not aging, splendor. But gameplay is really the key for any fighting game and this collection will not disappoint in that regard.

This will have limited appeal, and as such is not the strongest collection of songs to make the SingStar roster. If you are an ABBA fan, you will enjoy this. If you are not an ABBA fan, you would do well to leave it alone.

ABBA fans should like this collection. Non-ABBA fans will not. The quality of the game is solid; it just comes down to taste in music.

This is one of the few compilation games that actually passes the bar, barely. I can't say that this is the one for you, but there is some fun found in this title, you just have to look.

The game feels like it exhausted all its ideas and is recycling the weakest missions from past games. In other words, Path of the Furon is a lackluster game with not much to offer those who enjoyed Crypto’s earlier adventures.

Cradle of Rome is surprisingly addictive, easy to play, and challenging from a number of different angles.

The must-have DS RPG you've like already played through, Chrono Trigger is a thoroughly entertaining game with a lengthy quest, an excellent combat system, an unforgettable soundtrack, likable characters and so much more.

Sadly, this is a game that certainly does have the potential of being a worthwhile paintball title but falls short in so many ways that even shooter fans will be greatly disappointed.

If you’re looking for another Wii Sports, stop. You won’t find it, and it certainly won’t be under the guise of a Winter Sports title. As much fun as tumbling down a ski slope, this snowy sequel epitomizes Wii mediocrity.

Syberia is one of the greatest point-and-click adventure games of all time, but the DS version is broken at a fundamental level. Avoid this painful port and track down the PC original instead.

Might be suitable for gamers craving a very low-end, low-cost, Web game-quality experience. But it isn't for anyone who spent $250 on a Wii to get a Wii-caliber experience.

If you or someone you know enjoys the very low-tech content of very low-end Web games that were designed to play on any PC made in the last 15 years, this might be just the racing game you’ve been craving. If, however, you purchase DS games expecting a DS experience, keep driving – this is not a stop you’ll want to make.

This is a great strategy game for the DS, and one that strategy fans won’t want to miss.

Cake Mania: In the Mix isn’t a bad game, nor is it a good game. This is mainly due to the method of play on the Wii, rather than any inherent flaws in the gameplay. Some things just aren’t meant to be.

The controls were not ironed out enough, which makes the game almost impossible to play with the balance board. Even the motion controls are not very good. Hopefully the next version will iron out these issues as this could be a really great "younger-gamer friendly" skateboarding series. The game as it is now is best left as a last option rental.

Square Enix has their attention elsewhere. This is quite evident. The Last Remnant might satisfy the diehards or those looking for an RPG fix, but many people will find this game very mild and less than expected.

What will have many gamer's hopes up is the developers really nailed the Sonic portion of the game, but the pure sense of speed, action, and exploring. It will make gamers have flashbacks of earlier Sonic the Hedgehog days. Hopefully the next game in the series will focus more of this then adding a new gimmick to the series.

The best extreme sports game available for Wii this Christmas.

Inferno for the PS3 might have fixed a few of the problems that plagued the Xbox 360 release of Alone in the Dark but, sadly, it’s not enough to make this a completely better version of the game.

This is a game that could have been much more. The game’s linearity really hampers immersion, and there are some odd animation elements that also distract from the game.

As an overall package, kids won’t be blown away but they will be entertained by the catchy music (even though every song is a cover), they’ll appreciate the gameplay variety (the frontman mechanics are weird but different), and enjoy the stylized visuals, which are quite inventive for Wii, a console that is usually slapped with dated graphics.

This game is really fun to play, especially in the racing sections. Sonic is breathtakingly fast! The platforming levels are a drastic switch from the racing, and force players to slow down.

We don’t mind a Castlevania fighting game when it’s done right but Judgment just isn’t able to pull it off well thanks to a number of problems that make this a unimpressive fighting game. All is not bad, though, seeing as the collection of characters bring something different to the battle, but it’s not enough to recommend this one.

An impressive game with beautiful environments, excellent platforming, and superb puzzles.

While it doesn’t propel the series forward to new heights, Underground is certainly an exciting and challenging Tomb Raider game worthy of Lady Croft’s sizeable talents.

Underworld shows Tomb Raider still has something relevant and fun to offer gamers, but a lack of polish has diminished its enjoyability.

Differentiating between Penny and Bolt in terms of gameplay and control, the game has enough entertainment value to provide children.

Straightforward, easy-to-follow exploration and button-mash gameplay. Fun for kids but severely repetitive.

Luminous Arc 2 doesn’t attempt to reinvent the RPG nor does it push the strategy game genre forward but it’s certainly a very enjoyable game that RPG fans will certainly appreciate. Still, the strategic combat action isn’t the strongest element in the game and the story is a bit by-the-numbers but there is still some fun to be had in this decent strategy/RPG.

As with the almost limitless number of mini-game collections coming out for the Wii, the overall goal is to have fun. If you can’t find something fun with TV Party then I don’t know what game you’re playing.

Tecmo’s gridiron throwback is as addictive and fun as it was in 1989.

The song selection is actually not bad at all but the game modes could have been a bit more exciting than the ones found in this game. Still, you cannot go wrong with this one, karaoke fans.

If you’re a Metal Slug fan you owe it to yourself not to miss Metal Slug 7.

More of the same with a few additional spices, Cooking Mama: World Kitchen isn't the freshest game in the market. But fans of the series should be entertained, especially those who can appreciate the silly humor that it provides.

If this series were to receive a significant upgrade – perhaps via the DW: Gundam sequel – it could finally move beyond its troubled past. For now, unfortunately, it is stuck in a dated, mechanically-challenged form that is all but impossible to enjoy.

This is a game that harkens back to the good old days of adventure D&D video-gaming, where the adventure is strong, but strategic playing is stronger.

While it’s an entertaining romp for the first hour or so, the game will tire quickly on the player. The show is much more exciting than the video game so it’s best to stick to watching CSI on your television rather than playing it on your PC.

It controls like a dream, isn't overly complicated and has a random generator of where the zombies are each time you start the game over.

Left 4 Dead is a great multiplayer shooter with many elements that you won’t find in any other shooter this year. The co-op experience is unrivaled and the dynamic AI is an excellent design choice.