The result is a game which is far more focused and entertaining than the original Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing.

Puddle is another strong contender for your digital money in the beginning days of Wii U's eShop. It falters when it comes to explaining all of its elements, occasionally stumbles with difficulty spikes and its motion control scheme is best left ignored, but look past these flaws and you'll find a creative, smart puzzler that flows pretty well while offering a fair amount of variety and replay value.

In spite of its many faults, Wipeout 3 succeeds in something many licensed games fail spectacularly at: being a decent game that fans of the series will enjoy.

Transformers Prime feels most at home on Wii U: increased visual fidelity makes it more striking and true to the cartoon than the cruder Wii and 3DS editions, and predictable yet appreciated flexibility offered by the GamePad brings a bundle of convenience. Just as on other platforms, though, the game is aimed squarely at the younger/casual Transformers crowd.

Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper is an uninspired port of an excellent game. There are missed opportunities regarding the Wii U's unique features and the slow down, frame rate and draw distance issues make this version the least appealing on the market. It never breaks the experience completely though, and its bonkers narrative and absorbing hack 'n' slash action is so engaging that's it's easier than you might think to look past the limitations and enjoy the oodles of content.

Tank! Tank! Tank! does a few things pretty well, but a torturously mind-numbing solo campaign and a high price tag keep it from being a hit. The younger crowd will definitely enjoy the photo-taking aspect and simple multiplayer, but other than that it's pretty barren. If Namco Bandai had lopped off the limp campaign mode and released the game as a multiplayer offering on the Wii U eShop for $15 then it would be easier to recommend, but as it stands now, Tank! Tank! Tank! is better described as Lame! Lame! Lame!

Invasion of the Alien Blobs! isn't a bad game, but it's pretty much the textbook example of a limited gaming experience. If tapping coloured circles is enough for you - as there's really nothing else here - then it may be a fun time-waster. But if you're looking for anything more than that - including the basic ability to resume your game where you left off - you're headed for disappointment.

FIFA 13 for Wii U is a fine simulation of the world's favourite sport. In footballing circles, the only game that beats it is its own sequel, which is already out for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and also happens to be called FIFA 13. The chances are that if you're really into football games, you've been playing FIFA on one of the other home formats for a while and will have played this edition of the game to death already. If you aren't, then you'll have no interest in FIFA 13 anyway. That makes us wonder exactly who EA was targeting when it drew up the plans for this one.

Game Party Champions is – to put it nicely – a bad game. We're not even venturing into "so bad that it's good" territory, either. We're way past that. On the shelves on Wii U launch day, you could pick up any other title for just a few pounds more than the asking price of this. Alternatively, you could have not bothered buying any games, and still had more fun than if you'd walked out of the store with Game Party Champions. This is so bad that your great-great-grandchildren will want to change their surname when they find out that you once played it. Avoid.

There's no polite way to put it: Bloons TD 4 is genuinely unplayable. It's a simplistic tower defense game that doesn't really bring anything new to the table in the first place, but that's not the problem. The problem is that the game regularly overloads itself to the point that it no longer accepts input, a truly game-breaking issue that really should have been addressed in beta testing. A colourful presentation, fun music and unlockable levels and upgrades fail to salvage a game that simply doesn't work in the first place. This is one balloon that's never getting off the ground.

We Sing 80s is a decent continuation of the series, and is likely to cause nostalgia overload for gamers of a certain age. Its biggest strengths are multiplayer fun and an excellent tracklist that covers some of the most memorable songs of the period. It's weakest played solo, where it's really just a karaoke machine that's supported by a rather unsupportive Lessons mode, while the video and sound quality is rather typical of a Wii singing game - passable but unimpressive. Nordic Games is a veteran of the genre, however, and has brought its solid experience to this title; as party season approaches, this could be a fun option.

Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge plays great, with fast, fluid combat that's gruesome and satisfying. Still, you'll often wish there was a little more to it than just fighting waves of enemies in predetermined spots, and even with the campaign a little over five hours long (excluding cutscenes) it starts to feel a bit tired towards the end. That certainly shouldn't put you off it, though, as the game is still a worthwhile purchase and a great example of Nintendo's willingness to shirk their "kiddy" perception.

Nintendo Land is both a wonderful celebration of Nintendo's past and an exciting glimpse into its future, but more importantly it is incredibly, riotously fun. It's one of the best local multiplayer experiences ever crafted, and playing with friends is a guaranteed great time. There's also a surprising amount of depth to the single-player offerings, and Miiverse integration means you're never really on your own. It definitely taps into the nostalgia vein - and this is fan service par excellence - but it's also just pure entertainment.

New Super Mario Bros. U may not offer the cataclysmic genre shift that many badly crave, but it's the gem of the Wii U launch lineup and a must-have purchase.

If you're a fan of previous entries in the Scribblenauts series, then you're going to love Scribblenauts Unlimited. If you've never played one before, then now is absolutely the time to start. The campaign could be considered to be on the short side, and the multiplayer gameplay leaves much to be desired, but, as always, Scribblenauts is about the pure joy of extending your imagination. This is the kind of game that looks great, controls well, and provides a whole heck of a lot of family-friendly fun.

ESPN Sports Connection's biggest problem is that it feels like it was slapped together in a manner of months, with seemingly little interest to exist beyond merely existing - someone had to make motion-controlled tennis, right? Noble perhaps to take one for the team like that, but families looking to replicate that Wii Sports magic this hardware launch are better off with a ticket to Nintendo Land.

SiNG Party feels like it was designed for commercials: It's flashy and light, heavy on that kind of wholesome party fun that impossibly well-groomed human-like people seem to have all the time but of which the grubby masses never finds itself a part. By trying to please everyone at the same time, though, the game sacrifices a lot of identity and ends up with modes that are either just plain adequate or downright puzzling. With the right group of like-minded people you could find yourself having a great time with SiNG Party, but then again you can achieve the same effect cranking up the radio and belting along at the top of your lungs.

Aesthetically speaking, Trine 2: Director's Cut borders on perfection and deserves nothing less than to be framed and mounted, but the unfortunate news is that this quality does not permeate the game as a whole. Uncomfortable controls and puzzles that don't actually adhere to sensible solutions, but instead allow you to force your own answer on them, mar the experience and slow the game down in a significant way. It's not likely that this release will win new fans to the genre, but anyone who already enjoys physics-based puzzle platformers will definitely want to check this one out. Or maybe everyone should just buy this game simply to look at the environments. Have we mentioned how good it all looks?

Little Inferno is a surprising game. It's surprising both for the simplicity of its concept ("burn things"), and for the fact that such a coherent and lovingly crafted experience has been built around that idea. It's also surprisingly different from what we traditionally think of as a game, and because of that, it isn't for everyone. But players drawn to the flame will find a fun, funny, and even moving experience in Little Inferno. It's a lot like setting some of the game's more spectacularly flammable objects ablaze, actually; a fast burn, but beautiful while it lasts.

Mighty Switch Force: Hyper Drive Edition is just as fantastic as its 3DS predecessor. The controls are flawless, the graphics amazing, the music some of the best we've heard in any video game. It all really comes down to which D you prefer, 3D or HD. The Wii U's graphical muscle is the perfect partner for WayForward's art gods, so even if you've already had your fill of the original there's some pretty big incentive to double dip.

Its launch day timing and name place Rabbids Land in unfortunate competition with Nintendo Land, which is a superior multiplayer experience in every way. That said, if you've got a group to play with and don't mind the one-on-one restriction of the mini-games, there's a lot of fun to be had here. Fans of the series in particular will get a kick out of seeing these furry faces in HD, the excellent and characterful animations, and the unlockable video shorts. Rabbids Land wraps fun mini-games in an underwhelming board game shell, and while it may not be the life of the Wii U party, if you happen to be throwing your own these guys make great little guests.

If you aren't afraid of an experience that starts out frantic and only escalates from there Aero Porter can be a lot of fun, but if you're easily frustrated this won't be a very pleasant experience for you. The simple presentation and intuitive controls make it easy to concentrate on the action at hand, which is good, but that action consists of shuffling bags from one place to another, which may not thrill everybody. While this might not be a first class experience, upgrades and StreetPass features keep this from being an economy flight.

It's easy to recommend Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition as it's the only fighting game out right now on Nintendo's new system, but Tekken is also franchise that's cemented itself as a quality participant in the genre; this instalment is also bursting with content. There's so much to do and so many characters to try that boredom will never be an issue. Add in the Wii U exclusive modes that will entertain series fans and newcomers alike, and you've got a title that any fighting game fan will need in their library.

Nano Assault Neo is a great game that is a little light on content, but it still packs enough of a punch to keep gamers occupied. There isn't a plot to be seen, but the focus here is definitely more on arcade-style high score seeking action, all while looking and sounding great. With highly addictive twin-stick shmup gameplay and difficulty levels that will have you trying over and over again, you'd be remiss to pass up on what could easily become an arcade classic.

3D MahJongg is a clean and simple package for fans of the solitaire version of MahJongg. With 200 levels - though there are really exponentially more than that - multiple layouts and style unlockables, plus the ability to launch at any point into a random challenge, it's a solid buy for those wanting MahJongg on the go. For those who aren't already fans there's not much here to change your mind, however.

ZombiU isn't perfect, but it sets out to do a very specific thing and succeeds with style. It's atmospheric and horrifying and will provide plenty of sweaty palms and jump scares, proving that dark, mature games can thrive on Nintendo's newest console. Anyone looking for a challenging and highly immersive experience with some real heft behind it is definitely going to come away pleased, despite some relatively minor niggles relating to that ground-breaking GamePad.

Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward is nothing short of a masterpiece. Riveting from beginning to end, it sets a new standard for interactive storytelling, and demands an emotional investment from the player that ultimately pays off with one of the most satisfying endings in recent video gaming memory. Unless you have yet to experience its prequel 999, there is simply no excuse for you not to play this game.

With all due respect to the developer, it's not easy to see two and a half years' worth of effort in Spirit Hunters Inc. While it has good intentions and clearly wants players to engage with each other and share their experiences, it feels unfinished and is far too repetitive for its own good. We like what the game tried to achieve but it didn't quite get there, and that's a big disappointment. This is one occasion on which we will advise you to give up the ghost.

With all due respect to the developer, it's not easy to see two and a half years' worth of effort in Spirit Hunters Inc. While it has good intentions and clearly wants players to engage with each other and share their experiences, it feels unfinished and is far too repetitive for its own good. We like what the game tried to achieve but it didn't quite get there, and that's a big disappointment. This is one occasion on which we will advise you to give up the ghost.

Working Dawgs: A-maze-ing Pipes is one of those games that - silly name aside - really does nothing wrong. The problem is that it also fails to do anything impressive enough to make it stand out among other games of its kind. This is by no means a bad game, and it's a good option if you're looking to kill some time with relaxing puzzles that won't put too much of a strain on your mind or wallet, but its relative mediocrity is what stands out the most.

As a game that aims to let players experience the wonder of flight, Chasing Aurora succeeds brilliantly. Arcing through the air feels sublime thanks to the smooth controls and satisfying physics, and the atmosphere crafted by the sound and art style is positively dreamlike. Wonder aside, Aurora is perhaps not for everyone; while the multiplayer modes have universal appeal, the single-player experience is best enjoyed by players with an affinity for simplicity who will enjoy, rather than tolerate, replaying stages. But anyone with access to a few feathered friends for multiplayer and/or the score-chasing sensibilities needed to get the most out of the game's solo flights will have a wonderful time in the world of Chasing Aurora. A joyous game.

Skylanders Giants is, at its core, a child-friendly dungeon crawler with simplistic smash-everything gameplay, but what elevates it is its understanding of its market. There's plenty of variety to keep kids entertained and loads of things to collect, all wrapped in an appealing package – and the toy aspect is still a stroke of genius, an undeniably cool idea that speaks directly to kids and big kids alike. If you or a younger member of your family is a fan of the series, this could be another expensive Christmas.

Jump Trials is a simple game. It distills platforming down to its essential mechanics, and prioritizes rapid-fire tests of thumb dexterity over all else. It lacks polish, and its 10-second fits of running and jumping suffer from a palpable lack of charm - aesthetes absolutely need not apply. That said, those core mechanics are solid, and players who know what they're getting into will find some seriously challenging fun packed into these quick bursts of precision platforming.

Casual dabblers would be better served by the lower price point and downloadable convenience of Puzzler World XL on DSiWare, but Puzzler World 2012 3D is still a great little package in its own right, and well worth picking up for paper-and-pencil puzzle fans.

Mallo's second outing is another massive success; Fallblox constantly surprises, impresses and challenges in equal measures. Even in its difficult moments – and there are plenty – it encourages players to have fun and never significantly punishes errors. Fallblox boasts level design and creativity that many games can only dream of; developer Intelligent Systems' name has never seemed more appropriate.

Adults, or any gamers over the age of 10, will needless to say find very little here to keep them interested.

As it stands, there's definitely still enjoyment to be found here, though it's only in the latter half of that combination: the simple fun of the flying sequences could be enough to carry the game for some players, but the severely limited dress-up side of the experience will leave fashion-conscious enchantresses disappointed.

There's simply not enough content in The Trash Pack to justify its price, but we will say that the mini-games - forgettable as they are - control well and serve their modest purposes. It's a release that suffers not because it does anything particularly wrong, but because there's almost no reason to recommend it. Die-hard fans of the toy line may enjoy adding this to their collections, but we doubt anybody else will be impressed.

This one belongs in the litterbox.

Ultimately it tries to mould action defence play with RPG levelling but optimises neither, leaving a passable but uninspiring end result.

Johnny Hotshot is more than just a bad game; it's a bad game that demands perfection, so that even those adventurous players who are willing to give this a shot are unlikely to see most of it. With a terrible control scheme, absurdly plentiful loading screens and an interface that seemingly keeps trying to shrug you off and discourage you from playing it, this is definitely a download you'll want to let ride into the sunset without you.

Pokédex 3D Pro pulls tons of data and some fun asides together in a stylishly presented, smooth application, and the brand-new 3D Pokémon models are just delightful. However, the price point is far beyond what we'd expect to pay for such a package - especially when so much of the information is freely available online - and so, despite its quality, comes difficult to recommend to all but the most enthusiastic of Pokémon masters.

Monster Shooter presents a couple of decent ideas, a campaign of good length and generally plays well - overcompensating aim-assist aside - but it's really let down by a lack of variety. With a few exceptions, were it not for a couple of different enemy and environment types you could be easily fooled into thinking that you were playing the same level over and over again. It's solid enough to be worth a look, but its repetitious nature means it's a game to play in chunks rather than in one monstrous session.

Often funny, thoroughly charming and a joy to play, but it is also just as often a touch too familiar, seemingly unwilling to really go out on a limb and do something crazy even if the potential to do so is immense.

Every bit as disappointing as the first game, Cake Ninja 2 opts to pile on additional modes in favour of correcting any deeper problems with its gameplay and approach. The result is simply a larger mess, and pretty conclusive evidence that bigger is not always better.

Don't let the lawn gnome theme or silly title scare you away - 2 Fast 4 Gnomz is a great little eShop effort. It's fast, fun, and challenging, with a charming art style and a sense of humour running through the entire experience. It won't win any points for originality, but what's here is done well, and fans of tough endless runners will have a great time with these little guys.

Spot It! Mean Machines falls into the "hidden object" genre of puzzles games, a category that isn't especially lacking on the DSiWare shop. It isn't an overly-ambitious title, and it's not the prettiest looking game out there, but it still manages to be an entertaining way to spend some time. At the low price-point of just 200 points, any fans of hidden object games would be remiss to let this one go unspotted.

Like the magazine compendiums of puzzles it's based on, Puzzler World XL makes a perfect companion for long train trips, a daily commute, or rainy afternoons. The fact that it's a 500 point DSiWare release makes this doubly true; it's both affordable and lives on your system at all times. It doesn't try to innovate, and the presentation is lacking in some areas, but that's fine - Puzzler World XL is a solid package of puzzle classics, and incredible value for players who enjoy even half of the included puzzle types.

Style Savvy: Trendsetters is a beautiful game which offers an incredible variety of content, boasts addictive gameplay, and makes excellent use of the 3DS' features. Like its up-and-coming fashionista protagonist, Style Savvy is confident, fun and charming. If fashion games are your style, you'll be absolutely thrilled with everything on offer here, and even if it's not the sort of game you'd normally consider picking up, it's well worth a second look.

There's so much potential packed into the idea of a fishing game for the Wii, But Reel Fishing Ocean Challenge doesn't take advantage of any of this. Faulty motion controls, uninspired gameplay, and unattractive visuals do nothing but hinder this game, and the fact that you have to pay more for "extra" content just to unlock levels that are already visible in the full game is offensive. If you're looking for a satisfying fishing experience on the Wii, you'd be better off sticking with the original Reel Fishing Challenge instead.

Nintendo fans have been waiting a long time for NightSky, and they won't be disappointed. The finished product is gorgeous, flawlessly designed and bracingly atmospheric, with perfect controls, clever puzzles, and an endlessly evolving play style that will never see you solving the same puzzle the same way twice. Hidden stars, a locked world and an advanced difficulty lend the experience significant replayability, but even if it offered only a single playthrough, it's not an experience that could soon be forgotten. At last, the 3DS eShop has its masterpiece.

Inazuma Eleven Strikers has some undeniable strengths, specifically when two or more players gather with the express intention of enjoying some mindless fun. Kids and big kids alike will get a kick from the cheerful visuals and bombastic special moves, making it a game of football as imagined by hyperactive five-year-olds. The charm struggles to last, however, with older gamers likely to become more irritated than excited as the hours drift by. Younger gamers may have more patience and enjoy it for longer; it really depends how much you like tornado shots and giant god-like goalkeeping hands, over and over again.

This is the rare kind of game that seamlessly blends classic brawler gameplay with RPG elements while still managing to remain simple and fun, and is one of the most appealing games we've seen on the 3DS so far.

Nurikabe is one of the more intensely challenging Nikoli eShop releases and as such offers a mental workout that some may find very rewarding, others cruel. A stubbornly absent hint feature would help ease accessibility, but as it stands Nurikabe can really only be recommended as a new challenge for advanced puzzlers.

Cradle of Egypt 2 isn't a bad game because it doesn't deliver what it sets out to. In fact, aside from a few gameplay niggles and its rather basic visual style, the title is quite playable, and fans of the Match-3 genre will likely find it absorbing. The problem with it is that it's virtually a carbon copy of the games that precede it.

The coordinated movement mechanic makes for a unique experience, and while the erratic difficulty can frustrate, puzzle fans after a challenge will likely have fun bailing out these bots.

The broad range of characters, the emotional tone of the storyline and the teasing promise of more makes for an utterly engrossing experience. The question is whether this is worth your money; if you enjoy puzzles and charming tales of adventure, then you should already know the answer.

Samurai G is a terrible, horrible, not good very bad excuse for an endless runner. It's satisfied with regurgitating genre ideas and didn't even take the time to think about how to make those ideas work well before charging people actual currency for a flimsy prototype. If there is any running to be done here, it is as far away as possible.

Liberation Maiden offers a surprisingly short experience, but if it were much longer the sense of repetition would probably become quite irksome. For all its flashy visuals and instantly gratifying action, this isn't a game that boasts a tremendous amount of variety or depth.

Crossword fans might find some value, but those who aren't dead set on word-based head-scratchers can do a lot better, for far cheaper.

Boulder Dash-XL 3D gets the basics right, providing a modern twist on an '80s classic, as well as retro content for the older generation, and throwing in a large number of levels to dig through. It's a one-track experience, however, with poorly implemented 3D, and feels like it should be one of the 3DS eShop's costlier downloads, rather than a budget retail title that costs more than its non-3D predecessor. That said, fans of the franchise or those seeking an action-puzzle fix could do far worse, with enough diamond-hunting on offer to satisfy the most dedicated, young or old.

While Just Dance 4 may be just as entertaining as the last 3 entries to the series, the question still remains: has it improved greatly enough on the efforts of Just Dance 3 to warrant a sequel, or could it just be simply reproduced as new song DLC? The new modes just about justify the update, but Just Dance 4 remains a great-looking and fun game regardless, with only a few minor motion sensitivity and choreography troubles which hinder the all-round excellent dancing and fitness experience.

Academy: Chess Puzzles isn't a ground-breaking achievement or advancement in the puzzle game world, but it does exactly what it promises to do, and accomplishes the task without a hitch. The option to play full games of chess rather than just puzzles would have been a welcome addition, but that simply isn't the case. If you're a fan of chess and you're interested in honing your endgame skills, or if you just enjoy simple puzzle games that will keep you busy for hours and cost you next to nothing, do yourself a favor and pick this one up.

This is one Princess that's quite simply not worth rescuing.

Perhaps you've never played Angry Birds before and are curious what all the fuss and t-shirts are about. Maybe you're a super fan and want a physical object of your desire. Or you might be a parent that just wants your device back from your child. Regardless, Angry Birds Trilogy makes a compelling case with its addictive gameplay and low barrier of entry, although cheap compulsion shenanigans ultimately prove more to be of a downer than presumably intended. While this may not be the best option to play one of gaming's most visible titles - we won't hold our breath for free updates any time, ever - it is still a very good way to experience Finland's biggest cultural export since the Moomins.

Pokémon Dream Radar is a fun diversion for Pokémon fans that ties in well with the newly released Black and White 2. Providing a fun way to earn otherwise unobtainable or hard to find Pokémon, combined with a very low price point ($2.99 in North America) make it a super effective purchase for those wrapped up in the series.

Drop Zone: Under Fire is a game that does what it says on the tin, and when what's on the tin is as cool as futuristic free-fall, that's high praise. A few issues with the controls hold it back, but Drop Zone is still well worthy of a spot on your radar, especially if you're after a fun arcade-style experience on the fast waning WiiWare service. If it sounds like something you'd enjoy, dive in.

Pokémon Black and White 2 are easily the best in the series to date and an absolute must-buy for fans. Even if it's been ages since you've picked up a Poké Ball, there's no better time to jump back in and start catching them all.

Pokémon Black and White 2 are easily the best in the series to date and an absolute must-buy for fans. Even if it's been ages since you've picked up a Poké Ball, there's no better time to jump back in and start catching them all.

Cave Story may come from humble PC beginnings but it feels most in its element in this slick portable package. Nicalis has put together the definitive Cave Story compilation, but without any earth-shattering changes or additions it's ultimately just another way to play an all-time classic on familiar hardware. Granted, that's still a rather excellent thing, as the game is so pleasing to play that we're more than happy to delve into it yet again, and again.

Hitori by Nikoli hits up against some interface nonsense, but otherwise offers an enjoyable twist on traditional puzzles and scratches much of the same itch as a Picross game, making it worth considering for an extended brain workout.

Kart Krashers isn't perfect, but it sure is fun, and its willingness to try something new is a very good thing. It stumbles a bit in the control department and the sound issues are a disappointment, but when you're in the zone, smashing robot zombies and careening around a shopping mall, it's a blast. Kart racing fans looking to try something different while sticking to four wheels should have a great time with this one.

Hotel Transylvania had strong potential to overcome the stigma of movie tie-in games, but with clumsy controls, repetitive gameplay, and a front-to-back experience lasting less than three hours, it's difficult to see it as anything more than a well-intentioned cash in. If we had to describe this game in two words, we'd pick "squandered potential". If we only had one word, we'd pick "no".

The cumbersome title and suspicious cuteness of The Denpa Men: They Came By Wave may scare off a few gamers, but those who give it a chance will find themselves immersed in a genuinely creative and surprisingly challenging world. The animation is charming and smooth, the soundtrack passively gorgeous, and the experience long and rewarding.

There will inevitably be Kirby fans who will complain that more Kirby games weren't included or that none of the titles got any type of visual makeover, but it's difficult to complain too much given how many amazing Kirby titles have been collected onto one Wii disc, not to mention the fun bonus items and mini games that are also included. No doubt most Nintendo fans will have already played these games many times over, but it's still nice to see Nintendo giving their fluffy protagonist a little fanfare for 20 years of charming gaming magic.

Retro Pocket may not have had any intentions of being original, but we do at least wish it intended to be fun. This collection of Game & Watch clones / homages is half-baked at best, and while it does indeed nail the visual presentation of the originals it forgoes entirely the addictive quality of the games, substituting it for tedium. Considering that the Game & Watch originals were already quite repetitive in their own right, that's something of an accomplishment, but it's not one to be proud of.

It's been a long wait, but WiiWare fans can now finally get their hands on this lesser known indie classic. Beating it can be an incredibly daunting task for less experienced players, but despite all of the difficult puzzles and fights there are lots of features that make the experience much less frustrating than you'd think it would be. With this title's significant size, if you can't beat one area you can just go to another first, so there are always options to progress. The lack of DLC is a bit of a disappointment, but the basic game is still, in a word: perfect.

Make no mistake, Rising Board 3D can be fun, but unfortunately that fun is as randomised as its stages. Runs end far too easily, unavoidable obstacles or hazards clipping you from off-screen, and the lack of even local leaderboards means there's little incentive to better your score. Unlockable boards vary the gameplay a bit, but it's so easy to grind for sun points that earning them doesn't feel like much of an achievement. There are some great visuals and sound here, but Rising Board 3D features tropics best experienced by postcard.

Crazy Kangaroo offers decent value for its cheap price. It's simple and easy to grasp, the story mode has potential to last a few hours depending on the level set-ups you're given and the endless mode can be played infinitely for high scores as long as you don't mind the omission of leaderboards. However, the way objectives are set is flawed and the randomly generating story mode levels can feel unbalanced and leave you hopping mad.

Heavy Fire: Special Operations 3D is a better game than its predecessors, yes, but it is still a needless do-over for an undeserving game.

Bookstore Dream succeeds in many ways, as it is engrossing, addictive and entertaining for a good amount of time; a steal at 200 points. That said, there are a few bugs and annoyances to work around, and the information in the manual is sorely lacking, telling you what to do but not how to do it. Despite these problems, the overall experience is enjoyable, and if you're not careful many hours will be lost in running your humble little book shop.

Fractured Soul might have taken a while to see a release, but it lives up to the hype by taking a smooth platforming experience and weaving a dual screen play mechanic into the mix that greatly increases the playability and charm of the game. The price is a bit high by eShop standards, but for a gaming experience as rich and polished as this, it's not the deal breaker you might imagine. Those who aren't sold on the genre may wish to look elsewhere, but fans of intelligent action platformers will consider this money well spent.

Ultimately, the complicated rules and steep learning curve for newcomers is Heyawake's biggest obstacle. It's certainly a fun and challenging logic puzzle, but it's not the kind of game that you can just dive right into without some serious practice. The intuitive interface makes navigating the game a breeze and puzzler fans willing to invest some time into the experience will likely find a solid brain teaser with a decent amount of variety to boot.

Save yourself some money and frustration, and don't even give this one a second glance.

If you're starving for some more Picross puzzles, then you can't really go wrong with Picross E. It gives you a reasonably large set of 150 new puzzles to sink your teeth into, and although they're not particularly challenging, they'll at least keep you busy for a while.

It's a bit on the pricey side at $7.99, and if multiplayer or high-score keeping are deal-breakers for you then you'll have to look elsewhere, but otherwise puzzle fans looking for a new eShop fix will have a blast.

For a fun and addictive game that can be played at your own pace, this is definitely a download worth hunting down.

Abyss is, more than a little ironically, not deep. It is, however, a simple game done well, and quite a lot of fun to play. It doesn't bring anything particularly innovative to the table and it's not a lengthy adventure, but with solid gameplay, wonderful music, and a 200 point price tag, Abyss is a fun and surprisingly atmospheric trip below the surface.

VectorRacing is graphically impressive, with its deliberately understated visual design allowing for smooth animation and impressive draw distances. When that's the best thing about your racing game, however, there's a problem. Uneventful tracks and a dire lack of variety means that racing on any one level feels like racing anywhere else, and that gets dull fast. Online leaderboards and local multiplayer are welcome additions, but the experience feels a bit slight for the cost of entry.

Crazy Chicken Pirates is not an awful game, but it's far from a good one. The gameplay is short, repetitive, and doesn't offer anything new, but for fans of arcade shooters at low prices, you could do worse. If you own a 3DS then you should probably go with the 3D version for the higher resolution graphics - but keep in mind that, beyond visuals, both releases are exactly the same.

For just 200 Nintendo Points, Escape the Virus: Shoot 'em Up! certainly isn't a bad game – it just doesn't particularly excel either.

Crazy Chicken Pirates 3D isn't bad, but it's certainly disappointing. As much potential as there was for a fun, frantic shooting gallery, the 90 second time limit really hampers the experience. The single stage on offer here may well keep you entertained for a few minutes, but there's no denying that this chicken is underdone.

peedX 3D is proof that quality games are quality games, no matter what their origin happens to be. Although the frame rate could be better, the impression of depth and speed is amazing, and the use of 3D incredibly effective. To top it all off, the inclusion of traditional pad control means that this version of SpeedX 3D is more intuitive and enjoyable than its mobile forerunners - in fact, it's quite possibly the best iteration of the game yet seen, and a highly recommended download for your 3DS.

The Lost Town - The Jungle, while not a bad game, falls neatly under the category of "lazy sequel." Though the inclusion of optional quests does add a little more focus to gameplay, this title does little else to deviate from its predecessor. On top of the unchanged style of play, the trite story and absurd translation issues make The Jungle feel sloppy and rushed. Unless you truly enjoyed the first game and are just itching for a new setting, you might want to think twice before adding this one to your collection.

Touch Battle Tank 3D fails to hit the target on virtually every level.

It may not be as gleefully experimental as Super Mario Land 3D, but New Super Mario Bros. 2 intelligently recycles past glories and consequently offers the comfort of what is arguably one of the most enjoyable video game franchises ever.

It's pretty clear to us that Decathlon 2012 is a rushed cash-in.

Dot Runner is a fun action-puzzle game with some substantial problems that keep it from being all it could have been.