Overall, Brave for DS does exactly what a licensed title like this is supposed to do. It takes the spirit of the movie and translates it into a passable action adventure that doesn't screw things up. The game doesn't innovate and will have no appeal outside of the movie fanbase, but what it does it does well enough.

The main problem though, whether Brave's being played solo or through co-op, is the game just isn't all that deep.

Order Up!! delivers an eye-catching take on the cooking genre. But the title ultimately serves as more of a fun distraction than an enthralling experience.

The biggest issue is that the single player experience just isn't all that deep.

This is a game full of gambles, and most don't pay off the way you might expect. There are as many triumphs as there are failures, and it's almost like it's cursed by its own design. It certainly won't be to everyone's tastes– you'll either love it or you'll hate it– but if you can look past its flaws, there's still plenty of enjoyment to be found underneath.

With almost a hundred levels and the constant drive to beat the high score on every one, the game demands an unrelenting combination of both brains and reflexes that is unmatched elsewhere on Nintendo eShop. Its difficulty may be high, but as with every puzzler, there's a solution: just add practice.

Certainly a passable game of baseball, and it is not a bad investment for the baseball fan who only has a Wii, especially given the fact that there are simply no other options for genuine MLB play. The game has enough collective minor problems, though– among them the absence of online, mediocre graphics, and dated roster and stadium settings– that it cannot be recommended without certain qualifications.

The game succeeds because of the story rather than despite it– and the controls aren't terrible enough to stop you from wanting to play more. And as far as 3D goes– well, they're not entirely necessary, but they're a nice touch, too, especially when you're judging the distance between you and an enemy.

A collection of missed opportunities. It's a game that wants to be like a Layton game and not be like one, and suffers in the comparison because of all the ways it falls short. The incredible amount of French history, clever story elements and extensive dialogue filling the game establish this wasn't a title that was thrown on shelves with minimal investment.

Simply a delightful game to play. With its rich, lively combat system and entertaining characters, it strikes a masterful balance between engaging gameplay and heartfelt story-telling.

A game well worth the price tag. For $29.99, this is a bargain in an age where the average Wii game is about $49.99. I'd recommend you all to pick it up, especially if you love rhythm games or at least enjoy the strange and surreal. Just be careful not to chuck your Wii remote at the screen if you end up sucking at it.

It's just a shame that Tekken 3D Prime Edition is so lacking in features, both in terms of single player and multiplayer. For an entry from a heralded fighting series almost unheard of on Nintendo platforms (remember Tekken Advance?), this one seems to be half-hearted at best.

From its soulless and utterly unendearing cast of characters to its needless backtracking and convulted story, Tales of the Abyss has very little to offer even die-hard JRPG enthusiasts.

While it would have been nice to have a few more stages to clear before the final confrontation, it's hard to fault the game for not wanting it to end, especially when what is here is already so enjoyable. Anyone with a penchant for reflex-based gameplay (and a few digital bucks to spend) need look no further for their next eShop purchase.

On the controls front, however, Revelations is a much more pleasing sight, particularly without the newly released Circle Pad Pro peripheral.

Sure, all the other elements might be merely mediocre, but the pluses ultimately exceed the minuses so one can't help but walk away from this game with positive feelings.

In general, Mutant Mudds increases in fun as the game progresses. As the controls and mechanics sink in, the stages become fun and challenging playgrounds. The game also feels rewarding because of its tough, but well-balanced difficulty.

Really just The Incredible Machine gussied up with new paint, courtesy of Marc Eckō and his company. The story framework is just that– a very, very loose framework– and new tools, though interesting, don't do anything particularly newfangled.

Ultimately, the game tries to be more than what it turns out to be: a poor, unexciting take at the Mario Party formula. The game is littered with cool little additions that would usually make the game great, but sadly, they're all bogged down by inconsistencies, glitches, and what appears to be a lack of effort.

Integrated online leaderboards would greatly enhance the game, but even without them, Mighty Switch Force delivers a fun albeit short on-the-go gaming experience for 3DS.

Virtua Tennis 4 isn't a terrible game, but given that there is a better option on Wii, system owners looking for their tennis fix probably want to look elsewhere.

Even if you aren't particularly fond of the genre, you will likely find some enjoyment in its engaging controls and large variety of fish to catch, which is enough to recommend the title to those curious about it. It's not like you have much else to play until Xenoblade comes out.

One of the best WiiWare Wii games available. While frustrating at times, finally making your way through a difficult level feels very rewarding.

Beating each stage is pure joy, symbolizing our ascent beyond our childhood years– or perhaps how they stay with us constantly, only even more vivid than before.

A great swan song for the DS. Its production values are stellar, the game plays very well, and is chock-full of some sweet content. Plus, it's literally as close to MegaMan Legends 3 that any 3DS owners are likely to get in terms of play, style, and overall feeling.

The developers were respectful to the franchise, yet the new gameplay elements make the experience unique enough to not be another retro rehash. Buy it and support quality third party developers, or at least rent and add it to your Gamefly list as soon as possible. I would like to see a 3DS sequel next year.

Heavy Fire: Afghanistan has its problems: weak enemies, pointless perks, and threadbare storyline. But people will play this game because they want to shoot things, possibly with friends, and Teyon has made a game that does that well– and budget-priced, too.

Overall, there are some really solid games out of the six games on this compilation, and even though the newest additions may not be as classic as the games from whence they came, they are still interesting twists on a tried-and-true gaming formula. Plus, this is currently the only way to play them in 3D. For people who are fans of Galaga or Pac-Man, this game is definitely one to consider.

The nice thing– or problem, depending on how you look at it– about Beyblade: Metal Masters is that it holds no pretensions as to what kind of game it is, or who it's for. Buy Beyblade: Metal Masters and you're buying it for the top-fighting experience that is probably the only one of its (video game) kind.

While it may not be quite the evolutionary leap forward that Super Mario Galaxy was, Super Mario 3D Land is still a vital installment in the long-running franchise.

Surprisingly fun and has a bit of staying power.

A competent, polished jaunt, especially for fans of the House of Mouse.

The moments where the odd discordant cadence make us yearn for times gone by come a little too often, even though it's by far the greatest testimony and most successful game to fulfil the promise of one-to-one motion control. It's an apt swan song for our little white console, but ultimately it's flown a little too close to the sun.

The best part of the game is actually the infinite classic Frogger mode, which you can access right from the beginning. Sure, it looks pretty dated, but it is more fun and more fair than the actual campaign mode itself.

As a mini-game compilation, Go Vacation falls short of the standard set by Wii Sports Resort due to its middling selection of activities and its frustrating motion controls; as a sandbox game, however, it fares significantly better, offering up four expansive resorts to explore and a myriad of collectibles to find. While its extensive use of gesture commands nearly ruins the entire experience, there is still quite a bit of fun to be had with the title, particularly if you have a companion to share it with.

It would certainly be easier to recommend Gnömz if it were even half its cost, but as it stands there is far too little content in the game to justify its $10 price tag, especially when there are more fully-featured titles like Bomberman Blast available on the service for the same amount of money.

It's clearly a game with some heart, but it also misses on enough of the tangibles and intangibles alike to stand out among the rest of DS's offerings.

If it weren't for the slow start and zooming-out annoyance, the game would be close to perfect. As it stands, this stacks up with the best of WiiWare, providing a killer audio/visual presentation and pleasurably obsessive good time.

Another great thing about Xenoblade– it encourages experimentation. With most RPGs, falling in battle means a frustrating loss of progress and experience points if you haven't saved before a big boss battle. But with Xenoblade you return to the nearest landmark (or checkpoint) with all your experience points and new skills intact.

Is it the best puzzle game out there, though? By no means. But if you're itching for a brain cruncher then I would definitely recommend you pick this one up, if you can find it used or for cheap.

The game certainly isn't perfect– the backgrounds are forgettable, and the game oscillates too readily between being a pushover and cheating badly– but it does better than most games of its ilk and is worth a look for curious young gamers.

Ocarina of Time 3D succeeds largely because it does not tamper with the original title, striking the perfect balance between old and new content.

On the whole, Thor: God of Thunder is probably only going to be for people who are seriously hardcore about their Thor, as it's clear the Wii version did not get the lion's share of the development resources.

None of the problems seem too large or frustrating, but together, take away from the entertaining base experience. The arcade action, variety of characters and shooting aspect all work so well that it's disappointing to see the skill system not fully polished nor is online expanded upon further. That's why Mercenaries 3D is merely a good game, with the future prospects of becoming great on 3DS.

WayForward clearly aimed to put out something more than the cheap cash-in and in the process produced probably the best of the Thor games and one of the better movie tie-ins in recent memory.

Even if you are the most hardcore Transformers fan, this is a game to pass up. If you're a Stealthforcer fan, then by all means, get this game– I'm sure you'll love it.

A supreme disappointment. The developer's seemingly lazy decision to replace robot transformation with an armed car mode takes away the principle draw of Transformers, while the game's mediocre graphics, counterintuitive controls, and uninspired mission structure rip the heart out of a franchise that already feels far removed from its glorious past.

But just as with any fitness program, it's up to the players to decide how much they want to put into the game– and while the instructors on ExerBeat won't know if you're playing from the couch, that Balance Board will.

While it may not live up to, say, EA Sports, with its NASCAR Thunder 2003– a game released in 2002 for PSX, PS2, GCN and Xbox that included an actual career mode and customization options– Eutechnyx doesn't do so poorly on Wii. It could, however, have done much better.

Fun in spite of its musical problems, and in fact provides no small measure of enjoyment– as long as you play it on its terms, not taking yourself too seriously.

Glitches aside, the graphics are quite good for a third-party title, but they could definitely do with a bit of sharpening.

Monster Games did an excellent job building upon the template established by Wii Sports Resort, and the end result is a title that very much feels like a true Pilotwings game.

The presentation of the menu and in-game action is top-notch. Maybe it's only because it's a handheld and nothing like this has been seen on mobile devices yet, but it feels like a perfect experience, at least at first.

The online multiplayer especially is leaps and bounds better than that of the first game, a welcome change. Overall, Conduit 2 is one of the few decent hardcore games to come down the pipeline in awhile and it's worth a look, especially for those who like their sci-fi shooters.

It is a decent game, and will impress you with its 3D effects and difficulty. However, with an asking price of $39.99, the game just isn't worth it, unless you are a major Monkey Ball fan.

It would be a terrible tragedy to forget to mention the game's soundtrack. While I usually am not a fan of techno, I must admit that the wide selection of tracks included in Ridge Racer 3D is a surprisingly dynamic collection of well produced tunes that fit the game's sensibilities quite well.

The learning curve in Mission mode is quite steep, and many will undoubtedly be put off by the slow pace at which each stage unfolds.

This isn't just the best DS game ever, this may be one of the best handheld games ever.

The mere fact that this game has the power to rekindle those early feelings of PokéBliss in even the most seasoned-Pokémaniacs is a testament to its freshness and originality.

The mere fact that this game has the power to rekindle those early feelings of PokéBliss in even the most seasoned-Pokémaniacs is a testament to its freshness and originality.

Despite some minor platforming quibbles, DreamRift's crafted a wonderful number that defies any generic description, and platformer/role-playing/adventure enthusiasts (hah) should definitely check it out.

There is some fun to be had in Deca Sports 3, and it's a sure-fire hit at parties. Not a hard-core sports simulator, but some lesser-known sports that don't get the full retail package are also nice to find here.

What's surprising about the different sports is how each one has a few different modes, meaning you don't have to play the same exact competition twice in a row. Most of them have three or more different variants, so you'd better sharpen up your skills.

The loading issues may plague the experience somewhat, but Raving Rabbids Travel in Time stands out on Wii in a crowded mini-game compilation field. The game works best as a family experience, aiming toward a younger demographic, but boasts some impressive online integration that even the most hardcore gamer will enjoy.

Everything about Donkey Kong Country Returns is so fluid and smooth. Retro constantly surprises players with new game mechanics, striking set pieces and tons of Donkey Kong charm. This title is quite possibly the definitive side-scrolling platform experience for Wii.

Ghost Trick also proffers a satisfying and rewarding conclusion, wrapping up quite nicely, even with a complex plotline (a rarity in gaming).

Sure, with its simplistic graphics, it's definitely a budget game, but it's one that actually deserves a place outside the bargain bin. Those worms want to be on top, after all.

Even with the rough edges, Supermarket Mania features a fun management time for spurt gaming. The title does not proffer anything remotely innovative, but achieves success in its smart controls and normalcy.

This is a pretty lifeless game that, while perhaps appealing to the hardcore National Geographic reader, will probably not hold much value for the rest.

The sequel takes everything loved about the original games and updates it for new hardware.

n-Space has been meticulous in its efforts to keep the Call of Duty franchise interesting on DS. Rather than trying to revolutionize the genre with every release, it has slowly been adding features and honing the gameplay to make each entry noticeably better.

Unfortunately, good artistic design just can't fully make up for a few glaring flaws. If you can see past those flaws, though, you'll find an enjoyable game that will help you waste a few hours. If not, this might be one to leave off your Christmas list.

With so much effort going into presentation, it seems like more could have been spent on tweaking the game mechanics.

It is a competent enough game that will generally please the monster truck fanbase, but it is also a fairly limited game that isn't as deep as it might appear.

Purchasing this title is contingent upon whether or not you have any other Namco Museum entry for GameCube or Wii and if you absolutely need your classic Namco fix. All others, it's probably best to stay clear.

For what it is, PokéPark Wii is an endearing little game that is sure to incite nostalgia in longtime fans of the series.

An improvement over the original in almost every way.

Super Scribblenauts shines with polish, cleverness and ingenuity.

Given the fact that this is the franchise's real debut on a Nintendo console and Wii's success in bringing in new gamers, Samurai Warriors 3 is going to be the first chance for many gamers to try this controversial series, and to those people I definitely recommend at least giving it a try.

For fans of Pac-Man and party games, this is a sure bet and would be a great game to get for households with multiple kids.

Aesthetic and functional design, boundless creativity, fantastic soundtrack.

Most importantly, Eurocom nails the Bond look and feel, letting Wii owners step into the shoes of the secret agent.

Sluggish controls, poorly designed weapons, lousy online functionality.

Like, it all feels like one of those LEGO-type adventures that I've heard so much about, only with more charm since it's got Scoob's and my personalities and all of the gang here to help out.

Ultimately, Warriors of Rock isn't bad, it just doesn't live up to the legacy and quality set by previous titles.

Kidz Bop Dance Party: The Video Game is not a bad game. In small doses it's actually pretty fun, but the more you play, the shallower it feels. It's one of those games that will be great for the target demographic, but everyone else should just leave it alone.

Great visuals and over-the-top hack-n-slash awesomeness.

It's a nice taste of a budget, licensed title that's actually much more decent than anyone might expect.

But considering Vampire Moon is first and foremost a hidden object game, this is unsurprising– it almost seems as if City Interactive wanted to make the simplest game possible, and threw on a threadbare story simply to make it seem like a legitimate adventure game.

Call of Duty: Black Ops on Wii features an amazing amount of high-octane action and content.

While these lackluster mini-games are no hidden-object puzzle or "make your own tea" chemistry set (as seen in Laytons 1 and 2), Unwound Future still has a solid set of puzzles for its main adventure, and the story itself is very engaging.

It's always nice to see developers support Wii with quality titles, and certainly this fits the description of a quality title - Sid Meier's Pirates is arguably one of the best games of the last decade. At the same time, the Wii version is - despite the IR and motion controls - probably the weakest of the game's many incarnations, despite being the most expensive.

Sonic 4, on the other hand, should have had a different title, like Sonic the Hedgehog: Re 1&2, because that is what the game feels like. The game may make gamers question if Sonic Team can make a proper, new Sonic title, instead of throwing together elements from over ten years ago and expecting us to be satisfied.

The mechanics are tried-and-true and the actual gameplay is pretty sound. Unfortunately, the game also hurts itself with long load times, the lack of co-op, fuzzy graphics, and a weird menu system, among other issues.

It's frustratingly hard but well-made; easy to pick up but quickly repetitive.

Even with those drawbacks, though, Imageepoch gets serious props for doing what no developer has yet seen fit to do; namely, give Wii owners a party-based RPG free of gimmicks.

A game that looks and sounds good but whose premise only holds up for so long.

Like the platformers of yesterday, Ivy the Kiwi? has an engaging personality all its own– and it's Ivy's table where other games should sit.