Johnny Hotshot misses the mark for the most part. The game is fun, but being forced to play through the same stages over and over again just to make progress is irritating. It's simply poor design.

One especially glaring issue is the game's lack of a way to save your progress mid-challenge in the campaign mode-you must complete the entire challenge in one go. Even more confusing is that the save function is present in the sandbox mode. All of this is especially infuriating when you know the game was delayed for half a year-time that apparently wasn't used to fix its myriad of problems.

As I sing the praises of how much of an improvement this application is, I can't help but shake the fact that the price of admission is very steep. Currently priced higher than any other eShop-exclusive game, there is no shame in thinking that 3D Pro is just too expensive. However, if you are a big fan of the series and can appreciate the app's specific content, Pokédex 3D Pro may be worth it.

If you're looking for a game to make use of that eagle eye of yours, then it makes sense to try Spot It! Mean Machines.

The game takes a little time to get going, and some of the irritations never quite go away, but once you have a full arsenal of moves and an idea of where problematic obstacles are, 2 Fast 4 Gnomz can be a fun and challenging (and occasionally frustrating) experience.

If you equate a new Layton release to the promise of fresh puzzles, Miracle Mask should fulfill that desire handily, with a year's worth of downloadable daily puzzles coming on top of those already available. However, the game also takes notable advantage of its new handheld home, using a number of narrative and aesthetic devices to weave its refined style of gameplay and emotional, spiraling story into a tight experience that rewards on all accounts.

Academy: Chess Puzzles isn't a bad puzzle game, but would benefit from some refinements. Only chess enthusiasts will get anything from playing, and even then the experience may be frustrating.

All in all, Art Academy is a work of art in itself. It provides not only some of the soundest art lessons you can obtain, but the tools to apply what you learn as you learn it. It's better than learning from a book, cheaper than paying for a tutor, and a whole lot less messy than its real life alternative.

The wait for NightSky on a Nintendo platform has been long, and, unfortunately, may not have been worth it. While the graphical and aural presentation is worth celebrating, the actual gameplay comes up short, feeling like the primitive form of a much better game.

Code of Princess is an exceptional game, and despite its repetitiousness.

Skylanders Giants is a fantastic game regardless of your desire to shell out money for additional characters. Whether you have three figures or 48, this well-designed game is worth the time of kids and adults alike. Don't scoff at its concept; you shouldn't miss one of the best Gauntlet-esque games in years.

Crosswords Plus hides a ton of content, totaling at least several dozen hours. It is a well-made game with a decent amount of variety and a nice feedback loop. If Layton games don't offer enough word puzzles for your liking, then maybe you should cross some words, solve some word searches, and lay out some anagrams on your 3DS.

The game is played with the DS held like a book, with the D-pad used to move the robots around. Both screens display their half of the gameplay field, so mind the gap in the middle. It's a minor annoyance, along with the typos the tutorial is riddled with. Overall, Robot Rescue 2 offers great value in a consistent package.

Crazy Hunter isn't a disaster of a game. It's not riddled with bugs or flaws that could earn it notoriety. It's worse. Crazy Hunter is a game incapable of generating sensations approximating even the faintest of joys. It is shallow, insipid, and utterly devoid of polish. But worst of all, it's boring.

Crazy Kangaroo is a relatively simple game, but a lot of fun. It's an example of a game that's good on iOS, and even better on the 3DS.

A few fun moments show up every now and then, chiefly courtesy of the bombastic weaponry, but it's just not worth playing the rest of the game to get to those fleeting moments of explosion-ridden car chase excellence.

This fast-paced samurai side-scroller can be hard at first, but after a few rounds it becomes a game worth coming back to.

Angry Birds Trilogy is only a decent port of a game that has become a well known commodity. While this version of Angry Birds is virtually unchanged from its free iOS/Android equivalents, if you are a huge fan of Angry Birds, a 3DS rendition may be just what you want. The game is packed with content, and will leave you with plenty to do for many hours.

The Denpa Men could be considered "old school" in this way, a quality that may make the downloadable game an appealing distraction to some, but its surplus of unchanging RPG content drags on the novelty of the experience with time. Like any crayon, The Denpa Men quickly becomes dull.

Despite its flaws, I've had fun with it, and will probably continue to go back to it, trying out a different class or weapon loadout. If you think you can handle an extended period of holding the 3DS awkwardly, and are okay with failing a lot in the process, this is a solid experience from the 3DS eShop.

As a Creatures, Inc. developed application, everything is highly polished and works as it's supposed to. It's not especially fun (though my face-off with each legendary critter was a heart-pounding experience), and the clear purpose of the application is to obtain Pokémon and items to transfer to the upcoming sequels. If you plan to own either Black 2 or White 2, this is a necessity, as it will give you a leg up in the game (as well as some exclusive Pokémon). If you don't plan on getting either game, don't mistake this title for a neat eShop diversion. There is nothing here for you.

The game shines when it comes to its boss battles, enemy and item variety, aesthetic, and music. But experiencing all the game has to offer requires determination. La-Mulana is not a game for those without lots of time and patience.

Yes, it's as excellent as ever, but it doesn't strive to eclipse its predecessor. The poorly paced plot and lack of freshness leads me to believe the original may be better. Black 2 is fully worth a purchase, but beating the game only left me wanting more, and not in a good way.

Yes, it's as excellent as ever, but it doesn't strive to eclipse its predecessor. The poorly paced plot and lack of freshness leads me to believe the original may be better. Black 2 is fully worth a purchase, but beating the game only left me wanting more, and not in a good way.

Escape the Virus: Shoot'em Up feels lackluster at best, and didn't leave much of a positive impression on me. Those who embrace the controls may enjoy competing against themselves for a high score; others may dislike the game more with each attempt. If you are looking for something interesting on the DSiWare service, I would suggest looking elsewhere.

Even without any additions, Cave Story is still the same amazing game people have raved about for eight years. It's one of the best 2D platformers in recent memory, and this version is worthwhile if you've never played it before or are itching for a reason to play it again.

As a budget title, the content goes hand in hand with the price.

Kart Krashers isn't complicated, but it is very fun. For a download game, it offers a wealth of digestible content, complete with achievements and unlockable characters.

While it is possible for Candle Route to proclaim, "Two Games in One!" on its imaginary retail box, you're only getting one great game and something extra. Not to sound too dismissive, but in comparison to Side A, B is disappointing. Side A will grab you, though, and delivers a couple hours of fun content on its own.

I don't think of myself as a wordsmith or anything like that, but I did enjoy 3, 2, 1... Words Up! With a clear presentation and surprisingly addictive gameplay, I found myself coming back to the game once a day to see if I had improved. It's at least a great way to warm up your brain in the morning.

Rising Board 3D is a fantastic pick-up-and-play game that shows how the 3DS can make those quick mobile experiences normally found on iOS and Android into something similar yet different, and reminds me of games such as Balloon Fight (specifically Balloon Trip) and NiGHTS.

Fractured Soul is a superb and fairly extensive collection of clever, interesting, and devious platforming ideas; most of it is good, much of it is fantastic.

Kirby's Dream Collection is a fine tribute to Kirby's 20-year history. Anyone who missed a chunk of his old outings, or just has an urge to replay them all, should definitely pick up this package. If you own all the games on Virtual Console on Wii or 3DS, it is a little harder to recommend, but if you don't, Kirby's Dream Collection is totally worth playing to experience Kirby's old games and get a taste of what he's doing now.

Endless is simply an endurance mode, take the between-level break out of Stages mode and this is what you're left with. Survival takes away the chance of surviving an impact, and Zones forces you to contend with a fuel gauge (in the place of shield pick-ups are those that add fuel). While these modes are different from one another, it all just feels the same. There is no feeling of progression in SpeedX 3D, if you can dodge obstacles in one event, you can and will in any other.

Those with a bone to pick with the African fauna may still want to wait for a better game to satiate their bloodlust.

Balloon Pop Remix won't supplant the Tetrises and the Dr. Marios of the world, but it's a fine puzzle game that presents a complete package on the eShop.

I'm a man who enjoys Solitaire every now and then, and I was happy to play the game on my 3DS. It offered me a couple rounds of fun and killed some time, which is what Solitaire really aims to do. It'll give you what expect, and not much else.

VectorRacing has impressive visuals and an online ranking system that adds some replay to the title. However, the game became repetitious as I moved towards higher difficulty levels, ultimately preventing me from loving it. While not the best out there, it is definitely worth the attention of any racing fan.

It's a bad game-that's the bottom line-and you shouldn't spend a dime on it.

Abyss is fun while it lasts, but could better itself with a more complex design. I enjoyed my time with it, but have no plan to return. I wouldn't regret delving into Abyss, but I sure wouldn't want to stick around too long.

If you have any urge to spend money on a crappy game of blackjack where you, for some reason, play it inside a teenage girl's bedroom, then you're sort of weird and might want to look into this game. Even outside of that somewhat weird setup, Sweet Memories - Blackjack is just a poorly designed game that offers little reward for the massive amounts of time required to unlock anything.

While my review may seem overly positive, the game's small number of flaws are incredibly frustrating at times. That said, if you feel you can look past a few missed opportunities and a flawed but fun combat system, I can't see why you wouldn't enjoy The Last Story. Just don't expect it to be as genre defining as previous Sakaguchi titles.

Take one helping of Madden 12, extract online play, plate and serve.

Ace Mathician is a short and sweet game built on a promising idea. The gameplay warrants the purchase, and everything else about the title makes it entertaining. Ace Mathician may not look like much, but shows its worth in a sea of DSiWare puzzle games.

New Super Mario Bros. 2 is a fine, quality Mario title that deserves a mention in the same breath as Nintendo's finest 2D platformers. It doesn't hit their highest highs, but comes much closer than the other games in the New Super Mario Bros. series.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance is both a great entry in the Kingdom Hearts series and a great 3DS game. The story flaws may distract some, but the remainder of the game is worthwhile.

Even as a fairly hardcore fan of Spider-Man, I can't recommend the 3DS version. The GameCube Spider-Man games from ten years ago were better than this.

While I had a good experience with Rhythm Thief, it is not a fantastic game. With the lavish presentation, the intriguing story, and the assortment of collectibles, it is so disheartening to see gameplay that ranges from "kind of okay" to "pretty broken." And though I recommend that everyone experiences Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure, the whole package is disappointing and not worth rushing out to get.

Heroes of Ruin is a fantastic game hindered by a few issues. However, with those cast aside, monster-bashing fun is in store for all who play. A cooperative online game on a Nintendo system is not something you would normally see, especially on a handheld, but n-Space delivered such an experience well.

Johnny Kung Fu's biggest crimes are likely frustrating difficulty and poor pacing.

Jewel Legends: Tree of Life is a solid fix for your match-three needs but doesn't do enough to differentiate itself. What begins as fun quickly turns monotonous through the one hundred stages the game offers.

LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes by no means takes the series in a new direction, but that doesn't stop it from being fun (if lacking in originality). I enjoyed playing through the game, and I'm sure even the most moderate of LEGO fans will as well.

Madagascar 3 is a game best described as at par. The usage of two characters to complete missions is neat, though unfortunately marred by repetitive and confusing missions, while the additional bonus features do elevate the game a bit. You can do much worse than this game, but you can also do much better.

Even if its originality is in question, Family Tennis 3D is competent and fun in small doses. It's rough around the edges, but because of how solid it is, I wouldn't be averse to the idea of simply playing this installed application for 10 minutes rather than digging out a cartridge just to play a bit of tennis.

The size and pliability of the Final Fantasy music library ultimately allows for the game's extensive and difficulty spanning interpretations of each track, and fosters as fulfilling an experience as almost anything else on the 3DS.

Flip the Core is a fun-though short-horizontal shooter with some interesting ideas. The fact that I was able to beat it, given that horizontal shooters are anything but my forte, speaks to the accessibility of the game. It's a fun one, folks. Try it out.

Order Up is a fun diversion, and well worth checking out on the eShop. The game has benefited from the wide distribution and lower price point of digital distribution via Nintendo's online store. If chopping up some onions to throw into a soup sounds like a good way to spend your time, this is absolutely the game for you.

Amazing Spider-Man on Wii has flaws, specifically how graphically unpleasing it is, but it's still a fun action game.

Brave is an average movie tie-in game, and nothing more.

As a game, Brave is as mediocre and hastily made as we've come to expect from adaptions of popular films. And honestly, it's a pity, as the game's basic mechanics seem to work well enough.

Baby mode's simple objective, controls, and consequences set it apart from the directionless chaos of the main activity; there's a strategy in deciding just how much you think you can ingest and still evade the growing virus horde. It's not substantially deeper than the normal mode, but it is quite a bit more fun.

Madagascar 3 is almost 100 percent chore-boy errand running, which is not fun. The circus obstacle courses are more fun, but they're still pretty dull. If I have to hang one more freakin' poster, I'm going to throw the game out the window. I'd avoid it. Go see the movie instead.

Marvel Pinball 3D is a wonderful addition to anyone's 3DS collection. The game's pick-up–and-play nature lends itself well to the downloadable platform. Despite just being more of the same, the game's visuals and ingenious table design make it a must-have. With four fully featured tables, you will definitely be getting your money's worth out of Marvel Pinball 3D.

A no-frills presentation makes Bomb Monkey feel limited, but the puzzle gameplay is sound and the two-player mode is something that could kill friendships. If retro-style puzzle games are your bag, then be sure to get your block-bombing on in Renegade Kid's latest.

Lola's Fruit Shop Sudoku is clearly not targeted toward an older audience. The repetitive and simple gameplay is not bad, but just not interesting. It's hard to recommend this game to anyone except young children. If you are looking for a deeper Sudoku game, look elsewhere.

Despite, or maybe because of, these flaws, Devil Band is surprisingly engaging in a rote sort of way. I can't say I ever actually enjoyed myself while playing it, but I didn't hate it, either. It is the least complex tower defense game I've ever played, which I sort of appreciate, but at the same time I find myself wanting a better game. It by no means has made me a tower defense fan, but it hasn't driven me away from the genre, either.

Cat Frenzy stands out among similar DSiWare content as a decent puzzle game. Despite the complexity of the game's mission mode, the quick play mode provides a good amount of fun on its own.

Penguin Patrol is a decent puzzle game with cute graphics and quirky characters. If you're willing to suffer through some of the game's more tedious puzzles, it may be worth picking up to occupy time that might otherwise be spent staring off into space.

For those with an interest in either strategy games or RPGs, but not sold on the other, Conquest is the perfect introduction to both.

You just boot up the game, enjoy it for almost 100 seconds, and move on. You can come back and play later, but there's no need to.

In essence, Funky Barn 3D is a farming simulator in which you just feed animals. What little the game teaches you to do in the beginning is hardly useful by the end. The machinery you purchase takes over for you the further you get into the game, creating a rather shallow experience.

Mad Dog McCree on 3DS might be worth it for folks who want to play the famously awful FMV game and have no other way to do so. But the vast majority of players are better off either ignoring this silly game or tracking it down on a system where light gun games are more fun to play.

Overall, Art of Balance Touch! is a remarkable title, and one that would be hard not to recommend to any 3DS owner. It a polished experience, but also a great title to just pick up and play, and the added Endurance mode does a great job of extending the game's life well after all the worlds have been completed.

If anything is wrong with Battleship, it is that there is nothing remarkable about it. The game is fun and challenging, but bogged down by the very movie that inspired it. It might have also benefited from some sort of multiplayer option, but as it stands, you could buy far worse on the Wii.

I can think of an impressive list of horrible, horrible things I'd rather do than play Chronicles of the Vampires: The Awakening (for example, being mauled by a bear is at least exciting). If you spend money on this game, you deserve what's coming to you.

Despite the creativity in its concept, Snakenoid is absolutely horrible in execution.

Although fairly competent and often challenging, Battleship is a mediocre licensed game through and through.

Despite the frustration caused by these problems, I really enjoyed this game. I'll continue to play it, because even though I know at least a couple times an hour I'm going to want to throw my 3DS through the nearest wall, when that's not happening Shifting World is a great little puzzle platformer with a lot of interesting wrinkles.

Although Amoebattle fills a bit of a gap in the DS library by being one of the few competent real-time strategy games on the system, and although it's certainly a strong title in comparison to many other DSiWare games, it falls just short of being a title of easy recommendation.

It might not hold a candle to the handheld Mario Tennis games in the Game Boy lineage, but Mario Tennis Open is a still great game that is sadly hampered by a small feature set and harebrained online.

This 3D Classic is surprisingly good given the base material. I actually recommend it highly. Try playing with classic controls first, then custom controls, and see how much different the experience is. As somebody who'd simply dismissed the game up until now, I'm glad I had the chance to play it because Kid Icarus is unexpectedly enjoyable.

Bird Mania 3D is not a fun game. It is repetitive, lacks the addictiveness of other high-score-focused affairs, has an insult of a story-focused mode, contains no substance outside of a basic mode, and does nothing to convince the player that a good purchase was made. That's all there is to it.

The bottom line is that Anne's Doll Studio: Tokyo Collection just doesn't have enough options to go the distance.

Block Factory is a neat idea that is too ambitious for its own good.

I Must Run! isn't mechanically broken, has decent art, and has an interesting (if slightly nonsensical) story. Unfortunately, it also carries artificial challenge, poor in-game graphics, unmemorable music, a throwaway secondary mode, a lack of continues, and far too much repetition.

The game doesn't do anything outstanding, nor does it absolutely screw anything up either.

If Spirit Camera wasn't so tied to the AR booklet, the experience might be a little better, but the inherent problems with the 3DS' camera sensitivity and being tied to the booklet really drags the game down. Add to that a boring storyline and uninspired puzzles and you're left with a pretty worthless experience. No real reason to pick up this ghost story, folks. The AR games that came with your 3DS are better.

Even with its issues, Ketzal's Corridors is still a good eShop title. If you loved ThruSpace, this is more of that same gameplay. It's not quite on the same level as the top-tier eShop titles, but if you're looking for a good high-score game, Ketzal's Corridors is definitely worth your time and money.

Arc Style: Soccer 3D is not the soccer game enthusiasts have been waiting for from the eShop, nor is it a game beginners should play, lest they be turned off soccer games entirely. It just feels as if the developers spent all their time tweaking the character creation options while ignoring the gameplay until the last minute.

This is SwapNote for artists. I highly recommend this app, and I think it will develop a big following among the 3DS artists out there.

Nicktoons MLB 3D doesn't reinvent the baseball formula, but only does what others games have done, with the addition of interesting cartoon characters.

Zombie Slayer Diox tries decently hard to be a good game, but it just misses the mark. The rhythm gameplay gets repetitive, and the music is extremely plain. There's nothing functionally wrong with it, the game just never evolves, remaining stagnant from start to finish.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 is a better version of last year's game. It fixes some of the flaws in the previous version, and adds new modes on top of it. This is what you should expect from an annualized sports game, and while it introduces some problems of its own, it offers a solid soccer experience for the 3DS.

Kid Icarus: Uprising is jam packed with content, and outside of the control issues, is an amazing game. The 21-year wait for a new Kid Icarus game was completely worth it, because this is one of the craziest and most original games released by Nintendo in a while. If you have a 3DS and are even remotely interested in this game, I highly recommend that you seek this out.

The game manages to keep the hectic and wild spirit Mario Party is known for while eliminating superfluous gimmicks and features that slowed the pace down instead of making it equally interesting for everybody.

Much of Devil Survivor 2 is a close replication of a handful of solid concepts. Losing time in its fundamentals and the sheer amount of subsequent content-a package structured across dozens of hours-is as easy as it is rewarding, but enjoyment of that concept will likely vary depending on how long and how many times you've traveled that road.

Zuma's Revenge is an exceptional pick-up-and-play game.

This is a great introduction to the series and a great game period. If you have a Circle Pad Pro, I can't recommend it higher.