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.

Tales of the Abyss holds up surprisingly well on the 3DS, despite being a relatively conservative port of the original. And with the 3DS's small selection of RPGs, it's a must have, and a great entry point in the Tales series.

Overall, the game looks nice, but there's nothing truly beautiful about it. The gameplay and story are solid, but nothing really stands out.

Dillon's Rolling Western is an interesting take on the tower defense genre, but it's just too scattered and plodding to be that entertaining. The look of the world and the characters are charming, but the gameplay is just dreary and repetitive. While the 3DS had an impressive run of great eShop games, it appears that the well has dried up in this desert-ridden title.

Doctor Lautrec and the Forgotten Knights is interesting only in how miserably it misses the Layton mark. While its presentation is wondrous, the actual game part is terrible. No part of the game succeeds enough to make the other parts worth slogging through. Unless you're hard up for a game that slightly resembles much better games, you are best off avoiding Doctor Lautrec's debut journey at all costs.

This is the most polished game in the Rhythm Heaven series, a series already so well constructed that it has the ability to consume lives. It's occasionally frustrating, frequently hilarious, decidedly beautiful, and monumentally fun. If you own a Wii you need to own this game. Pull it out next time you have friends over; I guarantee it will be more fun than any "party" game, even for those not playing.

If you want to play Tekken against your friends locally on the go, then Tekken 3D Prime Edition is perfect for you. For anyone wanting a decent single-player experience or a consistent online experience, you're better off looking into one of the other fighting games on the system, as Tekken 3D Prime Edition fails both in a single-player experience and online.

Even the best games in this package are fun no more than five times, and anything below that was lucky to be played more than twice. If there was more content, and Sega put more focus into making more of the games fun rather than making more games, I might have viewed the experience more fondly.

Despite these few setbacks, however, Resident Evil: Revelations is an impressive game that's great fun. Though its contribution to the larger mythos is inconsequential, the game's story mode presents a good challenge and some genuinely hair-raising moments, and Raid Mode is fun, addictive, and rewarding.

Overall, LEGO Harry Potter is a cute and fun game, but the self-imposed limitations of the block-building franchise take away any sense of freedom or adventure. What's left is a very simple hack-and-smash puzzle-action game, perfect to play with younger family members, but not one for people looking for an epic, all-out Harry Potter experience. LEGO veterans may see past issues I have with those restrictions, but as a first-timer they definitely stood out to me.

If you can get over the repetition, Sakura Samurai is a worthwhile experience. However, with the onslaught of better games on the eShop, you're not missing too much if you skip it.

F1 is definitely not for everyone. I probably won't get too much more play time out of it, since Mario Kart is also on my shelf, and that's more my speed. Still, the serious racing fan will likely get a kick out of this one.

Mutant Mudds is a top-tier eShop title, and deserves to be played by any fan of 2D platformers. Outside of the 3D effects, it doesn't do anything too radical, but it doesn't have to. Renegade Kid's first 2D platformer is a sweet, sincere effort that will remind you of the great platformers of the early '90s.

Zen Pinball 3D is a polished experience that will please pinball and video game fans alike. Despite its conservative take on pinball, as compared to games like Devil's Crush, it still offers an enjoyable experience that is worth any 3DS owner's time.

I Heart Geeks is a puzzle game that provides short-lived fun. My initial reaction to the play style was favorable, but my high opinion of the game slowly dwindled as its problems began to take shape.

In the end, I wouldn't call Samurai Sword Destiny a disaster or even unplayable-it's just extremely repetitious in every aspect of its design and frustrating because of it. I certainly don't like it, but if you want to see what a roguelike brawler looks like, this is a good entry point. All others would do well to avoid this deeply flawed game.

Beyblades: Metal Masters has some great ideas but falls short on many different levels. Having to play through the Arcade mode 30 times to unlock new characters and the "Let it rip" sections before every match are a nuisance. The gameplay is, for the most part solid, but if you are not a fan of the series already, it will be difficult to really enjoy this game.

Fishing Resort is a very good package. There are a lot of things to do, and the world they're done in is attractive and inviting.

VVVVVV is a spectacular game, and while the 3DS version is a little pricier compared to other available options, it's well worth it if you've never played the game before or want it on the go.

While WWE All Stars is certainly not perfect, it's probably one of the best handheld wrestling games available on a Nintendo platform.

Nano Assault has enough issues, whether it's the roughness of the on-rails sections or the face button directional shooting, that it might turn off some players, but if you want some fast-paced and focused shooter action that looks damn fine and can get addictive, Shin'en's latest is well worth your time.

This is not a good game by any stretch, and I should probably mention again that it's a Transformers game that has undercut the core mechanic of the entire franchise: transforming.

So despite its brevity and frustrating par times, MSF is one of the best games in the eShop library, and a pleasant surprise at the end of 2011.

It's charming, especially when you combine that with the bizarre babble voices. I can't get enough of this game, and I doubt you'll be able to either. It's definitely worth the trip to the eShop.

All things considered, the game is cute and fun, with lots to do and see even if it feels like a slightly miniaturized, watered-down Harvest Moon experience. The story is interesting and the new setting of Konohana makes for a very unique feel to the familiar activities. While the 3D can be a little quirky at times, it has some of the prettiest art yet seen.

When something interactive does happen, it doesn't work very well at all. For everything this game has on offer, Face Raiders does it better, can be played in the comfort of your home, and is included free on the 3DS.

To conclude, Power Rangers Samurai is a very basic and frustratingly dull release that hardly tries to bring the exciting world of the series to video game form. Everything feels like it was taken from the book of basics in game design and will do nothing to convince you to spend more time with the multicolor heroes and their crazy enemies.

On the whole, Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympics is a game that seems to both progress the series while keeping it firmly in the roots established by its 2007 predecessor. The motion controls fail to give a groundbreaking presence amongst its many party game brethren on the Wii, and many of the events featured here already made appearances in the other games.

Cooking Mama 4 is nothing more than a new iteration of a played out series. This game is for fans of touch screen-based mini-games and references to cooking only. Oddly, despite the term being in the title, there is little actual learning about the craft. For most players, you're better off skipping this title, as it is just more of the same.

In the end, Power Rangers Samurai feels more like cash in on the popular series than an attempt at a worthwhile video game. The game does have some interesting mechanics to offer, though, and fans of the show may end up appreciating it more than I was able to if they overlook its lack of enemy and stage variety.

Pyramids does a great job of nailing that "I can totally do it this time!" feeling that games such as Super Meat Boy and Bit.Trip Runner excelled at. It's not quite up to the same lofty heights as those games, but it is a worthwhile addition to your 3DS library, especially since it's an excellent game to plunk five minutes into when you have downtime.

The story is entertaining, the gameplay is satisfying, and the overall presentation is decent.

Pushmo is an ingenious puzzler that will consume the free time of anyone who gives it a whirl. I found myself putting in hours at a time because of its addictive nature. If you own a 3DS, do yourself a favor and go download Pushmo.

Still, this is a solid title that must be experienced. If you don't mind a few disembodied handfuls of rage-inducing difficulty or the constant, sanity-warping slapstick, you'll have a blast, especially if you invite some friends to slap around.

With a challenging main campaign and a plethora of StreetPass/Play Coin challenge stages, Shinobi packs in a lot of content. However, if you don't want to put the time into it and deal with bouts of frustration, you're better off avoiding this game.

Fortune Street is a deep board game experience that is great if you have people to play with, but it can overstay its welcome in single-player. If you have friends that love Monopoly, or if you want a deep and lasting experience for the Wii, Fortune Street is one of the best of its genre on the system.

I doubt it will make anyone's Top 10 of 2011 lists, but you'd be remiss to completely discount Happy Feet Two on the DS. As that system slowly dies, it's easy to think that nothing but shovelware will come down its once-lauded pipe. WayForward has proven that not to be the case, and platforming fans would do well to give this game a shot.

If you're thirsting for some Pac-Man partying, I'd go out and find the Wii version, as it's more accessible and, for pete's sake, the game was clearly designed for the Wii.

Despite a lack of real longevity, it's hard not to be impressed with Michael Jackson: The Experience 3D. This game could have been a quick and dirty port of the DS/PSP version, but instead Triumph International really put some effort and care into the game, and it shows.

The inclusion of rhythm gameplay and the varied soundtrack makes it an effort that stays true to the lively spirit of the feature films, but its slow pace and repetitious nature keeps it from being a truly great title. Regardless, if you loved the movies this is worth checking out for a brief period of time.

Mario Kart 7 isn't a huge leap forward for the series. Instead, it's another damn fine iteration in a proven series.

Duels and some unique character abilities will entertain you, while boring, repetitive puzzles will take away from the overall experience.

Beyond just the graphical limitations, this is a game that feels as if it could not have existed on the DS in a scaled-down form. The speed, the style, and action are all fantastically engrossing. In terms of sheer thrills it's hard to imagine there's much like it on the 3DS.

Sonic Generations on the Nintendo 3DS is certainly a well made game.

It was fun then, it's still fun now, and if this is a taste of what's to come in future 3D Classics titles then I'm greatly looking forward to them.

Modern Warfare 3 on Wii won't ever astound with its graphics or win over anyone already intent on playing it on another console. It is by no means the definitive version. Despite its various limitations, however, it is a solid approximation of the kind of content that continues to deliver year after year, even if the ride is getting a little predictable.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3: Defiance isn't going to win any awards, but as a DS port of a popular franchise, it does a decent job making the experience portable.

The game isn't especially good and I can't recommend it. The developer successfully made a game about summer chores feel like a chore, but I don't know if that was the point.

The 3DS version appears to be a 3D-enhanced port of the DS version of the game.

Overall, the game is good, though not great. The puzzles are interesting and the story is intriguing. The visuals are solid and the audio's OK. If you're into fun puzzle games with gripping mysteries, James Noir might be one to look into getting.

Ultimately, when your zombies aren't interesting you cannot connect to them. They all behave in much the same way, and you never get to do simple things like learning their personalities or even watch more than one of your zombies interact with each other.

The villager interaction, combat, and farming are all serviceable, but none of the singular aspects of the game are spectacular. Series faithful will no doubt dig this game, though they might be put off by the farming simplification.

I think the biggest compliment I can give this game is that I have a hard time putting it down. It does a great job of adapting the PC formula to the 3DS hardware, and it's just as addictive as it ever was. If you're a fan of the PC game, this is a great way to take it on the go.

Xenoblade Chronicles is considerable in the production value it took to make something of this scope; Xenoblade Chronicles is considerable for telling a story with more layers than one can count while retaining a level of accessibility for people of any walk of life; Xenoblade Chronicles is considerable for having an active combat system more engaging than anything I have seen in years. Although, with all things considered, Xenoblade Chronicles is really good, too.

The game has a balance of both decent and not-so-great content. Spy missions are just not fun, while the racing is only decent.

Skyward Sword is an epic, the sort of epic you call out of work or school for a few days to complete. A focused playthrough will take you north of 30 hours, and if you try to 100% the game, there is a 50+ hour quest to go through. Throw in the second quest, dubbed Hero Mode, and there is a lot of game to play.

EAD Tokyo's 3DS debut is marvelous, and filled with almost endless creativity.

All the great graphics and soundtrack can't hide the fact that Disney Universe is one of the most disappointing releases of the year.

Cave Story is game that every gamer needs to play, and if Cave Story 3D is the most viable method of doing that, so be it. However you get your hands on this game, just do it. It's that good.

This DS game is pretty good, but doesn't really hit as hard as it could have. With average graphics and music accompanied with the average gameplay, nothing about the game really stands out... except for Wolverine. He's a cool guy.

If you really like Pokémon (like me) or were a fan of Pokémon Rumble on WiiWare, this sequel is worth checking out. It's shallow and basic, but charming nonetheless.

If you're looking for a great multiplayer game to play with friends and family, Go Vacation is an extremely solid choice. The developer made a few strange choices that hurt the experience, but overall Go Vacation is a trip worth taking.

Professor Layton's escapades are a known commodity by now. The Last Specter does nothing to dilute the brand, offering the same polished gameplay and presentation the series is known for. Throw in London Life, and it is the most robust game in the franchise, more or less containing two games in one.

There is certainly some fun to be had exploring the USS Sulaco and fighting the xenomorphs, but its repetitive nature and lack of variety distracts from what could have been a great game.

A frustrating game that I can't recommend. It's a shame, too, since I like the Gryptonite games and, based on Dark Void Zero, I had a lot of hope for Other Ocean's take on the formula. The game looks okay and there's voicework in the narration, but the game itself is pretty weak. There are good ideas here, but they're just not well implemented.

An incredible package deal, but one with a potentially overwhelming amount of content. The difficulty curve is steep, but if you've been playing NBA 2K titles in recent years, you should be able to pick it up fairly quickly, as by all accounts the control scheme is not particularly different from last year's game.

A very fun, classic game that delights in its streamlined, simple appeal. The gameplay avoids most of the conventions associated with modern day platformers, especially Wii platformers, but the new additions and ideas are placed tastefully without getting in the way of the classic feel of the franchise.

It's not a perfect game, and one that will do itself favors by staying at a budget price, but it's easy to recommend to die-hard Frogger fans, or anyone else looking for a quick fix of fun on their 3DS.

Nicktoons MLB is a simplified but very fun baseball game. Don't let the kid-focused presentation scare you off; this game is worth a look from anyone in the mood for an arcade baseball game, and is easily one of the best sports games available on the DS.

It's just one of those games that really is best played in its original, simple Marathon mode.

There are moments where it can feel more than a bit uninspired, and many times the tasks Red and company have to take on seem beyond trivial. The difficulty is sorely lacking. The gameplay needs more diversity. And while the story is enjoyable it's hardly award winning. Yet, at some point in the second half of the game I found myself having a pretty good time.

Far from being extreme, this Deca Sports title is best ignored. I think Hudson would do well to start making games with fewer sports in each title so they can focus a little.

A decent game that is tarnished only by its lack of emphasis on both its plot and music. The story, in its present state, leaves much to be desired, and the audio is recycled time and time again.

An extremely well-designed game that is perfect for kids. Unfortunately for parents, this game is wonderful and addictive, meaning that most kids who get their hands on this will crave more characters to collect them all.

You can't knock the quality of the game, as Vicarious Visions not only made an awesome 3D platformer, they made a great 3DS-exclusive title.

Kyotokei wears its influences brazenly, and though it attempts to differentiate itself in a few ways, the best part of the game is still that which it directly borrows from Ikaruga.

So is Bit.Trip Saga worth picking up? If you already own the WiiWare titles the answer is probably no. The 3D effect does add to the game, but not so much that most people will feel like rebuying them.

Offers a unique pick-up-and-play sport and a vibrant, winning presentation. It delivers strongly on what it sets out to do, and it's genuinely appealing to pick up and play casually or in short bursts.