With all of its mysticism, strange but curious creatures and dazzling surroundings, 'Keepsake' will be a sure-fire hit with the Harry Potter crowd if they don't mind exercising their wits as well as feasting their eyes.

With surprisingly good graphics for a GBA title, the gameplay is never boring since Phil and his friends are shuttled around quickly from one Blah emergency to the next.

If you're seeking a title to show off the new approaches to gaming that the Nintendo DS offers, look no further than this beautiful, bizarre gem.

The physics are a little clunky at first but ultimately make the game feel a whole lot more natural with a little practice.

While it's not a game so much as a pet simulator that you fiddle with for a few minutes every day, Nintendogs is ridiculously charming and cute. And virtual dog poop is a lot easier to clean up than the real stuff.

Don’t be put off by this oddball mixture of a casual puzzle game and a fantasy role-playing adventure. Puzzle Quest is stellar as both, and amazingly addictive.

Though it starts off slow, Folklore turns out to be a surprisingly deep and visually lush experience, with novel new twists on familiar gameplay standards.

Insanely long load times are the only major flaw in this amazingly thorough conversion of a console game to the PSP format. Vroom!

As a huge fan of standard FPS games, I was a little put-off at first by my personal lack of effectiveness in the game, though I can appreciate the added tactical depth provided by the control of two fire teams.

You really have to play this game to understand it but it includes plenty of challenge and lots of replayability, and it looks great to boot. Definitely the dark horse of Xbox Live Arcade!

The customization is deep, but not so deep as to be lengthy, and the game itself looks crisp and well-polished.

Longtime Thief fans who can overlook the game's handful of flaws will find Deadly Shadows a worthwhile continuation of the series, even though some sacrifices were made to bring it to the PC and Xbox platforms simultaneously.

Great visuals, over-the-top enemies and white-knuckle boss battles help overcome Lost Planet's handful of glaring flaws. It's almost as cool as it is cold.

Blasting an exploding barrel just as a group of foes are shambling past it and watching their aerial acrobatics just never gets old.

It is the answer to those who have bitterly and rightfully complained that not much creativity has gone into the gameplay as the series has progressed.

The story is very rich by Mario standards, and the game can be surprisingly challenging, yet accessible, making it a truly great game for gamers of all ages.

With great sound, great graphics and gameplay that has stood the test of time, F-Zero GP Legends is going to appeal to almost everyone. Well everyone who doesn't already own "F-Zero Maximum Velocity."

A creative genius himself, C.S. Lewis would be proud that the developers have been faithful to his vision and that the 'Narnia' games might encourage children to explore the literary world he created.

Bond actually carries useful gadgets you simply can't wait to use. He flings himself off walls using a very cool rappelling system and can send in the remote and compact Q Spider to blow up things in tight spaces.

Without giving too much away, I can say this: There is a plot-twist in this game that is so great that even the most hard-core RPG veterans won't see it coming.

What could have been a run-of-the-mill shooter is elevated by an interesting plot, wild environments and shifting gravity that sometimes makes you wonder which way is up. Not for the faint of stomach.

A decent fighting game with enough twists in the gameplay to set it apart from the pack.

The game follows a fairly linear path and is plagued by a few invisible boundaries, but otherwise has plenty going for it, thanks to its nearly non-stop combat and reliance on more than just button mashing to dispatch each enemy.

The single player levels start off simple enough but become almost epic in scope (well, for a marble game!) later on.

It would have been nice if the storyline was a little more open ended and the RPG element was emphasized.

A decent fighting game with enough twists in the gameplay to set it apart from the pack.

If you weren't a fan of the original on the Xbox 360, don't expect this sequel to set your world on fire. But there are enough tweaks and perks to keep car combat fans happy, and it's an overall improvement on the first game.

Players new to Texas Hold 'Em poker will learn the game, get to play without losing their shirts and have some fun. Experienced poker players also get a half-hour session with a pro.

It's a simple, fun first-person shooter, which is what gamers look for most in this series. Rest assured that's exactly what gamers will get. Nothing more, nothing less.

The great sound, variety of characters, deep tactical options, and a neat ability-learning system will ensure that fans of the strategy-RPG genre will not be disappointed. Overall, La Pucelle: Tactics is a well-crafted gem that is clearly a labour of love from Nippon Ichi.

As adorable as it is eccentric, and as addictive as it is challenging, it still may not be everyone's cup of tea. But if happy, singing blobs navigating trippy technicolour worlds sounds like fun, you need this one in your PSP library.

The review score by the way reflects the age it was targeted at – if you are outside of the 6-11 age group, check the low part of the range, because that's how this game will score for you.

Although GX is not really meant for the inexperienced or newbie 'Yu-Gi-Oh!' fan who may not know a 'Blue Eyes White Dragon' from a 'Summoned Skull', experienced players will find the game will provide a stimulating distraction.

If you are looking for a compilation of mini-games to pass the time once and awhile, Clubhouse Games will fit the bill quite nicely.

Goblet of Fire is far from a difficult game, but should present enough of a challenge to younger Potter fans, and there's plenty of extras for fans of all ages to sift through, making this an above-average title.

The game really shines in multiplayer, where the variety in play styles means that every match is different and challenging. Often players will volley well over 30-40 times on each point, which creates some very intense matches that can easily go either way. Whether playing online or against a friend, multiplayer is the best Table Tennis experience by far.

The best part is that the game is challenging and smart enough for adults without being so hard that the impatient or young kids can't pick it up and play well.

And the expansion pack is a step in the right direction. It's a good upgrade if you're willing to shell out for it.

If you liked "X-Men Legends," you'll love Marvel Ultimate Alliance, with its roster of two dozen playable heroes from every corner of the Marvel universe. But please, let's see She-Hulk in the sequel, OK?

Even if you decide to skip all the ‘extra’ modes like Superstar and Minigames, you’ll still get a lot out of Franchise. It never becomes too overwhelming – a problem with many sports games in recent years.

There's nothing radically new here, but it's got the best variety of missions and the best storyline of any of the Hitman titles.

Again, like 'Resident Evil', 'Monster House' is not all about eviscerating hair-raising beasties. There are puzzles throughout the levels too but most are of the find-and-place-an-object-here or push-this-crate-there variety.

Unfortunately, the music and sound effects are just plain irritating and obnoxious, with tunes that might appeal to 7-year olds.

The darker and more serious tone won't appeal to everyone, but beneath it is the same great strategy game experience that's made the venerable Advance Wars series such a gem.

A welcome new twist on the stale survival-horror genre, the Suffering's disturbing unreality makes the prison in "Oz" look like summer camp.

This really is only for a defined group of hardcore football fans, but those fans won’t find anything close to this anywhere else.

Though it's definitely the low-carb, low-cal version of a traditional role-playing game, Dark Alliance II is a stellar sequel to a great title.

It’s the little fun touches that end up elevating The Bigs from being just another yearly baseball installment.

Its easy controls, addictively simple game play and variety of game modes are likely to appeal to all but the hard-core soccer enthusiast.

One of the things which sets Black and White 2 apart from its predecessor is the combat system.

It's not as brain-blowingly next-gen as some gamers might be hoping, but Perfect Dark Zero is still a solid and slick shooter that deserves to be enjoyed online.

The game is challenging as all heck and you’ll sometimes wonder how you would ever get out of a predicament with a million enemies coming at you all at once in every direction without a super bomb, but it keeps you coming back for more, no doubt. Top notch in every way.

A lot deeper and a lot tougher than it seems at first glance, Dead Rising is an old-school game posing as next-gen zombie slayathon. It can be frustrating as hell, but like the swarms of undead who don't know any better, you'll keep coming back for more.

If you enjoy the gunplay aspects of the GTA-style genre more than the driving and open city concept, then The Godfather is likely to be a highlight of the year for you.

The keyword here is variety. If you like to try many different things and fight many different ways, then Jak 3 is the game for you.

While it's not a game so much as a pet simulator that you fiddle with for a few minutes every day, Nintendogs is ridiculously charming and cute. And virtual dog poop is a lot easier to clean up than the real stuff.

It won't replace Grand Theft Auto in your carjacking, hooker-beating heart, but Saints Row is a surprisingly good clone, and it even manages to do a few things better than the games from which it shamelessly borrows.

With each level presenting it own unique challenges to overcome, what you have with 'Mario Versus Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis' is not only one of the longest game titles of the year but an accessible and thoroughly addicting puzzle game for thinking gamers of all ages.

Though it's definitely the low-carb, low-cal version of a traditional role-playing game, Dark Alliance II is a stellar sequel to a great title.

A riveting game that you can't refuse.

The game has a great feel to it simply because it's packaged together so nicely with sound, graphics, and gameplay. Where you may encounter problems is if you've already played the original, because this sequel certainly does not live up the lofty height of its predecessor.

The career mode is enhanced, giving gamers the ability to not only design their boxer down to the size of his nose and colour of his shoes, but take their virtual pugilist through a training regimen while choosing their bouts with higher-ranked opponents.

If you like a challenging preconstructed scenario, some with historical overtones to them, you will find this expansion pack a great addition to a great game.

The first full-fledged expansion for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion takes you on a trip to a skewed and psychotic Oz, full of odd people, new magic and killer creatures. And chances are you’ll love it there.

The Mortal Kombat transition from fighting game to action-adventure experience is handled exceptionally well in Shaolin Monks. As Scorpion would say, "Get over here!"

As good as it was, the PSP’s UEFA has everything FIFA has and with the new Treble mode, way more fun in variety.

A highly addictive simulation that should please good and bad golfers alike.

Undeniably the best-looking PSP release since "Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror". The floating spectral faces, the tidal wave of blood, the massive beast masquerading as a temple are just some of the early "wow moments" that show off the technology that is packed into the PSP device.

With its smaller scope and missions, New York doesn't eclipse 'Ultimate' as the benchmark Spider-Man title for the DS but it does sure as heck give it a run for its money.

Heroes is not one of those games that will immediately sieze you by the breastplate but once you have mastered the multi-tasking and on-the-spot strategizing that's required, it really does grow on you like a Shambling Mound and in this case, that's a good thing.

Kim does not miss[] a step in the leap to bigger and better things due to the ingenuity of the BVG developers who decided to take the series in a different direction while still maintaining all of the components that have made it so popular.

But considering the title, it's a strangely sweet and charming little thing, so much so that anyone looking for cheap, violent thrills will quickly tire of Bully's mostly pacifistic tone.

A fantastic game that becomes a lot deeper than it first seems once you start learning some of the advanced techniques. A perfect fit for the Xbox Live Arcade.

Most importantly, it has the all-important replayability that can sometimes make or break a game. This game stands up to any FPS out right now, and surpasses some.

One additional factor that can’t be overlooked is the addictiveness of this game. Zoo Keeper has been in my DS for weeks now, and as much as I complain about the weight of the DS, or the similarities between Zoo Keeper and "Bejeweled," I don’t think I’m going to change it out for anything else that soon.

Casual gamers, and fans of other “real-time” mech based games beware though: Front Mission 4 will probably be either too technical, too boring, or just not your cup of tea.

A clunky combat system and too many immersion-breaking design oddities mar an otherwise excellent RPG adventure.

The other big reason for shooter fans to check this game out is because of the online multiplayer, which is surprisingly well done.

It's not an essential purchase, but certainly one that makes more inventive use of the hardware than some other Wii launch titles.

The biggest complaint that I had, and many others agree is that the game needed to be longer than just 5 cases, maybe 10 or so would have done the trick.

There are several game modes, all of which are quite fun and challenging – as long as you can stop yourself from using unlimited hints in the Puzzle Mode.

Episode 2 should take only about 40 hours to finish, short by the standards of the genre today and half the length of Episode 1.

The visuals and sound design really do drive the package well enough to create what's hopefully as close an experience to the real thing as any of us would like to have.

Given its target audience, you’d have a hard time finding anything on the market quite this good that is also targeted at the 12 and under crowd.

What it comes down to, though, is that this package is full of what are some fantastic, fun games. All the extra stuff is cool, but even without it all, the games stand on their own.

Embodies what a handheld game should be. It has short levels, and the learning curve is very low. You'll find yourself whipping through the game in a short amount of time, but the replay value is there with over 90 levels to try and get that gold star on.

Does exactly what it's supposed to do - kill time and appease the masses before its full follow up comes a few months from now.

Once again Nintendo creates a game for the DS that is perfect for casual gamers, but if that doesn’t describe you, your hatred for this cute title will probably know no bounds.

Day 1 has upped the ante, and created something far better then their original, but only those who crave Mech games, and need their online fix should give it serious consideration.

The Legend Tour is limiting, and there isn’t really a challenge system like other Tiger games out there. Also there is a lack of information given to the player, which often keeps you guessing.

A mixed bag of fun. When you're in the cockpit of your Arwing you'll forget where the time went, but drop you onto the ground and you'll be asking "are we done yet?" within minutes.

For such a short game, a Little goes a long way as far as we’re concerned.

Wildly addictive, and only the best players will be able to earn the highest-coloured belts.

Its streamlined and action oriented gameplay fit the PSP well and it has been given an exceptionally nice graphical polish.

Had the developers spent a little more time fixing the control and camera issues and making it in general more user-friendly, Chibi-Robo would go from being above-average to being great. As it is, it's still an original, fairly addictive title that has enough going for it to leave gamers satisfied.

There's really not much to this game, yet it still had me coming back for more, trying to finish the single player mode.

The graphics in Nanostray are some of the prettiest on the DS, hands down. The environments are varied, there is a ton of vibrant colours and except for some very rare slowdowns, the game runs at a smooth 60 FPS, no small feat considering how much is always going on on both screens.

Had it made use of the wireless adapter it might have been able to duplicate the traditional Mario Party feel.