IGN

• WII
• 5.8 / 10
• États-Unis

Super Hero Squad has some great promise, but never really lives up to its own potential. It’s obvious developer Blue Tongue knows what it’s doing, as the scripted videos are humorous and pretty well done (minus an obvious small budget for the animation), the spirit of the show is there, and the core brawling mechanic works just fine. There are some serious downsides though, centered around a wonky camera (especially during two player co-op), some poor AI, and a general lack of hand-holding for younger players. The team again puts some solid emphasis on tech (nerd alert!), switching in soft-shaded shadows for circular shadows on the fly, specularity on the floors, and some decent model work all around, but when it comes to gameplay the final product just didn’t lock everything down as well as it could have. Super Hero Squad seems to have everything going for it but the gameplay, and in the end that’s the content that’ll make or break the experience for younger gamers. Those devoted to the show or that collect the toys will have a decent time pushing through the game’s multiple modes. Younger players will need some hand-holding though. It’s a decent brawler, but it lacks that final coat of polish.

• DS
• 7.9 / 10
• États-Unis

This is the third time in as many years that SmackDown vs. Raw on DS has gone through drastic gameplay changes, and it’s also the third time that those changes have paid off. Going back to the basics, Tose has developed a new fighting mechanic that’s closer to the No Mercy system than ever before, and while there are still some obvious holes in move sets (no dives out of the ring, no apron work, no top rope attacks to players on the outside, and no grab attacks off Irish whip throws) the game is starting to come together as a more traditional wrestling experience. From here, it’s all about fixing oddities, speeding the game’s combat up (some moves feel sluggish), and piling on more unique moves both in the ring in general and in terms of Superstar-specific move sets. There are some great improvements being made though, and while some wrestling fans may still need to wait another year before they all take shape, SmackDown on DS has never been better. After establishing this new format as a base, I’m excited to see what Tose brings to the table next year.

• PSP
• 7.2 / 10
• États-Unis

This PSP rendition is everything that made the PS3 version of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 great with a few notable exceptions. There’s no way to share the stories you create, there’s no infrastructure multiplayer, the graphics are blah in spots, and the gameplay just isn’t at the same level. The first two gripes are forgivable due to technical limitations, but the graphics should look better and gameplay should feel better. Sure, there’s a bunch of nice additions when it comes to moves from the side and new grapples, but overall the jaggy graphics and robotic movements pull you out of the experience. Still, if you’re looking for portable Sports Entertainment, there is a lot to enjoy here. Creating your own stories is fun, you’ve got every match type the other games do, the TV-style presentation is great, and Create-A-Superstar is back, but none of it can shake the lackluster feel of the graphics and gameplay.

• WII
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

It’s weird, right? Here’s a game that’s literally an exact port of the PS2 title – even to the point where they didn’t remove the “new” logos on some of the matches even though technically everything here should be marked “new” since this version of the game has never been on the Wii before – and it’s hands down the best SVR game on the console. You get all the matches people know and love from the PS2 versions gone by, all the new stuff for this year, and the amazing addition of Story Designer. Sure, the graphics could be better and the fact that you can’t share your created stories online or square off against opponents over the Internet is disappointing, but this is still better than last year’s game. Just make sure this isn’t such a straight port next year, THQ. Give the kids some online functionality.

• DS
• 7.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games still has a bit of a “farmed out” feel to it. The game lacks the soul of a first party Nintendo offering, and the re-used assets and key art found in dozens of other games, posters, or box art gives the appearance that this game was somehow built off old standby content and not hand-crafted by the companies that brought you these fine mascots in the first place. It’s fun to see Mario team up with Sonic, even if the story in Adventure Tours mode doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, and the evens – while still hit or miss – offer far more compelling gameplay mechanics and a whole lot more depth. Both the DS and Wii versions of this franchise are going to sell like hot cakes every time a new Olympic season rolls around, but at least players will have a reason to keep coming back to the DS game long after the waggle-fest on Wii wears thin.

• WII
• 7.7 / 10
• États-Unis

FIFA 10 on Wii is definitely a step in the right direction that many soccer fans will be able to enjoy, even if it is a little more arcadey than the traditional soccer from EA Sports. The arcade elements that have made their way onto the Wii feel good in practice, even if some of them get a little stale after several games. The two biggest disappointments for me were the poor handling of through balls and the general lack of deep game modes. Hopefully next year they’ll find a slightly better balance between the arcade features and the amount of depth that the modes present. Nonetheless, FIFA 10 on Wii is a step in the right direction.

• DS
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

If you've already played the heck out of Space Invaders Extreme, this sequel is hard to recommend. The changes are all minor, making it feel like more of the same. But if you missed it the first time around, by all means pick this up (and import the spinner controller, if you can find it). This is still a brilliant, addictive shooter that will keep you coming back, aiming for that high score.

• PC
• 8.4 / 10
• États-Unis

Tropico 3 combines a very good city building game with an intriguing political game. The city builder portions are driven by lots of logical choices and consequences that leave the player feeling free to explore their own paths to success. This isn't a game where the associations are so rigid that you end up building the same city again and again. On top of that, the pleasantly unpredictable event system gives you a chance to change your focus and add a little more context to your game. The political system gives you a motivation to succeed on your own terms without locking you into any specific strategy. On the downside, the pace of the game is a bit slow and the interface could be a bit clearer in spots, but these are minor issues that won't keep fans of the genre from enjoying all the other things the game gets right.

• PS2
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

When I review a game on the PlayStation 3 and then have to come review the same game on the PlayStation 2, things usually don’t go well because developers lop off pieces of the original title and try to shove the remainder into a smaller package. That isn’t the case here. Yes, a handful of the PS3’s coolest features are missing here – you can’t share your stories online, there’s no online multiplayer, you can’t create alternate attires for the Superstars – and some of the characters are using the exact same models from last year’s game, but the additional content and presentational polish make this one of the best PS2 wrestling games I’ve played in years. You can create your own stories, enjoy a smattering of interesting Road to WrestleMania tales, and take the touched up gameplay into a ton of matches that have the look of the WWE programming you see on TV every week. That’s a win to me.

• X360
• 7.3 / 10
• États-Unis

Football Genius: The Ultimate Quiz is clearly made for a very niche audience of soccer diehards who know the sport inside and out. I, for one, am not one of those people but was still able to enjoy myself taking stabs at each of the questions that were posed to me. I wish that the answers to some of the tougher queries were explained after you select a wrong answer, but at least the current structure guarantees that if you get the same question again the answer will still be a mystery. While there’s nothing standout or extraordinary about Football Genius, it serves its purpose well and deserves a recommendation for those looking to test their soccer knowledge.

• X360
• 8.2 / 10
• États-Unis

Tropico 3 combines a very good city building game with an intriguing political game. In that regard, it's fairly unique in the 360 catalog. The city builder portions are driven by lots of logical choices and consequences that leave the player feeling free to explore their own paths to success. This isn't a game where the associations are so rigid that you end up building the same city again and again. On top of that, the political system gives you a motivation to succeed on your own terms without locking you into any specific strategy. On the downside, the pace of the game is a bit slow and the interface could be a bit clearer in spots, but these are minor issues that won't keep fans of the genre from enjoying all the other things the game gets right

• PS3
• 4 / 10
• États-Unis

• PS3
• X360
• PC
• 8.7 / 10
• États-Unis

Improved graphics, streamlined tactical options and a relatively robust take on the series' winning formula ensure that this is the best PES yet, though it's not quite enough to topple FIFA from its well-earned perch. On the pitch it’s the same joyous game that’s won so many plaudits in the past, its fast-paced approach encouraging the sort of outlandish play that means nearly every match is a classic, and while this is some way off being the all-round package offered by EA, it’s probably the most fun way to play football with a controller available.

• PS3
• X360
• 8.5 / 10
• États-Unis

For years, SVR fans have been lobbing complaints at THQ and ranting about how to make the franchise better. Although WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 stills stumbles -– CAS can seem limited, clipping is still an issue, CAF isn’t that different, only 10 CAS appearances in a story is weak, etc. -– the whole of the game is great. The gameplay tweaks are welcome and make the experience feel fresh, the presentation is straight from TV, the load times are better than ever, the Road to WrestleMania is still great, you can create your own logos, and the ability to share your stories and characters is invaluable. WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 might not be the greatest wrestling game of all time, but it’s definitely the best the world’s seen in years.

• PS3
• 9.5 / 10
• États-Unis

• X360
• 8.2 / 10
• États-Unis

I had a blast playing Axel & Pixel, but the thrill was short lived. It can be beaten in a day and although the arcade mini-games are worth sticking around for they're not as engrossing as the adventure. But I definitely recommend it to both point-and-click fans and younger gamers. This is one of those childrens' stories that will seem completely cracked out to adults. Hopefully it won't be the last we see of the painter and his dog.

• PC
• 8.1 / 10
• États-Unis

Cities XL moves the city-building genre in the right direction. Its friendlier learning curve as compared to the SimCity series will rope in new players, while its greater city design freedom will keep vets interested. However, even with multiplayer trading and resource balance and management, Cities XL is still not as hardcore as the SimCity series, and the subscription cost is questionably worth the arguably shallow multiplayer content. We encourage you to give the demo a shot before committing to it. The future is bright for Cities XL, but it's doubtful that it's bright enough to dethrone SimCity 4 as the preferred city-building simulation.

• X360
• PS3
• PC
• 9 / 10
• États-Unis

FIFA 10 is the definitive soccer experience if there ever was one. It packages a list of modes that perform in wonderful harmony with one another thanks to Virtual Pro and the fact that the gameplay lives up to this praise should only sweeten the deal. Taking the game online is as awesome as it was last year and with Live Season 2.0 kicking off once the US version ships on October 20, soccer diehards are going to have even more to sink their teeth into. If you were a past soccer fan and are looking to get back into the swing of things or if you’ve been eagerly awaiting FIFA 10’s release, you absolutely, positively will not be disappointed.