IGN

• WII
• 6 / 10
• États-Unis

At best, the mini-games of MySims Party offer a simple diversion for kids. At worst, they are a mess of poorly-implemented waggle controls. The game is weighted more heavily with the former, so we modestly recommend it for younger players. It retains that cute MySims style and the worldwide leaderboards are a nice touch, although the ability to play against others online would have been even nicer. What is here is enough to be a fun little mini-game collection (again, for kids). In our review for MySims Kingdom last year we wrote that Electronic Arts could be doing much more with this franchise. That is still the case.

• PC
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

The Maw is a fine little romp for people who feel the platformer genre doesn't get enough respect these days. It's also a great game for parents searching for something to hand off to a young child. The Maw is fairly linear and there isn't a great amount of depth to it, but its two main characters are adorable and the pacing is spot on.

• X360
• 9 / 10
• États-Unis

Peggle is pure happiness distilled into a low-cost digital download. More puzzles and challenges would have been nice, but it's hard to complain about the way this port to the Live Arcade was handled. Peggle may be a casual game at heart, but it can hook you like few other games. Don't let the bright colors turn you off, no matter how hardcore you think you are. This is one that everyone can enjoy.

• WII
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

• WII
• 5.8 / 10
• États-Unis

For a series that’s all about improving control, New Play Control: Mario Power Tennis takes an ironic turn for the worse. Here’s a game that’s visually pleasing, was an 8.5 on GameCube, and extremely fun, that’s now ruined by sloppy motion implementation. The original gameplay controls and charge/aiming mechanic have been taken out, and with less reliable shot placement and type the game moves into waggle territory, rather than being based entirely on intuitive motion or dependable button presses. Aiming shots is now less reliable, executing the right shot for the moment is now less reliable, and the final result is a game that simply isn’t as good as it was nearly four years ago. The control that did work has been removed for the New Play implementation, so while I’m sure Mario Power Tennis will make a killing on Wii, many of us have already played the superior game back in November of 2004. Newer doesn’t necessarily mean better.

• PS2
• 4 / 10
• États-Unis

Full of bugs, linear play that discourages exploration and non-existent combat, Tomb Raider Underworld feels as though it's part of the series in name and main character only. While the story is still good, there's practically nothing here that even feels like a Tomb Raider game -- especially with Anniversary still fresh for the PS2. Underworld feels like an extremely substandard title that was released without any polish whatsoever. If you're a fan of Lara Croft, get Underworld on a current-gen system and skip the PS2 version.

• WII
• 5 / 10
• États-Unis

Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars isn't all bad, as its simplified gameplay and toned-down difficulty likely made it a favorite of some of the youngest Master System players back in the late '80s. But today it simply stands as a disappointment, and the mark of the moment when SEGA's Master System mascot, in just his second appearance on the system, began to go downhill fast. In his recent retro review of the game, our Retro channel editor Levi Buchanan (a huge Alex Kidd fan) even declared that he wished this game wouldn't come to the Virtual Console -- for fear of it spoiling the opinions of new fans who found the series through the VC release of the far superior Miracle World. I'll support his assessment, and recommend steering clear of this one. If you're spending 500 Wii Points on an Alex Kidd adventure, make it Miracle World. Don't waste your time on The Lost Stars.

• PC
• 6.6 / 10
• États-Unis

Major League Baseball 2K9 fixes some of the issues from the past and sets the groundwork for a great game, but there are far too many bugs to recommend. PC gaming once had a strong hold on baseball sim quality, but those days are clearly long past. MLB 2K9 is an enjoyable game for a casual fan, but those who are really dedicated to baseball are certain to find the bad AI annoying. Let's hope next year 2K Sports can deliver a game worthy of baseball's immense fan base.

• PC
• 5.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Age of Booty is an addictive multiplayer strategy game that rewards communication and teamwork, both of which proved impossible during my time with the PC version due to a broken online matchmaking system. Bide your time until Capcom provides a patch to fix the online multi. The single-player game serves mainly as a tutorial for the multiplayer and isn’t enough to serve as a standalone experience. So to sum up, Age of Booty was designed as a multiplayer online game and doesn’t work as such right now. If that changes soon, give it a try.

• PS2
• 7.3 / 10
• États-Unis

While the Show on the PS2 is still an engaging and enjoyable game, it's definitely been overshadowed by the other versions on Sony's other systems. The visuals are getting a bit worn, and some of the changes feel like they weaken elements of the game, like those made to the fielding. While there is a lot more depth thanks to the Franchise mode, there are so few changes that this is almost a repeat of last year's game.

• WII
• 9 / 10
• États-Unis

If you're not lucky enough to be one of the owners of one of those copies, you would have been looking at spending a hefty chunk of cash to buy a legitimate edition before this past Monday -- but now, with the game available for download from the Wii Shop for just eight bucks, it's an incredible deal. If you're at all a fan of strategy titles like Fire Emblem, Shining Force, Advance Wars or any modern game with the word "Tactics" in its title, you owe it to yourself to check out one of the rarest and most respected entries into the genre from the 16-bit generation. And, if we're lucky, this might only be the first Ogre Battle to see a VC re-release -- March of the Black Queen's sequel, Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber, is also an incredible game that could potentially appear in a future Wii-kly Update. So use your digital dollars to let Square Enix and Nintendo know there'd be an audience for that one too -- your reputation will go up if you do.

• PS2
• 7.8 / 10
• États-Unis

As there are so many fantastic fighting games emerging recently -- especially the incredible Street Fighter IV -- it's difficult for me to give a wholehearted recommendation to King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match. With that said, this game will probably please fans of the old-school stuff, especially considering the fact that Ultimate Match includes the original King of Fighters '98 on the disc, along with an extra disc with plenty of wallpapers and other goodies. And for only 20 bucks, it's definitely not a bad deal.

• PC
• 9.5 / 10
• États-Unis

• DS
• 8.3 / 10
• États-Unis

Avalon Code offers a unique experience among action RPGs. Capturing people and objects in the Book of Prophecy and playing with their attributes is a compelling mechanic you won't find anywhere else. The interface isn't perfect, but it's definitely engaging. Avalon Code is also paced very well, and doles out new abilities to the player at regular intervals over its 20+ hours. Players looking for a cinematic DS experience will find it here. Now that the groundwork has been laid, let's hope for a sequel that refines the interface.

• X360
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

• PS3
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

• DS
• 9 / 10
• États-Unis

• PC
• PS3
• X360
• 5.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Though the very idea of a Watchmen brawler may sicken some, this could have been a good game. Unfortunately, the design lacked any imagination whatsoever. Add Watchmen: The End is Nigh to the long list of movie-licensed games that aren't any good.