IGN

• PC
• 7.4 / 10
• États-Unis

Aquaria has been available since mid-December (you can download the demo and buy the full game through www.bit-blot.com), so our apologies that this review is coming to you so late. The upshot, however, is that this is probably the perfect time to play it. If you’ve powered through Christmas’s PC heavy hitters and are looking for something a little different, then Aquaria may just fit the bill.

• WII
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

When Wonder Boy in Monster World first came to the VC last Spring, our contributing reviewer Mark Birnbaum awarded it a final score of 8.0 and a hearty recommendation. And as The Dynastic Hero is essentially the same game, it would perhaps be easiest to give it the same grade. But, interestingly, playing this version of the design doesn't inspire the same confidence in me that Wonder Boy must have in Mark. I find a different game in the series to be more compelling, actually – Dragon's Curse, which is also on the VC but offers a more unique gameplay mechanic focused on morphing into different character types. If you're going to download a repainted TurboGrafx Wonder Boy game, I'd recommend that one over The Dynastic Hero, especially since it's two bucks less in the Shop. But if you're dedicated to the idea of acquiring either one or the other of this game's versions on the VC, you could still choose Dynastic with confidence. Just make sure you have enough space clear on your Wii's hard drive, because its CD-based origins mean it will take up more blocks of space than the Wonder Boy in Monster World version.

• X360
• 7.6 / 10
• États-Unis

Omega Five is pretty but shallow. It's the trophy wife of XBLA games. That doesn't mean it isn't fun for a little while, but it's ultimately not among the top-tier Arcade titles. If you enjoy horizontal shooters, Omega Five is worth picking up. It probably won't last you more than a week, but there are enough enjoyable elements to put a smile on your face.

• WII
• 7.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Fans of the long-running puzzle series Bust-a-Move will no doubt recognize the characters of Bub and Bob – this is the game that first introduced the pair, years ago. And though some of the follow-ups to this original Bubble Bobble were less than stellar, and though some of the most recent of those follow-ups have been extremely less than stellar, there's no denying the lasting value and simple playability of this first ever adventure for the two little dinos. If you've got a boyfriend or girlfriend, invest the 500 Wii Points for a download of Bubble Bobble and ask him or her to play it along you – the two of you will have a blast. And if you don't have any significant other, well, download it even faster. You'll want to have it on hand and ready when the opportunity arises for you to pass that second Wiimote to your potential Player 2.

• PS2
• PSP
• 7.4 / 10
• États-Unis

Did I have fun playing Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law? Yes, a lot of fun, but your enjoyment comes down to how much you like this show, how much you like the lawyering antics of Phoenix Wright and how much you enjoy having $30. Phoenix Wright fans should be a bit cautious entering into a long-term relationship with the Birdman. The cases won't test your deposition skills and you won't be getting the truckload of gameplay you're used to. However, if you're a Harvey Birdman fanatic -- or just a casual fan like myself -- you should probably pick up this game. Sure, it isn't terribly long and it isn't too challenging, but it is a really funny and an engaging play. Plus, it's about the same price as a Harvey Birdman DVD and this is longer than the 150 minutes a two-disc set would get you.

• WII
• 8.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble holds up very well as a great SNES side-scrolling platformer adventure, even 11 years after its original release. And while its predecessor, Diddy's Kong Quest, is likely a better game overall, DKC3 probably holds more value as a Virtual Console download for the large amount of Nintendo fans who early-adopted with the N64 and therefore missed this final installment in the Country trilogy in its first mid-'90s appearance. If you enjoyed the first two Donkey Kong Country games and never got around to this one, confidently put down 800 Wii Points and give it a download. If you're completely new to the DKC series, start with either the original or DKC2 and see what you think there. Then, if you like what you see, come back here and then confidently put down 800 Wii Points to give DKC3 a download. It's a game that deserves to now be noticed, where once it was overlooked.

• PS2
• 7.3 / 10
• États-Unis

NeoGeo Battle Coliseum is another fun 2D fighter for only twenty dollars, which makes it very appealing -- especially for fans of the NeoGeo franchises. Besides a few frustrating issues, the battle mechanics are tight and very rewarding, and the character roster is extremely impressive. However, with fewer modes and only two-character teams instead of three, we're hard pressed to place Battle Coliseum above King of Fighters XI. But if you want to have a dream match between two fighters from different backgrounds -- and try out new contenders Yuki and Ai -- Battle Coliseum is a pretty solid deal.

• PS2
• WII
• 2.5 / 10
• États-Unis

There's little left to say in regards to Battle for the Pacific, besides the fact that you should probably avoid it. If you absolutely need to try it out, we suggest you give either the 360 or PC version a try. Then again, you probably shouldn't bother. This is just a terrible game, and Jonathan Farrell needs to find himself a better job.

• X360
• 7.4 / 10
• États-Unis

Before you purchase Metal Slug 3, you need to ask yourself how much you value ten dollars. This is a short experience that, even with a few playthroughs, won't last you long. The exclusion of the two bonus modes from the original Xbox version is certainly a bummer and would have added a few more hours of playtime. Metal Slug 3 is a lot of fun, but this should be a $5 download. Especially when original, awesome-looking shooters such as Omega Five are storming Xbox Marketplace.

• X360
• 7.9 / 10
• États-Unis

There’s a reason Sensible World of Soccer is considered a sports classic. Unlike most sports games that feel dated and tired years later, this one holds up quite well. It’s simple and fast, removing two of the hurdles many people find with the sport of soccer. The game also features an admirable amount of depth for a game that can be played with just a d-pad and the A button. If you aren’t nostalgiac or hardcore about your soccer, you might be better served with something more recent. If you are, well then you don’t need us to tell you what to do.

• X360
• 4.7 / 10
• États-Unis

SpongsBob SquarePants: Underpants Slam is one of those XBLA purchases that will be tough to justify for many. If you’re a diehard fan of the show -- yes, I realize there are many of you out there -- then you might want to check this out as the characters do come with some decent personalities and funny quips, but the common gamer probably won’t (and shouldn’t) look twice at this exercise in tedium.

• WII
• 5.5 / 10
• États-Unis

• PS3
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

If you're a fan of games that mix a simplistic formula with deep mechanics, Snakeball is the title for you. With impressive gameplay modes, leaderboards and an ultra slick presentation, this one seems worth the mere ten dollar price tag. While not necessarily a perfect experience, Snakeball has great single-player and multiplayer options and is easily one of the better titles the PlayStation Store has to offer.

• PS3
• 6.7 / 10
• États-Unis

So, how much do you value ten dollars? Sure, Toy Home is pretty at times, has a nice leaderboard option and is fun to tear through, but you'll have seen all the eight courses have to offer after your first run. That leaves you to complain about the game's two cars, repetitive gameplay and laggy online battle mode. To me, Toy Home is fun for a while but not worth my Hamilton.

• WII
• 6.5 / 10
• États-Unis

In the end, Alien Storm ends up being a little less forgettable than you might have guessed. It's Golden Axe with robots, yes, but it also mixes things up a bit with its inclusion of the occasional first-person shooting stage and the run-and-gun, forced-scrolling levels. If you're a fan of that old-school SEGA style, featured so prominently in more readily remembered titles like Altered Beast, Golden Axe and Streets of Rage, Alien Storm could serve you well. But if you're only a casual fan of those comparison titles just listed, you're certainly safe to save your Wii Points and pass on a download of this one.

• X360
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

The Xbox 360 version of Star Trek Legacy has managed to erase some (but not a lot) of the disappointment of the PC version. Given that the starship combat offerings on the 360 aren't quite as numerous as they are on the PC, the console version naturally stands out a bit more. Honestly, if you want a Star Trek game and all you have is a 360, this is pretty much your only hope. Gamers who have a gaming PC may find it worthwhile to try older and more satisfying titles like Bridge Commander. The console controls are much better, which makes Legacy a better proposition on the 360. Still, the overly long missions and the lack of save points make it hard to really embrace the game. There are plenty of interesting achievements to unlock if you stick with it but the overall appeal of the game starts to wear thin after you're forced to replay a forty-minute mission just because your objectives weren't very clear. On the plus side, fans of the Star Trek franchise will definitely appreciate the visuals, sounds and story elements. Legacy hits the right spots here, faithfully bringing the various series of Star Trek to the Xbox 360 in a very convincing, consistent manner. In the end, however, the license is all this game has going for it.

• X360
• 6 / 10
• États-Unis

If you’re a fan of Tempest or arcade classics in general than it might be in your best interest to pick up this latest release from Atari, but if you’re expecting to get a new rendition of an old classic in the same vane as Pac-Man Championship Edition you’ll need to look elsewhere. Tempest is functional, and for five bucks you really shouldn’t expect much more.

• PS2
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

The King of Fighters XI is fun, complex and has a ton of characters to try out, with only a handful of them requiring an unlock. At only about $20, it's hard not to recommend this to fighting game enthusiasts. While it doesn't bring anything new to the table, and its visuals fail to impress, the fast-paced tag-team battles and old-school challenge make this a title to look out for. Casual gamers beware: this is a game with an absurd amount of information to learn and master, so skip this one if you don't want to invest the time and sore thumbs.