IGN

• PSP
• 7.1 / 10
• États-Unis

Harvest Moon Boy & Girl is a game for those of you who haven't gotten a chance to play classic Harvest Moon titles. From what I can tell, everything is exactly the same as the original, so there's really no new content to grab players who tried out Harvest Moon: Back to Nature. If you feel the urge to give an older game a spin, and enjoy very simple, very goal-oriented gaming tasks, then this may be worth a look. But Harvest Moon, as always, is not a "game" in the traditional sense, since a lot of it isn't fun. It's a meditation on hard work, patience with repetition, and seeing your work translate into progress over a long period of time. If this sounds like something that may tickle your fancy, then go for it, keeping in mind the game's technical shortcomings. Otherwise, leave the farming to someone else, and go back to playing Generic Action Game 5: The Return of More Action!

• X360
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

• DS
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

• PS2
• PC
• 8.2 / 10
• États-Unis

Learning rugby is sink or swim. New recruits, who barely grasp the fundamentals, are often thrown straight into a match. Aimlessly running after the ball is often the fastest way to understand the game. That’s really the best way to step into Rugby 2008 – learn the basics and then start playing. The various control options allow you to naturally acquire advanced techniques once you’ve mastered the basics. I still have a few niggling problems with the controls and the ever insufferable moments of omnipresent AI. But at the very least, Rugby 2008 will certainly tide you over until the World Cup.

• X360
• 4.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Unsurprisingly, the most common matches I found online revolved around Chess and Checkers, which is too bad, because Mancala and Reversi are a bit of fun once their rules are learned. Even so, they're just not as familiar and commonplace as Spyglass's two dominant game types, so the deciding factor boils down to this: Are most casual gamers willing to pay 400 Microsoft Points (US$5) for Chess and Checkers? Probably not.

• WII
• 7.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Kirby's been getting knocked around for years, but that's just a hazard you've got to accept when you're a ball-shaped hero with stubby arms, no legs, and too-pink skin tone. Kirby's Dream Course is probably one of the least known of his games, but that doesn't diminish its fun -- its presentation of Kirby's world and integration of the enemies and powers from his platforming adventures is a great match for a game like miniature golf, and what results is a quirky, goofy, but all-around satisfying game to play.

• WII
• 8.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Master the tactics of commanding the Force, and you'll surely be able to avenge the king's death – and have fun doing it. Shining Force is a great, classic Genesis title that fits perfectly into the lineup of available Virtual Console selections, especially since there are, so far, no other strategy RPGs to compete against it. It's well worth its 800 Wii Point asking price, and should most readily appeal to old-school Genesis owners, fans of Camelot's subsequent work on Nintendo systems, and strategy gamers in general.

• DS
• 9 / 10
• États-Unis

The game may not look like much on the surface, but once you delve into a handful of Picross puzzles you might find it hard to stop playing. Picross DS is a brilliant, mature-focused Nintendo DS product that's incredibly addictive with near endless gameplay. If you missed out on the original Game Boy design Nintendo's got you covered: those puzzles can be downloaded off of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection servers for free. This is a fantastic alternative to the Sudoku design, and as fun as that number puzzle is, Picross DS trounces it.

• PSP
• 6 / 10
• États-Unis

Anyone who can get past the more annoying nuances of the game’s design and execution may still find some fun in Alien Syndrome. The game offers over 100 different enemies, but rehashes some of its more minor bosses in an attempt to add longevity. At the same time, powering up your character is relatively deep for a simple run-n-gun game, and we got some simple enjoyment out of powering up our weaponry or making use of class-specific skills such as increased critical rates or outstanding melee power. If this game would have been $29.99(or $19.99, to be more realistic) instead of its current $40 price point we might endorse it a bit more, but seeing as its release couples a $40 price point with the need for four copies to play multiplayer it’s hard for us to get too excited about Alien Syndrome. For fans of classic action-RPGs or multiplayer addicts Alien Syndrome would be a solid weekend rental or bargain bin purchase, but given the lack of polish throughout, the overall lackluster graphical presentation, and the $40 price tag we’ve got to put SEGA’s latest effort in the “just skip it” category. There are far better games available on PSP, and far more are on the way.

• X360
• 5.7 / 10
• États-Unis

Super Contra stands the test of time a bit better than some of the other "classic" games that have been brought to the XBLA, but the proper amount of care and attention the game deserves wasn't given. From ugly borders and out of place visual effects to choppy net code, it's clear that a lot more work could have gone into this title. At 400 Microsoft Points ($5 USD), only the true fans of the original need apply.

• WII
• 5.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Anyone who can get past the more annoying nuances of the game’s design and execution, however, may still find some fun in Alien Syndrome. The game offers over 100 different enemies, but rehashes some of its more minor bosses in an attempt to add longevity. At the same time, powering up your character is relatively deep for a simple run-n-gun game, and we got some simple enjoyment out of powering up our weaponry or making use of class-specific skills such as increased critical rates or outstanding melee power. If this game would have been on Wii during release at a $29.99 price tag (or $39.99 at the most) we might have endorsed it a bit more, but seeing as its release couples a $50 price point with a pre-fall shelf date (the Wii software rush is coming) it’s hard for us to get too excited about Alien Syndrome. For fans of classic action-RPGs or multiplayer addicts Alien Syndrome would be a solid weekend rental or bargain bin purchase, but given the lack of polish throughout, the overall “PSP-ness” of the game’s graphical presentation, and the $50 price tag we’ve got to put SEGA’s latest Wii effort in the “just skip it” category. There are far better games on Wii’s horizon.

• X360
• 5 / 10
• États-Unis

• PS2
• 7.2 / 10
• États-Unis

Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the '80s is certainly a disappointing release in one of the most fun and refreshing franchises we've seen anytime lately. It's fun, but it doesn't hold a candle to the previous two releases. If you're hard-pressed for new tracks and don't mind spending $50 for only a handful of good songs, you'll find that the good parts are great. But be prepared to sludge through plenty of boring tracks.

• X360
• 4 / 10
• États-Unis

I was thrilled to learn Yie Ar Kung-Fu was coming to XBLA. This is a game I treasured as a kid. I was certain it would stand the test of time. It turns out that sentimentality and nostalgia had clouded my memories. Yie Ar Kung-Fu is a game lost to time. It's outdated and no longer enjoyable. It's worth a few quarters in an arcade cabinet, but not worth $5 on Xbox Live Marketplace.

• PS3
• X360
• 7.6 / 10
• États-Unis

As a longtime 2K fan, I have begrudgingly accepted Madden for the past few years. After all, I had no other viable options. I wanted All-Pro Football 2K8 to be the return to glory. That isn't the case. There are definitely some good things to build and grow on for next year, but the overall package is too sparse. While much of the gameplay is great, the AI needs a tune-up. If you're looking for a football game expressly for multiplayer, give All-Pro Football 2K8 a chance. But if you're the type that wants a deep single-player experience, you'll want to pass up All-Pro. It's just not quite there yet.

• WII
• 6 / 10
• États-Unis

Balloon Fight's a welcome addition to the NES Virtual Console lineup. As a second wave 8-bit title from 1986, it's not quite as early as the Big N's earliest '80s efforts, and though it clones the scenario and style of Midway's Joust, it adds enough to the formula to make its Fights feel unique. Download this one if you're a fan of simple, one-screen arcade action. Don't download this one if you already own it in another form – like as an item in your virtual Animal Crossing home.

• PSP
• 6.8 / 10
• États-Unis

It's very disappointing that Sony would attempt to bring back the PaRappa the Rapper franchise without adding anything substantial to the mix. The game is still fairly fun, but it might as well have just released the title over the PlayStation Store and allowed you to download it to your system. Being able to download new background music is fine, but it doesn't extend the game's life all that much. If you've never played the original game, it's worth a quick look. But for anyone hoping PaRappa can compete strongly in today's music game category, look elsewhere.

• X360
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis