Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver have finally been given the remake they deserve. Pushing the original games into the current generation almost flawlessly (aside from dropping the Poketch) and adding a decent amount of extras is enough to warrant a purchase. Throw in a pretty cool peripheral for free in the Pokéwalker and you should be sold. As we await the release of the next true sequel to the Pokémon series, these classics should be enough to satiate any diehard fan's appetite for quality Pokémon gaming. And for those who have never played a Pokémon title, these are a great starting point.

Glory of Heracles is a nice addition to any classic RPG library. Though it suffers from some of the typical shortcomings of classic RPGs, it's still a solid experience with enjoyable combat and a decent story to boot. If you're into classic RPGs and/or don't mind stepping back into some randomized battles, the game is well worth the price of $29.99. Otherwise, look for a more modern RPG.

Rabbids Go Home is a strong recovery for the Rabbids franchise, shying away from the mini game conglomerations we've been accustomed to and bringing an entirely new adventure to the table featuring these misunderstood creatures. Relying on solid gameplay and a strong presentation, Ubisoft has struck gold this time around and should catch the eye of the majority of Wii owners. If you like quirky slapstick humor, this is the game for you.

Band Hero DS is a nice addition to any music lover's library of games. Though they'll never be able to make a version of the game that's as robust as the console games, it still works nicely for all of the instruments (with a few quirks). If you don't own a music game on the DS yet and you're looking to buy one, this is the best deal yet with around four times the gameplay of any of the other games (at $10-$15 more). However, if you already own another game, the Drum Grip does not make buying the bundle worth the extra money (buy the game used if you can).

Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter is a successful sequel to the original game. It does improve upon small things and adds some gameplay variation through different forms. However, the gameplay still feels stagnant and the story is way too drawn out for my tastes. If you enjoyed the first game, this one is more of the same but if you're looking for groundbreaking differences between games, you won't find them here.

I must say that I wasn't expecting to be surprised by this game. Thinking it was nothing more than another console fighting game, I wasn't really expecting much at all. However, as happens many times in my career as a critic, I was happily surprised with the outcome of this game and I'm extremely happy about the change in direction of the series. It's a little pricey to recommend for purchase at face value but either a used copy or a drop in price might warrant a purchase (especially for fans of the series).

Overall, I really enjoyed the experience in NERF: N-Strike Elite. The game is fun while it lasts and the separate dart gun works well at pestering your friends, co-workers, significant others, pets, siblings, etc. However, after doing a little bit of price pointing, I found that you could buy both copies of the Wii House of the Dead games as well as a NERF pistol and a NYKO Perfect Shot for the same price as this bundle. This is probably the biggest flaw in the bundle so I'd either wait until a price drop or buy the other game in the NERF line of videogames for around $20-$30 cheaper.

The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road is everything I wouldn't have expected from an attempt at a Wizard of Oz JRPG: its presentation is nearly flawless, the touch screen only controls are very solid, and the battle mechanics are enjoyable and have enough subtle differences to make it feel different from other JRPGs on the market. If only the level design were more open and evolving and if the characters and story were a little more charming, this game might actually have taken the step up to a great game.

*Read summary of Explorers of Darkness*

Addition: If you're looking for a game that separates itself from the games it supposedly enhances, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky is not that game. Players who have never played the series before may find this game enjoyable but other than that, only the most hardcore Pokémon fans (who enjoy even the least critically acclaimed games from the franchise) will enjoy playing this title after playing through any of the previous ones.

Where's Waldo? The Fantastic Journey had all the right ideas about replicating the beloved children's books in videogame form except for one small detail: at 4-6 times the price of an actual book, it's hard to find anyone who would be willing to pay face value for the game. However, a downloadable WiiWare series of these books would possibly pique our interest if they were dropped to, say, half or even a third of the price of this game's MSRP.

Toy Story Mania! is yet another mini game compilation on the Wii and though the midway style of games are enjoyable at times, the game is far too easy. Couple that with the fact that more than half of the 33 different mini games are shooters and the $49.99 MSRP seems way too steep. It's unfortunate that a game based on a movie that holds up for all audiences could be limited to such a small range of gamers (kids 10 and under by my assessment) and at such a high price, it's hard to recommend buying it new (either wait for a price drop or buy it used).

Scribblenauts should have been one of the best games on the DS to date. With such a strong concept, it could have been one of the better games of the decade. However, the lack of polished execution has led to merely an incredible concept wrapped inside a shell of control issues that make it difficult to enjoy. The fact that the game scores so highly despite its inherent flaws is a testament to the concept alone. I only wish it had turned out the way we'd all envisioned it amongst the post-E3 hype.

Guitar Hero 5 is a true testament to a group of developers satisfying critics, fans, and newcomers to a series of games. They've taken a format, stripped away any annoying features that take away from the gameplay's flow, and created enough subtle innovations to truly create a definitive experience. If you had given up on Guitar Hero or just never tried the series, this is the game to buy and you won't be disappointed. Recommended.

Groovin' Blocks is a solid puzzle game that should keep any puzzler's interest for some time. It was a great downloadable title for the Wii a year ago and it still is. However that's the form that gamers should look into, not this overpriced optical form.

Muramasa: The Demon Blade is most certainly a unique experience with its beautifully hand drawn environments and visual perfection. If you're an action fan and you don't mind fairly repetitive gameplay, Muramasa is one of the most beautiful games you'll ever play. Recommended.