Kids and Family Video Games

The first video game based on the Bakugan license combines the action of the collectible card game with a storyline penned by writers of the animated series. Players will engage rivals in a series of battles to develop their unseasoned Bakugan brawler into a fierce competitor. The action first involves throwing Bakugan cards onto the ground before tossing a Bakugan ball toward them. When two balls land on the same card, they will transform into powerful monsters that will fight over the card. Bakugan Battle Brawlers offers an assortment of distinctive battle arenas, featuring various shapes, sizes, traps, and other distinguishing elements. Forty Bakugan are available to collect and defeat, with hundreds of cards included to fine-tune strategies. Battle the computer or challenge friends to a multiplayer match with custom rules. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Sony's critically acclaimed in-house baseball series returns to the PS2 in MLB 09: The Show. Just as every baseball season offers new hope to fans around the country, each new iteration of The Show dishes up a host of new in-game features, and MLB 09 is no exception. The career-like "Road to the Show" mode, in which gamers guide a young player from the minor leagues all the way to a potential spot in the Hall of Fame, includes tweaks to the leadoff/steal mechanic, additional coach interactions, and an all-new interactive training mode. Similar to drills in the Madden NFL series, MLB 09's interactive training takes the form of mini-games designed to improve a created player's attributes and performance.

Designed to accurately mimic the intricate nature of baseball negotiations and roster manipulation, the "Franchise" mode features a variety of upgrades, including 40-man rosters, realistic salary arbitration, type A and B free agent compensation, waiver wire transactions, and September call-ups. The biggest change for online gamers is the addition of online season leagues, complete will full drafts and flexible schedules that allow people to play ahead in the season. MLB 09: The Show also offers a number of new features in the bells and whistles department, including mascots, realistic day/night cycles, weather appropriate crowd apparel, and the ability to create custom soundtracks, batter walk-up music, and in-game chants. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

The second release in Disney's video-based karaoke series, Disney Sing It: High School Musical 3 -- Senior Year lets fans of East High belt out all their favorite tunes from the massively popular motion picture franchise. All ten songs and videos from the third installment of the series are available, and fans of the first two films will have 15 more songs from which to choose. Singers can go the solo route, or choose to join friends for competitive and cooperative multiplayer action in "Duet," "Versus," and "Team Play" modes. Players can customize their singing experience by selecting three unique High School Musical themes, and series star Olesya Rulin reprises her role as a vocal coach to help gamers who might not have perfect pitch. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Players once again step into the shoes of Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan, Chad, and Taylor for another music- and dance-filled year as an East High Wildcat in High School Musical 3: Senior Year Dance!. Gamers can dance along to the rhythm of music from the third installment of Disney's massively popular franchise, and players can also experience locations, scenes, and characters from the first three movies in the series. Personality quizzes let players know which of the characters they most resemble, but gamers seeking more originality can also create and customize their own character's outfits, shoes, and hairstyles. Multiplayer modes include a competition in which gamers earn power-ups to negatively affect their opponent, and a co-op mode where players must dance in synch to earn higher scores. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Based on Nickelodeon's made-for-television movie, Safari Rescue has preschoolers helping Diego and friends in seven animal-themed activities. A mean magician has turned the Serengeti's elephants into stone and it's up to children to rescue them. All activities are played solely with the mouse, whether it's clicking on bushes to find lions or assembling puzzle pieces to create vehicles from Diego's rescue pack. Two difficulty levels are available, and youngsters can freely revisit their favorite games by clicking icons on a safari map. As an added bonus, the game lets children print out six animal pictures to color. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Players are invited to step into their own High School Musical by performing hits from High School Musical, High School Musical 2 , and other Disney artists. Gamers must learn choreography for each act and perform their favorite songs as a duo or solo act. ~ Gracie Leach, All Game Guide

The sequel to the PC's Crazy Frog Racer, Crazy Frog Arcade Racer adds more characters and racing mayhem. Four modes of play include: Practice, Chase, Split-Screen and Quick Race. When racing players can grab power-ups to unleash on their opponents, such as toxic clouds and oil puddles. Users can also unlock mini-games like Crazy Pinball and Crazy Dance. ~ All Game Guide

Intended to capture the attention of the MySpace and YouTube generation, EA Tiburon has upgraded the character customization and online play in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08. Utilizing the GamerNet online community, players can view, create, and play user-created content. Both offline and online gamers can use the "Game Face" system to develop a character for use on the green. By uploading photos, players can create an avatar that looks exactly like them or alter their appearance with different hairstyles, clothing, facial features, and accessories.

As single-gamers work through 15 courses including Boston, Westchester, and Cog Hill, they might make a difficult shot that is worthy of copying. Players can save the shot, and upload it onto GamerNet for others to view. After a point value is assigned to the shot, other gamers can attempt to beat the high score and earn points of their own. Additionally, there are themed channels that players can visit including "Grip It and Rip It," "Single Hole Challenge," "18 Hole Showdown," and "Nine Hole Challenge." ~ Gracie Leach, All Game Guide

To get revenge on Stephen Foster, a dirty thief who sold his friends out for a Rembrandt painting, gamers must form and execute Th3 Plan. By selecting a group of three playable characters, players will plan each mission carefully by reviewing the environment, location, entrances, and enemy resistance highlighted on the map. Combining stealth and action gameplay, Th3 Plan requires gamers to transport and use such gadgetry as night vision goggles and radio controlled probes to complete each challenge. Players will work their way through a variety of environments to steal two valuable paintings, including the piece stolen by Foster. ~ Gracie Leach, All Game Guide

In Suzuki Super-bikes, you can choose from 40 licensed and sponsored super bikes and super sidecars, and then race through the environments of 27 racing circuits, in standard or race-tuned classes, to win one of six championships. Complete all objectives to unlock bonus content including new tracks, bikes, and upgrades, and then show off your skills in a competitive split-screen multiplayer race. ~ Gracie Leach, All Game Guide