Sports Video Games

Gamers can celebrate a new direction in wrestling while simultaneously paying homage to the Attitude Era as they join CM Punk, The Rock, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and dozens of other wrestling stars in WWE '13. The biggest addition to this version is the new Attitude Era mode, which lets players join more than 30 wrestlers from the late 1990s and participate in a season comprising more than 60 different matches. Narrative gaps are filled by cutscenes and video packages, and gamers can unlock more than 100 special items as they help the WWF win its TV ratings war with the WCW.

The Predator 2.0 game engine offers players a suite of new animations and controls, including giving wrestlers realistic moves based on the physical size of their opponents, and new Spectacular Moments animations that include ring breaks, barricade crashes, and mid-air catches. The career-based Universe mode returns, letting gamers control every aspect of their experience, from matches and arenas, to alliances and championship belts. Multiplayer fans can join friends for online or offline competitions and co-op matches, and the Creation Suite once again lets players design and share their own wrestlers, finishing moves, and storylines. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

NBA 2K13 lets basketball fans return to the hardwood for another season of action by offering them classic teams, enhanced modes, and a soundtrack hand-picked by executive producer Jay-Z. The NBA's Greatest mode lets gamers take control of some of the best teams in NBA history, including Michael Jordan's 1996 Chicago Bulls, while the Association mode allows them to experience the challenges of a full season or the drama of a playoff series. All of the rosters reflect the 2012-2013 season, and a special Tutorial mode is available to help Wii gamers master their moves. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

EA Sports' massively popular soccer sim returns to the pitch for a 20th season of action with five significant gameplay changes, more than 30 real-world leagues, and updated online features. New changes to the A.I. have players breaking down defenses and making runs to open up passing lanes, while more precise dribbling controls give gamers full 360-degree mobility, and first-touch control helps defenders win back possession after errant passes and bad touches. New free kick tools also let Wii gamers adjust their wall defenders or go on dummy runs to confuse the keeper.

The career-based "Be a Pro" mode returns, while the RPG-like "EA Sports Football Club" lets players earn rewards, take on challenges, and level up in a variety of different gameplay modes, keeping track of all relevant stats, and offering up real-world storylines to keep things interesting. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

EA Sports' definitive NFL football series debuts on Vita with classic game modes and touch-screen functionality in Madden NFL 13. Front and rear touch-screen controls let players draw hot routes, strip balls, and swat down passes, while the internal accelerometer allows them to control the direction of kicks. Gamers can take control of every aspect of their team in "Franchise" mode, guide a player from the draft to the Hall-of-Fame in "Superstar" mode, or take on friends in Wi-Fi multiplayer games, with all of the action narrated by announcers Phil Simms and Jim Nantz. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Gamers join characters from the popular Ice Age animated films for Olympic-style, motion-controlled multiplayer action in Ice Age: Continental Drift -- Arctic Games for Wii. Continental shifting has set Manny, Sid, Diego, and the rest of the herd adrift on an island, and when they bump into a group of pirates carrying a secret treasure, the group holds an athletic competition to divvy up the riches. Players can join the herd, or the pirates, and team up with friends for co-op or competitive action in events like ski jumping, ice smashing, and glacial hopping. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

2K Sports' professional baseball series returns with the expected tweaks and changes that an annual sports franchise requires. The core play modes, batter-pitcher interface, and fielding system is similar to 2011's game, but with various refinements. On the field, players will master a new throwing system that requires a degree of timing to execute perfect strikes. Instead of pre-loading throws to a base, for example, players must allow their fielders to plant their feet to maximize a throw's accuracy and effectiveness.

On the mound and at the plate, the game's dynamic AI will have each pitcher and batter's ratings increase or decrease during the course of play based on the results of his last pitch or at-bat. Each batter-pitcher confrontation also uses Inside Edge scouting reports along with STATS data to incorporate actual pitcher and hitter tendencies. Hit variety has been addressed in 2012's game as well, with more physics-based results instead of simulated outcomes. Other changes to the presentation include more realistic looking mitts, new catcher animations, and more than 80 hours of added commentary from Gary Thorne, Steve Phillips, and John Kruk. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

World Wrestling Entertainment enthusiasts try to take the title under a new title in WWE '12: a continuation of the series from THQ and Yuke's, with its due serving of raw smackdowns, despite the shortened name. The expanded roster includes contemporary stars such as John Cena, Randy Orton, and The Miz, as well as player-created Superstars, assigned custom entrances, finishing moves, and storylines. The game centers on a main campaign that runs through 18 months of WWE programming and two WrestleMania championships.

Broken into three acts, the campaign casts players first in the role of the villainous Sheamus, and then as Triple H, before finishing the story as a custom WWE superstar. Character creation includes a choice of story and highlight reel, as well as finishing moves and special abilities. Technical improvements over the previous SmackDown vs. Raw 2011 include a revamped Braking Point system and control scheme enhancements, as well as redesigned rope physics and improved collision detection, for more realistic grappling battles. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Gaming's most prominent mascots square off again to commemorate the 30th Olympiad with competitions across more than 30 disciplines in Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Over a dozen series mainstays join the titular duo, from Luigi and Knuckles to Bowser and Dr. Eggman, as they compete in gymnastics, track & field, aquatics, soccer, and equestrian events, among many other disciplines. Each character has unique abilities that allow them to excel in certain competitions, and a variety of single- and multiplayer modes are included for gamers of all skill levels. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Take a break from the doldrums of life with Go Vacation for Wii, a collection of outdoor activities set on the fictitious resort of Kawawii Island. Featured events include skydiving, scuba diving, horseback riding, tennis, fishing, street racing, dancing, surfing, hang gliding, and inline skating. Each event takes place on a distinct location on the resort that players can actually explore, from snowcapped mountains to a busy city. Supported controllers include the Wii Balance Board, Wii Zapper, and Wii MotionPlus. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Nicktoons MLB is an off-the-couch sports game, featuring a diverse lineup of characters from Nickelodeon cartoons playing alongside real-life big league baseball players. In the field, on the mound, and at the plate, Wii gamers use realistically athletic motion controls to engage in exaggerated-action video game baseball. The game's unusual style is balanced on the juxtaposition of animation-inspired silliness and serious sports play. From popular and cult-favorite cartoons, both past and present, Nickelodeon characters in the dugout include SpongeBob, Invader Zim, Fanboy, Chum Chum, Ren, and Stimpy. High profile players from all 30 Major League Baseball teams are also featured, including Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers, Andre Ethier from the Dodgers, and the Yankees' Robinson Cano. Nickelodeon characters appear as they do in their cartoons, but in virtual 3D. The real-life MLB pros are rendered with equal authenticity, and each wears his team uniform. Similarly, the toon-inspired stadiums in the game impose humorous ground rules, and are festooned with inside jokes for fans, while the stylized re-creations of real-world MLB stadiums will be recognizable by ballpark regulars. The Wii version of Nicktoons MLB was developed by High Voltage Software, whose extensive experience creating cartoon-themed games includes Nickelodeon Fit and Nickelodeon Dance. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide