Kids and Family

Animal Paradise Wild takes gamers through savannah, forest, and jungle as they play with and care for a variety of baby creatures. There are 18 different wild animals to unlock, including elephants, cheetahs, pandas, and gorillas, and players can participate in a number of mini-games with their new pets, such as a round of rock-paper-scissors with a monkey, or a game of meerkat whack-a-mole. Gamers can also unlock unique habitats for their animals or use the stylus-based controls to snap pictures of their furry friends for a photo album. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Taking its story and setting from the concurrently released TriStar Pictures feature film, Planet 51: The Game is a mission-based driving adventure, set on an alien planet that is oddly familiar. In something of a role-reversal, players take control of Captain Chuck Baker, an astronaut explorer who lands on the strange planet, believing it to be uninhabited. Instead, he finds himself in the midst of picket-fenced suburbs, reminiscent of 1950s America -- except for the "little green men"-like inhabitants, who treat Chuck exactly like the alien invader that he is. The play of the game involves exploring the 3D suburban world from a behind-the-back, third-person perspective, sometimes on foot but usually in a vehicle, and accomplishing tasks such as reaching a distant location or escaping from pursuers. As in the computer-animated movie, the ultimate goal, ostensibly, is to recover Chuck's lost spaceship.

Chuck can commandeer essentially any vehicle he comes across in this travels, including family sedans and motorcycles, taxi cabs and cop cars, and even heavy-duty trucks or zippy riding lawn-mowers. Different cars and trucks have different power and handling, and although the vehicles on Planet 51 hover instead of roll on wheels, most rules of the road still apply. Rules are made to be broken, however, especially when you're a giant alien on the run from a frenzied mob. Chuck can also break from the main story, to interact with various characters from the film in side-quests and various mini-games. In some sequences, players can take control of Lem, the young alien boy who befriends Chuck, and his pet robot Rover, making use of their special skills and abilities to overcome game-world obstacles or beat special challenges. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Taking its story and setting from the concurrently released TriStar Pictures feature film, Planet 51: The Game is a mission-based driving adventure, set on an alien planet that is oddly familiar. In something of a role-reversal, players take control of Captain Chuck Baker, an astronaut explorer who lands on the strange planet, believing it to be uninhabited. Instead, he finds himself in the midst of picket-fenced suburbs, reminiscent of 1950s America -- except for the "little green men"-like inhabitants, who treat Chuck exactly like the alien invader that he is. The play of the game involves exploring the 3D suburban world from a behind-the-back, third-person perspective, sometimes on foot but usually in a vehicle, and accomplishing tasks such as reaching a distant location or escaping from pursuers. As in the computer-animated movie, the ultimate goal, ostensibly, is to recover Chuck's lost spaceship.

Chuck can commandeer essentially any vehicle he comes across in this travels, including family sedans and motorcycles, taxi cabs and cop cars, and even heavy-duty trucks or zippy riding lawn-mowers. Different cars and trucks have different power and handling, and although the vehicles on Planet 51 hover instead of roll on wheels, most rules of the road still apply. Rules are made to be broken, however, especially when you're a giant alien on the run from a frenzied mob. Chuck can also break from the main story, to interact with various characters from the film in side-quests and various mini-games. In some sequences, players can take control of Lem, the young alien boy who befriends Chuck, and his pet robot Rover, making use of their special skills and abilities to overcome game-world obstacles or beat special challenges. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Based on Walt Disney Pictures' 2009 animated film, The Princess and the Frog for Wii features 30 mini-games set within five New Orleans hub locations. Each mini-game supports up to four players for party-style competition. You'll participate in frog races, show off your rhythm in dance contests, play multiple instruments, and more. Eight playable characters are available from the movie, and you'll be able to earn collectible Mardis Gras beads to spend on fabrics, ingredients, and recipes. You can then use these items to create outfits for lead protagonist Tiana, cook Cajun food, and participate in various other lighthearted activities. Owners of the DS version will also be able to unlock bonus items by linking the two games together. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Gamers get a feel for the bohemian lifestyle as they take on the role of an aspiring young painter in Imagine: Artist. A variety of shading, color-mixing, and composition mini-games are designed to hone players' skills with drawing, painting, and collage, and the touch-screen controls help gamers fill their studio with original works of art. And while starving for one's art may be noble, Imagine: Artist aims to give aspiring Van Gogh's a taste of success by having them create original art, maintain their studio, and pump out commissioned work for clients. Proud artists have the option to upload their works to the Imagine website, while DSi gamers can use the system's camera to take photos and incorporate them in future artwork. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Based on Walt Disney Pictures' 2009 animated film, The Princess and the Frog for DS is a side-scrolling platform game starring characters Tiana and Ray. Use each character's abilities to swing, leap, and even fly through 27 quest-filled levels set within New Orleans. Collecting various items and ingredients throughout your journey will enable you to cook authentic New Orleans-style cuisine and perform music with up to three other friends. Each cartridge also includes access to Disney's online portal, "DGamer," where you can create a profile and 3D avatar before connecting to friends for chats, sharing accessories, and earning in-game awards. Owners of the Wii version can also unlock bonus items by linking the two games together. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Based on the Monkees-style TV series starring the teen singing sensations The Jonas Brothers, Jonas finds gamers helping the fictional Lucas brothers balance a normal life with the demands of being pop stars. Players guide the trio through familiar locations from the series, interacting with their friends Stella and Macy, and collecting and unleashing "guitar action chords" that let Nick, Joe, and Kevin escape sticky situations. Gamers join the brothers as they perform their songs in six different live concerts, and there are a variety of different stylish outfits to unlock and customize. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Jambo! Safari Animal Rescue puts gamers in the shoes of a park ranger who journeys through the jungles and savannahs of Africa to rescue injured or endangered wild animals. Missions find players speeding through the wilderness in a variety of Land Rover vehicles, using a lasso to capture wild animals, taking tourists on sightseeing tours, and snapping photographs to earn high scores. Captured animals are taken to an enclosure where gamers can perform a variety of healing mini-games, from brushing teeth to removing fleas. Once the rehabilitated creatures are tagged and returned to the wild, players can monitor the position and health statistics of each animal in real time. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Konami's best-selling soccer series returns with updated features designed around consumer feedback. The AI for both referees and goalkeepers has been adjusted, and there are more feints and special moves available on the pitch. Over 300 moves have been added in total, with new animations for dribbling, turning, and kicking. Other refinements include enhanced stadium details and new crowd chants and cheers. The franchise-style Master League mode adds depth with new fiscal responsibilities, corporate sponsorships, and youth team coaching. Online play is once again supported with a two-on-two option as well as an assortment of new competitions to enter. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Designed for social gaming, Hasbro Family Game Night offers players digitized versions of classic Hasbro board games. Up to four players can participate in local or online games of "Yahtzee," "Boggle," "Scrabble," and "Sorry!" while two players can go head-to-head in games of "Battleship" and "Connect Four." Hasbro Family Game Night also puts a new twist on the old standards, letting players try out "Sorry! Sliders." The games is hosted by Mr. Potato Head and takes place in a digital living room that can be decorated, filled with furniture, and adorned with trophies. Players who seek more creativity or control can use the "Party" mode to make a custom party game by choosing which games to play, how many players are involved, and what the time limit will be. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Crafty gamers can create unique jewelry lines and run their own boutique in Style Lab Jewelry Design. Players choose from an extensive selection of charms and beads as they create necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, while the stylus and touch screen let budding designers draw out lengths of wire or cut and paint beads. Gamers then arrange displays to sell their custom creations and build their boutique business. Those who are particularly proud of their jewelry can trade items with friends, upload designs to the Style Lab online gallery, and even order real-life replicas of their designs from the Style Lab website. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Konami's best-selling soccer series returns with updated features designed around consumer feedback. The AI for both referees and goalkeepers has been adjusted, and there are more feints and special moves available on the pitch. Over 300 moves have been added in total, with new animations for dribbling, turning, and kicking. Other refinements include the ability to point the Wii Remote directly at the goal during free kicks, and even determine the degree in which the ball "bends" through the air. The franchise-style Master League mode adds depth with new fiscal responsibilities, corporate sponsorships, and youth team coaching. Online play is once again supported with a two-on-two option as well as an assortment of new competitions to enter. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

The developers of Carnival Games invite Wii gamers back for more mini-game madness with over 40 activities under the big top in Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Players can use their Wii Remote and Nunchuk to juggle, keep their balance in the high-wire act, or swing through the air on the trapeze, while the game also supports the Wii Balance Board for a number of mini-games. As many as four people can compete in eight multiplayer activities, and gamers can unlock more than 100 distinct prizes, including costumes, posters, and balloon animals. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide