Action & Adventure Video Games

Following the same format as 2010's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on Nintendo DS, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town is a collection of themed mini-games featuring characters and settings from the Rankin-Bass Christmas classic. Use the stylus to help Santa prepare for his big night by completing various touch-screen supported activities. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

3DS gamers take the role of Spongebob or his pal Patrick Star as they relive their Surf & Skate Roadtrip. Much of the game is played from a Tony Hawk's Pro Skater perspective, with breakaway super-trick highlights at key points. The surfing and skateboarding take place on more than two dozen maps, each with multiple challenges and goals. Boards can be customized with designs unlocked along the way, and players who complete the main game gain access to ten bonus levels of snowboarding. Multiplayer options let two 3DS gamers hit the waves or go for a roll together. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Players wage technologically enhanced third-person combat, against throngs of vicious E.V.O. mutants, as Generator Rex: Agent of Providence. In the first retail game based on the animated series, emphasis is placed on providing fans with an appropriate sense of power as they unleash the hero's nanite-derived special abilities. Rex Salazar slams and smashes his foes, with giant biomechanical hands or feet, and with more powerful weapons that can be unlocked by blueprints found throughout the adventure. Action plays out in multiple environments, including the jungle, desert, and city. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Gamers swagger through a high-spirited misadventure of swordplay, stealth, señoritas, and song, in the title role of Puss in Boots. Featuring scenes and characters from the 2011 DreamWorks film, the action-platform game follows the adventures of Puss before he met Shrek. Through story-driven missions, the cavalier cat duels banditos, sneaks past defenses, and charms all the young ladies, on his quest to reach the Giant's castle and catch the Golden Goose. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

1001 Touch Games features a wide range of games that can all be played with only the Nintendo DS stylus. Included in the collection are such game types as pinball, word games, hidden object, mahjong, match three puzzles, solitaire, board games, racing, and time management. In single-player users can choose a game or allow the computer to randomly pick 1, 3, 6, 9, or 12 games to play. Multiplayer support varies by game, allowing players to take turns versus each other or multiple players to challenge a computer opponent. ~ All Game Guide

The hit hamster toys from Cepia LLC get their first DVD film, and in turn young fans get a chance to guide Pipsqueak, Chunk, Num Nums, and Mr. Squiggles to the magical palace of Zhu in ZhuZhu Pets: Quest for Zhu. There are more than a dozen locations to explore, from snowy mountains to sweltering jungles, each full of coins, tokens, and hidden Zhus. Quest for Zhu also offers four mini-games, including Vine Swinging and Snowball Throw, and players can unlock clips from the movie to watch on their DS. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Barbie needs your help to ensure her "Global Glam Fashion Show" is an international sensation. Jet, Set & Style has you creating hair styles, choosing outfits, applying makeup, and more for haute couture clients in Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, Rio de Janeiro, and six other cities. You'll travel to each destination in a jet salon, allowing you to do manicures, makeovers, and modeling from your on-the-go workspace.

Each activity involves performing a series of motion-controlled steps. To create the trendiest hairstyle, for example, you'll mix different dyes, use scissors to cut a model's hair, brush it to remove snarls, apply curlers, and more. Keeping clients happy will earn items and outfits to style Barbie herself, who must dress for success and to impress her escort to the fashion show: Ken. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Inspired by the 2011 Sony Pictures feature film, The Smurfs for Nintendo DS is a collection of mini-games and musical activities. Young gamers can decorate cakes, conduct symphonies, and play dress-up with Smurfette. By completing mini-game challenges, players can earn virtual Smurf figurines, reminiscent of the vinyl miniatures collected around the world since the 1960s. Much of the game is intended to be played with the DS held sideways, like a book. Interactive, read-along stories, based on the plot of movie, are also featured. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Released in conjunction with the Warner Bros. feature film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 comprises the final chapters of the final title in the interactive adventure series. Gamers take the roles of different characters as they progress, playing through pivotal moments in the conclusion of J.K. Rowling's engaging seven-book epic. In the style of Deathly Hallows -- Part 1, the game is more action-oriented than earlier Harry Potter adventures, featuring intense, fast-paced battles with powerful magic wand attacks. Teamwork is important in the game's most furious magical battles, as the young heroes must work together to defend one another as they move through perilous levels dominated by Dark Forces. The adventure follows Harry and his two closest friends, Ron and Hermione, in their ultimate quest to prevent the evil Lord Voldemort from conquering Hogwarts. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Based on the DC Comics character and Warner Bros. film starring Ryan Reynolds, Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters follows the exploits of test pilot Hal Jordan, who becomes the first human inducted into the Green Lantern Corps after accepting a dying alien's power ring. An enemy known as Parallax is in control of a robotic army of Manhunters sent to eliminate the Green Lanterns. Jordan must join forces with fellow Lanterns Sinestro and Kilowog to defeat Parallax and save the universe. Use the multifaceted power ring to fire energy blasts and conjure more than 12 constructs to attack or defend in brightest day and in blackest night. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide