Sports Video Games

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

Nicktoons MLB features a diverse lineup of characters from Nickelodeon cartoons playing exaggerated-action baseball alongside real-life big league stars. 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. The real-life MLB pros are rendered with equal authenticity, and each wears his team uniform. The dual-screen version of Nicktoons MLB was developed by DS specialist Black Lantern Studios. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

101-in-1 Sports Megamix is a budget-friendly collection for Nintendo DS of dozens of sports-themed mini-games. Baseball, football, soccer, and other familiar sports are a represented with quick, action-oriented sequences, in which the player may attempt to hit a home run, throw a touchdown pass, or kick in a winning goal. The game also features mini-games based on ping-pong, bowling, billiards, darts, and a number of other indoor activities, as well as on many less well-known sports, such as "Zorbing" in a human-sized hamster ball, or flipping a phone pole in the Scottish caber toss. Designed for immediate accessibility, mini-games can be played almost exclusively using the stylus and touch screen, with no complicated button sequences. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

River City Super Sports Challenge is a side-scrolling racing game with abundant opportunities for beat-'em-up action. Four hooligan characters race, on foot, through courses stocked with hurdles to climb, throw-able boxes, moving walls, and other platform game-style obstacles. Players can try to grab and trip up their competition as they run through the courses, and at locations along the way, all four racers brawl in full-screen areas until one emerges victorious. The general flow of play is from right to left, but pathways have depth such that characters can also move slightly outward or back into the screen, just as in the original NES River City Ransom. Super Sports Challenge runs on a 3D game engine, however, and characters can move freely around the courses.

The game gives players a choice of six school teams, each with six customizable team member characters. Players can also adjust their teams' stats by balancing their stamina, punching, kicking, and weapons skills. Up to four nearby DS players can compete against one another in wireless download battles. Published in the U.S. by Aksys, the game is part of the Kunio Kun series, which is popular and long-running in Japan. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Guide a team of youngsters to the Little League World Series in this compilation from Activision. The "Double Play" version includes two previously released entries in the DS handheld's whimsical baseball series: Little League World Series Baseball 2008 and Little League World Series Baseball 2009. The original game featured a stylus-based control scheme, skill challenges, mini-games, and in-game achievements, while the follow-up offered a full team editor, regional tournaments, new stadiums, and more. Both games feature wide-eyed youngsters rendered in a cel-shaded art style as well as a choice of licensed equipment from such manufacturers as Wilson, Louisville Slugger, and Easton. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Pitched at younger gamers and baseball fans of all ages, Backyard Sports: Sandlot Sluggers brings familiar sports-game action and redesigned play features to the long-running, family friendly series. Sandlot Sluggers follows the rules of baseball, allowing gamers to take control of players in different positions on the 3D field. Controls are accessible and forgiving. The action is exaggerated with power-ups, and flashy graphical effects highlight fast throws and big hits. Gamers can jump right into a "quick play" mode, or lead a team of their favorite characters through an entire season. Games can be played in eight different fields, each with unique interactive elements. Instead of focusing on "kid version" characters based on real-life pro athletes, as in previous versions of the game, Sandlot Sluggers follows the "neighborhood kid" characters, familiar from other Backyard Sports games, and introduces a few new kids to the team as well. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Hudson Soft continues its series of mini-game ten-packs with an all-new suite of stylus-based activities for handheld gamers in Deca Sports DS. Competitions include single events, tournaments, challenges, and a "League" mode in which players take on six teams in a contest that includes: Arm Wrestling, Wall Climbing, Clay Shooting, Cheerleading, Sky Diving, Ping Pong, Bobsled, Rugby, Golf, and the foot volleyball game Sepak Takraw. A "Team Editor" lets gamers choose the colors, name, emblem, and physical appearance of their team, while the "Tutorial" mode explains the rules of each activity. Multiplayer fans can use a single game cartridge to join up to five friends in "Open Match," "VS.," and "Tournament" modes thanks to game-sharing functionality. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Gaming's most recognizable personalities return to internationally celebrated athletic competition in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games. Following their 2008-based summer games outing in Beijing, the two mascots and their corporately aligned teams head to Vancouver for the 2010 games, to do their best in cold weather sports such as alpine skiing, speed skating, snowboarding, and bobsled. The game features all the playable characters that competed in Mario & Sonic's original summer games, as well as new personas, such as Metal Sonic and Donkey Kong. Each character is rated in three basic areas -- speed, power, and skill -- so different characters excel in different events. The game features adjustable difficulty settings and other options, designed to make play accessible for competitors of all ages and skill levels, while still providing a challenge for handheld gaming experts. Olympic events in the Nintendo DS version of the game feature touch-screen controls, and competitive multiplayer modes are supported over a wireless connection. An "Adventure Tours" mode allows players to take on quests in order to prevent bad-guy bosses Dr. Eggman and Bowser from kidnapping "snow spirits" and shutting down events. Published by Nintendo in Japan and by Sega elsewhere around the world, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games is officially licensed by the International Olympic Committee. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Released to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Konami's original button-mashing arcade classic Track & Field, New International Track & Field lets DS gamers give the touch screens a workout in more than 20 athletic events. Players can sprint through the 100 meter dash, leap over the high jump, and fire the javelin with more than 15 popular characters from other Konami franchises such as Rumble Roses, Silent Hill, Castlevania, and Frogger. As players progress they can unlock new outfits, equipment, and animations for their characters, and the Voice Boost feature makes use of the DS microphone to let players boost their character's performance by literally cheering on the athletes. Solo players can compete in single events, tournaments, and "challenge events" that provide unique tests for each character, while online multiplayer options include four-player game sharing, tournaments, worldwide rankings, and downloadable content. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide