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

Spider-Man finds himself entangled in more web-slinging action on Wii, with a storyline that takes place after the events chronicled in 2012's feature film. Unlike the two previous games on the platform, The Amazing Spider-Man returns the superhero to a free-roaming New York City. Players will swing across the streets, skyscrapers, and landmarks of the Big Apple in addition to exploring interior locations and battling an assortment of villains.

The action is viewed from a third-person perspective, with players able to use a combination of webbing and melee combat moves to neutralize street thugs, weaponized robots designed by Oscorp Industries, and nemeses such as Rhino. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

The multisystem release of LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes offers more third-person platforming action for young (and young-at-heart) comics, building-block, and video game fans. Carrying on from the first adventure, Batman and Robin are joined by the likes of Superman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern in virtual LEGO-constructed settings stocked with gadgets and special-use power suits. Players will also pilot the Batmobile and Batwing in some sequences. As in Traveller's Tales' earlier LEGO adventures, a second gamer can drop in and out of the action at almost any time. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Wii gamers take control of Pixar's first female lead as she uses a sword and bow to battle through Scotland in Brave: The Video Game. The third-person action finds the rebellious princess Merida on a quest to remove a curse that has turned her mother into a large bear. Along the way players use their Wii Remote to battle a variety of mythical woodland creatures, acquire more than a dozen different weapons and outfits, and collect coins to purchase upgrades. In some levels other characters from the film chip in to help Merida save her mother. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Released in conjunction with the three-quel feature film, Madagascar 3: The Video Game puts players in the roles of Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria, for zoologically fueled adventure in a circus tour across Europe. Through a series of mini-games, the animals perform publicity stunts at famous landmarks, as well as acts of derring-do under the big top. They'll also need to watch out for animal control officers, who can cut their circus careers short with a quick trip back to Central Park. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Released in conjunction with the third feature film in the series, the Men in Black video game offers a mix of accessible action and lighthearted humor. The original story is inspired by the movies and comic books, and the play style is reminiscent of an arcade light gun shooter. Players don the dark glasses to move through on-rails action sequences, employing the latest in galactic technology to scan for disguised aliens, zap the memories from unwitting civilian eyewitnesses, and engage in sizzling sci-fi firefights against extraterrestrial ne'er-do-wells. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Players embark on a "Party Adventure" road trip in Mario Party 9. Characters travel the game board in style, together in a single car, and players take turns driving. A new layer of strategy comes into play, as players seek the best spaces for themselves, or try to leave difficult passages for their opponents. A fresh selection of 80 multiplayer mini-games keeps players moving. Some are inspired by previous Mario games and other fan-familiar Nintendo references, but all are designed to be accessible for players at nearly any level of skill and experience.

In league with other classic Mario-game villains, Bowser has stolen all the "mini-stars" from the sky. The goal is to win them all back, one challenge at a time. Players compete across the board, each trying to collect more stars than the others. They'll need to work together in the game's Boss Battles, where Bowser and the other Mushroom Kingdom baddies can only be defeated through teamwork. Yet even here, the competition is on, as characters who deal out more damage in a boss fight are rewarded with more stars, and delivering the final blow earns a big bonus. ~ T.J. Deci, 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