Strategy & Sim Video Games

A Pokémon-flavored homage to the classic NES title Nobunaga's Revenge, Pokémon Conquest puts DS players in control of a young warlord and his linked Pokémon as they attempt to expand their kingdom by engaging in turn-based tactical combat. Gamers send their Pokémon into six-on-six battles, using their warriors' special abilities, and making sure to include a diverse group of characters to adjust to shifting battle conditions. Victories give players control of new castles, and unlock new warlords, new warriors, and new ways to train the nearly 200 included Pokémon. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Help ten baby animals find their friend Razzmataz in this mini-game collection and pet rearing game for Nintendo DS. ZhuZhu Babies has you traveling to various cities around the world in an attempt to locate Razzmataz, but before you can advance, you'll need to complete a series of hands-on activities. You'll also raise and nurture the babies in between games by attending to their grooming, feeding, and recreational needs at various times of day. Included with specially marked versions of the game are a limited edition baby hamster and a code that will unlock an additional level of content. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Building upon the original Paws & Claws virtual boutique, Pampered Pets 2 is a business management game with a virtual pet theme. In the role of an animal-loving entrepreneur, players open a resort hotel exclusively for well-to-do pets who expect nothing but the best. Players must keep their visiting pets active and healthy while they are on vacation, through games that have them feeding, cleaning, grooming, playing, and even running obstacle courses with the cute little cats, dogs, bunnies, guinea pigs, and hamsters. Players can also use sparkly jewels to design custom "bling" collars for their favorite four-footed guests. Other mini-games have players accomplishing tasks to promote the business and improve the spa. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Having successfully distilled huge movie franchises into small worlds filled with destructible blocks, LEGO turns to its own real-time strategy series to bring its martial-arts themed brand extension to gamers for the first time in LEGO Battles: Ninjago. Central to the game is Spinjitzu, a combat art in which characters whirl themselves into tornadoes to do battle with enemies. The story holds that the first Spinjitzu master gained dominion over the land of Ninjago by using four extremely powerful ninja weapons: the Scythe of Quakes, the Nunchucks of Lightning, the Shurikans of Ice, and the Sword of Fire. When the master died, these weapons were passed on to his two sons, Sensei Wu and Lord Garmadon. But a great war erupted when Garmadon's lust for power overtook him, and peace was only restored when the Spinjitzu heroes had banished the evil brother and his Skulkin minions to the underworld, and hidden the four powerful weapons. Dual single-player campaigns let gamers choose either side of this ongoing struggle as they build armies, master Spinjitzu attacks, and engage in large-scale battles against dragons and other supernatural beasts. Gamers can also take on six multiplayer "Battle" mode challenges, including four new tests and two challenges from LEGO Battles. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Ubisoft's Petz series continues to multiply at a furious pace, much like the fluffy and adorable subjects of the game Petz: Bunnyz Bunch. Young gamers adopt their own family of rabbits from eight different breeds, and then head to their virtual living room where they can play with, feed, and teach their new pets. Each bunny has a unique personality and responds to stimulus differently, so players must learn which toys their pets prefer, what foods they like, and what their favorite games are. Gamers use the stylus and touch screen to lead their "bunnyz" around the room for exercise, toss toys back and forth, search for items in games of hot & cold, and even teach the pets how to play music. Players looking for a social experience can also send their bunnyz to Petz World where they can interact with friends and go on adventures all around the globe. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

PopCap Games' hit "tower defense" strategy game where anthropomorphic flowers square off against reanimated corpses comes to the DS in Plants vs. Zombies. "Adventure" mode finds players strategically placing weapon-wielding plants to cut down 26 different kinds of comical undead, including zombie pole-vaulters, zombie dolphins, "Zomboni" drivers, and the ever-dangerous zombie bobsled team.

Zombies come in all different strengths and speeds, so gamers must place a variety of different plants in strategic areas to ensure that no zombies may munch on the delicious brains that dwell just within the front door. Luckily, players are armed with an arsenal of more than 40 different plants, including pea shooters, cherry bombs, and potato mines. But greens and seeds are in short supply, and rolling fog, the setting sun, and backyard swimming pools only add to the challenge, so gamers must be judicious when doling out vegetable justice.

Players can also try their hand at "Puzzle," "Survival," and "Zen Garden" game modes, and DS-exclusive mini-games include "Heat Wave," "Homerun Derby," "Bomb All Together," and a vertical scrolling shooter mode called "Air Raid." ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

The Silly Bandz line of rubber bracelets and rings are featured in this surprising tie-in from Zoo Games. Gameplay involves freeing captured Silly Bandz by aiming and flinging other Bandz toward cages and the enemies guarding them, similar to the concept behind the iPhone's Angry Birds. Each Silly Bandz type features distinct properties, so part of the strategy involves choosing the right Bandz for the task. Some multiply themselves in the air, for instance, while others explode on contact. Over 40 levels set in four themed environments are available, as is a multiplayer versus mode. Included with each game is an exclusive pack of 12 Silly Bandz in the shapes of video game controllers and platforms. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Michael Jackson: The Experience is a rhythm game that aims to have players singing and dancing along with the King of Pop, on more than a dozen of his biggest hits. Players make their character dance by using the stylus to slide objects in the touch screen, in time with the music. Routines are modeled after the artist's choreography, in famous music videos and live performances, using a rotoscope-style animation technique to reproduce the actual poses and postures. As players master the routines for each song, it becomes unlocked in a jukebox mode that can be accessed at any time. The game has three difficulty settings, to challenge fans of all skill levels. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Ubisoft's expansive simulation series aimed at young female gamers returns to the world of boutiques, makeovers, and haute couture in Imagine: Fashion Stylist. Players take control of a fledgling fashion mall, opening new clothing, cosmetics, and accessory stores, and then catering to a wide range of potential customers. Gamers can create unique storefront displays, change their store's style, and customize their shops based on the season, all the while stocking store shelves with the hottest products, choosing which items to advertise, and keeping up on trends by reading magazines. Aspiring designers can also put on extravagant fashion shows to entertain their customers, and as players progress through Fashion Stylist they can unlock new items and outfits for use on the "ImagineTown" virtual world website. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Ubisoft's animal development series continues to grow with a second title designed to let gamers interact and care for small and vulnerable baby animals in Petz Nursery 2. Players can nurture up to 22 different baby animals, from standard puppies and kittens to more exotic creatures such as pandas, tigers, polar bears, piglets, and penguins. All of the newborn Petz need to be kept clean, warm, and fed, and it is also important for gamers to play with their animals, teach them to crawl, and rock them to sleep every night. Singing songs, letting the different animals frolic together, and playing games of peek-a-boo will help each pet grow up happy and strong, and Petz Nursery 2 also lets players send their creatures to Petz World, where the little creatures can go on exciting adventures. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide