Kids and Family Video Games

Activision's stewardship of North America's most popular brand of racing continues as players join all the real cars, drivers, and teams for full seasons of action in NASCAR The Game: Inside Line. Special challenges use performance data from real racecars to let players re-create actual moments from recent NASCAR history, while Career mode lets them take control of a rookie driver, acquire sponsors, practice, qualify, and race with the hope of eventually becoming the Sprint Cup champion. Multiplayer fans can also head online to join up to 15 friends for extra competition. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

NBA 2K13 lets basketball fans return to the hardwood for another season of action by offering them enhanced controls, upgraded defense, and a soundtrack hand-picked by rapper, media mogul, and executive producer Jay-Z. Gamers now have more control of the ball thanks to a one-to-one system in which the shot stick has been changed to the control stick, allowing players to dribble the ball like it's on a string. At the same time, on-the-ball defense has been upgraded and PS3 gamers can now shade their defensive stance in order to force the offensive player to his weaker side.

The My Player mode has been upgraded and once again offers gamers the chance to guide a young player into superstardom, complete with RPG-like character progression, while the Franchise mode also returns for those who like to run the whole show, and multiplayer fans can take on friends in local or online action. The influence of Jay-Z can be seen not just in the soundtrack, featuring songs by himself, Kanye West, Mobb Deep, and Nas, but also in the inclusion of the famed 1992 Olympic Dream Team, a feature that allows users to pit yesterday's greats against contemporary superstars. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

EA Sports' massively popular soccer sim returns to the pitch for a 20th season of action with five significant gameplay changes, more than 30 real-world leagues, and updated online features. New changes to the A.I. have players breaking down defenses and making runs to open up passing lanes, while more precise dribbling controls give gamers full 360-degree mobility, and first-touch control helps defenders win back possession after errant passes and bad touches. New free kick tools also let PS3 gamers adjust their wall defenders or go on dummy runs to confuse the keeper.

The career-based "Be a Pro" mode returns, while the RPG-like "EA Sports Football Club" lets players earn rewards, take on challenges, and level up in a variety of different gameplay modes, keeping track of all relevant stats, and offering up real-world storylines to keep things interesting. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

EA Sports' definitive NFL football series returns to PS3 gamers with a new real-time physics engine, redesigned passing, and new announcers in Madden NFL 13. The new passing system gives quarterbacks 20 dropbacks, 20 pass trajectories, eight in-pocket moves, and shovel passes, and now receivers and defenders must see the ball before they make a play on it. Madden NFL 13 has received a complete presentation overhaul designed to more closely resemble a real CBS broadcast. This includes dynamic in-game transitions, a live ticker, and commentary from Phil Simms and Jim Nantz.

The new "Connected Careers" mode melds the traditional "Franchise" and "Superstar" modes, and combines them with a variety of online features. Gamers can still control current, created, or Hall-of-Fame players, or become a coach and manage every aspect of their team's operations, but now they can do it all as part of an online league with up to 31 other people. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

EA Sports' long-running college football series returns to campus with a new mode and enough updates and adjustments to fill a college textbook in NCAA Football 13 for PlayStation 3. The most significant change for this season is an emphasis on more realistic passing and pass defense, with "Total Control Passing" allowing quarterbacks to take specific dropbacks, pump fake, and change the trajectory of each pass, and the new "Read & React Defense" producing more realistic reactions from linebackers and defensive backs by requiring them to see the ball before they make a play on it.

Adding to the franchise's stable of career modes is the new "Heisman Challenge," in which gamers can play as a selection of former Heisman Trophy winners and attempt to duplicate their award-winning stats. The popular "Dynasty" and "Road to Glory" modes return, once again allowing users to guide a single player or an entire team through multiple college football seasons. And game presentation has been overhauled in NCAA Football 13, with new trophies and pre-game traditions, updated commentary from Kirk Herbstreit, Brad Nessler, and Erin Andrews, and dynamic studio updates from ESPN analyst Rece Davis. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Stylistic soccer returns to PlayStation 3 with FIFA Street. Designed using the same engine that powers EA's FIFA Soccer 12, FIFA Street emphasizes nimble dribbling and trick moves designed to fake out or embarrass opponents. The fancy footwork is not limited to the ground, either, with aerial skills that allow you to perform acrobatic feats of agility to get by defenders.

More than 50 skill moves are included as you compete in over 35 international venues, from simple parking lots to the streets of the world's largest cities. The World Tour story mode lets you create a custom team and gradually upgrade attributes and unlock new skill moves and dribbling styles. You'll also choose from an assortment of match types, including Panna Rules, Freestyle, Futsal, and Last Man Standing formats. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, 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

Fan-favorite snowboarder characters conquer real-world slopes with feats of exaggerated action and extreme-sports daring, in EA Canada's high-def reboot of SSX. Expansive, chart-your-own-course levels are set in nine of Earth's greatest and most famously inhospitable mountain ranges. Harsh wilderness environments are full of natural gaps, ramps, and rails, challenging boarders to survive the slopes as they seek out the trickiest path to the bottom. Players can race head-to-head online, or share statistics and ghost runs for time-shifted co-op and competition.

Building on the winning play style of the previous console generation's sleeper-hit series, the PS3's SSX features a more powerful physics engine, and ratchets up the outrageousness of the stunts. The choice of play modes has boarders racing to the finish, exploring vast stretches of virgin territory, or simply fighting to survive the perils of the mountainside. Determined in part by fan input, the game's roster includes Mac, Elise, Moby, Kaori, and other seasoned veterans, along with a few newbies. The soundtrack features songs from Pretty Lights, Las Ketchup, and Run-D.M.C. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Developed and released to honor the 20th anniversary of the 1991 debut of Sega's star franchise character, Sonic Generations sends past and present versions of the platform hero on a run down memory lane. After an unforeseen incident involving a picnic, a cake, and a hole in the space-time continuum, our modern-day Sonic is transported 20 years into the past where he meets the younger version of himself. Players can choose to play as either version of the character, Modern Sonic or Classic Sonic, throughout the adventure.

The game's levels are inspired by defining stages in the Sonic series' history, including "Seaside Hill" from Sonic Heroes, "City Escape" from Sonic Adventure 2, and "Green Hills" from the original Sonic the Hedgehog. The levels are broken up into three console-era categories: Classic, Dreamcast, and Modern. The style of play in each level is determined by character choice. Classic Sonic's paths play out in the side-scrolling 2D style of the Genesis and Game Gear originals, while Modern Sonic must make his way past both 2D and 3D challenges, as in the more recent Sonic Unleashed for the high-def consoles. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

EA's top-selling soccer series continues with FIFA 12, which boasts an all-new "player impact engine" designed to more accurately reflect real-life movement and interactions on the pitch. The physics model takes into account a player's momentum and direction when jostling for the ball for more realistic collisions, which leads to more authentic injuries. Other enhancements to the game include more precise dribbling, improved lighting effects, more tactical approaches to defense, and a refined computer AI designed to make onscreen athletes behave more like their real-world counterparts. FIFA 12 also includes a revamped online portal, where you can seek out friendly competitions, compare your stats with friends, share news via Facebook, and improve your overall ranking by earning experience points while playing matches. You'll participate in weekly challenges, follow updated storylines, compete against rival clubs, and more. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide