The Bakugan onslaught continues this month with yet another video game launch on the DS and DSi; Bakugan Battle Trainer. Following only a few brief months after the previous launch, Battle Brawler, this title continues the story of Dan, who has to deal with both losing his memory and collecting all the Bakugan which have been stolen up into a nasty spaceship.

Bakugan Battle Brawlers

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $29.99

Amazon Price: $12.79

The game play on this title is cut into a couple of clear sections; training and fighting. The training section features numerous cool devices, together with mini games benefiting from all the DS features. By means of training, your Bakugan achieve abilities which can be used in battle. In Bakugan Battle Trainer, more emphasis is placed in strategy instead of the overpowering attacks from prior games.

Graphically, Bakugan Battle Trainer is nice and vibrant, with the top display screen treating gamers to enjoyable combat animations. Otherwise, the graphics are pretty much identical to past incarnations. The audio aspect includes the voice talent from the show, which is a nice inclusion, and the Bakugan themselves remain as fearsome as ever.

Bakugan Battle Trainers is a decent release for the franchise. The game is brief, and doesn't have the various interesting game modes the previous title included. Instead, here an emphasis is directed towards technique and mastery - compelling users to level up to the complete extent. This title continues to be a must-have for Bakugan fans, but should appeal more to strategists throughout Bakugan's followers.

The Nintendo DS family hasn't been short of great, in-depth RPGs over the last year or so. Indeed, the market seems to be expanding as the handheld console continues to have its boundaries pushed further and further. One latest offering from developers Platinum games is Infinite Space, which has a depth that has left both critics and fans overwhelmed.

Infinite Space is an RPG which centres around space travel, as you take control of hero Nia. Your mission is to ferry civilians from planet to planet, but you get caught up in bigger problems as the game unfolds. The title features a remarkably in-depth spaceship customization function, which allows players to tailor their vessel exactly how they want it, choosing from hundreds of different options.

The customization of your ship, along with your crew, will have a direct effect on your battles, which are split into two parts. Firstly, the spaceships themselves will duke it out in a gauge-based real time battle. Your gauge can be augmented as you further customize your vessel. Secondly, Infinite Space features interior battles as your landing parties storm enemy ships.

Infinite Space

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $34.99

Amazon Price: $59.99

Whilst the graphics and sound are nice enough on this title, it really is the vastness of both the customization and the space setting itself which has gained this title such notoriety. Whilst some have noted it demands a high learning curve, this only adds to the lasting appeal of this great little title. If you're a fan of ships, space and RPGs, Infinite Space rolls all these elements into one perfect package.

The Nintendo DS is the latest console to jump on the media bandwagon, with their Alice In Wonderland videogame recently released. This title is based on the reimagined film by Tim Burton, and places the wellbeing of Alice and her strange friends in the hands of the player.

Whilst not copying the film design strictly, the Alice In Wonderland videogame offers its own unique design inspired by the movie. Gamers can take control of the various characters from the story, including the Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat and White Rabbit, alongside Alice herself. The DS does a great job of bringing its own visual twist on these memorable characters.

Alice in Wonderland

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Retail Price: $19.99

Amazon Price: $19.96

Gamplay revolves around the strange Underland and thus is mainly concerned with puzzle solving. Alice and her companions can master various abilities such as altering perception by making certain objects invisible, along with altering time itself to progress through the levels. In the Alice In Wonderland videogame, there is also an expandable combat system which allows our heroes to learn new moves and abilities as time goes on.

Playing the Alice In Wonderland videogame the DSi will also open up further abilities, such as the choice to use the camera to aid you in gameplay. This feature can be used to detect certain colours which act as codes for level progression, and also to open up further unlockables.

Fans of puzzle platformers should be right at home with the Alice In Wonderland videogame, and Burton fans will love the transition to portable gaming. The characters are well realised and the puzzles are refreshingly quite tricky, meaning this isn't just an easy cash-in. Pick it up and jump down the rabbit hole!