Take your traditional Super Mario Bros. game, toss Mario and Luigi in a cage, turn Princess Peach loose (armed with umbrella and emotional tantrum array), and you have Super Princess Peach.

The game begins with Ms. Peach taking on the rescue mission. Apparently, Bowser has kidnapped the famous brothers via the Vibe Specter, and has now retreated to his hideaway on Vibe Island. The princess, along with a sentient umbrella named Perry, must work her way through various levels and boss battles to rescue Nintendo's famous mascots.

You'll quickly learn Princess Peach is very resourceful. She's picked up a number of moves from chum Mario, including enemy stomping, block busting, hillside sliding and other familiar techniques. In addition, Perry the umbrella is a force to be reckoned with, eventually allowing Peach the ability to hover in the air for short periods of time, as well as traverse rivers, stun enemies with a ground pound, and even blast baddies with energy blasts. (I mention "eventually", as most of these abilities must be purchased from the game's shop area.)

But the real game play innovation in Super Princess Peach - her royalty's ability to change her emotional "vibe" at the drop of a hat. Or in this case, a thumb press of the touch screen. Linked to four heart shaped icons, the player can instantly change Peach's mood (Joy, Rage, Gloom and Calm) by pressing the appropriate heart, which provides the Princess with a special ability or two. All of these abilities are tied to your Vibe Meter, which is slowly depleted when a vibe has been activated.

It works well enough, although you'll sometimes find your thumbs fumbling during a hectic boss encounter. And yes, the entire premise of the Princess having constant mood swings is arguably condescending, but did my teenage daughter and wife seem to mind? Not a bit. In fact, my daughter - once she began playing - claimed the family's DS as her own for about a week, as she was especially enthralled with the game. Not because of the princess theme and saccharine heavy presentation, but because - at it's heart - Super Princess Peach is a fun, old-school action platformer, reminiscent of earlier Super Mario games.

But in many ways, Super Princess Peach tries to set itself apart. Besides the new moves, the entire experience emphasizes item collecting - you won't be able to complete the game without finding all of the missing Toad characters, for example. This doesn't present too much of a problem, as items are rarely hard to find. And although the game doesn't make much use of the touch screen and stylus, the game play rarely grows boring or dull, as you're constantly forced to make use of your robust move set and abilities to make your way through the various game levels. You'll also find there's much more to the game after the end credits, adding to the game's value. As is the norm with Nintendo developed games, stylus-based mini-games have been thrown in for good measure.

Unless you and the kids simply dislike Super Mario style games, give Super Princess Peach a try. You'll find an enjoyable game filled with fun challenges.

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For yourself, the game play will probably wax nostalgic. For the kids, it'll prove a great introduction to Super Mario-style gaming, as the entire experience leans a little to the easy side. It's a win-win!

Super Monkey Ball is similar to other puzzle and maze format games - but with much more.

The single-player mode challenges players to get back the stolen golden bananas. The simple story and goal has been especially appealing to our youngest child (8)! Your character is a monkey in a ball - sort of like a hamster ball. Your monkey races through mazes, collecting bananas along the way. The difference is that to make the monkey move you use the controller to "tilt" the playing field causing the ball to roll. Of course, the first level is relatively simple. As the game progresses the terrain becomes more complicated, with multiple obstacles and the possibility of falling off the world!

Using the Wii remote gives this game an added twist from previous versions using traditional controllers. The girls and I personally found the game easier to play and more enjoyable using the Wii remote. My son (11), who has played previous versions with a standard controller, had a bit more trouble. The remote is very sensitive, so tiny movements can dramatically affect the course of the ball. It takes a steady hand to navigate the mazes quickly. We have fun cheering each other along... but since the player is more susceptible to being thrown off to jiggles of the onlookers we are careful to keep a safe distance from them. Despite this, my son was still flew through the levels very quickly. Monkey Ball might be too easy to entertain more advanced kidGamers for very long.

The party games (there are more than fifty!) have been the big hit at our home. These are short games that can take anywhere from a few moments to play to much longer. Some of them are multi-player, and some require the nunchuck attachment. They are great for homework breaks or those few minutes before dinner... as long as you can convince everyone to stop! The games vary from simple to very challenging. There is a screen that demonstrates how to use the remote before you play each game which is very helpful.

For very young children or people just starting to use a Wii remote the "Jump Rope" game is a great starting point. To play, you simply flick the remote up to cause the monkey to jump the rope. When you miss the rope, it knocks the monkey on his back and he twitches which sends the kids into hysterics. It is reminiscent of the old "Circus Atari" game, where you sent clowns bouncing off a teeter-totter and if you missed, they fell on their heads. My sister and I spent a lot of time killing of digital clowns. (But I digress...)

"Monkey Baseball" is a home run derby-style baseball game that is also simple to learn. The timing for the bat is different from that of Wii Sports, which makes it challenging to go between games.

Want a bit more challenge, and some practice for the single-player mode? "Monkey Snowboard" sends your monkey down a wintry half-pipe. You dodge snowmen and collect bananas while whizzing to the finish line. This is by far our family-favorite, with all of us trying to beat one another's best times!

The bad news? Some of the party games are not so well-designed. No one in our home has been able to figure out "Shepherd" yet. The goal is to direct a dog that barks at sheep, herding them into a barn. Huh? It's extremely difficult to direct the dog, and the playing field is very disorienting.

Not all of the party games will appeal to everyone. But in a large household, the variety out of the box is nice.

If you are looking for a game with rich, realistic graphics and a kickin' soundtrack... look somewhere else. As expected, the monkeys are cute and cartoonish. The graphics are very colorful and vibrant. The music is perky and at times annoying to the adults - but the kids all hummed along happily.

Overall this is a solid addition to our game library. It is ranking up there with DDR as a game that challenges and captivates all three kids... and the grownups too!

Summary: Everyone from young players to adults will enjoy the party games. Young but experienced gamers will appreciate the increasing complexity of the levels and the nuances of using the Wii remote controller.

Sonic, Sega's loveable blue hedgehog mascot, has been a regular on Sega game systems and Nintendo GameBoy's for a long time. Now, in honor of the 15th anniversary of this unlikely hero, Sega has released Sonic the Hedgehog for Xbox 360 (a PS3 version of this new game is expected in March 2007).

First, some background. Sonic (who actually looks nothing like a hedgehog) is the bright blue, smiling, white gloved, red sneaker wearing, long legged, pointy eared hero of several computer games (as well as comic and TV show spin-offs). He usually charges along paths through jungles or beaches or volcanoes, towards some all important destination, picking up gold rings, jumping and leaping as needed, defying gravity (thanks to his speed), and thus working his way from one world to another. Yep, Sonic has never been big on plot and story lines, he's always been an arcade type character.

But not anymore. The new Sonic the Hedgehog game weaves a complex tale involving a damsel in distress, time travel, telekinetic powers, lots of robots and mechanical devices, mysterious powerful emeralds, cool all-terrain vehicles, and lots of trusty sidekicks. The story segments are presented in two alternating formats, Action Stages are the more typical Sonic high-speed linear arcade sequences, and Town Stages are more like adventure missions allowing for more varied interaction.

This game also introduces two other very important characters (and yes, they are also hedgehogs), Silver and Shadow, are unlocked during game play, and then develop their own parallel story lines, and time travel in and out of each other's episodes. It sounds terribly complicated, but it all made perfect sense to the kids!

The multiple parallel story lines is actually a very good thing. Games in this genre often have sequences that must be played over and over until they can finally be passed. This can be incredibly frustrating and disheartening to younger players. Sonic the Hedgehog addresses this problem by allowing the players to jump between the story lines at will. Having trouble getting Sonic through the fiery volcano? No problem, stop, and try getting Shadow into the White Acropolis instead. You get the idea. The game tracks the progress for each of the main characters, and 100% has to be achieved for each of the three to finish the game, but the player has the luxury of switching between story lines at will. That's a big plus.

Another nice touch are all the extra optional story lines, usually found during Town Stages. A character in the town may ask for help with a task which the player can accept or refuse. If accepted there is usually a reward in the form of more rings, and while younger players will usually opt out of these diversions, more skilled players will enjoy the extra challenges.

I really only have one big criticism of this game, and that is that it is always loading, and loading, and loading, and loading. The truth is this does not seem to bother my kids at all, but it really bugs me.

Sonic the Hedgehog carries an E10 rating due to fantasy violence. Sonic, Silver, and Shadow spend a considerable amount of their time destroying bad guys (jumping on them, tossing them, throwing their fired ammunition back at them, and so on). It's loud and bright and intense, but I'd not consider it violent at all. A better reason for the E10 rating might be the fact that some of the bad guys do look scary, and might therefore not be suited for younger kids (although my 3 and 6 year old think they are hilarious)!

This is a big game, make that a huge game. I don't think it's a game that kids will want to play again once they have completed it, but it will take them a long time to do so, making the price tag a whole lot easier to justify.

Initial sales figures indicate that Sonic the Hedgehog has not been doing that well. This seems to be because the Xbox 360 has become a playing platform for more mature gamers, and this game is definitely targeted at younger players (my teenage kids have no interest in this game, but the 8 and 10 year olds love it, and those too young to play enjoy watching their older siblings do so). But, considering the real lack of kids games for the Xbox 360, Sonic the Hedgehog is both welcome and appreciated.

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Summary: A vast and fun game recommended for all but older and more serious game players!

Note: This game will be supported on PS3. As per company provided product details the game should be identical on all platforms, however we've only played it on Xbox 360, and this review is based only on the game as played.

It’s a cold day outside – the weather is snowy and the high temperature hasn’t risen above 15 degrees for days. But the kids and I are wearing shorts and t-shirts, and thinking about turning on the A/C.

Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) will have that affect on you.

The concept is very simple. As arrows cross a target area on the screen, players tap a corresponding arrow on a floor mat with their feet in time with the music. The number of arrows and the speed they appear varies depending on the players’ selected level of ability. The easiest level is fairly slow and simple. The “Heavy” (advanced) mode involves non-stop dance moves, with multiple steps in rapid succession. One song and you’re wiped out!

Since the game is so adaptable to various levels, this makes it a great game for the family to play together. Two players can play together, each at their own selected level of difficulty. In other words, the parent can stick with Beginner mode while the kids knock themselves out on “Standard” and “Heavy” levels.

Unlike “Mario”, players can start out at higher levels and don’t have to work their way up. Instead, scoring points at certain levels gives players the ability to “unlock” additional songs or dancers.

Players can battle for points, or there is a fun “free-play” mode where the songs just keep coming… even if you miss every target arrow. Free-play mode leads to giggles and lots of noise at our house, where we play “tag-team” style – as someone gets tired, another kid takes over.

For beginners there is also a lesson mode that breaks songs into sections. A cartoon dancer prompts beginner players when it’s time to step on an arrow.

There is even a fitness mode. Are you are concerned about how many calories you are burning during your DDR session? Watch them tick away as you dance!

Tired of the same routines? If you have a memory card you can create your own custom routines and save them for others (or yourself) to play as well. There is no way to download new songs though – you are stuck with whatever comes with the game.

If you are going to play the game regularly and heavily, it is recommended that you invest in a well-made dance mat with a one-piece foam insert. You can buy the game bundled with a thinner mat, but they do wear down. Also they have a tendency to slide around as you are playing the game, making it more difficult to step on the correct arrows. There are also mats that come with “puzzle piece” inserts that you have to put together – avoid these. (We bought one and returned it a day later, as the seams between the puzzle pieces caused problems with the sensors in the mats.)

“DDR is good exercise plus it’s tons of fun” according to my son (11). I agree! Every night after homework time, the kids take time to play DDR. They love teaching visitors and friends … as well as showing off their skills to anyone that will watch!

Side note: don’t tell the kids, but this game is educational and fun. Visit (http://www.getupmove.com/fitness.asp) to learn how this type of game helps improve reading skills, lowers class absenteeism, and encourages leadership skills and confidence.

Summary: A fun game for kids of all ages and gaming ability - great for families to enjoy together!

I’ve always appreciated the idea of combining exercise and fitness with video games, so after Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix was released, it quickly earned a coveted spot in our game collection.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Dance Dance Revolution line of games, suffice it to say, they’re basically dance simulators for the living room. Instead of using a standard game controller, you play the game using a large dance pad on the floor. The gamer, standing on the pad, steps on arrow sensors (pointing up, down, left and right) in synch with moving arrows shown on the television screen, which are timed to co-inside with the background music.

The concept works wonderfully, and it’s not uncommon to play a DDR game until you’re physically unable to play any longer. It certainly qualifies as exercise, akin to a basic aerobics program.

Upon startup, it’s immediately clear Mario Mix is designed for younger gamers, with the game’s difficulty initially optimized for DDR novices. Dance steps are simplistic (early modes use the left and right arrows only), and while the routines do become challenging eventually, the game never does reach the insane difficulty levels found in other Dance Dance Revolution games.

In my household, this has proven to be both a good and bad thing. Good, as my son - never having enjoyed mainstream DDR games - is now quite the Mario Mixer. I’ve noticed his coordination has improved considerably, which I credit to the game’s accessibility. Bad, as his teenage sister (a Mario fan since age three) played the game only once or twice before going back to her Playstation 2 DDRs. She’s since warmed up to the game, but scoffed at the easy gameplay early only.

For whatever reason, higher difficulty levels in Mario Mix must be unlocked by playing through easier routines. Until her brother had unlocked these harder settings, my daughter didn’t consider the game much fun, as it was far too easy for her skill level. I can’t help but think, if these higher difficulty levels had been available initially, her first impression would have been far more positive. At the very least, the game would have had a broader appeal.

Unwieldy difficulty levels aside, Mario Mix is a very fun game. The Mario theme is embellished throughout, with a host of characters including Mario, Toad, Waluigi and Bowser. The music consists of remixed Mario music from other games (Dr. Mario, Paper Mario, Super Mario Bros.) along with heavily remixed nursery rhymes. The game features a unique Story Mode, composed of numerous dance challenges and mini-games. It works well, but having to scroll through screens of text during the intermissions can be annoying, especially considering you’re probably standing during the process. (Obviously, reading skills are a benefit for any child playing the game, though there isn’t any real need to understand the story text in order to play.) A Free Mode is also available, similar to other DDR games, where the player can choose the music routine they’d like to play. A mini-game selection makes for a fun distraction (envision Whack-The-Mole via dance pad), and while the game doesn’t sport a workout mode like other DDR games, it does provide calorie tracking, counting the number of calories you’ve burned while playing.

Mario Mix is packaged with a dance pad, which obviously is fundamental for a child’s enjoyment of the game. Thankfully, the pad has been manufactured well, with large, accurate sensor pads and a non-slip bottom. It may slip slightly with fast paced routines on carpeted floors, but overall, it’s of a far better quality than many third party pads. The game can be played with the standard Gamecube controller, but really, where’s the fun in that?

If you’re looking for a healthy activity for the kids – something fun, something fitness – Mario Mix fits the bill.

Summary: Better suited for young players and DDR newbies, Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix is recommended for any family looking to, ahem, mix exercise and video gaming.

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• The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy for GameCube, PS2, GBA, and Wii.
• That's So Raven: Psychic on the Scene for DS
• Cars for DS, GBA, GameCube, PC, PS2, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360, and Wii
• Scooby Doo! Who's Watching Who for DS and PSP

And of course - don't forget the Wii comes out on the 19th!

Jeff Bogumil, along with reviewing games for KidGamers.org, is a Contributing Editor and Webmaster for GamerDad.com. An avid gamer since the days of the Atari 2600, favorite genres include action platformers and racing games. He enjoys the rural, country life with his two children, Tiffany and Raistlin, and wife Teresa.

His first article is on New Super Mario Brothers.

There’s something deftly charming about Nintendo’s Super Mario games. Sure, they’ve always been based on a silly premise – a plumber battling his way thru a fantasy world of mushrooms and piranha plants – but they’ve also been great fun to play.

New Super Mario Bros. carries on the tradition. Released for the Nintendo DS handheld system, New SMB successfully mixes the proven game play mechanics of the original Super Mario Bros. with some fresh new moves, including a handy Wall Jump technique and powerful Ground Pound butt stomp. New power-ups have been introduced as well. You’ll sometimes find mega-sized mushrooms allowing Mario to grow to a giant height, with all the indestructibility this implies. Micro mushrooms allow Mario to shrink to a pint size, increasing his jumping ability and allowing the plump hero access to various nooks and crannies found throughout the game’s eight worlds.

Sticking with the traditional 2D platformer design, Mario usually works his way from left to right, jumping and fireballing his way to the level’s end. But unlike prior Super Mario games, the environments are constructed of polygon characters and landscapes – a design choice typically reserved for 3D games. The decision was a good one, as the animation is silky smooth and the backgrounds are more interactive than your usual Super Mario endeavor. (Remember those giant, spotted mushrooms in the original SMB? Don’t be surprised if they flex and bow under your weight this time around.)

Overall, there’s little to dislike about New Super Mario Bros, although some nitpicking is in order. Namely, new fans and casual gamers will find a decent challenge, but older players - especially those familiar with prior Super Mario games - will probably find New SMB to be over far too soon. (My 16-year old daughter and I, Mario veterans of a sort, completed the game within a few days time.) Sadly, the new power-ups aren’t used as often as I would have liked. And if you’re looking for a game that’ll exercise your DS’ stylus, you won’t find it here.

Still, all mushrooms considered, these are minor quibbles. You’ll find yourself working hard to find every hidden level, as the game really is that much fun to play. And Nintendo has thrown in a grab bag of goodies to compliment the core package. There’s a nice set of touch screen mini-games (some recycled from Super Mario 64 DS), and if you have two DS systems available, a two-player Mario vs. Luigi competition is at your disposal. Oh, and don’t forget to sit through the credits…

My own household is an eclectic mix of gamer styles – young and old, hardcore and casual. Yet all agree: New Super Mario Bros. is one of the best Mario games to come along in a very long time. It features easy to manage controls, solid game play, and a witty balance of fun challenges. Recommended.

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Summary: It’s action-platforming at its best, and is great fun for parents and kids alike. While it’s more a solo experience than not, if you’re looking for something that can occupy your little person during that next road trip AND whittle away those boring lunch breaks at the office, New Super Mario Bros. is your game of choice.

• SpongeBob Squarepants: Creature from the Krusty Krab for the DS, GBA, PC, PS2, Wii, Gamecube.
• Camp Lazlo: Leaky Lake Games for the GBA.
• Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends for the GBA.
• Disney's The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure for the DS, GBA.
• Hot Wheels Stunt Track Challenge + Hot Wheels World Race for the GBA.
• Polly Pocket!: Super Splash Island for the GBA.