Games have definitely changed in the past years. In the past we play games to relax. Then there are hardcore gamers who spend most of their time in front of the TV, playing games. These unhealthy folks usually have unfit bodies. But those days are over now. We see the emergence of casual games and games that can be healthy for the player. Video games became part of one’s exercise regime. Here are the top four games in the Wii that experts say is beneficial for your health.

Rock Band

If you say that Rock Band is not a strenuous game, then you haven’t tried being the drummer. One’s calve muscles will have a heavy workout when engaged pounding the Rock Band’s drum set. Drummers have my respect than the slacker guitarists slouching at the couch.

Wii Fit

We all know that Wii Fit’s selling point is its ability to give gamers a fitter body. It makes people jog in play and measure their Body Mass Index. This is one of the best sellers last year but there should be a survey on how many Wii Fits are currently being used.

Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games

My generation might remember how it’s like to play those track and field button bashing games of years pass. This game is the “improved” version but instead of pushing those buttons, you have to flap your arms to win various events.

Wii Sports

My Wii came with this game. This is actually the only game I played for a week after getting the Wii. After sometime I observed that my wrists are much stronger than before. But what’s the practical use for this, I don’t know. Minute of playing Wii Sports will definitely make you sweat.

This is good news for the kids who enjoyed the animated movie The Tale of Despereaux. Atari has made two games based on the movie for the Wii and DS. The games are said to follow the storyline of the movie but the games are totally different from each other.

The Wii version is an adventure game that requires the player to solve puzzles and as little bit of combat involved. Desperaux is tasked to save Princess Pea from her kidnappers. It has 15 levels where you have to use the brave mouse’s skill in order to overcome the obstacles.

The DS version is a side-scroller where you have to use things in the environment in order to go to the next stage. Although the game is a bit short, the controls are great and kids would not be frustrated by it. It also has frequent save points and lots of lives. That spells fun for your young ones.

Among the two, the DS version is the better one. Although you can breeze through a stage very easily, it is expected because the game is made for kids, much like the Barbie and the Dora games. If you still haven’t gotten a Christmas present for a kid aged 10 and below, this might be the one you’re looking for.

Ultimate Band, Nintendo’s entry to the music rhythm genre will be released next week, November 25. It’s like Air Guitar Hero with the player using the Wii remote and nunchuk to play the game. What they lack in peripherals, they made up in substance.

What are important in a music title are the songs and Ultimate Band features songs, new and old. Air guitarists of all age would find a song of their liking. From B52’s to Paramore, Ultimate Band has it. The Wii features 35 songs while the DS version contains 15. Read more »

The last Bond game I enjoyed was Goldeneye 007 for the Nintendo 64. The next Bond games made after were mediocre compared to the innovative Goldeneye and Quantum of Solace is no different. It’s another hurried game version of a current Bond movie.

Don’t get me wrong. Quantum of Solace is a lot better than other Bond games of late but it doesn’t bring something new in the fray. You know the game is rushed when it had to mash in the story tidbits from Casino Royale. But if you’re a Daniel Craig then you’ll enjoy this game because his face is featured in almost every frame of the game.

Activision actually did a decent job with Quantum of Solace but the action gets old too fast. It features cool weapons and foreign locales. It combines both first and third person views that give it a nice Bond feel.

At the start the game was full of action and it brings to places such as England, Italy, and Austria. The game Quantum of Solace sure felt like a Bond movie with scenes of Bond going through explosions, shooting down bad guys. But right after the crashing in Bolivia, the action goes downhill. It goes into a flashback of Casino Royale. Then when it returns to the present, you find yourself wanting to get some solace from the game.

Quantum of Solace is available for the Wii and the DS. The movie was spectacular but it doesn’t hold true for the game.

This might be a sequel but TouchMaster 2 for the DS is a notch higher than the original. This mini-game collection would surely be picked up by the casual gamers who enjoyed last year’s version. It may come from the same developer but the sequel has been greatly improved in a lot of ways.

TouchMaster 2 DS will feature 20 mini-games of different genres. You could opt to play alone or let in one of your friend into the friend with just one game cartridge. That’s double the fun!

The games are quite addicting and could give the player lots of casual gaming fun. Games in TouchMaster 2 include Triples, Spellwinder, and Scavenger. Game types are card games and other classic games. There are games in which you need to use the stylus to draw things.

TouchMaster 2 is definitely a must buy for those who like casual games. The visuals might not be that impressive and the soundtrack is monotonous but what are important are the games. Most of the games are addictive except for a few exceptions. Replay-wise, it is definitely worth it.

Since I was a kid, I’ve always been a wrestling fan. Even when I learned that the fights were scripted, I still watched it. Someone once said that wrestling is to men as soaps are for women. So it would not be a surprise that I’m excited for this year’s WWE SmackDown VS Raw game for the DS.

It features a career mode much like last year’s version but made better. That’s not the only thing the game has for WWE fans. According to IGN, the create a superstar mode looks “pretty dang impressive.”

WWE SmackDown VS Raw is scheduled to be released in 10 days. I would be getting the DS and Wii versions of the game. That way I could play it at home and bring it with me when I’m away. I’ll be doing a review on the game as soon as I get a hold of it.

You can read the IGN article here.

Game Factory announced that the first Build-A-Bear Workshop for the Wii will be released today. This after the Build-A-Bear Workshop for the DS has enjoyed success. The game would give both the parents and kids lots of fun bonding time.

Build-A-Bear Workshop A Friend Fur All Season lets players sail away on the FriendShip to explore four season themed islands. It has more than 20 mini-games. Players could make their own furry friend. It promises that everyone would have a beary good time playing the game.

The mini-games have solo and co-op mode of up to four players. That would be great for the whole family. Each furry friend is fully customizable with lots of clothing and accessories to choose from.

A Friend Fur All Season utilizes the Wii’s unique control system to bring an innovative game play that’s simple enough to be played the youngest member of your family, as long as he or she can hold the Wii Remote.

Girls Mode, Nintendo’s first fashion game for the DS has a successful debut in Japan. Is this Nintendolls? Well sort of.The game lets the player make her own avatar and dress it up. This game targets the female market if it’s not that obvious enough.

The objective of the game is to be a charismatic manager of a clothing shop. You start as a lowly clerk of the clothing shop whose task is to dress up the clients using the available items. If the clients like what you dress them up in, your rank will rise and the shop could be given some expansions.

Another goal of the game is to show off your fashion skills in a town’s fashion contest. A win here can unlock certain items to help you with your quest of becoming the manager.

With its success in Japan, you’ll surely see this title anytime soon.

Ubisoft has a new line of Planet Rescue games for the kids. These games are made to teach kids about the environment and how to care for it. There are four games for this series. Games for the DS are Planet Rescue Ocean Patrol, Planet Rescue Animal Emergency, and Planet Rescue Endangered Island. The lone Wii game is Planet Rescue Wildlife Vet.

I applaud Ubisoft for making these games. The games open the eyes of the youth to the various environmental problems that are happening at present.

Planet Rescue Ocean Patrol is a game where the player builds a marine sanctuary for endangered marine animals. In Planet Rescue Animal Emergency you get to play the part of a young vet treating various animals of their illness. In Planet Rescue Endangered you are part of an Earth Rescue Team whose goal is to rehabilitate an island after an offshore rig is causing various environmental problems.

For the Wii’s Planet Rescue Wildlife Vet the player’s goal is to join a prestigious vet clinic. But in order to do so you must first manage your own vet clinic and tour the world to rescue various exotic endangered species such as panthers, giraffes, sea turtles, panda and more.

I hope parents get these games for their children. The next generation must know about these issues to open their eyes and mind. The Planet Rescue games will be available in November, just in time for your holiday shopping.

Just in time for the animated movie of the same title, Igor would be released for the Wii and DS. Join Igor, Scamper, Eva and Brain as they quest through the Land of Malaria. Their goal is to win the top prize at the Annual Evil Science Fair. Evil scientist would try to stop them by all means necessary.

Igor for the Wii is an adventure game that lets up to four players play at the same time. They can choose from the main character: Igor, Scamper, Eva or Brain. The game would feature stages based on the movie. Each character would have unique moves. You have to get pass a boss at the end of each stage to go to the next level.

Igor for the DS is a quest to find Eva, who was stolen by the other evil scientists. You can create your own monster and use upgrades to modify it. Each body part would be unique and would have its unique ability. You can play against the other mad scientists of Malaria or you can challenge a friend through the DS’ Wi-Fi.

Visit Igor the Game official website and get a chance to win Wii and DS consoles plus Igor games as well. The contest is open until October 31.