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Ultimate band
DS, Wii
These days, everyone is enjoying music games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero, but playing those drums and guitars can be pretty tricky (especially for mom and dad, ha ha). But Ultimate Band lets you rock out like crazy in your living room, showing off your best superstar moves using just the Wii-mote and nunchuk (or DS stylus).
Holding the controllers, you (and up to three friends) follow symbols on the screen to match the guitarist, singer and drummer. Keep to the rhythm and you’ll do fine, but show some outrageous flair and you’ll really score big. Also cool: you can change the band members (who are all kids) to match your style, and you can play all 30 tunes with either a boy’s or girl’s voice. Are you ready to be a rock star?
Bolt
DS, PC, PS2 PS3, Xbox 360, Wii
In the big-screen version of Bolt, a doggy TV star realizes he’s not actually a superhero, but the game is a little different. Instead of re-playing the movie, it’s based on the imaginary Bolt TV show, so the canine star battles bad guys with his powerful paws, laser beam eyes and superbark. You can also play as Penny, Bolt’s sidekick. Her talents include stealth movement, computer hacking, and riding her wheelbar — kind of like a scooter — through tricky puzzle and platform levels. Together, Bolt and Penny live out their action-packed TV show, taking on dastardly villains all over the world.
Neopets Puzzle Adventure
DS, PC, Wii
If you love Neopets — and 44 million people around the world, speaking 11 different languages sure do — but you can’t always use a computer, this videogame is for you. Just pick one of the 12 Neopets — like Kougra, Techo or Blumaroo — to be your main character, then travel across three Lands of Neopia completing more than 150 quests.
Solving puzzles and winning battles earns you extra abilities, treasures and awards, plus codes you can redeem at the Neopets website for exclusive virtual items. So get set for single-player, co-op and head-to-head multiplayer matches, as you control and customize your tiger, gecko, T-rex, kangaroo or Yurble (whatever that is).