Backyard Baseball 2010

In terms of graphics and sounds, this 10th edition of Backyard Baseball isn't the bestlooking, but it does deliver an excellent two-player baseball experience. The 2010 edition features new fields and an updated player roster with kid versions of players from all 30 MLB teams. These include David "Big Papi" Ortiz, Ken Griffey Jr., Vladimir Guerrero, and Albert Pujols. A new pitching camera perspective puts the camera behind the batter when hitting and behind the pitcher when pitching. In addition, the Wii version lets you swing the Wii Remote, both to pitch and hit.

Our tester (Daniel - age 9) has played most of the Backyard Baseball games, and this one tops them all. He liked that there are more fields and players in this version, and especially liked playing the Home Run Derby. By playing games in season mode, he was able to unlock Alex Rodriguez, one of his favorite MLB players. At $30 for a Wii game, this is a great value.

Link to buy Backyard Baseball 2010

Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Snow Princess

Looking for a well-designed first game experience for a preschooler? This is an excellent choice.

In Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Snow Princess, players join Dora, Boots and Pirate Piggy as they help the Snow Fairy save the Snow Princess and the Magical Snowy Forest while defeating the Mean Witch. The game features 12 minigames that can be unlocked; all are easy to play and master. In the console edition, adults can pick up the second controller to help, or just play along, creating an excellent social opportunity. In the Wii version, players hold the Wii Remote like a pair of handlebars, leaning left or right to move through the side-scrolling levels. Along the way, they climb, dig, build snowmen, paddle a canoe, steer a dogsled and ride a Pegasus using various motions. You can also ice skate, snowboard and ski while trying to find the magic crystal. In the DS version, you can shout into the microphone to make the sea snake go away, blow into it to help the Snow Fairy fly across the moat, tap with the stylus to steer Paj's dogsled, and use the stylus to drag ice blocks to light up the ice cave.

Both the Wii version and the PS2 version are well-designed, although the game play is very different. Testers found the DS version to be more limited in content, resulting in a slightly lower rating (4.5 stars), compared to the Wii and PS2 versions (4.6 stars).

Link to download Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Snow Princess
Link to buy Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Snow Princess