Nintendo DS

Kawaii! (means super-cute in Japanese!)

HIGH Hearing my Japanese host mother comment "kawaii!!" after I showed her a level of the game.

LOW Almost doubling the amount of scratches on my touch-screen due to excessive and forceful spinning.

WTF The instance where the Ouendan somehow manage to travel back in time... When Japanese male cheerleaders start inexplicably using time travel to help a distressed Cleopatra, I laugh.

A good pout will get you anywhere

HIGH Clever writing and meta commentary on RPGs.

LOW Shallow, repetitive game design that grows stale almost immediately.

WTF Most of the game has been cannibalized from Master of the Monster Lair.

Another peek into the inner workings of fan-pleasin' publisher, they were kind enough to send along some photos and information on their upcoming title Tokyo Beat Down for the Nintendo DS. Unless you're the type of player that regularly picks up golden oldies, I'm guessing that it's been a while since a side-scrolling beat'em-up has come your way.

Do you like to shoot things? We do! This week the crew engages in vigorous debate over two new run-and-gun games: Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ and Weapon of Choice. Find out if 2D shooters still have a place in a 3D world.

Plus, the premiere of our new segment "What Do You Think?" (complete with swanky echo effect) where YOU tell US what you think of Fallout 3: Operation Anchorage, and that...unique...control scheme in the Resident Evil 5 demo.

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A friendship built on a rotten foundation

HIGH The steady unfolding of plot and character development that makes me feel like I'm watching a movie.

LOW The lukewarm battle system that makes me feel like I'm watching a movie.

WTF One of the witches our hero can be "engaged" to—complete with wedding gown—is 12 years old.