In a nutshell:
The portable phenomenon that has taken Japan by storm finally hits the UK. Part puzzle game, part self improvement tool this is the only game that's both lots of fun and good for you - and that's before you even start on Sudoku!

The lowdown:
Nothing about this game is ordinary, from the price to the way you hold the DS while playing it (vertically, as if you were reading a book). The basic idea is that you play through a series of puzzles each day, for about 10 minutes, and at the end of each session the "age" of your brain is calculated. The puzzles themselves range from simple maths questions to spot the difference, memorisation and comprehension. All of the answers are inputted either by drawing the answer on the touchscreen or speaking it into the DS's in-built microphone. There's also a multiplayer mode for up to 15 people where you can try and compete to record the youngest brain age.

Most exciting moment:
A brand new addition to the game, not included in the Japanese version, is a special DS version of Sudoku. This works great on the DS's touch screen and is worth the already low price of admission on its own.

Since you ask:
A sister title to Brain Training, named Big Brain Academy, is due for release in July and offers to "weigh" your brain and improve specific skills such as memorisation and analysis. A direct sequel to Brain Training has also been released in Japan but is not yet scheduled for released in the UK.

The bottom line:
The only game that really is for the whole family - from kids to OAPs.
Harrison Dent

Although in the first week of the Nintendo DS's launch in Japan Mario 64 DS emerged as the most popular launch title, in the weeks that followed it was actually Wario Ware: Touched! which overtook it in terms of sales and popular support. It certainly makes more obvious good use of the DS's unique features, with more than 200 new mini-games all of which make bizarre use of the touch screen and microphone. For those not familiar with the original GBA version, Wario Ware features a huge collection of extremely strange mini-games, the majority of which last for no more than 5 seconds.

These are played in rapid succession so that you literally never know what is coming next. One minute you're cooling down a cup of tea by blowing on the microphone, the next you're chopping up flying fruit by wielding your stylus as a sword. Unrolling toilet paper, striking matches and blowing toy yachts across the screen may not sound like much written down, but when they're all thrown at you at such a dizzying pace the desire to see what nonsense the game will come up with next is infectious.

Wario Ware: Touched is both inventive, often uproariously funny and thanks to the mix of equally strange art styles one of the most relentlessly odd games ever made. More importantly than this it's also one of the most fun, and an absolute must-have for any DS owner. —David Jenkins

We Love Katamari brings back the award-winnig gameplay of Katamari Damacy! The quirky gameplay that captivated the gaming world returns as you contine to roll up anything and everything that gets in your way! The King of All Cosmos grew to stardom after taking all of the Prince's Katamaris and replacing the stars. His fans knew no bounds and wished to see more Katamaris fill the sky. The king of all Cosmos desired to appease all of their requests and recruited the Prince and his cousins to help. Now they are tasked with rolling up even more clumps, each larger and more different than the one before.

In a nutshell:
Start a new life on your DS with the most unlikely source of online addiction you’ve ever experienced. You’ve complete freedom to customise your home and the town around it as you socialise with the locals and your friends alike.

The lowdown:
The world of Animal Crossing seems a peculiarly simple one at first: there are no levels to be beaten or bad guys to overcome, just a cheerful little village to maintain, as you water flowers, catch fish and dig for fossils. But before you know it the game has its hooks in you, as you meet friends via the Wi-Fi Network Connection to chat and compete or start playing the turnip stock market. With over 600 different pieces of furniture to collect the game has a near infinite lifetime and by running in real-time with special events all through the year you’ll find yourself checking in daily with what’s going on around town.

Most exciting moment:
Winning a fishing competition against three friends and rubbing their noses in it via the online chat.

Since you ask:
The first Animal Crossing game was actually released on the N64 in Japan – the GameCube version was a slightly enhanced version of this.

The bottom line:
Live the life idyllic on your DS with the best use of the Wi-Fi Network Connection yet.
HARRISON DENT

In a nutshell:
It's been over fifteen years since the last Super Mario Bros. but finally Mario is back in a proper 2D platforming adventure. Just because it's old school though doesn't mean it's old hat...

The lowdown:
Considering the last Super Mario Bros. game is still the best selling video game of all time (17.28 million copies and counting) this has a lot to live up to, but it almost effortlessly captures the action and charm of the old games. The basics of the game are the same as always as you run and jump through mostly horizontally scrolling levels. New to the game are power-ups that turn Mario into a giant or make him really tiny, as well as one that gives him a Koopa shell on his back to attack enemies with. Although the gameplay is all in two dimensions the graphics are 3D, with all new moves such as the triple jump and wall jump added in as well.

Most exciting moment:
As well as the single player mode there's also a wireless multiplayer mode where you get to battle a friend (as Luigi) across a whole bunch of specially designed levels.

Since you ask:
As Super Mario World on the SNES (since re-released as Super Mario Advance 2 on the GBA) was subtitled Super Mario Bros. 4 in Japan that name couldn't be used for this new game, although that's secretly whatever everyone's calling it - behind Nintendo's back.

The bottom line:
The impossible has happened: Nintendo have created a worthy follow-up to Super Mario Bros. 3!
Harrison Dent