DS Diva

Sim Animals

When the list of Nintendo DS games anticipated for release during the first three months of 2009 came out, it was immediately clear that Nintendo as well as game developers continue to value the female market. Here are just a few of the games to be excited about in Q1 2009:

1. Retro Game Challenge holds special allure for those of us who came of age during video games’ first heyday in the early 1980s. The game is framed around a couple of kids who are transported into a word of video games in 8-bit style, from action to puzzles to role-playing and even racing. There are also in-game magazines featuring video game history and trends as well as cheat codes for the games themselves. Retro Game Challenge is $29.99 and due out Feb. 10. You can see preview videos on the Amazon page.

2. If you like simulation games such as The Sims, or have been waiting to try one out, SimAnimals is for you! The world you build and control is one of woodland creatures such as deer, ducks and bears, all interacting in true Sim fashion. Sim Animals is $29.99 for DS but is available for Wii.

3. Big Bang Mini sounds like a fun, outer space shoot-em-up, like Asteroids on ‘roids. Launch fireworks toward enemies by using your stylus! Its release date is Jan. 20 and you can see a preview video on the product’s Amazon page. Big Bang Mini is $19.99.

4. I can’t decide if Coraline is cute or creepy. The premise, based on the rated PG animated Coraline movie in theaters Feb. 6, is a young girl who moves into a mesmerizing house and can explore both the Normal World and the Other World as she collects buttons as currency, finds cute outfits and fills her scrapbook with photos. It’s priced at $29.95 and is due out Jan. 29.

5. If you’re a fan of Professor Layton and the Curious Village , you will definitely want to check out Henry Hatsworth & The Puzzling Adventure. The game combines action with puzzle challenges as you hunt for ability-granting artifacts in five worlds. It’s $29.99 and the release date has not been set.