Essential Selections
Super Mario Galaxy 2
From: WII
For: Nintendo,www.nintendo.com
Rating:■■■■◧
Let's be real: For a fat, old plumber, Mario still moves about trippy, spherical 3D worlds like a man half his age. Thank his prehensile-tongued dinosaur sidekick Yoshi, who provides a handy lift, plus new power-ups like a nifty drill. Granted, while mostly headlining more of the same platform-hopping challenges you know and love, we've precious few complaints.
Red Dead Redemption
For: Playstation 3, Xbox 360
From: Rockstar Games,www.rockstargames.com
Rating:■■■■◧
Join outlaw hero John Marston as his action-packed tale - a sprawling odyssey that sees you exploring a world of parched badlands and rolling frontiers - it does for spaghetti Westerns what Grand Theft Auto did for underworld epics. From tussles with angry bears, showdowns at high noon and frantic stagecoach chases, it's one strikingly ornery (and replayable) varmint.
DSI XL
From: Nintendo,www.nintendo.com
Rating:■■■◧
Though essentially just an overgrown DSi, this portable game console packs a wallop with its oversized 4.25-inch displays, larger stylus and comfier handling. Albeit, no must-have upgrade for current owners; newcomers shouldn't hesitate to purchase, given the device's solid ergonomics and built-in support for downloadable games. Meanwhile, existing fans will admittedly be wowed by the more eye-catching visual spectacles its beefier screen real estate enables.
EVO 4G
From: HTC,www.sprint.com, $TBD
Rating:■■■■◧
The latest top-ranked smartphone contender comes correct on two key fronts: zippy download speeds and a bevy of must-see features. Compatible with both 3G and 4G (even higher-speed) wireless networks, the Android handset doesn't just boast a 4.3-inch touchscreen, integrated social network feeds and dual digital cameras with HD video capability (a Skype user's dream). It's also capable of functioning as a WiFi hotspot, allowing up to eight wireless-enabled devices to become Internet-connected virtually anytime, anywhere.
Other Must-Haves
Lost Planet 2
For: Playstation 3, Xbox 360
From: Capcom, www.capcom.com
Rating:■■■■◧
Super-size can of Raid, anyone? You'll need it here, as this thinly-veiled Starship Troopers clone sends trigger-happy sci-fi commandos on a hunt to squish skyscraper-sized bugs. Thankfully, what it lacks in originality, it more than atones for with a toy box ranging from machineguns to mechanized suits - and, better yet, enough pyrotechnics to make Michael Bay blush.
Alpha Protocol
For: PC, Playstation 3, XBox 360, www.dlink.com
From: Sega, www.sega.com
Rating:■■■■
Think Dungeons & Dragons meets James Bond. Unlike typical role-players, this contemporary yarn ditches fantasy and futuristic trappings for the world of clandestine ops. As a suave secret agent, kit yourself out with killer weapons skills and combat techniques while exploring exotic locales and putting the moves on femme fatales.
Front Mission Evolved
For: PC, Playstation 3, XBox 360
From: Square-Enix www.square-enix.com
Rating:■■■◧
Trading tense tactical standoffs for more visceral gunfights, this new spin on the popular Japanese import demands you be the last giant robot standing. Your mission: outfit a "wanzer" (read: walking tank) with missiles and machineguns, then pound pals or computer-controlled adversaries until they're scrap metal. Consider it a fun, if fleeting, take on mechanized mayhem.
MPRO 150
From: 3M, www.3m.com, $395
Rating:■■■◧
Making formal presentations can be daunting. Thankfully, said mobile projector -weighing just 5.6oz and packing 1GB of internal memory, microSD card support and stereo speakers - at least eliminates issues with technical frustration. Pack the gizmo, capable of screening documents, spreadsheets, photos (and yes, all your favorite "art" films), and you can leave the laptop, if not your longstanding fear of public speaking, at home.
Yo-Gen
From: YoGen,www.yogenstore.com, $39.99
Rating:■■■◧
The next time your celly, iPod or PSP is about to croak, consider resurrecting it by putting those muscles (why do you have one arm that's 5X stronger than the other, anyhow?) to use. Merely tug this mobile hand charger a few times, and voila. Portable gadgets get an instant burst of power, making it a welcome supply of emergency juice.