Welcome to the inaugural edition of 'Out This Week': every week NE will throw the spotlight on the latest Wii and DS releases, to assist in the precarious mission of selection at your local games emporium. We live to give, people.

Wii

Super Mario Strikers: Charged Football

Yes, yes, we're all patiently waiting for the big titles to arrive on the console. But that doesn't mean there isn't fun to be had in the meantime: while we obsess over the possibilities of Galaxy, Nintendo (or, rather, the Canadian Next Level Games) are providing some light relief. Charged is the obvious sequel to the Gamecube's Strikers, an entertaining title that provided one of the few reasons to be cheerful playing the Gamecube late in its lifespan.

The Mario sports formula is simple, but still brilliant: strip away any unnecessary complications, or anything that might impede the direct simplicity of the action, streamline the tactical worries, beef up the primary colours, and stuff in as many crazy power-ups and characters as possible. The end effect is always the same: rollicking good times with friends, and something that's genuinely all-embracing. And the joy of saving goals using motion sensitivity is something Pro Evo can only dream of. [Hands-on Preview]

Verdict: Late winner.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Serious critics hate the Pirates of the Carribean films, and with good reason. While they may or may not be "the death of narrative cinema" they are clearly lowest common denominator products, stuffed with unlikeable actors, no attention to the plot and character components of screenwriting, designed purely to please a family audience's sense for two or three hours, and pull in as much cash as possible. And they have visited upon us the crime that is Orlando Bland. But at least they offer something resembling fun, if you could switch off for a bit. This does not: like last year's gaming debacle, Disney's assembly-produced cash-in has all the hallmarks of brainless, cynical, exploitation 'synergy': dull, studifyingly easy gameplay, misguided attempts to borrow from multiple genres and pointless collectathons. There's talk of a fourth Pirates. For then love of God, don't give them any excuses.

Verdict: Bunch of barnacles.

Bionicle Heroes

The team behind Star Was Lego turn to another brick franchise, but fail to replicate its delicious, trashy fun. With watered down action and combat for the kids, has failed to spark with critics, who bemoaned its repetitive and lazy gameplay. A potential afternoon-killer for younger siblings, perhaps, but one that should probably be employed on a rival console: in its effort to 'Wii-ify' the title, the developers have adopted a criminal aiming control system with motion sensitivity. Forget snappy, fun, blasting: try laborious, crushing, trying to move your aim by ramming the sides of the screen with your cursor. NOM seemed to like it, though, if that's any consolation.

Verdict: Bionicle Zeroes. O-ho!

DS

Custom Robo Arena

Pokemon meets Transformers: Custom Robo Arena heads to the DS. For newcomers, the game blends arena-based robot combat, generic 'go over there, talk to him' RPG mechanics and light-tactical upgrading and customisation. The DS version will hopefully help the franchise pick up fans in the West, and has a good chance to doing so with the blocky, appealing delight of large, battling metal men. It's not challenging, and the story is shallower than shower water, but if you're a bored DS owner, fan of mindless metal violence, or about twelve years, you could do a lot worse.

Verdict: More Bumblebee than Optimus.

Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales

Final Fantasy's feathered mascots have had a surprisingly large collection of games dedicated to them, though obviously they generally only deserve the attention of FF completionists. Chocobo Tales continues the tradition of mellow, inoffensive bird-based experiences. Take part in lots of mini-games to save your Chocobo friends from some sort of evil fellow, and take on foes in the glorious duels of strength that are deck-based card games. It's not The Gathering, it's nothing approaching convoluted, and it's dressed up in bright, safe colours. Some of the clever mini-games will spike your attention, though, and a fair amount of adults, once they get past their pretensions, could get a kick of the title. If you're intimidated by the thought of passing the box to the girl behind the counter, pay a kid to do it for you.

Verdict: Pure diabetes, but an enjoyable kind.

SpongeBob SquarePants and Friends: Battle for Volcano Island

When I wrote for now-deceased Alt Gaming, they liked me so much I always got the below-average, vanilla, four out of ten titles. The Spongebob and Friends game of the time was no exception, and I'm still bitter about it. I sincerely doubt Volcano Island will be any better; even IGN had to give it a mediocre mark. Avoid.

Verdict: If it's good I'll eat a sponge.

Next Week... Wario Dresses Up

Agree? Disagree? Planning on buying something for your console? Let us know in the comments section!