RTL Winter Sports 2009: The next challenge is a compilation of games including seven exciting Winter Olympic sports. This game from Conspiracy Entertainment comes with excellent controls that are functional but quite a mediocre game play. There is a lack of depth in the events throwing cold water on the experience.

Curling, Bobsledding, Ski Jumping, Figure Skating, Skeleton, Speed Skating and Alpine Skiing are the seven games featured. Each sport features nine events except Alpine Skiing which has only three games. You repeat a discipline two times and each event lasts for a minute and a half. In order to achieve the fastest time or the best score, players can opt to play just a single game. It is also possible along with friends or on your own to compete in different tournaments. The campaign mode allows you to complete tasks set for a specific discipline.

Control is entirely through the touch screen. As you start every game, you are required to implement a quick motion like tapping the screen at the right time. This launches the character. After this, it is possible to try for highest score or fastest time by repeating certain motions.

This game comes with all problems usually found on mini games compilations. Simple mechanics stretches the game too long and too many repetitive moves take the fun out of the game. Those who love winter sports will enjoy RTL Winter Sports 2009: The Next Challenge in spite of the monotonous controls and gameplay. With other exciting modes such as the Campaign mode, the game could have been more exciting and fun.

Tags for this review: figure skating, nintendo ds, olympics, review

Sports themes have always been popular among the gaming crowd. The Princess on Ice game by Sega, which is based on the exciting sport of ice skating, is another example of this fact. Published by 505 Games and developed by Arc System Works, the single-player game centres around controlling the acts of four young ice dancers.

All four dancers, namely, Madison, Alyssa, Kelly and Gabrielle entertain you with their different dancing styles. They jump, spin and show the best of their talent to win the Princess on Ice Tournament. The gamers will accompany the youthful dancers in their journey on Princess on Ice as they try to become recognised dancers. They dance their way to stadiums and the most happening dance event. The stylus controls allow the players to shape the destiny of the girls by following their dance prompts on the screen.

Your part is not only limited to the dance, as you also have to customize the looks of these skaters. With so many clothing options available in the game, you can dress up the girls in your way to give them a perfect appearance. Pretty girls will surely love doing this! However, even the most wonderful attire and look has no use if they don’t dance well. So you need to be careful about their moves, which are visible on the upper screen. You also have to be cautious about the heat meter, because a stumble can make them loose upon their points.

Follow the performers and test their dancing skills to decide whether they deserve the title of ‘Princess on Ice’.

Tags for this review: ds lite rhythm, figure skating