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.

The DS Lite is so versatile that he can take nearly any console game and make it a handheld success. Sports games aren’t off-limits for the handheld either, football, basketball, baseball and even track and field can be successfully ported to the console. In fact, the New International Track and Field is the latest example of an athletic oriented game to hit the DS Lite.

The game mainly relies on two different control options, including standard button tapping, and scribbling on the touch screen. During the game you’ll notice that both these control options are magnificently responsive, and the touch screen controls have been implemented particularly effectively and intuitively. New International Track & Field’s concept of gameplay is based on the Olympic Games, so you obviously have to compete in a variety of events, including swimming, pole jumping, racing, shooting, javelin throws etc. Yes, even events, such as swimming or shooting that are not traditionally considered track and field, have been added to the game as an extra bonus.

In most of the events quick button tapping is required, but in some, such as skeet shooting, much less strenuous effort is needed. The title’s graphics offer nothing ground breaking, but do not hinder the gameplay either. Any sports lovers, who felt there was a sports gap for the DS Lite might be tempted to pick up this well executed title.

Nintendo DS Lite players can now participate in the 2008 Olympic Games. That’s certainly not a false statement. But let me complete my statement by specifying that Ds Lite players can participate by playing one of the characters in the game ‘Mario and Sonic at the Olympic games’. I really didn’t mean to break your heart by telling the truth. But I am sure that even this piece of news has made you ecstatic, now that you can load this game onto your DS Lite. It is the first official video game of the 2008 Summer Olympics games.

The backdrop of the game shows the actual venues of the Olympic Games which is to be held this year in Beijing. There are a total of twenty events in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Nintendo DS), which are divided into eight different classifications: athletics, gymnastics, shooting, rowing, archery, aquatics, fencing, table tennis and boxing. The game play involves utilizing a combination of the stylus and button controls on DS Lite to complete each event, which may require speed, timing and strategy.

The player can assume the role as one of these characters while competing against the other characters in numerous Olympic as well as fantasy events. So get ready for some real Olympic action on your DS.