Flock! (360, PS3, $15, Everyone)
A downloadable shepherd game reminiscent of "Pikmin" with a touch of "Lemmings," the cutesy "Flock!" lets you control a space ship that rounds up sheep, cows, chickens and the like and guide them toward a tractor beam while defending the flock from predators.
The action is seemingly geared toward kids but will probably be too tough for all but the most experienced and most patient gamers.
Sluggish controls dampen the fun, but at least there's plenty to do, including cooperative play and the ability to design and upload your own levels, as well as download levels others create.
Puzzle Quest: Galactrix (PS3, 360, $20, Everyone 10+)
A downloadable puzzle-outer space-strategy-game hybrid lets you cruise the galaxy collecting technology, managing weapons and spacecraft and challenging enemies in dogfights.
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When the battles start, the game shifts into a three-dimensional take on "Bejeweled," tasking you to rearrange a random grid of colored baubles to line three or more of the same color up in a row, making the row disappear and rearranging the grid.
The game is deep and involving, but occasionally it seems like you win or lose battles based more on chance than skill.
Also available on DS.
Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure (DS, $30, Everyone)
"Hatsworth" is sort of like "Puzzle Quest," only it mixes a "Bejeweled"-like puzzle game with Mario-like, side-scrolling run-and-jump action rather than strategy.
The hero is a snooty British adventurer who hunts for lost mystical relics. As you have him scamper, shoot and avoid enemies on the top screen, you hastily rearrange the puzzle blocks on the bottom screen to defeat enemies and make Henry more powerful.
It's a novel concept but often asks you to do too much at once and will probably turn off a lot of players who will find it too frustrating.
Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic (PS3, $10, Everyone 10+)
This inexpensive downloadable fighter doesn't quite do enough to earn its asking price.
"Fists of Plastic" applies lifelike physics to action-figure-like characters who do monotonous battle. The fighters' hits, dodges and parries knock opponents backward due to the angle and force of the attack, coordinated with the resistance and movement direction of the one taking the hit. It's a different setup to the pre-set animations in most fighting games.
The problem is the game feels more like a technical animation class thesis than a full-figured game. The game is incredibly thin on features, with a bunch of quick-hit challenges that amount to an extended training session. It really hurts that there's no online play.
