WiiMusic
Publisher: Nintendo
Rated: E
Score: **

Much like Guitar Hero or other rhythm-based games, WiiMusic relies on keeping the beat. Choose over 60 instruments that require mimicking one of four different control schemes to play (horn, percussion, guitar and violin). No need to worry about hitting a wrong note: The Wii chooses them for you. But that’s exactly the problem with WiiMusic: The strong autopilot gives you no real incentive to play — you’re just waving the remote and nunchuck around in time to the downbeats. Add a shortlist of unlockable, tepid songs and the game wears out its welcome all too quickly.

Game Party 2
Publisher: Midway
Rated: E
Score: * 1/2

Ever wanted to play a game of lawn darts without having to physically drag your butt out to the backyard to do it? Your ship has come in: A triumph of lethargy, Game Party 2 collects 11 basic events for the casual player such as horseshoes, hoop shots and Skee-Ball. The controls are more or less the same for every event — hold A, throw and release. The games amuse for about five minutes until you finally conclude you could do this for real and get some actual exercise and fresh air.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars — Light Saber Duels
Publisher: Lucasart
Rated: T
Score: *** 1/2

You use your Wii remote as you would an actual lightsaber, swinging and thrusting as you battle your way through the Clone Wars. You’ve also got force attacks, the ability to throw objects at your opponent, and special combos depending on which character you use.

The action is heavy, but the violence is relatively light — making this one a perfect choice this Christmas for the boy, whether he’s seven or 28 (and still living in your basement).