Realistic modern America

That list made me remember how much I was in love with Retro Game Challenge at the beginning of the year.

You get to play several NES style games, and to make it more interesting you are challenged by a mischievous floating head to complete different tasks in the games like get to the 3rd level without using a power up or complete a race in x amount of time etc. There is a strange puzzle game, a galaga clone, a classic rpg, a rally racer, a top down shooter like Xevious but in outer space and the sequels to some of those games. After you have completed the challenge set, you may play any of these games in free play.

You are given game magazines with cheat codes and strategies as well as nicely illustrated game manuals for each game. You can access these on screen at any time after they are unlocked.

If you grew up playing NES in its initial release and you read Nintendo Power every month, this is an attempt at replicating that experience and for me the nostalgia and fun factors were equally high.

(skip to 3:50 to see gameplay)

Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes is a puzzle RPG for DS. You can use either the D-Pad or the stylus to control your board. It plays like most puzzle games, you match like colored troops in different proportions to combine them into one attacking force. When their time runs down, they attack the other side and lower enemy HP. You can equip different types of troops and different artifacts that apply to the entire board to customize your play style and aid in different battles. There is also a magic attack assortment you can equip and fire to clear an enemy row or inflict major damage on the overall enemy HP.

Most battles are visible on the board before you begin. There are places you can grind in random confrontations if you wish also (each type of troop needs to be leveled).

You can save anywhere outside of a battle which makes the game great for quick bursts of puzzley RPG goodness.