hardest games to walk away from
Spore
(Maxis, $50, for PC and Mac)
The much-anticipated release of Spore has come and passed, and we couldn’t be more smitten. The evolution game challenges players to create and expand their own civilizations within a world of homemade vagabonds. From life in primordial state to space travel, Spore will keep the most attention-deficient game players fascinated. —SP
Penguin Club: Elite Penguin Force
(Disney Interactive Studios, $30, for Nintendo DS)
The online social club is now portable so your secret agents can carry over their penguin avatar from the online community to take on covert missions and collect coins that transfer between both snow-covered portals. —SP
Wii Music
(Nintendo, $50, for the Wii)
While perhaps not as entertaining as its Rock Band predecessor, Wii Music offers an educational platform for youngsters to explore over 60 musical instruments. From strumming a guitar in lesson mode to harnessing the beat in Mii Maestro, Wii Music may help tempo-challenged players establish interest, and some rhythm, before investing in the real thing. —SP
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