Reviews are out of four stars.

'X-Men: The Official Game'

Too bad Wolverine and his mutant pals didn't pool their super powers and team up on the folks who conceived and released this disappointing summer movie tie-in. Even the most devoted fans of the beloved comic book characters will find it tough to remain engaged by this pedestrian smackfest.

"X-Men: The Official Game" (Activision; PS2, X360, Xbox, GC, PC, DS, GBA; $29.99 to $59.99; console and PC versions Rated T, handheld versions rated E10+) isn't awful. But it could have been X-traordinary if its writers and developers had mined the rich history of the franchise when devising a story and had come up with more for its formidable cast to say and do.

The game takes place after "X-Men United," the second of three "X-Men" films, ends and before this summer's "X-Men: The Last Stand." It references events and places that have figured in the films to set up the action, but it doesn't require familiarity with the films in order to play. It also recalls a character or two who don't make an appearance in the current film but will be recognizable to X-Men buffs.

So far, so good. But the blah story that drives "The Official Game" lacks nuance and emotion. Better know something about the X-Men and their stories ahead of time, because you won't learn or care much about these tortured folks in this outing.

About all that these characters do is bound from place to place, kicking and slashing through look-alike hordes of easy-to-beat foes. Ho-hum. They do have some individual skills, but for the most part, their battle moves and those of the bosses they fight are indistinguishable.

"The Official Game" allows you to play as razor-clawed Wolverine, blue-skinned Nightcrawler or ice-veined Bobby, but it also limits character choices in some levels rather than allowing you to retain the guise of your favorite hero. We had fun playing as Iceman and would have relished more opportunities to surf through this sky on his ice boogie board.

We were surprised to discover that a game so obviously linked to a current box-office hit did not make liberal use of film cut scenes. Instead, "The Official Game" moves its levels along with montages of comic book-style framed illustrations, an effective technique that pays homage to the X-Men's roots.

But graphics overall are mundane, and some characters -- Storm in particular -- don't always resemble their film alter-egos. Voices, too, are all over the map. Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Shawn Ashmore and Alan Cumming provide the voices for their film characters. But other characters -- Storm again -- have jarring new voices that don't sound remotely like the actors who originated the roles.

Wasn't it just a couple of weeks ago that we were grumbling about movie spinoffs that were mostly rip-offs? Too bad "X-Men" turns out to be yet another X-ercise of developers who gave more thought to currency than content.

DS Lite

Just in time for summer travel, Nintendo's shorter, skinnier DS Lite handheld system slips easily into pockets, backpacks or purses to provide portable entertainment and (we hope) promote peace for backseat travelers.

Slightly bigger than a deck of cards and less than an inch thick, the new DS ($129.99) packs the same gameplay and wireless communications options as the original silver model. But it's easier to hold and use, thanks to brighter screens and a thicker touch screen stylus that isn't as awkward to grasp and use.

We also like the sleep mode and the snap-in cover that protects the slot for Game Boy Advance games when it is not being used. One caution, though: turning up the DS's screen-brightness setting to the highest level will drain its rechargeable battery more quickly.