'Hail to the Chimp'

2 stars = Mediocre
Ratings explained

In "Hail to the Chimp" (Xbox 360, PS3; $39.99; Teen) several members of the Animal Kingdom are vying for election to the newly established presidency, and they have to secure enough clams (not a euphemism -- these are actual clams), the largest and most easily swayed voting bloc, to win.

In practice, this means that each of the game's challenges has clams as the goal; they serve the same purpose as coins (or whatever) would in another game. It makes as about much sense as the Electoral College.

The campaign mode takes players through several sets of minigames, each with its own victory conditions; coming out first overall at a campaign stop nets a win for that area.

The graphics have a vibrant style, but it can be a little hard to tell what's going on during a frenzied clam-grab. The games themselves aren't too much fun, and while some of the game's writing is clever, it'd be stretch to say it's really funny.

'Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice'

2 stars = Mediocre
Ratings explained

The 18th game in a series of Nancy Drew cases by Her Interactive, "The Phantom of Venice" (PC; $19.99; Everyone) harkens to the still-frame puzzles of "Myst" and other such brain teasers. Even the graphics could have come from the '90s.

Drew is in Venice, undercover, charged with discovering the identity of the mysterious Phantom, a masked and caped man who has been stealing famous artworks with barely a trace. She has to traverse the city looking for clues, spying on people and otherwise attempting to suss out the man (or is it?) behind the mask.

There is a lot of talking involved, so it's a boon that the voice acting is generally good.

'Braid'

3 stars = Good
Ratings explained

A time-bending adventure with a captivating, painterly art style and a gorgeous score, "Braid" (Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade download; $15; 10-plus) is worth the asking price, a $5 premium on the common price for an Xbox Live Arcade game.

"Braid" mixes platform puzzle-solving and light enemy-bopping action with something akin to "Prince of Persia's" Dagger of Time, but without that tool's limitations -- players in this game can rewind as far and as often as they wish, and can fast-forward again as well. The player can never really die or fail, just give up and try again later.

There are several worlds in the game, each with a set of jigsaw puzzle pieces to find (and a puzzle board to solve, of course). Getting the pieces is tricky, requiring precise manipulation of time and objects. No two worlds are alike; heck, no two areas in a world are alike. Some are tougher than others, but all are unique puzzle boxes.