Product: dreamGear’s Wii Dual Glow Sabers (aka Dual Glow Lightsabers for Wii)Price: $34.99Rating: One thumb sideways, one thumb down; 67/100; D+; * 1/2 out of five.Pros: You get two in one package. Light construction does not interfere with motion. Hilt is very shiny.Cons: Does not make any of the great Star Wars lightsaber noises. Uneven illumination. A bit chintzy.Overall: Like most lightsaber toys, a bit of a letdown since it does not make any sounds of its own. My almost-two-year-old loves to swing one around (sans WiiMote, of course). Only get this if it’s deeply discounted.

Intended to be used with Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (and suggested to go with No More Heroes and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess) for Wii, dreamGear’s Dual Glow Sabers are WiiMote holsters that are intended to provide the illusion of wielding a lightsaber while gaming.

Unfortunately, the idealized wonder of an actual Lightsaber meant this accessory had too much working against it before it was even made…

Along with novelty gift cards, the other inexpensive plastic tchockies I like to scout for are kids meal toys.

As a followup to last year’s Wendy’s Wii toys, Burger King is offering this year’s Wii-related tiny toys intended for tots (but not those under the age of three, of course). The ten toys are…

Click through for the coupon codes, too!

For those of you who want to trim their tree with game-themed ornaments, you do have a few more options than the usual Hallmark stuff. A couple companies make cutsie, less recognizable and usually more affordable (and copyright-free) gamer ornaments and, of course, there are always a few at the create-your-own product sites.

Click through for a list of some of the gamer ornaments for sale this holiday season…

Archie McPhee, the company known for creating silly and unconventional amusements, has just created a new item for the holiday season – the inflatable fruitcake. Yes, for $9.50 you can send your family, friends or even yourself a life-size inflatable fruitcake. My favorite part is the Frequently Asked Questions sections of the site, which tells you why fruitcakes are so terrible and how you possibly lived before the inflatable fruitcake was invented.

Now, you may be wondering what exactly a fruitcake has to do with gaming. Good question! First – I’m sure there are some desperate gamers out there who, after receiving that game they’ve wanted for weeks for Christmas decided to pull an all-nighter playing it. After hour 23 of their gaming marathon, their sense of judgment have been impaired and they might have accidentally ingested some of the ornamental family fruitcake. Now, with the inflatable fruitcake, there is no more temptation to actually eat a real one.

Second, the act of giving a fruitcake is a bit of a game in and of itself. Its like playing hot-potato…

The 2008 Toys R Us Big Toy Book has been released and this year and the sneak preview mailer is 80 pages of holiday gifty goodness.

There are a lot of video games spread throughout the Big Toy Book this year.

The most noteworthy deals include $10 gift cards with minimum purchase, $5 off Leapster and similar kids’ game systems, Star Wars DS System Value Pack and pink DS bundle for $159.97 each, free exclusive DS Littlest Pet Shop stylus, PS3 BD Remote for $24.99, PSP Skype Headset for $29.99, a free tag team figure with WWE Smack Down vs. RAW game purchase, $100 Pyramat chair and two Toys R Us-exclusive DS games Pet Adoption Center ($29.99) and Soul Bubbles ($19.99). There are also some pretty decent iPod/iPod Touch offers including a $25 iTunes card and $10 gift card. Check way below for a list of more free-stuff-with-purchase type offers.

Click through for a page-by-page breakdown of video game (and iPod) deals as well as a list of other Toys R Us freebies…

Title: NinjatownPrice: $29.99System(s): Nintendo DSRelease Date: October 28, 2008Publisher (Developer): SouthPeak Games (Venan Entertainment and Cashmere Productions)ESRB Rating: “Everyone” for Crude Humor and Mild Cartoon ViolencePros: Incredibly clever writer, unique art style, great game-play, wonderful characters and lots of options to win each level. Also it comes with a Ninjatown window cling!Cons: Later levels can get challenging and Master Ninja microphone activated powers are annoying.Overall Score: Two thumbs up, 95/100, A, **** 1/2 out of 5

I can’t get enough of Ninjatown. Even when I had to replay “The Loop” level in the Business District three times, because the various business devils kept speeding through my defenses, I still couldn’t bring myself to get annoyed with this incredibly charming and funny tower-defense strategic RPG based on the Shawnimal toys.

Ninjatown may not be perfect, but it sure comes close. It is delightfully challenging, has a clever script, adorable characters, lots of unit options and special abilities which can single-handedly turn the tides of battle. If it weren’t for the occasionally frustrating Ol’ Master Ninja powers, Ninjatown would easily have earned a perfect score.

Ubisoft must really be doing well with its Petz line of games, as it has just announced a unique line of stuffed toys, created with Commonwealth Toy Company, to coincide with three new DS games. So if you decide to pick up the DS games Petz Catz Clan, Petz Dogz Pack or Petz Monkeyz House, you can also get a stuffed cat, dog or monkey with a code to unlock that animal in your game.

The games are scheduled to be released this month. Dogz Pack is already available (it came out November 4, 2008), and Catz Clan and Monkey House come out November 18, 2008…

Title: Pet Shop Monogatari DSPrice: $48.90System: Nintendo DSRelease Date: July 8, 2008Publisher (Developer): Taito (Dream Age Collection)ESRB Rating: Everyone Pros: Simple controls, huge selection of pets to discover, variety of items to accessorize pets, many locations to explore, not having to clean any pet danderCons: Simple game play may become repetitive, trial and error pet catching can become frustrating, lack of ability to actually pet animalsOverall Score: One thumb up, one thumb sideways; 88/100; B+; ***1/2 out of five

With Taito’s infamous Mama making the leap from cooking (Cooking Mama) into gardening (Gardening Mama), it was only a matter of time before Mama would spread her bountiful cheerfulness and optimism into yet another game. Pet Shop Monogatari DS (PSMDS) revolves around the newly opened pet shop in Greentown where you, the player, and Mama are in charge.

Click through for the full review…

The PS2 refuses to back down in the midst of its graphically superior successors. Many game companies are still bringing out an ample amount of PS2 titles for the remainder of 2008 including a new bundle for the just released title LEGO Batman: The Video Game. This limited edition bundle is selling for $150 and more »

Title: Dragon Quest IVPrice: $39.99System(s): DSRelease Date: September 16, 2008Publisher (Developer): Square Enix (ArtePiazza)ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+Pros: Wonderful storyline. The multiple chapters are a great way to introduce characters. Beautiful sprites. Interesting multiplayer aspect. A challenging adventure.Cons: Quick save doesn’t work in dungeons. Dialect text can be distracting. Level grinding is mandatory.Overall Score: Two thumbs up, 94/100, A, **** out of 5

Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen deserves an audience. Not only that, but it should have received the same amount of hype as Chrono Trigger DS is currently enjoying. It is a wonderful port of a legendary RPG, and captivates the player…

Click through or the full review!