As a counterpart to my earlier list of disappointing Wii games, I’ve put together a year-end list of the best unexpected surprises on Nintendo’s handheld. Like the last list, these aren’t just notable games – they’re titles that weren’t looking so hot (or they arrived under the radar), and they turned out to be awesome. See gamers? Happy endings are possible.

Keep these puppies in mind for holiday shopping – everybody loves a good handheld game in their stocking.

Title: Space Invaders ExtremePrice: $19.99System(s): PSP (DS)Release Date: June 17, 2008Publisher (Developer): Taito/Square EnixESRB Rating: “Everyone”Pros: Beautiful graphics, frantically fun soundtrack and all-round innovative take on an arcade classic. A decent ad-hoc multiplayer mode.Cons: Some boss levels overly difficult and some elements may be lost on the long screen. No online or single-UMD multiplayer modes.Overall Score: Two thumbs up; 90/100; A-; * * * * out of five.

This not just the same old Space Invaders arcade game with a fancy schmancy new skin. This is mother-Space frackin-Invaders Extreme, dammit. It’s beefed up with enough elements to be fun even for those who have never played the original and familiar enough to be fun for those who have.

Click through for the full review…

Title: Space Invaders ExtremePrice: $19.99System(s): DS (PSP)Release Date: June 17, 2008Publisher (Developer): Taito/Square EnixESRB Rating: “Everyone”Pros: Chaotic graphics, frantically fun soundtrack and all-round innovative take on an arcade classic. Nice multiplayer features including a simple yet fun online mode. Rumble pack compatible.Cons: Some boss levels overly difficult, compounded by two-screen split.Overall Score: Two thumbs up; 97/100; A; * * * * 1/2 out of five.

I’ve become a bit jaded by supposedly revamped classic games with an exciting word tacked at the end of the name. In most cases, such as the “Deluxe” line Xbox Live games, it means they simply took an old ROM, juiced up the graphics, added a new soundtrack, created a leaderboard and dialed up the speed to 11. It’s not so much “Deluxe” as the same ol’ game in a pixelated tux.

Space Invaders Extreme, however, is so much more than it’s arcade and early console predecessors that it actually deserves its “Extreme” moniker…