Cory in the House (Nintendo DS)

Fans of the That's So Raven TV spin-off Cory in the House should also enjoy playing the video game of the same name. In the CORY IN THE HOUSE video game, 15-year-old Cory Baxter has settled into his new digs in the White House, where his father is head chef to the president. But in keeping with the theme of the TV show, Cory finds himself in a typically ridiculous situation when the presidential bobble head dolls he's been selling turn out to have hypnotic powers and start brainwashing people. With the help of friends like Meena, Newt, and Stickler, Cory must break the hypnotic spell of the bobble heads.

While moving around, players can tap on objects and characters to interact with them. Some items can be added to an inventory to be used later. Cory also has a PDA that he can use to stay in contact with friends and ask them for help, and a journal with checkboxes that outlines what he's supposed to do next. You can also enter "sneak mode" with the press of a button in order to bypass secret agents and avoid hypnotized people, who emit a harmful hypnotic wave. If stealth fails, however, there's also a never-ending supply of nakishka pastries to lob at adversaries to temporarily stun them. Gameplay also incorporates mini-games like flying the remote-control Buzzy the Spy Fly through air vents to get to inaccessible areas, guiding Cory around the city by selecting the right directions, and tapping in time with the beat as Cory plays drums in his band, the D.C. 3 Beats. If friends each own a copy of the game, they can play the music mini-game together over Wi-Fi.

The graphics are OK but not great, and the dialogue is a bit corny (and comes with complete with "studio audience" laugh track) but it is, after all, simply reflecting the source material. All in all, Cory in the House captures the spirit of the TV show very nicely, and the balance of action, problem-solving, and mini-games keeps the experience from getting too repetitive.

Available on: Nintendo DS
Not available online
Genre: Action/Adventure
Developer: Disney Interactive
Released on: April 22, 2008
Price: 29.99
ESRB Rating: E for Comic Mischief