Fans on both sides of the Wii and PlayStation 3 argument should stop complaining about which system is better. For once, they're both right: Each system has its share of excellent games — and a few stinkers, too. The lowdown on some initial offerings that are exclusive to each of these next-generation systems, for those of you lucky enough to have somehow scored one:

'EXCITE TRUCK'

Wii, rated E for everyone.

Back in May, when I first tried out this racing game, I was immediately struck by the control scheme: You maneuver by holding the Wii's remote sideways, then "turn" it like a steering wheel. It's a system that works well once you get the hang of it, though with only a few different racing modes this game comes off as being more of a showcase for the controls than a full-blown game. But the graphics really do convey a sense of speed, and the sudden fiery boost you get from a perfect landings is a real rush for you adrenaline seekers.

'GENJI: DAYS OF THE BLADE'

PS3, rated T for teen.

One of two bonafide, brainless, hack-and-slash action games for the PlayStation 3. This ninja-fighting game makes limited use of the PS3's "Sixaxis" motion-sensing controller for dodging attacks and moving around, but really, this is mainly a visual feast where button mashing will get you furthest.

'MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM: CROSSFIRE'

PS3, rated T for teen.

A major disappointment. Some pretty spiffy visuals of walking tanks are marred by a slow, choppy frame rate, a nonexistent story and boring, sparse battlefields.

'RED STEEL'

Wii, rated T for teen.

Perhaps one of the more ambitious games for the Wii is this new first-person shooter/slasher game developed by Ubisoft exclusively for the diminutive new console. But in an unfortunate twist, the controls end up being the biggest source of aggravation as you try to wield guns and katanas in good-looking levels set in Los Angeles and Tokyo. It's hard enough to aim weapons, but moving around without dying is an even bigger pain.

'RESISTANCE: FALL OF MAN'

PS3, rated M for mature.

This first-person shooter is the closest thing Sony has to a marquee, big-budget launch title, and though the game play is fairly standard it's the one game that has everything an action fan could want: lots of cool weapons, hulking, angry aliens and a pretty robust online mode for multiplayer shootouts. The sharp graphics aren't the best I've seen, but they do a good job at conveying the chaos of battle, and the sound effects will have you dodging for cover.

'RIDGE RACER 7'

PS3, rated E for everyone.

The definitive racing game for the PS3, at this early stage, conveys an amazing sense of speed with fluid, realistic graphics and a bevy of different modes and options. Realism isn't a goal with its simplified, arcade-style controls, but fans of "drift racing" will find a title filled with curvy raceways where turning and sliding your racer sideways are one and the same. The sense of speed is astounding, no doubt buoyed by some luscious graphics.

SUPER MONKEY BALL: BANANA BLITZ

Wii, rated E for everyone.

Previous versions in the Monkey Ball series have always tested my lack of coordination a bit too much. This time, rolling a monkey trapped in a ball around various obstacle courses seems somehow ... natural. It's really great fun as you use the Wii remote control to "tilt" the world around, thereby steering our heroic monkey ball through gravity-defying courses, collecting bananas along the way.

'THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESS'

Wii, rated T for teen.

I was disappointed when Nintendo failed to invite Mario Bros. and company to the Wii's opening party. But they do gamers right with this new chapter in the venerable "Zelda" franchise. This time, our hero Link rides a horse and even transforms into a wolf as he ventures into the Twilight Realm in an epic struggle against evil. It may not sport the best graphics, but it's one of the deepest, most engaging games to come from Nintendo's beloved fantasy universe.

'TRAUMA CENTER: SECOND OPINION'

Wii, rated T for teen.

Another showcase of how the Wii's controls can really elevate a game. This remake of "Trauma Center: Under the Knife" for the Wii's portable sibling, the Nintendo DS, gets down and dirty in the operating room with a slew of new surgical tools and techniques at a player's disposal. Who knew mending bones or tying stitches could be fun?

'UNTOLD LEGENDS: DARK KINGDOM'

PS3, rated T for teen.

Part II of Sony's hack-and-slash lineup delivers a fantasy-filled romp through the land of Dureth. You can choose between melee and ranged combatants, then prepare for hours of thumb-splitting action as you crush one enemy after another, gaining experience points and new abilities as you progress. The visuals here are top notch, though not as impressive to me as what I saw in "Genji."

'WII SPORTS'

Wii, rated E for everyone; included with the console.

Nintendo made a smart move by including this collection of five simple sports games with every Wii. From tennis to baseball, "Wii Sports" provides a satisfying, if facile, break from the norm and makes superb use of the system's unconventional controls. Just make sure you clear out enough space in your living room before you start flailing your arms around like a maniac.