It's hard to believe, but Christmas is just right around the corner. For parents, that means hitting the stores hoping to find this year's hottest toys. With all the latest gizmos and gadgets, the choices can be pretty overwhelming. So we're trying to make your task a bit easier.

Newschannel 7's Alexandra Hill kicks off our special series, Toy Testers.

It all started with an email sent out to several toy companies asking if they'd like to participate in WJHG's 2009 Toy Test. The rules - they must send us toys or games that are fun, new, or what they're calling the next big thing this holiday season.

Five companies generously responded - Hasbro, Wild Planet, Leapfrog, Jakks Pacific, and V-tech electronics.

So with boxes in hand, I headed straight to Panama City's C.C. Moore Boys and Girls club.

We played. We ate. We even sang. But for Part One of this series we're focusing in on game time.

First hit, the new BopIt! Immediately they were drawn to it, priced at $19.99.

"I would like for Christmas the new Bop It! because you can play with more people, you can pass it around, and you got shout-it,” said a kid tester.

Bop-it is certainly a fun and noisy game for friends.

Next hit, also priced at $19.99, Jenga. Now called Jenga Max, the game doesn't look anything like the classic wood version, but the kids seemed satisfied with the update.

We also tested out the new Connect 4, now called Connect 4x4, because it allows more friends to get in on the action . At first it seemed kind of tricky, but once the kids learned the new way of playing, they loved it.

However, not all the games were that easy to master.

"Some of the more intricate games such as Monopoly, the kids didn't seem to like so much. I mean its skyscraper Monopoly. Kids didn't want to have to spend all the time putting it together and then bumping it over and it falling apart,” said Boys and Girls Club Unit Director, Terry Sasser.

The new Monopoly, called Monopoly City, adds 3D buildings and an electronic device that helps you figure out the economic conditions in the game.

But at our Toy Test, Monopoly caused quite a few puzzled looks.

Another game frustration was the new Clue Secrets and Spies version. To get the full experience, kids must use cell phones with text messaging to receive clues and tips that help them solve the murder mystery.

"The clue game was pretty bad too because you had to use a real cell phone for the game itself," said a kid tester.

Standard messaging charges with that game do apply. Clue priced in at $24.99.

This is just a taste of WJHG’s Toy Test 2009. We've got plenty more toys to tell you about during Part 2 and Part 3 of our special "Toy Tester" series.