The Old Republic is far from perfect, but no game since World of Warcraft has offered a similar experience with such a wide appeal.

Whether as a Raiden game or a general shoot-em-up, Raiden IV doesn't really take any steps forward. That's not so bad, though: it looks good (better than most other similar games on Xbox 360), plays good, and has a suitable amount of extras. For a shooter enthusiast, it's just about all you can ask for -- and at around $40, less than standard retail price. It's just nice to see Raiden again.

Underworld is an incredibly abrupt experience, so much so that it makes me question whether content was removed from the complete game to be made available later as the previously announced downloadable content. Six levels in (seven if you count the prologue), the game just...ends. Sure, the last level is a cool showpiece, but it lacks any sense of built-up narrative and even a final boss -- simply a closing cut-scene that wraps up most of the loose ends all too handily.

The story mode is ingenious, and it's shocking no simulation sports game in this era has taken this on until now. But the execution does have flaws.

The King of Fighters XIII offers a phenomenal fighting game experience you won't find in many newer fighting games, and while the learning curve might be steep, the time and effort you put into it won't be obliterated by mindless mashing of uppercuts or ridiculous comeback mechanics. If you want to be the King of Fighters, you have to earn it.

While it doesn't reach the status of a great Western, it's still a marked improvement over its mediocre predecessor.

Missing are the large sprites, the branching storylines, the dual-planed settings, and perhaps most disappointing to me, the undead hero, a truly iconic figure of the original game.

The King of Fighters XIII offers a phenomenal fighting game experience you won't find in many newer fighting games, and while the learning curve might be steep, the time and effort you put into it won't be obliterated by mindless mashing of uppercuts or ridiculous comeback mechanics. If you want to be the King of Fighters, you have to earn it.

It refines previous ideas but lacks that big "wow" factor we've seen in the past. It's thoroughly, thoroughly competent and shouldn't be overlooked, but it really is "Need for Speed Again."

Still, while it stumbles to pull everything together, Limbo is short and certainly worth experiencing, if for nothing else, than to see this beautiful, two-tone world yourself.

Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus is an enjoyable experience, and its strengths shine when played by two human opponents. Between two skilled players, matches are exciting and fun to play, mostly because the game's rules and mechanics require constant attacking and engagement.

GTPSP is not a bad game by any means; it's a great fit for the PSP and offers a genuine Gran Turismo racing experience on the go, but it's constantly hindered by its boggling lack of structure. More than anything, GTPSP lacks a sense of direction.

The big downside to all of this frantic fun are the vehicles and heavy armor walkers.

When looking at this strictly from a playability sense, this game's easy to learn and fun to master.

The game avoids taking any necessary risks, focusing instead on presenting raucous concerts in the same carefully constructed way all of the Rock Band games have. But, honestly, both lapsed and longtime Green Day fans should enjoy this brief tour through the band's hits.

Solid action-adventure gaming for their respective systems.

The presentation won't blow anyone away, but the convenience of having the entire series on a single cartridge -- and one that, unlike the GBA versions, can be played on a DSi -- counts for a lot.

The controls have also been improved over last year's game, with improved first-person aiming in particular, which works very well for battles where you have to fire off shots as quickly as possible.

Still, even with these issues -- and some save points that are just a tad too far apart -- Blaster Master: Overdrive remains the most competent revisitation of the Blaster Master series.

If you're looking for just having some dumb fun driving in a big sprawling city, smashing and shooting every last thing in your way, then Wheelman is a great pick. However, it never even attempts to reinvent the wheel from any other free-roaming action-adventure.

Tropico 3 beats the hell out of history books, and strangely, most games of its kind. I only wish that the soundtrack had more tunes. And that I could have the DJ shot. God, I can't stand that guy.

But looming over everything is the fact that the most fundamental gameplay element of Tiger Woods 08 -- the swing -- is essentially flawed. And so in spite of the solid competence of most of the rest of the game, I'd recommend you rent the game before purchasing. Just to make sure you've got the patience for it.

It's no better and it's no worse than what you will find on Microsoft's side of the console space. It may not be much of a showcase for what the Playstation 3 can do. But for golf, you can't go wrong with Tiger.

Even with its shortcomings, it's still one of the most value-packed classic compilations available for any system -- as long as you like Sonic.

If you can get past the interface issues, RA3 is wonderfully balanced, in terms of both units and maps, and it features gameplay that's fast without delving into breakneck territory. Even better, it's designed to incorporate cooperative play in both the single- and multiplayer modes -- every mission is played with a "co-commander." Bottom line: RA3's not bad, but if you have a good PC, you're better off buying that version instead.

Rogue Galaxy does a lot of things very well, and it's an enjoyable, recommended RPG trip. But in the end, it feels like it's missing the intangibles that make up a true masterpiece.

Purely as an action-RPG, it's a competent game with a few significant flaws in the name of simplicity/accessibility, but as an experience, it shines with humor and wit all over, and makes me hopeful for an improved sequel.

While Carbon is peppered with clever little ideas, ultimately it falls victim to EA's insistence on annually iterating the franchise. It refines previous ideas but lacks that big "wow" factor we've seen in the past. It's thoroughly, thoroughly competent and shouldn't be overlooked, but it really is "Need for Speed Again."