When you think "Final Fantasy Tactics clone," your mind probably sees something like Disgaea: Hour of Darkness: a competent facsimile of the formula that stands on its own. But with Luminous Arc, you get the most similar, least-polished alternative yet.

Sacred 2 turns out to be a great couch game, largely because you can play co-op with a friend at your side. But the real surprise is that the folks at Ascaron managed to create a mostly-great interface for the XB360 and PS3 controller, giving you faster and easier access to more combat abilities than you could use in the PC version.

The game's well-polished; it would have been hailed as revolutionary a few years ago, but now it's just another decent, 10-hour-long hop-n-bop to add to the pile.

Some players will be creeped out playing soldier in a whitewashed mirror-universe version of an ugly war that's still in the headlines. The score is not being docked for it, but it's something that needs to be mentioned.

On the PS2, the game shows the limits of the system. For every impressive feature the developers were able to cram in the game, there is something else that holds the game back.

Although the touch screen controls are irritating at times, you may just find yourself enjoying Shrek in spite of them.

The needless addition of QTEs to the formula and a relatively short single-player experience keep it from becoming a legend in its own right.

It's kind of like a junior sandbox approach that younger gamers will enjoy because they can just trundle around without crashing or waiting for loads and older kids will love because it allows them to explore a large area and find characters and items that they'll recognize from the movie.

Defiance stands as a solid title that fans of "Devil May Cry" and even the recent "Castlevania: Lament of Innocence" should have plenty of fun with.

A maturation of the series, this is a really solid game with lots of loony Street-style happenings. In the end, it's fun to play, and will keep you engaged. If only it were on next gen.

DDR: SuperNOVA 2 doesn't bring much new to the table, but it does execute some of the tried-and-true series staples better than its predecessors. As a first DDR or a workout tool, it's a great place to step in, but series veterans should consider it yet another slight tweak on a game that's nearly played out.

Provides a visually interesting world, with competent gameplay mechanics, but it ultimately fails to completely draw the player into the depths of its promised insanity to satisfaction.

Aside from a handful of disappointing puzzles, however, I still see loads of potential in Puzzle Agent. Its goofy, Coen-brothers-do-Twin Peaks storyline kept me glued to my computer monitor for the roughly three hours it takes to finish the game.

For all its competence, there's no real hook for anyone who doesn't remember the original Rocket Knight game. It appeals mainly to nostalgia for the way platformers used to be. Although it has a lovely next-gen presentation with the hi-res, 3D graphics engine, this is very much two-or-three-gens-ago gameplay.

Metal Slug 7's a mostly faithful sequel that works on the DS, especially considering that there hasn't been a commendable portable installment since the NeoGeo Pocket days. But if you've got an Xbox 360 at home, the ol' "wait and see" approach probably wouldn't hurt.

Once you grow accustomed to the game's quirks, you soon find yourself in a rhythm where gamer instincts overcome sloppy game mechanics. Eventually, the thrill of starting a level -- unarmed -- and slowly but surely making your way over rooftops and underwater and over rafters becomes a guilty thrill.

At its worst, it's as curiously dysfunctional a "game" as the Harmon's are a "family," and at its best Killer 7 is one of the most artfully designed footnotes in gaming history.

Vandal Hearts may be competent at what it does, but its derivative throwback nature doesn't do much for a genre that's in desperate need of innovation.

If you're looking to get in on some air combat without a huge wait, you may be disappointed. More hardcore flight fans, however, will eventually find an enjoyable experience somewhere beneath the fluff.

Rage HD might not be massive in scope, but its potential audience sure is.

While there's gobs of visual polish, including a vast array of impressive generic player heads, 09's gameplay double dribbles in too many key spots, making this little more than a palatable No. 6 seed -- it's worth supporting if you're a rabid fan of the sport, but it's far from Final Four material.

It's apparent that the story and atmosphere of the game is much more important than actual gameplay.

It's a slight advancement over its predecessor, VT 3, but its biggest weaknesses, the online and single-player modes, mire an otherwise satisfying experience.

The best news to come out of all of this is the implementation of the Sixaxis: It's not overbearing or intrusive. For example, it only takes a few small gestures to bump someone against the wall. And that's about as extreme as it gets -- which is the proper way to handle the controls.

Elefunk is sublime in concept -- ultimately addictive and quite entertaining, despite a steep learning curve.

With bonus songs from Perry's solo efforts and a fully animated Steven Tyler swallowing the microphone, the game's target audience is very clear -- and for them, the game's existence is justified.

The lack of variety is actually a good thing. In an area of game development where being overly ambitious can destroy you, developer Luxoflux has instead created a smart, focused, and (most importantly) polished effort that should delight young fans of the film.

While it's not the most fantastic thing ever, a couple of its components -- namely the stylish presentation and the battle arenas -- are brilliant. Wet has the makings of a universe I'd like to revisit, but I'd want to see the same amount of polish that's been afforded to the wrappings in a follow-up.