In terms of Star Wars games it’s probably the most complete Star Wars package the gaming world has ever seen.

You can certainly play this game offline, but you'll find that the artificial intelligence leaves a bit to be desired (as is often the case) meaning that the minions you face up against are pretty easy to defeat. The online play works well and is easy to get into with the matchmaking abilities built in.

Mass Effect 3 is thoroughly enjoyable and a good sci-fi romp.

Unfortunately we don't get any creative new monsters but, we do get a new multiplayer mode in Capture the Flag.

I was hoping for a revolution, but instead, I found an excellent evolution.

If you are an RE fan and haven't played the Wii version of the games before, I suggest you buy it now.

Although the controls are responsive, they’re far from easy to learn (even harder to master but less so if you've spent time with the other versions), especially if you’re just getting into the pool of extreme sports.

For a solo player the purchase doesn't make much sense; grab Guitar Hero and some downloadable content. For someone with a lot of friends into music games, this will get a lot of play, especially with the potential endless supply of songs over Xbox Live.

Gangland is a good game, with a great mix of real-time combat and strategy, and the economics of crime.

SSX is a great reboot of the series. While the game has some shortcomings, it does provide an amazing adrenaline rush and sense of speed you rarely experience in other titles.

Disney is a powerhouse when it comes to licensing their products but even these prices seem a little overboard. If it weren't for the fact the campaigns are fun and suitable for the pre-teen crowd and the Toy Box modes offers a lot options, I'd probably be steering parents away.

Maybe the biggest surprise here is that Triumph Studios included an online option. A couple of Versus modes -- Slaughter and Pillage -- and Co-Op Survival fill out an already substantial game.

For those who loved the originals, the $15 investment is well spent. For those who've never experienced the franchise before but love their fighting games, this nostalgic trip is well worth the money to see how one of the greats did it earlier.

Though Aftershock might edge Afterlight for combat and UFO: Extraterrestrials might be a better X-COM clone for purists, Afterlight feels like the most thoughtfully designed and fun of the UFO titles to date.

But for long time role-playing fans, the game is familiar enough to feel comfortable with; and there’s enough depth to the combat and twists to the story (especially with the relationships that develop over the course of the game) to keep them interested.

Contains all the elements of a classic but foolishly falls short in vital areas. The overall quality does remain however and can keep a gamer involved for weeks, though not without side effects.

Although the controls are responsive, they’re far from easy to learn (even harder to master), especially if you’re just getting into the pool of extreme sports.

Chronicles of Mystara is definitely a compilation worth looking into for both fans and strangers of beat 'em ups. It's a very well done entry into the genre. Is it the best? No, of course not.

The more advanced lightsaber customization was another one of those things that made me think that the developers really did have a good grip on what being a Jedi is about.

Army of Two: The 40th Day is a fun experience, with some really awesome set pieces -- the zoo level in particular -- and if you have a buddy handy, I'd recommend it.

Some features could still definitely use some refining, but basketball gamers will still find plenty of hoops dreams fulfilled with the overall quality of NCAA Basketball 10.

SWAP Force is a terrific game that offers so many new things to keep the series fresh. A great and humorous story, colourful environments, deep campaign and swappable characters make this a great game you shouldn't miss.

Frontlines: Fuel of War was designed with multiplayer junkies in mind. The single player won't hold your attention for very long, but the online play is certainly the main attraction.

Both a triumph for Eyetoy gaming and a great tease for the future. Just getting past using the EyeToy to put the player on-screen is a marvelous innovation.

As an action game, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition delivers in spades – even if it can be finished in under 8 hours total playtime.

It doesn’t have the total package that Madden NFL 08 on the Xbox 360 brings, but nonetheless the Wii version of the only NFL football videogame around certainly succeeds in giving Wii gamers an excellent football game.

For the diving board and fire hose audience, Marvel vs. Capcom 3 drains down to two modes: Arcade and "Story." Plenty of fun there with a live human opponent!

It doesn't go above and beyond, but the expansion pack gets the job done and that's just fine as it is still a very entertaining little romp.

If you love story driven games, then I recommend Mafia II, just don't expect to get the same amount of replay value as similar games already out on the market.

This writer is glad that games like Shank 2 still get made. While the nostalgia of the genre is there, the developers were sure to make the combat fun and varied enough so there wasn't a mashable way to charge through the game. No, it's almost a science chainsawing dudes or impaling them with their own machetes.

I’m a fan of the Red Alert series, warts and all. It’s just too much fun for me, whether playing with people through the co-op campaign of Red Alert 3 or the single-player aspects of Uprising, it’s all goofy fun. And that’s mainly what I want from my games: fun.

NHL 07 isn't much of an upgrade, save for the updated NHL roster, over its predecessor. And it does still commit a few unforgivable penalties for gamers, particularly the maddening A.I., which at times can be brilliant while at the same time being frustratingly dumb (especially the goalies), allowing ridiculously easy goals from far distances to find their way into the back of the net twine.

Trine is definitely worth spending some time with. It doesn’t bring anything new to the table, but what it does it does well.

I thought the game fell apart in the final moments, which is unfortunate only because it clouds my memory of the opening where the vibe and horror clung to me like a wet Hawaiian shirt.

A lot of reviews of Kane’s Wrath seem to have knocked the overall expansion pack down a few notches because the 13-mission, single-player game is told solely from the Nod perspective. But with a roster of fan-pleasing material and future access to the C&C: Red Alert 3 beta, the $30US price tag is justifiable and worth it.

Virgil's Downfall will add another 8 or so hours of story to your Devil May Cry game, and for those who enjoyed the original game immensely the extra few dollars to purchase is a good investment to get a little more of the same experience. As long as you don't get your heart set on getting the exact same play that you loved about the original you'll be leaving happy.

While in many ways this is a good thing, the weaker storyline detracts from its overall enjoyability.

Certainly not as good as GTA IV, the similarly playing Mercenaries 2 still is enough of a blast romping through the jungles and cities of Venezuela with hot and heavy gunplay.

If you are looking for a game that provides ample opportunity to blast the tar out of legions of enemies, that challenges your fingers dexterity, isn’t afraid to challenge its players, and, most importantly, keep a smile on its players’ faces while all of this is happening, Alien Hominid is well worth buying.

One hell of a fun game to play, especially for only $15US.

Very engaging missions with excellent use of the environment in strategizing the method of securing victory combine with strong online gameplay for a WWII shooter worthy of the honorable mettle of the 82nd Airborne.

It comes onto the handheld relatively intact, and the controls are solid, providing a fun, but certainly not perfect, experience.

NFL Street 3 reaches a lofty level of “Chad Johnson-ness” for its outrageousness and over-the-top gameplay along with the nice embellishments of new modes and moves, but a sometimes-aggravating camera, lackluster graphics not up to the level of its console brethren and handheld controls that don’t entirely feel responsive as they should be deflate any game ball that you could have potentially handed out to NFL Street 3.

Older players will walk through Laval's Journey in about six hours (and only about 22% complete, overall) but younger players will definitely spend more time exploring and uncovering all the secrets.

Even with all the positives running for the game, I still felt a little bit underwhelmed by SCIV, it’s definitely still a solid entry to the series and finally being able to play online is worth the buy. If you are new to the series, I do not think you’ll be disappointed.

Viewing this title from an adult perspective is wrong. After watching my son play for a number of hours, I can tell I'd be bored to tears with repetitiveness of the whole thing -- fighting, leveling-up, feeding the dragon, fighting, and repeat. But as proven by at least one player, this could very well appeal to the pre-teen gamer in your house.

While NBA Live 07 might not be starting-lineup material, it sits comfortably in the sixth-man spot, indulging its longtime fans of the franchise with another reliable rendition to get their "basketball jones" on.

While these elements may keep Just Cause 2 from toppling the "GTA government for sandbox supremacy," its explosive presence is one that must not be ignored.

It's a fun little distraction for the price, and the game actually makes for a surprisingly satisfying "beat up some robots" experience with how it combines its control scheme on the mouse and keyboard. It's definitely a fun action game to look into.

SE4 biggest strength is the ability to flip a variety of options before the game even starts.

With forebodingly scary levels, huge end bosses and plenty of enjoyably hellacious, gory FPS gameplay, Painkiller: Hell Wars has enough quality features to blaze a fiery path into the Xbox library of shooter aficionados as it is one of the most devilishly pleasurable FPS titles on the Xbox.

Will satisfy multiplayer junkies’ needs but will leave single player fanatics wanting more.

A significant improvement from the first iteration of the game on the PS2 -- it features an exciting and intense single player campaign, even if it is on the short side, while the multiplayer is mediocre at best.

For the money, Super Collapse 3 is a good purchase, with many potential hours of time wasting during your commute.

But as far as action games go, Stranglehold is about as flashy as they come, with enough slick gunplay to keep fans of the genre glued to their seats and having fun, even if they skip multiplayer altogether.

Though I’m sure Activision would never go for it, I propose that Guitar Hero undergo a name change. Rather than “Guitar Hero: Metallica” it should be labelled “Guitar Hero for Metallica Fans!” because that’s a more apt description of what you get with each of these showcase titles.

Picking up both and playing straight through all the campaigns is what I would prescribe for RTS gamers unimpressed by the current offerings from other studios.

It offers some decent old-shool action and the web stats but the old-school passwords kick it in the teeth.

There are legions of kids out there that want to be firefighters and this game offers a little look into that career.

If you only had to do one thing at a time, it would be easy, but most of the time you’re dealing with three things and planning for the forth.

Assassin's Creed II is a fun game and I recommend it.

Combined with the incredible sense of speed offered by the game, Midnight Club 2 will leave you craving more, and you will likely be up until the early hours of the morning trying to beat those pesky French sisters in Paris.

There are collectibles scattered throughout, like VR missions, but the main draw for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is the entertaining whackiness of the whole thing, including the so-far-over-the-top-it-hits-the-moon violence. For that alone, you get your money's worth.

Overall, I was quite pleased with this title and you won’t go wrong picking it up. It’s not quite a slam dunk but it’s certainly no foul.

The randomness of some of the board effects can be frustrating; it's akin to Nintendo grabbing the chess board mid-match and throwing it across the room. It doesn't seem fair and there's nothing you can do about it except enjoy the experience while it lasts. And the kids liked it.

After some initial frustration, which I'll admit was high, it's really a game worth playing for the epic feel and chaos of open-field warfare.

An overall solid entry into a crowded platformer market. I would have scored KDL a lot higher if it wasn’t hindered by annoyances such as the camera and having to trek across the land to get to shops.

I'm not convinced that anyone who hasn't already played the original game -- which is available on Xbox 360 for $20US most places, and just launched on PC with the DLC episodes -- would be able to even marginally follow what the hell is going on in American Nightmare. No doubt it would up the bizarreness of the game for those players but the main draw is more or less for fans only. And, really, this writer is okay with that.

With a good assortment of modes and wrestlers to unlock (and hopefully some DLC wrestlers as well) the hardcore fan should be appeased, and with the focus on movement rather than grappling less hardcore fans will find something to love.

The overall gameplay for the NBA Live uninitiated still clanks heavy off the backboard compared to its main competitor on the virtual hardwood.

Despite the insanely difficult and nearly impossible Challenge mode and the sometimes-unfair violent behavior on the part of the A.I.-controlled racers, a good visual presentation, great trick system and tough races make ATV: Quad Power Racing 2 a good addition to the Xbox racing library.

Perfect for people that enjoy a low-impact game. It’ll score many points for being easy to get into and a leisurely way to pass the time, but people that like things to happen should steer clear.

It’s not exactly The Sims, being toned down to appeal to a much younger audience. In fact, it’s hard to believe anybody except females under the age of 14 will find the MySims’ pastel-colored universe and sugarcoated characters a charming gaming adventure.

For action fans, Dark Sector is definitely a game worth checking out because it hits all the right notes.

It may not have an official Olympics license, but it truly makes you feel like you are a part of something special.

Overall, this game makes you want to get to the next tier, pushes you to get to the next level so you are invited to international events, and rewards you regardless of your driving style. That makes it accessible to just about any gamer out there and is definitely worth your time to give the cars in here a spin.

A 3D fighter for people who hate 3D fighters.

While the presentation, gameplay and character selection is a bit better in KoF XI, NeoGeo Battle Coliseum is still a fantastic game, especially for the low budget price (usually between $15 - $20 US.)

Just firing this beast up, and blasting some bad guys without a care in the world feels very refreshing.

With some great-looking explosions, a comfortable control scheme, good action and mission variety and structure, and, of course, genuine fun and humor, Destroy All Humans! is a highly recommended summer title.

Whether or not you should get GDRB is fairly simple. If you like Green Day, then the answer is fairly straightforward. If not, then perhaps you should wait for the next installments of Rock Band or Guitar Hero.

There’s no denying that the visuals are perhaps some of the best yet seen for a PlayStation 2 baseball game.

The longevity of Lollipop Chainsaw relies on how much time gamers want to practice combos to finish levels faster and more cleanly than other players on the leaderboards or earn enough silver coins to purchase a closet's worth of outfits for Juliet. Otherwise, the game is a quick experience that doesn't dwell too much on one particular thing for too long before throwing something else at the player.

So despite being an excellent sequel to a solid first installment, I believe Silent Assassin to be a better game than "Codename 47," but I think many fans will always love the first game best, as I do.

There are some great character designs and backgrounds (most noticeably in SFA2/SFA3). There are also some great character animations.

Rivals isn't the most deep or balanced racing game around, but what it lacks in charm, it makes up for it by providing an intense and unforgettable experience.

Either way, LEGO Lord of the Rings is worth a look.

Those strategists who want to work on their battlefield commanding ability will enjoy this game more than people whose greatest thrill is decimating an enemy with an unstoppable force.

However, despite the once-again difficult and confusing complexity of some of the puzzles and the dramedy-filled story, The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood successfully brings gamers to the threshold of the Tales of Monkey Island's final chapter.

It's hard! On the plus side, it is not frustratingly so, as with some dedicated play, most gamers will likely find it to be a rewarding challenge.

Gamewise? Think candy - I liked the game in small doses.

It’s not the most advanced shooter available, nor the best looking or the best sounding for that matter. However, it brings back a great nostalgic feeling and pays honest homage to the original.

It’s pretty amazing that one can actually see how much they are improving over time if they play the game regularly.

It’s great to see Electronic Arts put some effort into a platform specific release instead of the sub-standard ports the Wii often tends to get. Highly recommended for fans of the series, just bring your wheel to the party.

Despite the lack of supplements, Star Fox 64 still remains one of Nintendo's finest and most action-packed experiences; No two stages are alike, and the amount of alternate pathways and outcomes (like an ally from one stage coming to assist you in the next) allow for much replaying and experimenting for those who haven't mastered every nook and cranny.

Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds should easily meet the expectation of fans, even if it doesn’t really change the basics of the game. It’s the best looking iteration of the series and it’s just a relaxing way to wind down the day.

At the end of the day, I’m looking for fun from my games and NBA 08 has enough options to suite whatever mood I might be in when I start it up. All of that and a decent basketball game? It’s a no-brainer for basketball fans on the go.

Though Dead Rising pulls its inspiration from the George Romero classic Dawn of the Dead, the expected hokiness of the plot and dialogue is surprisingly absent (same for any obvious social commentary).