The gameplay really is excellent, and though the story leaves much to be desired, the excellent combat more than makes up for this shortcoming. Between epic boss battles, beautiful environments, and one badass heroine, Bayonetta is definitely the first knock-out action game of the new year and is a great title to shake off those winter blues.

What I love most about the Ultimate Evil Edition is how it does deliver the content in a fresh way and is not just a simple port.

The heroes are varied, unique, and powerful enough to offer a tactical team experience that rivals the likes of Rainbow Six: Siege, but is more forgiving and encouraging of players to take risks and rethink their strategy at every checkpoint.

Although it borrows from other gaming experiences in certain places, you haven't ever played a game like Ico. Highly recommended!

Taking into consideration the healthy challenge and the excellent online play, which completely eliminates ever having to attempt "Call of Duty 2's" shoddy, buggy, laggy online play, you won't go wrong with taking G.R.A.W. for a spin.

When all is said and done, the fundamentals of the sport are extremely well represented, and as of this writing you'd be hard pressed to find a better soccer game.

If there's a better Mario game for the GBA, you haven't played it yet. Word.

Don't expect high res graphics and you won't be disappointed. Just keep in mind it's all free and suddenly little problems will magically vanish.

Underground is definitely a step in the right direction and a much needed shot in the arm for the series, but as all things new, it suffers from a bit of growing pains here and there.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story is one of the very best games to grace the Nintendo DS - it outdoes even its excellent predecessors. This game exudes quality at every turn, and it's easy to see it was developed with a remarkable amount of care and love.

Fundamentally, this is the same game you played three years ago.

The sheer amount of content in The Lost and Damned is truly impressive considering its modest twenty dollar asking price. With its lengthy single-player experience that provides a good amount of new content, while also shedding light on some of the events of GTA IV, as well as its enjoyable new multiplayer options, it would be impossible to not recommend this title to fans of the series. Hell, the inclusion of checkpoints in every mission throughout the expansion, avoiding the frustration experienced in GTA IV from having to drive back to every mission after failing, is worth it alone.

When all is said and done, the fundamentals of the sport are extremely well represented, and as of this writing you'd be hard pressed to find a better soccer game.

Seldom does a sports game possess arcade-style flair and PC-like depth but NBA Street Vol. 2 is just such a game.

One of the few PS2 games that ventures into Xbox territory. In looks, sounds, animation, story and depth, this game has it all.

A fantastic game. It improves upon last year's version in several ways, making this the best soccer simulator to ever hit store shelves. Whether you bought the game or not last year, it's definitely time to upgrade.

For lovers of the genre, it's tough to go wrong with Fallout 3. However, if you're strictly a shooter fan or enjoy free-flowing combat, the plodding pace, vast amount of content, and RPG hallmarks (such as heavy inventory management, non-essential quests, and character leveling) may bore you. It's a good game, but certainly not without its faults. A new game engine and better controls would have served this title well.

While playing, I marveled at things I normally don't pay attention to in games, such as the way light and shadows played off of Link and his enemies in battles, or the way the wind made little things, such as flags or windmills, come to life.

For many gamers, this is the Zelda title they've been waiting for on the DS. Even amidst high expectations, Phantom Hourglass passes with flying colors.

It's the epitome of turn based strategy games. I've loved AW since it appeared out of left field on the GBA and Duel Strike knocks it out of the park on the DS.

It's a hilarious game that offers a completely unique first-person experience and forces players to use their brains rather than their blasters.

New precision controls take some time to learn, but are rewarding for those who want to ultimate sim experience.

If you love this type of game, if you enjoy being taken into a world that lasts very long, is fun and is not frustrating to play, then this is a must have for your collection.

This game may have some of the best use of voice talents ever.

Any gamer who gets off on high speed hijinks will find that Revenge is a dish best served now!

Metro 2033 Redux is remaking done right. This isn’t a cash in in any way shape or form. It’s simply a much better version of the original Metro. It’s a perfect purchase for either newbies who haven’t experienced the first game, or vets who want to experience the game again in a brand new light.

This is the Monster Hunter game for the world. There is no better entry point for beginners and no better magnum opus for the series.

Sure, rail shooters may be considered old-school, but Panzer Dragoon Orta is the definitive rail shooter. It's what rail shooters have long aspired to become; it's an evolved specie.

Portal's blend of first-person, action, and puzzle elements marked by wry psychology and facetious dialogue make for a one-of-a-kind experience. Bolster this package with Still Alive's 14 new, more difficult levels and this is a game that shouldn't be missed.

The guards, prisoners and Riddick himself are some of the most realistic looking polygon characters you'll see this year. The level of detail in the facial contortions alone are benchmark raising.

With a play time between forty and fifty hours, different difficulty levels, and multiple endings, Persona 4 will keep you hanging on for quite some time.

With a ton of varied game modes, authenticity galore, near-perfect gameplay, and extensive yet somewhat glitchy online play, there's at a year's worth of content for you to swing through!

THE innovative and indepth product that I was hoping THPS3 would have been.

Hardcore fans of Braid may complain that the puzzles aren't as difficult, but as a cohesive unit, the game is deeply engaging.

Definitely the apex of the Assassin's Creed series thus far. The story does a great job of furthering both the historical plot as well as the overarching sci-fi elements of the story (Desmond has a much larger role here), and the game's new structure is refreshing for those who may have found the back-and-forth structure of last year's title to be a bit tedious.

I'd say the Mass Effect 3 Citadel DLC is the add-on to acquire. It's full of fun and feel-good moments. In fact, I'd say that it's so good that it makes up for the lack of a happy ending.

I recommend those who've played the game before to just stick to the PS2 version and enjoy it as it was originally made. The Wii version doesn't have anything new to offer, and the control issues detract from a perfect experience.

There's a lot of value packed in this little package. It will take you hours upon hours just to beat the light world, and likely dozens more to master the dark world.

Overall, CW for the PSP is a slightly better version of the game than the DS original. Although the mini-games do feel a little out of place without touch-screen controls, everything else is just as good if not better than it was on the DS.

Dead Space, improved. Not just a great sequel, but a great horror game. Isaac's dementia and the underused impaling in combat mechanic are the only disappointments, and they're pretty slight.

Nintendo has really stepped up to the plate on this one and hit a homerun. If you like the original Pikmin, you'll pee in your pants with delight when you play Pikmin 2.

Okami HD is the definitive version of Okami. It has the best graphics, fewest bugs, and most responsive controls if you are using a DualShock. It runs perfectly in widescreen 1080p without a hitch.

A must buy for dual-stick shooter fans. The sharp difficulty, new modes, and low price point ($10) add up to a game that's hard to turn down.

Civilization V keeps everything that makes the series great, makes the game more accessible to non-fans, and overhauls many of the finer gameplay details. Every PC gamer owes it to himself to give this game a shot.

The levels are incredibly fun to play, but there are omissions likely to leave Mario fans shaking their heads.

Easily the best flight and fight sim ever created. And I don't say that lightly. It's not easy but at least if you make the effort you won't be plagued by buggy programming.

Ultimately, though, you're going to be playing XCOM: Enemy Unknown for its unforgiving strategic gameplay. If you can ignore the lame story and the sub-par visuals, there's a lot here to enjoy.

The graphics, the level design, the boss battles, the controls, and the fun are the stuff of legends. Retro Studios has helped validate Nintendo's console by creating a masterpiece so early in its lifecycle.

Dota 2 isn’t for the faint of heart. It isn’t for everyone. But if you play MOBAs, then it is for you. This is the game in the genre you need to play. If you don’t believe me, then consider this: There’s a reason why the community has crowd-funded a total of $900,000-plus to the prize pool for The International 3.

This game got more play on my machine then the Culkins at Neverland ranch.

This is the first time I could make the following statement: This MMO, in its current state, poses a serious threat to World of Warcraft.

With dozens and dozens of hours of single player on top of an online mode that should provide for hundreds of hours of pure enjoyment, the game is an absolute steal.

If you've never played these classics, you owe it to yourself to run out and pick up a copy this instant. If you've played them before, this is a budget-priced return to some of the most influential video games ever made. Either way, Metal Gear Solid HD Collection is $50 you won't regret spending.

About eighty-five percent as good looking as the Cube version. There is some slowdown and some of the more sophisticated special effects have been eliminated or significantly downgraded.

The voice acting by the announcers is spot on. The animations on the court are smooth and realistic. The online play has perfect netcode and it never takes too long to find a match. It's a hands-down improvement over NBA 2k12 in every way.

Foreign accents in games often sound unconvincing, or even borderline racist, but the Japanese-inflected English you hear in Shogun 2 is respectful and well-acted. The music and sound effects are visceral and period-appropriate.

Even with some issues, Empire: Total War's battles are still very satisfying on the whole, and the game has a huge level of overall depth to explore. Armchair generals will get a ton of mileage out of this very ambitious and expansive game that once again pushes numerous boundaries with the Total War series.

New features, new modes, tons of options, great control and online play makes this the hockey game that others will be compared to.

Instead of re-inventing the wheel, 2K12 just made the wheel a whole lot prettier, and that's good enough for me.

Persona 3 was an excellent game to begin with, and if you have never experienced it, Persona 3 Portable is a must-play title. However, if you have played it before, the extra content makes this title worth picking up and playing through again.

The single mission is definitely worth the full price of admission, compared to games where all of the emphasis is on the online play.

Any gamer who gets off on high speed hijinks will find that Revenge is a dish best served now!

The graphics do an excellent job of immersing us into this fantasy world. Characters are charming, funny, evil and mysterious.

The bosses alone are worth the price of admission. You don't have to be Metroid fan to appreciate it - but after you play it, chances are you will be.

EA needs to be commended for turning videogame golf into it's own sport, completely separate from the real thing...If you want the most advanced golf game available you'll want this one.

One of the most addictive games I have ever played.

With all the modes and the differences caused by changes in the environments and zombies, this game will keep you coming back for quite some time.

Devout followers of the Souls series will immediately discover that Dark Souls III is in many respects more of the same, and the majority of them couldn't be happier with that judgment.

The load times suck but the graphics are actually pretty darn close to the Xbox and Cube, which surpised me. Online play is pretty good, but I found it to be more laggy than XBL. As mentioned though, you've got the controller that makes this game a breeze to play.

Between its active battle system and its online functionality, there is a whole lot that separates Demon's Souls from other games in the dungeon-crawling genre, bringing it into the current generation.

Symphony of the Night is a momentous addition to the Xbox Live Arcade family, both because of its incredible depth and the fact that it is the first game allowed to break the 50 MB size restrictions.

The role-playing possibilities are endless, and the world is amazingly well fleshed out. Unfortunately, technical issues with the visuals and the fact that non-role-playing gamers will likely be bored by the sheer size and scope of play limit the title's appeal.

Definitely the apex of the Assassin's Creed series thus far. The story does a great job of furthering both the historical plot as well as the overarching sci-fi elements of the story (Desmond has a much larger role here), and the game's new structure is refreshing for those who may have found the back-and-forth structure of last year's title to be a bit tedious.

With more modes, weapons, health items, special infected - you name it! - L4D2 feels like a massive upgrade from the original L4D.

Left 4 Dead is largely successful at bringing players a uniquely exhilarating, arcade-like zombie shooter. The eye toward multiplayer fun is definitely appreciated, and the accessibility is great. However, the experience is best taken in short bursts, as the repetitive action gets monotonous after awhile.

With more modes, weapons, health items, special infected - you name it! - L4D2 feels like a massive upgrade from the original L4D.

Everything that makes a shooter fun - mobility, action, and a sense of empowerment - has been perfected here, and we're already waiting to see what Respawn does next.

This game is fantastic but it's buggy online play has really kicked the crap out of the overall value.

Jade Empire plays like an epic Chinese movie. Kung Fu is blended with ancient Chinese legends for a game that is unpredictable and captivating. It's just as amazing to watch as it is to play.

The career mode is just deep enough, but the online mode feels like it could have been fleshed out a little.

One of the more challenging and frustrating racers to come along in ages, F-Zero GX will give any, and I mean any, gamer one hell of a run for his money.

As a whole, the main plotline makes for a decent "save-the-galaxy-from-a-terrible-and-seemingly-invincible-threat" story. On its own, the main narrative probably wouldn't amount to much, but fused with the side missions and background stories of all the characters, it just works.

Grinding, leveling, and, of course, dying over and over again will keep the most dedicated players immersed in this world for a very long time.

The online play is unrivaled. However even the smaller size of the S controller manages to mar the experience just a tad. I play a lot of Xbox and I'm used to it, but I would definitely consider getting one of those peripherals that allows me to use a PS2 controller in my Xbox.

It's fast, furious and one of the best times I've had playing vid in a long time.

It's easy to see some fans being frustrated at this expansion's direction. The tone of the story is, after all, quite a departure from the franchise's previous two outings. However, the amusing dialogue, fun gameplay, and delightfully absurd missions make this a must-buy for everyone, whether by download (in which case it requires a copy of GTA IV to run) or on disc with The Lost and Damned.

What I am beginning to find most troubling is the developers penchant for including items and characters from previous games to the point of ad nauseum already. Anyone who has played a Link game will be totally familiar with the numerous items in the game and that's ruined some of the surprise and enjoyment for me.

It's so full of bells and whistles that the gameplay seems almost secondary.

An absolutely incredible experience that simply shouldn't be missed.

Cave Story is a great game. It feels like some sort of gem from a bygone era that, while complete, never saw the light of day (think Star Fox 2).

Guild Wars is my kind of MMO RPG game. It's as though my complaints have been addressed and someone has crafted an almost perfect example of an online, multi-player, role-playing game.

The controls are more responsive and as a result you will actually use less combinations of buttons and the sticks to make your moves.

Despite the aging conventions of the genre, Guitar Hero 5 gets nearly everything right. There is a ton of gameplay packed into a decidedly user-friendly/hardcore-friendly package.

It has a great division of labor between its school and battlefield segments. The characters are all quite likeable. The three storylines are different enough to beg additional replays, as is the promise of knowing everyone has unseen potential to become the units you want them to be. It’s a fantastic game that will easily become one of the NIntendo Switch’s most memorable titles.

World in Conflict is definitely going to be a contender for game of the year. Don't wait another minute. Join this War of the Century as soon as you can.

Even if you believe you've seen everything Revenge had to offer on the current gen consoles, this sleek revamped racing hottie will show you a few new tricks.

With the number of licensed clubs, Career options as a player and manager, and online component, FIFA 11 will keep you busy for a long time.

Much like great sci-fi fantasy, Deus Ex: Human Revolution never allows you to feel like you have total control or that you know everything going on in the overarching story. In this case though, it also doesn't allow you to feel as if you are an outsider looking in. This is as much your own human revolution as it is Adam Jensen's.