All that is Vegas is capture to great effect. I can almost smell the 35-cent hot dogs.

R-Type Dimensions is an attempt to appeal to both retro gamers and newcomers. It's an unmitigated success when it comes to the former, and an unmitigated disaster for the latter.

There are more levels, more enemies, more vehicles, more weapons and more missions than ever before. There's no better time to join the Special Forces than right now.

Ultimately the issue I have with XIX is one of inconsistency. For one thing the game has many modes and match types, enough to satisfy any hardcore gamer, but the fighting engine and the AI drag the overall enjoyment level of the game down significantly.

There are other pool games out there but frankly there isn't one that is better - or as much fun.

Diving, exploring, salvaging, and learning about ocean wildlife is actually quite satisfying. Of course, the lack of action makes this a niche title rather than one with particularly wide appeal.

The story is told by fantastic cutscenes, fully voiced and animated to perfection.

There's no question that Guilty Gear XX is a great game, one of the best and deepest 2-D fighters to come out in quite some time. There's also no question that Accent Core Plus is thus far the definitive version of Guilty Gear XX. Newcomers will love it, and hardcore fans will want to explore the few new features. However, casual and even dedicated fans won't find the additions worth a whole new purchase.

No matter which way you slice it, Half-Minute Hero is still loads of fun. At only 10 dollars, it's well worth your money.

Though the difficulty can be hard to swallow at times, the puzzle gameplay quickly grows on you.

I guarantee you won't know what's going to happen until it has, and more often than not the results are hilarious. If you want to experience a game that's different from everything that's come before it, Shadows of the Damned is for you. It's a tasty concoction of horror, humor, gore, and naughty bits that's guaranteed to make you laugh, scream, and beg for more.

This title certainly maintains the status quo, but the more challenging tracks will be appealing to longtime fans.

Seriously, Saints Row is filling a gap in the industry. Too many games on the market are melodramatic doom and gloom. It is refreshing to know that games such as Saints Row IV are built on the idea that people should have some f@$^ing fun while playing a game.

Those who mastered the game as a child will be the only people that will get the full experience out of the Xbox Arcade port. Casual players will be instantly turned away by the daunting single-player difficulty and the outrageous lag experienced online.

If you've already played Guitar Hero 5, Band Hero is the exact same thing, just with brighter lights and an easier setting.

A fun game that is full of twists, turns and incredibly wonderful scary surprises. It's got a great atmosphere which is sustained by dark and grainy graphics, chilling sound effects and an incredibly improbable storyline that is treated properly as to suspend reality from creeping in and ruining your experience.

The game's replayability is arguably the greatest in recent gaming history, with so many reasons to keep going back, from the plethora of things to unlock, to the endless things to smash.

If you like the single-player mode, you’re going to love the multi-player component.

Although Suikoden Tierkreis may not have been the most deep or immersive RPG to hit the DS in recent months, I have to say that I was impressed with the effort.

You'll notice that the Xbox version is the better of the bunch. All console versions are colorful and share the same characters and expansive environments but the Xbox just presents it better.

There’s a ton to learn here, but it can be slow at times, and the graphical glitches are disruptive.

There's just so much content here and so much complexity that once you get a handle on how the game works, it's going to be difficult to stop playing.

Aion is one of the best, most well-polished MMORPGs to be released in a long time, which is reinforced by its popularity and hype. It stays within the traditions of an aging genre and makes sure to maximize on it at the same time. Nevertheless, its lack of unique components doesn't help set it apart from the competition, and calls into question Aion's ability to establish a solid, faithful, and long-lasting community.

There's nothing new or innovative to the genre here, but there is a lot to enjoy. The half-broken online play needs to be addressed before the series goes forward.

The premise is fueled by historical accuracy, so there is a lot of realism to the gameplay, yet this isn't just a game for nerds. It's deep, but the curve is gradual, which will accommodate a wide range of gamers.

Though the game does feel a bit unpolished and unbalanced, there's still a lot to enjoy. This franchise has a ton of potential, and we'll be interested to see how it evolves in the coming years.

Chronos Twins is a fairly lengthy experience, and one that feels incredibly unique, challenging, and ultimately satisfying.

Relatively short game with little replay value other than collecting missed items.

Gradius Collection is a definite must for any shooter fan. It can be played for months or just a few hours depending on your attention span and how far you want to get in each game. Those looking for fun and a challenge will not be disappointed.

Aspiration got the best of this title - it ultimately promises more than it delivers.

If the rest of the games continue in the same progressive manner as this one, we might have another classic series on our hands.

The stiff challenge of the single-player campaign and the deep multiplayer component will keep skilled, patient gamers playing for hours.

"Citizen Brown" has a great overall plot that spends too much time on bland details and bland puzzles.

Learning to fly can be a bitch but the reward is a sense of accomplishment and a feeling of freedom that you just can't get from Mario.

There was plenty here to explore and build, and while the story might have been on the forgettable side, I really enjoyed the focused Sim-style gameplay.

Even though LEGO Batman does a few new things to set it apart from past entries in the LEGO series, it feels like Traveller's Tales is giving us more of the same.

The run-and-gun shooting holds up extremely well to this day, and the level design is almost pitch perfect. However, it's an incredibly short romp, offering only a smidge of the variety that's locked up in the annals of the series. The lack of online co-op is a real bummer, too.

The lack of an online tournament mode did not go unnoticed and it's something that needs to be addressed in next year's version - and considering how good this game is, you can be rest assured the series will continue.

If you haven't played a Ratchet and Clank game before, this is certainly a good place to start since it has a very short play time.

For those who dare to tug on the tiger's tail, prepare for an experience that will satiate your lust for money, power and women while simultaneously entertaining you almost every step of the way.

Treyarch had its work cut out for it in bringing a high-definition smash hit like Call of Duty 4 to the Wii, but the team really pulled it off.

Even though Activision hasn’t really changed much of their formula, Uprising succeeds at delivering a complete package that almost any multiplayer shooter fan can enjoy.

However it got here, it’s a distilled, slightly faster game that focuses on ironing out its rough spots rather than introducing anything that could cause new ones. And as much as we love the spectacle of an attempt at interactive story or the novelty of a quirky new side mode, enhancing the part people actually play could be of more long-term value.

So fun, that you'll find yourself addicted in no time. The controls are simple, but the gameplay is complex and delightful to play. And the killer soundtrack just adds bounty to the beautiful.

The scope of the environments are vast, but empty in this free-roam open ended adventure. The game manages to capture the essence of loneliness that was an unwelcome but constant companion to many a traveler in those days.

It's the same puzzle over and over again, but the game stretches the concept to cover all sorts of different twists and turns.

Aspiration got the best of this title - it ultimately promises more than it delivers.

Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games is a fun, enjoyable, and approachable experience that improves upon last year's Summer Games outing.

The sound effects are brilliant and blend well with the cartoonish atmosphere of the game.

Kinect Sesame Street TV is awesome. So if you are looking for a cool new game to get your preschooler this holiday season, look into Kinect Sesame Street TV. You'll be happy you did.

Anyone looking for a new MMO -- and especially anyone who likes Star Trek and wouldn't mind having some space combat thrown into the mix -- ought to give this game a shot. Not only does it have a lot of features lacking elsewhere in the MMO universe, but it's free to play, too.

This should give those with short attention spans cause to celebrate - if any of them have actually been capable of reading this far.

I'm so happy that Ubisoft remembered to put the fun back in Assassin's Creed. The series just turns out so much better with witty protagonists and lots of room for creativity.

At the end of the day, vehicular combat is fun. Unlike all the kart racing games we have played over the years, Twisted Metal is just about blowing your opponents up, and that's simply an enjoyable pastime.

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam has personality. There's a little bit of extraneous filler here, in the form of papercraft battles and optional amiibo cards, but people who chose to focus on the delightful story, fantastic battle system, and assortment of mini-games will be more than happy to join Mario, Luigi, and Paper Mario on their adventure.

The short-length and other minor nitpickings aside, Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode One is absolutely worth every cent of its $20 price tag.

With tons of unlockable content, you'll most likely play each stage several times.

The control system is responsive and accurate. The graphics still illustrate some spine chilling scenes and disturbing animation of the undead characters. This game is almost guaranteed to give you nightmares.

The novelty of the controller could be compared to that of the lightgun. You don't really need it but once you play with it you can't live without it.

It's unwelcoming, has some technical hiccups, and the experience has been shaved down to the necessities, but those necessities are incredibly solid. They would just be better if they had the trappings to go with them.

Nintendo's Wii U may be foundering, but the company has been knocking it out of the park on the 3DS lately. Minis on the Move joins other greats like Pushmo to make the 3DS an amazing platform for anybody who enjoys a good puzzle game. Check it out, and prepare to get addicted to sliding tiles and frantically saving minis from a plunge into the dark abyss.

You'll have a great time with the single-player campaign and the fairly limited, but entertaining, multiplayer component of Singularity is just icing on the cake.

Unless you happen to be an enemy of all things cool and funny, the first installment of Strong Bad is where it's at. This new monthly series shows tons of promise, and the next episode, Strong Badia the Free, looks even more delightfully ludicrous.

It has a core concept that is truly engaging; it just feels as if it needs to be fleshed out a bit more. The single player Tournament mode is an absolute blast that will keep you occupied for a few hours. Unfortunately, the multiplayer features, though varied, are poorly executed.

The story in, From the New World, may be completely whacked but it keeps things interesting while adding a lot of unexpected elements to the gameplay.

This game is not very difficult but it's not so easy either. If I could describe it in one word, I'd say it's engaging.

Kirby Super Star Ultra is a perfect example of how to update a game. With its improved visuals, added cinematics, additional single-player content, new twists on the original's gameplay, and a competent multiplayer aspect Ultra delivers an excellent and modernized remake of a classic title.

The bottom-line is that MAG is a game that requires a pretty serious time-commitment in order to enjoy. You won't get involved with the Shadow War until you've been playing for a while, and most of the individual leveling seems to be designed with hardcore players in mind, possibly taking hundreds of hours to fully level-up.

This is like "Contra" on acid. There is so much stuff coming at you at all times that it will you leave with nervous figgety dreams at night. You will literally be playing this game iin your sleep.

Basically, everything you’ve ever experienced in a SingStar game is once again present in this title. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as the SingStar formula has proven successful thus far, and the minor tweaks they have made in this entry all seem for the better.

Despite being a little light on content, the core game is intact and it's seriously absorbing. Do yourself a favor and don't miss out on this one.

An excellent and surprisingly deep game. This title does an excellent job of walking the fine line between being a Final Fantasy title and a dungeon crawler and gets the formula just right.

If you want a history lesson in RPGs then you owe it to yourself to look into Phantasy Star Collection, otherwise you might just want to continue on with new titles such as "Harvest Moon" and "Golden Sun."

For all its apparent lack of depth, Beach Spikers is surprisingly addictive and enjoyable on just about any level.

Visually NCAA looks great and runs as smooth as last years MVP 05. In fact, I'd say there is more realism involved in NCAA because the parks in NCAA are much less graphics hogs than the professional stadiums. This allowed EA to bump up the realism in terms of backgrounds and other details.

There are a lot more engaging RPGs available for the PSP. Brave Story: New Traveler just treads the same old ground.

The quality experience in The Pitt makes Operation Anchorage feel like even more of a misstep than it might really have been. Both offer some interesting additions to the main game and definitely provide additional play value in different ways. The Pitt is certainly the superior of the two in most regards. Get over the fact it was initially launched as a broken mess, this is one expansion Fallout 3 fans will truly appreciate.

There's a staggering amount of content here, between the amount of various courses and bonus content.

The new console format allows you to have control of up to six Sims at a time, who you can follow, nurture, torture, or ignore. The possibilities are endless. And when they die...you can just create more!

Bit.Trip Runner pulls out ahead of the competition to give fans more great gameplay at a ridiculously low price.

With the deep and strategic gameplay, a great tutorial and a variety of modes including a two-player ad hoc wireless mode, there's no reason not to purchase UBP.

NHL 07 for the PSP is a slightly watered down version of its bigger sibling’s hockey game but that’s only to be expected due to its limited processing power. But what the PSP manages to capture is the fun and ultimate playability of the next-gen console version.

A compelling if uninventive experience. Working in concert, this game's tired, uninspired mechanics still manage to get the job done; the whole is definitely more than the sum of its parts.

For the time being, Wakfu holds great promise, and it's like nothing I've ever seen before. Fans of anime, MMOs, nature management, and even sociology will want to give Wakfu a try, if for no other reason than to see what happens when you let gamers run the world.

It's not important that you be familiar with the original, in some respects it may be better since you visit the same places over again. There are new characters and missions and the storyline will keep you intrigued and entertained.

A good amount of multiplayer value rounds out a substantial single-player portion. There's a good amount of game for your dollar here, but some of that is due to how slow moving the game can be at times.

With three modes and six levels each, ten challenges, a local multiplayer option, and tons of unlockables, there is plenty to do in this ten dollar package if you can get past the frustrations and don't mind a challenge.

Finally, a smart war game that both beginners and experts can enjoy.

You never know what character is out to get you, so this adds an extra dimension of cloak and dagger, as well as paranoia. You simply can't go around killing everyone, so you have to keep a careful watch of all characters and try not to draw attention to yourself.

LawBreakers is a mess, but a good mess; it is one that tries to hit a ton of marks all at once and only misses a few. I worry about its meager content offerings in a crowded, already saturated genre. If LawBreakers can coast for a while on its solid core, hopefully its intended audience will find it and stick around.

Although its design weaknesses keep it from becoming an instant classic, the game as it is provides a great starting platform for future player-made content and official expansions.

It stays true to its roots by delivering an engaging combat and multiplayer experience and add some much needed depth in the form of strategic maps.

This one is worth your time if you’re simply looking for a unique take on the classic sandbox genre. Otherwise, it might not be a bad idea to lay low and wait for a price drop in the future.

All of these innovations along with the tons of single-player, cooperative, and competitive modes make this the best and most complete Lode Runner ever.

Doesn't feel like a true upgrade to the original, and there's plenty of room for improvement. But with a lengthier single player campaign, action-packed multiplayer battles, and the promise of more game modes in the near future, all for the bargain price of fifteen dollars (and no need to waste gas to pick it up), there's certainly enough incentive to add it to your repertoire.

Despite some repetition in the environments, the bigger arsenal of weapons, new enemies, easier-to-follow story, and the new Fight 'til Dawn mode make Alan Wake's American Nightmare a fantastic addition to anyone's arcade library.

It can be completed in one day or stretched out over a weekend, as long as you don't play through it again as the different characters.

Mech, FPS and RTS fans must check this game out.