Overlook the few minor irritating aspects of the game, and you'll find Sacred 2 to be surprisingly enjoyable.

A valiant effort to revolutionize gaming by a courageous studio. Largely, DICE pulled it off. But, there are several nagging spots that hamper the experience; repetitive environments and interactive elements, touchy controls and occasionally poor detection, and an uninspired story leave a significant amount to be desired. Even so, I found Mirror's Edge to be a truly unique and rewarding experience that I feel fortunate to have played.

A valiant effort to revolutionize gaming by a courageous studio. Largely, DICE pulled it off. But, there are several nagging spots that hamper the experience; repetitive environments and interactive elements, touchy controls and occasionally poor detection, and an uninspired story leave a significant amount to be desired. Even so, I found Mirror's Edge to be a truly unique and rewarding experience that I feel fortunate to have played.

For someone who absolutely must have a new fighting game at his next Wii get-together with friends, sure, FaceBreaker K.O. Party is the way to go, and it's only 40 bucks. But for anyone looking to fight a friend for hours at a time (on one console, of course; the Wii version did lose online capabilities), or to enjoy a robust and reasonably challenging single-player mode, this just isn't comparable to something from, say, the Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Tekken, or Soul Calibur franchises.

The cutscenes are a bit too bad (even though it's intentional), and the game's style is far more over-the-top than it needs to be. But, it has its fun moments, and there's a sense of accomplishment in learning how to beat a mission.

It’s a love letter to those who found magic in the first game. And for those folks still smitten, New World is sure to touch your heart.

If you can get past the cutesy visuals and enjoy creative and time-consuming games with lots of challenges, you should probably give it a try. On the other hand, if you're looking for a fast-paced, adventure-filled experience, this may not quite meet your expectations.

The Clone Wars: Jedi Alliance is an impressive feat on DS, and it’s also an entertaining, often thrilling adventure. Though the gameplay has a few minor issues and it doesn’t tread any new ground, the presentation ties everything together to make for an experience that shouldn’t be missed by fans of this seminal, science-fiction franchise.

Eternal Poison has to be one of the most entertaining RPGs I have played all year. Although it sticks firmly to genre conventions in terms of general gameplay mechanics, the overkill system is interesting enough and adds a new (albeit simple) dimension to the battle system. However, Eternal Poison’s real strength comes from its multi-faceted story.

The lack of overall polish is inexcusable.

Though the inclusion of new features is something the series has drastically needed, online features lack depth and Become a Legend is spoiled by frustrating A.I. teammates.

Though the inclusion of new features is something the series has drastically needed, online features lack depth and Become a Legend is spoiled by frustrating A.I. teammates.

Treyarch did a remarkable job of breathing new life into the WWII shooter. They followed the conventions outlined by Infinity Ward to a tee and, as a result, created a shooter that is every bit as good as last year's entry. Of course, there isn't a whole lot of innovation this time around, but the increased Multiplayer options, new settings, and great enemy A.I. should more than satisfy all but the most jaded Infinity Ward fanboys.

Treyarch did a remarkable job of breathing new life into the WWII shooter. They followed the conventions outlined by Infinity Ward to a tee and, as a result, created a shooter that is every bit as good as last year's entry. Of course, there isn't a whole lot of innovation this time around, but the increased Multiplayer options, new settings, and great enemy A.I. should more than satisfy all but the most jaded Infinity Ward fanboys.

Treyarch came back this year with an excellent addition to the franchise. Many gamers may look at this game with an "I've been there, done that" attitude. I am here to tell you that this is the best WWII effort so far, as well as the best game in the franchise.

If you're looking for a great FPS on the Wii, Call of Duty: World at War definitely fits the bill. With its impressive graphics, cinematic and brutal storytelling, varied missions, and excellent multiplayer offerings, this is a must play title for mature Wii gamers.

It’s a fun shooter, if all too formulaic.

The developers have simply thrown together a handful of boring, mini-games onto a game disc and called it a game. I never ever thought I'd say this about a game, but MLB Superstars really feels like an abuse of the MLB license. And if that's not an insult, I don't know what is.

I really wanted to enjoy Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, but it was really the repetitive nature of the game that weakened the overall package.

A perfect title for wrestling fans. It has tons of different match types, plenty of customization options, and provides some new and interesting ways to interact with other fans. This is definitely the most complete-feeling WWE title to come down in a long time, and it is great that the series has wrestled itself back into the spotlight.

A perfect title for wrestling fans. It has tons of different match types, plenty of customization options, and provides some new and interesting ways to interact with other fans. This is definitely the most complete-feeling WWE title to come down in a long time, and it is great that the series has wrestled itself back into the spotlight.

This feels nothing like a dulled-down next-gen title, and wrestling fans will love the variety of wrestlers, match types, moves, and creative features to toy around with. SvR 2009 is one of the best titles released on the PSP or PS2 in months.

With over 70 match types, 50 wrestlers, and multiple storylines to play in Road to Wrestlemania, SvR 2009 is one of the hottest WWE titles in recent history.

It's just hard to play this for more than a few minutes at a time without getting frustrated with the controls.

Despite the extreme variation of difficulty, this is just an average racer.

Naruto: The Broken Bond may well give the much publicized Ultimate Ninja Storm a run for its money as the best Naruto game this year. Although the latter was touted for its amazing visuals, The Broken Bond is the most complete-feeling Naruto title currently available.

The combat is fun and accessible, the gore is over-the-top, and the story's spiked with humor (though not always intended) and provides for a non-stop, action-packed thrill ride. Still, whereas the original title was groundbreaking, GoW 2 is simply a honed, rehashed sequel.

In most ways, Exit DS is essentially the same game as the two earlier versions, only with weaker graphics and horrible controls.

Nostalgia-stricken fans of the original might be able to look past Vigilante 8's deficiencies and find some fun to be had, but those unfamiliar with the aged gameplay won't be won over by the slicker presentation.

If you didn’t enjoy the single-player experience, chances are the multiplayer won’t offer incentive to stick with Legendary Warriors.

It’s a simple beat-‘em-up that stays within the realm of tried-and-true gameplay conventions, but it’s addictively fun and offers real replay value.

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

The new voice command system works flawlessly, and players should find it to be a mighty rewarding experience.

The new voice command system works flawlessly, and players should find it to be a mighty rewarding experience.

There are just way too many better shooters available to make this game worth your time and money.

There are just way too many better shooters available to make this game worth your time and money.

Collecting and combining ingredients to make better monster parts is not only essential to progression, it is also fun and incredibly addictive.

It's too bad the stylus-intensive mini-games get in the way too often, giving Monster Lab the air of more of an interactive activity book than an entertaining gaming experience.

SEGA has delivered a standout title, one that pushes past its strict genre boundaries and deserves to be played by not only fans of tactical RPGs, but also those that have never touched the genre. Turn-based strategy doesn't get much better than this.

For puzzle fans, this is definitely an experience worth having. The puzzle modes have 32 to 44 levels each, many of them quite difficult, and "Guide" mode in particular is a whole lot of fun. However, there's no point in beating the same level twice, and the "Create" and "Compose" modes aren't captivating enough to add much replayability, so this is a game to rent, not buy.

Quantum of Solace won't be up for any "game of the year" awards, but it is a solid title that offers a satisfying, though elementary, single-player campaign and a strong, but perhaps niche, multiplayer experience. It's not a total return to form for the Bond franchise, but it seems to be headed in the right direction.

The robust multiplayer saves the day. Though pleasant, the very short single-player campaign is only good for maybe a couple of playthroughs, but it is not in any way memorable.

Quantum of Solace feels like a real missed opportunity. With a little more time and effort, the Call of Duty 4 engine could have been optimized for the system, eliminating much of the jaggedness and slowdown you’ll experience while playing the game.

There are some fun gameplay ideas in the DS version of Quantum of Solace, but the execution plainly leaves too much to be desired. The cutscenes artificially connect the missions together, and the story makes little or no sense. The game, at various points, is either too easy or too hard, and its only real challenge comes from the inaccuracy of all its gameplay elements.

This is a must-buy in every sense of the phrase; entertainment that truly sets the bar for the FPS genre both on the PS3 and for gaming in general.

Dragon Ball: Origins is a treat for both diehard fans that have been with the series for the past twenty years as well as those who are only casual fans of the series. No matter which category you fall into, you'll definitely want to check out this blast from the past!

As long as you're creative juices are flowing, you can play this as long as your DS lasts.

Heck, even those that are an older audience will have a hard time faulting the game, for its presentation and scope of gameplay are quite nice.

There are, of course, issues with the title, but they are so small that it won’t matter to the player it is designed for. Heck, even those that are an older audience will have a hard time faulting the game, for its presentation and scope of gameplay are quite nice.

Though functionality isn’t one of its strong points, the game’s major saving graces are its humorous cutscenes and voiceover work, namely that of Julien.

And while the Wii version of this title may not be the absolute best, it does a good job of conveying the fun energy of the movie that inspired it, and kids will love the fun mini-game inspired play.

There are, of course, issues with the title, but they are so small that it won’t matter to the player it is designed for. Heck, even those that are an older audience will have a hard time faulting the game, for its presentation and scope of gameplay are quite nice.

It might be worth a rental if you're really into this type of game, but otherwise Advance Wars does everything that EndWar does, and does it a lot better. With that in mind, I see no real reason to buy this game.

Tom Clancy's EndWar is not a bad game; even taken with a grain of salt it won't necessarily leave a bitter taste in your mouth.

A good job was done incorporating a story into what is truly just a small collection of mini-games. It won’t keep you glued for long, though, and HorrorLand likely makes for a better rental than a purchase.

History Channel Civil War: Secret Missions treats what should be a rich historical palate as a first-person shooter backdrop and nothing more. Both parties – history buffs and shooter fans – will be disappointed. This is essentially Battle for the Pacific re-skinned and repackaged.

History Channel Civil War: Secret Missions treats what should be a rich historical palate as a first-person shooter backdrop and nothing more. Both parties – history buffs and shooter fans – will be disappointed. This is essentially Battle for the Pacific re-skinned and repackaged.

A title with an identity crisis. It doesn't know whether it wants to be a dungeon crawler or action adventure title, and sadly, it doesn't do either particularly well.

Though likely created on a shoestring budget, Theresia offers an interesting story, engaging gameplay, and a fine, cinematic presentation. But as is the case with most games of its kind, there’s little reason to come back for seconds.

Despite the game's great sense of humor, respectable graphics, and well crafted child-friendly horror-themed atmosphere, frustrating and monotonous gameplay make HorrorLand virtually unbearable.

The series premiere set the ball rolling nicely, but Episode Two picks up the uproarious humor and killer story and runs with it.

Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 isn't the greatest RTS game on the market right now. And, as far as gameplay is concerned, it is as traditional and standard as they come. However, what it lacks in the way of new gameplay design, it makes up for in flavor, attitude, and exaggeration.

When all is said and done, you have to look at Ben 10: Alien Force for what it is – an experience outside of the show. In that area it excels in so many ways. However, there are too many complaints to say that you will have the same awesome experience that Ben and company have when fighting aliens.

When all is said and done, you have to look at Ben 10: Alien Force for what it is – an experience outside of the show. In that area it excels in so many ways. However, there are too many complaints to say that you will have the same awesome experience that Ben and company have when fighting aliens.

The combat is pretty repetitive and the levels are a bit too lengthy for a portable experience, but Ben's five alien forms' differing abilities and the game's storyline will keep you interested until the game's conclusion.

Some activities are highly entertaining; others are disappointing.

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.

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.

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.

This is definitely one race to avoid at all costs.

MotorStorm: Pacific Rift takes everything enjoyable about the original (great graphics, hectic races, multi-route tracks, etc.) and adds a lot more variety from the new locale.

If you can get past the fairly boxy-looking and unlikeable characters, there is some fun to be had creating objects, playing mini-games, completing the game's story, and customizing the kingdom's appearance. Just don't expect to be wowed by the storyline or to enjoy all of the included mini-games.

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.

And even though it is a welcome addition to the SingStar family, I am very disappointed in the lack of variety in the song selection.

There's a ton of levels, lots of cool ninjas, and a strong multiplayer mode. This game is highly addictive.

All told, the Orochi Saga collection is a hands-down worthwhile buy for longtime fans of the series, and a toss-up for newcomers.

The King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga ultimately falls flat because of technical issues that render its attempts at historical authenticity paltry.

Moto GP 08 lacks an identity. In an effort to be all things to all people, it ends up being not much to anyone.

Moto GP 08 lacks an identity. In an effort to be all things to all people, it ends up being not much to anyone.

Incredibly fun, especially with a group, and it is a great improvement over Lights, Camera, Action.

This game promotes the use of imagination by having players create buildings and craft new objects, but it doesn't go much further than that. Online multiplayer capabilities are nice, as long as other people you know have the game too.

Travel Games For Dummies is a very good game for business travelers and casual gamers. Combining classics like Sudoku, Solitaire, and Crosswords together was a grand idea. Moreover, the addition of clearly taught strategy lessons to the mix is a great way for teaching or improving your knowledge of these games, and it helps to differentiate this title from other brain games out there.

The game is everything it promised and more: striking level design, great music, easy controls, addictive gameplay, tons of features and collectables, and amazing physics.

Neverland incorporates enough gameplay variety to recommend it. Those that may not be interested in the card game genre are urged to get on deck.

Overall, Tornado is a good game marred by some intentional annoyances. It's a wonder why the developer chose to include them in the first place. Rent this one first.

Like the episodes before it, Baddest of the Bands is wildly ridiculous and largely entertaining. It doesn't pack quite the epic feel or the challenge of Episode 2, but the rocking subject matter is a perfect fit for Strong Bad's outrageous wit.

Like the episodes before it, Baddest of the Bands is wildly ridiculous and largely entertaining. It doesn't pack quite the epic feel or the challenge of Episode 2, but the rocking subject matter is a perfect fit for Strong Bad's outrageous wit.

People who love music video games won't get tired of this one. Not only does it include standard modes of play, but there's also co-op, face-off, battles, several online modes, and a very compelling music studio that allows you to create and share songs with the world.

People who love music video games won't get tired of this one. Not only does it include standard modes of play, but there's also co-op, face-off, battles, several online modes, and a very compelling music studio that allows you to create and share songs with the world.

People who love music video games won't get tired of this one. Not only does it include standard modes of play, but there's also co-op, face-off, battles, several online modes, and a very compelling music studio that allows you to create and share songs with the world.

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 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.

By adopting a laissez faire attitude to player discretion, Ubisoft has crafted a brilliant follow-up.

The graphics are there, the story is there, and the mechanics are just a few tweaks shy of perfect. Yet when it comes to gameplay, that final and most important 10 percent, most folks will find themselves getting bored, lost, annoyed, or all three.

The graphics are there, the story is there, and the mechanics are just a few tweaks shy of perfect. Yet when it comes to gameplay, that final and most important 10 percent, most folks will find themselves getting bored, lost, annoyed, or all three.

If you are a Spyro enthusiast, then Dawn of the Dragon definitely delivers all the platforming action you are used to, and you probably won't be disappointed. But if you are looking for something more than just the usual grind, you may want to leave this Dragon on the shelf.

Crash, a once center stage mascot, plays like an exhausted hero of yesteryear, and it may be time for him to take some time off the video game scene to recollect his once keen gaming senses.

Baseball Mogul 2009 is not for everyone. Baseball fans should be warned that this is the sports equivalent of Dungeons and Dragons.