There are some issues with the controls, much of the gesture gameplay is gratuitous, and the game offers all the perplexity of a chemistry set. But folks looking to role play as mayor might consider SimCity Creator as a rental.

SimCity on the DS still has further to evolve.

Even with its minor faults, Wario Land: Shake It! still manages to be a great platforming experience. Shaking your controller gets old very quickly, but the tried and true platforming goodness that is Wario Land, thankfully, remains intact.

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.

This is a full-sized 8-bit title, complete with a time trial mode. Playing through the story once can take between six to eight hours, but you could easily spend twice this amount of time with the game and still be having fun.

For someone who's mastered lots of puzzle games and wants a fresh challenge, Dropcast is the way to go. Casual gamers, on the other hand, will probably struggle.

Nikopol is a concise, smoothly flowing sci-fi adventure that offers plenty of challenge for the old school crowd and a more pleasantly streamlined and updated approach to the genre for anyone who’s been longing for something a little different.

From beginning to end, Igor is a perfect example of poor presentation, lousy execution, and what can happen when video games based on movies get rushed to the market to match their film’s release date.

The game is ultimately built upon the one element, and it gets old fast.

If MMOs are what you enjoy, Warhammer Online is one of the best on the market. It may not have a new combat system built from the ground up, or flashy next-generation graphics, but its success without those two elements is a feat in its own right.

For Star Wars fans, there is a lot here to love. The game looks great, controls well, is fun to play, and has a great storyline that you won’t want to miss.

For Star Wars fans, there is a lot here to love. The game looks great, controls well, is fun to play, and has a great storyline that you won’t want to miss.

In the end, Force Unleashed on PS2 feels like a tech demo. Though there are a ton of really cool gameplay elements to experience, not enough of them come together to make for a truly fun adventure.

The Wii controls are solid, and blazing a trail of destruction with the Force powers is a great game premise. But there are just some aspects of the game that feel half-baked and poorly-done.

It still looks amazing, sets a great pace for an action title, and provides enough of a story to keep the player from going comatose. However, it’s difficult to justify paying the additional money for a whole new game when it’s just a standard expansion pack.

Let it be said that the PSP version of Yggdra Union is the definitive version. It’s a great game, but once you’re done with it, you won’t likely be back for a visit. The focus is on battling, and, frankly, you’ll have had enough of it by the time you reach the end.

It's not a bad game; there are some good ideas here, and once you get a handle on the creation mechanics, then it's a fairly satisfying game.

Mount & Blade's strong RPG elements, in-depth army management aspects, and amazingly addictive combat system balance out its mediocre quests and half-baked sandbox gameplay.

Chapters of the Chosen serves as a strong reminder of just how good some of the old times really were. It's a lengthy and deep RPG that offers a solid challenge without crushing the spirits of the non-hardcore RPG enthusiast.

What's so strange about For Answer is its trading of extensive customization for actual gameplay. Sure, you can build the ultimate mech, customizing it to your heart's content, yet when you actually play the game, you realize its shortcomings.

What's so strange about For Answer is its trading of extensive customization for actual gameplay. Sure, you can build the ultimate mech, customizing it to your heart's content, yet when you actually play the game, you realize its shortcomings.

Battle Fantasia grabs hold of a player, there's no telling how many hours of enjoyment it's good for.

A game with its fair share of problems. Bugs and technical issues are all too common and shouldn't be present in this capacity. The multiplayer, while fun at times, is difficult to get into and seems a little tacked on for a game in the FPS genre, where multiplayer is generally a primary focus. On the other hand, it is nearly unrivaled in creating a truly immersive and creepy setting.

The fresher elements improve on the firmly established vibe and gameplay, making this a solid follow up episode.

The fresher elements improve on the firmly established vibe and gameplay, making this a solid follow up episode.

Drawn to Life: SpongeBob SquarePants Edition is easily the lesser of the two different versions of the game. It ditches some of what makes Drawn to Life so enjoyable, in favor of pandering to the kiddy crowd. The move is successful – any young SpongeBob fan is going to love this title – yet most gamers should do themselves a favor and just go with the original.

Rock Band 2 is definitely an upgrade over its previous entry. Although its best feature is probably the 80+ songs that come with it, you'll find a whole host of new and upgraded features that will keep you rocking for quite some time. Even if you have never rocked before, Rock Band's No-Fail mode makes this one an easy choice for casual or new players.

Definitely a disappointment. The original Hottest Party did a lot for the franchise by adding the hand movements, and it would have been nice to see some more innovation implemented in the sequel. As it stands, however, Hottest Party 2 is almost exactly the same as its predecessor, just with different songs. Since the majority of those aren't even that good, it's better to just pass on this party.

With an impressive song list and up to eight-player LAN capability, this DDR will definitely get the party started!

The Amusement Park expansion pack for PAIN feels more like a sequel than an expansion, as it somehow manages to include more content than the original game.

TNA iMPACT! isn't a bad game, but it does need a lot of work to reach the top in a gaming genre dominated by WWE for far too long.

TNA iMPACT! isn't a bad game, but it does need a lot of work to reach the top in a gaming genre dominated by WWE for far too long.

In its battle system, Zoids Assault has the germ of a great game. The idea is executed so half-heartedly, however, that it's hard to imagine what the developers were thinking. So, many minor tweaks could have made this so much better. Factor in a price that's at least quadruple what it should be, and it's not just a bad game, it's an insult.

With its beautiful presentation, broadcast-like feel, smooth control scheme, and innovative new online functions, NHL 09 is not only the best hockey title on the market, it may very well be the best of all-time.

With its beautiful presentation, broadcast-like feel, smooth control scheme, and innovative new online functions, NHL 09 is not only the best hockey title on the market, it may very well be the best of all-time.

Ramsay might get paid to be a total jerk, but his psychotic bravado lends a great deal of excitement to the culinary gaming genre.

The story in Yakuza 2 is definitely something that will stay with you, and must be experienced for fans of gangster culture, Japanese history, or anyone who appreciates a well-told and deep narrative.

Pocket Paradise succeeds in condensing a console experience into a portable game without many sacrifices and even some improvements.

If you can stand the controls, 2K makes a decent outing, though hockey fans should definitely spend their time and money on EA’s simulation for a superior hockey experience.

If you can stand the controls, 2K makes a decent outing, though hockey fans should definitely spend their time and money on EA’s simulation for a superior hockey experience.

A fine level of polish was heaped on MillionHeir, yet the framework of the adventure falls short of providing a cohesive gameplay experience. The object hunting puzzles are excellent, but they don't always feel connected to the story or the characters.

Lock's Quest is certainly one of the better DS games to hit the platform this year. If you're a fan of past DS strategy titles - LostMagic or Revenant Wings, for example - picking up Lock's Quest is a no-brainer.

While some of the individual evolutionary phases in Spore are either too short or could have been further developed, the game as a whole is truly remarkable.

It comes on a little slow, but if you put some genuine time and effort into this game, you can come away with a fun experience.

The real crime of FaceBreaker is that its gameplay is so bad and the A.I. is so cheap that the game's excellent create-a-player feature can't really be enjoyed. Who cares how many cool characters are available in a game that is insanely frustrating to play?

The real crime of FaceBreaker is that its gameplay is so bad and the A.I. is so cheap that the game's excellent create-a-player feature can't really be enjoyed. Who cares how many cool characters are available in a game that is insanely frustrating to play?

The process of getting through an entire four quarters is quite tedious, even to the most patient NFL gamers used to selecting plays and executing them on field.

The process of getting through an entire four quarters is quite tedious, even to the most patient NFL gamers used to selecting plays and executing them on field.

I had a lot of fun playing Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball, but I was extremely disappointed with the lack of content in this game. Playing the same four levels over and over is unacceptable in a modern game and is my chief complaint of this title.

Shred Nebula has the right idea: Take top-down shooter action, spice it up a little, and create stages for people who prefer identifiable goals to random point-chasing.

When everything's tallied up, though, Commando is a decent game on its own merits and a strong first showing for newcomers Mana Computer Software.

Only the most experienced real-time strategy players will be able to make sense of it, much less enjoy it.

It’s complex, yet boring. There is a lot here for JRPG hardcore fans to gush over, but the rest of you will likely tire of the game.

The sound in Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise is particularly good, and I really enjoyed the classically-inspired score. The relaxing orchestral tunes really provide an excellent catalyst for creativity and definitely help you feel like creating a piñata masterpiece.

Like the vampires portrayed here, this game just plain sucks.

If you're a parent thinking about picking up this game for your kid, I think you may be on the right track if you just want your kid to be creative, learn how to draw, share something with his friends, etc. However, it may not be as exciting for them as playing MegaMan, LEGO StarWars, or Animal Crossing, so you may have to give it some thought.

In the proper hands, the game can be a breeding ground for racing bliss. GTR Represents racing simulation realism at its absolute best, even if that means it sacrifices accessibility and broader appeal for general gamers.

Having to muddle through numerous menus to use the game's impressive airstrikes, travel all over the map to find work and shops, your inability to find a gun that fires straight, and a serious lack of challenge hamper what would otherwise be a fun and destruction-filled romp.

Having to muddle through numerous menus to use the game's impressive airstrikes, travel all over the map to find work and shops, your inability to find a gun that fires straight, and a serious lack of challenge hamper what would otherwise be a fun and destruction-filled romp.

It's a shame that developers didn't work harder to accentuate what's fun about this game with better graphics, more vehicles, and other gameplay elements. But, for what it is, Mercenaries 2 is a decent title for short-lived amounts of fun.

As a mainstream game, Garfield's Fun Fest is absolutely horrendous, and even as a kid's game it fares little better. A complete lack of effort on the part of the developers has led to a title that has boring, repetitive gameplay, poor sound and visuals, lack of humor or even a mildly entertaining storyline, and a total dearth of value.

A solid add-on expansion that offers a more puzzle-oriented twist on the series' interesting blend of gameplay and extends the adventure by a few hours. It's a decent way to wrap up the Penumbra series.

Castle Crashers is a great title for those who are looking for a quick romp through a magical world full of off-color humor. The controls are straightforward, the simple cartoon visuals are great, the music is perfect, and the combat is fun.

The adventures are a great addition to the main game, even if they don't add a ton of substance to the mix.

Truly, Tales of Vesperia is more akin to an interactive cartoon than it is to a traditional JRPG. This is one of the reasons players will enjoy this title so much. It is an engaging gaming experience that somehow capably balances storyline, combat, in and out of engine cutscenes, power leveling, and main and side mission quests.

The second screen really adds a great new dynamic to the gameplay, and the classic feel of the game is as sharp as ever. I really can't recommend this title enough; it is very fun to play, and the online modes provide endless replay value.

The game will make you sweat, curse, and yell. If you're actually fairly skilled, you may curse a little less. Whatever the case may be, I bet you'll keep playing this game for a long time and even come back to it after forgetting about it.

Digimon: World Championship feels a lot like the little handheld virtual pets that inspired it. While this is great for a trip down memory lane, it just doesn't work as a standalone game.

Another excellent addition to the storied franchise. However, without meaning to sound like a broken record, TW 09 is not a significant improvement over last year's outing.

If you're a golf fan, you've got to buy Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 All Play. It's the definitive game of golf this year, and the yearly iterations to come will surely improve upon an already-great game.

There's potential for hundreds of hours of gameplay. The gameplay is deep, rewarding, and addictive.

Ferrari Challenge is an accessible racer. It will lead beginners by the hand and allow them to take the training wheels off when they are comfortable. Racing enthusiasts with a penchant for expensive cars will drool over this offering.

Overall, I was pretty happy with all the improvements that Island of Happiness made to the traditional Harvest Moon formula. However, I had serious issues controlling the game, and it was always a battle to get my character to do what I wanted.

The upgrades to this game aren't enough to make me recommend it if you own FlatOut 2, but, for everyone else, it's a green light.

Sad to say, From the Abyss is an extremely unremarkable game through-and-through. From the visual style and plot to the game mechanics, it's all been done before in some form or another. The good news in all of this is the game still offers a good time for fans of the genre.

With Mario Superstar Baseball on the Gamecube being such a great game three years ago, it is fairly disappointing to see Super Sluggers not really doing much to improve on its formula. Sure, player chemistry and attack items are good additions, but there is really nothing else.

While it's not perfect and it's not an ideal handheld realization of the Power Pros franchise, this game does do many things right.

Wii Fit is a pricier option for health conscious players who like to have a good time while getting in shape, but Helix does the trick and then some at a budget price of $10.

Though the gameplay gets extremely repetitive and the excitement factor is mediocre at best, Sinking Island will likely hold the attention of adventure mystery fans.

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.

The game is not intrinsically awful; it's a severely acquired taste rooted a little too heavily in tradition for its own good.

Overall, I was unimpressed with Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. It failed to do anything new with the licensed game model and was instead content to just churn out the same basic game we get with most movies these days.

Legions is incredibly fun, but the serious lack of modes will end your experience far too early.

A bit too repetitive for its own good, but the unique controls and the online co-op are quite nice indeed.

Sluggish controls, sloppy animations, and the general feeling that you are playing a PSP game through your Xbox 360 make this game fall far behind its competitors.

Resource management is boring at the best of times, and, in Shattered Suns, it's a yawn-festival.

Bionic Commando Rearmed is one of the best downloadable titles to date. The production value, quirky humor, outstanding platforming challenge, and low cost make this a game everyone should pick up.

Bionic Commando Rearmed is one of the best downloadable titles to date. The production value, quirky humor, outstanding platforming challenge, and low cost make this a game everyone should pick up.

Pub Games is really a half-game aimed at those that want to get a jump start on building their Fable II loot. Those looking for a good standalone title are out of luck - far from scoring a jackpot, Pub Games is a complete bust.

The lack of atmosphere, tension, and urgency doesn't help either, especially since the player is supposed to feel like humanity is on its last leg.

The most challenging and rewarding experience currently available for hardcore gamers on the DS!

There are a lot of new features this year, but none of them are of much consequence. If you own Madden 08, there is no truly outstanding aspect that makes a repurchase necessary. In fact, the Superstar and Franchise game modes are nearly identical, and the Online Leagues aren't impressive enough to outshine the excellent online play of last year.

There are a lot of new features this year, but none of them are of much consequence. If you own Madden 08, there is no truly outstanding aspect that makes a repurchase necessary. In fact, the Superstar and Franchise game modes are nearly identical, and the Online Leagues aren't impressive enough to outshine the excellent online play of last year.

As much success as EA has had on the Wii, though, All-Play is a mild disappointment with its lack of upgrades within the Franchise and Superstar modes.

Offering little in the way of new features or modes, those who already own previous Madden installments won't find much reason to purchase this otherwise great title.

With the biggest new feature being Rookie Mode and the lack of new features that are available on current-gen versions of the game, those who own recent Madden title on the PSP won't find much new here.

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.

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.