Even on the easiest setting Ultimate Ghosts ‘N Goblins is designed to tease, torture, torment and transgress. In other words it’s #%$&*+! hard!

Ultimately there’s a ton of content in NBA Live 18 for basketball and NBA nuts. While it doesn’t have something comparable to Madden’s Longshot, making it more accessible and distinct, there’s still a ton here to do and enough variance that different kinds of players will probably find something to latch onto.

The Club is a fresh take on the shooter. 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 effort put into the depth of control of this game is very apparent. Each of the four modes of racing controls in subtly different ways, and racing aficionados will definitely be able to tell the difference.

Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit is a must-own for DBZ fans, and if you're a fan of button-mash fighters, you owe it to yourself to pick this one up!

With 25 levels you would think this game would last a long time. A decent gamer will hack his or her way through this in an afternoon.

The 3D world has too many technical flaws, most notably with the camera angles.

Pid is a clever little indie title that looks great, sounds great, and provides a decent challenge. Sure, there's currently an almost overwhelming deluge of triple-A blockbusters due to the holiday gaming season, but don't let that distract you from the indie goodness that is Pid.

The Awakened is a good romp. It treats the subject matter with respect, always mindful that this is first and foremost a detective game. Get out your pointers, and start clicking.

FlatOut has all the makings of a great budget games, except that it's not great and that it's not budget priced.

A darn good adventure and one that should be taken by every serious gamer. It may not take the place of any "Grand Theft Auto" game but it could certainly hold its own against "Max Payne."

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

The core gameplay - everything from character and weapon customization, to the incredibly nuanced combat - is fun and delightful. Almost everything else, though, feels pedestrian.

If you are looking for a game that’s a non-stop thrill ride, you should look somewhere else. But if you want to connect with a game in a way that you aren’t used to, want to feel something, or just love buckets of precipitation–rain is the game for you. At $15, there isn’t really anything else like it.

Call of Juarez does a fascinating job of blending an epic period in history with an already proven gaming genre. It strays here and there, but it is the overall experience that Techland set out to provide, which I feel they have succeeded at tremendously.

This is an action-RPG that offers more than just addictive loot gathering, and that's something we don't see enough of.

As an overall package, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is the perfect ensemble for all those die hard fans out there. With tons of options and modes, there is just so much for the player to do. Online play furthers the longevity of the title. Unfortunately, from my point of view the quality does not match the quantity. The controls annoyed me too much, and for a game that relies on fast paced action, that just will not do.

If you don't get sick of the five maps, you will play this one for quite some time as you climb through all 1,000 levels of advancement.

A good addition to the series, albeit one that needs some special consideration. It's the black sheep of the SOCOM family and is in need of some refinement. It's close to greatness, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

Anything but old school. It possesses a life of its own which is altogether unique, otherworldly and strangely believable.

Paying tribute to our brave men and women in uniform-who often go through situations that are unimaginable to all of us sitting at home with controllers in our hands-is a great thing. The step that EA has taken towards establishing a precedent for exploring topical subject matter in a video game may be a small one, but it's still important. But almost everything else about Medal of Honor, while enjoyable, makes it hard to shake the feeling of playing just another military shooter.

At the end of the day, WWE '12 gives fans exactly what they want: a cohesive and fun wrestling game. There aren't a whole lot of different ways to do that.

The single-player campaign is a lot of fun, though rather short. Multiplayer and lots of hidden objects help to extend the fun. Still, you'll be done with the game after a few weeks.

This game is almost strictly a multiplayer experience. As such, you're not getting a whole lot of value for your money. That said, the competitive online play will be worth the price of admission for many.

Self-esteem issues aside, The Red Star is a great game that stands on its own, despite the hardships its development went through.

Champions Online gives the appearance of a vast open-world full of rampaging villains and heroic adventure, and it lives up to this promise on many levels. You'll find much of the fun and mayhem one might expect to encounter in such a place. Yet there are moments when it's hard to shake the linear feeling that gradually creeps into the experience from time to time.

The sense of scale is impressive. There is some draw-in but these worlds are absolutely massive and impressive.

It's an excellent racing experience beneath the shallow exterior, with plenty of unlockables and lots of crazy tracks to burn up.

A skimpy expansion for an excellent game.

It has a lot of play value, non-violent themes (as long as you consider throwing cupcakes and bags of money non-violent), colorful characters and fun gameplay. Any young fan of Noddy and his friends is sure to love spending A Day In Toyland.

I know that some gamers will find the Xbox Live feature of this game irresistible. For them this game will be a great bargain.

It's traditional RPG stuff but this game has just the right amount of depth to satisfy fanatics while appealing to new recruits. It's a lengthy, well-balanced adventure that is sure to satisfy your RPG cravings.

Bottom line: A three day rental would definitely give you an insight into how much longevity you'll wring out of Naruto: Clash Of Ninja in the long run.

Brink is a worthy buy for anyone who doesn't absolutely hate multiplayer FPS action. It blurs the line between single-player and multiplayer styles, introduces an effective new movement system, and finds ways of discouraging all the obnoxious behavior common in most multiplayer shooters. The campaign is long, and the different classes allow you to play each mission over and over without getting bored.

It's an experience that can penetrate even the thickest of skin, and it will make you feel something. What that is, I can't exactly say, but this is an emotional journey you won't soon forget. It's a short journey, but it's packed densely enough with cool stuff to see and do that I would enthusiastically encourage you to pay the fifteen-dollar asking price.

Quite a few levels to play through. Online play and challenge levels are nice, though the overall experience is rather short.

There are tons of things to do in the game, with even more in the multiplayer and side quests. Hours of play long after you think you are done.

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.

MotoGP 10/11 turned out to be fairly decent if not altogether impressive. The career mode alone should keep even the most seasoned of players occupied for a considerable amount of time, not to mention the online portion of the game.

It's a decent spin-off with some very interesting and unique features but the production values suffer, making it seem like a daytime show as compared to the slick, party atmosphere of primetime DDR.

Most of the platforming is top-shelf stuff, and the few issues with the controls notwithstanding, I had a great time with the game. Fifteen dollars is a bit high, though, for the amount of pleasure most folks will likely mine from the experience.

Putting the number three behind the title should mean progression. Unfortunately, this feels more like a transgression.

Though the production value leaves a lot to be desired, Test Drive: Unlimited 2 has a lot of content, and maxing out your stats and gaining levels in the game provides a fresh take on progression in the automotive genre.

It's not the greatest game to ever grace a console because the missions degenerate into make-work projects but if you only play this game a few hours a day the repetition will be less noticeable.

Not only is it more fun than the movie but it's a big improvement over the first title which was released almost a year ago.

More than twice the price, less than twice the features: do the math.

The festival mode and dream events provide some good variety and playtime, but it would have been nice to be able to compete against other players online.

The game contains 100 puzzles with different themes and objects. It'll keep you busy for a while, especially if you're enjoying it.

This expansion is simply more Destiny, love it or hate it. Unlike the revolution that was The Taken King, this is a mere evolution that shows that Bungie is finally comfortable with this strange new online shooter format. If you're a huge fan, it's good. There's new gear. You'll like it. Enjoy. Everybody else is waiting to see what happens with Destiny 2, because that's going to be the real test for Bungie moving forward.

A quest mode that is fun and interesting, diverse set lists, and the inclusion of new power abilities will definitely find a special place with fans of the series.

The story and adventure has greater cohesion and continuity, which is balanced by the fact the platforming gameplay is still on the bland side.

Putting the number three behind the title should mean progression. Unfortunately, this feels more like a transgression.

The combat and motion controls are less than perfect, but the level design and cinematic storytelling really steal the show. Deadly Creatures offers a rare perspective that's very entertaining, if only for a brief time.

If you've been hankering for a full-scale Jak and Daxter game for some time, The Lost Frontier largely fulfills its duty as a continuation of the main series with flying colors. It's not a perfect sequel by any means, but it's strong enough to merit a purchase and some solid play time. Just be prepared to deal with some bumps along the way.

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.

Whatever its flaws, this game does a decent enough job of walking the line between sticking to the formula and mixing things up.

It's part documentary, part board game, but totally fun.

This is simply a blast to play, and there's a lot of replay value. The only problem is that the campaign is short, maybe five to seven hours.

As much as I liked about Major League Baseball 2K11 (playing online and playing through My Player), I found even more that I didn't like (commentary, menus, bugs and glitches, frustrating AI). I enjoy the promise of the MLB integration, whether it's the updated scores every time I log into the game or the DRPS affecting my in-game roster and stats. But ultimately, MLB 2K11 is its own worst enemy, keeping it from being a great sports game and, once again, second fiddle to the MLB: The Show franchise.

It is a great game to have around when friends come over, and the controls really make the game fun. However, if you just want to play the career mode by yourself, I would suggest picking up a copy for one of the other systems. The overall complexity of the title is not as deep as it is on the other consoles, but the gameplay is much more fun for the average player.

This game is little more than a lowbrow, yet humorous, thug-life simulator.

The Godfather is not a perfect game but it's a hell of a lot of fun. There's nothing particularly frustrating about it so the challenges won't be insurmountable to casual gamers. Hardcores can immerse themselves in the mob world and enjoy the game as an interactive movie.

With multiple game modes, there's plenty of content here to keep old-school gamers busy for hours on end.

Playing this game is like walking into a real horror movie. It's well thought out and you never now exactly what is behind the next door.

The story holds together fine, but poor dialogue and structure make it almost impossible to care about Nostalgia's characters. The gameplay - though completely old-school - is polished and very well balanced.

If you are going to download A&P (and it is worth it if you like point-and-click adventures, and can stomach a few tiresome mini-games), then I suggest you take it slow. The game is short; you can finish it in less than four hours if you don't stop to admire the scenery, but there's no reason to run through it.

Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage for Wii is another quality boarding title. However, the few improvements don't add up to a lot more than what was available last year; this really isn't a very inspired sequel.

All of the games are arcade simple and relatively easy to play and master. Not all of them are a hoot however. "Crazy Taxi," which is a classic Dreamcast game is nothing but filler in this collection.

Despite its flaws, The Cave is a unique experience that explores a genre that few other games on the market dare to touch.

Even though everything sounds like a hodge-podge Ratchet & Clank adventure, I enjoyed the variety and appreciated the less combat-oriented gameplay.

It's not a perfect retro revival and can be blown through in a few hours, but this is a much better-and purer-Sonic experience than we've seen in years. The difficulty can range from easy to very hard; the final boss is particularly ridiculous.

You've probably played this game before. If you haven't, you probably don't want to, and this isn't the best version to start on. It doesn't add enough for old fans or do enough to reel in new players.

Even with all of the overly nostalgic conciliations, GoldenEye 007: Reloaded is a genuinely fun game in and of itself. Activision has made some incredibly intelligent decisions in their revision strategy (Daniel Craig is the first Bond actor who can believably kill a Russian since Sean Connery), but in the end, nostalgia just isn't a strong enough foundation to build a truly great game on.

There is plenty to do in Divinity II, and if you don't mind putting up with the poor visuals or combat, there are plenty of side-quests to take on to extend your experience.

The game is fun. There is some replay value if you want to show off your stats and if you like collecting items.

Even with all of its problems, I genuinely love the technology. It feels like a strangely inventive step forward for Sony. And, if developers can get behind the tech, we might see a string of educational and entertainment titles hit the market soon. That'll just depend on the bugs getting worked out of the system.

After a few day's play, a good-old fashion family fight and a uppercut to the chin becomes more and more appealing.

A refreshing game that is straightforward, easy to follow and most importantly, it's fun.

The AI still does an admirable job and keeps things random. You never play the same game twice and that really adds to the replay value.

Need For Speed: Most Wanted 5-1-0 has to be the sorriest excuse for a racing game that EA has ever released. With the PSP's capabilities, they could have done so much more, and made it a much better game.

No challenge, but weirdly addicting, with lots of secrets to come back for.

As long as you're not looking for the game that topples FIFA, then you're sure to have a ball with World Tour Soccer 2006. As they sometimes say, some games aren't for everyone but this game is definitely meant for all.

The game is not perfect, nor will it appeal to everyone. However, Red Fly and Gamecock have done a great job of bringing a compelling adventure to the Wii that uses craftsmanship and care in its creation.

Even with all of the overly nostalgic conciliations, GoldenEye 007: Reloaded is a genuinely fun game in and of itself. Activision has made some incredibly intelligent decisions in their revision strategy (Daniel Craig is the first Bond actor who can believably kill a Russian since Sean Connery), but in the end, nostalgia just isn't a strong enough foundation to build a truly great game on.

This is more than just a plain game, it's a damn fine plane game if you ask me.

This is a great opportunity for boarders and the gamers who love them to learn an innovative control scheme, pull off some tricks, and design their dream skate parks.

There is a multi-player mode but it’s not online and it requires that the other players all have their own copy of the game. Not a great selling feature.

This game will be fun for those who enjoy challenging puzzles, but overall it doesn't feel like a very generous remake. Online gameplay is the main reason to buy it again.

The slick presentation and intensely fun co-op play has made a believer out of me even though gameplay can feel sloppy at times. If you love shooters and are looking to play an interesting campaign mode with a friend, then Army of Two is a must-buy.

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.

The quintessential arcade-style RPG. Anyone can play it anytime. Some may say this game has training wheels but I like to think they're hooked up to a wheelie bar on a Harley.

A unique and strangely satisfying venture into the realm of railways operation. It can be extremely peaceful or bustling and chaotic depending on how you choose to play.

Not only surpasses the Budokai series up to now, but shows us some new and great additions.

The gameplay may be too consistent (read: repetitive) for continuous play, but an hour here and there may be just what the doctor ordered.

Longtime fans will appreciate the new direction that the expansion pack helps to further while adhering to the ambience of the Myst universe.

The only real wrench in the works is the loose control system which makes this purple dragon a little more difficult to control than need be.

This is one huge game. Granted, a lot of "make work" tasks manage to pad it out and they can get annoying after a while, but the actual size of the city is impressive.

An amazing, versatile program that is perfectly suited for a handheld system. You can plug in headphones and silently rock out on the bus, or you can plug it into an amplifier, crank it up, and play for an audience. This is a must-have for any musician or music-lover.