Guardians of Middle-earth just doesn't seem to have the lasting appeal it needs to, and it overcompensates for this by whitewashing itself with a thin coat of Tolkien paint. Don't get me wrong, it does a lot of things right, and it does several things brilliantly. Unfortunately, this is a genre that requires a healthy community, and it's hard to be optimistic about that here.

There's so little offered in Hot Rod Show, it feels a lot like one of those trinkets you'd buy from a machine at the grocery store. Still, the game has an undeniable charm, and it's fun in extremely short bursts.

Strategy-RPG fans will ignore the game's shortcomings and find much to praise, but this isn't a game that's going to rope in those who aren't already fans of the particular genre.

For a budget title, things could certainly be a whole lot worse. It’s worth a rental at the least, and if you can find some online play then you might just want to consider purchasing it. It’s fun, challenging, captivating, diverse – and cheap.

Kane and Lynch reeks of an undercooked effort that should've baked a few more months in the development oven. If the care and polish that went into the wonderfully cinematic level presentation had also been applied to the writing and gameplay, it could've been a bar-raising effort for the third-person shooter genre.

This game is a simple kind of fun, and if you play online with your friends you'll have a great time. Otherwise there's not much here for you unless you like to hunt for collectibles.

NASCAR Kart Racing is a solid kart racing game, but its biggest flaw is just that there's so little to make it stand out. It's so amazingly similar to Mario Kart Wii, and the latter is a better, more memorable game in every way possible.

Somewhat underwhelming. It’s got all the ingredients of a great game but somebody just didn’t get the recipe right.

If you attempt to unlock everything in this game you can expect it to last about 15 hours or so. The average gamer will probably get five to eight hours out of it before they've seen most of it and start to get bored. I would definitely recommend renting this for a weekend before committing to a purchase.

It's a great debut on the PSP and even if you're not a strategy buff, it's easy enough to learn and highly recommended for a rental. Unfortunately the DS version doesn't fare nearly as well.

The shooting, platforming, and boss encounters are all enjoyable, but the game is incredibly short. It's also a very conventional formula that plays out a bit too simplistically.

Simple, well executed fun works well for what it is. Just don't expect a slew of bells and whistles.

I enjoyed Spectral Force 3 when I first started it up. I liked the old school tactical gameplay, and I was excited to see where it went. However, I was sorely disappointed when this game ended up going nowhere.

While you can easily drone through this game a second time due to the two distinct factions, lots of annoying flaws crop up that make it difficult to warrant a second playthrough.

The production values are impressive on the DS, the puzzle adventuring is fun and clever, and the game has quite a unique vibe. But, there isn’t much variation at all in either the look of the game or the gameplay itself, and the repetition weighs down the experience substantially.

A lot of it is repetitive, but there's a decent amount of gameplay here. There are many things to do, and it will take many hours to fully explore the island.

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 marked improvement over Streets of L.A. Overall it's more refined and the storyline is more relevant to the gameplay.

You get a lot of game for $15, but a ho-hum presentation and antiquated gameplay counterbalance the actual value of the package.

Joint Assault is decent fun if you can get past its yawn-worthy elements.

Rock Blast isn't a decent game for its originality - it has little. It's a good game because it successfully apes the gameplay mechanics of Bust-A-Move, Snood, and other similar titles.

A great level of Japanese-inspired humor, charm, and the arcade vibe works in its favor, but there's nothing incredibly new or outstanding about the games.

It may not be on the same level as the original, but it holds its own among other Wii titles. Admittedly, this one is for newcomers instead of those already blood-soaked from the original.

For a budget title, things could certainly be a whole lot worse. It’s worth a rental at the least, and if you can find some online play then you might just want to consider purchasing it. It’s fun, challenging, captivating, diverse – and cheap.

There's a lot to experience for a $15 downloadable game, as long as you enjoy the battle system.

Hector has a hilariously rancid personality that few point-and-click characters can match, and when the writing is good, his antics can be highly amusing. However, the writing in Episode 2 is simply not up to snuff, and it brings the production down-especially when paired with boring puzzles and a story that goes on for too long.

The Dunwall City Trials are a bit like the Disneyland version of Dishonored. They've cut out some of the most compelling parts of the game, such as exploring the expansive levels and learning the secrets of Dunwall's citizens. There are no interesting moral choices to make and no lore-filled books to read, but there are some fun challenges that remain true to the spirit of the game.

The game gets the controls right, and it's to be commended for that; too many times a game is ruined by tacked-on Wii controls, but such is not the case with A Space Oddity.

By the time the main game is over, you'll likely be glad to be through with it. However, it's quite possible you may find you've had a decent bit of fun along the way.

Though it’s only $20, it’s a package that isn’t really justified as a retail product. Tack on a host of technical and design flaws, and it’s an experience that’s somewhat disappointing.

While I agree that tons of modes and options do not a great game make, I don't consider this to be a great game. Looks aren't everything.

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.

Lips: Number One Hits is a great expansion pack. The new songs and avatar support will certainly please fans of the first. However, the trouble is that Lips: Number One Hits is being sold at full retail price as a standalone sequel to the original Lips.

Kane and Lynch reeks of an undercooked effort that should've baked a few more months in the development oven. If the care and polish that went into the wonderfully cinematic level presentation had also been applied to the writing and gameplay, it could've been a bar-raising effort for the third-person shooter genre.

There’s a lot of game here, constructed in a way that may prove interesting to a select few. The pacing, however, is slow and mired further by endless random encounters.

Scooby Doo! First Frights goes where many games have gone before, but it's a respectable title fans should enjoy. Levels are often huge and interesting to explore, and ultimately, the developers make fun use of the license.

Though it's still fun to battle opponents without having to fray my cards, dish out game night snacks, or use up gas to go where the in-person action is, I'll likely return to my Magic 2014 stock, and hope next year's entry provides more sustenance.

If you don't have the means to play Roogoo on PC or Xbox LIVE, then Twisted Towers will do in a pinch, but prepare for a huge dose of overstimulation.

MLB 2K10 is a decent game, and I almost want to tip my hat to 2K for including PS2 owners in their line-up. But the core mechanics aren't innovative; certain elements of the gameplay are cut back too much, while others are convoluted and unintuitive.

This game isn't very much fun to play, but the storyline is a joy to watch.

One very big frustration I have with this game is the music selection. To each his own, but when I play a baseball game I expect to hear the music associated with live baseball games - hip-hop, hard rock, and Latin music. For some reason, this soundtrack is filled with horrendous artsy indie rock.

If you like hack n’ slash gameplay, the game’s many different modes will keep you playing for quite awhile. It’s just too bad this title sticks so firmly to this singular gameplay aspect.

It's definitely a mediocre game. It plays it safe in every way possible. It's only feature of note is its voice recognition system, but everything else feels like it came straight out of a How to Make a Cover-Based Shooter for Dummies book or something. It's not bad; it's just generic. It's a "me too" game that tries to sell you on ideas that could be awesome but aren't fleshed out all that well.

An immensely ambitious game, and in some ways, it's even a groundbreaking one. However, its focus on realism will turn off fans of arcade shooters, and the developers will have to do some patching before everything truly clicks. If you want a hardcore multiplayer FPS that thoroughly immerses you in the Battle of Stalingrad, this could be the game for you-someday.

There are quite a few clever ideas underneath the hood here, but the courses feel almost more like micro games, the fun factor is so fleeting. Setting aside the presentation, 2nd Lap feels more like a Playstation Mini and should probably be priced as such.

RTS fans might find it a little simple, but might find the emphasis on action a pleasing surprise. Action fans might find the strategy a little dull, but with the simplicity of the commands they'll find themselves in the thick of the action as often as they like.

Check out Blokus for the strategic gameplay not the Steambot style.

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.

While you can easily drone through this game a second time due to the two distinct factions, lots of annoying flaws crop up that make it difficult to warrant a second playthrough.

The bottom line is that if you get stuck with Bright Lights! Big Screen! this holiday season, there's no reason to despair.

It’s the two-player mode that really makes this one tick but if you’ve already got the PS2 version with the online modes, you’re way ahead of this game.

There are a lot of nice improvements here. It just seems WWE could exceed fans' expectations, but they never really do.

If you attempt to unlock everything in this game you can expect it to last about 15 hours or so. The average gamer will probably get five to eight hours out of it before they've seen most of it and start to get bored. I would definitely recommend renting this for a weekend before committing to a purchase.

Although Let's Tap has some really great ideas, my main problem with this title is that there just isn't enough to it. Unfortunately, with just four games and a visualizer, the game feels more like a tech or gameplay demo rather than a full-fledged game.

To really enjoy it, the player not only has to overlook serious graphical issues, but also suspend disbelief and take the game with a grain of salt to bare with the script, the way races are set up, and the way lives are put in danger just so you can infiltrate a crime ring by winning hundreds of street races.

The game experience is over in a matter of only a couple hours. For gamers on a budget, $40 is way too much to ask for such a short experience. But what's here is good and you'll have a good time if you've got the money or pick it up as a rental.

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.

If you like hack n’ slash gameplay, the game’s many different modes will keep you playing for quite awhile. It’s just too bad this title sticks so firmly to this singular gameplay aspect.

Though Dog Days wasn't exactly what I was expecting, I enjoyed its arcade approach. Unfortunately, the design and breadth of content don't come close to justifying the price.

Though Dog Days wasn't exactly what I was expecting, I enjoyed its arcade approach. Unfortunately, the design and breadth of content don't come close to justifying the price.

One very big frustration I have with this game is the music selection. To each his own, but when I play a baseball game I expect to hear the music associated with live baseball games - hip-hop, hard rock, and Latin music. For some reason, this soundtrack is filled with horrendous artsy indie rock, which to me, should not be the soundtrack to a modern baseball game.

Though Dog Days wasn't exactly what I was expecting, I enjoyed its arcade approach. Unfortunately, the design and breadth of content don't come close to justifying the price.

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

It's a fun game, but you'll get bored with it pretty quickly.

The bottom line is that if you get stuck with Bright Lights! Big Screen! this holiday season, there's no reason to despair.

The Online mode suffers from some noticeable lag.

A good game that never seems in danger of being great. It’s like exploring a slice of life in another culture; you’re not quite sure what you’re going to get but you keep trying to get something.

Anyone hell-bent on training their weaker limb might find some amusement here. More seasoned gamers will find greater pleasures elsewhere.

On one hand, the cars have never looked better, but on the other hand, there are a lot fewer cars than before, and fewer locations to zoom about in. And in a game in a genre that relies heavily on repetition, having fewer cars and tracks than your predecessor is a poor showing, especially at the start of a generation.

This first episode leaves you with a feeling of “That’s it?”

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.

This is a quality card game that packs a lot of strategic fun for players aged ten and older. The simple controls make it accessible, and the varied play via Xbox LIVE is very satisfying.

Broken Age: Act 2 may stumble a bit trying to be something it isn’t, but what it is, is still gorgeous and enthralling, and I’ll put up with some frustrating puzzles and backtracking for that.

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.

If you attempt to unlock everything in this game you can expect it to last about 15 hours or so. The average gamer will probably get five to eight hours out of it before they've seen most of it and start to get bored. I would definitely recommend renting this for a weekend before committing to a purchase.

The lack of overall polish is inexcusable.

A surprisingly respectable showing by Activision. With so many publishers putting little effort into titles aimed at the younger gaming audience, it's refreshing to see fans of this license get something worth playing. In the end, though, the lack of variety and stale pacing make this a game that's only really fun in very small doses.

The Online mode suffers from some noticeable lag.

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 can take a long time to get used to the combat system. It's complicated to be sure but if you find that you don't like it, you're still faced with another 40-hours of gameplay. Proceed with caution.

A competent and accessible racer to DS owners. Gamers looking for a more customization-heavy or in-depth racing experience should look elsewhere. However, those that want a portable title that delivers some arcade-centric racing action on the go should give the title a try.

Essentially, Family Table Tennis is a cheap, enjoyable multiplayer game -- if that's what you're looking for, then this is a title you should definitely think about downloading.

The bottom line is that if you get stuck with Bright Lights! Big Screen! this holiday season, there's no reason to despair.

If you attempt to unlock everything in this game you can expect it to last about 15 hours or so. The average gamer will probably get five to eight hours out of it before they've seen most of it and start to get bored. I would definitely recommend renting this for a weekend before committing to a purchase.

Pretty standard fare as far as the automotive genre is concerned. It certainly gives the experience of a driver on a Hot Import Nights circuit, and that's a good thing. However it fails to bring anything really new or revolutionary to the table, and that's where this title comes up short.

There is no co-op mode but you will get a few good hours out of this mode, as well as few interesting goodies.

You'll likely find yourself sticking to a select few when they become available, which is disappointing because the premise itself is so good. For that reason alone, we recommend a rent. If you end up liking the bulk of what's on offer here, you can always adopt Help Wanted for good.

Smarty Pants is a decent activity to do with your loved ones once in a while, but it's not more than a simple pastime.

The inclusion of Dragon Spirit and Xevious Resurrection keep things feeling fresh, but they're not substantial enough to get gamers excited.

It's just disappointing that the rest of the game doesn't live up to the quality of the cutscenes.

In spite of poor input recognition and other issues, there is fun to be had here. However, it's incredibly short-lived. Even with its multiplayer options and unlockables, it's a very hard sell at $40.

Game show fans will easily get a kick out of the quirky gameplay, and it's definitely worth playing with a group of people who share an appreciation for the genre.

Control freaks need apply. UFO Aftershock may be sluggish in pace but there is lots to ponder like a good game of chess.

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.

An average handheld experience. It has about eight hours of gameplay that is very conducive to the pick-up-and-play experience. Most mobile gamers looking for a portable experience will probably enjoy the fun hack n' slash gameplay along with the fun mini-games. But as a fan of the original console version, I just feel that this game lacked a little of the prowess of its predecessor.

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.

As a children's game, The Golden Compass offers hours of fun with controls that aren't too complex, yet tasks that are challenging. With its 10+ rating, the game does offer some educational value and enough fun to keep kids interested.

The lack of overall polish is inexcusable.