The individual elements of Mana Khemia 2 are nothing special, really, though this is one game that is certainly greater than the sum of its parts. The story doesn't take itself seriously, but the gameplay here packs quite a punch.

Master of Illusion is what it aspires to be: a game that teaches you the secrets of magic. Sure, it is not going to teach you how to be Criss Angel that guy is really weird, but it is does teach you the basics.

Fluidity is interesting and fun, though it will tax you in its later areas.

Vanquish is great fun while it lasts, though it only lasts about six hours (if only there was more to do!). Still, absolutely worth playing.

Vanquish is great fun while it lasts, though it only lasts about six hours (if only there was more to do!). Still, absolutely worth playing.

Despite the entertaining level design and dialogue, each "episode" is completely linear, and there isn't any real replay value.

At least $3 of the $5 you spend will go to charity, and you'll get at least several hours' worth of play time.

The stylus is used to select answers and navigate the menu system. It’s nothing that couldn’t be done with a normal controller but it’s more convenient and precise. You can choose the correct answer immediately without having to scroll through choices or manipulate a cursor. The menu system is easy to access and while it may lack visual pizzazz, it’s clean, simple and easy enough on the eyes. Overall the presentation is lacking but this is a budget-priced game and it accomplishes what it sets out to do.

Big Bang Mini is a $20 title that will rival many of the top releases on the system in 2009.

The only real complaint I have-besides the non-scrolling map mentioned earlier-is that the game has no multiplayer mode.

Persona 3 FES lacks the memorabilia, but packs more in-game content at a cheaper price. The newer version offers a chance for Atlus to recruit new MegaTen fans and should be enticing enough even for those that picked up Persona 3 last year.

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

There are many cosmetic quirks that clearly indicate the smaller budget Snail Games has at their disposal, but overall this is a successful blend of familiar MMO concepts with plenty of unique twists.

A great surprise. It takes the game in an unexpected direction, offering another round of fresh variety to keep the standard point-and-click adventure mechanics from growing tiresome.

If you haven't gotten completely burned out of Borderlands' shoot-'n-loot hijinks or are looking to pick the game back up, taking a relatively new character through the perils of The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned is certainly a worthwhile endeavor.

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.

Though a playthrough won't take you more than five to seven hours (depending on how many people you have on your team), some decent replay value comes from maxing out your favorite characters.

Pokémon games have been around for almost two decades now, and whether it's an entirely new set of adventures or updated classics like Pokémon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby, the core gameplay formula remains virtually untouched. More features are added to burst the seams of content, with extra activities from the originals carried over.

Pokémon games have been around for almost two decades now, and whether it's an entirely new set of adventures or updated classics like Pokémon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby, the core gameplay formula remains virtually untouched. More features are added to burst the seams of content, with extra activities from the originals carried over.

The single-player is jam-packed with varied game modes. The simulation of Formula One racing is very accurate. As a bonus, playing with friends through ad-hoc support is a nice touch.

This is the Guitar Hero to have. While it may not be a true revolutionary step forward, it does take its strides towards what I one day hope the Guitar Hero series will achieve.

It's just a shame that all of these awesome options are lumped onto games that, as I have said time and time again, are completely and utterly broken. However, if you can take a step back and not take your losses too seriously, MvCO is an amazingly fun time with smooth netcode and awesome extras.

Gun Showdown portrays the Wild Frontier with a realism that was missed in those old Spaghetti Westerns of the 60s and 70s.

The story mode is fairly lengthy, and there are plenty of unlockables to keep you going. However, the lack of online play is regrettable.

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.

If you're up for the challenge, and you want to trace the lineage of some of your favorite games of all times by exploring their heritage, you simply can't afford to pass up Atari Classics Evolved.

Whereas Live 09 offers similar new features, 2K has the ability to back up their new features with smooth on-court gameplay. This is simply a more fun basketball experience.

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