It's going to take some time to learn the ropes but there's a deep game with lots of replay value waiting for you when you become one with the control system.

There's quite a bit of platforming. All together, the levels could take over fifteen hours, which is about normal for a game of its type. More importantly, the experience is top notch all the way.

But gameplay is no better this year than it was last year and everything else is quite poorly done.

The game isn't particularly long, and the lack of substantial side-missions hurts this game's replay ability overall. Still, the story mode experience is good enough that the time you do spend with Mafia II is well-spent.

Going into Star Ocean: First Departure with the expectation of finding an adventure that's in line with current generation RPG fare is going to result in disappointment, but the strong genre mechanics are all here, well-oiled, and mostly in good working order.

Even with its heavy puzzle element, Destination: Treasure Island is a grand adventure. If players don't get snagged up on the rocks of a few of the tougher puzzles, they should be able to make it through the game in several sittings; once you get hooked you'll hardly want to break for the bathroom.

Just a darn good game unto itself... The framerate runs at an unbelievably smooth 60 fps and allows for some very fast and clean looking tracks.

While not every game included plays as smooth as others, the wide collection and the added features makes this one a must own for any fan of the classic games.

The story has lots of potential but unfortunately the game kind of loses sight of Red as it introduces several incidental characters forcing you to play through their perspective. Aside from adding some variety to the game it really detracts from the main storyline.

A competent shooter. It has some good ideas that are unfortunately marred by repetitive gameplay and out-of-place puzzle elements. Its true strengths lie in its interesting setting and fast-paced gameplay.

Like having an arcade in your own home. Maybe not the best arcade in town but more like the cheesy one you might recall on the wrong side of the tracks next to the 24-hour bowling alley and laundromat.

The Canyon Duel and the returning Drift Race, which has been absent in recent years, are both exciting and engaging additions to the already impressive list of race types carried over from "Most Wanted."

It all boils down to the controls. When you have the capability to utilize the innovative controls of the Wii, sure use them to the fullest extent, but don't leave the casual gamer in the powder while you do it.

The advanced controls still need about a year to really nail the feel of the game, but the franchise mode lived up to the hype. Fans willing to give the controls a chance will not be disappointed and the prospects of next years offering are already exciting.

An uninspired action adventure game that rehashes the same old elements that we've seen throughout the series. There is little combat and what is offered is limited by a few moves and combos which are all practically divulged at the outset.

The controls (at least for the Wii) still need some tightening, but Ubisoft is doing a great job with each installment, adding some new modes, adjusting things that may not have succeeded in the past, and delivering a consistently fun rhythm game in a genre that seems ready to be put out to pasture.

DOA5 lives up to the phrase "fighting entertainment" by being a game that trades mechanical depth for accessibility and flash. It's very friendly to mashing, boasts a very simple fighting system without any hidden mechanics, and wraps every match in a dazzling spectacle. It's almost like a Michael Bay version of a fighting game; you don't have to think about it too hard but that's why it's so entertaining.

There are dozens of animals to try out and level up, a deeper than expected strategy to maximize your end score, and a ton of replay value for only fifteen bucks.

Lack of replay value relegates this game to a rental.

On one hand it's the most innovative PSP game ever created and on the other it just doesn't carry through on its promise of entertainment value due to the repetitive nature of the single player mission and the lackluster online mode.

Actually pretty fun, and considering that the game is only twelve dollars on the PlayStation Network, it's a pretty good deal if you are looking for a 2D run and gun shooter. It's no Contra, that's for sure, but it's tongue-in-cheek, goofy, and generally enjoyable.

A major difference in this game is that there is no time limit. You can take as long as like to wrap up the case. This time the story is more involved and convoluted. It's not as straightforward as it seems at first.

Just about every aspect of Darkwatch is cool. The environments are cool, the weapons are cool, the characters are cool and while the gameplay is not unique it's definitely one of the best first-person shooters on the Xbox and PS2. The controls alone are worth the price of admission.

Tin Soldiers: Julius Caesar lets the little nerd in you run free without the possibility of getting caught and pigeonholed for life. Just remember to hide the lightsaber under the cough when company drops in.

A solid effort and enough to keep you interested but only if you're into the multi-player modes.

Just don’t expect this episode to feel rewarding. Look at it as something you have to do for the inevitable finale.

For 19.99 OG 2 is a blast to play on or offline. For those old enough to play it lives up to the rest of the other Outlaw titles.

It's a well-thought-out game with responsive controls and a magnificent roster. It's the first game that I can confidently say gives Smash Brothers a run for its money. However, it's not perfect, and it certainly doesn't hold a candle to more balanced hardcore fighters on the market like Street Fighter, BlazBlue, Tekken, or Skullgirls.