Those 15 deaths, the difficulty imbalance, the weapon irrelevance and manual camera notwithstanding, the game was fine. But you know, those are all really big issues that drag down a game's score. Ratchet and Clank: Full Frontal Assault also is dreadfully boring, so I can't rate it anything higher than "average."

The game misses the mark in several ways, but with the right programming and more analysis into whether toddlers are really the most appropriate target for this sort of product, we could be witnessing the birth of a whole new educational medium. It's just not there yet.

Still, Hollywood likes things that go boom and look good doing so, much like Michael Bay's Transformers movies. The game industry operates much the same way, but the best games within it also introduce a fresh experience, something Transformers: Fall of Cybertron fails to do. Yes, Grimlock and the Combaticons are new, but for all practical purposes they're just multimedia window dressing on an otherwise evolutionary, not revolutionary, title.

An intriguing plot tries to turn an action-oriented (and bloody) game on its ear, but the gameplay is too repetitive at its core to make you feel like you've really experienced something unique in the ever-growing world of sandbox games.

I may not have been the biggest fan of the previous two Resident Evil outings, but I could respect the elements they introduced to the series and understood the reasoning behind them. Not so much with this one. I recommend you pass on Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City altogether and wait for the next "real" entry in the Resident Evil franchise.

The campaign grows tedious in spite of its mixed-up gameplay, and the remaining mini-game modes are enjoyable more for their novelty and humor than for their actual gameplay. I'd still recommend the game for serious Star Wars fans, but if you're more of a casual fan and/or just have a passing interest, it's better worth renting than a full-on purchase.

Occasionally touchy controls and an inexplicable feeling of repetition undermine an otherwise creative tactical puzzle game.

The episodes and scenes are entertaining, but there simply aren't enough of them to justify a full purchase. Pound for pound, unless you're hell-bent to perform MTV programming, Yoostar 2 is definitely a better deal.

The gameplay is what really matters, I suppose, but although the swimming motions are pretty intuitive, the ramp-up in difficulty and lack of true leveling-up render the game a bit tedious after a while. That, combined with the nagging issues above, make it hard for me to recommend Michael Phelps: Push the Limit even for the biggest of Michael Phelps fans.

It's tough to recommend this game to newcomers to the Monkey Ball world based on the two rough game modes, and the otherwise decent Challenge mode likely isn't long enough to justify the high price tag of 3DS titles. The use of 3D is novel, but completely unnecessary – as we've all played these games at home since the Gamecube launch.

Between those passive tendencies, the lack of strategic combat, a smattering of trite escort missions and the lack of much R in the RPG equation, the total X-Men Destiny package ends up kind of boring. It would've been nice to see Silicon Knights right its up-ended ship, but this game makes me seriously wonder if the studio's ship has already sailed.

Technically, Goldeneye 007: Reloaded does nothing wrong, and in fact my hat's off to Activision for bringing a classic game to the modern era. The gameplay, though, in spite of its tweaks here and there, just doesn't have the impact as when Goldeneye was the one N64 game everyone owned.

Unlike a lot of hastily thrown together minigame collections, Carnival Island seems well thought out – it even has a story mode. The 35+ game modes will surely have at least one that will appeal to almost any gamer, and the cute collectable pets will keep the collectors happy.

Entertaining at times and overly basic at others, this sophomore outing is 'average' on the whole. Whether that speaks to the game itself or the expanding library of Kinect options is still up in the air, but the result is the same.

Even though four sports are included on this disc, none of them stand out as something that needs to be played.

Major League Baseball 2K11 has the fortunate (for 2K) distinction of being the only Xbox 360 baseball game, and one of just two on the PS3. However, it has the dubious distinction (for gamers) of being the one sports game this year that fans should absolutely avoid. If that means taking a year off of baseball, I definitely advise taking that vacation.

Had this not leveraged the Ghostbusters license, we'd probably not even be talking about this game.

There's just not quite enough variety to hold my (or my son's) interest, and the occasional collision/gesture detection snafu doesn't help matters either.

Brink can be awesome and annoying, euphoric and inexplicable, all in the same breath. Unfortunately, fist pumps are followed by fits of controller throwing all too regularly to make this one score much higher.

The game can be fun, but it's strictly a multiplayer affair, and it needs more meat. As it stands, it feels a bit like the publishers' way to lead owners into a world of endless microtransactions.

Spider-Man Edge of Time isn't a completely bad game, as the mechanics are all in place and nothing really is broken within the game – but it's not necessarily what I'd call a good game either.

Short of the opening music, which is awesome and sounds like a demonic mariachi band, I can't think of many redeeming qualities in Shadows of the Damned. It's not in the same craptastic league as Thor, which suffered from horrible gameplay and production values; it's just a waste of time.

Duke Nukem Forever aspires to take gamers back to a different period in the gaming continuum. What it will really do is inspire you to take it back to the store for a full and complete refund.

Unless you're absolutely die-hard about hard rock and heavy metal, Brutal Legend is one game you can relegate to a rental.

Unless you're absolutely die-hard about hard rock and heavy metal, Brutal Legend is one game you can relegate to a rental.

My recommendation: let Wolfenstein stay in the other dimension and away from your Xbox 360 or PS3. There are other shooters this fall that can scratch your FPS itch a heck of a lot better.

My recommendation: let Wolfenstein stay in the other dimension and away from your Xbox 360 or PS3. There are other shooters this fall that can scratch your FPS itch a heck of a lot better.

The Conduit is decent, but I wouldn't pay $50 for it; maybe $30. Between cheap enemies and not enough polish, The Conduit just falls short.

EA introduces some new gameplay elements and injects some variety, but it's not enough to keep the game from getting repetitive, and the overall polish isn't as high as it was in the original.

EA introduces some new gameplay elements and injects some variety, but it's not enough to keep the game from getting repetitive, and the overall polish isn't as high as it was in the original.

Nostalgia will inspire you to check this game out, but not even nostalgia can save this slow, brief and completely disappointing game.

Nostalgia will inspire you to check this game out, but not even nostalgia can save this slow, brief and completely disappointing game.

But even fantastic graphics can't elevate H.A.W.X. beyond a simple weekend rental.

But even fantastic graphics can't elevate H.A.W.X. beyond a simple weekend rental.

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is a breath of fresh air in many respects, but needs a good breeze in others.

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is a breath of fresh air in many respects, but needs a good breeze in others.

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is a breath of fresh air in many respects, but needs a good breeze in others.

The game is solid, looks good and plays well, but it just has a "feel" that's not for everyone.

The game is solid, looks good and plays well, but it just has a "feel" that's not for everyone.

It's short, shallow and not all that fun.

With all that said, it's with heavy heart that we point anyone looking for a fun hockey game to NHL 09. We loathe to do this in light of NHL 2K9's impressive online features (tournaments and six-on-six with 11 other players), but the rest of the package just doesn't live up to expectations.

With all that said, it's with heavy heart that we point anyone looking for a fun hockey game to NHL 09. We loathe to do this in light of NHL 2K9's impressive online features (tournaments and six-on-six with 11 other players), but the rest of the package just doesn't live up to expectations.

With all that said, it's with heavy heart that we point anyone looking for a fun hockey game to NHL 09. We loathe to do this in light of NHL 2K9's impressive online features (tournaments and six-on-six with 11 other players), but the rest of the package just doesn't live up to expectations.

The baseball portions are fun, but the game ironically doesn't focus much on hardball at all, and the other modes are tedious and confounding.

It doesn't offer anything new, and in fact offers most everything old. That's nice in some respects, but between that and the short length, the gameplay just doesn't justify the price.

If you really like guns and explosions, this game is for you. Otherwise, pocket your points and save your ammo.

WALL-E is a fun character and film, but while the game explores more of the movie's universe, the gameplay doesn't explore anything by familiar ground.

WALL-E is a fun character and film, but while the game explores more of the movie's universe, the gameplay doesn't explore anything by familiar ground.

WALL-E is a fun character and film, but while the game explores more of the movie's universe, the gameplay doesn't explore anything by familiar ground.

The changes to Top Spin 3 are only good for hardcore tennis fans. For most gamers, the new animation-dependent learning curve will replace the fun gameplay elements with literal gameplay mechanics.

The changes to Top Spin 3 are only good for hardcore tennis fans. For most gamers, the new animation-dependent learning curve will replace the fun gameplay elements with literal gameplay mechanics.

The game mechanics are sound, but the subject matter doesn't make for a compelling game.

The game is fun and being the Hulk as never been such a chaotic thrill. However, the horrible voice acting and corporate Achievement schemes will bring even the Hulk to his knees.

The game is fun and being the Hulk as never been such a chaotic thrill. However, the horrible voice acting and corporate Achievement schemes will bring even the Hulk to his knees.

Not a bad game in and of itself, but there's just not enough content here to make it seem worth the money you paid for it.

NBA Ballers: Chosen One tries to do too many things at once, never really succeeded at any of them.

NBA Ballers: Chosen One tries to do too many things at once, never really succeeded at any of them.

So much effort went into replicating the glaive's flight and awe-inspiring kills that every other aspect of Dark Sector took a noticeable hit in quality and polish, save for the visuals. Remove the glaive, and this game's appeal drops below mediocrity into a rinse-and-repeat nightmare.

So much effort went into replicating the glaive's flight and awe-inspiring kills that every other aspect of Dark Sector took a noticeable hit in quality and polish, save for the visuals. Remove the glaive, and this game's appeal drops below mediocrity into a rinse-and-repeat nightmare.

Buzz: Hollywood Quiz deftly straddles the line between budget and quality, and if you're hurting for a movie-based trivia game, you can hardly go wrong here.

Not a bad game, but not enough to keep your attention. The long levels of wash-rinse-and-repeat action will please only the Achievement-loving space cadets.

Ubisoft captured the visual spirit of the show, but the actual gameplay in the first LOST game is not worth the three-season wait.

Ubisoft captured the visual spirit of the show, but the actual gameplay in the first LOST game is not worth the three-season wait.

With an extra year to refine Lost Planet from top to bottom, Capcom should have delivered a PS3 masterpiece. Instead, the game's taken some painful steps backwards, which is probably the same thing PS3 owners should do when they see this game in stores.

Destroy All Humans! was a good game, as was the sequel, but this third one completely misses the panache, personality and polish that made the previous outings so fun.

A poorly executed game that suffers from just about every malady known to gaming, from bad plot to sketchy gameplay. Best to avoid this one entirely.

An entertaining movie tie-in that should keep kids and fans of the film engrossed throughout the duration of your game-rental period.

Ah, kids...Let me tell you a story. It'll honestly be more enjoyable for you than this game.

More a learning tool than a game, Endless Ocean will appeal best to anyone interested in marine wildlife or gamers who cannot resist "collecting them all."

As a budget title, it might be easier to overlook the flaws, but there's not nearly enough polish to justify the full price.

Fun multiplayer options salvage an otherwise troubled game, but that alone can't make the rest of the game any more fun.

Custom Events can be fun, and a few of the game's minor features are nice, but in the off-road racing landscape, MX vs. ATV Untamed just doesn't rev our engines.

Custom Events can be fun, and a few of the game's minor features are nice, but in the off-road racing landscape, MX vs. ATV Untamed just doesn't rev our engines.

Wii owners may want to play the once only-on-Xbox-360 franchise, but a combination of horrible controls and hard-to-follow multiplayer options manages to kill any fun that might otherwise be had.

If the design errors can be overlooked, Time Crisis 4 is what you expect: a fast, intense light gun shooter with decent graphics and the ability to make one's arm sore for days after.

Cars and physics shine in this game, but the gameplay gets repetitive in an overlong career mode.

The age-appropriate trivia is good, but the game itself gets old fast, and the motion-sensitive functions get in the way of the core gameplay: answering questions.

Beowulf lives up to its "M" rating, and there's plenty of hacking and slashing to be done here. But if you're looking for more than just bloody waterfalls and severed arms, you'll have to look elsewhere.

If going through the motions is your thing, F.E.A.R. Files is for you. But gamers looking for a more robust, rewarding and sexy experience can definitely do better than this game.

If rhythm and trippy visuals are your thing then you'll find this bazaar shooter worthwhile.

The third time is definitely not a charm. Multiplayer is better in concept than practice, and the rest of the game just feels "tired." Even fans of the series will lose interest.

Tilting the Wii Remote to control the table is intuitive and feels natural. Color matching can be frustrating at times, but adds to the overall challenge of the gameplay.

Last year's strong foundation has apparently crumbled, as the gameplay and audio just have too many miscues to make this year's outing all that enjoyable.

GeoDeformed ruts are cool, but when each like-classed car handles the same and there's no threat of driving off the road, the only "rut" that matters is the one you feel you're in when going from one race to the next.

If you're tired of the traditional pinball game then you might find Flipper Critters mildly amusing for its quirky style and large environments, but if you're looking for something more traditional with quick gameplay or point delivery system then you might want to look elsewhere.

Poor execution, no real personality and identical gameplay across multiple characters squash the fun factor like a 50-ton Acme anvil.

Poor execution, no real personality and identical gameplay across multiple characters squash the fun factor like a 50-ton Acme anvil.

Poor execution, no real personality and identical gameplay across multiple characters squash the fun factor like a 50-ton Acme anvil.

With poor gameplay and too-strict rules for unlocking new races, this is one game Nintendo should've let die. Instead, it'll just kill you to play it.

Tetris is Tetris. Nothing new, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. If updated graphics and a unique aquarium screensaver are enough to make you spend ten bucks, then by all means, go for it.

There's nothing new to be found in this button combo platformer, but solid controls, drop-in anytime co-op, plenty of unlockable characters and upgrades, and surprisingly entertaining dialogue save this game from being a forgettable addition to the Spider-Man franchise.

Not a bad game, but not a great one either. Online modes and the loaded dynasty mode are sure to keep players busy for another year. A solid soundtrack fills out the smooth animations to make for a pleasing presentation.

For a first-year outing, NBA Live 08 on the Wii doesn't even get honorable mention All-Rookie team. At least we know EA will make an 09 version, so there's always room for improvement.

NBA Live 08 offers quick offensive gameplay, but the difficulty of implementing solid defensive maneuvers leads to high scoring games and frustrating moments.

A good laugh the first time through, but there's little to no replay value other than an interesting replay editor and an impressive number of unlockables.

Not a good game, but not a bad game by any means either. A surprisingly entertaining romp of repetitive mini-games that might surprise you by forcing a chuckle out once in awhile.

Lair looks phenomenal and is an ambitious and novel concept, but its horrible controls and linear environments kill the fun faster than a dragon can cook up a burger.

Not enough features or updates stand out to warrant this quickly released update to Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07. Outdated graphics, spotty controls, and lack of online support hinder an otherwise solid golf sim.