Intense, gorgeous and with a well-plotted original story, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare should be atop everyone's list of first-person shooters this year.

Intense, gorgeous and with a well-plotted original story, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare should be atop everyone's list of first-person shooters this year.

Viva Pinata: Party Animals is a fun family game that might be a little too easy and repetitive for adult gamers, but the kids will love it especially when you play it with them.

We've never been fans of forcing someone to play a set number of mini-games to advance to the next mission, and we don't like that element in this game either. But the mini-games are simple enough and the mission structure repetitive enough that young kids are likely going to have a good time.

Easily the best use of a licensed property, but by parodying old gameplay mechanics, the game reinforces just how tired we've gotten of the same elements that the game itself relies upon.

Easily the best use of a licensed property, but by parodying old gameplay mechanics, the game reinforces just how tired we've gotten of the same elements that the game itself relies upon.

Even with a new developer, the game doesn't miss a beat.

Even with a new developer, the game doesn't miss a beat.

Even with a new developer, the game doesn't miss a beat.

Even with a new developer, the game doesn't miss a beat.

One of the best games in the series, but the return to platforming introduces a bit more linearity. The creativity and humor, though, can't be topped.

EA Playground is probably the best multiplayer Wii experience since Wii Sports. Even with its eventual AI challenge, there's nothing complex about this game--and there shouldn't be.

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.

The game makes great use of the Wiimote controls yet a lack of game modes and online play will leave you wanting more.

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.

Bleach: Shattered Blade remains faithful to the television series and offers tight controls utilizing the Wii Remote and Nunchuck. However, a lack of variety in character moves, an overly used special move sequence and no online multiplayer add up to litte replayability value.

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.

The presentation and feel of the game is near-perfect, but the actual gameplay, particularly on offense, comes up short and frustrating. Lock-On D is a nice feature as well, but it can be a crutch.

The presentation and feel of the game is near-perfect, but the actual gameplay, particularly on offense, comes up short and frustrating. Lock-On D is a nice feature as well, but it can be a crutch.

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.

Halo 3 is fun, and its Forge and Theater modes will provide hours of multiplayer entertainment, but nothing could've prepared us for our slight feeling of disappointment. The game's far too reliant on old gameplay tricks and recycled levels, and it really lost its narrative power.

A fun, addictive skateboarding game that's just a little camera work and a few control refinements short of stardom.

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.

A fun, addictive skateboarding game that's just a little camera work and a few control refinements short of stardom.

With production values rivaling the best Hollywood films and diverse but short gameplay, this could very well be the PlayStation 3's killer app.

The improved accessibility is welcome, the deepened career mode is great and the overall presentation quality can't be overlooked.

The graphics are clearer and the framerate is steadier on the PlayStation 3, and the approachable gameplay is intact from the Xbox 360 version. It sure would've been fun to actually play against some real, live gamers online, though.

Drawn to Life makes excellent use of the DS touch pad by allowing you to easily design your own characters, weapons, and various transports. Unfortunately, the rest of the game can become quite a chore and often becomes redundant.

It's not often we see 2K scrambling, but the controls feel like a panic move. With a bit more focus on the controls' convenience and practicality, NHL 2K8 has laid the groundwork for an intriguing season--in 2K9.

It's not quite as open ended as we'd hoped it would be, but the taste of freedom has whet our appetite for more, and the weapons upgrades keep gunplay fresh throughout the campaign.

It's not quite as open ended as we'd hoped it would be, but the taste of freedom has whet our appetite for more, and the weapons upgrades keep gunplay fresh throughout the campaign.

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.

More of a solid foundation than a groundbreaking game, Blue Dragon still offers plenty to do. Here's hoping for a bit more punch to the sequel.

The simple pick-up-and-play mechanics embody everything the Nintendo Wii is about -- and they make for a fun experience, too.

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.

The straightforward nature of the game certainly doesn't hurt the final product, nor to the great Wii controls.

You owe it to yourself to experience BioShock, by far one of the most compelling games of 2007.

You owe it to yourself to experience BioShock, by far one of the most compelling games of 2007.

Jeanne d'Arc mixes history with fantasy in one of the finest strategy RPGs to grace the PSP.

Poor presentation and a steep learning curve hinder what would have otherwise been a fun bowling sim.

Multiplayer is a nice addition, but it definitely takes some getting used to, and the updated graphics don't really do much for me other than give me a headache while trying to create clusters.

The controls are sketchy and I can't understand why humming with lips press against the microphone earns a better score than actually trying to sing.

There are also too many Mega Strikes and tackles, but the game still provides a lot of fun.

Avoid boarding this ship altogether and aim for the horizon's next bright star instead.

Hot Shots brings its fantastic gameplay and cutesy characters to the tennis court. We would have liked more character customization, but the fun factor does not disappoint.

Entertaining and charming, but a little on the "incredibly short" side.

Technically there's nothing wrong with the game -- had it released in 2006. While it's great to have Visual Concepts back, they definitely left room for improvement for All-Pro Football 2K9, and improvement is certainly what's needed for this next generation of football games.

Technically there's nothing wrong with the game -- had it released in 2006. While it's great to have Visual Concepts back, they definitely left room for improvement for All-Pro Football 2K9, and improvement is certainly what's needed for this next generation of football games.

The core gameplay has become excruciatingly boring, and great graphics just have the same effect as polishing a turd: it's a pointless exercise, considering the content. Just leave this one alone; you've basically been playing it for a decade.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma is by far the definitive version of the franchise, making Sony's PlayStation 3 the lucky beneficiary of this gorgeous, fast-paced -- and still difficult -- game.

Any time you let minions do my dirty work you'll win me over, so the great genre-combining gameplay is just icing on the cake.

The back-and-forth structure is tedious, and the narrative needed to be much more fleshed-out. Too bad great loading-screen treatments can't make up for overall shortcomings.

The back-and-forth structure is tedious, and the narrative needed to be much more fleshed-out. Too bad great loading-screen treatments can't make up for overall shortcomings.

The BIGS is a triumphant return to arcade baseball on next-gen consoles, with multiple addictive modes. The gameplay still needs tuning, something we hope to see in next year's version.

Harry's fifth go-round is tailor-made for the Wii-Mote's ability to mimic a magic wand, but despite extensive efforts to bring Hogwart's to life, boring play and uninterruptible cut-scenes cast an ominous cloud.

Definitely more inviting to non-rallycross fans, and the graphics and modes are certainly a boost. Unfortunately, the online mode is a letdown, as are the framerate issues.

Like its Autobots kin, Transformers: Decepticons is limited by the capabilities of the DS hardware, which hinders the console-like gameplay experience the developers were hoping to create.

Transformers: Autobots is a console-sized game for the DS, but the limits of the hardware hinders the gameplay experience.

It's initially a blast and has outstanding mini-games, but it needs more game modes on the whole, and the replayability dwindles fast.

The outright fun this game brings should result in a higher score, but the gameplay snafus on Billy's missions really weight it down. I still highly recommend this game to FPS and Old West fans, though.

This second lap in the Forza franchise shows marked improvement and depth in the racing sim genre, easily making this a must-have game for Xbox 360 owners looking for something deeper then Project Gotham Racing, Burnout and Test Drive.

The gameplay is old, tired, redundant, buggy, unimaginative, and frankly, boring. Not even new Achievement points were able to will me through to the end.

While not a perfect PC to console translation, C&C3 is a great evolution of the control scheme for RTS gamers who've migrated to the home console world.

New York looks great, but the camera inconsistencies and helter-skelter gameplay flow takes away all the good will that Spider-Man 2: The Game had built.

I would have to say that I was pretty disappointed with my Wii Spider-Man experience.

The amount you'll pay for this game is less than you'd pay playing multiple pinball tables in an arcade, so ignore the botched Vision Camera functions and just focus on the fun. There's plenty of it to be found in Pinball FX.

While some games are less-than-stellar, the package as a whole is a good collection for any retro-gaming junkies.

Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars isn't a bad game, but it hardly feels like a full new game either. It's more like an enhanced expansion pack, with more units, better (but not amazing) graphics and a new storyline.

A decent port job that adds enough to keep first time players entertained, but seasoned Godfather vets will probably stay away.

It's surprisingly fun and addicting...and tough to beat for 20 bones.

God of War II does nearly everything right: beautiful visuals and sound, intense action gameplay, impressive design. Forget the next-generation - God of War II proves PlayStation 2 still has plenty of game.

Too many nitpicky annoyances combined with not-quite-ready for prime time controls make this a good game only for the most forgiving player.

What was once so amazing barely conjures excitement on PlayStation 2.

It looks and sounds "next-gen," and the career mode is definitely deep, but it might be a bit intimidating for casual fans who just want to hop into a Grand Prix race and play. It could also benefit from more people actually playing online.

So much promise, yet it's all dashed on the ice due to sloppy,unresponsive and frustrating controls.

It's the best "superhero" game ever made, but the lack of side missions and its annoying co-op bugs hold it back from greatness.

Too simplistic and too simple to even be worth the budget $20 price.

It starts out well enough, with great graphic stylings and some cool gameplay features, but turns into a gimmicky stylus-tapping festival of boredom within an hour.

The bells, whistles and added off-court content are nice additions, but the game suffers from some nagging on-court issues that should have been addressed before the extra stuff.

The single-player game is short, plodding and has a poor story, but the online options keep you coming back for more.

Spotty AI results in way too much micromanagement, which is a true shame for any game, but especially for a strategic one bearing the Star Trek license.

Ubisoft upped the ante with Sixaxis support, new planes and new missions, but dropped the ball with inconsistent framerates and an online network desperately seeking gamers.

Full Auto 2: Battlelines might be battling for your gaming dollars, but it's in your best interest to draw a line in the sand. Say no to a wealth of issues with the presentation and controls, as well as a distinct lack of basic multiplayer features.

Spotty AI results in way too much micromanagement, which is a true shame for any game, but especially for a strategic one bearing the Star Trek license.

Undoubtedly one of the best games available on PlayStation Portable, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops does nearly everything right. Other than slight problems with controls, the game is worth every penny spent for its solid presentation and great gameplay.

The shiny graphics and Get In The Ring mode are nice, but the disappointing port of a year-old game and poor use of Sixaxis controller are just plain sad.