On the execution side, Pool Nation is all hit. I absolutely feel that there is no more accurate representation of the game of pool, and was really impressed with all the extra features Cherry Pop Games added to the overall product.

PlanetSide 2 is a hard game to sum up. It's a beautiful, solidly built shooter that presents large-scale conflict like nobody else in the business. The rest of the game's enjoyment, however, is entirely up to you. If you can dedicate the time to learning the systems, decoding the cumbersome UI, and finding a group of people that you like playing with, PlanetSide 2 will be a blast.

Sine Mora is one of the most beautiful shmups I've ever had the chance to play. It's also a solid action title with a surprisingly deep story about the lengths someone will go for revenge. Purists will find it a fresh addition to their collection while casual observers may be turned off by the short length and the game's masochistic delight in punishing players with nearly impossible odds.

It would be really hard for me to recommend Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd you steal our garbage?!! for anyone who wasn't a fan of the show, even at its discounted price of $30. As a game it's solid, neither particularly good or bad. Still, if you like Adventure Time and want to experience more of it, this is a pretty good way to do that.

Civil War is a very serious table set against the back drop of a very serious story. While not as fun, per say, as the rest of the offerings Zen Studios has made in their Marvel line, those looking for a challenge will no doubt find it and more among it's bumpers, ramps, and paddles. While not the best Zen has put out, it's still worth the $2.99 asking price for a chance to explore this comic story line.

I enjoyed my time with Ragnarok Odyssey and thought it to be a great fit for the Vita. The "pick up and play" nature of the contract system makes it the perfect game to play while sitting on a train, plane or bus. Those who have already tackled Monster Hunter for the PSP and are looking for more would do well to give this one a gander.

It's really a shame that such obvious and ostensibly easy-to-fix bugs are out there right now, because without them, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is an excellent entry into a monopolized subgenre that does things differently enough to be well worth a look. I feel pretty confident that a true fix will be realized eventually. As of a week a half after launch, though, this is a slightly busted version of a great game.

Take those Legends of Wrestlemania or other attempts at wrestling nostalgia and throw them away because WWE 13 is all you need "and that's the bottom line cause Stone Cold said so."

Book of Spells' biggest draw is the new Harry Potter content written by Rowling herself. Other than that, it is nothing more than a mini-game collection that benefits from being based on one of the world's most popular and beloved literary works.

Succeeding in everything it sets out to do, and coming in at a very respectable $9.99 price point, Drip Drip is an excellent diversion, especially if you need a break from the heavy video game drops this holiday season has given us. With room for some updates in the future, there is much to enjoy in this slightly damp package.

New Super Mario Bros. U definitely plays things safe and mostly sticks to the framework established by the "New" offshoot series established back on the DS, but the tougher design and beautiful look make it a great Mario game no matter how you look at it.

Parkouring dinosaurs, sub-horror moments of Velociraptor terror, and picking up a human as a Pteranodon and dropping them to their death are just a few reasons I love the concept and execution of Primal Carnage. It's just too bad that there's not more here to flesh out the more positive qualities and suppress the negative ones from seeping through.

Black Ops 2, in thematic solidarity with the sacrifices of its protagonists, will likely not be remembered among the best of its brethren. And yet, the best Call of Duty installments yet to come will succeed because of the work that Treyarch has done here.

I'm not going to mince words anymore: The Walking Dead is the best game of 2012. If you care about video games as an expressive medium, you need to play this game. It's too important to avoid. If you are sick of zombie stories, you need to play this game. If you hate video games and despise the thought of playing one, you need to play this game.

Painkiller Hell and Damnation is just as fun as the original game if not a bit quaint.

Despite being somewhat charming and well made, Johnny Hotshot is just too repetitive and asks you to go through each level way too many times for you to really wind up enjoying it fully. Had it eased down on the time demands, you'd have a little more fun, but in the end, it just feels pointlessly challenging in way that confuses itself for depth.

While I always swore by Worms Armageddon, Worms Revolution, while it may be an iteration, feels like a whole new game and the best game in the franchise.

Episode 3 of The Walking Dead finally put interesting characters into a plot that I was actually interested in.. After that, Episode 4 started creating a series of gameplay moments that not only influence the game, but are set up in such a way and smartly enough to influence how the player feels at that moment. While it would have been a better series if they'd had this in place from the beginning, the way that the series has picked up as it nears its conclusion is great, and has me waiting for the end excitedly.

Hero Academy on PC might not be totally necessary, but it remains a great bit of asynchronous warfare. What it boils down to is the best of strategy gaming- a title that's light and welcoming for players who want a quick tactical fix, and also an involved, sometimes hellishly meticulous war of wits and attrition.

While Okami may never have sold the numbers it deserved, it was as worthy than, as it is now, of all the praise that was heaped on it. Upgraded visuals, and a stellar $19.99 price point added on to that already complete package makes this the version of Okami to own.

Assassin's Creed III Liberation is possessed of many ideas, and for that, Ubisoft should be applauded. They've managed to pare AC's entire open-world design, with new mechanics to boot, down onto the Vita's hardware, and that alone is worth a look.

Despite being a fun game, it's very bare, with few levels just relying on replaying for it to get any kind of lasting value. No matter how much you loved the game, though, replaying the same five is not enough for me to give this amazing, fun, beautiful game the high rank that it deserves.

This is not a good game, and its few shining moments make it all the more frustrating that it was released feeling so unfinished.

Criterion has proved themselves as the first developer to really figure out the Vita and what can be done with it. Need for Speed Most Wanted is a must have for any Vita owner or any fan of racing games.

The best thing about a new Pokemon game is that it's more Pokemon. The core of the series continues to be sound, but in the end the series needs to get better at following up on the story that it teases us with. After such a strong departure for the series the original Black and White, it's a shame to see Version 2 take a step back and offer such inferior characters and story beats. Despite being the follow up to the best Pokemon games in years, though, Black and White Version 2 have to settle for being "pretty good," leaving us waiting for the next real evolution in the series.

The best thing about a new Pokemon game is that it's more Pokemon. The core of the series continues to be sound, but in the end the series needs to get better at following up on the story that it teases us with. After such a strong departure for the series the original Black and White, it's a shame to see Version 2 take a step back and offer such inferior characters and story beats. Despite being the follow up to the best Pokemon games in years, though, Black and White Version 2 have to settle for being "pretty good," leaving us waiting for the next real evolution in the series.

Assassin's Creed III is a huge game. After four games and hundreds of years of history, players will step into an adventure that attempts to bring all the loose ends to a close. While it's a shame that the content tends to get in the way of the bigger picture I find it to be a worthy entry in a storied franchise.

It is hard not to be impressed by 343 Industries. This is their first full game, for a series as popular and well thought of as Halo and to improve upon Bungies' games in almost every way is nothing short of astounding. Let it be said, Halo 4 is another Halo game, it feels very familiar and tries very little new, but then again, there is a reason the series is as popular as it is and it isn't as though we see a new one every single year.

Sadly, the truly unique quality of proper airship-to-airship combat can't justify all blemishes that come with Guns of Icarus Online. It would simply be deceitful for this reviewer to say there aren't better, free, and readily accessible alternatives.

The latest Need for Speed release has its share of slip-ups, but it's mostly able to sideline them and deliver a fast, fun open world racing game very much like Criterion's classic Burnout Paradise.

If you like, or have played, a game like this in the past, you'll love AJE. If you haven't, just prepare yourself for a lot of study.

If you own a Vita then you know the list of games is pretty low right now and Orgarhythm is a unique experience that anyone with a Vita should be willing to check out.

Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken is a game that has a lot going for it. Engaging game play, tight controls, and a kicking sound track make for a great experience. Lack of narrative pulls it down, but not enough to diminish the time spent with it. For a $9.99 price point, I would gladly recommend HBC and his gun-toting craziness to a gamer looking for some cheap, yet well produced dumb fun.

Although its grim presentation and hearty challenge won't be for everybody, Hotline Miami is a rare game that articulates its own design thesis not only thoroughly, but with palpable enthusiasm. Underneath its moody graphics, stellar sound design and masterfully tuned combat is a strong feeling that this game's creators love making video games.

There really isn't much to be said about Smart As. It works as advertised and accomplishes what it set out to do – no more, no less.

Like the games before it, Fable: The Journey stands strong on its accessibility, its sense of charm and wonder and because it, more than any other game, makes you feel like the hero of a fairytale.

Given that this is the 27th title in the Nancy Drew video game franchise, it was easy to see why these games keep getting made. While I believe that the next incarnations should take some hints from some of the new school, the old school feel of The Deadly Device was refreshing. It won't be challenging The Walking Dead for depth of character, but there is a lot to like in Nancy Drew: The Deadly Device.

Warfighter is uninspired, underdeveloped, and completely profligate with the solemn potential of its core concept.

If you're dying to play something on you 3DS you could do worse than Code of Princess, but you could do a lot better too. It's a decent diversion with a fair amount of content, but at $40 and with so many cool and promising games coming out for the system in the near future, I have to recommend that you hold on to your money until then.

With nothing to keep me involved, grid battles, while functionally sound and by themselves at least slightly engrossing, became just simple back and forths, with nothing at stake and no real reason to care.

To The Moon's charming sense of humor and unabashed ease with tossing around pop culture references (from Dr. Who and Animorphs down to Dragon Ball Z) kept the serious, and at times quite gloomy overtones from feeling too self-serious. And so, with John and River's tale being told, restructured and sent to the moon in a heartfelt and memorable way; I am able to walk away from To The Moon satisfied, and looking forward to the next installment in this world.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD might be worth a look if you were really into the series in its prime and want to experience a cleaned-up version of a distinct, defining moment in video games. For casual fans or new recruits, though, there's nothing in this high-def remix that will speak to them. And even the biggest of fans may feel mighty hollow by the shaky treatment of the once king of extreme sports games.

Dishonored is a really great video game. I enjoyed the gameplay a lot and the story and world are interesting, if occasionally flawed. It's certainly one of the more interesting games released this year and everyone should at least consider picking it up.

There is no disputing that NHL 13 is a fantastic game of hockey. For me though it was missing that big new feature that would make it feel significantly different from last years outing. And as good as the new skating feels and the new modes are, they aren't enough to keep this game on the same high pedestal of NHL 12. If you missed last years game then NHL 13 would be a great point to jump in at, however for those still enjoying last years game I would say there isn't enough here to warrant the upgrade.

Marvel vs. Capcom Origins is an acceptable package. While Iron Galaxy did a decent job updating these games in terms of visuals and online play, they couldn't change the basic gameplay. One of the games included in this package is fun to play and the other is pretty poor. It's not the worst HD remake you could buy, but there are just too many other ones to make this a must buy.

Majorly annoying, heartbreaking, game stopper of a bug aside, XCOM was worth the money I spent to pick it up. I can easily see myself playing through this multiple times, growing as attached to each group of awesome, yet often spectacularly inept soldiers, as I did to the first. There a fair amount of replay with different starting countries, different base layouts, and procedurally generated combat.

Unless you are a diehard Dynasty Warriors fan, I can't promise you intriguing gameplay, but there is a fun story locked behind all the repetitiveness. Maybe one day we'll see the One Piece game that this story deserves. Until then, I think I might just search out some episodes of the anime and see how they stack up.

If you can look past the generic space-robot visuals and lackluster combat, Fractured Soul is a fantastic idea for the multi-screened device. The dimensional swapping is a cool way to bring life to some old platforming concepts, and the controls and gameplay are so polished you can feel the dedication the team had to making the game challenging, yet still playable.

Anomaly: Warzone Earth is a tower defense game that may appeal to people who don't like tower defense.

Although it gets bogged down by some discomforting technical issues, Train Simulator 2013 is a game will appeal to a small but hungry niche gamers and hardcore trainspotters. The game offers hours of simulated railroading fun out of the box and the added Steam Workshop support means there's always something new to do.

The Walking Dead delivers a dramatic and emotionally exhausting experience that few, if any, games have achieved. Forming a close bond with the characters over 12 hours of game play makes the countdown clock for each decision even more stressful. As the psyche of each survivor has slowly been reduced to tatters, every choice has positive and negative impacts for all.

Borderlands is now a known quantity, which is both good and bad. While Borderlands 2 is without a doubt the best version of Borderlands that there is, the best experience one can have with this fledgling series will always come with that first trip to Pandora, and for many, that special moment has already passed.

Colour Bind is a difficult game. If you like solid puzzles and gameplay, or simply like chasing a challenge, it's an easy game to recommend, especially with extras like co-op and a level editor built in. For those without the drive to continually push forward, this is probably not the game for you.

Resident Evil 6 is a conflicted game that offers a fun but flawed core experience punctuated by some outstanding moments of action and suspense, along with a host of questionable design choices that often hobble what can be (and often is) an otherwise enjoyable game.

Mark of the Ninja is a small, downloadable victory for Klei Entertainment. Stealth games have struggled to keep up with the industry's intense emphasis on action, and thankfully Klei averted their gaze from the choice of pandering to an alternative audience. Instead, Mark of the Ninja causes the player to feel resourceful, intelligent, and capable of making independent decisions. It empowers rather than limits, a sentiment that I think will and should echo throughout this aging, oft-stagnant genre.

There isn't a better sports title than FIFA 13 out right now, and I include any and all varieties of sports in that claim. There isn't a single release out there that has the depth, variety and longevity to match it.

I really can't recommend Tiny Troopers for the PC. Even ignoring my own issues with the trooper design, I think the publisher's are asking a lot and not delivering enough for the $9.99 price tag. While the controls are tight and responsive, I think this title is one better left to the quick play opportunities of the less expensive mobile market.

Borderlands 2 is full of hilarious writing, is a blast to play with friends, and promises hundreds of hours of content. But a lack of gameplay innovation will disappoint fans looking for more than just "more Borderlands".

Gaming can be hit or miss when it comes to getting what you pay for. Sometimes, though, a game comes along that not only provides a good value proposition, but well exceeds what's expected. As one of the first of the crowd-sourced games to come out of Kickstarter since Double Fine ran the table with donations for Double Fine Adventure, FTL begins to show that as a viable way to finance games. While having some small issues, like no compatibility with Steam's Cloud service, I have no problem recommending this.

Tryst is a decent game for a decent price but know going in that it has a fair number of issues that (hopefully) will be patched.

The base gameplay is solid, with smooth controls and the odd exciting mission. However the amount of content isn't large enough to keep you going for more than a couple of hours, though replaying certain missions with another player may extend that time.

Nintendo needs to do something with this series to start making sure that it stays fresh. The core idea of a Mario platformer, side scrolling, on modern systems is perfectly sound, but they just came too many, too quickly. Lack of innovation might help tire us of a great idea, but even without being a new experience, there's still a lot to this game that entertains and offers a fun experience to anyone who tries it. The game may lack some innovation, but where it counts, in gameplay, it still delivers the experience you expect from a Mario game.

Now that Telltale has captured my attention with this entry, they've got the difficult task of keeping it. This episode is so full of smart character moments and interactions it seems impossible for them to continue it any further, but we'll just have to see what they have in store for us next. Of course it's a lot of pressure to keep the momentum going, but the series is starting to look more cohesive and it feels like it's actually going somewhere, which I appreciate after the second episode felt so aimless and one-off. For the first time since it started, though, I'm looking forward to the next entry in this series, and can't wait to see what happens.

If you value a ton of top-quality content for a not a lot of money, then Guild Wars 2 is the game to play. It's approachable, addictive, and immersive and above all refines MMO's in every conceivable way. While the gameplay and graphical glitches are disappointing, they aren't big enough to negate the impact of this wholly amazing online role-playing game that will keep you occupied for months on end. If anything, World of Warcraft can safely retire and instead pass the torch over Guild Wars 2.

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is not a bad fighting game, but I would rather play almost any other fighting game that came out this year before it. I didn't find the fun that I was looking for, and considering that this is a $60 retail title, I find it hard to recommend over games like Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown, Persona 4: Arena, or even the older Tekken 6.

Torchlight II is great fun and it won't be long before you're playing the game late at night muttering the famous gamer mantra, "Just one more quest." This is a how a sequel should be: it reintroduces concepts and mechanics that made the game popular while making a few useful tweaks and changes to parts of the design. Although it doesn't stray too far outside the original game's shadow, it is no less wonderful for it. As the saying goes, "if it isn't broke, don't fix it."

There's no doubt F1 2012 is the best game in the series, in both content and execution, but it still feels to me like this franchise needs a year off.

For all the ire thrown in its direction on forums, consider this rebuttal: Dark Souls has never looked better, ran smoother, or had more to offer than it does on PC. And for one of the best games of this generation, that's no mean feat.

Deponia is an adventure game for people who like adventure games. It's not going to convert any admirers out of detractors but it is a solid game that any fan of the genre will most likely enjoy.

Tower Wars feels as if it were designed specifically for hardcore strategists. With a tutorial that skips important concepts and the tendency for matches to become one sided, the result is an uncomfortable and frustrating experience for beginners.

Fall of Cybertron is undoubtedly an improvement over an already impressive debut, yet it doesn't feel nearly as invigorating or daring as War for Cybertron did.

It's a shame that developers put a lot of time into their games and they turn out this way. I never believe that anyone is out to make a bad game but unfortunately Deep Black is just a bad game.

Blitz is a game that gives as much as you put into it. Keep an extensive music library and group of leaderboard rivals and its longevity is potentially massive. The packaged 25 songs definitely won't be enough to sate your fill, and once you get the hang of its complex systems you'll be chasing down those high scores in a fervour that you haven't experienced since the rhythm game heyday.

Lovingly assembled and enjoyable while it lasts, Retro/Grade is ultimately too meagre a package to be fully recommended. Rhythm game fans will get some mileage out of its solid gameplay and its unique wrapper helps the basic rhythm gameplay feel new, but unless you really fall in love with the presentation, it's tough to see anyone playing it more than a couple hours and essentially playing (and hearing) everything it truly has to offer long before the challenges end.

Way of the Samurai 4 is plain simple fun, but it is still fun!

While I enjoyed some stents with the game, its monotonous design would be more at home on a portable device given that play sessions would be shorter. That said, Loc is a completely serviceable puzzle game that lacks engagement.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a fairly enjoyable fighting game. It has some cool gameplay hooks that you don't see in many fighters, but the game does a very poor job of teaching you about any of this. Because of this and the game's $20 price tag, only those who really enjoy fighting games or JoJo's Bizarre Adventure should consider this release.

Papo & Yo is a title of binary worth; not worth ignoring its issues, but still worth seeing through. While the trip it takes to reach the emotional highs of the story's payoff is indefensibly turbulent, there's no denying that they are indeed dizzying.

Check vs. Mate is a good game to check out if you enjoy playing combat/strategic style games that make you think and leave you upset when the computer beats you.

The Book of Unwritten Tales doesn't do anything wildly different from other graphic adventures but it does one, important thing very well: it tells a fun story. Delightful characters, hilarious self awareness and good puzzles make this an adventure both novices and veterans will want to take.

Tiny & Big is not an altogether bad game. It's certainly not broken, it has a lot going for it, and on paper it would sound great. But it also serves as a good example as to why publishers can be a good thing. I think that with additional play testing and someone higher up to reign in the focus a little, Tiny & Big could have been another entry into the growing list of awesome "indie" games. As is, it's a game with solid base but one that fails to do anything with it.

Now that Telltale Games' zombie epic is more than half done, I feel confident saying that The Walking Dead will stand as a shining example of how narrative can be used creatively in games to create a strong emotional reaction. Rather than abiding by a moral code that the game suggests, I am having a blast playing through each episode of The Walking Dead and just doing what I feel is right.

It's a lot of work to get into politics, but it's also a lot to try and turn it into a simulation for us to play at home. I would never say this game is a perfect simulation of anything, but it does a great job of being a simple, accessible simulation game even for people who aren't really into that type of game.

Unmechanical is a puzzle games that offers a pretty, but all too familiar experience of solving difficult puzzles in order to advance through a subterranean underworld. Easy and minimalistic controls make the game easy enough to pick up for gamers of any skill level, but some of the more complex puzzles may put them off or force them to seek out solutions. If it's a challenge you seek, Unmechanical will give it to you.

Persona 4 Arena is an awesome game. There is a lot here for fans of both fighting games and Persona. Though it is difficult to recommend to gamers who are not fans of the genre or the franchise, especially as the story mode can seriously drag at times. Still, this is a great game that is definitely worth a purchase.

Although the concept of Symphony is simple, it is one of the most fun and addicting experiences I've had in a good while. Much of the enjoyment comes from the title's ability to incorporate personal music files. Great controls, fun upgrades and a level count that is matched by the number of MP3 files in your collection, Symphony offers a fantastic thrill for a great price.

The HD collection brings the on-rails action to the PS3 with zombies and leeches and yeti looking things, oh my! The Umbrella Chronicles and Darkside Chronicles keep you entertained with huge worm looking enemies and zombies. Yes, more zombies. I've enjoyed the majority of the Resident Evil series and feel that this collection is a great addition to any gamer's backlog. It retains the dark, ominous mystery that Resident Evil encompasses in each game and only surrounds you with the story of good versus evil in a world covered in zombies.

The game has a great world where you can buy cars and clothes, fight with Triads, race cars, or just cause havoc if you like and it all amounts to a great time. Sleeping Dogs seemed like a game that was headed for disaster and pulled a complete curve ball and turned out to be pretty great.

It's certainly not perfect, but it's a wonderful attempt that captures a lot of what made the games fun in the first place. It's a strong entry in a storied series, and will hopefully be a guiding light for a resurgence of the franchise.

The Expendables is a great Hollywood concept that could easily make a great video game but sadly this isn't it.

This is a PSN title that shouldn't be missed.

Jeremy McGrath's Offroad is an unchallenging, bland bore not worth your time or money. There are more engaging racers out there, retail and downloadable that will satisfy your driving needs.

Rainbow Moon is not a bad game, but it's not a particularly good one either. It has a few nice tweaks to circumvent some of the frustrations of JRPG's and tactics games, but it adds some new frustrations of its own.

Hybrid is decent, but not essential. The well-executed mechanics that make up the core gameplay are interesting for a little while, but how long it holds your interest for depends on how willing you are to look past the game's niggling problems.

Combat is near perfect, puzzles are varied, and the world of Darksiders II is ready for the taking.

Orcs Must Die! 2 perfectly combines the strategic thinking of tower defense games with the frenetic action of an old-school shooter, with plenty of laughs along the way.

Deadlight shows a lot of promise but ultimately falls short.

If you like turn based strategy games and want one that takes place in space then Endless Space can surely scratch that itch.