Rare in that it gives you real cars in real locales, but also provides an intensity and excitement that other sim games can't offer. While the steering isn't as polished as it could be, you won't be thinking about that in the tense, white-knuckle, high-speed races that this game offers.

It feels like something that was left on the cutting room floor for good reason instead of a complement to the original game.

It feels like something that was left on the cutting room floor for good reason instead of a complement to the original game.

It feels more like a stopgap that's worth borrowing or renting, but can't justify a full cash price.

The collection is actually quite good, despite my finding it difficult to recommend.

A fun game that feels good to control, looks impressive and delivers some classic arcade racing that's perfect for quick bursts of portable play.

It may not look it in the screenshots, but Swarm is fast-paced, and absurdly hectic when you're playing it as intended.

Creative Assembly's most polished game to date, and serves as a reaffirmation of the values that made the series the revelation it was more than a decade ago. It seems only fitting that those values were reaffirmed in a game based on the same setting as way back then.

Don't get me wrong, Arrival sits comfortably between Overlord and Lair of the Shadow Broker in terms of quality and I still want to play Mass Effect 3 badly, but I don't want play it that much more badly after having played Arrival.

Don't get me wrong, Arrival sits comfortably between Overlord and Lair of the Shadow Broker in terms of quality and I still want to play Mass Effect 3 badly, but I don't want play it that much more badly after having played Arrival.

WWE All-Stars is a bit like a mash-up between NBA Jam and AKI's incredible Nintendo 64 wrestling titles.

If you're no fan of the series, this title will not sway you. Those of us who dig the formula, however, will be able to spot the significant changes made to the series, and enjoy a huge amount of gameplay. The only thing holding it back is a handful of poor design decisions that let the experience down, but not quite enough to stop this being an engrossing, addictive button smasher.

A game that takes real chances to stretch the gaming medium without sacrificing the joy of play and discovery that makes the medium great. It's a bold experiment in having the adventure game genre take a meaningful, humorous and fun look at itself. Gaming doesn't need to find its Citizen Kane, but it may have discovered its Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead without even trying.

It serves as a good system launch game that shows off the 3DS' new features. Don't go in expecting deep entertainment and you'll likely enjoy this. Again, what it lacks in depth it more than makes up for in cuteness.

While the tiny screen and the sometimes cramped controls may keep it from being tournament ready, Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition easily one of the best titles the 3DS launch has to offer.

One thing I did not like about Monster Tale was the backtracking. You'll revisit each area at least once, and Ellie's not exactly a speed demon. That's okay, though, because the fun of the game's partner mechanic and ease of play far outweigh the annoyance of having to retrace your steps a few times.

There's no doubt that Pilotwings Resort offers a smooth, pleasurable ride and a long overdue return to a beloved series. But when you land, you'll just wish there was a little more fuel in its tank.

Crysis 2 is less ambitious than Crytek's previous games, but it is also the most polished, refined and enjoyable title that the studio's ever produced. With tighter gameplay, better level design, and an exquisite sense of flowing action, Crysis 2 is a damn great title that any shooter fan would do well to play at least once.

It's a deeply flawed game, to be sure, wasting a wellspring of potential for no discernible reason, but one that should be played for being unafraid to show people at their weakest and most vicious. If the metric of a good game is that I keep coming back to it despite it's faults, Dragon Age II certainly qualifies.

While the visuals still retain that "kiddie-game" feel, the animation is much improved, and the lighting and shading are surprisingly deep for such a younger-geared title. It's a much more vibrant-looking LEGO title, and the animations are on par with the same type of CGI that the TV series itself is animated with.

Warriors of Troy just about delivers some simple button mashing action without too much fuss, but hack n' slash fans would do best to wait for Dynasty Warriors 7. That game sports more character in a single trailer than this does in the entire experience.

The best baseball game on the market. The new analog controls are largely an improvement over the button controls of yore, and Road to the Show has never been better. It's somewhat disappointing that certain drawbacks persist, but at its best, MLB 11 provides a beautiful, unparalleled simulation of America's pastime.

Okamiden exudes charm, perhaps even more so than the original. Unfortunately, charm will only get you so far.

If you're looking for the total package, Homefront doesn't even come close. Gamers wanting a fulfilling story-driven single-player campaign should take the next bus to Playing Half-Life 2 Again Town. But fans of competitive multiplayer should at least give Kaos' latest a look, even if it's unlikely to replace their shooter of choice.

Despite the fact that it's depth is mostly an illusion, Double Dragon for iOS is a well produced, fun little beat 'em up that might not give you the classic retro experience you remember, but does present some kickass brawling action. With multiple characters and Achievements to unlock, there's plenty of action to keep dedicated gamers interested.

For your seven bucks, you get an extra hour of content that adds a new layer of mystery to the Dead Space universe and a rather shocking ending that would've been compelling if the campaign had been long enough to build up any emotional ties.

For your seven bucks, you get an extra hour of content that adds a new layer of mystery to the Dead Space universe and a rather shocking ending that would've been compelling if the campaign had been long enough to build up any emotional ties.

I suppose if you were a C64 child, Giana Sisters DS is your homecoming. For everyone else, it's about as average as you can imagine a game could be. It's no mystery why Nintendo no longer feels threatened by this shameless pretender.

Pokémon Black/White is my favorite Pokémon game. That's my opinion. It's also the most robust, fully featured, polished Pokémon game on a technical level. That's an objective fact. Put those opinons and facts together, and you can only come up with one conclusion -- if you like Pokémon, you should go buy Pokémon Black/White. Like, right now.

Pokémon Black/White is my favorite Pokémon game. That's my opinion. It's also the most robust, fully featured, polished Pokémon game on a technical level. That's an objective fact. Put those opinons and facts together, and you can only come up with one conclusion -- if you like Pokémon, you should go buy Pokémon Black/White. Like, right now.

A shell of an RPG. The idea for the world is there and the idea for a unique battle system is there, but nothing is actually inside these ideas.

Bit.Trip FLUX is perfect.

It's hard not to recommend Retribution. You're getting a standalone experience with an exceptionally large amount of replayability, depending on how into Warhammer 40,000 you are. And even if you ultimately only touch one of the campaigns, try out the multiplayer for a bit, and dabble in The Last Stand, it's worth picking up.

Beyond Good & Evil HD boasts a terrific visual update, and despite a slow start, feels as good to play now as it did eight years ago. While not the narrative tour de force you may recall it being, the game manages to draw one in and keep the player involved with a charming game world and a strong, atypical female protagonist.

There really isn't one negative thing I can say about PixelJunk Shooter 2. The game is even better than I thought it was going to be. And after loving the original, I had high expectations!

Predators is a fun game, and with a more reliable combo system along with more maps, it could have been a great game. As it stands, Predators is still surprisingly good and well worth the considerably cheap asking price. Three bucks for some simple Predator-themed violence isn't too bad at all.

The real kicker here is that this fantastic game is only $2.99. What are you waiting for?

Test Drive Unlimited 2 isn't a horrible game. It's just surrounded by a bug filled world, glitchy gameplay, and a core mechanic that doesn't function.

I can't get over that. I also can't get over how great of job GameLoft did in porting this classic. Get this game.

The visuals, music and gameplay are all stellar on their own, and when you put them all together as one experience, the end result is something I would have easily paid much more for. If you have an iPhone, you'd be crazy not to pick this up, and for $4.99 you'll get a hell of a lot more out of it than you would that frappuccino.

It is a polished, technically impressive remake of the original King's Quest III, made by talented people who obviously have a true love and respect for the series.

Plus, that awesome soundtrack just can't be ignored!

Epic and People Can Fly not only succeed at delivering the "bigger" and the "more," but bring with it a gameplay slant that makes it a one-of-a-kind experience. Yes, it may be brazenly outrageously and juvenile; be prepared to check your "Serious Business Adult" card at the door. But lurking underneath is a seriously fun, novel take on the first-person shooter genre that shouldn't be ignored. Just make sure you don't "play it wrong."

Overall, H.A.W.X. is the type of game you'd hope iPhone developers are looking up to. It's a big game in a little package. Recommended.

With the improved control, you can now feel like the blame is on the player when you lose, making this a much better game than the last. It's crazy addictive, too.

Taken as an entity on its own, Super Mega Worm vs. Santa is a good game and if you've never played Super Mega Worm before, this comes recommended and I'd probably put it above the first title just because it's slightly more sadistic in its scenario. If you have the original title, however, then don't bother. You only need one of these games, not both.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 is a mixed bag, with plenty of good things soured by a sprinkling of bad. While the majority of the game is enjoyable, there are certain aspects that simply should not have been allowed to enter the final product.

At best, it's an alright game, but everything good about it was good in 1992. The iPhone itself has added nothing, and you could get five better games on iTunes for the cost of one mediocre Genesis port.

Solid presentation, an excellent control scheme, multiple game modes (story, survival, and multiplayer), achievements, and a revamped feel to a classic arcade experience all contribute to a strong iPhone offering that harnesses the strengths of the touchscreen environment.

Hills and Rivers Remain will keep you on your toes and keep you coming back.

Souls of Zill O'll is simply not worth your time. In fact, it's an active waste of it.

It's a game with serious potential, but it's far too overwhelming in its current state. For one thing, the lack of a jump button is absurd.

It's a minor miracle that Capcom has managed to keep each and every entry character true to their various source materials.

It's not like Sega did a lot of work to put this out on the iPhone, but that doesn't change the fact that Shining Force was a fantastic game. It still is, and for only $2.99, it's a no-brainer.

With a nice variety of starter songs, a solid interface, and a great aesthetic, not to mention extra challenges and avatar customization, Guitar Hero for the iPhone is a great little music game, and worthy of your attention.

One of the early examples of what the iPad can do graphically. If you want a game to show off your iPad, this one works well. It also serves as a fine example of how to do excellent analog control on a touchscreen.

It's cheap, it's undemanding, and it's perfectly suited to the platform it's on.

I'm one of the few that dug Final Fantasy II (especially this remake), but even I have to admit that the balance and leveling system are pretty screwy, and kind of hold the game back.

In battle, the iPhone touch control is great.

As much as I wanted to rave about this one, I must begrudgingly admit that those who love freedom would probably be better served hunting down a copy of the PS2 version or downloading it for PSP.

What Stacking winds up being in the end is a bright and cheerful little romp which should bring a smile to anyone who doesn't require someone to be shot in a videogame before they have a good time. With minimal pressure and a strong focus on creative thinking, it's an ideal game to play with someone else in the room and perfect for families to play together.

There's a slight feeling that this has been done before, and with more personality, in recent game releases, but you won't find an experience like it on your iOS device, not with controls this tight and user-friendly. Fans of challenging platformers and nostalgic design would do very well to pick it up.

The word is "impressive." Impressive polish and control, impressive storytelling and visuals. The originality factor? Not as impressive. But even with its obvious influences, N.O.V.A. is still a game that stands on its own, and is a game that is well worth your time and money.

There are better games out there for far cheaper. Get the original Modern Combat or N.O.V.A, which cost less and provide far more entertainment with far less aggravation.

Maybe they did bite off more than they could chew, but they at least had aspiration. None the less, Venetica's over-ambition is its own downfall. The many imperfections that would be ironed out from larger more successful RPGs have not been attended to rendering the game as frustrating, which is a pity.

Ultimately, Zombies II doesn't quite have the controls to make it stand up against some of the other, better iPhone shooters on the market, nor does it add to the franchise enough to feel like a worthy sequel.

Ultimately, it boils down to this: ATV Wild Ride is your only real choice for an arcade-style ATV racer on Nintendo's handheld. It's not that there are no other options, but where others have tried and failed, Renegade Kid succeeds in building a solid portable DS racer with ATV Wild Ride.

As close to perfect as online shooters get, and I do not say that lightly. The single-player could still use a little bit of work, but its faults pale in comparison to the amount of entertainment that the multiplayer provides, not to mention that the story mode itself really provides some greatness when it needs to. I don't think the PlayStation 3 has ever had quite such a rounded, satisfactory package as this, with this level of polish, refinement and pure, simple, unpretentious action.

A definite must-have for Dead Space lovers, and worth checking out for the more casual mobile gamer, Dead Space is a great title that blasts through its interface issues to prove that console experiences can work on a mobile phone ... provided you've got the patience for it.

It's not often that we see a DS RPG with this level of creativity and polish in the story and gameplay departments, and the fantastic music and art only accentuate that. Even if you think you've done the time-travel RPG before, you should still definitely play Radiant Historia.

Fans of the Rearmed will find there's a lot to love about the follow up, despite a few shortcomings. Because it's ultimately not as impressive as the original, that doesn't mean Bionic Commando Rearmed 2's not worth checking out.

Fans of the Rearmed will find there's a lot to love about the follow up, despite a few shortcomings. Because it's ultimately not as impressive as the original, that doesn't mean Bionic Commando Rearmed 2's not worth checking out.

Chaos Rings isn't just a superb iPhone RPG, it's a truly terrific RPG in its own right. Better than Square Enix's recent console output, this title outclasses many recent JRPG experiences and easily takes pride of place among the very best iTunes offerings.

All told, Monster Dash is a great title and well worth the meager asking price. You'll get your money's worth, and with Halfbrick promising to update the game with new monsters and levels, you can't go wrong!

I hated my first hour or so of Two Worlds II. I believed I was in for a boring, dreary, aggravating eighty hours of wasted life that I'd never be able to get back. I was wrong. Two Worlds II is the perfect gaming equivalent to a diamond in the rough. It's ugly, it's coarse, and it's got one foot in the past, but it's just too damn lovable to be thrown into the trash.

Ugly Chompii aside, Babo Crash is a fine puzzle game. If you like Bejeweled, I feel safe in saying that you'll probably ditch it for this one after trying it. It's that good. And for $0.99? Come on!

Without the issues surrounding the use of screen space and controls, Castlevania Puzzle would have been a phenomenal title.

Thankfully, Infinity Blade doesn't rest on its good looks. Sure, it's not a massive, open-world, but instead a tightly guided series of intense battles coupled with some seriously addictive character progression.

If you are a huge RPG fan and need something to play on the go, there are frankly better titles out there, but if you've played all those, Ash will sort you out.

There are far better shooters on iTunes than this, at the end of the day. They may be more expensive, and they may have dodgy business models, but they're simply better.

he game is definitely built to favor more methodical, communicative teams over groups of lone wolves. However, aside from diehard fans of the genre, it's difficult to imagine someone convincing enough of his friends to buy Breach to form a cohesive team.

The worst part is that MindJack's implementation of the shooter is so imbalanced and guileless that it actually harms the game.

Dead Space 2 is a ludicrously intense, graphically gorgeous, thoroughly atmospheric game that takes everything the first title did and ramps up the absurdity to dangerous levels.

It's a lot easier to play through a imperfect game when you've got an army of demon penguins calling you "dood" to keep you company.

Zeit² is like getting a present inside of a present. At first you're not sure if you're going to like it, but once you delve into the game's time travel mechanic it grabs a hold of you. This seemingly simple stratagem has managed to create a truly unique experience.

Only the most dedicated of fans, or someone who's never played a Worms game before should pick up Worms: Battle Islands. If you still want a Worms title for cheap, save some cash and pick up one of the other two titles already available on the PSP.

The designers had a clear vision for this game, and they made sure it came into fruition.

If A Space Shooter for 2 Bucks is any indication of what other games are in the PSP Mini collection, then gamers are in for a treat. It doesn't try to do too much, it's a lot of fun, and it's cheap.

Despite its linearity, Ghost Trick still is going to provide you with anywhere between eight and ten hours of gameplay and story, each hour more compelling than the last as the mysteries unfold. Its a completely fresh experience on Nitnendo's handheld, or anywhere else for that matter, and certainly not one you'll want to skip.

For someone who actually enjoyed playing CSI: Deadly Intent, the minor gameplay improvements here only led to an inadvertent feeling of repetitiveness, minus the joy of those amusing cases from the last game.

The flaws of the first game are preserved and plain to see, and now that the freshness of the previous title is lacking, the problems are that much more glaring.

With the 3DS set to take over the handheld world in a few months, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn may just be the last great RPG for the legendary Nintendo DS.

While prone to feeling slow at times, Ilomilo is an undeniably well crafted title. Most of its puzzles feel perfectly tuned, and despite the occasionally flabbergasted controls, the amount of polish on display is something to be applauded.

Thankfully, the designs of the bulk of Lost in Shadow's platforming trials are clever enough, providing a mostly fun and memorable experience, if not an emotionally empty one.

chick chick BOOM is fast and furious at the outset but slows down way too soon and way too abruptly. It's fun if a bit lacking. But hey, you get to murder baby chickens, so that's gotta count for something, right?

I'd love to see a sequel to this game that's fully fleshed out, with more elaborate levels, multi-player mode, boss fights, and other trappings of the modern videogame. Until that time, we has Lilt Line as it is, in all it's simple, abstract glory.

It's comfortable, safe and fun. By never attempting to be anything but a game which plays out like a Back to the Future story, it succeeds tremendously.

The same level of care and attention to detail you would find in one of DICE's retail offerings has been put into all aspects of Vietnam. It's not uncommon to see studios put their "B" team on downloadable content, but it sure doesn't feel as if that was the case here.