I loved the game but it still didn't seem to reach the level of greatness that was the DS version (I felt that its predecessor had a few more enjoyable songs, better endless mini-games and a little more charm overall). Nonetheless, Rhythm Heaven Fever is still a gem of a game that shouldn't be missed for the avid Wii owner.

Syndicate's guise is thoroughly unoriginal and yet irrefutably stylish. Its guns aren't distinctive but feel great with every pull of the trigger. Breaching is debatably necessary and still every time it's engaged. Cooperative plays feels more like beating the game than beating the intended challenge, which somehow makes for a better feeling of elation. In conforming to the first person standard, Syndicate has turned in a wave of contradictions that, almost in spite of itself, typically emerge on the right side of social order.

Alan Wake's American Nightmare is Alan Wake with the benefit of proper editing and revision.

Sixty frames per second in 3D is indeed a marvelous technical achievement and Tekken 3D: Prime Edition deserves praise for reaching that goal. It's just too bad the game never bothered with building a deck around its ace.

The Darkness II is a fun romp for the brief duration that it lasts. Multiplayer is clever, but not enough to make up for the short, mediocre campaign. Definitely worth a serious look if you played and enjoyed the first Darkness game but note that a weekend rental might be all you need out of it.

Whether it's Diesel City's impromptu rooftop scrambles, Metro Square's ice rink, or Sunspring's movie theater, every single level, even with paired down to smaller maps, is loaded with detail.

A textbook, solid tennis sim from EA Sports that is accessible yet about as deep as you want it to be.

Large bank of modes and fighters, pristine presentation, and unbelievably immersive gameplay is what will make this game such a huge hit. It may be so well received, in fact, that non fans interested in the game could begin to watch the real events and become real MMA fans.

One would have expected a gentle tragedy out of Gotham City Imposters, not unlike the way its collection of wacky gadgets would perform against actual assault rifles. In practice, however, it's those same silly toys that boost Gotham City Imposters out of copycat land and into a neat realm all its own. If you want a bit of humor and subtle creativity injected into your competitive first person shooting, and don't mind its inherent familiarity, look no further.

There's a pretty good game to be found here underneath a considerable pile of design and execution flaws. It's worth a look right now for the more patient, curious, and tolerant player, but if you're on the fence, you might wait until the summer gaming drought.

Shank 2 isn't so much a sequel as it is a replacement for its slower, sloppier predecessor, and that seems to suit its style just fine.

The Jak and Daxter Collection is probably going to be one of the easiest releases for me to recommend to everyone this year; definitely a great addition to any PS3 library.

KOAR is simply staggering; it's a tremendous achievement and an experience you shouldn't miss.

Clawing its way back to relevance, XIII-2 introduces a heap of new and desirable systems into XIII's familiar architecture, and even though some of them are handled rather clumsily, the final product is ultimately better off.

Overall, it's one of the best portable survival horror titles I've played in a while-even if it's not all survival horror.

Project Soul got a lot right with SCV, and I enjoy it, I just wish there were more content, specifically more offline modes of play. I find myself bouncing back and forth between offline and online play, slowly becoming content and fatigued with both.

It's hard to watch a game stumble with every step, but AMY repeatedly demolishes any reason to suspect Occam's razor shouldn't be employed; it's a dreadful game and a miserable experience.

After playing SWTOR for, well longer than I am willing to admit, I was really impressed with the quality and play style that SWTOR brings to the MMORPG market. The feel of the game, along with the content and canon of being Star Wars will, be able to appeal to many people, not just the hardcore MMO gamers. That being said, SWTOR focuses on role-playing gameplay, rather than the massively multi-player one. Because of this, if you are not in to role-playing, then you will not get the most out of SWTOR. The game is slow to get started, but once it does, there is a lot to draw your attention.

Sonic CD's obtuse level design and time travel gimmick remain as divisive as ever, but for $5 it's easy to pull the trigger for fans and newcomers alike.

Trine 2 thrives on its ability to properly behave in a solo or cooperative environment, but it will undoubtedly be remembered for its breathtaking art direction.

Mario Kart 7 is a strong follow-up in a series which has long straddled the line between mass-appeal shoo-in and nod to the nostalgia. It doesn't take many risks, but that rarely hurts it apart from a general lack of surprises and a disappointing presence of blue turtle shells. Regardless, it's an attractive, addictive, and accessible installment with some of the best online play we've seen to date coming from Nintendo. Don't expect to be surprised, but buy with confidence all the same.

Fortune Street is a good board game in terms of premise but as a videogame, it suffers in many areas that we would expect would be enhanced by being a virtual experience.

Tekken Hybrid may be aimed squarely at fans of the series, but it still feels like one of those retailer bundle packages that makes you buy a whole bunch of extra stuff for the one thing you actually wanted.

An all around improvement from the previous King of Fighters, but XIII still leaves plenty of room to evolve into something better.

Ace Combat flies onto the 3DS in impressive fashion. Worth checking out for series fans and anyone that likes aerial combat.

If Zindagi makes another quest for Edmund, I hope it's not on rails. That loss of freedom really hurt the experience, and lent significantly to the monotony. Still, I can appreciate the effort and a lot of what is offered here, and ultimately this is one of the better Move games I have played.

Only the most passionate Pac-Man and mini-game compilation gamers need to attend this Party.

THQ and Volition didn't just "press out" another sequel. It could have been very easy to mix in just a few new things to validate a new purchase for Saints or sandbox fans. Instead, they took the initiative, and have finally created a game that they have wanted to do since 2006 with the first one: push "open world" to the next level.

While the core gameplay is still very much intact (stud collecting, puzzle solving, etc.) LEGO Harry Potter Years 5-7 is an improvement over previous LEGO titles from Traveller's Tale Games. A bit more balance, better level design and just a more even flow makes this a better game than the previous installment of the series.

LittleBigPlanet 2: Special Edition does a great job integrating the Playstation Move into the original game, and in the Rise of the Cakeling levels. It is fluid, nearly flawless and doesn't feel forced.

An excellent game for $40, but in the back of your mind you can't help but wonder if we'll hear about a third MvC3 in a few months... that said, for the money, you'd be hard pressed to find a more complete and thrilling fighting game.

Quite possibly the best mini-game compilation title I have played on any platform, Carnival Island does a great job of catering to a younger audience but simultaneously keeps things interesting enough for older gamers.

Fossil Fighters: Champions certainly succeeds at mimicking Pokémon while still creating its own brand and style of gameplay. However, the biggest fault of the game is not in the new material but that it doesn't succeed in pulling off the areas that are similar to Pokémon such as creating endearing creatures and appealing to a wide variety of gamers.

A great piece of DLC that really extends and adds to the original game.

One of the most obvious 'must buy' releases of this generation.

EyePet & Friends still needs tweaking on the technological side of the game. If you can move past those frustrations then you'll find a very cute, customizable and affordable game for the younger gamers in the household.

A great game that should have been superb. The experience is tainted by several gameplay mechanic problems that just shouldn't be there for this third game in the franchise this generation. Ultimately the good far outweighs the bad, but I can't escape the notion that I feel that the full potential of this sequel was not realized.

This isn't a bad game, but it's not good either. Some die hards might find something rewarding about experiencing a new set of stories. But from what I can gather, most fans would be embarrassed that this low level of writing has the NCIS name on it to begin with.

A simple, fun, accessible beat'em up that wouldn't be nearly as good on a standard controller. The experience is wholly built around the capabilities of the Gametablet and the end result is great.

A nice upgrade from the previous Pictionary uDraw game on the Wii, and a good overall uDraw title. That said, your mileage will vary depending on who you are able to play with locally; with the right group, there's a lot of laughs and fun to be had, but in the absence of other players, there's nothing to gain from this game.

Need for Speed: The Run feels more like a tightly scripted action game than an adaptive racer. If you stop to look around you'll discover a game in service of building toward an experience rather than challenging the player beyond a few trial and error style obstacles.

Skyward Sword is a masterpiece. It raises the bar for the legendary series and is memorable from start to finish. It's challenging, unpredictable, diverse, thrilling, and endearing. It is the Zelda game you've been waiting for.

Super Mario 3D Land proves that there is still an innovative direction that platforming can take even after the constant innovation seen throughout the history of Mario. This game may not be as creative as Galaxy (really what is?) but the different camera perspectives and depth based gameplay, along with all sorts of platforming styles meshed into one game make for a worthy Mario title for the 3DS.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is breathtaking, engrossing and deep. With gameplay and visual improvements, Bethesda set a new standard in The Elder Scrolls series with Skyrim, and with the action/RPG genre. This most certainly should be the game of the year.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 brings more intensity and more of everything than the previous installment.

A solid adventure despite some significant issues, The Cursed Crusade is well worth a look this holiday.

Fans might have preferred compilation of Sonic's 16-bit greatest hits, but a career-spanning retrospective is what ended up on the track list. And you know what? Against all odds, Sonic Generations feels adequate.

This is exactly the type of game that makes me lose confidence in motion gaming's future. There is nothing of substantial value here and I recommend leaving this one on the shelf.

Skylanders is a good game made wholly better by a great gaming experience that is provided by the Portal of Power and the figures. Enjoyable for all ages, you would be hard pressed to find a more engaging, better-produced family friendly game this holiday.

The fun of co-oping through Middle Earth with three unique characters overshadows some of the game's shortcomings, making for a very enjoyable game that I'm happy to recommend.

GoldenEye 007 Reloaded has taken a risky jump from the relatively starved Wii FPS climate to the well-established PS3/360 market in exchange for a better online experience and some shiny HD visuals. Fortunately, thanks to some clever additions to the package and some much-needed refinements elsewhere, it stands with the big boys-just with a different overall attitude.

Cave Story shouldn't be missed no matter what platform you play it on, but Cave Story 3D offers the most unique perspective on this independent gem.

The good news is Daytona USA's port is actually better than you remember. The bad is, despite some inspired extras, it doesn't last that long.

A great title for the weak Move library and a solid rail shooter.

Shoot 'em ups are burdened with the weight of the hardcore and while PixelJunk SideScroller obeys that command, its art, music, and basic gameplay are attractive enough to lure in anyone who might remember walking into an arcade. Simply put, SideScroller carries the sentiment of its genre predecessors without the standard prescription for rose tinted glasses.

While Disney Universe can't really come close to LittleBigPlanet in terms of scope or gameplay options, there's enough fun here to keep any Disney fanatic entertained. Simple controls, plenty of levels and challenges will make this fun for younger gamers in any household.

InFamous: Festival of Blood succeeds as a ghoulish costume for InFamous 2.

R&C: A4O almost delivers a great single player and multiplayer experience, but falls a little short. Neither mode is outstanding, but the multiplayer mode is a lot of fun (especially with local friends) and the single player mode is pretty cool on its own.

Kirby's Return to Dreamland is the game die-hard fans have been waiting for for years. Though recent bouts have found the series moving in more of an experimental direction, the traditional Kirby game is what gamers will always want the series to revert back to.

There's a lot to love about this game, and not a lot to criticize. It's a wonderful experience that brings online and offline intensity to an entirely new level. DICE and EA did a great job with Battlefield 3 and I hope they continue this trend for the next game.

Pokémon Rumble Blast is like buying a five-pound multicolored package of Runts only to find all bananas inside: there's a heck of a lot to digest, but ultimately, it's just one shockingly mediocre bite after another.

For the mahjong player on the go, Mahjong Cub3d may be an enticing pickup, but if you've already decided you aren't a fan of mahjong, Cub3d won't change your state of mind.

Batman: Arkham City is The Empire Strikes of the Batman gaming series. It's darker, grittier and adds so much to the original universe that Rocksteady created. If you liked Arkham Asylum then you will love Arkham City.

Professor Layton and the Last Specter continues to push the high production values of the cartoon mystery series while still providing a slew of enjoyable puzzles along the way.

Charles Schulz probably never illustrated any happy Cloud Whales, but if he did they would probably look like Okabu's chief protagonists. With bright colors and a merry atmosphere flooding positivity and joy through every channel, it's hard to look away. This wouldn't matter much if Okabu's gameplay wasn't up to spec, but the subtle complexity behind the puzzles and variety of objectives serves the theme well - and makes Okabu's handful of technical gaffs all the more disappointing.

Dead Rising 2: Off the Record is a textbook definition of a director's cut. Those enjoying it for the first time won't know the difference, those who disliked it won't care, and those who loved the original will be split down the middle in their appreciation of a reworked interpretation.

Beenox did a good job with Edge of Time, but they left a lot of room for improvement for their next endeavor.

While certainly still needing some improvement, Project Aces is drawing closer and closer to a perfect Ace Combat game. With improved visuals, a fun dogfight mode and strong online play, there is a lot to be happy with when it comes to Ace Combat Assault Horizon.

The Atelier series is loved by many and I think those very fans will be really pleased with NISA and Gust's efforts in this latest adventure.

Dark Souls is a form of game development that you just don't see anymore. It's tough, it's unforgiving, and you have to fight for every inch of progress, but it has an allure that keeps you coming back, and a sense of satisfaction that very few games can give you.

The original Splinter Cell games are classic, and it's nice to see Ubisoft give them the HD treatment. While not as complete as I was hoping for, this Trilogy is still a great addition addition to your collection.

If you can get the Kinect, and your body, perfectly placed then The Gunstringer is a hoot of a game. While it is short, there is still plenty to gain from it (unlockables, trophies and a co-op mode) including a very fun and strange story. If you own a Kinect you might want to give this a go.

If you're looking for a competent, although not quite as complete or well rounded alternative to FIFA, give PES 2012 a look.

Though the game isn't as endearing as Tetris DS, it's well worth the $30 price tag if you don't currently own another DS Tetris iteration.

It's literally Crysis on a console, which, as simple and silly as it sounds, is more than most expected.

Simple, fast, fun, and even funny gameplay/presentation makes playing a few quick games the perfect way to burn a half an hour.

Eufloria is an ambitious game in constant search of a way to properly engage the player.

While not a massive step forward for the series, FIFA Soccer 12 manages to add a few interesting features and maintain the series' top spot in the genre.

While RAGE does have some issues here and there you can rest assure that it does deliver in the end. It has a solid mix of good first-person shooting action, fun driving moments, and solid multiplayer modes. Add to all of this the fact that you're seeing one of the more gorgeous games produced in this generation, and it's a tough deal to pass up.

Ms. Splosion Man is frequently good with equal parts brilliance and frustration. Sometimes you might get the feeling that the folks at Twisted Pixel had so much fun making their game they sort of forgot we common folk would wind up playing it, but it's hard to fault ambition.

If you like the X-Men or brawler games (and who doesn't), X-Men Destiny is worth a rental, but it has enough issues and shortcomings to make a full on purchase prohibitive to most gamers.

Resident Evil Code: Veronica X HD, despite the re-learning curve, is still one of the best games that came from the four original RE titles.

F1 2011 may not be a huge leap from 2010, but it's an improved leap. It brings better car physics, improved graphics, smarter AI and just an overall tighter feel to every facet of the title.

RE 4 is one of those games that could be re-released every five to ten years and still be as good and as important as it was the first go around.

Overall, while I still have a lot of WKC2 ahead of me, and more online to partake in, WKC2 has done something for me that many JRPGs have not been able to: it's kept me playing and pleasantly entertained.

NHL 12 is further proof that, for as complete as NHL 11 was considered, there seems to always be new, significant, quality additions that can be made from one year to the next.

I was hoping for a lot more from Puzzler Mind Gym 3D, but the lackluster presentation and game layout, coupled with the poor use of 3D, made this another one of those inferior brain games that only serious puzzle and brain game fans should consider for purchase.

With only a few minor issues, Insomniac has produced not only the best Resistance game to date, but one of the best FPS games I have ever experienced.

Mass Attack sports loads of innovative mechanics, masterful level design, and a breed of quality and polish that stands alongside Nintendo's best.

At first glance, Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 is a typical monster hunting RPG, but its efforts to streamline some of the mundane foundational aspects of its brethren help to set it apart. Such conveniences don't come without sacrifice, however; with the shameless implementation of level grinding, a throwaway storyline, and a frequent problem with pacing, you'll have to look beyond its blemishes to if you wish to embrace its triumphs.

God of War: Origins Collections is the best reason yet to embrace these HD collections many publishers are bringing to the PS3. Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta feel right at home here, and I'm really happy to be able to enjoy these again without a PSP.

Star Fox 64 3D is a solid remake of the original Nintendo 64 classic.

Juggling a myriad of different game ideas, Dead Island works as either a cooperative loot fest with some friends or a solo decent into survival and isolation. For all it borrows from other games, it takes a step forward in twisting a real sense of adventure into the worn zombie apocalypse model. Unfortunately most of Dead Island's gifts can be compromised by a potentially ruinous save system or completely wiped out with bugs, neither of which should be considered acceptable.

Rise of Nightmares has been a refreshing experience for me, reminding me that motion gaming can work great when developers put forth a complete effort that encompasses a solid story and smart use of motion control.

This is what arcade racing/driving is all about.

It's hard to find a pair of games held in higher regard than Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. Famito Ueda and his colleagues at Team Ico drew two master strokes that not only illustrated the fundamental difference between Eastern and Western design, but also captured the former at the pinnacle of its influence.

Certain Affinity took few risks in constructing a bare bones, workman like hack 'n slash and left experimentation to its pricing structure. Whether that was their call or Microsoft's isn't likely to be known, but it's definitely rendered Crimson Alliance an afterthought, or something to play if you've completely exhausted Torchlight and need something else in the console space.

The Baconing exposes DeathSpank's diminishing returns. It remains a solid, well built game, but Hothead Games doesn't seem to notice (or care) that they've essentially made the same game three times.