Undertow is a whole lot of fun, and it delivers a full size game in a small package. The classic arcade action makes it easy to pick up, but it manages to deliver enough depth to keep you engaged.

Absolutely - bar none - THE must-own game of 2007 on ANY platform. Mass Effect is damn near perfect!

This is a great game all around, and the few gripes really don’t amount to much. Get some friends, get this game, and get rockin’!

With EA Sports’ March Madness still only treading stale water, 2K Sports continues to innovate, staying ahead on game play appeal. College Hoops 2K8 for PS3 is the king of next-gen console college hoops titles.

With EA Sports’ March Madness still only treading stale water, 2K Sports continues to innovate, staying ahead on game play appeal. College Hoops 2K8 for PS2 is the king of previous-gen college hoops titles, but it’s lacking the shine it once sported.

The board game is still essentially a dice powered foot race. The boss fights were a step in the right direction, but the rules of the game itself need to be refreshed. However for what it is it's great.

It’s not the most original game on the PS3, but it’s easily one of the best. This is a must-have in any PS3 owner’s library.

This is worth playing all the way through, the developers reward you for wading through their world.

SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 may be the only major pro wrestling title in town, but it's a good one and, unlike Madden with the NFL license, doesn't let its exclusivity lead to a lack of innovation and improvement. A solid upgrade!

While some PS2 owners will be glad their old platform is getting some port-down love, the game just isn't getting any better from a graphical standpoint.

The PSP is hot again and SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 for PSP is along for the ride; but it doesn't measure up to Silent Hill: Origins, Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions, Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness or Jeanne d'Arc.

With the most familiar controls of any version released this year, the Xbox 360 version edges out the PS3 version this season, by a hair.

It’s a Doom RPG from cell phones with a fantasy theme ported to the DS. Odd? Sure, but it’s a good, unique dungeon crawler that’s surprisingly addictive in spite of its somewhat simplistic nature. If you’re a fan of the genre (or simply curious), it’s certainly worth your while to try it out.

Any gripes I have about this package are about the games themselves and not the quality of the port. Suffice it to say, if you like Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 and Puzzle Kombat, this is a great package that does justice to both games.

Sure, it's too short, but it's also inexpensive, and it's so fun to play you'll be begging for more. Definitely worth a download!

Dragon Quest Monsters – Joker delivers some much-needed freshness to the monster collecting genre, but don’t expect it to be Dragon Quest IX. It’s just pure monster-collecting fun.

If your little girl wants a pet-raising game, Nintendogs is still the best bet. If she likes horses and ponies better than dogs, I’d point her to Pony Friends. However, Horse Life is still an excellent addition to this genre, and well worth checking out if the resident pony lover is looking for something with a bit less pony interaction and a bit more actual game.

SOCOM: Tactical Strike isn’t the action-based affair most series fans are accustomed to, but the real-time strategy title is good at what it does. Graphically impressive on PSP, SOCOM: Tactical Strike is worth a look.

Call of Duty 4 is the whole package – both a spectacular single-player campaign and one of the best multiplayer modes I’ve ever encountered in a FPS. It’s got some of the best graphics ever to appear in a videogame, some of the best sound and voice acting, wonderful controls, and plenty of variety to keep the interest up and adrenaline flowing.

One of the better offerings in the genre and worth picking up.

Trivia isn't for everyone, but this game is well executed, and I would like to see them tackle some other genres.

Jerry Seinfeld plus Xbox 360 platformer equals lots of gaming goodness.

If you can have only one racing game on the DS, get Mario Kart DS. However, after that, you’d do well to check out Pixar’s Cars: Mater-National Championship.

Not having wires across the floor gives great freedom to the player and encourages stage antics, a great addition to any party.

Deep career mode with tons of challenges; fun online features; a decent song list with more available as add-ons. What more could the next Eddie Van Halen, Edge, Eric Clapton or Oz Fox ask for?

There are so few games that get air combat right, but Ace Combat hits the nail on the head. From the huge scale air support missions to the vicious online dogfights, everything about this game is perfect. Its limited appeal is offset by the fact it serves that audience so well.

This is the kind of game we were promised when the Wii was in development, and it is nice to see someone other than Nintendo deliver on those promises. Capcom has a real gem here, but you have to play it to understand.

This is made for the hardcore set, there's no doubt. It is nice to see a game that doesn't phone it in for the late platform, and delivers a great title. Capcom has done a nice job, and delivered something that would have created quite a stir in the PS2's prime.

If you've never played the first Tomb Raider, this is a great way to go about it. If you have, this is a great way to get reacquainted with it.

Spongebob’s Atlantis Squarepants is a good game that does justice to its license. It may not be quite on the same level as your average Mario game, but it’s still original and fun enough that fans of the show are sure to enjoy it.

It’s not quite Guitar Hero DS, but your little girl will love it.

Mercury Meltdown Revolution may be a port of a game in a genre the Wii already has in plentiful supply, but it’s a solid port, a good game, and at an ideal price. That adds up to a great value that’s well worth checking out.

Tony Hawk games have evolved over time, and this title shows that it has an eye on the future, and keeping the franchise fresh. There is a distinct focus to make this game have a certain atmosphere, and it succeeds. This is my new favorite in the series.

Puzzle Quest does an amazing job bringing together the puzzle and RPG genres together in a game that is easily one of the best XBLA titles this year. Don't miss it.

It sure is neat to look at.

This is solid fighter slimmed down for you pocket. It doesn't hit it out of the park every time, but it is passable. The multiplayer is this games strongest suit, and with Wi-Fi it's better.

There's absolutely no reason why anyone who owns Neverwinter Nights 2 wouldn't want this expansion, Mask of the Betrayer.

Anyone who doesn’t think Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions isn’t worth owning just doesn’t like RPGs.

This is a solid mini-game collection, and although it is aimed at kids, it does a good job of keeping the simple controls, but making the games different. This game is definitely for kids, but it is something that won't drive you nuts to play with your kids.

Kind of a Burnout Lite and slightly more fun than frustrating. Minigames hit that exact right "just one more" sweetspot that'll keep gamers playing long after they meant to stop.

Once again, it’s apparent that Syphon Filter and the PSP were made for each other. While the game isn’t without its issues, it’s still a solid action title that actually feels at home on the handheld. Action fans with a PSP should consider this a must-have.

There's no revolution going on here, but NBA 2K8 is as solid as ever.

Check the three criteria above. If you fit all three, go for it. Otherwise, best stick to real coloring books.

While Halo 3 doesn't force upon the player another tortuous romp through The Library, it does feature an agonizing substitute complete with seemingly endless waves of Flood victims. This--along with a handful of recycled locales in the final third of the game--is a lack of ingenuity in level design that sticks out sorely amid a slate of superbly conceived features.

Yes, all of these songs came out in the decade of neon. Not all of these will fit your taste, but that's the way it is. Do not buy this game alone, it should be seen as an expansion to another Singstar title.

Looking at this as part of an overall Singstar package, Amped does a good job of bringing more songs into the fold. As a stand-alone title, it doesn't live up to its title.

Don't expect this game to turn you into any kind of music expert if you're not one already, but if you already have some skill, Jam Sessions is a surprisingly good tool for any musician who wants to dabble in song creation.

It's a brilliant kid's game, and I'm surprise nobody came out with a game like it sooner.

The game is short, but it almost seems like a good thing, as too much more of it would have been too much. Again, the game is great fun (even given some frustrating camera issues that make it difficult to pinpoint an enemy causing Tequila damage), but it’s best in small doses.

A classic game with a great presentation and tons of options and gameplay modes, but nothing really new. Anyone who’s played the game in the last decade or so knows what they’re in for here.

This is a great game for DS Wi-Fi, and for once it is one that isn't made by Nintendo themselves. There is may not be much more to this game, but for fans that should be more than enough.

Liar is thrilling and a dream to control via SixAxis motion-sensitivity, but the sharp graphics simply don’t measure up to the “full HD” promise of early game trailers. Still a sharp action title to kick off the fall holiday gaming season!

While Blue Dragon is clearly old school in its cartoonish art and turn-based gameplay mechanics, very distinctly different from a completely next-gen RPG-style title like Mass Effect, Blue Dragon definitely delivers something to the 360 that the original Xbox system never had enough of: an RPG so original, exciting and appealing, it will make PlayStation fans feel like they’re missing out on something important in the RPG landscape.

It would have been easy to slam this as yet another mini-game collection. It isn’t the developers fault, and they made a fun game. Mini-games are a crowded field on the Wii right now, and while the market may be as saturated as a sponge at the bottom of the ocean, each game still has to stand on its own. Carnival Games stands up very well.

It meshes impressive graphics with an inventive gameplay system, and uses them to push an amazing story in a refreshingly unique setting. Unless you faint at the sight of blood or you absolutely despise FPS games, you should consider this game a must buy.

It meshes impressive graphics with an inventive gameplay system, and uses them to push an amazing story in a refreshingly unique setting. Unless you faint at the sight of blood or you absolutely despise FPS games, you should consider this game a must buy.

Immediately becomes the best reason to own a PSP in ages. MUST… HAVE!

Dungeons & Dragons Tactics is the best thing to happen to the D&D license since Wizards of the Coast commissioned the first Neverwinter Nights PC game.

While dark and moody and supernaturally-tainted, Persona 3’s obsession with the day-to-day school humdrum of its main characters’ lives delivers some unique game play ideas, but also transform it into a love-it-or-hate-it affair. Recommended only for SMT fans.

Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a wonderful birthday gift for 10-year-old Lara; just wait till she hits puberty!

Not a game you'll play for hours on end, but good fun for short amounts of time.

It's a rock-solid action game that looks spectacular, but if ports like this are really the best the PS3 is offering I'm a little concerned about the system's future.

It's more of a straightforward shooter, but it's still gorgeous and the best squad-based shooter for your money on the PS3.

This is an addiction, not a game. As hard as you may fall for it, there are rewards for sticking with it, but the later levels will make it harder to do so.

Secret Stash strikes again with a reinterpretation of a classic game. This is for classic arcade freaks, and new initiates. While it works within the classic game design, some of the new game modes are truly original.

Don't get me wrong, this is a great version of the game that improves upon the original. I just want to impress upon you that you won't have any new experience, beyond the Wii remote.

Not as good as the first game, but far more enjoyable in multiplayer than in single-player mode.

Pac-Man: Championship Edition is a surprisingly fun retooling of the classic that may even find fans in those that didn’t care for the original. It’s just a shame it’s a tad feature-poor and a little pricey.

A powerhouse at multiplayer, a pinto at single player, if you have a group of friends or the patience to wait for the online players, this is a must have.

If you have a little girl (or perhaps a somewhat effeminate little boy) that loves ponies, you really can’t go wrong with Pony Friends. While it’s not quite as polished and ambitious as Nintendogs was, it’s still surprisingly good, and head and shoulders above most other virtual pet games.

Forza 2 is a great game for novices and gearheads alike. Play it simple or fiddle with every last thing you can – the game works both ways.

Don’t be fooled by comparisons to Super Paper Mario – Crush is its own unique animal, and a puzzle game through-and-through. However, if that’s what you’re looking for, Crush delivers with a fresh concept, a solid presentation and some truly enjoyable dimension-twisting puzzles.

A great introduction to crosswords on a handheld system. The engine is a great asset to a handheld that has provided new ways to play many pen and paper puzzles. For crossword junkies, this is a must-have.

If you’re looking for a PS2 RPG with a unique personality, Odin Sphere’s the game for you.

This is the best of the Pirates games this summer, and adventure platformers are a throwback that is worth revisting.

Touch the Dead might give some loyal Nintendo-owning parents a heart palpitation; this isn’t a Mario title, Mom and Dad. So save it for when the kids are asleep and the two of you want to get scared-n-cozy!

Shrek the Third is probably one of the best platformers on the Xbox 360. Too bad there aren’t more to compare it to.

Overall for a legacy system, this is a pretty decent titles, and becuase the PS2 is in almost every family room in America, I can bet this will be on more than few kid's summer gaming list.

This is a decent game for kids, and adults who refuse to grow up. You may not want to go see the movie again, but the game can at least keep your kids entertained in their need for more Shrek and Co.

It’s not perfect, but overall this is possibly the most delightful surprise on XBLA since Geometry Wars came out of nowhere to be the platform’s killer app.

Frankly, this is, for better or for worse, exactly the kind of Pokemon game that we are all expecting. The storyline hasn’t evolved, the gameplay is unchanged but has had a few refinements, the DS’ touchscreen is liberally used, the game is playable online, the graphics are sharp but still evoke the GBA standard, and there’s plenty of new Pokemon to capture.

Frankly, this is, for better or for worse, exactly the kind of Pokemon game that we are all expecting. The storyline hasn’t evolved, the gameplay is unchanged but has had a few refinements, the DS’ touchscreen is liberally used, the game is playable online, the graphics are sharp but still evoke the GBA standard, and there’s plenty of new Pokemon to capture.

On PS2 or Xbox 360, Guitar Hero II is a fun game. The Xbox 360 version just doesn’t match up to the promise of what it could and should be.

This is the best tennis game on the PSP, but it’s not much improved over last year’s title. Only serious tennis fans and those who don’t already own "Virtua Tennis: World Tour" should bother with this one.

This might be a great collection for fans of the site, or someone who wants something quick and easy for the DS, but unless you spend hours playing flash games, you might want something deeper.

The Shivering Isles is far from a perfect expansion, but it still gives players some completely new ground to tread that’s unlike anything else in the game, which makes it a must-have for anyone who enjoyed the original game.

It’s still a life-sucking, hour-robbing masterpiece that can convert people who don’t normally play RPGs into die-hard game addicts.

What could have been a generic puzzle game is made all the better by a layer of depth with the RPG elements. Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is a very fun title that can be played in short bursts as well as marathon stretches.

Regardless of all of these problems, Earth Defense Force 2017 is still wonderful, stupid fun that manages to surpass its lowly production values and shoddy appearance to become a surprisingly superb game.

A simulation at heart that tries to dress up as an adventure. The adventure and plot are secondary, so may not be for everyone. Meant to be played here and there, rather than straight through.

It’s better than you think, but it's only to be played in small doses.

Look at it this way – at 400 points, this game is essentially 20 quarters worth of gameplay. If you ever played the game in the arcade, odds are good you used up at least that many.

A great adventure game that does everything a game is supposed to do, and while the bad habits of Hollywood march in to gaming, it still is worth every minute. Kratos could kill his way through the Mushroom Kingdom and it would be entertaining.

The lack of any online functionality certainly hurts the game, but you’ll still find it enjoyable nonetheless.

This is a game where the sum of the parts make a fairly satisfying whole.

Carol Vorderman’s Sudoku offers over one million puzzles to solve and a variety of modes, but fails to feature Vorderman to any significant degree.

Carol Vorderman’s Sudoku offers over one million puzzles to solve and a variety of modes, but fails to feature Vorderman to any significant degree.

While it still very much feels like a sequel, everything is bigger, better, and more stylish. In the end, Def Jam: Icon manages to feel like a fresh experience instead of more of the same.