It's so firmly steeped in the style and mythology of the series that fans already know if they'll like it or not. New players ought to start with the original, or at least volume one of the current series.

Remember how good Spider-Man 2 was? Hang onto that feeling by not playing this game.

The whole “two hands” thing may have been a good idea, but it’s poorly executed, as with the rest of the Wii controls. As for the rest of the game, it fails to make a significant improvement over Spider-Man 2.

The DS version of Spider-Man 3 is a lot like the DS version of Spider-Man 2, but with a new, slick touchscreen interface that, while nice, does nothing to address the problems the last game had.

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.

Fans of the old Cardfighters game or the Capcom vs SNK series in general will love this, but the cardfighting hardcore have probably already moved to Yu-Gi-Oh.

A better storyline and characters actually make Aedis Eclipse more tragic than it is more appealing; the game underlying this improvement is still as problematic, sluggish and poorly designed as the original title.

It is perfect for fans as it is new material for a show that is soon ending it's run. However if you aren't already invested into the universe, there is not a reason to pick this up. It's too slow of a game to engage you, and once you've invested 45 minutes in starting the game, there is no excuse to be just starting the first real level.

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.

A better-than-expected billiards and snooker sim can be found under the somewhat sleezy, “Skinemax” softcore wrapping.

Despite hinting at an interesting experience, Valhalla Knights squanders its potential with a lack of style and unfortunately compelling substance.

As combat flight sims go, this one is different enough for a test flight for those interested.

It's not a bad game, and it's actually pretty fun in short doses. If you're a patient person who likes to multitask this might be the perfect game for you.

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.

Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales is a great “starter” title for younger gamers, to introduce them to the Final Fantasy universe. One of the sharper-looking titles on the DS to date!

Pick up a different arcade collection. Unless you're really interested in some of the lesser known (for a reason) titles, such as Circus Charlie and Pooyan, you can get the other marquee games elsewhere.

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.

Test Drive: Unlimited wasn’t specifically intended for handheld play and it shows. The wealth of content is staggering and the presentation pristine; however, a sense that this game has been unnecessarily squeezed down to size causes it to miss its potential.

It's a great game for cruising, and if you're looking for something to mellow out with after a hard day it's a great game. Hardcore race fans will want to look to other titles.

Only for long time Sega addicts. If Shining Force was you first RPG (mine was "Shining in the Darkness") there may be something for you here. With a huge RPG library on the PS2, there is no reason to play this very bland game.

There's some great action in here, but everything surrounding it just fails to live up to the giants of this genre.

Unless you’re a rabid series fan (do they still exist?) who will appreciate a graphical upgrade and a few gameplay tweaks, you’ll find this to be “just another Armored Core 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.

A true sequel to the old After Burner games worthy of the series mantle, but at the same time showing just how dated the series’ gameplay looks today. Unless you still play the old arcade games, this game will feel outdated now.

Cooking Mama: Cook-Off is a good idea that just hasn’t been done well here. The game’s controls just don’t work as they should.