FIFA 09 is the culmination of lots of great features, like robust online support, stat tracking, and the excellent Be A Pro mode, that have been marinating for quite a while. This is the first time they’ve all come together to form a very tasty mix of soccer action.

One of the best LEGO titles yet. It manages to find a brilliant sweet spot between linear set-pieces and larger puzzles and exploration that make it a joy to play through.

Even if you played through the Xbox version multiple times, there’s enough new stuff here for a look.

It's unquestionably a great game, and certainly the best RPG on the Xbox this year, but the aging game engine and patchwork ending make it fall short where its predecessor excelled.

The visuals in Wipeout Pulse are a subtle improvement over Pure. Interestingly, the opponent AI appears a lot more aggressive which makes for a much more interesting race.

An excellent first start for a spin-off series, with a strong action element bolstered by a great sense of atmosphere that makes replaying campaigns on different difficulty levels a treat rather than a chore.

But I feel like a thief has swiped the perfect pacing out of the series and replaced it with repetition.

Those that have yet to exceed level 40 and undertake some of the main game’s tougher challenges are probably unprepared for the trials this expansion pack has to offer and will likely find them frustrating and unrewarding. For those prepared to throw down the gauntlet, though, there’s a lot of fun content and gorgeous new areas to be discovered.

Square Enix set out to correct the issues fans had with the first game, and they have succeeded across the board. With improvements to combat, exploration, and storytelling, it feels like this is the game that XIII should have been. But it isn't just a sequel, as it carves out its own tale to stand among the Final Fantasy pantheon.

Despite the anticlimactic ending, shoddy boss fights, and lackluster multiplayer, The Darkness 2 is an extremely impressive game. It oozes style, packs an emotional punch, and manages to be effectively balance bombastic violence with understated character development, ensuring that when the Darkness is unleashed you care.

It's not cutting-edge, but this gritty, violent, and incredibly dark adventure into the occult is just the thing for horror fans looking for something smart and very off beat.

Skate It has got it where it counts. The developers have made good use of the Wii controls and provided fans of skateboarding games a much needed change of pace. If you’re interested in a reason to drag out that little-used Wii Balance Board, give Skate It a shot.

One word of warning--if you’re only interesting in running around and shooting bad guys stay far, far away from this game. It’s impossible to run through this game like Rambo. You will die.

Thankfully, the game manages to be worth more than the sum of its parts. The controls are the best they've ever been, and combat is actually tolerable this time. That said, you're still better off avoiding fights whenever possible, especially during the few annoying sections that continually respawn creatures.

Tactical RPG enthusiasts should pick this one up no questions asked. If previous games in this genre have left you cold, there’s enough unique about Growlanser: Generations to recommend.

Though it’s easy to knock the game for not radically altering its presentation, it’s hard to criticize the sheer amount of playability (and fun) offered here.

There’s just not enough of anything here, except combat, combat, and more combat. On a system as thick with RPGs as the PSP is these days, there are plenty of games with more to do, plus interesting stories and more visual flair besides. Unless combat’s all you want, give something else a look instead.

Deserves a look. Not only because the control scheme is something completely new and surprisingly effective, but because the game wrapped around the gimmick is the type of quality stuff we've come to expect from Nintendo's best games.

Many will say the game ends too abruptly with its nine-hour length, but there's no other experience like Condemned: Criminal Origins for those who can handle its savage disposition.

Still, if you can stick with it through the boring movie and dialogue sequences, there’s an excellent adventure waiting for you in this grand world.

Rocket Slime’s charm and variety of gameplay make it one of the absolute best for the DS, even if you’ve never played a Dragon Quest before.

Paradigm has managed to give the series a true upgrade while retaining the excitement of the original right down to some pretty snazzy remakes of the Peter Gunn theme.

Though Burnout fans might be disappointed to learn there's no substantial revision to the play mechanics, Dominator's fast-paced events and score-based challenges are a perfect fit for a handheld system, making it one of the best looking, best playing racing titles on PSP.

The Wii version is graphically inferior to the 360 and PS3; Ron and Hermione have a nasty way of blocking your path in tight quarters; and there are the aforementioned, seemingly endless fetch-quests. Even with all that, this is easily the best Harry Potter game to date, and it’s simply one of the most entertaining movie tie-ins on the market.

NCAA Football 06's refined approach seems to cater most to the hardcore college football fan rather than the casual sports enthusiast.

The gameplay is surprisingly tight.

World at War can't fill Modern Warfare's combat boots despite an earnest attempt by the developers to replicate the experience in a World War II setting. At the same time, the game still offers some genuine fun with an impressive amount of bang for your hard-earned buck.

With hard fought battles, simple controls, and destructive abilities associated with the four main roles, Frontlines' multiplayer offers hours of addictive fun, especially on the 32-player dedicated servers. Yet all in not rosy on the multiplayer front.

With great graphics and playability, along with a slew of cool characters, Dark Resurrection is an exceptional fighter—if you just want a familiar old school coin-op experience. The lack of the story mode, online play, and mini-games is disappointing.

It's authenticity is its biggest selling point, but a difficult batting interface and loose fielding controls keep it from becoming a legend.

There are unlockable levels, a hidden character, and other new additions to the DS version, but it’s the use of the system’s unique abilities that make this one of the best versions of the Bust-a-Move ever.

SimCity 4 isn't a perfect game. It has a difficult learning curve, so the poor documentation and limited tutorials might frustrate players. And the gameplay suffers from some pacing and balance flaws.

Between the combat challenges, legendary weapons to be obtained, and numerous ways to screw with the heads of townspeople, it's the bits between the storyline that will keep players coming back to Fable.

There's enough in here to keep the hooligans entertained until the next World Cup, or at least next year's game.

The deeper toolbox and more varied rogue's gallery are welcome additions, but the stronger story and improved sense of character that New York Zero has been imbued with are the big saving graces in Prototype 2.

Frontline isn't perfect, though. For one thing there are the always-problematic control issues. A console system with its gamepad just can't replicate the tight controls offered by a mouse and keyboard.

A fantastic RPG plagued by bugs and errors that point to either a rushed job or sloppy coding. The deep role-playing system is a successful translation of the pen-and-paper game it’s based on, and that’s no small feat.

There's a lot to like here, and the game does a nice job of blending mindless destruction with equal parts stupid- and well-thought out humor.

Overwhelming is probably the best way to describe this one. It’s a title that requires some level of commitment from you the virtual pilot, but with that commitment comes nearly endless rewards, rewards that may assist you in getting your real pilot’s license if you so desire.

Casual fans will be in awe at the sheer beauty and polish of the game. Hardcore fighting game enthusiasts will appreciate the adjustments made to the fighting engine. Players looking for the most bang for their buck might be disappointed with the sparse selection of game modes, but should look into the character creation mode to keep them busy.

With its lengthy campaigns, replayability, and solid multiplayer, strategy fans will keep coming back to this one.

An undeniably polished game. It will offer you months and months of new things to do and experience.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma's creator Tomonobu Itagaki has stated publicly that he wanted his game to be difficult. That's fine, but there's a difference between challenge and cheapness. Frequently Ninja Gaiden Sigma feels like it's giving you a wedgie for no other reason but to hear you scream.

The add-in combines a new and intriguing story with plenty of varied gameplay to steal forty or fifty more hours of your life.

Binary Domain is Japan's answer to Gears of War, with exciting, energetic third-person shooting. The multiplayer is lackluster, and the optionally voiced squad tactics are largely inconsequential, but the campaign's sharp shooting and smart story make for a vision splendid romp through Japan's future.

Viva Pinata tackles Pokemon's cuteness, Animal Crossing's fun chores, and The Sims' relationships, and comes out tasting as sweet as the candy its main characters are filled with.

Anyone looking for a great hack-and-slash adventure will be more than satisfied with Onimusha 2. You still have to put up with funky camera angles, but the overall control is more than sufficient to get you though this 10-hour-plus trek.

It fixes the main problem with the original ZX, throws in some other major improvements besides, and keeps everything that almost made ZX a classic to begin with.

It's leaps and bounds above the mediocre, movie-based Hulk game, and smashes itself a niche in the genre.

Those allergic to whimsy may react violently to the saccharine soundtrack and rosy world-view. But they'd be missing out on a rare experience – a game that honors classic game play while forging new ground in style.

Despite the wonky AI, the game mechanics are solid. And the rip-roaring story gets better with each passing hour. The problem with "Invisible War" is that it requires the player to stop bitching about every little detail and just enjoy the ride.

The altered control scheme and new dribbling controls takes some getting used to, but you'll be leading teammates and setting up give-and-gos in no time.

The music and visuals are excellent. And you know what? So is the core play of the game. There's a lot of innovation here in SpellForce. Although parts of it are rough around the edges, there's too much good gameplay here to pass up.

In their attempt to dress up a solid brawler, Rockstar actually hurt the experience a bit by adding endless, tedious minigames that pretty much overpower the game in the early levels.

In many ways it's the best the series has to offer, but it's still probably not enough to haul in a new audience.

It’s disappointing that the multiplayer doesn’t take advantage of the opportunities established by the rest of the game’s design, but the four-player co-op is a very welcomed addition.

Patapon is manna from heaven for PSP owners.

Nuts & Bolts has solid single player, but multiplayer has even more potential, making this Banjo-Kazooie game worth a buy.

The Belkin War lives up to the entertainment legacy of the Ace Combat series by subtracting much of what didn't work and adding valuable new elements.

What it lacks in compelling story, it more than makes up for in gameplay and character, and that's really where it counts.

It's a great platformer with a lot of the strong, fun play mechanics that are simply missing from a lot of the PlayStation 2's platformers these days. However, if you played the first game, Ape Escape 2 won't be a shining gem but just a fond reminder of the first time you played this series.

In short, if you like FEAR, you will love FEAR 2. It may be too scary for some and the wobble of your character walking might induce a slight bit of motion sickness, but it’s a well constructed horror/action title.

One of the few ideal family games on the 360, Thrillville: Off the Rails is an impressive feat. The variety of fun mini-games mixed with an excellent roller coaster creation tool, and a surprisingly fun and light theme-park sim all add up to a good casual gamer romp.

Warhawk is an excellent example of a multiplayer-centric game that almost anyone can get into. There is nothing complicated or revolutionary in the design, but the mix of combat styles, large maps, great controls, and a ready supply of players more than make up for the lack of originality.

Every bit as good as the original. The campaigns are wonderfully crafted. There's a good challenging story with plenty of new gameplay.

While it’s basically just a more polished version of the first game with a few additions here and there, Skate 2 is easily the best skating game on the market. The city is massive, the trick system still feels like butter on wheels, there are endless challenges, events and places to discover, and the online features are plentiful.

Excite Truck is fun to play. It’s as simple as that.

If you can get past the terrible documentation and very steep learning curve, Galactic Civilizations will be not only enjoyable but also addictive.

Fantastic gameplay.

Despite the occasional dog in the roster, there is more than enough gold in Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection to justify the purchase at double the price. Older gamers looking for a shot of nostalgia will absolutely find it here, and younger gamers wondering what all the fuss was over that mysterious “16-bit era” they keep hearing about will find an excellent education in the digital classics.

The graphics, though pixilated, are well done and utilize the GBA hardware competently. The monsters still look as threatening as ever, and the action animation is solid.

A fantastic throwback to those heady days, and hopefully a lot of other game developers will study what Crystal Dynamics has done here long and hard before sitting down to design their next platformer.

The game is more than the sum of its parts, offering a surprising amount of flexibility in how you accomplish your objectives, even if those objectives don't change much from level to level, in a series of memorable environments.

Offers bigger, more intricate levels than what was found in the original title, a cooperative element that makes you feel like you're part of a team, more intriguing characters that help expand the combat options, and an artistic merit that few games have achieved on PS2.

While Vegas 2 shows definite improvements over it predecessor, one cannot help but feel as though the title could have used another couple of months to get that Caesar Palace showgirl shine instead of coming out like a Caesar Palace cocktail waitress.

But compared to the last few games in the series, Mario Party 6 is definitely an improvement and hopefully is an indication of where this series will go in the future.

Certainly the most mature and well-balanced of Goodman's titles, and it succeeds more often than not.

As polished, sharp, and truly intense as Supreme Commander is, the heavy-duty hardware requirements and extreme difficulty level hinders the game’s ability to match the accessibility of its predecessor.

The game wouldn't make it on the PSP, or other more powerful machines, but you'll be hard pressed to find a better recent shooter on the DS.

The game is that well constructed, and when it's firing on all cylinders there' nothing out there that can beat it for sheer satisfaction.

Probably no other racing game this year will deliver as much heart-pounding fun.

As beat 'em ups go, this is an excellent one. Hulk fans rejoice. You finally have a game worthy of the lovable green lug.

Those who became addicted to either of the first two Advance Wars titles will surely be hooked by this one, too.

Other problems, such as pathfinding issues will be painfully familiar to die-hard Sims fans. If a Sim places something like a pizza box in a narrow hallway, everyone will get stuck for hours of game time because they can’t step over it.

It's half a step behind EA's "March Madness," but with a $20 price tag ESPN College Hoops 2K5 costs less than a hot dog at the Final Four.

Unless you love Monkey Ball more than Orangutans love Tang, you can safely pass this one up. But if you haven't played Monkey Ball before, you can't go really wrong with Deluxe.

Not only a great game, but also a terrific online RPG that is an ideal ambassador for the GameCube's online hardware.

Simply put, there are few launch releases that pack in so much content.

The striking visuals, the hard-driving licensed soundtrack, and the variety of events make for an appealing, fast-paced game that's perfect for venting a little steam.

A perfect complement to Maximo's music is its sound effects. Everything from sword and shield clashes to more subtle ambient noises are excellent.

Visually this generation has progressed well past the point where Project Gotham Racing 4 would evoke the kind of bug-eyed glee that its predecessor did.

One of those rare titles that benefit from being played loud. All the background noise (or lack thereof) will play with your mind to the point that you'll be taking frequent breaks to collect yourself.

Everything in the game remains true to the source material, and Revelation is the best Myst sequel yet released.

SOCOM 3's entrenched community is huge, so it's a safe bet that you'll always have someone to trade fire with no matter when you connect.

LEGO Indiana Jones may not be quite as engaging as LEGO Star Wars, but it’s still a lot of fun to play through. That’s doubly true with a friend. The quest isn’t particularly long, but there’s plenty of incentive for a second run-through (or a third …), and Indy fans will definitely have a blast re-living the original films -- LEGO-style.

The tactical gameplay is refined and intelligent, yet easy to grasp, and the mix of a fun single player modes, and exceptionally in-depth multiplayer makes Field Commander not simply the best strategy game on the PSP, but one of the best on any system.

Diehard fans will probably find the added cards and light quest mode to be worth the investment, but casual "Yu-Gi-Oh" players who already have "Eternal Duelist Soul" may not want to shell out $30 just for a minor update.

The extremely clean graphics, married to addictive, simple gameplay are enough to recommend this title.