Fortunately the on-screen action moves at a blistering pace, with colorful visuals, impressive animations, and eye-popping embellishments such as motion trails, super jumps, bats bursting into fire after multiple hits, and pitches that defy physics. The depth of features isn’t quite up to the competition’s, but in terms of action and excitement, MLB SlugFest: Loaded covers all the bases.

If you have the choice, it holds many advantages over "Donkey Konga." The graphics and song list are superior. However, drumming requires a bit more coordination than playing the bongos.

If you’re looking for a great platform game then you’ll probably be disappointed by Ape Escape 3’s sometimes simplistic and repetitive gameplay. However, if you’re looking for a game with a unique feel and a carefree tone then you’re likely to enjoy this title and overlook its shortcomings.

The battles are explosive and exciting, and despite having three really odd factions, the learning curve isn’t terribly steep making it easy to pop in and play any side without too much of a headache.

Nexus plays like a great game that misses the mark almost every step of the way. It’s slick, complex, and ambitious. But the potential here is never realized.

A fun game that train buffs and even non train fans will find very fun to play. However, it just doesn’t have quite the same greatness of many of Sid’s other games, especially when it comes to stability.

While there isn’t enough in the Wii version to warrant a buy if you’ve played the game before, Blackhand Edition provides a much needed M-rated action game for the system.

There's something almost absurd about paying for a game that inundates you with a constant stream of ads.

Final Fantasy III is the gaming equivalent of comfort food. It tells a tale of crystals and chocobo we've heard a dozen times before, it delivers old school challenge and does its job with the kind of confidence that comes with 20 years of experience.

With "Winning Eleven" on the market you just expect more, and you get it. FIFA may have high-priced Premiereship licenses and a killer career mode, but at the end of the day, it’s just not as much fun as the competition.

Good looks and tactical high jinks aside, it's tough to recommend HoMM5 with a mere ten skirmish maps, no map editor (for shame!), and a barrel of bugs, e.g. random desktop crashes, missions that "break" if you perform certain tasks out of order, heroes that attack through castle walls, incorrect initiative bar tallies in battle, etc.

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.

If you're already a fan of point-and-click adventure, then you'll probably dig it. If not, then get out the tissues and be prepared to be bored to tears.

For Potter fans of all ages, Chamber of Secrets is a must-have.

While the gameplay is super tight, the depth is a bit lacking and the single-player modes could definitely use more variety. But for a lot of gamers, the killer personality, fast pace, and handsome looks of Ultimate Muscle will highlight the best trait the game has, it's simply fun to play.

Hopefully DK’s second outing in his latest franchise will garner a bit more support this time around, because the big ape’s game definitely deserves it.

The short length and repetitive sequences make it more of a rental for non-believers, but overall, excellent gameplay, a great presentation, and familiar characters make this the best superhero-based game since, well, "Spider-Man 2."

An hour a day will probably give any shooter fan a thrill, but prolonged and involved play makes all the small flaws more apparent and all the pyrotechnics more numbing.

Creepy though she might be, it’s fun to school your friends with a 10-year-old in a swimsuit.

It'll surely be recognized as one of the better puzzle games of 2012, despite its liberal platforming demands in the first person.

Sharp visuals, solid handling, and a rollicking soundtrack are joined by some slightly inventive play mechanics.

Other than the addition of co-op campaigning everything feels more or less like it did 12 years ago, though prettier of course. Even so, with the new faction and new units those old game mechanics still make for a good time.

Despite the appealing presentation, it's generally a de rigueur platformer, and no more than par for the series. And with the wildly extreme difficulty settings, this is one for die-hards only.

A gorgeously fast racer, with plenty of compelling action and a surprisingly meaty single player game.

Offers enough playability and action to satisfy any action RPG fan, but it lacks the intricate story and involving quests that would lure in traditional role-playing vets.

Console gamers or those new to the RTS genre would do well to check out EndWar. It is a fun, if simplistic game that has succeeded where many others have failed.

A well-crafted game that's strictly for those who get off on blood, nastiness, and the darker side of the psyche. You know who you are.

Fortunately the on-screen action moves at a blistering pace, with colorful visuals, impressive animations, and eye-popping embellishments such as motion trails, super jumps, bats bursting into fire after multiple hits, and pitches that defy physics. The depth of features isn’t quite up to the competition’s, but in terms of action and excitement, MLB SlugFest: Loaded covers all the bases.