As a history lesson it scores high. But as a game, it's a slow starter with graphics that can't hold a candle to "The Sims."

Whether it's the charming, funny dialogue (which, apart from the clumsy song lyrics, is translated well), the pretty landscapes, the fact that even if you lose most of the Trotmobile fights the game keeps going... there's always a reason to pick it back up and push on.

Those without pixies and muggles dancing in their heads beforehand are going to find the game a lot less enchanting, but fans of the Potter series will want to consider a brief stay in a reasonable facsimile of the hallowed halls of Hogwart’s.

It will also leave a vague air of dissatisfaction with Ninja Gaiden vets. It’s short, parts of it are sweet, but it never really gets firing on all cylinders, even though the hint of a promise for that level of intensity is present the whole time.

Sure, the graphics are lacking and my arms were incredibly tired after Podracing, but these in no way detract from how fun the game is. If you like Star Wars and are looking for a reason to dust off your lonely Kinect, you should buy this game. But be warned, your inner-Comic Book Guy will never shut up.

All the timed events, amusing physics-based puzzles, likeable characters, and strange contraptions will be a treat for fans of the books and movie.

Watchmen: The End is Nigh offers a solid foundation with high production values and surprisingly good combat as the first of perhaps many episodes to come, but is it worth sacrificing your Jackson for a chance to slip into Rorschach’s trench coat? The answer is… up to you really.

PoP is a group of interesting ideas searching for a stronger game to hold them all together.

The biggest attraction to most fans will be the staggering collection of licensed clubs. For fans of unpronounceable teams from Arabic lands, there's no other solution.

Another slap to the song selection is simply that most of these pop tunes have been off the charts for quite a while, making the game feel instantly out of date.

While the production values are pretty good, the gameplay is pretty shallow. If you’re into action games, this is worth playing once.

Fun while it lasts, but like the title character’s insatiable appetite, you will be hungry for more. It needs more levels, more objects to draw, and a few alternate play modes to make this game worth penciling in for most puzzle game fans.

If the connection to the TV show doesn't make it plain, Battle Network is really intended for younger players.

Unexpectedly, the best mode is Wayne on Wayne, in which most of the game's rules go out the window in favor of arcade matchups.

Simply put, if you disliked Empire at War, Forces of Corruption isn’t going to change your mind. However, if you want to get a little more life out of this quirky little strategy game set in the Star Wars universe, Forces of Corruption is a perfectly adequate expansion pack.

If the developers can make playing defense as fun as the offense, tightening up the computer AI in the process, then future installments of the NHL series are sure to turn heads.

A great example of how to translate an existing property into a videogame, as it incorporates the elements and characters of the show in such a way that you don't necessarily have to be familiar with the cartoon to appreciate the wacky production design or gentle humor.

At normal difficulty (which is actually quite easy) the game should take about eight to 10 hours to complete. There is replay value in the different characters, although the dungeons and quests remain identical.

The presentation is gorgeous and the gameplay has enough fun elements to make it worthwhile. Though not as deep or complex as it could have been, this is certainly one of the best movies-turned-games we’ve seen lately.

Co-op also makes the bad camera even worse. It's better included than not, but if you want great multiplayer, play the deeper and more fulfilling X-Men Legends or one of the Baldur's Gate games.

Players on the fringe of the card game, however, will find more frustration than fun in Nightmare Troubadour.

The battle system makes up for the mediocre production values, as does the many incentives to play this title over and over again.

Doesn't fail to impress us with its high-quality, inventive visuals, but the gameplay is no match for its presentation.

It's offbeat, diverse, and boisterous, and the cool graphics and variety of things to do give "Frenzy" a singular distinction in the Xbox library.

Fracture is an aptly titled game, since many of its components don't fit well together. The single-player campaign seems unfinished, boss battles lack ingenuity, an awkward controlling vehicle sequence seems to have been tossed at random, and the automatic augmentation system offers few meaningful enhancements. The game's high production values aren't enough to make you want to revisit the campaign, leaving Fracture's long-term appeal in the hands of the multiplayer community.

As a means of killing 20 minutes here and there, the game has merit. We can't condone fiddling with it for any longer in a single sitting, though.

If you’re just a casual viewer or not a fan at all, then there’s nothing in the game to warrant your cash. On the other hand, if you are a Simpsons devotee, then the pitch-perfect humor, writing, and look of this game will more than make it worth putting up with the standard gameplay mechanics.

The fundamental gameplay is so strong and so well executed. But it's over so fast without enough challenge that you can't help but want more. Never before have I found a game that screams rental so loudly.