The brooding goth brother of "The Sands of Time." Which, unlike goths, is not to say it isn’t fun, just not all that different or more exciting.

If you love quirky, concept games like "Katamari Damacy," you will love this game.

The familiar setting, the familiar story, and the familiar building blocks all stack up for one of the most memorable experiences in this generation of gaming.

There is a little bit of “Medal of Honor” here and some “SOCOM” as well, but really this game has an identity all its own with a unique mood and feel. It isn’t the most challenging war title I’ve ever played but it is one of the grittiest.

The combination of great AI, a clean user interface, and an intuitive control scheme really makes Little League World Series 2008 enjoyable – much more so in fact than the recent Wii release of the same game.

Lair does not suck, but judging from the comments and reviews from most of the media there are a lot of game reviewers who simply aren’t prepared to accept the SIXAXIS control scheme.

All told, Space Marine is a very well-made game, and perhaps the first that truly lives up to THQ's promise of blockbuster-quality cinematic games.

Will Rocksmith revive the dying music game market – probably not. But as an engaging and entertaining tool to help beginners learn to play guitar, it is fantastic. In fact, I would not be surprised if in five years from now we hear a famous rocker or two say "I first learned to play guitar using Rocksmith." It is that good.

Like an old shoe: you know it so well, and it's made so sturdily, that every time you slip back into it, it feels like it belongs there. It's a comfortable, deeply satisfying game, the type of game that you'll find yourself taking more from than just a fun story, despite yourself.

The Total Team control opens a whole new set of doors for the tired franchise and will definitely have old school NASCAR gamers frothing at the mouth for its new, deeper play mechanic.

Honestly, after playing this for several weeks, I was bored. I tried to like this game, and the graphics sure are enticing, but in the end it’s just not as satisfying as "2K7."

The best business side wrestling simulator I’ve ever experienced. Unfortunately, the game’s greatest strength, its depth, is also its biggest weakness. It’s a long road to finally understand and control it, but once you do, so many doors and avenues are open to you.

This game truly rocks my socks. Great gameplay, graphics, sound and value. You just can't beat it. EA shows their skill against the gaming giants in Japan and delivers another classic hit for gamers.

Heroes VI brings back the kind of game I thought I'd never see any more. It's rare to see a turn-based strategy game come from a major company these days, but Heroes VI goes back to the series' roots, and comes out with a great game.

Scrabble is definitely the premiere offering in family game night, and even though a ll of the problems with the similarly-themed Boggle's controls are present, but given the fact that Scrabble is played at a much slower pace than Boggle, the inefficiencies are hardly noticeable.

Ramiro Cruz is no Max Payne, and he never will be – but if you have ever had even the slightest inkling to visit the dirty side of Mexico, Cruz is one heck of a travel partner.

Hardcore RPG fans may complain about the relatively short story, or the lack of detailed resource management – but for the everyday gamer like myself, Jade Empire fits the bill just fine.

For a game that relies on teamwork and the use of light as a weapon, you can't go too wrong with a budget priced title that looks and sounds as good as this one even without the online component.

It is deep, it is branching, it is enjoyable, it is everything you’d expect from another free-roaming game about a blowhard in a car, in a city, trying to right some kind of wrong. The only problem? It never quite hits its mark as solidly as everyone had hoped.

If you are a diehard Sonic fan or someone just looking for a fun racer, look no farther that Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity.

One of the most amazing action-RPG’s of the holiday season. Whether you are a hardcore X-Men fan, an RPG-lover, a single-player, or a multiplayer, this game has something to offer everyone, and with more than 70 branching levels and over 100 potential hours of gameplay, there is a whole lot of X-Men and Brotherhood action just waiting for you to explore.

Red Alert 3 is a really enjoyable, high quality strategy game that has a few minor balancing issues. This is yet another sequel that is destined to become another classic in the ongoing Command and Conquer legacy.

The best western action-adventure game to date. With its go-anywhere, shoot/do-anything gameplay, it's like Grand Theft Auto Wild-Wild West style. The graphics are a big disappointment, but the amazing animation, presentation, and sound make up for its downfalls.

My final though on this game is that it was good but it could have been better. One of this games down falls is the fact that the environments are to coincidental.

I would highly recommend Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga for anybody that likes the Star Wars universe. Period. It’s simple enough that anybody can enjoy it, but challenging enough that an experienced gamer won’t be bored by it.

The level of depth to be found here is astounding - from the very onset of the game you'll find yourself knee-deep in menus, combat, and strange locations.

If you were to pick SkyDrift apart you would be hard pressed to find any individual gameplay elements that have not been seen before – but as an entire package SkyDrift is a surprisingly fun and unique take on the racing genre and worth every penny of its $15 cost.

That said, NHL 12 is a serviceable hockey game with excellent presentation value. I wish it were a bit faster and more fluid, but the increased control that comes with slower gameplay is nice as well. Owners of NHL 11 may want to skip this year's offering because the changes are not all that much different from last year's model – but if you were one of those clamoring fans asking for goalie fights, then your prayers have been answered.

Much like the famed Deathrow, The Club is not going to appeal to every gamer. But I’m willing to bet that if any gamer worth his salt were to give The Club a good honest weekend session, that they would find themselves hooked on The Club’s high intensity gameplay.

Despite its nods to other genres, Rage is a solid FPS. It might not quite hearken back to the oldest days of id, but it points towards something even better. I just hope that it won't take them eight more years to make their next game.

A scintillating package of retro Capcom goodness; there’s something for everyone to love here, and the low price makes it a killer buy.

Considering the excellent single player, the awesome online multiplayer, and the great sound package – Call of Duty Modern Warfare Mobilized is an excellent value for the DS gamer.

What Konami decided to do instead is take a genre that excels on the iPhone, and couple it with a game gamers know and love. It's a brilliant move, and one that I applaud.

LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga is a must buy for all DS-owning Star Wars fans out there. It contains the complete levels of both previous games, and even tweaks the gameplay issues that plagued the earlier handheld ports.

The idea that kids can play online and not be subject to cyber creeps is a compelling one and if Toontown succeeds I’ll bet we see more games like it. While most folks aren’t going to want to trade in their bow and broadsword for a seltzer bottle those with kids should definitely give Toontown a look.

Simple to learn, easy to master, yet quite challenging to complete.

This is a hard puzzle game that’s extremely fun and rewarding. A game that you can really get into and play for hours on end (or straight through to completion).

Certainly the Eye of the North ended far too quickly for my tastes, and even though I'm a casual PVPer, I would have liked to have seen more PVP content. But on the plus side the expansion did answer some long burning questions about what happened to key characters from the first chapter, as well as continues to offer extended fun in the form of dungeon crawls and mini-games.

It definitely is a lot slower with more tactics than many gamers are used to unless you play a lot of Tom Clancy games, especially with the new team command options.

Like America's own Blizzard Entertainment, Nippon Ichi Software is a developer that takes what other people first thought of and makes it so polished, so addictive and so fun that there's no way any fan of the tactical RPG genre won't enjoy what they have to offer.

A hand-cramping jam on the DS. It looks great, plays great, and has enough meat to keep gamers happy long after the holiday hangover has worn off.

That being said, for those gamers who skipped the original 2011 release, Mortal Kombat Komplete is a phenomenal fighting game and well worth the $60 asking price. But for those who already own the original title there is little reason to pony up that kind of cash given that the entirety of Komplete's included DLC can be already be purchased for less than $20.

As you can tell, I really had a great time with Galactrix – it is well worth the price of admission, and a recommendation for any puzzle game fan.

EA has officially regained the top spot in the console soccer wars with FIFA '06. Winning Eleven will still be the choice for the unyielding hardcore "footballers" in Europe, but for the best overall appeal to gamers of every interest and skill level, it's hard to top FIFA 06.

What the original Phantasy Star Online lacked in terms of a solid single player story mode, Phantasy Star Universe makes up for it in spades. With its well written story, good voice acting, frequent cut-scenes, and addicting, yet simple gameplay, there’s no denying that this game is a full fledged action RPG that doesn’t have to be taken online this time to fully appreciate.

Saints Row: The Third released during the biggest gaming week of 2011 – and is sure to be overshadowed.by the simultaneous releases of Skyrim, HALO Anniversary, and previous games like Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3. But gamers would be remiss in overlooking this fantastic experience, because all morality aside – Saints Row: The Third offers dozens of hours of unbridled and entertaining sandbox gameplay, the challenging and humorous Whored Mode, and some of the best weapons and vehicles available.

Remember, this is not an arcade experience. This game is more for serious sim lovers of an equine bent. If you’ve ever played (and liked) any games of this series, you’ll probably like this latest version and its requisite additional bells and whistles.

If you buy or rent this title expecting it to be Wolfenstein in the woods you’re going to be very disappointed. Like authentic hunting, Outdoor Adventures demands wit, attention to detail, and – I’ll say it again – patience!

Scary or not, F.E.A.R. 3 is an excellent FPS that delivers on all fronts – an excellent single player experience, drop-in campaign-based co-op, multiplayer player vs. bot co-op, and even player vs. player competitive fun – and it does it all in a unique and refreshing manner.

And that's precisely the group that 2K Sports is trying to target with MLB 2K12 – the hardcore baseball fans. With the slow tactical pitching game, the new fielding mechanics, and the complex base running – MLB 2K12 is definitely not for the casual gamer. And hardcore fans should really find something to like in MLB 2K12 because it is as accurate a hardball experience as can be found in gaming.

The gameplay is slower and more intense than Tom Clancy’s roster and no less authentic or compelling in its presentation.

The innovative monster-creating facet alone will surely entertain for hours and leave a lasting impression on any newcomers to the series.

By far the best-looking, best working, first person shooter to ever grace the PS2, Peter Jackson's King Kong’s immersing gameplay is second only to the classic Red Faction.

It’s also one of the few games that can run on both your PC and Mac-woo hoo for those stylish Macintosh lovers out there with your snazzy little Ipods.

Sure, the levels and even the gameplay get a bit repetitive at times, but there is always great action and the potential to share that action with your friends, and that is what really make this game rise above its predecessors and a total joy to play.

As with the previous expansion packs, The Sims 3: Showtime provides many hours of new content and storytelling options for those who enjoy The Sims 3, with the additional perk of allowing players to interact with each other while they game. Admittedly, many of the experiences might feel familiar if you've already played previous expansions and Sims iterations, but it also brings back some fan favorites and is all in all a decently solid addition to the Sims fan's library.

Owners of the original won't find any new gameplay levels, but they might enjoy the precise analog-based input the PSP and PS3 sticks provide.

One of my favorite party games ever, with the 8-player support and the promise of more songs on the way, well in a word, Yay!

While I can't presume to be an expert on fighting games, I do have a pretty strong grasp on what I like. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3's selection and variety of characters, depth of knowledge and reference to its source material, and the addition of Galactus and Heroes and Heralds mode gives a shot in the arm to a game that was pretty great to begin with, and it's well worth the money to anyone eager to check out the new cast.

If you enjoyed the recent Dukes of Hazzard movie or just hang out on TNT waiting for the reruns you might be a redneck, but if you are playing Big Mutha Truckers 2 while you're waiting at least you're a redneck with good taste in games.

The game features all of the best aspects of all of the best racing games of our youth – all packaged in kick-ass visuals and audio, and with online play to boot. Racing fans rejoice; FlatOut 2 is a total blast, and well worth every penny.

It's hard to beat a classic; it’s even harder when that classic is really good. But sometimes a sequel can make a difference and completely redeem some of its forerunners mistakes.

Lumines: Electronic Symphony is one of those rare games with no end. Sure, you'll end up moving on sometime down the road but for now, you won't find a more addictive puzzle game out there for the Vita; certainly not one with this much intensity and compulsive competition, for yourself and other players. I'd even go as far as recommending a digital purchase so you'll have this game ready to go at all times without having to fumble around for the cartridge.

If you were looking for the next out of this world action-RPG, The Baconing should be your next purchase, only costing about 15$ with its amazing characters and wacky humor I found this to be one of the better Deathspank games I have played.

One of those games that, like its predecessor, appeals to almost everyone and practically never gets old.

In reviewing Karaoke Revolution Party for GCM, I played this game with three other people, and we had a blast making spectacles of ourselves.

If you loved the movie, enjoy funky retro dance music and contemporary hip hop, and want to experience some of the best computer generated undersea graphics to ever grace the GameCube, take Shark Tale for a swim.

MMO developers that are working on new designs really need to take note of what the people at Flying Labs did with Pirates of the Burning Sea.

Though its charmingly innocent and brightly colored visuals (and its status as a Toys“R”Us exclusive title) may suggest that it’s just another boring kiddy game, don’t be fooled into passing this up.

With icy smooth graphics, solid controls and addictive gameplay Arctic Adventures: Polar's Puzzles is a welcome addition to the PSP's library.

Best of all, Dark Alliance II is just a very accessible game; easy to get started and nearly impossible to stop, there is plenty of monster-bashing spread across some really great missions.

The graphical boost is undeniable, but the cost in framerate and odd technical glitches may be too high.

I hate to look like I am fawning over a game – much less a sports game – but FIFA 08 is by far the best release in this long-running series, and one of the best sports titles on the PS3 thus far.

It was a fresh and inventive way to experience a stunning graphic novel.

Dance Central just isn't the life of the party – it IS the party, and a total blast if you are willing to shed your inhibitions and bust a move.

Everything about this game is bigger and better than the original, and considering the original game was sheer brilliance that's saying a lot.

The one downfall of the software is that it has no way of testing you if you know how to pronounce the words and phrases correctly or not, but at least it does provide that voice record / compare tool which helps you learn that on your own a bit.

I love this game, and despite a few forgivable flaws Homefront is easily one of the most immersive and emotional campaigns that come to mind in my 30 years of gaming. Sure, the campaign is short. Deal with it. With that ending there is either going to be a sequel or some killer DLC. Meanwhile, you can reap the rewards and satisfaction of some of the best multiplayer combat we've seen so far in 2011.

The ride has been fun, and many great battles have been fought in living rooms and rec halls across the nation. If Tenkaichi 3 turns out to be the swan song, the capstone to the house that Atari and DBZ built, it will be a noble end.

I admit that I was not expecting much from Dead Island, given the oversaturated subject matter and the delayed development time. And while the game definitely has its share of weaknesses, it is pleasantly surprising in its own right.

But I don't want to detract from what is here – Double Fine is hands-down the most innovative development studio in gaming, and Double Fine Happy Action Theater is a truly fantastic example of what can be achieved when you combine an amazing group of people with an amazing piece of technology.

While other titles may have a larger variety of chess boards to chose from, Fritz 8 offers some brain-twisting game play even on the lowest settings. There is also a strong online community who swear by this title, which is something not every chess title can offer.

Delivers incredible new game features that turn a familiar classic into an amazing new experience.

The iPad version of the game, is not the best version of Chinatown Wars, but it is still a great game.

An outstanding game that promises absorbing gameplay and a nice break from other strategy games that either focus purely on combat or economic simulators that are too complex to be enjoyed by anyone other than a select few.

Sony could have easily dished out another tired remake of last-year’s game, but instead opted to add a ton of new features and improvements.

Ultimately, Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure is a joy to play and a surprising treat that is destined to be the most talked-about game of the holiday season.

To pass it up in favor of something less original would be a crying shame.

Sonic Colors is hands-down the best Sonic title to be released in nearly a decade, and definitely one of the best titles to hit the Wii in the past year.

There is even a low enough learning curve and relaxed gameplay mechanic that even fans of the show, ones that are not exactly computer savvy, could be sucked in.

Overall, from its equal treatment of Sims in different stages of life to its smooth integration with all previous expansion packs, FreeTime is very well-rounded and better thought-out than many of the previous expansions.

Sideway: New York may not be an epic platformer, but it is a great deal of fun and certainly worth the $10 price point. While it may not introduce innovative gameplay, the stylish presentation and imaginative artwork makes it one of those games that gamers will pick up just to show friends how cool a game can be.

For everyone else who has at least one friend with a PSP and a copy of the game, this is a must-own title that will keep you locked in the throes of classic auto-combat until you, your PSP, or you car runs out of gas.

The game’s strategy-based team ordering will definitely take some getting used to, but gamers who master the game’s mechanics will definitely find a sense of accomplishment in Hell’s Highway.

From the moment I picked up my controller until I had to put it down due to wore out fingers, I was hooked. This is a title definitely worth picking up for yourself or any lover of pinball machines.

This game has a nice mix of simplicity and active thinking that makes it a great kid’s game. Get the grandparents to get this game, and watch your son or daughter shine on your computer.

A fun diversion for those looking for one. The graphics and gameplay, especially the cool powers and abilities sported by Rayne make it an above average action title.

Despite the unfortunate length of LostWinds, it is a remarkably good game, an adventure with broad appeal that takes a simple idea and brings it to elegant fruition.