Mario and his pals starred in some great sports titles back in the Nintendo 64 days, but gameplay like this just doesn't cut it in 2011. [March 2011, p.93]

Killzone 3's shocking and abrupt campaign ending serves as a suitable wrap to Guerilla's extended war-themed trilogy. Even if it is a conclusion of sorts, Killzone 3 stands on its own. The franchise has always fallen just shy of greatness for me. This time, there's plenty for any action gamer to dig his or her teeth into.

Most exciting of all? The end hints heavily at more entries in this excellent series. [Mar 2011, p.96]

Small gripes aside, you shouldn't miss Marvel vs. Capcom 3 if you have even a passing interest in Capcom, Marvel, the fighting genre, or good games. This pugilistic prize mimics the polished, accessible reinvention of Street Fighter IV, forming another strong leg for the resurrected fighting genre to stand on.

Small gripes aside, you shouldn't miss Marvel vs. Capcom 3 if you have even a passing interest in Capcom, Marvel, the fighting genre, or good games. This pugilistic prize mimics the polished, accessible reinvention of Street Fighter IV, forming another strong leg for the resurrected fighting genre to stand on.

If you're among the majority of gamers who didn't play Beyond Good & Evil when it originally came out for PS2, Xbox, and Gamecube, you have no excuse for passing up its new form.

Dungeons may not be for everyone, but it will more than satisfy the needs of anyone who takes a shine to it. Better yet, it probably won't imprison you and drain your life energy afterward.

Explodemon isn't a broken game by any accounts, but the presentation, controls, and level design are wholly unoriginal and unsatisfying if you enjoy action platformer. Those that dig deep enough may find some fun buried beneath the repetition, but it won't last long. If you're looking for a downloadable distraction on your PS3, there are many more fulfilling options than Explodemon.

Surprisingly, I found myself enjoying DQ VI more than its technically superior descendant. Maybe it's easier to forgive dusty design choices knowing that this was originally a 16-bit game, or maybe it's because DQ VI embraces the mile-a-minute imagination and sense of adventure that made me fall in love with RPGs as a kid.

Stacking is a bit rough around the edges, but the puzzles are clever, the humor hits the mark more than it misses, and the characters and story are delightful, leaving adventure fans with little more to ask for.

Stacking is a bit rough around the edges, but the puzzles are clever, the humor hits the mark more than it misses, and the characters and story are delightful, leaving adventure fans with little more to ask for.

The hardcore fans that don't want any handouts can stick to the arcade mode. You start off with set abilities and limited health and lives. At least players can learn the stages and patterns in Rising Mode beforehand. Even then, it's tough to imagine anyone but the absolute best making it all the way through arcade. I guess that's why Konami put the word "hard" in the title.

The hardcore fans that don't want any handouts can stick to the arcade mode. You start off with set abilities and limited health and lives. At least players can learn the stages and patterns in Rising Mode beforehand. Even then, it's tough to imagine anyone but the absolute best making it all the way through arcade. I guess that's why Konami put the word "hard" in the title.

You Don't Know Jack is proof that games don't need to be excessively complex in order to be fun.

You Don't Know Jack is proof that games don't need to be excessively complex in order to be fun.

You Don't Know Jack is proof that games don't need to be excessively complex in order to be fun.

You Don't Know Jack is proof that games don't need to be excessively complex in order to be fun.

Tactics Ogre isn't as accessible or inviting as Final Fantasy Tactics or Disgaea, but the rewards for putting up with its flaws far outweigh the cost. If nothing else, it deserves recognition for being a shining beacon of maturity in a sea of adolescent power fantasies.

While it's difficult at points, I was never frustrated or felt like I was dying because of a flaw in the level design. It's got an engaging (and often hilarious) art style and makes the most of its simple, static cutscenes and paper-thin plot.

Overall, I didn't like this as much as the first game, but there's still plenty worth checking out when you get around to it. Rearmed 2 isn't a "must-play instantly" game by any means, but it still ranks above Spencer's awful console reboot.

Overall, I didn't like this as much as the first game, but there's still plenty worth checking out when you get around to it. Rearmed 2 isn't a "must-play instantly" game by any means, but it still ranks above Spencer's awful console reboot.

Despite its clunky interface and short length, Telltale's first episode of Back to the Future: The Game provides a steady stream of delights thanks to its charming story and eccentric cast.

Test Drive Unlimited 2 might be lacking in some areas, but this is one instance where the sheer quantity of features prevails since their structure is thoughtful enough to make this game more than just a lazy vacation.

All of that level design stupidity can't stop Magicka's brilliant core gameplay from shining through, though.

Test Drive Unlimited 2 might be lacking in some areas, but this is one instance where the sheer quantity of features prevails since their structure is thoughtful enough to make this game more than just a lazy vacation.

Myriad control problems, brain dead AI, and a cringe-worthy storyline make Mindjack a shooter worth skipping.

Myriad control problems, brain dead AI, and a cringe-worthy storyline make Mindjack a shooter worth skipping.

Like other games that could fit under the B-game label, not everyone will embrace the elements I enjoyed in Two Worlds II. If you're looking for a lengthy and humorous (if somewhat unpolished) hack-and-slash RPG to tide you over while you wait for Dragon Age II or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, it's worth giving Reality Pump a second chance.