Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit is one of the generation's best racing games.

Donkey Kong Country Returns has a few flaws, but is still an incredibly fun plat former.

Despite its flaws, for $10 (or $8 for PS+ members), this isn't a bad deal since the core game is still a blast to play and replay thanks to its addictive nature. The loss in licensing doesn't hurt as much as one might think, and despite over a decade passing since the game's initial release, its gameplay has stood the test of time.

Despite its flaws, for $10 (or $8 for PS+ members), this isn't a bad deal since the core game is still a blast to play and replay thanks to its addictive nature. The loss in licensing doesn't hurt as much as one might think, and despite over a decade passing since the game's initial release, its gameplay has stood the test of time.

Most of the game is actually pretty fun, although the loading times are damned long for a downloadable title. It's a colorful, violent cartoon with some of the best music of any game this year. It's simply that any time a boss shows up, I want to go play something else.

As it is, this new installment still remains a must-have simply due to the Havok physics - it adds that much to the game that it's worth buying it just for crazy extreme rules and TLC matches.

As it is, this new installment still remains a must-have simply due to the Havok physics - it adds that much to the game that it's worth buying it just for crazy extreme rules and TLC matches.

If you have any respect for yourself but feel you must play this, at least wait until it's under ten bucks and nestled safely at the bottom of our local bargain bin.

If you have any respect for yourself but feel you must play this, at least wait until it's under ten bucks and nestled safely at the bottom of our local bargain bin.

Sonic 4: Episode 1 is a short, but well-crafted entry in the series. It's hurt by a lack of innovation and a relatively high price given that it's basically half the length of a regular side-scrolling Sonic, but still carries a pretty hefty $15 price tag. If you're a casual Sonic fan, you're probably better off waiting for it to be discounted at some point on PSN or as an Xbox Deal of the Week, but series die-hards will definitely get $15 out of it between playing through it, then replaying stages for better times and leaderboard scores.

Sonic 4: Episode 1 is a short, but well-crafted entry in the series. It's hurt by a lack of innovation and a relatively high price given that it's basically half the length of a regular side-scrolling Sonic, but still carries a pretty hefty $15 price tag. If you're a casual Sonic fan, you're probably better off waiting for it to be discounted at some point on PSN or as an Xbox Deal of the Week, but series die-hards will definitely get $15 out of it between playing through it, then replaying stages for better times and leaderboard scores.

For all my complaints, I've probably put forty hours or more into it, and that's the best endorsement I'm able to give.

Most of the game is actually pretty fun, although the loading times are damned long for a downloadable title. It's a colorful, violent cartoon with some of the best music of any game this year. It's simply that any time a boss shows up, I want to go play something else.

A good game with some lofty goals. For sheer amount of content it gets gold stars, and ideas like the Digi Grenade, which explodes into a brilliant array of blinding pixels, are admirable ones. Unfortunately, the game also likes to reward shady practices like spawn camping, and the health bar is pretty much useless.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadows is a fantastically-crafted game. In some ways, it seems like Castlevania in name only because it is stitched together with many existing gameplay mechanics, but it sticks close enough to the action-packed cloth the series is woven from to seem worthy of the name.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadows is a fantastically-crafted game. In some ways, it seems like Castlevania in name only because it is stitched together with many existing gameplay mechanics, but it sticks close enough to the action-packed cloth the series is woven from to seem worthy of the name.

FIFA Soccer 11 doesn't have any groundbreaking new additions, but is without a doubt the most accurate and realistic soccer game on the market. For the hardcore soccer fan, or even the average interested gamer, this is a must pick-up.

FIFA Soccer 11 doesn't have any groundbreaking new additions, but is without a doubt the most accurate and realistic soccer game on the market. For the hardcore soccer fan, or even the average interested gamer, this is a must pick-up.

For all my complaints, I've probably put forty hours or more into it, and that's the best endorsement I'm able to give.

And so Brunswick Pro Bowling ends up being a gutter ball. It doesn't matter how realistic the ball and pin physics are, how authentic the Brunswick gear is, or how accurate the lane's oil patterns are, there's just no way to overlook the frustratingly inconsistent motion controls.

Somehow where a lot of 4X games fail (I'm looking at you Master of Orion 3), Civilization keeps changing the game without losing the magic.

The end result is the best Halo title since Combat Evolved. Halo: Reach isn't about to convert any of the Halo haters out there, but it will keep fans of the franchise busy for months if not years to come.

If you're a die-hard fanatic of the series, then perhaps you'll find the game worthwhile enough, but for most people I'd recommend that you skip it.

At $40, it's impossible to recommend the PSP version of UFC Undisputed 2010. With some retailers charging that much for the console version brand-new, it's ridiculous to pay the same price for a vastly inferior version of it. In its present form, it's just a poor rendition of a fantastic game.

I'm hoping that with patches (and some more players) that most of those can be corrected, and the basic concept of the ruses is solid and very enjoyable. It really is an RTS that plays like no other, and it deserves a second look on that basis alone.

I'm hoping that with patches (and some more players) that most of those can be corrected, and the basic concept of the ruses is solid and very enjoyable. It really is an RTS that plays like no other, and it deserves a second look on that basis alone.

I'm hoping that with patches (and some more players) that most of those can be corrected, and the basic concept of the ruses is solid and very enjoyable. It really is an RTS that plays like no other, and it deserves a second look on that basis alone.

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions is definitely a mixed bag. It's not a "bad" game per se despite having some poorly-executed parts to its gameplay, but it's also not as good as the franchise's best gaming entries either.