There are so many great visuals, interesting gameplay moments, and little strokes of genius. It epitomizes how small games can be big experiences.

When all is said and done, Maximo just doesn't provide any staying power. If you've got all four special kisses (you'll have to find out about that for yourself) and pass the game, you'll unlock the art gallery. But since when has art ever been a highlight?

Syberia will return as much as you are willing to invest.

A competent re-imagining of an outrageous spectacle that has been entertaining fans for more than half a century. Gladiatorial machismo is the source material of the game, as it should be; it doesn't need to be more than that.

There are so many great visuals, interesting gameplay moments, and little strokes of genius. It epitomizes how small games can be big experiences.

It gets repetitive pretty quickly. After playing for a few hours, all the games start to feel the same.

In all three console versions (which are identical), A.I. glitches aren't uncommon and the on-foot camera tends to get persnickety. The game looks and plays better while driving.

Streamlines and updates the franchise at the cost of some stiff features and aging presentation.

You won't be thinking so much as grooving - your fingers just race through the key presses on their own.

A unique hybrid of plundered gameplay elements. It doesn't manage to actually improve upon its MMORPG parents, but if you've become tired of space lasers or elf wizards, Burning Sea is easily the most interesting new game in town. In the long run, it will be the complex economy and the faction warfare that will determine the success of this ocean venture.

Streamlines and updates the franchise at the cost of some stiff features and aging presentation.

Exactly what you expect it to be: a solid, offhand reworking of Guitar Hero World Tour with a bunch of Metallica songs.

As you cruise around the city lights, it’s hard not to look forward to a "San Andreas Stories," but in the meantime running drugs and running over pedestrians in Miami is one more crime spree you won’t want to miss.

This year they tried to futz with the gameplay, but the changes are so minute that most veterans will seamlessly transition from last year's game to this one. Whether or not it's worth the green fees depends a great deal on your love of the game, but chances are you've already aced this course.

In the face of "Ghost Recon," Battlefield 2: Modern Combat is by no means the most modern shooter available for the Xbox 360, though its good design and sheer fun still make it a battle to remember.

The most despicable Tekken Tag faux pas is the omission of a last hit slow-motion replay.

While the multiplayer fighting system is flawed, the solid gameplay is largely unchanged and the extra modes add a nice dash of variety.

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions is easily the best Spidey game since the Spider-Man 2 game from '04.

Offers exactly what armchair golfers would expect. However, that's not necessarily enough. More creativity and depth would have led to a new boss; instead, this is just another member of the family.

If there weren't so many better games of the same ilk, I'd definitely recommend this one. But there are, and TWINE isn't at the top of the stack.

A giant leap in the right direction for the series and for off-road racers.

Even though its brand of battlefield warfare is by no means new, it’s still plenty of fun and a must for Star Wars nerds. Just don’t be fooled by any claims that Battlefront contains a viable single-player experience. This is an online game, period, and if you can’t get online, then this isn’t the game you are looking for. Move along.

Flaws and linear nature taken into account, Mafia II is a beautiful, gripping, engaging game-and where it doesn't allow you to go is more than made up for by where it does.

A must for Marvel fans, a good buy for everyone else, Ultimate Alliance is an epic in an old package, kind of like those massy boxes of comics you have hidden away in your attic, gathering ebay value like dust.

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions is easily the best Spidey game since the Spider-Man 2 game from '04.

It is very hard and probably will only appeal to shooter fans, but it's a solid title through and through.

A remarkable music game, one that captures the two-handed feel of playing a guitar, pairs it with some fascinating and challenging original music, and, at one shimmering moment at least, successfully fuses music with plot.

The Adventure mode, while not what it is billed to be, does give a good challenge to both beginners and skilled players alike. If you're a fan of chess and need a new game or have a child you wish to teach, Majestic Chess may just fit the bill.