A Rookie mode simplifies the controls for beginners (don't worry, you still have Advanced controls) and there's Franchise mode and the Madden Moments from the console editions (called Superstar Challenge), but the on-field action looks and sounds too similar to last year's game.

A near photo-realistic racing game with tight controls, a stylish presentation and visuals that'll leave you speechless.

Unlike NBA 2K9, you don't need to read the game booklet to perform sweet looking ankle breakers or run the reliable pick and roll, but there's more exciting features here than just playing exhibition.

Its instruments work well, there are plenty of songs to rock out to and the multiplayer component is irresistible. It may not have the greatest stage presence, but it still puts on a heck of a show.

Sure, the puzzle format looks like the classic PDA/online/cell phone favorite, but 1st Playable Productions has wisely blended in some RPG components, which rewards gamers with an incredibly deep experience.

Its skill tree, with powers dependent on the levels of other abilities, provides an innovative approach even though it can be viewed as limiting from a certain perspective.

HAWX features multiplayer dog fighting that runs smoothly over Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network. Hokey dialogue mars the otherwise stellar presentation and flight sim fans will balk at the simplistic controls.

Retro Game Challenge is vintage gaming at its best, whether you're a newbie or an old-school 8-bit kid at heart.

The characters are great, but the numerous cliches throughout the story may leave some feeling tired, and it's curious the way the game almost seems to punish those who want to watch the optional skits.

There's nothing revolutionary about how it plays, but the likeable characters, rockin' soundtrack and jaw-dropping scenery make it worth experiencing. We certainly hope that Eddie Riggs (and Jack Black along with him) appear in the future sequel.

The multiplayer aspect is better drawn out, the storyline is fantastic, and the visuals and sound deliver on every accord. Namco's delivered a real top gun.

Sure, it's a rehash of every Zelda game, but similar to all those cookie-cutter James Bond films, we quickly devoured it.

A lack of options keeps it from being on the same level as other racers, but with 16 person online matches, plenty of tracks and speedier load times, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift is a fast-paced and brutal arcade style romp.

Sega nailed the series' arcade feel. The game controls just like the original, right down to the muddy power slides and pure sensation of speed.

One of the Game Boy Advance's last role-playing games, Final Fantasy VI Advance also proves one of its best.

The presentation is top-notch, with tight level design and no shortage of jump-out-of-your seat moments. Multiplayer is somewhat empty, with only a few modes that all feel the same. There's no reason you should avoid F.E.A.R. 2.

The game looks dated on the PC, but it offers people a different kind of adventure, one not centered on first person shooting or real time strategy.

Sins of a Solar Empire combines the depth of traditional turn-based games like Civilization with the action of real-time strategy (RTS) games like Command & Conquer. The result is a rich and highly detailed game that pleases fans of both types of strategy.

The visuals look better than before and the co-op support is great, both off-line and through Xbox Live.

While the artificial intelligence and difficulty pack a huge challenge, the sheer excitement and fun (especially with a friend) make it worth the $4.99 price tag. Lock and load.

Despite the lack of online play and songs missing from the set list, Lego Rock Band's happy presentation, enjoyable soundtrack and rockin' gameplay will keep you entertained for quite some time.

It's a huge improvement on a tired fighting engine.

Just Cause 2 is a sequel that outdoes the original with gripping gameplay, exquisite visuals and a variety of missions that will keep you playing longer than you might expect. If you're an action fan, you need this.

Ubisoft took quite a few gambles and not all of them paid off, resulting in a gripping thriller with a few potentially bothersome missteps. If you don't mind a little Jack Bauer/Jason Bourne with your Sam Fisher, you'll enjoy the ride.

The immensely satisfying micro-level gameplay far outweighs the minor difficulty problems in the game -- if you're looking for a new timewaster on the PC, 360 or PS3, definitely give Droplitz a spin.

New creatures added by users will continue to make the universe of Spore interesting but its lack of depth in the single player version of the game, along with linear storyline may be a sign of its eventual extinction.

This fast-paced arcade shooter has heaps of action and modes for players of any skill. Its visuals look good, with intricate level designs and cool explosions.

With upgraded graphics, exclusive campaign chapters and a handful of new multiplayer features (handled through Games for Windows Live), Gears of War is a very desirable shooter.

Anyone who played Bethesda's Oblivion, 2006's 'Game of the year,' will find the mission structure familiar, save for the game's auto-targeting system, called V.A.T.S., which is sometimes more of a hindrance than help. Even so, gamers with a taste for detailed storylines and Mad Max style visuals, will find that Fallout 3 delivers a solid, entertaining role-playing experience that will keep you glued to the couch for hours.

It's easier to play on the touch-screen than the d-pad, and the visuals and music are cool, with the option to buy additional backgrounds and tunes in later levels.

The visuals and sound are on the same level as Destruction, while the action-oriented gameplay keeps up the pace. There's nothing of long-term value, no Captain Quark minigames or arena missions, but the journey is worth it.

Tekken 6 is still a quality fighter, from its straightforward and amusing gameplay to its rich presentation and huge roster. It falls short of Street Fighter IV, but it's still got enough power to knock you on your butt.

Even though Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 may seem like more of the same, dig a little deeper and you'll reap its rewards. A great storyline, satisfying beat-em-up action, nifty Fusion attacks and a cornucopia of familiar and new characters make this a very friendly Alliance.

While the artificial intelligence and difficulty pack a huge challenge, the sheer excitement and fun (especially with a friend) make it worth the $4.99 price tag. Lock and load.

You'll really dig the option of outrunning cops and keeping up with your rival makes this one revved up adventure that Midnight Club never runs out of gas.

Although some minor bugs pop up, the game captures the essence of baseball.

Punishing artificial intelligence, unbalanced online play and annoying lag will have you chucking your controller. Those small issues aside, Soulcalibur IV is razor sharp.

You'll get more than your $30 worth from this nifty little package. Nearly two decades later, Genesis still does what Nintendon't.

This action opus provides buckets of blood-spilling entertainment, especially once you utilize the raw power of the Glaive weapon.

With very smooth controls, outstanding 2-D animation, a sweet rock soundtrack and plenty of modes and fighters to tackle on your own or with friends, this game packs more than enough value to make up for the $30 beating your wallet just took.

This one doesn't break new ground, but Sega did nice work bringing its addictive RPG to the portable arena.

A satisfying amount of destruction, whether you blow up an oilrig with a well-armed helicopter or bring down a building with C4 and gas tanks. It's engaging and exciting, especially if you play co-op.

Paradise has its frustrations, such as the lack of a Crash mode (Showtime just can't compete) and the inability to instantly restart an event you recently lost. However, the hundreds of racing events, both off-line and through Xbox Live, make Paradise an ideal utopia for fans of the series.

While it lacks the high-tech finesse of Super Stardust HD, Everyday Shooter explodes with style. The eight stages offer tons of blasting action with a musical twist, and we enjoy replaying them.

Even though it doesn't address the original's faults or expand the gameplay to new heights, there's more than enough new content (talents, characters, terrain to explore) to keep you swinging your sword.

The game still leans heavily on the "it's the journey, not the destination" theory. Tomb Raider: Anniversary provides a meaty enough adventure to be worth a purchase. Crystal Dynamics has done well meshing the nostalgia of the old game with an all new experience.

While the $7.99 asking price feels excessive for a game that offers little content versus other downloadable games, flOw deserves to be experienced, thanks to its dreamy visuals, angelic soundtrack and addictive play.

The only severe flaw is that it ends too soon with only four cases and no option to download new ones. Still, it's a legal champion.

This compilation has some graphical issues, particularly with lighter details and loads of pop-ups. However, the gameplay still works wonderfully, both with single-player and the new multiplayer games.

The squad-based combat is effective and loads of fun, as you slowly turn the tides of war in your favor. If you're looking for fresh war action, gas up on these Frontlines.

Don't purchase Madden NFL 08 expecting beautiful visuals and slick looking menus. Buy it because you crave a more interactive experience as well as modes that you can't find in the other versions. With 22 mini games, trivia and fun controls, this gridiron giant runs the pigskin into the end zone.

While the developers' decision to copy elements from Resident Evil 4 make it feel less original (despite better visuals and a new location), you'll have a blast (especially with a buddy) but after waiting four years for a sequel, we expected better.

This year's game slam-dunks its predecessors, thanks to improved speed, more realistic player animations and most importantly, exquisite five-on-five play.

Even though it lacks an abundance of new content, its Wii-sensitive control set-up and additional content do enough to keep the blood pumping -- fighting fans will find bloody satisfaction with Mortal Kombat: Armageddon.

Whether you enjoy role-playing games or simply crave a more mature experience, this patched up $39.99 version of the Witcher is bound to please.

Doom is a commendable first-person shooting opus that's still as fun to play as it was fifteen years ago, even if it might seem a bit prehistoric in comparison to "Call of Duty 2" and "Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter."

The immensely satisfying micro-level gameplay far outweighs the minor difficulty problems in the game -- if you're looking for a new timewaster on the PC, 360 or PS3, definitely give Droplitz a spin.

The PS3 version suffers, however. The outstanding visuals shine, but the frame rate has a tendency to jump around.

While more modes would've been appreciated and we could've done without the sleepy A.I. teammates, NCAA Basketball 10 is a solid game of hoops. The broadcast styles are unparalleled, the gameplay is good fun and the modes that made the cut are more than enough to keep fans happy.

Although we zipped through the four "movies" in less than five hours, we can't stop playing co-operatively with friends via online play and competing against others in the thrilling Survivors vs. Infected, a four-on-four multiplayer mode where monsters attempt to slaughter their gun-wielding adversaries.

Kane's Wrath brings the challenge of C&C 3 to a new level with new over-the-top units and an equally overblown campaign. The expansion improves on C&C 3 in every critical area while keeping up the game's fast and furious pace. The Global Conquest is disappointing, but not enough to ruin the game.

Borderlands surprised us. We went into the experience expecting a pulse-pounding shooter with fancy cut scenes and lots of drama (no surprise, since we play more FPS on consoles than RPGs), and instead found a slower-moving and tough (but immensely rewarding) slog through a beautiful fantasy world populated by imaginative monsters and more weapons than we know what to do with.

Call of Duty: World At War needs better character development and more "oh my God" moments. However, it's still a terrific first-person shooter. The combat is tight, the presentation shines and the multiplayer, particularly Nazi Zombie mode and co-op campaign, will keep you blasting enemy soldiers for weeks.

It is without question one of the most intense experiences on a console. However, its faults (poor design choices, really) keep it from being triple A.

Unlike NBA 2K9, you don't need to read the game booklet to perform sweet looking ankle breakers or run the reliable pick and roll, but there's more exciting features here than just playing exhibition.

Although MLB 2K9 offers entertaining base-rounding thrills for both Xbox 360 and PS3, these issues prevent it from topping Sony's higher-quality MLB 09: The Show.

With over 80 levels and a few extra modes to play with, this game should keep you glued to your PSP for some time.

Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 keeps everything that made the original so excellent and then throws in several new features.

Much like the original, LocoRoco 2 is too easy to beat and Sony reused a lot of the same artwork and music, but there's no denying this game's charm and budget friendly $19.99 price.

With a rousing, pulp fiction style story that seamlessly intertwines Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's world famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, into H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos, a slew of incredibly shrewd and logical puzzles and a surprisingly beautiful game world to explore, players get a mature, immersive experience that will have them begging for more adventures like this one.

The modes maintain their phenomenal impact, with franchise and online options to keep you busy throughout the season -- and well into next year.

It could've used better visuals and artificial intelligence, but Skate 3 lives up to the hype. It plays well, offers a lot to do both online and off, and its team-building and park creation modes will keep you busy.

Metal Gear Solid 4 is one of the best PlayStation 3 games. That said, its features, acceptable 10 years ago, seem foolish given the better playing games on the market. Snake's epic, final act just isn't the triple A extravaganza we expected, and it's clear that if Konami intends to continue this franchise or spin off into something new, it needs to study its competition and evolve, delivering shorter cut scenes and superior shooting.

So while Crossbow Training isn't a deep experience (it really needs online leader boards), it's addictive and justifies buying the Zapper.

Thanks to excellent controls and a cute premise, Pikmin is a must play for newcomers and fans alike.

Developer Turn 10 focused on making the cars handling as realistic as possible, an admirable effort, but the result makes the game a little boring.

Although the single-player quests might invoke a sense of deja vu, Pokemon enthusiasts will love the brand new story and other small tweaks added to the game. The new online battles, however, make this a Pokemon essential for anyone's -- fanboy or not -- DS collection.

The MyPlayer mode is easily accessible, even to those that don't care for Franchise modes, and the improved gameplay (for the most part) and presentation make this game closer to the real thing than the competition.

It's not without its flaws, as the combat is still cumbersome and the puzzles can be very difficult, but if you crave a scary game for your portable, you can't go wrong with Origins.

We just wish it had the graphical punch that Project Gotham 3 had when it debuted in 2005. With that said, PGR4 still looks gorgeous, and with so many features including the new Geometry Wars: Waves, you'll play it for months.

If you love soccer and can't wait to get your kicks in, 2010 FIFA World Cup will give you your money's worth. The online and offline competition, gameplay enhancements and presentation will make you feel like you're in an actual tournament, and Story of Qualifying will put your skills to the test.

A superb online experience...a beautiful combat game full of breathtaking scenery and plenty of chaos.

The game, while not as deep as something like Konami's Yu-Gi-Oh (thanks to fewer cards), transcends the competition, thanks to the cool technology. You'll still look like a dork playing it, but don't deny The Eye of Judgment's addictive pull.

Even with those minor complaints, Platinum will score with hardcore fanatic and newbies alike.

It may lack the features in other racing games, but Excitebots will keep your hands glued to the remote.

Expanded multiplayer options would've made this even more remarkable, especially with online co-op. As it stands, however, Katamari's a ball.

Despite the lack of online play and songs missing from the set list, Lego Rock Band's happy presentation, enjoyable soundtrack and rockin' gameplay will keep you entertained for quite some time.

Gamers will need to get over the dated graphics and artificial intelligence, along with a few design oversights that spoil the Asian setting, but this expansion strengthens the Age of Empires III gameplay and makes it feel almost new again.

Picross DS is one of the best puzzle games for the system, and therefore, a must play.

The gunplay works great and the presentation definitely carries Woo's signature style. It's the quintessential action game experience, even with its weak multiplayer option.

Not everything is great, however. The drum set takes a while to get used to, setting up an online match is complicated and there are several repeat tracks from Rock Band 2. However, the gameplay is satisfying, the Music Studio is a wondrous addition, the song list is sweet and the presentation isn't bad.

With Sega Rally Revo, Sega nailed the series' arcade feel. The game controls just like the original, right down to the muddy power slides and pure sensation of speed.

It's a daunting video game, one that lacks a tutorial mode and assumes you know something about coaching, but if you consider yourself the next Bill Belichick (without the spying), NFL Head Coach 09 is an essential purchase and a good companion to the upcoming season.

All Pro Football 2K8 doesn't quite reach championship status, what with its lack of modes and other small items. However, it turns out to be an excellent start for 2K Sports' newest football legacy. Can't wait to see what comes around next year.

It would've been nice to download songs from the original SingStar, along with upgrades to the dated interface; this is a sequel, after all. Regardless, Vol. 2 still carries a tune.

Rapidly pressing the same buttons to slaughter similar looking bad guys eventually grows repetitive, and the game chugs when the bigger monsters hit the screen, but overall, you'll enjoy carving evildoers like lunch meat and battling familiar foes from the comic books and this week's film.

While more modes would've been appreciated and we could've done without the sleepy A.I. teammates, NCAA Basketball 10 is a solid game of hoops. The broadcast styles are unparalleled, the gameplay is good fun and the modes that made the cut are more than enough to keep fans happy.

Just make sure you bring lots of patience along with your trigger finger.