Factor in the terrible menu navigation, and 2K9 has more problems than the Charlotte Bobcats. However, its five-on-five online play, updated Association mode and enjoyable hoops action still makes it a slam dunk.

The gameplay could have used some more originality outside of "let's beat everything up", but Ultimate Alliance basically hits the mark with thunderous force.

A couple of flaws cheapen the single player experience and the shallow eight person multiplayer modes don't extend the replay value more than a few hours, but The Darkness does an excellent job at making players feel good about doing horrible things. To that we say, bravo.

Despite the fact that the game comes to an end quicker than expected, fans of Kojima's work and action/RPG games should pick it up without hesitation. Lunar Knights shines brightly... even without the power of the sun.

Blur is a great effort from Bizarre Creations, one that will introduce a slew of kart-racing fans to the scene. While its visuals don't overwhelm like Split/Second's, it holds its own with cool weapons-based gameplay, making it a fun experience.

This live action comic book" style game has enough button mashing to satisfy every brawling fan, and just enough role-playing elements to satiate those who like to have a little more control over their superheroes.

Darksiders has an engaging story, beautiful visuals and plenty of badass characters, but THQ/Vigil Games' reliance on tired concepts prevent it from being a must buy.

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."

EA did an excellent job blending both genres and we enjoyed the humorous dialogue, cut scenes and gameplay, especially when Henry wrecks bad guys while piloting a giant robot. Fun, charming and addictive, Henry Hatsworth is one of the best games for the DS.

Not a fast-paced shooter, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. appeals to a deeper sense of survival, in which players scrounge for valuables and information in a world gone twisted.

It's damn near impossible, but you'll feel a great sense of accomplishment if you manage to beat the final boss. The replay value is high, thanks to additional challenge and time attack stages, along with promising downloadable content.

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.

Classic beat-em-up bliss, backed by a wonderful upgrade system, several new characters and weapons (like Alien Hominid bashing people's heads in with a lollipop) and memorable gameplay.

Both games offer plenty of action and the inclusion of Butcher Bay makes this a potential must buy, depending on how much you love the character.

More tables would've been ideal, but this Pinball Hall of Fame is still worth multiple visits.

Combined with the single player campaign, Call of Duty's online play rounds out a very impressive package, one that throttles the senses and shakes the soul.

The overuse of power-ups is blatantly ridiculous and the general design hasn't changed much, but Kart is still a riotous romp.

The Sixth Man Advantage pumps the crowd up -- maybe too well. The unrivaled Legacy Mode is better than ever and the new Coaching Adjustments really make a difference, rather than being a cosmetic touch-up.

With Split/Second, Black Rock Studio has clearly blown the doors off. This is fast-paced racing at its finest, the best of its kind since Burnout 3: Takedown hit the open road years ago. It'll take a lot to top this one.

A pretty sweet package. It may not have Activision Anthology's flashy wrapper, but Sega Genesis Collection is fun personified.

New character animations and game improvements make the world more entertaining and lively, kicking off a very strong start to the new season of games.

It comes up short in certain areas when compared to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions, but that doesn't stop it from being the best Wii football game.

One of the PSP's best games. The depth of this adventure will keep gamers enthralled for hours. Be it sword fighting, scoring hidden treasure or engaging in a massive multiplayer ship battle, the discoveries here add up significantly.

Electronic Arts applies the control scheme from its previous PC to console real time strategy game, "The Lord of the Rings: The Battle of Middle-earth II" with excellent results, offering gamers a user-friendly scheme that makes controlling units and building structures simple.

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.

The proverbial breath of fresh air that the genre desperately needed. It's your standard issue racer, but with a genius character/level editor that holds an infinite number of possibilities.

A lack of a quick save option makes restarting entire missions a pain and tanks that stupidly wander into enemy fire require constant micromanagement, but Halo Wars' engaging narrative, likeable characters and addictive play make it a welcome addition to the series.

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.

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.

The visuals are wonderful, the music is happy and the multiplayer modes are as fun as the single-player campaign. No matter how old you are, this game will paint a smile on your face.

Saints Row 2, despite looking awful, is a guilty pleasure that'll entertain you for hours as you streak across town, blow up cars and slice gang members with a samurai sword.

Battlefield 1943 is exactly the kind of game we like during these hot months -- not deep enough to play for an entire year (and at $15 a pop, would you expect to?) but definitely entertaining enough to tide you and your friends over until the fall's A-list releases.

Blur is a great effort from Bizarre Creations, one that will introduce a slew of kart-racing fans to the scene. While its visuals don't overwhelm like Split/Second's, it holds its own with cool weapons-based gameplay, making it a fun experience.

An auto-aim option makes the game easier than expected, and it would've been nice to see more of Resistance 2's magnificent weaponry in the game, but overall this is an action game that PSP fans shouldn't resist.

The addition of online play is also splendid, as you can go up against others in tournaments.

The visuals may be jumpy from time to time, and building a skater isn't so compelling an experience this time around, but past these negatives, skateboarders should buy this game immediately.

For the third year in a row, 2K Sports has the best basketball game available. NBA 2K8 has vast improvements, tweaking an already capable engine with fresh animations and change-ups.

For the third year in a row, 2K Sports has the best basketball game available. NBA 2K8 has vast improvements, tweaking an already capable engine with fresh animations and change-ups.

Lumines II comes out of the gate strong and never lets up in creating a perfect puzzle game, and it comes with our highest recommendation.

Saints Row 2, despite looking awful, is a guilty pleasure that'll entertain you for hours as you streak across town, blow up cars and slice gang members with a samurai sword.

Even though there's very little change, Rainbow Six Vegas 2 maintains a steady balance of tactical command and shooting; the presentation lives up to Ubisoft Montreal's standard; and the single and multiplayer options will keep you busy.

Even for $5, we expected more creatures to blast, rooms to explore and weapons to fire. Those glaring omissions make Lost in Nightmares a good, but not great journey into the world of survival horror. Good luck.

NCAA Football 08 does for EA's vaunted franchise what Carson Palmer did for USC a few years ago -- it ushers in a return to glory.

The game provides a decent alternative to average hack'n-slash role-playing games, but it doesn't take long before it becomes tiresome and boring.

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.

Series veterans will recognize the familiar play style of the previous installments and jump right into the story, as a tutorial helps newcomers learn the basics. Because of these changes, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon is the gem of the series and a must play for DS owners.

The in-game combat isn't bad either, if you can accept two things—there's not enough variety to the combat, and the extra effot to sneak around often isn't worth it. The guards can be real idiots, too. Past that, this Assassin cuts deep.

It's certainly mind-bending at times, but also relaxing. With a level editor in tow, there's more than enough here to warrant a purchase.

Blur is a great effort from Bizarre Creations, one that will introduce a slew of kart-racing fans to the scene. While its visuals don't overwhelm like Split/Second's, it holds its own with cool weapons-based gameplay, making it a fun experience.

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.

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.

Overlord offers players a chance to let their imp armies run amok, looting and destroying the countryside. However, the gimmick grows stale and its charm gets lost with the buggy controls and the boredom of wandering around in circles.

Personal Trainer Cooking is an ideal companion for budding chefs interested in learning their way around the kitchen.

Twists, such as the ability to play with different attributes thanks to Baby Mario, Baby Princess Peach, Baby DK, and more add variety to an extremely fun adventure. Through 40-plus levels, vibrant graphics and lively environments make things feel fresh and unique.

But the real shocker is how stacked the single player experience is. Players can acquire assistance from not only their own sources, but from the locals as well, depending on their in-game performance.

MadWorld is what you'd get if you stuck Pink Floyd's "The Wall" video into the mouth of Quentin Tarantino and pushed play.

Stands out as one of the PS3's best sports games, and [though] EA failed to capitalize on the PS3's processing power, this first attempt serves as a solid foundation to build from.

The in-game combat isn't bad either, if you can accept two things—there's not enough variety to the combat, and the extra effot to sneak around often isn't worth it. The guards can be real idiots, too. Past that, this Assassin cuts deep.

These simple mechanics greatly enhance an already phenomenal product.. Furthermore, the inclusion of three very addictive mini games -- 2 on 2, Kicking Combine, and Y.A.C. Attack -- provides gamers with experiences they won't find anyplace else.

3-D environments look terrific, although the character sprites lack the same flair, and the soundtrack is classic Final Fantasy. Fans of the franchise or RTS games should definitely pick this up.

It just about looks, sounds and plays as it did before, solidly but without anything "wow"-worthy to justify your $60 purchase.

The best part about Muramasa, though, is the presentation. This Wii effort sports vivid hand-drawn animation, breathtaking locales and a memorable soundtrack. It's without question one of the better games you'll find on the Wii.

This is the best puzzle game of the year thus far, a perfectly blended mix of Tetris Attack-ish strategy and poker.

An extremely polished role-playing game, it doesn't necessarily do anything new for the genre, but what it does is handled well.

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.

It knows what works best, and rather than reinvent the wheel it focuses on smoothing out the kinks. Visual and performance drawbacks aside, Madden NFL 08 more than suffices.

The gameplay is simple and is short enough to finish in one evening. But that's not the point. The focus is on the characters, humor, and story, which the game delivers in spades. This is a joy to play.

What The Warriors lacks in new content, it more than makes up for with intense brawling, decent multiplayer options and a presentation that matches the film's tone.

Developer Yukes deserves nine Stone Cold Stunners for the game's lack of polish. Yet despite its flaws, SmackDown successfully retains its wrestling championship, thanks to its 67-superstar roster, 20 plus match types, deep General Manager and Season modes, gorgeous visuals, and finally, four person online play that's easy to set up and difficult to put down.

If you're a hardcore player, you owe it to yourself to pick it up and dominate it. If you're a rookie, this is a fine place to start earning your stripes.

A game that features numerous upgrades guaranteed to please hoops fans who love rainbow threes and rim rattling dunks. On top of that, it has one of the most impressive sounding crowds this side of FIFA 10, and those 20,000 screaming maniacs make all the difference.

If you like the first two games (even mildly), there's no need to plead a case. Go get it.

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.

The adventure ends sooner than expected (10-12 hours), but it's worth every breathtaking moment. This is one of 2008's best.

The single player game's story features poor voice acting and the game doesn't look as photo realistic as Namco Bandai wants you to believe, but AC6 successfully delivers the quality Top Gun experience, allowing you to live out your fighter pilot fantasies.

The game didn't make a smooth transition from the PlayStation 2, and suffers from frame rate hiccups and lots of load sequences, but it's one heck of a good time, whether you're sneaking through the girls dorm or dissecting a frog.

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.

Both games offer plenty of action and the inclusion of Butcher Bay makes this a potential must buy, depending on how much you love the character.

The game is similar to the original, but has a couple of extra features and an engaging multiplayer mode in addition to the unforgettable music, visuals and gameplay. Newcomers and fans alike, prepare to rock on.

Bright, colorful graphics, varied settings, powerful weapons, huge bosses and all the frantic action that made these games sweet in the old days comes together in Metal Slug Anthology as a must-own for shooter fans.

The episode also features trickier puzzles than some of the past games, which makes the new hint system all the more worthwhile. Although there were moments of confusion, we were still entertained by the newest adventure.

While the previous episode felt considerably shorter than most, this new one gets things back on track with more one-liners and some great political humor -- especially as Max becomes president of the United States.

There aren't too many multiplayer options, and the single player game could be longer, but Condemned 2 is still a terrifying sequel.

With more than double the games and a new level of accuracy, Wii Sports Resort was worth the wait.

In a surprise twist, the Game Boy Advance TMNT is vastly superior to its mediocre console counterpart. Instead of shoehorning the same adventure onto the limited GBA, Ubisoft created an entirely new game, one based on the classic, side scrolling Turtles games from the NES and SNES days.

Homecourt gets old after a while since it lacks the options found in the more robust "NBA 2K7," but players will delight in its light hearted take on basketball. Its theatrics, coupled with its gorgeous visuals, make it a fine addition to everyone's collection.

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.

Delivers next-gen golf as it was intended, delivering realistic golf gameplay that challenges even the best players, the ability to create a golfer out of the blue, and a surprisingly robust online community loaded with events, tournaments, and ESPN Integration.

What could've been a five-star prospect quickly became a solid backup. Unless you're a college football fanatic, we suggest waiting for Madden NFL 10.

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.

It has something for everyone, including new players and those who simply want to raise their characters to the new level cap.

It's not often that a developer starts a sequel from scratch and succeeds. The WiiMotion Plus-supported controls have no equal (at this point, anyway) and the presentation is the best we've seen from Ubisoft on the Wii.

Ninjatown takes the fast-thinking, reactionary gameplay of tower defense and combines it with simple real-time strategy elements, creating one of the more compelling and unique games in recent memory.

Being able to build your own Star Wars creations from other character parts is a hoot. Bottom line, Saga is excellent closure to the Lego Star Wars series.

Whether or not Wii Fit Plus will help you get in tip top condition remains to be seen, but this is an incredibly enjoyable video game for a budget price.

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

The real prize, though, are the game's unlockable goodies -- an improved version of the original Rondo of Blood and the best version of Symphony of the Night to date. For a $30 compilation bursting with content, Castlevania doesn't suck.

Battlefield 2142 delivers a sci-fi themed experience using the familiar Battlefield style. While the setting may have changed a bit, the overall gameplay hasn't.