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.