The Sims 3 faced an daunting task to live up to the franchise's legacy and yet still deliver a new kind of experience to satiate the desires of any Sims fan.

Online play and additional challengers (Disco Kid is the only new character) would've made this even better, but Punch-Out!! is still a fun and nostalgia driven arcade style boxing game that every Wii owner should play.

The gameplay is satisfying, the Music Studio and Mii Freestyle mode are wondrous addition, the song list is sweet and the presentation isn't bad.

The gameplay works great, although gamers will be more comfortable with the traditional control scheme rather than using the stylus. Everyone needs to join this League.

An innovative traits and title system, unique social-networking -- like an in-game music system and player-driven Wiki -- and the rich storylines and subplots that stay true to the source material easily make this name-brand role-player a hot contender for PC game of the year.

While some of the missions frustrate thanks to the clunky GTA controls, the game's sense of style, the 100-plus-song soundtrack and knee-slapping sense of humor make Vice City Stories a nice place to (re)visit.

Ubisoft and Red Storm Entertainment concocted a short yet satisfying single player campaign full of action, weapons and cool vehicles. It ends much too quickly, but the game's robust multiplayer component more than makes up for that, thanks to 16 player support, new maps, weapons and deep customization.

Some more intricate skateboarding tricks would've been nice (such as reverts and lip tricks) and the city could've used some expansion. Those aside, Skate avoids the bail and lands stylishly on its wheels.

Long-time fans shouldn't miss it.

DJ Hero is without question Activision's coolest rhythm game. The turntable has its drawbacks (it's a bit small for larger folks), but that soundtrack will give you a new appreciation for music and perhaps satisfy your DJ fantasy. Just don't pass this off as another game with a useless peripheral. It's one of the sweetest, most original games we've played in a long time.

While we appreciate the new star power, the new too-difficult two-player Battle mode fails to impress and the new guitar, while sturdy and reliable, feels small in comparison to Rock Band's more realistic axe. Regardless, Guitar Hero still has that addictive quality. Combine that with an excellent soundtrack and online play, this mock rock simulator will have you jamming for months.

Seasoned pros will love the new performance challenges and multiplayer-oriented party games for local and online play. As for the remarkable set list, Activision delivers a mix of old and new, from artists like Iron Maiden, 3 Doors Down and Elton John.

The lack of rumble and Xbox specific achievements blows, but overall, PS3 owners will have fun with this intense and attractive shooter.

If you rarely play online or have a slow Internet connection and hate micro-managing, stop reading now and go buy last year's game instead. If you don't fit into either of those molds, then this will be the most satisfying experience playing virtual sports ever.

We dislike the PlayStation 3's choppy frame rate (the Xbox 360 version moves faster), but overall, EA delivers an addictive game of hockey that'll keep you entertained for months.

With expansive lands and quests, the Shivering Isles brings forth a landscape that adds further dimension to the already impressive world of Oblivion. Players can find much sadistic joy in going mad.

The two-character system is magnificent and very easy to get into, and the presentation makes proper use of the DS.

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.

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.

EA did a superb job, and you need to play this game, whether you appreciate the sport or despise it.

This is easily one of the finest sport recreations we've seen, as it nails the experience. The online fight camps and Create-a-Fighter modes will keep you busy well through the next several pay-per-view events, and the presentation is second-to-none.

A couple of the newer additions don't work as well as they should, such as the unbalanced Madden Test and the cheat-happy EA Rewind. Others, though, are spectacular, such as the Virtual Training Center and the new Online League play.

While we appreciate the new star power, the new too-difficult two-player Battle mode fails to impress and the new guitar, while sturdy and reliable, feels small in comparison to Rock Band's more realistic axe. Regardless, Guitar Hero still has that addictive quality. Combine that with an excellent soundtrack and online play, this mock rock simulator will have you jamming for months.

Aside from online registration issues and the way-too-simplified Wii remote control set-up, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom is easily one of the best beat-em-ups we've played. Bring on a sequel.

Its career mode, Road to the Show 2.0 will keep you busy for months, while additions to offline and online modes greatly enhance the game's replay value. It's so good, you'll play it right up to next year's edition.

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.

I'm also a bit disappointed with the AI, which isn't nearly as sophisticated as Ubisoft has claimed. However, the game offers up plenty of intense thrills. This is by far the most diverse collection of missions ever seen in a Splinter Cell title.

Ultimately, the lack of mission variety cost Red Faction a higher score, but it's still an explosively fun time.