The gameplay is about the same, but fans of micromanagement and virtual pet care will thoroughly enjoy it. Co-op mode is fun as well, in case a frustrated player needs a hand from a parent or a buddy.

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

The single-player campaign ends way too quickly, but the multiplayer campaign more than makes up for it with several co-op and competitive missions.

Some of the operations will drive you nutty, thanks to wonky controls and increased difficulty, but working alongside a friend makes things easier, and the ability to upload your scores to online leader boards offers unlimited replay value.

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.

An extremely solid game of football. The motion-sensing SIXAXIS controller does nothing to improve the gridiron experience, but by and large, EA includes everything that makes the franchise great, from the easy to learn controls to the bone jarring tackles.

Invest immediately – unless you're a wuss.

The graphics are cheery and hilarious, with the Rabbids stealing the show from Rayman. The Wi-Fi Connection function is a nice touch, though it lacks online multiplayer. Invite these Rabbids to your next holiday party.

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.

The multiplayer and co-op modes, through both Wi-Fi and local play, are superb.

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.

Even with its faults, Guitar Hero III is still a wildly addictive music game that works just as well, if not better, on the PC.

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.

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.

The gameplay is still as addictive as ever, as you tear a hole through the Bydo Empire using power-ups such as reflective lasers and missiles. The difficulty is incredibly high (bullets come at you from every direction), but the newly added stage select and Infinity options relieve some frustration.

Wii Sports certainly won't be hailed as the most realistic sports sim on the market, but it's the best thing - next to a bottle of tequila - to take to a friend's holiday house party.

It suffers from a few issues (sloppy lip-syncing, repetitive music, unbalanced difficulty), but Ghostbusters: The Video Game is a must play for fans as well as gamers in search of a new shooter.

With levels and controls akin to Marble Madness, as well as slick platforming elements and a refreshing combat mode, Dewy's Adventure will satisfy the kid in you, while maintaining an environmentally conscious message without being overly preachy.

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.

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 comes to its conclusion sooner than expected, with only a few unlockables to take advantage of. Nevertheless, here's a handheld game that cuts deep.

Combine the fighting with the grand presentation, visuals that include sweaty characters, large breasted ring girls and detailed arenas, and UFC 2009 Undisputed has the teeth rattling brutality fans crave.

The presentation is excellent (for the most part) and the online functionality is an astonishing add-on, letting you compete against others in various activities.

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

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.

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.

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.

Incredibly accessible thanks to an ample introductory section of the game which teaches new players the ins and outs of the genre.