SHIFT 2 Unleashed does some things differently and gives the franchise the extra boost to completely dissociate itself from the arcade experience that Need For Speed is known for.

Part of what has made Fire Emblem such a beloved series is the emotional attachment the player makes to the characters, and unfortunately, this is largely missing in Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon. Shadow Dragon is not a bad game; heck, its a very good game. It’s a great buy for fans of the series or the genre. It’s just missing that charm that earlier games in the series had, at least for me.

Of all five Xbox LIVE Arcade games that were released for the Summer of Arcade promotion, if you could only get one of them, this is it. It's the most fun, offers the most value, and it's great to play with and against friends.

There's no reason not to pick up ilomilo unless you just totally detest puzzle games.

This game will not have you glued to your PS3 or PSP for hours on end, but it is refreshing.

In my mind, it seemed as though the tower defense genre rose, peaked and declined, all within a couple of short years. Then, along came Toy Soldiers.

With easy-to-use controls, a smooth user interface, beautiful open courses from the real world, a killer soundtrack, and a bustling and competitive community created through RiderNet, everything adds up to a load of fun.

There is enough bang in Crysis to justify the $20 price tag, if only to see the amazing Cryengine 3 at work.

It's such a great change of pace from the Modern Warfares and Battlefields that occupy the gaming landscape, and the shooting gameplay only serves to remind us about how well suited id is at developing FPS titles.

Napoleon: Total War is an RTS that sets itself apart from other games in the genre with a highly intelligent AI and a much greater focus on tactics and strategy.

At about $13 each, it isn't terribly hard to recommend Jak and Daxter Collection. Even though they don't do their fans any favors in terms of extras, the games themselves are just as wonderfully solid today as they were during their heyday.

GoldenEye 007 is as close as players will get to the much-demanded N64 remake. While nostalgic players will excuse the game's "differences", others will find a very enjoyable title worth adding to their Wii game library.

The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile did exactly what it needed to. It took all the visceral fun of the first game and honed it until it gleamed and glinted like the morning sun reflected off a sword blade.

Broken Steel certainly changes the game for the better and is a must buy for all Fallout 3 owners. Even the subtle changes to normal characters in the Wasteland are noticeable such as those slackers in Megaton who complain about the water. Bottom Line is that there is much to explore, must to experience and much to disintegrate in the game and this is why the final score is so high for the expansion.

It’s not hard to see that Patapon 2 is an incredible game that both fans of the first and PSP owners in general should own. I will admit that the multiplayer aspect of the game is the weakest part, but that’s only because it of its limited appeal. Other than that, the game manages to keep everything that was good about the first and build upon it.

Madworld is an absolute wonder on the Wii. Packed with a fantastic visual style, simple but effective controls, and a healthy dose of humour, this is almost a complete package. Diminished focus on the story, and some minor camera issues aside, this should be on any fan of mature game’s "must have" list.

For those who have been hoping for an incredible flying game to play on their home consoles, the wait is over. The variable controls, the authenticity and the sheer enjoyment of taking down Axis planes is something that everyone can enjoy. From top to bottom, IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey is an absolutely incredible journey and certainly one of the biggest surprises of the year; don’t hold back, pick this one up.

EA hasn’t marketed their new program for those looking to lose weight or get in shape; rather it’s been marketed to help keep people active, hence the name, EA Sports Active. Despite this, some will still add it as part of their weight loss program, some will still use it to help them get in shape (guilty as charged), other’s will see it as a good reason to stay fit. Whatever you’re reason, EA may have unlocked the way to get gamers’ off the couch and maybe, save us some money on gym fee’s during the current economy.

This is a great game for parents of kids in their tweens. The game isn’t overly difficult but not easy enough that anyone can breeze through it. For an independent title, making a game like this must have been quite a challenge. At the same time, I could see a bigger developer picking this up and porting it to the DS as it would work really well on that system.

I doubt it’ll get much talk time for “hardcore” gamers. It is a fun game, and it is a steal at 1000 Wii points. If you’re looking for a fun game that’s easy to start playing and the family would enjoy you can’t go wrong with this game.

If you missed out on this when it launched on WiiWare, or if you have the WiiWare version and want to see how it can be improved, then Swords and Soldiers on PSN is an easy buy.

The newly redesigned characters combined with the already stellar graphics and physics make this a great game to play whether you're a fan of pool or if you just want a cool game to play this summer. Though I would've liked more game modes and I have my doubts about how large the online community will be in a few months, Pool Nation is still a must-buy for PlayStation 3 owners.

Great presentation.

It is a beautiful game that is a victim of its own success as the story so badly eclipses the gameplay. Muramasa is an imperfect jewel. It’s a precious stone for sure, but the cut’s not quite right.

Madden NFL 13's newest improvements create an impressive foundation for future entries. While the Infinity Engine adds great physics-based play on the field, it's plagued by some growing pains that will be undoubtedly be worked out down the line.

The game is not only another success story for EA on the Wii this year but for the first time, a Wii version should be seriously considered when looking for the best golfing experience despite the fact that it’s the less pretty of all the console versions out there.

This particular journey really shouldn't be missed though, and $40 is reasonable enough for those ready to embark on one of the best franchises to hit the last-gen consoles.

Linear, hack n’ slash, repetitive but so much fun and challenging.