The people who will enjoy Frogger the most are the die-hard fans of the series looking to celebrate its 30th anniversary alongside Konami, and anyone with a 3DS looking for a worthwhile challenge.

It's still worth the time for aficionados and platform nuts, but All 4 One is much less likely to pull casual fans away from the season's other heavyweight fare.

Overall, Okabu just doesn't feel like a finished game.

While it doesn't change much from Layton's previous adventures, the small tweaks (and the generous extras) make this my favorite Layton game to-date. The series is one of the few remaining champions of the graphic adventure, and, fortunately, they're doing a damn fine job of keeping that genre relevant for a modern audience.

When you get down to it, Infestation's excellent presentation and grim atmosphere outweigh most of its minor faults. The old-school gameplay offers a fun challenge and blends well with the source material to deliver an authentic trip through sci-fi memory lane. For a hardened Alien fan like me, that's reason enough to grab a DS and dim the lights.

A better dance game than Just Dance 3. The workout modes and campaign give you a reason to keep coming back, whether you're playing alone or with a group, and the mechanics behind the body tracking are second to none (even if the voice control commands are still a bit spotty).

The fact that there is so much misinformation potentially in play, and your own units can basically be turned against you without you knowing, is a great twist and could have made for a great strategy game if AGOT: Genesis either placed all its emphasis on those mechanics, or if it paired them with equally solid combat and controls. But that's not the case here. Instead, there are a couple potentially great ideas, surrounded by poorly-executed mediocrity.

There's a real sense of progression to Arkham City in its gameplay, in its story, in the variety of its missions (the abundance of open world side-quests will keep you busy for a long, long time), and in the evolution of its pointy-eared protagonist, that really deserves to be commended.

There's a real sense of progression to Arkham City in its gameplay, in its story, in the variety of its missions (the abundance of open world side-quests will keep you busy for a long, long time), and in the evolution of its pointy-eared protagonist, that really deserves to be commended.

The AI personalities still offer a diverse range of difficulty and play styles though, making Quarrel one of the best options for wordsmiths on the go.

To-Fu 2's difficulty can ramp up pretty quickly, but thanks to precise controls it's never a source of frustration.

Those without boiling Guardian Heroes nostalgia are probably going to wonder what makes it any better than Castle Crashers, another celebrated downloadable beat-'em-up that was greatly inspired by Treasure's classic brawler. They have their little similarities, but is there anything that makes one less worthy over the other? Not at all -- GH still has that extra complexity in the fighting and the RPG-like leveling system.

Blackwell Deception has some good ideas and it's refreshing for a game to deal with ghosts and psychics in a way that's not entirely shallow. The script is at its best when it's disarmingly sincere, as the attempts at humor are hit and miss. It's just a shame then that the story is as old-hat as Joey's fedora.

Sideway: New York is available for download for $9.99 on PSN and is well worth a look. While it's probably going to be derided as an easier version of Super Meat Boy or a less intellectual Braid, the truth is that Sideway: New York carves its own identity and deserves consideration among the best regarded downloadable platformers.

If you're hardcore about your angling, Sega Bass Fishing may whet your appetite, but for everyone else, turn your motorboat around and avoid this game.

It's a good all-around package, but I expect that it will sneak under the radar now that the fall release season is in full swing. It's a shame because the single-player is every bit the addictive sugar rush that Modern Warfare is, and it's handsomely produced to boot. It's the perfect palate cleanser for a game like Dark Souls, which is the diametric opposite in terms of mood and gameplay. After being lost in a dungeon for hours on end, sometimes you just want to jump into a jet fighter and blow stuff up for a while. And in that regard, Ace Combat fits the bill perfectly.

It's a good all-around package, but I expect that it will sneak under the radar now that the fall release season is in full swing. It's a shame because the single-player is every bit the addictive sugar rush that Modern Warfare is, and it's handsomely produced to boot. It's the perfect palate cleanser for a game like Dark Souls, which is the diametric opposite in terms of mood and gameplay. After being lost in a dungeon for hours on end, sometimes you just want to jump into a jet fighter and blow stuff up for a while. And in that regard, Ace Combat fits the bill perfectly.

If you never got the chance to play the original Crysis -- either because you didn't have a decent enough rig to power it, or you just never got around to it -- it is still a fantastic shooter that's worth downloading. And considering that it's part of a planned trilogy, now's a good time to get caught up on the story and experience the game that started it all.

If you never got the chance to play the original Crysis -- either because you didn't have a decent enough rig to power it, or you just never got around to it -- it is still a fantastic shooter that's worth downloading. And considering that it's part of a planned trilogy, now's a good time to get caught up on the story and experience the game that started it all.

It's dedicated to the spirit of the game, both in the present and in the past, in ways that so many other sports games, even some of the great ones, have never really been able to do. NBA 2K12 is essential for any fan of video game sports.

It's dedicated to the spirit of the game, both in the present and in the past, in ways that so many other sports games, even some of the great ones, have never really been able to do. NBA 2K12 is essential for any fan of video game sports.

This latest HD collections doesn't hit the high-water mark set by similar releases, such as the amazing Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection, but those craving a classic stealth-action romp will want to don the night vision goggles for this three-for-the-price-of-one package.

Atelier Totori is a hidden gem of a game. It's far from perfect, but it's so wildly, wonderfully distinct and different from the typical crop of titles out there that it's hard not to love it.

The ultimate automotive playground. A place where car buffs can come together and enjoy virtually every aspect of car culture you can think of – and engage in fierce, beautifully articulated competition.

My pretentious ramblings aside, Gummy Bears is a terrible piece of shovelware for the Wii.

Worms: Ultimate Mayhem has a lot of content and gameplay mileage to offer those with the patience to look beyond its faults, but despite its obvious charm, it still remains one of the weaker offerings in the Worms arsenal.

If you can get past the War Mage's obnoxious personality and the repetitive and equally obnoxious Gothic metal soundtrack, which isn't asking for much, you'll find endless hours of good times in Orcs Must Die.

Road of Devastation may not be quite as robust of an expansion to Dead Nation as fans had hoped for, but there's enough new content here to make it worth the price of admission.

This soothing strategy title's mellow vibe and simplistic visuals make it a neat downloadable distraction, but some frustrating quirks keep it from greatness.

Once you get a game going with friends or online fodder, though, On Fire Edition shows its best side, and could easily turn "one more match" into hours spent cracking jokes and laughing at every comment the announcer makes. And for a b-ball know-nothing like me, that's more than enough justification to find yourself playing a sports game. Just don't take it too seriously.

Once you get a game going with friends or online fodder, though, On Fire Edition shows its best side, and could easily turn "one more match" into hours spent cracking jokes and laughing at every comment the announcer makes. And for a b-ball know-nothing like me, that's more than enough justification to find yourself playing a sports game. Just don't take it too seriously.

Thankfully, Isaac's shmup-like approach makes the game a little easier than the nightmare of a melee-only roguelike, though it's still no cakewalk. Like the Souls series, you'd best keep on your guard, since death is permanent and there are no saves. A playthrough can be as short as an hour, but with randomized loot and boss encounters on top of several unlockables, you'll want to put Isaac through hell multiple times.

Playing side by side with some friends did yield some fun moments at times -- tag-teaming enemies with combos of physical and magical abilities, working together to solve puzzles, or the flustered excitement of teamwork-under-duress that's only possible in local multiplayer made me really wish the game wasn't quite so gimped. But in the end, the series' rep for punishing gameplay is intact, leaving this competently flawed experience as an oscillation between fleeting enjoyment and agitated boredom.

Don't skip this new Spider-Man game, but just be aware that it's a few strands short of a full web.

Don't skip this new Spider-Man game, but just be aware that it's a few strands short of a full web.

In short, it's everything I could have hoped for in a (spiritual) successor to Demon's Souls. I'm pleased to recommend it to anyone who wants to see the medium pushed to its limits and beyond.

In short, it's everything I could have hoped for in a (spiritual) successor to Demon's Souls. I'm pleased to recommend it to anyone who wants to see the medium pushed to its limits and beyond.

Most surprising are the vehicle-based sections of the game. In a word, they're fantastic.

Most surprising are the vehicle-based sections of the game. In a word, they're fantastic.

Minor issues aside, this is a very fun title. Leaderboards, trying to beat your personal best times, and some unlockable bonus levels do add some replay value, and clever features (free look mode, the blob itself has a high cuteness factor) give the game some charm. If you're looking for a fun and breezy diversion, and an excuse to brush up on your knowledge of the periodic table, Mercury Hg is worth a look.

Minor issues aside, this is a very fun title. Leaderboards, trying to beat your personal best times, and some unlockable bonus levels do add some replay value, and clever features (free look mode, the blob itself has a high cuteness factor) give the game some charm. If you're looking for a fun and breezy diversion, and an excuse to brush up on your knowledge of the periodic table, Mercury Hg is worth a look.

If you haven't picked up Tetris in a while, this isn't the best or the cheapest version available, but if it's really is all you can find, it's impossible not to recommend playing a few matches.

Each fight is punctuated with some of the worst metal music I've ever heard, and fights generally end in unrealistically gruesome finishes. Really, I haven't seen this many broken necks and snapped limps in a fighting game since Mortal Kombat​.

Each fight is punctuated with some of the worst metal music I've ever heard, and fights generally end in unrealistically gruesome finishes. Really, I haven't seen this many broken necks and snapped limps in a fighting game since Mortal Kombat​.

It's a great game that is a lot of fun to play -- that's not "great for a free to play game," but simply "great."

Rochard the man may be ordinary, but the adventure he stars in is anything but.

X-Men: Destiny isn't a bad game -- it just plays like an unfinished one.

X-Men: Destiny isn't a bad game -- it just plays like an unfinished one.

In many ways Red Bull X-Fighters is an exercise in frustration. Many of the elements of a really cool extreme sports game are here, but this title just can't pull it together. If you're a big fan of this genre, or of the real-life X-Fighters racers, it's certainly worth a look. But for others who require more refinement, there are much better options available.

Deca Sports Extreme is, like the past Deca Sports games, an all-around solid mini-game compilation.

Tiny Heroes is an excellent game, but with a few caveats: there's no iPad version (and this would be perfect for an iPad), placing traps/weapons precisely can be difficult, and sometimes the levels are just too hard.

A high-energy romp with a fun, 90's anime style story (the G Gundam references are much-appreciated), easy to grasp mechanics, and plenty of things to find and collect. But I think its real strength is that lush world and the truly outstanding cel-shading, which makes me want to take back every bad word I ever said about the Nintendo DS and its 3D graphical capabilities.

A landmark sports game. Not only is it the greatest football game we've yet seen, it's a masterclass in how to capture the essence of a sport. From they way it looks to the way it makes you think about how you play the game, FIFA 12 is brilliant, through and through.

A landmark sports game. Not only is it the greatest football game we've yet seen, it's a masterclass in how to capture the essence of a sport. From they way it looks to the way it makes you think about how you play the game, FIFA 12 is brilliant, through and through.

For the most dedicated puzzle fanatics, Cubixx HD will likely become a quick favorite, with an abundance of levels, modes, and leaderboards to compete on. However, due to some unfortunate design decisions, the majority of its players will likely never see all that it has to offer.

This charming destruction-based puzzler is a literal blast, but it suffers from a short shelf-life and a meager selection of levels.

This top-down arcade game based on Burnout's Crash mode is addictive, but it could've used a little more focus on mindless carnage and less on planning and repetition.

This top-down arcade game based on Burnout's Crash mode is addictive, but it could've used a little more focus on mindless carnage and less on planning and repetition.

While Resident Evil Code: Veronica X remains an interesting (and difficult) side-story in the Resident Evil franchise, an impressive coat of HD polish just can't make up for terrible controls and archaic game design.

While Resident Evil Code: Veronica X remains an interesting (and difficult) side-story in the Resident Evil franchise, an impressive coat of HD polish just can't make up for terrible controls and archaic game design.

It's not as bite-sized as the rest of the iOS puzzle elite, but the patient are aptly rewarded with a satisfying challenging experience.

The combination of puzzles, exploring, and Phoenix Wright-style point-counterpoint gameplay is honestly an interesting concept along with the attractive art, but the production is mired in soulless English dialogue, badly looping music, and awkward navigation controls.

If you can get past its price and lack of online multiplayer, though, Rotastic should at least keep you happily swinging-and-flinging until the holiday release schedule heats up.

No two matches -- even between the same teams -- ever feel quite the same, and it's that element of surprise that just might, at least offline, make Pro Evolution my go-to soccer game this season.

No two matches -- even between the same teams -- ever feel quite the same, and it's that element of surprise that just might, at least offline, make Pro Evolution my go-to soccer game this season.

But for a reasonably priced downloadable game where you're driving/flying around in tiny vehicles, Renegade Ops certainly doesn't feel small. In fact, it's genuinely one of the most entertaining and polished action titles I've played on a digital platform.

But for a reasonably priced downloadable game where you're driving/flying around in tiny vehicles, Renegade Ops certainly doesn't feel small. In fact, it's genuinely one of the most entertaining and polished action titles I've played on a digital platform.

RO2 is an acquired taste and brutally punishing to newcomers.

What Monsters Joker 2 really does best is to create a bright, vibrant world that does a great job of paying homage to the Dragon Quest franchise while also giving it a different spin. It's a bit slow to start -- monster synthesis takes a bit to unlock -- but it's an overall rewarding experience and one of the best Nintendo DS games to be released this year.

P2, while a good game, is very much a product of its time. Players were more willing to overlook a lot of the JRPG's stereotypical frustrations and foibles back in the late 90s and early aughts. With shifts in consumer tastes and the desire for fresher experiences, however, a brand new game structured like P2 -- with its somewhat clunky story presentation and traditional, slow-paced progression -- simply wouldn't fly in the marketplace either in Japan or abroad.

You can cut corners and do the developer a solid by paying for experience points, but you won't feel like you're getting a lesser experience if you don't.

Sadly, Saga is slightly gimped when measured up to its Wii counterpart, Bit.Trip Complete. Aside from sometimes-wonky controls (gyroscopic movement for your paddle in Beat or Flux are inexplicably absent, for one), 3DS owners have been bafflingly shafted on the extras Complete offers Wii users, though the bonus of 3D effects here isn't a terrible compromise. Minor gripes aside, this is still a must-own 3DS title.

Most gamers will balk at being asked to pay $15 for a WiiWare title, and considering the game's visual presentation and accelerated difficulty level, that's a legitimate gripe. However, MotoHeroz has so much to offer and is so much fun, you shouldn't let that get in your way.

Resident Evil 4 is still an outstanding shooter, but as I keep re-iterating with these recent high-def rereleases, your mileage is bound to vary.

Resident Evil 4 is still an outstanding shooter, but as I keep re-iterating with these recent high-def rereleases, your mileage is bound to vary.

The most ruthless design decision is found in Astro Tripper's unforgiving and unflinchingly old-school life system. You start out with just a few lives and only gain new ones after reaching score benchmarks. The problem is you're forced to re-start a timed stage from scratch every time you die, and when you run out of lives altogether, that's it. Game Over. Add that to the cumbersome controls and absurd difficulty curve and you get an experience that's not very accessible or enjoyable.

Kirby Mass Attack rewards you for replaying it many times over, with several impressively polished mini-games (my favorites being the RPG and pinball ones), big fruit bonuses, and very frequent references to past Kirby titles.

Regardless, I think it goes without say that Spray is both very bad and very broken; and that's in addition to the ugly pastel graphics and terrible animation (like I said, the main character skitters). Let's just forget it ever happened, shall we?

Regardless of the system you play it on, Trenches: Generals is a strategy game that offers a unique take on the genre, and is sure to appeal to players of all ages, but only if you can overlook its shortcomings.

The most polished and satisfying entry in the series, and it presents enough fresh ideas to make it worth seeing through to its gripping conclusion.

While not perfect, this game is still a lot of fun. The definition of easy to play and tough to master, SkyDrift is an addictive romp for those willing to take the time to learn how to become the Dominic Torreto of the skies.

While not perfect, this game is still a lot of fun. The definition of easy to play and tough to master, SkyDrift is an addictive romp for those willing to take the time to learn how to become the Dominic Torreto of the skies.

The realistic fluidity of the water and the realistic properties of the fire (they spread if left unattended) are what makes this game different.

Is RSG worth downloading? If you read everything above and it sounds intriguing to you, then yes, absolutely. If this doesn't sound like the sort of shooter you're looking for, you might want to think it over for a bit before committing to a purchase.

What makes Monolith's game such a stellar experience is the fact that everything it does dramatically improves and innovates the RPG genre. Xenoblade gives the player a whole world to interact with and explore, removing boundaries and convenient game design choices for the sake of fun and immersion.

As much as it looks like a souped-up NHL 09​, the improvements to the engine, the A.I., Be a Pro mode, and the overall presentation really add up, and that's aside from the fact that it was already a pretty darn good sports sim to begin with.

As much as it looks like a souped-up NHL 09​, the improvements to the engine, the A.I., Be a Pro mode, and the overall presentation really add up, and that's aside from the fact that it was already a pretty darn good sports sim to begin with.

I am left with the feeling that Hard Reset's title is not a reference to the game's plot or gameplay, but to the videogame industry as a whole. The developers are applying a "reset" to the entire FPS genre, stripping away or outright mocking several modern shooter staples.

While it is precious about distinguishing taps intended to boost rather than switch junctions, Tiny Invaders achieves a triumphant victory thanks to its Bizarre-like charm, challenge, and clever design.

Amidst constant industry talk about brutal work conditions and failing studios, every bit of this package makes it seem like these folks are having an absolute blast creating one-of-a-kind games -- and it's an infectious type of jubilance that emboldens this memorable experience into more than the sum of its parts.

BloodRayne: Betrayal is a lot like how I'd imagine being a vampire would be. Initially my newfound powers would be awesome and invigorating. Eventually though, immortality would inevitably lead to weariness. Thankfully, Rayne's six hour jaunt requires less commitment than a vampire's unholy contract, and while it may not be a life-changing event, its seductive pull is worth having a taste of.

BloodRayne: Betrayal is a lot like how I'd imagine being a vampire would be. Initially my newfound powers would be awesome and invigorating. Eventually though, immortality would inevitably lead to weariness. Thankfully, Rayne's six hour jaunt requires less commitment than a vampire's unholy contract, and while it may not be a life-changing event, its seductive pull is worth having a taste of.

Seasons could've just ripped off Animal Crossing entirely, and it would've at least been a good game. Derivative, but enjoyable.

Even with some minor hiccups, 4 Elements HD is worth the price. If you're a match three-fan looking for a game that will bring back fond memories of turkey legs, flowing white beards, and pointy hats, you'll get your money's worth out of this title.

So while Star Fox 64 3D isn't quite worth a 3DS purchase on its own, it still has a place alongside Ocarina of Time 3D as one of the few 3DS games worth buying immediately. If you decided to spring for a 3DS at the newly-reduced price point, now is the time to make good on your purchase.

Space Marine's intuitive system will have you carving hordes of enemies with your chainsword, power axe, or hammer in no time.

Space Marine's intuitive system will have you carving hordes of enemies with your chainsword, power axe, or hammer in no time.

Still, Crimson could stand to be a little more robust and varied. Its comparatively paltry three classes beg for DLC, as does its four hour campaign; similarly, there are only a few enemy types per themed map, and the game doesn't seem to rebalance unit numbers for multiple players. Perhaps next time Certain Affinity should concentrate just a hair less on arcade simplicity; until then this is still a worthy note in a crowded genre.