If survival horror is your bread and butter, then Homecoming is right up your alley; otherwise, you might be better served waiting for Resident Evil 5.

If survival horror is your bread and butter, then Homecoming is right up your alley; otherwise, you might be better served waiting for Resident Evil 5. [Nov 2008, p.92]

If anything, I can't help but see We Cheer as a missed opportunity. The game is filled to the brim with personality and has something for everyone on its rather impressive track list, but the gameplay itself is simply exhaustive trial and error routines that leave you with a sour taste in your mouth.

All in all, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood is a fairly easy and light RPG that I'm sure younger gamers will have a blast with.

Despite some flaws WipEout HD is an enjoyable, eye-popping title. But its $20 price point for content that's 1-3 years old takes some of the fun out of it.

After 12 years, Duke still kicks ass. He may not be as good looking as he used to be but he continues to prove that the adage - its not the graphics that make a game great, its the gameplay - will always be true.

As the best realization of WWII in a game to date, Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway explains why war is hell - with loads of "hell yeah!" moments along the way.

It's a simple, straightforward game: go fast and pull out your best tricks. Fortunately, there's depth to be had if you're eager to invest the effort.

Overall, you can't beat the combination of monkeys, maracas, and the undeniable infectious tunes that come along with it, so Samba De Amigo gets a solid four out of five stars.

If you haven't picked up a copy of Disgaea previously, be sure to give the DS version a try. [Oct 2008, p.93]

Unless you're completely jaded or prefer games with darker themes, Rhapsody is a fun and whimsical RPG that definitely warrants a look. [Oct 2008, p.93]

With a great variety of levels, tons of things to smash and collect, and a loveable cast of iconic heroes and villains, LEGO Batman is a fun and enjoyable title that will appeal not only to younger gamers but to Batman fans alike.

I could bash the game for having less than stellar graphics, repetitive sound or even the lack of plot, but I was just looking for a fun game that ended up feeling more like a task, than anything.

Baja aspire to be a simulation, yet it ends up losing its appeal in the process

The most charming part of the game is how the music you hear while you play is tied directly to your art project. Each "mood" is a base groove, that starts off pretty slow and lacking in energy, but as you add color to the environment things get pretty jammin'.

It's fun, it's simple and it's charming, which pretty much describes most Wii games that hit big with that audience

I'm still going to recommend you check out the title, though, because it shows that Capcom cares about its loyal fanbase and because it's such a well executed throwback to the series' roots.

If you were a casual player of the original, it's probably not worth picking this one up. However, if you are new to the series, engaging gameplay and fun multiplayer options make FF2 easily worth your hard earned 800 Microsoft Points.

Killer force powers and intense action can't fully save an otherwise inconsistent effort. Still, it has its moments.

Make no mistake: you can have a lot of fun with The Force Unleashed. [Oct 2008, p.88]

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is an incredibly original and rich experience, and may be the best handheld Star Wars game to date!

There's plenty of bang for your buck, and attempting missions over again in harder difficulty modes can really prove themselves as addicting challenges. Throw in the extraordinary Crysis Wars multiplayer, and you've got yourself an absolute steal.

Although its overzealous combat system takes some getting used to, Yggdra Union is a rare gem that manages to stay interesting after hours and hours of playtime. In my opinion, it's a must-have for PSP owners and it is, without a doubt, one of the best titles I've played this year.

Not only can you not just doodle to your heart's content, but when you get near the limit they post annoying signage all over the drawing field as a warning to be feared, and the help tips up top get replaced with messages that tell you to watch it, buster.

For a game with such a heavy emphasis on medieval combat, Mount & Blade is just shy of perfection.

But if you're looking for a good, simple RPG that you can pick up and play without chaining yourself down, you should definitely choose Dragon Quest IV this fall. [Oct 2008, p.91]

Episode 2 is so well written, funny and enjoyable you'll gladly submit to the domineering, steel toed boot of your new red masked overlord.

Episode 2 is so well written, funny and enjoyable you'll gladly submit to the domineering, steel toed boot of your new red masked overlord.

Some youngsters might get impatient with stopping the action to draw every little nick-nack in the game (which requires a lot of sheathing and unsheathing the stylus), but those with an artistic flair will have a great time.

If you already own the first game and all the instruments, this is a must-own title; if you haven't experienced the magic, this is a great place to start.

But considering everything that's missing and its high price, purchasing Jeopardy! is riskier than a Potent Potables Double Jeopardy question.

Rocketbowl is not a title to just brush off. It has a lot of features to it that are fun and exciting. Getting your friends online to have an online tournament and show off your skills you honed from the single player.

If you spent time jamming quarters into Samurai Shodown 2 in an arcade somewhere back in the day, this game is worth a look. But if you're looking for a classic, fun 2D fighter on XBLA, you could do better.

If you own any wrestling game from the last five years, I can almost guarantee it'll have more match types, story lines, and custom moves than this one.

EA Sports has been doing fine work on this series for the last few years, but everything until now only seems like groundwork for this years version. Small problems aside this is the best game of hockey ever made.

Overall, Air Traffic Chaos's controls are simple enough, but that doesn't mean that they're not a pain to navigate.

While its nothing new it does provide some enjoyment to those looking for a new puzzle title and have had enough with the other ones on the market.

Spore is a good game held back from greatness by a few flaws and gameplay mechanics that won't appeal to everyone. But there is plenty to like about the game and if you dig its particular style of open-ended gameplay, you'll definitely enjoy yourself.

I have to admit FaceBreaker does have a lot of potential. But as hard as I tried to like the game, I just couldn't get into it that much. [Oct 2008, p.96]

Pirates vs Ninjas is an attractive looking title and offers a unique take on an old school game, but its ineffective gameplay just won't let it compete with other titles more worthy of your hard earned cash.

The ultimate downfall of Shred Nebula is the controls.

To be frank the game is just very lacking and very bland. With all the great summer titles hitting high numbers it's a safe bet that this one will make the scratch list in the next few months.

Then there's the slowdown: yes, in this age of high-powered processors and graphics hardware, Infinite Undiscovery suffers from slowdown. The game itself is gorgeous, with detailed character models to neat-o combat animations, but the action tends to slow to a crawl when too many enemies clutter the screen.

Despite some irritating design elements, Trouble in Paradise is a fun game that retains the charm of the first Viva Pinata. It's sort of like trying to hit an actual pinata while wearing a blindfold-you'll be frustrated at points but it's still pretty awesome.

Quotation forthcoming.

All in all, this is a very simple game on all accounts bogged down by repetitive gameplay and uninspired levels.

When there's dirty work to be done and you're looking for a hired gun, looks and originality don't matter much-all that matters is whether they can get the job done. You can approach Mercenaries 2 in the same way, letting it do its thing instead of obsessing about its shortcomings. Sure, it isn't exactly pretty and it doesn't reinvent the wheel but it does pack a nice satisfying punch.

With fun 15 levels to play through, The Last Guy is certainly worth a look.However, the downside is that the game has a very short life span.

An excellent all-around game.

This interesting installment in the Tales series is probably best suited to hardcore RPG nuts and fans who loved the previous titles.

While N+ is a polished game, I am fine leaving N as a nice Internet distraction, even if the controls aren't quite as tight as when you play these handheld versions.

While N+ is a polished game, I am fine leaving N as a nice Internet distraction, even if the controls aren't quite as tight as when you play these handheld versions.

If you've never played a Disgaea title before, then head out and grab Disgaea 3. For veterans of the series... yeah, it's more of the same, but with this franchise, when has that ever been a bad thing?

Poor controls, frustrating gameplay and a repetitive single-player mode mean it's three strikes and you're out for Mario and his friends.

It has a few hours of enjoyment and despite maybe being a little too short; you will want to go back over and over again.

On its own merits, Galaga Legions is an enjoyable but short game. But for old school gamers the original title, available on XBLA for half the price, has much more to offer.

It's ultimately the inspired intermingling of the disparate abilities bestowed on partnered players that makes Too Human worth playing.

Let this middling tennis game be a lesson to why you shouldn't port a PSP game to the Xbox 360.

Capcom really did a great job of walking the fine line between paying homage to the classic and moving in a new direction. Of course, Rearmed isn't perfect: the controls take some getting used to, the hacking mini-game's sort of lame, and the game is still brutally tough--curse you spiked floors!--but it's a great update that I heartily recommend to old school NES fans and new gamers alike.

Capcom really did a great job of walking the fine line between paying homage to the classic and moving in a new direction. Of course, Rearmed isn't perfect: the controls take some getting used to, the hacking mini-game's sort of lame, and the game is still brutally tough--curse you spiked floors!--but it's a great update that I heartily recommend to old school NES fans and new gamers alike.

For Fable fans only, games require more luck than skill.

Unfortunately, Gas Powered Games forget all the elements that make the games in this genre so damn fun and addictive. It's really a shame because had they done it right, it would have made the wait for Diablo III that much more bearable. But as it stands, this is without a doubt the worst addition to the Siege series yet.

It's obviously aimed squarely at the hardcore DS gamer; and while the intense action and high difficulty will probably turn off the casual crowd, it's a solid shooter for anyone who's looking for a challenge. [Sept 2008, p.84]

The controls are tight and responsive, and the overall flow of an NFL contest feels realistic.

Madden's controls are so sophisticated and complex that I'm surprised more fans of shooters and other action games don't play.

Long time Homestar Runner fans will be pleased to see that all the major characters they've come to know (Marzipan, The Cheat, Coach Z, Pom Pom, etc.) are included along with many inside jokes.

Long time Homestar Runner fans will be pleased to see that all the major characters they've come to know (Marzipan, The Cheat, Coach Z, Pom Pom, etc.) are included along with many inside jokes.

Its sad, slightly twisted tale probably isn't everyone's cup of tea either. But how often do players get a chance to be immersed in an engrossing story in a downloadable title, especially one that looks like a painting and has haunting music straight out of an art museum?

A beautiful and mesmerizing title that warrants a look. It can't top the cream of the current crop of downloadable PSN games like Super Stardust HD, PixelJunk Monsters, and Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection Online, but it certainly holds its weight if you're looking to kill a few hours on a lazy Sunday.

This sequel does not reinvent itself but even at double the price point of its predecessor, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 manages to offer enough new modes and graphic enhancements to make it a must buy for fans of the original.

It's fundamentally the same game as "Soul Calibur III", only with more fighters, an online mode, and more create-a-character customizations. It's remarkably well produced and visually sumptuous, but its appeal remains limited to hardcore fighting veterans and casual button-mashers.

It's fundamentally the same game as "Soul Calibur III", only with more fighters, an online mode, and more create-a-character customizations. It's remarkably well produced and visually sumptuous, but its appeal remains limited to hardcore fighting veterans and casual button-mashers. This is a good game, but not a great one.

This is a title worthy of your money. If you're a huge fan of survival horror titles, Blood Curse won't disappoint.

Shoot'em up purists won't be deterred by these issues as "Joint Strike" does have something to offer, especially when playing with a partner. But for most gamers, who after buying the game have already put their 40 quarters on the arcade cabinet glass, some continues should have been included.

While the tapping for some reason can occasionally be imprecise, leaving the gameplay feeling a little less tight than it could've been, Mister Slime is definitely solid enough (despite being...yeah, slimy) to warrant a look for the puzzle adventure set.

Shoot'em up purists won't be deterred by these issues as "Joint Strike" does have something to offer, especially when playing with a partner. But for most gamers, who after buying the game have already put their 40 quarters on the arcade cabinet glass, some continues should have been included.

Rookie developer Little Boy Games seems like a veteran with the release of Go! Go! Break Steady. Stylized graphics, smooth 2D character animations and a slick presentation make Go! Go! Break Steady an experience not quite like anything else out there.

The controls are solid, the Japanese vocals and English subtitles are well done, and while the game does make you grind through levels, it was nice to know that my actions would make a difference even if I died eleven floors down.

I can definitely say the faults on the game attribute to the fact the title is based on a handheld system and is definitely better suited for a system that doesn't include dual screens.

Order Up! offers up just enough addictive fun to make it worth your while. It's not going to unseat Cooking Mama from her culinary throne, but it is an entertaining experience that's perfect for a few rounds of bite-sized fun.

Ultimately, Final Fantasy IV remains the same epic experience it was 17 years ago, and improvements on the DS are a welcome treat for fans of the series and newcomers to the franchise. [Aug 2008, p.80]

This game just lacks in too many ways to cost this much. Should have just been a 400 point game.

Double D Dodgeball should be skipped. Certain gimmicks like skill shots and a variety of arenas do not add enough to warrant a purchase.

Players who've wrung all they can out of Wii Sports will appreciate We Love Golf if they're not looking for anything too serious. But if you draw the line at pirate-themed golf courses, avert your eyes, matey.

MLE: The Game is extremely shallow in both gameplay and modes available. The only people who would have any fun with this game are youngsters who cannot stop laughing at bathroom humor.

It's got decent game play and once the kills start rolling in you won't want to stop playing. There are just some things you can't pass up and this is one of them.

Golf: Tee It Up! loses points for its minimalist approach (only 2 courses and limited character customization doesn't help) but because it still has a full-game-for-the-price-of-an-arcade-game feel, attractive visuals, and holds the promise of more downloadable content in the future, it's a great value.

Schizoid has a slick, artsy look and is simple, yet elegant. This game is addictive and a lot of fun for those seeking a distinctive experience based on traditional top down shooters.

Cerebral gamers and those with world-conquering ambitions should definitely give this one a try. [Aug 2008, p.76]

As I said, Chocobo's Dungeon isn't perfect but it still manages to offer up enough fun to make you keep going. [July 2008, p.83]

Unreal Tournament III's game style is still too tied to the PC's mouse-and-keyboard interface to be easily playable on a console controller (and believe me, I tried). Had Epic dialed down the speed, simplified the interface, and re-tuned the weapons to leverage the strengths of the Xbox 360's input device, Unreal Tournament III might've found a niche on Xbox Live.

With procedures rarely clearly explained, frustration is quick to take over, and the time limit is just annoying. A normal operation has a time limit of 5 minutes, which doesn't seem so hard until you get stuck randomly away at the screen, trying to figure out what to do next.

Clever political ad parodies and LOL-worthy faux TV spots are more entertaining than actually playing the game itself.

For some strange reason one of the best features of the original game, Mission Mode, is absent. Even more disappointing is the lack of any online versus mode. Sure I can thump my brother in 2-player offline whenever he comes over, but fighting games are perfect for multi-player.

This vivid presentation also brings immense charm to Hail to the Chimp. Clever political ad parodies and LOL-worthy faux TV spots are more entertaining than actually playing the game itself. Dropping $40 for a bunch of cartoons doesn't sound like a good deal though.

In the end, what you're left with is a familiar game that has less content, less unanimous appeal, easier difficulty, and probably the least amount of innovation offered from a Guitar Hero title yet.

Ticket to Ride will split gamers' opinions. For those who love this genre, there is no reason not to enjoy this game. But for people who do not like slow-paced European board games, Ticket to Ride is not likely to change your view of the genre.

It's a solid and enjoyable title with enough action and plot to keep you interested over the long haul. [July 2008, p.77]