An interesting minimalist art style and full voice acting makes the game feel like an interactive cartoon at times, and overall fantastic writing supports a genuinely engaging story.

The combination of a mostly-uninteresting puzzle mechanic, and many missed opportunities make what could have been a great game, a good one.

The third episode of the adventure series based on the Back to the Future movies delivers an entertaining story, but not necessarily an entertaining game.

Hamlet isn't my favorite point-and-click adventure ever, but it's quirky and certainly worth a look.

If you own an iPhone, DS, or PSP, those are probably better platforms to play this on, but this iPad version is still a great game that perfectly captures the console GTA experience.

Unlike a lot of the shovelware on the App Store, Gesundheit! feels like its developers were very passionate about their idea, which, married with its overall level of polish make it a must own title.

My only criticism is its price – while I hate quibbling over bucks, $5 does feel a bit steep. Then again, I bought the app with my own cash, and so far I've spent hours on it – so I can't complain too loudly.

If you have nostalgia for the franchise, you'll probably love having this on their iPad, but those unfamiliar with FMV games might be more than a bit befuddled by Dragon's Lair.

Like other great physics puzzlers on the App Store, Cover Orange consistently adds plenty of variation to its puzzles as players progress.

If you can get over the fact that you might be using hints often, even if you're an old hand at adventure games, City of Secrets offers a few hours of cute 'n' clever entertainment at a respectable price, though younger kids will probably get the most out of it.

Given its challenging gameplay, emphasis on techniques, and required replayability, Rocket Bunnies has the potential to offer hours of fun while turning away the casual audience.

There's enough variation on the genre to keep things interesting, and the execution in terms of graphics and level design is top-notch. The simplified aiming system could be helpful for younger gamers or those looking for less of a challenge.

Eustrath feels like a polished console release in a handheld package, but it's not without its issues -- namely, the story translation could've used a bit of work, and there are some noticeable balancing problems early on.

Luckily, Treasure Seekers blows open the genre's doors for idiots like me with a fantastic hint system that requires a bar to fill up over time before you can use it to cheat your way to victory.

Aqua Globs HD is just another enjoyable game that could only be possible on an iOS or touch-screen device, and I highly recommend it.

For now, Angry Birds Halloween is a totally justified release at a reasonable price point, so there's no reason for fans of the original to skip this version.

A stellar recreation of the PC version. I've encountered absolutely no slowdown (or any other issues) during my time with the iPad edition.

A great-looking game, but since a standard Monopoly board is so large and dense with information, it's often difficult to see certain elements on the board.

Do you love Rock Band enough to play a mobile version with streamlined, touch-based controls and downgraded graphics? If so, then Rock Band Reloaded has all the features you could possibly ask for, and it really is the best that it could be on a mobile platform.

The game's intensely warm, orange-heavy environments and hundreds of glittery leaf-like particles that float along with the wind make Spirits feel like a walk through a forest on a late October evening, and it's hard not to become enamored with the game if you're a fan of Lemmings-style gameplay.

Packing pretty much all of the major features of its bigger console siblings, FIFA 11 does a remarkable job in bringing the world's most popular sports game to iPad.

Compared to the price of the console game, for 3 dollars, Battlefield 2: Bad Company HD is a bargain, yet one banking heavily on its multiplayer for replayability.

Quotation forthcoming.

While not as advanced or socially oriented as the recent Bomberman releases, players will find the original Bomberman pleasantly and subversively enjoyable. [Sept 2004, p.93]

Quotation unavailable.

Quotation unavailable.

It is the quintessential Nintendo party game, and a recommended purchase if you happen to have a friend or two with a 3DS, which should be a bit more likely now that Black Friday is over.

It's tough to sum up everything that makes Arkham City work as well as it does. If Arkham Asylum was a fun-house chock-full of Batman's most famous foes with a decent dose of fanservice for Dark Knight die-hards, this is a sprawling theme park that plumbs the depths of his case files.

King of Fighters XIII is a title that every fighting game fan should take notice of. It's gorgeous and surprisingly accessible, yet challenging and deep for competitive play. There's no shortage of solo gameplay appeal, either: the characters are great, the story is intriguing, and there's a wealth of varied content to keep you playing.

King of Fighters XIII is a title that every fighting game fan should take notice of. It's gorgeous and surprisingly accessible, yet challenging and deep for competitive play. There's no shortage of solo gameplay appeal, either: the characters are great, the story is intriguing, and there's a wealth of varied content to keep you playing.

The scores of happy families, the gentle and caring characters you've grown up with your entire life, and the chance to virtually wander around a place that is so beloved can't help but make you smile.

Even though some things need to be tightened up, WWE '12 shows that the video game side of the franchise is still improving.

Even though some things need to be tightened up, WWE '12 shows that the video game side of the franchise is still improving.

It might not be worth $40 for some gamers, but series fans will appreciate it.

Admittedly, critiquing Minecraft's ready-made dungeons and NPC villages is a bit like complaining about the beans served alongside an immaculate five-star steak. Sure, the side-servings might be mediocre, but at its core Minecraft is one of the most forward-thinking games ever created. It spits in the face of the conventional games industry, and it's raked in millions of dollars while doing so

When met with the game's linear nature and over-reliance on quick-time events, these technical issues tear away at what could have been the perfect tribute to the original film.

Ultimately, Freakyforms is a game of two halves. Playing mad scientist in the creature creator is fun and it's a great reward seeing your monsters come to life. The problem comes from what to do next. I know that when I was a boy, I envisioned my legion of monsters doing a lot more than gathering knick knacks.

If you were hoping for a game with the personality of Parodius, look elsewhere -- there may be a decent, if flawed, Gradius design somewhere inside Excellent, but finding it may not be worth the trouble.

Though maddening at times, it's easy to see Another World's rigidly scripted cinematic nature as a precursor to modern linear blockbusters like Uncharted, making it a fascinating, albeit antiquated curio.

Fusion: Genesis is an ambitious title that is well presented, but I can't help feeling XBLA is the wrong platform for it. The slow pace of gameplay is more suited to a PC title, and the interface, which is cumbersome and unclear to navigate with a controller, would work just fine with a mouse.

Originally on WiiWare, there are some concessions to the touch screen with virtual buttons occasionally getting in the way of objects you need to move. This is a small price to pay for such a wondrous platformer at a fraction of the price.

The journey across America is beautifully rendered, capturing the varied landscapes spectacularly as you travel over the Sierra, across the Great Plains, and head towards the East Coast. The quality of the movies is very good too, and the characters' faces are nicely rendered to convey emotion. But the story and the gameplay just don't hold up their side of the bargain, and the game ends up falling short of its considerable potential.

The journey across America is beautifully rendered, capturing the varied landscapes spectacularly as you travel over the Sierra, across the Great Plains, and head towards the East Coast. The quality of the movies is very good too, and the characters' faces are nicely rendered to convey emotion. But the story and the gameplay just don't hold up their side of the bargain, and the game ends up falling short of its considerable potential.

Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 is still a spectacle, but compared to the first time around, the hype feels far more subdued.

Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 is still a spectacle, but compared to the first time around, the hype feels far more subdued.

And yet, even with the flaws, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary dramatically succeeds in being a celebratory look back at what was considered a "perfect" first-person shooter experience 10 years ago.

At its core, this is the Assassin's Creed we've grown to love in recent years, and it still serves as a pretty good time sink -- plus, it's a necessary bridge to next year's already-announced follow-up. But obligation shouldn't be the primary reason to play something, and sadly, that's too often the case in this humdrum campaign.

At its core, this is the Assassin's Creed we've grown to love in recent years, and it still serves as a pretty good time sink -- plus, it's a necessary bridge to next year's already-announced follow-up. But obligation shouldn't be the primary reason to play something, and sadly, that's too often the case in this humdrum campaign.

It's not a flawless package: there are some localization hiccups every now and then, and it's frustrating to waste time and money using crafts and erecting facilities that turn out not to yield much. But Oh! Edo Towns' combo of engaging simulation gaming, interesting theme, and distinct Kairosoft charm makes it well worth your time.

As an overall experience, Medieval Moves: Deadmund's Quest was a lot of fun, but the rigid precision of its motion controls forced me to take more breaks than I would have liked, and the on-rails style gameplay left me feeling bombarded way too often.

It's juvenile, it occasionally objectionable (I'm sorry, I just don't like blasting away at bikini models, even if they are trying to kill me too) and sometimes after playing I feel like I should go take a shower. But I can't remember a game I've played recently that was so dedicated to letting the gamer have as much fun as possible any way they want to. And when it comes to having fun, Saints Row: The Third is like a big party that you don't want to see stop.

It's juvenile, it occasionally objectionable (I'm sorry, I just don't like blasting away at bikini models, even if they are trying to kill me too) and sometimes after playing I feel like I should go take a shower. But I can't remember a game I've played recently that was so dedicated to letting the gamer have as much fun as possible any way they want to. And when it comes to having fun, Saints Row: The Third is like a big party that you don't want to see stop.

Skyward Sword​ is absolutely packed with content. There's hardly any fluff to be found in the 35 hours or so it takes to complete the main quest, outside of the typically sluggish opening scenes. But I feel like Zelda should be going back to its roots and becoming less linear, rather than moreso. It's a curious decision, and I'm not sure it'll sit particularly well with longtime Zelda fans.

Like every other game in the series, Skyrim is going to eat hundreds of hours of my gaming time over the next few years. It has that sense of wonder that makes he Elder Scrolls games so great, and with the changes to skills, the Shouts, and dual-wielding, I think any gamer is going to have a lot of fun with Skyrim (and its eventual expansions) as well.

The game is crafted with so much love, so much humor, and does so many things right, that it's impossible not to have a blast.

If you're looking for something with a light sense of humor that's kid and family friendly and inexpensive, this might be the title for you. But for those searching for a deeper experience in their downloadable games or a nostalgic trip to the past, BurgerTime World Tour might not cut the mustard.

In short, it's one of the best value PC games you'll ever buy.

The tired, princess-saving formula never seems to change, but somehow Nintendo makes every visit to the Mushroom Kingdom feel like the first time.

At its core, that's really the game's biggest problem -- Two Towns feels like one of the most dumbed down Harvest Moon titles in years, and whatever addiction you'll get maintaining crops/livestock might not outlast the boredom.

Melodramatic monologues and clunky controls aside, there isn't a whole lot else I can say about the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection outside of this: if you loved these three gruff, gravel-voiced games on their original releases, or missed them the first time around, they're certainly worth adding (or re-adding, or, if you're like me, re-re-adding) to your library.

If you haven't played Cave Story before and want to see what the fuss is about, or are a die-hard fan who needs to have it in every form possible, you simply can't go wrong with Cave Story 3D.

It will be yet another go-round on the same rollercoaster. And this time, to enjoy it fully, you won't have to measure up at a sign that says "you must be this obsessed with multiplayer to ride this ride."

It will be yet another go-round on the same rollercoaster. And this time, to enjoy it fully, you won't have to measure up at a sign that says "you must be this obsessed with multiplayer to ride this ride."

To the Moon is a rare treat in this current crop of game releases. It doesn't break new ground with its storytelling, and it won't drop jaws with its unfolding action, but that's exactly what makes it a different kind of game. It calls for a moment of your time, and your undivided attention. It involves a lot of reading and a very little strategy. It explores a human concept -- the dying wish -- and invites you to come along. It's simple, poignant, and full of heart.

For what it attempts, the tower-defense aspects are not well explained enough, or implemented simply enough, to raise Dungeon Defenders above the slew of similar games out there.

Stronghold might have been great once, but that castle has long since crumbled. Spend your ducats elsewhere.

Drawn: Trail of Shadows manages to be casual without being pandering, stupefying without being stupid, and artsy without being pretentious. When it was all over I'd restored not only paintings, but my enthusiasm for the floundering genre as well.

Overall, I was actually pleasantly surprised by GoldenEye: Reloaded. There are enough nods to the source material to keep the game from being a complete derailment of the franchise, and while the multiplayer will never measure up to the original, it still has its English charms.

Overall, I was actually pleasantly surprised by GoldenEye: Reloaded. There are enough nods to the source material to keep the game from being a complete derailment of the franchise, and while the multiplayer will never measure up to the original, it still has its English charms.

The transition from polished first-person console shooter to 16-bit RPG is a smooth one on the visual front, thanks to Vlambeer's excellent pixel art and attention to minute details. It's just a bummer that the gameplay itself isn't quite as absorbing past the first world or so.

All things considered, Fate/Extra simply isn't a game I can recommend to everyone, but those who can accept the game's many imperfections will likely enjoy their time with it.

A perfectly competent beat-'em-RPG, even if it doesn't do much to carve out its own niche in the Lord of the Rings universe. Its strength and weakness is that it's completely inoffensive -- the perfect middle-of-the-road game. Unfortunately, it's hard to see what helps differentiate War of the North from the pack, and the pack is where it's apt to stay.

A perfectly competent beat-'em-RPG, even if it doesn't do much to carve out its own niche in the Lord of the Rings universe. Its strength and weakness is that it's completely inoffensive -- the perfect middle-of-the-road game. Unfortunately, it's hard to see what helps differentiate War of the North from the pack, and the pack is where it's apt to stay.

While the game has some flaws, the annoying issues with Kinect Sports: Season Two didn't adversely affect my enjoyment of the game. As a Kinect Sports vet, I expected more of the same -- heck, I even wanted it.

At best, Evolution is mediocre. While it's far from busted, there just isn't much to merit your attention past a handful of matches in each play session. Why, it's almost like it'd be better as an iPhone game or something instead!

Without its surreal mix of worlds and characters, Disney Universe would be little more than a fun, but forgettable LEGO game rip-off. However, with enough charm and personality to fill Cinderella's Castle, it's hard not to recommend it to those who make annual treks to Disneyland or catch every Pixar flick on opening day. If that doesn't describe you, but you're an adult looking for a fun interactive romp to take with your kids, Disney Universe is still a great place to visit.

Without its surreal mix of worlds and characters, Disney Universe would be little more than a fun, but forgettable LEGO game rip-off. However, with enough charm and personality to fill Cinderella's Castle, it's hard not to recommend it to those who make annual treks to Disneyland or catch every Pixar flick on opening day. If that doesn't describe you, but you're an adult looking for a fun interactive romp to take with your kids, Disney Universe is still a great place to visit.

It's tough to recommend Heian Love, even as a Shall We Date? game (hell, a cursory glance at the developer's other games reveals Ninja Love, which sounds infinitely more interesting), but hey, if it's your cup of tea, I'm not one to stand in the way of romance.

For someone interested in videogame design or history, The War of the Worlds is an interesting case study. But is it fun? Dear god, no. Just, no.

For something called The Book of Unwritten Tales, it treads awfully familiar ground; yet it does so with moxie and high production values. It's generally knowing and polished enough that it can be forgiven for not innovating a great deal. The Book of Unwritten Tales feels like a great cover of what's come before, even if it can't quite capture its forebear's magic.

While I think of Dance Central as a better video game (and Just Dance doesn't come close to matching the game's choreography tracking) I'd still rather play Just Dance whenever I have friends over.

Mahjong Cub3D is intriguing and unique, but the concept doesn't quite work that well.

It's barely better than mediocre, and just another game that should be heading to the used shelf in record time. Pick it up on the cheap for a young sibling/nephew/cousin if you do buy it at all.

While it's light on content and features and isn't about to make anyone forget about the triple-A racing titles coming out this holiday, Daytona USA is an enjoyable ride that proves that great gameplay almost always ages well. For those who still long for the simplicity of old school titles and the challenges that typically come with it, this downloadable slice of gaming nostalgia is well worth a look.

While it's light on content and features and isn't about to make anyone forget about the triple-A racing titles coming out this holiday, Daytona USA is an enjoyable ride that proves that great gameplay almost always ages well. For those who still long for the simplicity of old school titles and the challenges that typically come with it, this downloadable slice of gaming nostalgia is well worth a look.

Essentially, Spike could've developed a better game if they used some kind of fusion to merge the original Raging Blast's gameplay with Ultimate Tenkaichi's stellar graphics. But the end result here just falls short of being a memorable experience.

Essentially, Spike could've developed a better game if they used some kind of fusion to merge the original Raging Blast's gameplay with Ultimate Tenkaichi's stellar graphics. But the end result here just falls short of being a memorable experience.

Zombie Apocalypse 2: Never Die Alone is far from terrible.

Zombie Apocalypse 2: Never Die Alone is far from terrible.

A sloppy single-player campaign met with matchless multiplayer makes for an unbalanced first-person shooter experience.

A sloppy single-player campaign met with matchless multiplayer makes for an unbalanced first-person shooter experience.

PowerUp Heroes is cute and likable, and the motion controls work surprisingly well.

The House of the Dead: Overkill: Extended Cut adds more content to a raunchy, entertaining romp. If you got tired of Detective Washington's non-stop cursing while playing it before, you'll find no reprieve here. But if you've never experienced it, or you're hankering to test drive it in HD, it's well worth your while.

It's too bad, because Cursed Crusade has fleetingly interesting ideas, like forcing you to push a very slow-moving mantlet towards an enemy's defensive line, or the way the timing of tapping out combo strings actually encourages thoughtful player response. Co-op can actually be fun in short bursts with a friend, and even the detailed aesthetic is surprisingly competent.

It's too bad, because Cursed Crusade has fleetingly interesting ideas, like forcing you to push a very slow-moving mantlet towards an enemy's defensive line, or the way the timing of tapping out combo strings actually encourages thoughtful player response. Co-op can actually be fun in short bursts with a friend, and even the detailed aesthetic is surprisingly competent.

For fans wanting a return to the franchise's classic roots, I feel like Kirby's Return to Dream Land is apt to be a bit disappointing. The charm is still there, but the creativity seems to have gone amiss.

Overall, the combination of a robust multiplayer, a surprisingly compelling co-op adventure, and a thrilling ten-hour single-player campaign add up to a title that is, quite simply, a must-own

Despite its flaws, I found Payday to be more Ocean's Eleven than Small Time Crooks; it's got some clever moves, a fun sense of imagination, and it makes you appreciate (and rely upon) every member of your cast. Not since Left 4 Dead have I wanted to get my buddies together and spend late nights working together towards a common goal.