But whether you venture out with a pal or on your own, Guardian of Light is like a breath of fresh air in a corpse-cluttered tomb, and it signals a triumphant return for one of gaming's most iconic heroines.

As I said in last week's roundup, this is one of my favorite games ever, and I hope that more people -- perhaps some from the younger generation of iPhone owners -- will discover one of Sega's best now that it's available on such a popular and accessible format.

The game motocross wannabes have been craving for years—and it’s just what you’d expect from EA’s Big series.

Its otherworldly sets... are done up in such bewildering detail that you'll want to wipeout P.O.ed spacemen if only to have a more leisurely look-see at all their busy, mind-bending contraptions.

The story, though, is the best part—Vyse and crew are the most extroverted RPG heroes ever, and there's none of that Final Fantasy–style self-abhorrence present.

Visually, the game’s a stunner—cars look great thanks to a high polygon count, and when they crash, parts fly absolutely everywhere.

All in all, Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection is an extremely solid assemblage of some of the Genesis' greatest hits, and with extras and achievements, hidden interviews and an entire museum of concept art thrown in for good measure, it's definitely worth a look from old school gamers looking to re-live the glory days when a hedgehog didn't need a lame Werehog gimmick to prove that he was the baddest mascot around.

While CNK may not break new ground, it does a quality job of delivering another kart racer in Crash’s universe. It will put gamers' mettle to the test and offer hours of "wait, one more time..." gameplay.

A game that finally does the Western action genre some tough justice.

What makes Dawn of Discovery unique is its art style, which makes gameplay look like a moving painting.

It's tons of fun to play whether you're working to actively advance the story or just spending a few hours goofing off and running errands for others.

The A.I. could use more brainpower, but the controls handle beautifully, and the graphics and sounds are stellar.

This speedster is definitely much better [than "Metropolis Street Racer" for the Dreamcast] in every respect.

A fantastic platformer with a long and challenging adventure that also packs a healthy amount of replay value. However, it is highly recommended that you check out the first game before tackling the Zin.

An art style similar to the one found in ngmoco's Rolando gives Plunderland an aesthetically pleasing visual style, and a dynamic physics system makes ship battles on stormy seas a ton of fun.

A blitzkrieg of metal-mauling combat and strategy, purely for stick jockeys. It’s no sim, but it’s not simple either.

With satisfaction always within reach, Battlefield 1943 makes for an addictive online experience. [Aug 2009, p.79]

Drawn to Life is a must-have for every DS owner's library. [Oct 2007, p.87]

Stay for the story, characters, and the sights of Symphonia...but be wary of the action-heavy, automated battle system. The fate of the world may feel a little bit out of your hands. [Aug 2004, p.98]

Besides the enormous song library, you get an incredibly fun controller that helps make you feel like you're really rocking the Casbah to a sold-out audience.

The gameplay is where Super DBZ truly shines. From the first time you load up and play Super DBZ, you'll notice the game religiously pays homage to the Akira Toriyama Dragon Ball universe.

Dynamic action, tons of features, and highly-detailed visuals come together for the first significant step forward of console first-person shooters since "Halo: Combat Evolved." While there are a few minor quibbles, you're assured to become addicted to Bad Company's twitch gameplay.

While it only takes about ten hours to complete Max Payne, it will be ten of the best hours you’ve spent on a computer in a long time.

The mix of true physics, newbie approachability, gameplay depth, and even a sly sense of humor makes Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 thoroughly enjoyable.

As fun as these excursions into petty theft and extortion might be, the essence of The Warriors is combat, and it's the first game in ages to truly nail it.

The learning curve is gradual but the action starts from your first race and never lets up. Fans of racing games will like this title especially ones who want a little something more.

You’ll get an unforgettable experience of different military tactics, plus you’ll have a better idea of what the Army went through in Somalia.

The game was number three in a field of three last year, but this season it looks great and has dramatic gameplay improvements for all skill levels. [Apr 2005, p.97]