Nintendo's got the party magic when it comes to four-player multiplayer good-times, too. No matter how you might manhandle the A.I., playing with your pals is the best way to enjoy this tennis match.

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

A solid multiplayer offering, gore aplenty, a low price point, and general undead silliness make Zombie Apocalypse a fun diversion.

The main problem with Amazing Island is that in Story mode, there's too much downtime in between courses. Still, it's good to see a game that celebrates creation rather than destruction and puts playful competition above vomitous gore. [Sept 2004, p.85]

The fourth installment in the space-faring series, Star Ocean: The Last Hope, not only blows recent next-gen JRPGs out of the water, but proves itself a fantastic swan-song for the cult-favorite space opera.

It can be tedious to baby-sit both characters, but the game otherwise guarantees hours of enjoyment, even if it’s only to jump and flip around.

The adrenaline meter, however, hovers at medium until you reach the boss battles, and there's little replay value unless you're someone who can never get his fill of Naruto ninjutsu.

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.

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

The game veers just slightly away from being sim to drive more directly towards being fun.

Sure, the story is hinky, but the puzzles are excellent, and the game looks amazing on the retina display. Unfortunately, the fact remains that this should've been a free update to the existing version of the game.

Though this year’s GameDay is extremely fun and playable, Madden gets the nod for better graphics and more authenticity.

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.

Aquila isn’t a must-play game, and many gamers can probably get their fix with a rental. But if your trigger finger’s itching for some challenging combat, it’s worth a tour of duty.

The fantastic FielderCam option shifts the gameplay view behind the fielders when a ball's been hit. This provides a much more realistic ballplayer's view of the action than other games. [May 2004, p.90]

While blatant, Pac'N-Jump is actually one of the better Doodle Jump clones out there, and for its 99-cent price, it's well worth a go if you have any fondness for the little yellow dude.

At $0.99, Karoshi is an easy recommendation. It's weird and inventive, and it's a game that I'll probably find myself showing to friends for a long time to come.

The title's refreshing accessibility also makes it a perfect entry point for those new to this under-the-radar franchise. [Apr 2009, p.84]

Dissidia 012: Duodecim Final Fantasy is going to be a delicious, never-ending pit of treats for anyone who owns Advent Children, listens to the Black Mages on their iPods, or knows what Materia is. For anyone else, all I can recommend is giving the game a try if you're simply curious about seeing some awesome graphics and a unique battle system.

Doesn’t necessarily revolutionize the gaming experience—the game does, however, offer a fine continuation to the already classic series.

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.

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.

Overall, if you liked the first GRAW, you can look forward to more excellent military shooter action, with excellent multiplayer features.

However, what it does right it does well, and it doesn't weigh you down with some of the more cumbersome aspects it shares with other titles in the strategy RPG genre. [Sep 2007, p.86]

Looks great, sounds great, and plays pretty well. It's the best of the PS2 crowd, but can't match "NBA 2K1" for the total hoops experience.

If you're a Monster Hunter fan, Gods Eater offers more of the same, but with enough trimmings to still be fresh beyond the futuristic setting. If those appeal to you, it's definitely worth playing. Alternately, if Monster Hunter attracted you in the past but maybe let you down, I'd still say to give Gods Eater a try.

FFVI will engage the player with its story and character development, but it will also test the same player's patience with its horrendously slow response during battles. [FFVI review]

One of the most lovingly crafted games in years, Painkiller looks awesome, sounds intimidating, and controls simply and smoothly.