Patapon 2 did a good job of making the simple gameplay from the original more user-friendly while fleshing out the role that loot plays in the game to make this one of the best loot games in recent memory on console or handheld.

The $30 price tag, combined with the huge pile of content added, makes this a must-own for racing fans, Sega fans, or people just looking for a great arcade racer to add to their gaming library. OutRun2006 perfectly fits the definition of a sleeper hit.

Civilization Revolution is a benchmark in the turn-based strategy series for console games both now and in the future.

Civilization Revolution is a benchmark in the turn-based strategy series for console games both now and in the future.

Now that the next-gen is officially something in the present, it’s safe to say that Madden NFL 08 is the first great Madden game to come out since Madden NFL 2005.

With a solid new campaign, an improved level cap, dozens of new perks and tons of powerful weapons at your disposal, Broken Steel is hands down some of the best content Fallout 3 has to offer.

When it comes down to it, Boom Blox is a game that has a great, simple gameplay concept that's executed very well to become one of the premiere third-party games on the Wii, especially when looking at your multiplayer options outside of the games that Nintendo has made which tend to come to mind first for multiplayer gaming.

With a solid new campaign, an improved level cap, dozens of new perks and tons of powerful weapons at your disposal, Broken Steel is hands down some of the best content Fallout 3 has to offer.

PixelJunk Eden Encore may not seem to offer a ton of new content for the $5.99 it offers, but you will easily find about 10-15 hours of enjoyment in the new gardens along with that special surprise for collecting all of the spectra to make it worth it.

As a sequel to the original, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift does a great job of addressing the major issues that MotorStorm had to give racing fans a much more complete experience for their money.

As a PC title, de Blob was a charming game, but as a Wii title the game stands out as among the best on the system.

With a flawed, yet fun, online mode, a great deal of single player modes, and enough courses to choke a horse, Mario Kart DS is almost infinitely replayable.

Despire the lack of an online mode, this brand new style works out extremely well for the series and should bring the game a lot more fans.

It's tough, it's grueling, but it's so damn worth it that you'll never really have much of a problem getting into the game from the minute you load the disc into your Xbox.

The story just isn't put-together well enough, the graphics are disappointing, and the levels have you constantly running back and forth. Yes, if all of these things were rectified, the game would be spectacular. But they're not.

Despite the lack of an online mode, this brand new style works out extremely well for the series and should bring the game a lot more fans.

Provides a console quality experience in portable form. With danger room missions and comic book side stories, as well as unlockable characters and conceptual art, you will surely be playing X-Men Legends 2 long after the credits roll.

The game definitely offers enough replayability so that your experience should change if you decide to play through it again, though whether the second playthrough would stand up to the first is a big question for another time.

Lumines Supernova provides another avenue of getting the great Lumines gameplay to the hands of the people that have yet to try it out

It's really to the game's credit that its enormous breadth makes us long for even more sets, scenes, and goodies to muck with.

Yet for all the issues with the AI and mission design, Perfect Dark Zero comes together exceedingly well, thanks to huge levels, solid mission objectives, and nifty gadgets that break up the battles with short minigames.

An excellent DS RPG that feels like many of the best parts of previous games in the series and its spin-offs that have been streamlined greatly. There are some faults here and there that keep it from being perfect, but DS owners looking for a great RPG to get invested in will find a lot to like here.

Zack & Wiki is easily the best original Wii game on the system right now, though whether it strikes a chord with the Wii's audience is another discussion all together.

Mega Man 9 is an extraordinary accomplishment through and through and has come at the right time.

Sure, the game only has about six levels, but when you consider all the time you'll puti into it with the different difficulty settings and characters; you'll have to think about the well-being of your thumbs and fingers.

In a time where it seems like Wii owners have been deprived of hardcore, or mature, games, solid titles such as House of the Dead: Overkill and MadWorld get released to somewhat nurture their poor souls.

The World Ends With You is a game that's really hard to get into at first because of its bizarre presentation. However, the strangeness of the game is what really makes it stand out from any RPG—or rather, any game, that's come out before it.

Despite the lack of an online mode, this brand new style works out extremely well for the series and should bring the game a lot more fans.

A great addition to an already phenomenal computer game. It makes one of the most addictive games on the market that much more engaging.

The Resistance 2 that Insomniac did release is still a great game that is a lot of fun to play, but there is just enough here that is somewhat lacking that could’ve helped the campaign and competitive modes reach their potential.

Mega Man 9 is an extraordinary accomplishment through and through and has come at the right time.

Guild Wars Factions not only gives longtime fans a taste of something new, but it allows newcomers to jump right in and start playing.

But the fun of Summon Night: Swordcraft Story is feeling that sense of learning alongside the main character. Though we ultimately know he will win the day, he won't do it without us.

A great game and a great value that's marred – but by no means ruined – by some poor development choices such as licensed music and certain skin designs. It is the biggest Lumines game to date, and the gameplay from the original is still in place, plus the game doesn't end at 999999 points.

Mega Man 9 is an extraordinary accomplishment through and through and has come at the right time.

Tiberium Wars is just an excellent example of how a strategy game off of its native platform should be.

With a dearth of features and tweaks that make this experience the best out there, gamers will have plenty to do before and after the first pitch of the season.

Despite the lack of an online mode, this brand new style works out extremely well for the series and should bring the game a lot more fans.

The team behind this year’s Madden certainly has the right ideas for where this franchise should be heading, as Madden 09 clearly shows.

Like FFX, it does not fit in that well with the rest of the series from a gameplay or stylistic standpoint, but it stands up beautifully alongside the likes of the Chrono and Seiken Densetsu franchises as a high-quality Square Enix RPG in its own right, even if it isn't one of the greatest of all time.

The game nails its sound scores. Though the soundtrack of the game is sometimes lacking and old-fashioned, it is reminiscent of old SNES and NES titles and feels mood appropriate at all times.

Has just enough charm and spunk.

It’s the crux of the gameplay that matters and Resident Evil 5 has chosen a path more brazen, more gung-ho than we imagined. The co-op campaign makes inviting a friend over for a double dose of zombie-extermination possible, and while this should get old, it doesn’t.

Trauma Team is a great new avenue for this series with more variety to the action and a story to actually care about. The campaign is a meaty 30 hours long with the option for co-op is most of the missions and additional difficulties to really test your skills.

While Castle Crashers may have been the victim of some unfortunate online issues that hurt the game's great co-op potential for now, Behemoth seems committed to making sure these issues are fixed and put to rest as soon as they can get a patch out to the public.

Simulation hardliners need not apply, but pound-for-pound, this game makes a very good case for itself as the top title of the PS3 launch.

A great story, addictive and intuitive combat system, polished graphics and with a multiplayer component that will keep you coming back, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days should keep fans interested for months to come.

For those who zip through Pokémon games, you can become the League Champion in a little more than 30 hours, but it should take everybody maybe 40 or more hours to complete. Rest assured, the game isn’t anywhere close to over after the credits roll.

It may be underappreciated just for what it is, but those who pick it up and really play into it will quickly find that this one is something special.

PixelJunk Shooter is another great game in this series, though it’s an experience that ends quite a bit sooner than its predecessors that left us wanting more in the best way possible.

Everyday Shooter is certainly no Geometry Wars or Super Stardust HD, but that’s the beauty of the game. If you want a new take on the twin-stick shooter genre, Everyday Shooter will certainly give you what you want and maybe even a little bit more.

Probably the best rhythm game of this generation and one of the best in the genre since PaRappa the Rapper came out. It doesn’t have the originality in its music that other games have had, but its control style and overall effect is far beyond what most people were expecting.

NCAA Football 11 makes a number of big improvements to the way the game plays that makes this one worth checking out if you've been unsatisfied with the lack of improvements over the past few years.

A great game for anyone who enjoys The Lord of the Rings, fantasy, strategy games, or Xbox Live. It’s a surprisingly well ported game that really shouldn’t play anywhere near as good as it does.

NCAA Football 11 makes a number of big improvements to the way the game plays that makes this one worth checking out if you've been unsatisfied with the lack of improvements over the past few years.

For those who zip through Pokémon games, you can become the League Champion in a little more than 30 hours, but it should take everybody maybe 40 or more hours to complete. Rest assured, the game isn’t anywhere close to over after the credits roll.

A solid game, and honestly one of the few launch titles that bring something new in terms of gameplay.

It’s the crux of the gameplay that matters and Resident Evil 5 has chosen a path more brazen, more gung-ho than we imagined. The co-op campaign makes inviting a friend over for a double dose of zombie-extermination possible, and while this should get old, it doesn’t.

Though it might be lacking in game modes, what is there is done so well that it will keep you playing despite the lack of a drawn out Career Mode.

EA buying the NFL license seems more like a blessing to those who really enjoy football for what it is-a great, harmful, and fun way to show that your team rules.

Half-Minute Hero does a great job of being a refreshing experience that combines unique takes on four very different genres to tell an epic story into one of the most interesting PSP games we’ve played in a long time.

This is probably the best first person shooter you’ll ever play on a handheld. Then again that may not sit will with Metroid purists given the series roots as an adventure title.

Overall, what you have a very well done effort by Ensemble Studios. They have taken a franchise that must be handled carefully, if only because of the fans, and successfully blended it with a completely different type of game.

Splinter Cell Double Agent is a solid game with an excellent multiplayer component. Fans of a gripping storyline which includes intense action and “stealthy stealth” will no doubt enjoy this game.

When it comes down to it, Braid's very much one of those artsy games with an impactful story that can be something for people to talk about for a long time, which certainly lasts more than the game requires to beat it.

EA buying the NFL license seems more like a blessing to those who really enjoy football for what it is—a great, harmful, and fun way to show that your team rules.

Knights in the Nightmare isn’t a game that everybody will love simply because it’s one of the most complex games ever to be released. There is no game to really compare it to, except for maybe Ikaruga, and that’s not even an RPG.

Madden 09 has far more successes than failures, enough that any pro football fan that’s been hesitant to actually pick-up the game for the past few should definitely give this game a shot.

With all that being said Virtua Fighter 5 Online for the Xbox 360 is most definitely a buy. That is of course, if you didn’t buy it for the PS3 already. It’s arguable though. The added content and online functionality may be the push you need to make up your mind.

F.E.A.R.'s adherence to tightly confined corridors and the repetitive gameplay means Monolith’s shooter fails to reach the summit of the FPS pile. F.E.A.R. is a follower, not a leader. However, its shadow does manage to reach "Half-Life 2's" eyes. If only just.

The game flows extremely well, and is just a complete blast to play. Seeing your favorite MK landscapes come to life is a total joy and the story provides some insight into the strange MK world.

The game flows extremely well, and is just a complete blast to play. Seeing your favorite MK landscapes come to life is a total joy and the story provides some insight into the strange MK world.

Splinter Cell Double Agent is a solid game with an excellent multiplayer component. Fans of a gripping storyline which includes intense action and "stealthy stealth" will no doubt enjoy this game.

When all's said and done, NCAA 09 may have some rough spots and bugs, there are ways around it that keep them from hampering the immense amount of enjoyment that the game offers.

As a complete package, SVR 09 never fails to impress.

For $10 on PSN and XBLA, there’s a good amount of content here and replayability that makes it a worthy purchase for fans of the puzzle genre.

It comes down to this: Left 4 Dead is a hell of a lot of fun to play.

As a complete package, SVR 09 never fails to impress.

Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise doesn't change much from the first title in terms of originality, but the new additions definitely make it feel more refined.

Space Invaders Extreme is a wonderful Xbox Live Arcade game.

For $10 on PSN and XBLA, there’s a good amount of content here and replayability that makes it a worthy purchase for fans of the puzzle genre.

It’s surprisingly inventive, filled with a ton of destruction and explosions, and overcomes its old-hat wartime premise with a durable mix of complexity and fun.

At no point will this be a boring game for any fan of the genre, and it’s a game that really could push Xbox 360 sales overseas. It really is an absolute delight and a real surprise.

On average, the thirty five new singleplayer missions have a play time of thirty minutes apiece, which when combined with the multiplayer missions, and the free flight mode, makes for an expansion pack of tremendous value.

If you have a love for trivia and want a great quiz game for the PS3, there’s no reason you shouldn’t check this out and get ready for some quality time with the family during the upcoming holiday season.

The most engaging and deep strategy gaming yet seen to the DS. While certainly not as immersive as PC strategy titles, this game certainly provides more bang than any available strategy RPGs for the DS or GBA.

Despite the horrible name and the similarities to Lumines, Empty Clip has produced what's probably the best available game on the WiiWare.

Skate shows that there can be two skateboarding games can co-exist. It offers more realistic gameplay that will appeal to those who have wanted a more down to earth style of skateboarding game.

It comes down to this: Left 4 Dead is a hell of a lot of fun to play.

Advance Wars: Days of Ruin is a risk that Nintendo didn't have to take, but they did, and with that, they've made the most interesting game in the series.

It’s one of the best experiences for the PSP, and if you’re a stickler for perfecting games you will get the bang for you buck as you try to collect everything in each level.

With the economy on the ropes and gamers finding it harder to purchase game, you will not find a better deal than Assault on Dark Athena, which gives you two single player campaigns and a multiplayer component for one price.

Ultimately, there’s something completely satisfying and entertaining in creating a real-life house in a Sims world and finding out what truly does happen when pets stop being polite and start getting real.

With the economy on the ropes and gamers finding it harder to purchase game, you will not find a better deal than Assault on Dark Athena, which gives you two single player campaigns and a multiplayer component for one price.

The gameplay is simple and easy to master, but it is also challenging enough to keep gamers pounding themselves in disgust because of whatever mistake they're bound to make in the game's 200+ levels.

The gameplay is simple and easy to master, but it is also challenging enough to keep gamers pounding themselves in disgust because of whatever mistake they make in the game's 200+ levels.

With the economy on the ropes and gamers finding it harder to purchase game, you will not find a better deal than Assault on Dark Athena, which gives you two single player campaigns and a multiplayer component for one price.

When all's said and done, NCAA 09 may have some rough spots and bugs, there are ways around it that keep them from hampering the immense amount of enjoyment that the game offers.