At its core, even though it's pretty short (the game can be beaten in less than 8 hours), Vanquish is a great game.

At its core, even though it's pretty short (the game can be beaten in less than 8 hours), Vanquish is a great game.

The single player mode, although excellent in its own right, never really goes anywhere and many of the segments felt repetitive and uninspired to the very end. Bad Company 2 definitely gets its biggest strengths from the multiplayer mode, but that too is jarred with technical issues that could hamper how you play.

Mutation mode is tons of fun for the Infected as it allows you to truly feel dominating, but the real adrenaline rush is for the Survivors, who have to communicate and have fast reflexes in order to survive.

Mutation mode is tons of fun for the Infected as it allows you to truly feel dominating, but the real adrenaline rush is for the Survivors, who have to communicate and have fast reflexes in order to survive.

The campaign took us just over six hours to complete with a few more hours spent in the base and on challenge levels, which is plenty of quality content for the price.

In just three years, Vicarious Visions has taken a well adapted formula and created an enjoyable, polished and all-around better sequel. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 will give fans a reason to enjoy playing, and with the dynamic fusion powers, wide cast of characters, and the storyline based around the events of Civil War, there is surely something here to please anyone.

With an endearing, dynamic world and pure unadulterated adventuring, it will leave you with fond memories and a sense of accomplishment.

If you are someone who wants a game that will challenge their old-school gaming skills, as cliched as that sounds, then Hard Corps: Uprising is definitely for you. It's a game that is initially punishing, but ultimately satisfying.

If you are someone who wants a game that will challenge their old-school gaming skills, as cliched as that sounds, then Hard Corps: Uprising is definitely for you. It's a game that is initially punishing, but ultimately satisfying.

DeathSpank certainly isn't a perfect game by any means, but it does a very good job of bringing the loot RPG to the consoles with a good story that made us want to search every inch of the world that Hothead and Ron Gilbert has created.

DeathSpank certainly isn't a perfect game by any means, but it does a very good job of bringing the loot RPG to the consoles with a good story that made us want to search every inch of the world that Hothead and Ron Gilbert has created.

Battlefield 1943 is an all out multiplayer experience and one that fans will surely be hooked to for quite some time. Although only three maps are available at this time, EA is constantly holding contests to unlock new maps for each system and the inclusion of ranks and awards will only encourage players to continue fighting.

In just three years, Vicarious Visions has taken a well adapted formula and created an enjoyable, polished and all-around better sequel. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 will give fans a reason to enjoy playing, and with the dynamic fusion powers, wide cast of characters, and the storyline based around the events of Civil War, there is surely something here to please anyone.

As complicated as the ideas and premises may be, Radiant Historia is simply a good game. Players who are into Japanese RPGs or simply miss the golden age of the Super NES definitely owe it to themselves to give Radiant Historia a try.

Loyalists will probably be put off by the game's many (long) low-res cutscenes and the shoddy controls at first, but after about half an hour of play, the pacing starts to really pick up and the game really becomes a joy to play. The game is also pretty hard, and there will be times of extreme frustration when dying countless times, but as long as you can endure that, you're in for quite an enjoyable experience.

It is a great example of what this genre can offer.

Battlefield 1943 is an all out multiplayer experience and one that fans will surely be hooked to for quite some time. Although only three maps are available at this time, EA is constantly holding contests to unlock new maps for each system and the inclusion of ranks and awards will only encourage players to continue fighting.

It is a great example of what this genre can offer.

It is a great example of what this genre can offer.

The game is beautiful, the commentary is among the most interactive in any sports title, the new gameplay mechanics in NHL 10 are easy to learn and tough to master, the new Ultimate Hockey Team is insanely addictive.

About A Blob has a great art style that was reminiscent of Genndy Tartakovsky's style that works really well for this 2D platformer, especially with the way the blob's eyes change depending on what you're doing.

The single player mode, although excellent in its own right, never really goes anywhere and many of the segments felt repetitive and uninspired to the very end. Bad Company 2 definitely gets its biggest strengths from the multiplayer mode, but that too is jarred with technical issues that could hamper how you play.

Nothing in Darwinia+ is spectacularly breathtaking, but it manages to rope you in with all its charm and subtle nerd humor, and you just don’t want to let go.

Though Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling adventure kind of ends on a sour note with a particularly steep difficulty curve near the end, the entire adventure is very much worth experiencing for any gamer that would like a challenging and quirky platformer with a load of charm on top.

As it stands, Grand Theft Auto IV is a rather poor port, but a fantastic game all the same.

MLB 09: The Show on the PlayStation 2 easily got the least amount of upgrades and new features of the trio of offerings this year.

A great game. However, if you were planning to buy this game for its campaign, you might as well forget it. The campaign mode becomes tedious and shallow quickly.

This is one of the few RPG’s that truly make the player feel like he or she is playing the role of the hero, and it’s seriously been a while since an RPG has had that kind of impact.

Gran Turismo fans that can’t simply wait another year or more just for the full GT5 will find a lot to like here for the reduced price while casual GT fans that have been overwhelmed by the immense depth of previous Gran Turismos can hop in and get the hang of the game without being a huge car nut quite well.

Newcomers should not be fazed by the fact that Blood Money is the fourth installment in the Hitman series, as it offers enough diversity and charm to keep you hooked until the climatic ending.

Rockstar has done a good job of giving fans more content to please their violent tendencies, and the characters and moments in The Lost and Damned prove to be just as memorable and enjoyable as GTA IV.

Though you may not be able to become a kid again for real, Retro Game Challenge does a nice job of replicating that experience with retro knock-offs and magazines to add to the 80’s atmosphere that can’t be done as well with compilations and remakes.

The battle system plays like something entirely new, and provides for an actually engaging handheld RPG.

While slowdown plagues the game throughout, the action never stops and Rios and Salem will continually battle amidst the crumbling cityscapes of Shanghai as they battle with their own morality and try to save helpless civilians along the way.

Pokemon Platinum is a great experience that anybody with a remote interest in RPG’s should try out.

An impressively intense handheld game that may garner too many Metroid comparisons for its own good.

While you won’t find anything totally new in this new entry to the Bleach DS fighting series, you’ll definitely find a greatly polished piece of work that has basically improved upon every aspect that made the game both great and somewhat flawed.

The wealth of content available here, regardless of whether you're playing Single Mode or Battle Mode, makes it essential old-school playing for those who can appreciate it.

Wild Arms 4 may not be the next big thing in RPGs, but it brings a whole lot of chips to the party. With a truly engaging and original story and some creative storytelling, combined with one of the most interesting and strategic battle systems seen in years, Wild Arms 4 is well worth checking out.

Treyarch has made vast improvements from their COD 3 work and delivered a solid product.

Bigbig Studios did a great job of shrinking the great MotorStorm gameplay and feature set for MotorStorm: Arctic Edge, making it one of the better console transitions to the PSP so far. With the deep Festival and online modes, the package is worth the $40 for what is probably the best racing game for the PSP this holiday season.

The package here is definitely worth the $10 and those that are looking for a relaxing game to utilize their new Avatar will find a lot to like here.

The sounds of battle are great along with the random chatter your characters have to say in the heat of battle.

A marked improvement over its console inspiration, and provides an entertaining and challenging experience to those who pick it up.

Wii owners that crave the newest RPGs will definitely find a lot to like in Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo’s Dungeon, especially those that are into the rogue-like subgenre of RPGs.

While slowdown plagues the game throughout, the action never stops and Rios and Salem will continually battle amidst the crumbling cityscapes of Shanghai as they battle with their own morality and try to save helpless civilians along the way.

Bethesda Softworks wisely followed the “if it ain’t broke” axiom and left much of the core gameplay unchanged, opting instead to toss on oodles of new content and leaving no stone unturned as to how to make the game that much better.

As EA Sports said, it's "simpler, quicker, and deeper," but even with this more fast-paced action, it's still complex enough for Madden veterans to enjoy making this one the best football game this generation has to offer.

As EA Sports said, it's "simpler, quicker, and deeper," but even with this more fast-paced action, it's still complex enough for Madden veterans to enjoy making this one the best football game this generation has to offer.

Hot Shots Tennis: Get a Grip offers a marked improvement over the first Hot Shots Tennis game with a much better single-player mode to anchor its feature set.

Treyarch has made vast improvements from their COD 3 work and delivered a solid product.

If you want to be visually impressed, Itagaki and his Team Ninja have knocked another one out of the park with this game.

A great game. However, if you were planning to buy this game for its campaign, you might as well forget it. The campaign mode becomes tedious and shallow quickly.

All this comes wrapped in what is arguably the best audiovisual package on Live Arcade, with lighting and water effects are so smooth and nuanced that it’s easy to forget, maybe even hard to believe, that this is a downloadable game and not a fully-realized retail release.

The entire world of Saints Row hinges on gang activity while "GTA" only uses it as a stepping stone to reach the upper echelons of organized crime.

If you’re a fan of the Unreal series and have a computer that can run it, there’s really no reason for you not to own this game.

The classic sensation of speed, coupled with some of the best locations, makes this Sonic game one of the best additions to the series in a long time.

You have a good expansion that at times feels odd, but delivers satisfaction. It sticks to the familiar formula but keeps things fresh as necessary. And while it won’t be the highlight of Fall ’09 action shooters, it’s a solid selection.

Treyarch has made vast improvements from their COD 3 work and delivered a solid product.

Fortunately, the game looks fantastic, better than most everything else on consoles, but the framerate takes some serious toles during some of the more graphically intense moments in the game and it almost makes it unbearable to play at some points. But other than that, the game looks, sounds, and plays amazingly.

Though the game takes probably around eight or so hours to beat like the first, less if you know what you’re doing, it feels longer than the first episode since there are more variety in the quests that you’re given throughout the game.

While this is a great upgrade from the games last year, it’s still relatively unchanged. However, if you’re new to this game, it’s a must purchase and among the best Xbox 360 games yet.

Bethesda Softworks wisely followed the “if it ain’t broke” axiom and left much of the core gameplay unchanged, opting instead to toss on oodles of new content and leaving no stone unturned as to how to make the game that much better.

For Civ IV fans, Beyond the Sword is a must-own game.

There’s a lot of content here to keep you busy for a long time while you strive for the perfect grades.

The true Capcom hardcore might wonder about the omission of Saturday Night Slam Masters, unless a third package is on the way, but that's just one gripe against what is otherwise a very well structured collection.

While PixelJunk Monsters may not look like the most addictive game in the world, it’ll hit you in the face with its challenging depth and simple gameplay.

It’s unfortunate that the game ruins the nice sense of pacing in the gameplay with an overemphasis on story that makes you want to skip it, despite knowing that it’s not wise to do so. Luckily, the game is fun and creative enough to overlook these issues and it’s easy to get drawn into the game for hours at a time.

The atmosphere is perfect for anyone who loved Fallout 3 and although the combat takes some getting used to and could be frustrating for some, Metro 2033 is an exciting adventure that will keep you hooked until the end.

While there are quite a few parts in the game that bring down the game in value, Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword should remain as the prime example of what a third party can do with the Nintendo DS.

Be that as it may, it's great to see Contra go back to its roots for this very impressive entry into long-running series. If you enjoy challenging titles that require every bit of skill you can muster, Contra 4 is just the perfect purchase.

If you really liked the potential held by The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact, The King of Fighters 2006 is the realization of that potential. It's not going to change the mind of anyone who is fervently anti-3D KOF, but it's the most solid “alternative fighting game” we've seen in a long time.

Its pure size is its greatest asset, but because it occasionally loses focus, its greatest liability too. Even with the inconsistencies on the ground, the galactic map and thrilling space battles fill in the gaps.

Despite what may be setbacks with the lack of true blue changes to the graphics and sound, Apollo Justice looks to be everything the Phoenix Wright trilogy was and more.

The atmosphere is perfect for anyone who loved Fallout 3 and although the combat takes some getting used to and could be frustrating for some, Metro 2033 is an exciting adventure that will keep you hooked until the end.

Unexpectedly engaging, in spite of its utter lack of difficulty. If you are a PC gamer hoping to see Project Ego come to life, you will be disappointed--but most will find Fable to be as fresh as morning daylight.

The changes Crystal Dynamics have affected means it’s easily the most polished, well-rounded package of the seven.

SingStar provides a compelling window to the living rooms of people around the world with its My SingStar online mode that sets it far apart than any other music game in terms of its community aspects.

If you still haven’t gotten into the Disgaea series, now is the time especially with the $30 price tag because you get a lot more than what you’re paying for.

The game relies too heavily on the events and effects of the previous title, and although there are plenty of neat new features to whet your appetite, the game hardly feels like a sequel and more of a downloadable add-on.

Regardless of its few faults, Quake Wars is fun, fast paced, and will offer a decent amount of variety to people who are in to this type of game. It probably won’t sway the minds of people who prefer Deathmatch style shooters over mission based team games, but does its job well by providing one of the best experiences of its kind.

On one hand, it is watered-down, it is not as interesting, it is relatively short, and the gameplay is not all that it could have been. On the other hand, it is a real GTA game in the palm of your hand, and it’s pretty well-made to say the least.

In the end, Neo contains all of the Shining that gamers are looking for, but none of the Force.

The new levels for the adventure mode and multiplayer will add more visual variety to those modes, though the new challenges are designed much more for Peggle veterans.

The Xbox 360 version offers the best presentation out of all these games, quite simply because it probably has the best announcer of all—and his name isn’t John Madden or Al Michaels. He remains unnamed, but he’s one of those homer-types that we can all live to enjoy.

Lego Indiana Jones’s success comes from keeping the fun gameplay of the Lego Star Wars games, but injecting the classic Indy moments, music, and characters

With a solid level design, unique transformation mechanic, and plenty of loveable charm, Banjo- Kazooie still holds up well to the stringent of today's gaming market.

Capcom Classics Collection volume 2 is not the hit-loaded package one would expect, but it is still a must-own for fighting gamers and fans of old-school co-op gaming.

While Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds doesn’t really do anything that will change anyone’s opinions about the series, it does feature enough improvements in gameplay and online play that hardcore and casual fans of the series will find a lot to like about the game.

If you have a solid internet connection and have the time to dedicate to the game’s impressive franchise mode, Madden NFL 10 is a must-buy. But if you’re a more casual gamer just wanting to play this game for a bit, you might be better pressed to get last year’s version of the game.

If they can find enough substance for the continuing chapters we’ll continue to advocate their creations. Valve and Ritual, follow Telltale’s lead.

If you’re a fan of games like Project Gotham Racing and Grid, you’d really be doing yourself a disservice in missing out on this game since it’s probably right up your alley.

Fortunately, you don’t get any mind-numbing puzzles that can only be solved by luck either.

The game relies too heavily on the events and effects of the previous title, and although there are plenty of neat new features to whet your appetite, the game hardly feels like a sequel and more of a downloadable add-on.

If they can find enough substance for the continuing chapters we’ll continue to advocate their creations. Valve and Ritual, follow Telltale’s lead.

Lego Indiana Jones’s success comes from keeping the fun gameplay of the Lego Star Wars games, but injecting the classic Indy moments, music, and characters

The addition of playing the games from different viewpoints just add some variety and welcome change for newcomers and veterans of these two games, and they're sure to keep players stressful while coming back for more.