Tales of Vesperia is a fine RPG, but its somewhat cliché story stands at the cliff of the compelling and doesn’t take a leap of faith.

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.

Geometry Wars: Galaxies is the definition of portable fun.

F.E.A.R. 2 is a middling shooter at best, and while the bare-bones mechanics are all tightly oiled, you’re left with a stale taste in your mouth. It may be the first big release of 2009, but it’s also the first big disappointment.

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.

Simply put, you must play Mirror’s Edge.

Blue Dragon is more of a rental than it is an immediate purchase, or wait until it hits the bargain bins. But either way, if this is your type of game you should at least give it a shot.

Final Fight: Double Impact is a great little package. Both of the games play as you would expect them to.

Even with the apparent technical issues, Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X is still one of the defining games of what PSP gaming should be.

That said, Strikers probably isn't the best sports game on the market, but it sure is a fun, arcade-like frolic through Mario's wild world – Strikers style.

Though Disgaea 3 certainly lacks in presentational value, it impresses where it needs to with a lengthy main quest and potentially hundreds of hours of end game content to please the most hardcore of Disgaea fans.

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.

If you have Instincts for the Xbox and wouldn't mind playing an original Xbox game, save yourself $30 and get Evolution. Both games are great and are worth at least a rental. If you've yet to experience Far Cry, though, it's worth a purchase.

So if you’re more inclined to pick up one of the older console versions, we’d recommend the PlayStation 2 version because its controller is probably the most user-friendly, and it has a connectivity feature with the PSP that allows you to transfer an entire season in Franchise Mode from the PS2 into your PSP.

House of the Dead: Overkill offers an impressive package of content that most light-gun games on the Wii fail to provide, especially with two campaigns to play through by yourself or with a friend.

Big Bang Mini is a game that will come as a pleasant surprise for anybody that gives it a shot.

Siren: Blood Curse is a great game. Not just a great PlayStation Network game, but a solid game overall.

Like a good book, Hotel Dusk is a satisfying experience that you'll likely find yourself returning to beyond its initial fifteen hours. If it can be classified as a game, Hotel Dusk is one of the best on the DS.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance is certainly worth picking up. With an adequate campaign and more playable comic book characters than you can shake a stick at, plus bonus side missions for all of them, you’re definitely getting more than what you paid for.

Even though Zuma has a rather limited amount of replay value with only two modes and not that much being different between those two modes, the core gameplay is fun enough that if this is your kind of thing and haven’t bought this game on another platform already, you might as well plunk the $10 down for this game.

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.

While Sonic Rush Adventure has some tedious rough edges to it, it's definitely a true blue Sonic experience to be had on the Nintendo DS.

The PSP version still holds its own with a good portable game of baseball that may not be great for quick portable action, but anytime you’re able to just sit down and be able to play for a while, MLB 09 fits that style of play very well.

If you're looking for a fun, deep, and relaxing game that also lends itself very well to short play sessions and the PSP's sleep function, you really can't go wrong with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07.

This game is definitely worth the $40 on value alone, as it took us over 50 hours to beat and could probably be beaten in 40 hours if you know what you’re doing right away.

A great classic game collection, and an example of how one of these collections should be done.

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.

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

Crash Commando is a surprisingly fun shooter that should please multiplayer fans that want something light and easy to pick up.

A great game. The sound and graphics alone make this title worth checking out; the only problem is that it does little to innovate. The whole game, while exceptionally well done, is just more of the same old WWII action that we have already seen a hundred times before.

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.

If this is going to be your first GTA game you may want to skip this outing and start at the beginning of the GTA revolution, that being the Grand Theft Auto III.

The sound is shockingly good.

All in all, Far Cry Instincts and Evolution are two games worth playing. If you haven’t played the Xbox version, you should definitely think about getting it for the 360.

While not too many people will be in tune with the original Dragon Ball series, it’s worth noting that Dragon Ball: Origins is the best Dragon Ball game available on the DS.

Perhaps the most notable improvement this year is the AI's adaptation, finally, to the new NHL rules.

So although it may not be worth a purchase, it’s worth playing around with, if only for a while.

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.

A solid racing game. It might have a few rough edges and frustrating spots, but overall it’s a fun game.

Madden NFL 08 was made with the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in mind, so it's no surprise if you end up finding these versions of Madden to be lackluster.

The Pitt is a worthy addition to the Fallout 3 name, but its enjoyable setting and storyline ends far too quickly for it to have any impact.

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

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.

When all's said and done, Top Spin 3 is very much the best simulation tennis game out there, though it’s not like there's much competition in that corner of the tennis market.

Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth is a game that anybody can enjoy if they had the time to play, but it is an experience best had by those who have gotten through all of Phoenix Wright’s chapters in the first three games in the series.

Titan Quest fits the bill for a solid action RPG that gives you what you'd expect but nothing beyond it. It seems content enough to be big, and if you like Diablo-inspired games, you'll get what you'd expect from an isometric role-playing title based in ancient Greece.

A great game. The sound and graphics alone make this title worth checking out; the only problem is that it does little to innovate. The whole game, while exceptionally well done, is just more of the same old WWII action that we have already seen a hundred times before.

The end result is a game that will satisfy neither hardcore fighting gamers nor casual players outside the core MK fanbase. This is a fan game to the core, and can only be recommended to the most devout of the MK faithful.

Either way, Brain Age 2 is a great way to continue your quest of making your brain work, and it's the only way to truly have two brain checks a day--that is, if you own the first one.

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

By all accounts, EA Sports MMA is a good game. It has great graphics combined with a solid presentation and good controls.

Sega Rally Revo has its market and it knows it. You probably won't change your mind about arcade or rally racing games because of this game, but if this is your genre already, or you've just liked the past Sega Rally titles, feel free to jump straight in behind the wheel.

An undeniable effort. It can be fulfilling and mightily rewarding, but there are too many frustrating moments to say it's a classic.

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.

Regardless of some of the stumbles in NBA Live 09, this year’s game is definitely worth a purchase for the first time in years.

With the braindead goals, non-charismatic cast of characters, and relatively limited level list, the game is unfortunately relegated to rental status, with its best points making us reminiscent of the days when you actually had to be good to beat a Tony Hawk game.

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.

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

Final Fight: Double Impact is a great little package. Both of the games play as you would expect them to.

The Bigs puts tons of great ideas to life to give players a much more fast-paced and turbo induced game of baseball that everyone will surely enjoy. While the fielding and base running could have used a little more fine tuning, the overall package is fun enough for all fans to enjoy a game of baseball without having to labor through hours of gameplay.

The Last Guy is certainly one of those quirky, simple games that don’t look fun at all until you get your hands on the game and see it for yourself.

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 is almost identical to its Xbox/PS2 counterpart. While this is not a death sentence, you would expect an Xbox 360 game to have more of that “next gen” feel.

Universe at War delivers a unique, fresh gaming experience with factions that have truly innovative concepts sewn intrinsically into them.

This game just cannot be recommended to everyone for that price, but your decision should be based entirely on the demo itself.

Perhaps it is time that Traveler’s Tales mellows down a bit and tries to make the next Lego game a bit more polished then this travesty.

Again, this remake of the original is based on the engine found in Legend, but really could have used more from it. It’s absolutely worth playing because it’s fun and actually better than the original Tomb Raider.

With the braindead goals, non-charismatic cast of characters, and relatively limited level list, the game is unfortunately relegated to rental status, with its best points making us reminiscent of the days when you actually had to be good to beat a Tony Hawk game.

Sadly, Lumines Live's interesting but misplaced focus on microtransactions hurts its value, and thus, kills the very legitimate shot it had at perfection.

The fact that you can play the game using just the stylus and touch screen just adds to the new feeling, and after playing this way—it’s hard to think that eventually someday players would have to go back to pressing buttons when playing RPG’s.

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

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.

If you can excuse the inconsistent AI and the over abundance of explosives, Black delivers exactly what you want from it; a fun, fast FPS that will hold a spot in your gaming collection. Just don't expect it to do much more than that.

Overall, Stranglehold offers bang for your buck akin to purchasing one large firework instead of a handful of smaller ones. Except that the large firework turns out to be only slightly larger than a mediocre one.

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

A simple economic strategy game with plenty of pick-up-and-play appeal. It isn’t all that complex, but it’s enjoyable in short bursts and offers plenty of reasons to return from time to time.

A solid racing game. It might have a few rough edges and frustrating spots, but overall it’s a fun game.

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.

The replayability of this kind of game is paramount and Ubisoft does not disappoint. In addition to the 100 separate levels included in the packaged game, you can go online to download 11 additional bonus stages each containing 10 levels.

Grandia III could be a bit deeper on the length and replay value, but if you play toward its strengths, build up your characters properly, and get everything you can out of the combat, this game will give you your 40 hours of addiction and then some.

Overall, Raven Software did a very good job of sticking close to the movie plot while simultaneously delivering a rewarding experience.

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.

The game is not fast enough to play like an arcade game, yet the Mario Galaxy-like cooperative gimmicks are enough to make it seem like one. But either way you look at it, Madden NFL 09 is probably the better Wii football game.

Average at best. The great voice acting and the solid graphics are just not enough to keep the game afloat. Somewhat shoddy controls and the lack of depth just drag this title down too much.

It doesn't break any new ground, it just offers up a solid, fun, and still addicting package. If you're a long time fan, Warriors of Rock is a no brainer. If you're a newcomer, just be aware of what you're getting into.

If you like 2D beat-em-ups, and you're hungry for a good one, you really can't go wrong with Guilty Gear Judgment.

F.E.A.R. 2 is a middling shooter at best, and while the bare-bones mechanics are all tightly oiled, you’re left with a stale taste in your mouth. It may be the first big release of 2009, but it’s also the first big disappointment.

Average at best. The great voice acting and the solid graphics are just not enough to keep the game afloat. Somewhat shoddy controls and the lack of depth just drag this title down too much.

There is absolutely no multiplayer, for example, and the measly extras unlocked as you progress through the game are scant reward for your labor. Nonetheless, you’re likely to see King Kong through to the end, a testament to its compelling, succinct gameplay.

When it comes down to it, Trauma Center: New Blood fixes the few flaws of Second Opinion while creating a few of its own that hurt the game more than it helps.

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

Ports may be a mess in general on the Wii, but Mercury Meltdown Revolution does it right by not screwing you over on the "Wii tax" most ports include in their prices. With a lot of content, a good challenge, and all at an affordable price, there's little reason that Wii owners who enjoy puzzle games shouldn't pick up Revolution as soon as possible.

Ring of Fates does what Crystal Chronicles couldn't do (make the game worth playing alone).

3D Dot Game Heroes is a fantastic game that can scratch the Zelda itch for PS3 owners looking for some retro sexy action. Though we could see the main story being beaten in about 12 to 15 hours if you declined to explore the world, we explored enough that it took us 25 hours to beat the game and complete a number of side quests.

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.

With the braindead goals, non-charismatic cast of characters, and relatively limited level list, the game is unfortunately relegated to rental status, with its best points making us reminiscent of the days when you actually had to be good to beat a Tony Hawk game.

If you're looking for a fun demonstration of what the Wii controller can do, a strong party game, or just a game to have a good laugh over, Rayman Raving Rabbids is a great choice.

It mostly fails to deliver standout action sequences, but fans of the real-time strategy genre should find their place in this game.