Metroidvania. Ikaruga. Shadow of the Colossus. All the influences are there, but don't mistake it for those. Outland is a game all its own. It doesn't oversell.

Smooth Moves is THE game to get if you want to have fun with friends while playing the Wii. It's easily worth the price of admission.

Nintendogs will not appeal to everyone because it is not an action game, in the true sense of the term, but it does have "action" in the form of interacting with your pet by taking care of it. The touch screen system of the DS allows you to pet your dog and teach it tricks. The onboard mic allows you to interact with your pet through voice commands.

Hardcore racing-sim fans will get the most out of this game. For the arcade-racing crowd or casual gamer, the tedious logistics of practice sessions and qualifying rounds may be too much to handle.

While the graphics leave a bit to be desired, the heightened difficulty and insane boss battles make up for it. Just like any other Contra game, it'll take you a while to get through it the first time, but once you figure out the formula you'll be just fine.

A clever, imaginative, and humorous game from the unlikeliest of inspirations that makes one wonder why something like it had never existed before.

Even if you have the tiniest interest in puzzle games, this purchase is a no-brainer.

In the end, Hitman: Blood Money does come out on top as the best title in the series. Blood Money makes up for most of its faults and shortcomings by offering a load of new features and entirely new ways of completing mission objectives.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock will have you addicted until Guitar Hero IV comes out, and I can guarantee that your money will not go to waste on this game.

Whether it cleverly incorporates literary technique or intentionally obfuscates meaning is a mystery, but inventive and effective gameplay mechanics combine with excellent art and sound design to make what is an enjoyable game, regardless of the intellect.

Brutal Legend has one of the best stories, and some of the best writing, this generation. Unfortunately, the gameplay turns experiencing it into a chore, rather than a joy.

NCAA Football fans will love this, and if casual football fans can get past a few of the graphic issues then we may just have another wave of NCAA Football fans charging the field.

Nintendogs will not appeal to everyone because it is not an action game, in the true sense of the term, but it does have "action" in the form of interacting with your pet by taking care of it. The touch screen system of the DS allows you to pet your dog and teach it tricks. The onboard mic allows you to interact with your pet through voice commands.

Fun in short doses, Ms. Splosion Man is not a game I'd spend more than 20 or 30 minutes with at a time.

Technical limitations aside, Valkyria Chronicles II makes a fantastic transition from console to portable. Don't let this one pass you by, it's one of the better PSP games out there.

Gamers old and new will enjoy it, and it's truly a fun and unique gaming experience from beginning to end.

Some refreshing of the game's major mechanics or pacing could have spliced this DLC to the next level, but unfortunately its repetitive nature holds it back. If you are a sucker for Rapture lore, then Minerva's Den may yet be worth the $10.

If you're looking for a quick, pick-up-and-play racing game, this is not for you. This game takes patience and attention to detail to play.

Now that you can play your Hot Shots on the go and against friends worldwide there's no questioning it: Open Tee 2 is a must-own for any Hot Shots fans, and anyone looking for a good multiplayer PSP game.

Is it the best SingStar yet? Easily. The addition of the SingStore and community sharing make this one of the better sequel updates in music gaming.

With the various missions, archetypes, street-fighting, and PVP, the gameplay is very lengthy and can go as long as the player chooses to go.

Saints Row: The Third is a love letter to gamers who enjoy crazy, over-the-top, and downright absurd action.

The humor is still hilarious and the charm is still riveting.

I have a feeling that I would love Shift 2 as I loved Gran Turismo 5 if it was a little more welcoming to series newbies. The high learning curve and stiff controls, however, are anything but welcoming, and it hurts the overall experience.

For RPG lovers, picking up NWN2 is a no-brainer. The game has the story, the characters, the action and the lore behind it to make it an enjoyable piece of work.

Everything about NBA 2K9 blows NBA Live 09 out of the water. If you're a basketball fan, NBA 2K9 is the game to get this season.

In the end, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is a nice refresher from the X-Men Legends series, and a game no comic fan should miss. If you enjoy the arcade-style titles of this nature (such as Gauntlet or the previous Legends titles), you'd also do well to pick the game up.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock will have you addicted until Guitar Hero IV comes out, and I can guarantee that your money will not go to waste on this game.

It's a very intense game in more ways than one. There is gore galore and foul language liberally spoken. The story is solid and adds to the action of the game. But it maybe just too intense and spooky for some.

The massively open online racing idea works, but critical portions of the racing and the game itself prevent this from being the next big thing.

Darksiders is a triumph in game design, a platform to build upon, and something everyone who truly loves video games should try, because you'll likely love it.

Viva Pinata's style of play fits perfectly with the Nintendo DS model. Pocket Paradise may not look as nice as the original, but it's the true embodiment of the Viva Pinata experience.

Rather than leaving players blasting away indiscriminately, the game introduces more complex and engaging design based around its excellent fluid dynamics, inviting us to invest greater mental energy into our play.

It's quick, painless and will leaving you wanting more. Perhaps it doesn't bear the weight other RPGs do, but it carries its own and smoothly enters players into its world. Overall, it may not challenge, but it does please.

Simple enough for non-gamers to enjoy, entertaining enough for hardcore gamers to love, Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure is a must-play, if not must-own, DS title.

Diagnostics and forensics may slow down the otherwise exciting pacing of the medical drama, but are not so detrimental as to keep this game from being the best entry in the series so far.

An epic game with a dark twist. Fans of games like Oblivion should have no problem spending a long time on this one.

The game encapsulates everything that made the franchise great in the late 80s and early 90s and recycles it for the current generation. Mega Man 9 is a worthy addition to any gamer's digital library.

It's an unbridled one-of-a-kind mature ride with scant a boring moment in its 11 mission single-player campaign. Multiplayer is welcome, but ultimately passable.

In the end, Hitman: Blood Money does come out on top as the best title in the series. Blood Money makes up for most of its faults and shortcomings by offering a load of new features and entirely new ways of completing mission objectives.

Brutal Legend has one of the best stories, and some of the best writing, this generation. Unfortunately, the gameplay turns experiencing it into a chore, rather than a joy.

t's a marvel to behold, a lot of fun, and the very pinnacle of WWII simulators.

Perhaps the best in the series. The online is better than Mario Kart DS', and the graphics are the best in the series. The only thing that may deter some players is the obnoxious power of the items.

Excellent writing and fun gameplay make the game very enoyable, but the short hours may prove to the icebreaker for some.

Kingdom Hearts 3 it isn't, but it's a damn good entry in the series. Why any fan wouldn't want to play this is beyond me.

A shiny port of a PC game marred by balance issues and a control scheme that is fun to use in the smaller battles, but becomes an obstacle in the larger ones.

Stir up a fast-paced, strategic battle system, some awe-inspiring sounds and visuals, and a unique story told through a frustratingly linear adventure, and you get Final Fantasy 13.

Its depth may scare off some gamers while appealing to the hardcore soccer fan.

A standout kart racing experience that is unrivaled in breadth and depth, instantly accessible, and offering innovation in a stagnant genre. Load times are awful, but you really can't go wrong with ModNation.

It's easy to overlook the technical problems of Enslaved, simply because everything else is so damn compelling. This is not a checklist of what makes a game great, but taken as a whole, it IS a great game.

A must have for RTS fans, and a must have for those who enjoy the Halo universe.

Puzzle Quest is just plain great. The PSP is the better version, but if you only have a DS you should still pick it up.

The block puzzles aren't always engaging, and sometimes the gameplay can prove to be a bit too difficult. But the distinctive story and top notch writing make Catherine an easy recommendation.

In the end, Hitman: Blood Money does come out on top as the best title in the series. Blood Money makes up for most of its faults and shortcomings by offering a load of new features and entirely new ways of completing mission objectives.

I had hopes that Out of Bounds would be a hole-in-one, and what we got is a birdie. It's good, but you can easily look back and see where it could have done better.

Mega Man 10 is a wonderfully challenging package wrapped up in a charming, 8-bit time capsule. It has its tongue planted firmly in cheek and delivers a ridiculously fun experience for all.

Good game, but it's basically more of the same.

The new dunk contest and other modes are nice, but the core gameplay is what should be what catches your eye, and NBA 2K8 nails it.

The new dunk contest and other modes are nice, but the core gameplay is what should be what catches your eye, and NBA 2K8 nails it.

Despite its shortcomings, Saints Row is a fantastic addition to the Xbox 360. It contains a long singleplayer experience, and has the potential to be an extremely rewarding online one as well.

Forged Alliance is a perfect fit for SupCom fans, but new or eager RTS fans may find the game's difficulty a bit rough. Still, I highly recommend this and its standalone.

Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy is a winner, and deserves a second Alliance Medal of Honor. May the Force be with you -- always.

Regardless of shortcomings, this high-tension, semi-return to old-school survival horror is an enjoyable experience that longtime fans will adore and newer players will easily get into.

The addition of Campus Legend adds a lot of value to the title, despite the still-lacking online portion.

It's a worthy Bioware RPG and oozes with an awesome storyline and memorable party members, but if you played it before on the Xbox there's really no reason to replay it.

I have a feeling that I would love Shift 2 as I loved Gran Turismo 5 if it was a little more welcoming to series newbies. The high learning curve and stiff controls, however, are anything but welcoming, and it hurts the overall experience.

This is a great game. The pace may be unexpected, and repetition can be a slight issue, but the excellent gameplay, story, presentation, and immersion turn them into minor details.

The best version of the best NCAA sports series out there. If you're a fan of college hoops who plays video games and you don't own it yet, you need to get this game.

Just Cause 2 does what so many other open-world games try to and usually end up missing the target. Its huge world, insane gameplay, and amazing visuals will keep you blowing stuff up into the wee hours of the morning and not even blinking an eye.

The knuckle-whitening, often horror-infused experiences inside of RAGE are essential to the vernacular of modern shooters. The pretty case they come in is not.

The grand battles and deep strategy will keep fans busy for months and the multiplayer allows for intense combat though all of the game modes. A confusing interface and some occasional AI issues mar an otherwise enjoyable, tactical experience.

A well above average game of arcade basketball, hampered a bit by sub-par online and a lack of customization options. A solid purchase despite its flaws.

Solid golf title that fixes a few problems from the Xbox 360 outing, but still leaves some unanswered and makes online even worse.

It's a great buy for 10 dollars. It's fun, addictive, fluent, beautiful, and all around a good time.

PSP needed a good beat-'em-up and this near perfect conversion of its big brother, Smackdown Vs. Raw 2006 PS2, is something of a joy to play.

Final Fantasy fans should pick this game up. Despite its simplicity there is still much to be enjoyed in this game. Accept it for what it is, and you'll find yourself smiling as you journey with Vaan and Co. once again.

NCAA Football fans will love this, and if casual football fans can get past a few of the graphic issues then we may just have another wave of NCAA Football fans charging the field.

On top of the unparalleled graphics that lovingly caress players' retinas from the second they load up the game, and enveloped within a traditional Japanese soundscape, Muramasa delivers steadily enjoyable gameplay from start to finish

A great edition to the Madden series. This is definitely the year to buy if you haven't in a while. Keep in mind if you have to choose, the 360 version is the one to get.

All and all, the game will run between four and six hours, depending on how long you decide to look and click on everything. A lot of the dialogue and comments are nifty, and intriguing to listen to. The puzzle solving is relatively easy, and the humor is the major draw to the game.

Any way you slice it, three games of this caliber all bundled together on one disc are definitely worth the price of entry.

A great game at its core, marred by a bevy of minor and major annoyances. A lot of potential, but to truly work this game has to be refocused and partially reworked from the ground up.

If you're a veteran of the series and you want something new, there are a few new options and some sprucing up compared to past games, but this isn't the end-all-be-all for the franchise, and the customization really isn't implemented as well as it could be.

Its depth may scare off some gamers while appealing to the hardcore soccer fan.

The knuckle-whitening, often horror-infused experiences inside of RAGE are essential to the vernacular of modern shooters. The pretty case they come in is not.

In the end, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is a nice refresher from the X-Men Legends series, and a game no comic fan should miss. If you enjoy the arcade-style titles of this nature (such as Gauntlet or the previous Legends titles), you'd also do well to pick the game up.

Be wary of the insanely long load times.

It provides a highly enjoyable single-player campaign, and improves upon a standard set by the first 3D Ninja Gaiden game four years ago.

Trials and Tribulations is a great ending to the trilogy. The gameplay is no different and may have gotten easier, but it's easily the best plot yet in a Phoenix Game. The final case is the best case yet in the series.

The ability of a clearly low-commitment, fairly low-budget game made primarily for a younger audience, to keep you invested in the gameplay for so long is troubling, but also a pure expression of the original joy of gaming.

Some refreshing of the game's major mechanics or pacing could have spliced this DLC to the next level, but unfortunately its repetitive nature holds it back. If you are a sucker for Rapture lore, then Minerva's Den may yet be worth the $10.

Games can often sell on concepts. Dungeon Defenders is no different. But its classical style and easy to learn gameplay give it a solid edge.

A Space Shooter for Two Bucks! has a title that says it all. If you're looking for a quick pick-up-and-play shooter that will demand serious effort for a very reasonable price, Frima has your answer.

Puzzle Quest 2 will take hours from you if you allow it to. It's an addicting game, and one that Xbox Live folk will be enjoying for a long time.

The expansion offers good singleplayer levels and great looking visuals, but the gameplay may feel old if you've played AoE III before. I'd still recommend it for RTS fans; just don't expect a classic.

Marred by some inconsistent pacing and less-than-engaging action, PoP still manages to deliver a wondrous and open world through which players fight and fly to the game's exciting conclusion.

Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation is a fun game to waste away an afternoon, but a hard sell for anyone who hasn't been a fan of the series beforehand. The combat is fun, but the rest needs some work.

If you love Tekken, this is a definite. If you love fighters, this is a must. If you're new to both, this is a good starting point.