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.