LittleBigPlanet 2 is everything I'd hoped it would be. Every new inclusion improves the way the game plays tremendously, and with the ability to create more than just an endless array of side-scrolling levels, there's more reason than ever to learn the intricacies of level creation.

With Pac-Man Championship Edition DX, Namco Bandai has done all this and more, crafting an utterly addictive Pac-Man experience that will thrill, challenge, and consume players of all ages, skill levels, and experience. It's the best Pac-Man game to date, and a must-play for anyone who has thumbs and likes playing video games. It's really that good.

The finished game is both fun to play, and wonderfully representative of a time of innocence and adventure. Combined with Double Fine's development sensibilities, it's the perfect combination for success.

Not only is DJ Hero 2 a better game, but it also has better music, better graphics, and is somehow even more addictive than the first.

As enjoyable as Shaun White Skateboarding was in small bursts, the overall game doesn't really have much going for it.

Fortunately, those familiar concepts have been augmented with some innovative new ones, and while they aren't all successful, the overall package is an impressive, if imperfect RPG experience.

It's not perfect though, and a myriad of small issues prevent EA Sports MMA from being the best mixed-martial arts title this year.

I don't think this game is a replacement for an actual gym, or an actual trainer, but for those of you, who like me, don't have the time or inclination for that type of investment, EA Active 2 is a great substitute.

With the exception of some overly long load screens and a bit of snapback computer AI, there's not much about Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit that's hard to recommend.

Though the game plays much better without motion controls, Goldeneye is a solid shooter in which Wii owners should find plenty to like.

Unfortunately, not every aspect of the game works as well as it should, and even though it's an enjoyable title, Disney Epic Mickey is far from the blockbuster it could have been.

With a decent, if predictable, story, and an incredible amount of online customization, Black Ops is a can't miss shooter that fires on almost all cylinders.

What Blizzard has excelled at is taking ideas from other places, refining and improving them, and making them their own. With Cataclysm they've done something that has never been done before on this scale: they took one of the most popular and successful games in history, and utterly changed it. I, for one, love them for it. If you already love WoW, chances are you own Cataclysm already and have reached 85.

Is it still awesome? Is it still the best racing sim ever? Absolutely and absolutely. For many that ends the conversation. But taking a step back and just looking at it as a game, I have to say that in many ways it falls short.

The multiplayer modes are a blast to play, and open up a world of possibilities for future installments.

At a glance, WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2011 doesn't seem much different from its predecessor, and in the grand scheme of things, it really isn't. A closer look, however, reveals a considerable number of smaller changes that make the game far more robust and enjoyable.

The HD versions are undoubtedly superior to the Wii's offering, and the core gameplay represents the best in the franchise. It's just a shame that the secondary game modes are so poorly executed, as better implementations of them would have added a lot of replayability, and made for a much better value.

"Undead Nightmare" follows in the tradition of "The Lost and Damned" and "Ballad of Gay Tony" giving gamers more than their money's worth when it comes to things to do. There's about five or six hours of story content, in addition to the wealth of hours you'll spend with the new multiplayer modes.

There's a lot to do, and if you have the time to explore all there is to see, you can spend another 100+ hours in this world.

Super Meat Boy is without a doubt the new frontrunner for downloadable game of the year. From top to bottom, the game is a near-perfect experience. There's a great deal of challenge, but it never feels unbeatable.

Fans that have been clamoring for this NBA Jam's arrival since its announcement will be absolutely thrilled with the end result, in spite of the game's unevenness. To everyone else, the title will be nothing more than a slightly updated 16-bit era game that cashes in on memories of a day long gone.

NBA 2K11 is, without a doubt, the best basketball simulator ever made. It offers more options on offense and defense than any basketball game ever made, and does it with an incredible sense of style and polish.

It's a good game with a very engaging narrative, and I hope to see more Enslaved in the future. I just can't help feeling that this game could have been so much more than it ended up.

While Personality+ and the ability to play as a goalkeeper are nice new touches, they feel like incremental additions instead of revolutionary overhauls.

While Personality+ and the ability to play as a goalkeeper are nice new touches, they feel like incremental additions instead of revolutionary overhauls.

So even though Darksiders isn't remotely innovative and is unabashedly a console port, it does have an entertaining story to tell, fun gameplay, and decent graphics.

This game has nearly everything you could ask for in a world conquest simulator, and if you plan to dive in it may be best if you let your loved ones know you are going to start writing a novel. Or training for a triathlon. Just pick something that takes a really long time and sounds hard. You're going to be busy for a while.

Nearly everything about this game has been improved over its predecessors, and though the campaign won't take you too long to complete, the hours you'll spend with the multiplayer more than make up for it.

For the third year in a row, EA Canada has crafted a hockey experience that is seemingly flawless.

It could be incredibly easy to write Batman: The Brave and the Bold off as unimportant because it's been made for a younger audience. If you did that, you'd be missing out on a pretty solid title that's worthy of your time and attention.

For the third year in a row, EA Canada has crafted a hockey experience that is seemingly flawless. As great as last year's offering was, NHL 11 marks an evolution for the series.

It should provide answers about the sequel to those who with mixed feelings about the original, and provide a nice mid-meal-snack for hardcore fans that can't wait for the full sequel. For everyone else, it's a gory, thrilling zombie massacre that costs less than lunch at Wendy's, and it's well worth picking up.

For anyone looking for an interesting and different puzzle game, I highly recommend And Yet It Moves.

This year's version of Madden doesn't take a huge stride forward, but it does take a few steps in the right direction. If Gameflow can be improved, and the defense is given the same level of attention offense received this year, Madden NFL 12 could be amazing.

Though I really enjoy this game, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is almost too retro for its own good. Even on the lowest difficulty setting, playing the game is at times a chore.

At only $40, BlazBlue: Continuum Shift offers an astonishingly deep fighting experience and a huge amount of content.

Though I finished the game in less than a week, it was the first game in long time that I couldn't get out of my head when I wasn't playing it, and didn't move from my chair when I was playing it. Simply fantastic.

It's a brilliant take on classic conventions, and the way in which it's presented only adds to its genius.

To make things better, the episode has what is likely the best conclusion in the history of the series.

Most of the flaws are simply disappointments, and there's a good game in Deathspank, even if it isn't as good of a game as it should have been. The humor, thankfully, manages to hold strong, with non-stop jokes and constant fourth wall breaking.

Probably the best entry in the series in the last five years. All the changes made to the way the game is played are big improvements, and even though it can be a bit too easy at times, NCAA Football 11 is still incredibly fun.

Even with the glitches, I absolutely loved my time with Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck's Revenge. It's so good that I can't believe I missed out on it the first time around, but I'm glad that I got a second chance thanks to this reimagining.

If you missed out on Persona 3 when it first came out, and skipped FES in 2008, then now is your chance to rectify that. Persona 3 Portable is one of the strongest games in the PSP catalogue, and a shining example of a role-playing game done right.

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords was one of the most addictive games of all time. Its blend of genres and stunning gameplay left lines scored in touch screens and tiles burnt into televisions. Now, the sequel has managed to improve upon the original in every way.

The way Telltale tied together the story is somewhat brilliant, even if it's not entirely fulfilling.

Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 is a giant step forward for the series, and the most fun it's been in years. There are still issues that need to be worked out, and I wish Traveller's Tales had fixed more of its problems instead of dancing around them.

It just isn't anywhere as fun to play as any of the Hot Shots Golf titles.

For those willing to give it a chance, it will take no time at all to realize that there's a remarkable gem of a game inside the box, and one that should be experienced by every Wii owner. For fans of the series, it's a brilliant sequel, more fantastic than they likely ever expected to see.

While it runs into issues in areas it likely didn't realize it would, there's no denying that the sacrifices made are more than justified.

Without the Transformers license, War for Cybertron would be a capable, but utterly forgettable third-person shooter with some nice graphics. Setting the game on Cybertron, however, and re-telling the origin of the most beloved toy franchise of the 1980s makes it an experience that gamers will enjoy and recall fondly, and one that fans of the Transformers absolutely shouldn't miss out on.

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords was one of the most addictive games of all time. Its blend of genres and stunning gameplay left lines scored in touch screens and tiles burnt into televisions. Now, the sequel has managed to improve upon the original in every way, even fixing the AI, which many believed "cheated" before.

It's not a drastic improvement over the last game, but considering how high-quality the season has been so far, I doubt anyone is going to complain.

It's not a drastic improvement over the last game, but considering how high-quality the season has been so far, I doubt anyone is going to complain.

While online multiplayer is fun and the presentation is spot on, much of the enjoyment and skill in MtG is in deck-building , an omission that truly hurts the overall experience.

Despite its difficulty at points, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is as close to brilliance as you can get on the PSP.

If you love Green Day and have followed their career from the beginning, you won't be disappointed. If you're a fan of Rock Band with only a passing interest in Green Day, there's some enjoyment to be had here, but it doesn't have the same lasting value as The Beatles: Rock Band.

Players that were perfectly satisfied witgh last year's Tiger Woods game will really have only one thing to sell them on this newest iteration; the Focus system.

Though I thought Tiger Woods PGA Tour would never be better than it was last year, I was proven wrong once I spent some time with this year's version. The new swing types more than make the game worth the purchase, and all the game modes will provide hours upon hours of playtime.

Joe Danger is everything I hoped it was. The game's incredibly fun, highly addictive, and offers a decent amount of replay value to those who wish to complete every last challenge, and stay number one amongst their friends on the leaderboards.

Even with a few technical problems, it's hard not to recommend Jolly Rover to any fan of adventure games, especially those who remember the LucasArts games of the 1990s fondly.

Few games released have as much charm as Snoopy Flying Ace; it's surreal to the point of brilliance.

Not only is UFC Undisputed 2010 the best MMA video game made to date, it's also the most fun fighting game I've ever played.

Not only is UFC Undisputed 2010 the best MMA video game made to date, it’s also the most fun fighting game I’ve ever played.

When it comes to the core gameplay, however, there's no question: it's the best in its class, dethroning Mario Kart in every technical way.

The vibrant graphics take full advantage of the PlayStation 3's power, and while it might not be aimed at the right demographic, there's still a good deal of fun to be had.

The game's fun and all, but, to be honest, there are simply easier to get versions of the product for cheaper, and the changes don't make it worth the trip to the store for the game disc.

While it doesn't quite encompass the charm and addictive nature of Mario Kart DS, it's still a strong game in its own right, and can offer hours of entertainment to kart racing fans.

It's a blast to play from beginning to end, with plenty to do long after the game is completed. There is so little to complain about, and the few flaws barely detract from the experience.

The high moments are certainly high, and while it doesn’t have too many “lows” to speak of, the conclusion certainly fails to inspire any sense of satisfaction, making the previous hours of character development, storytelling, and foreshadowing feel weaker.

While I do enjoy the game's score quite a bit, it doesn't pack the emotional punch that Ennio Morricone's once did.

It’s not quite perfect, and at times it can be repetitive, but the developers do so much right here, it’s easy to forgive the miscues. There is simply no excuse to miss out on a game this good.

The six distinctly different modes, along with six main characters, add plenty of variety to Trauma Team while keeping it constantly feeling fresh.

The racing is simple, yet intense. The graphics are top notch. The game's unique power play feature keeps every race fresh, and the thrill of blowing up other cars never gets old.

The racing is simple, yet intense.

Despite the technical problems, though, I found myself enjoying The Tomb of Sammun-Mak from start to finish.

New additions like the park editor, item dropper (which lets players add any of hundreds of ramps, rails, etc. to the environment with the press of a button), skate teams, trick analyzer, and a beefed up Hall of Meat mode flesh out the skating experience, while the new difficulty settings allow almost anyone with thumbs to enjoy the sublime satisfaction that comes from nailing a 540 Double Heelflip over a 15-stair gap.

It's faithful to its source material, sometimes to a fault, but it also adds enough depth and playablity to make it a worthwhile title in its own right.

Despite the combat being flawed, and the "story" failing to live up to its potential, it's still remarkably fun to play.

Luckily, while the updates haven't exactly made it more "user friendly," they've cleaned things up just enough to make it a slightly easier to get into.

If you weren’t a fan of the original IV, there’s really nothing here to sway you, but for fans of tight, accessible fighting action with a great deal of depth, it’s an excellent bargain, and a game that many are sure to be playing five years from now.

Recommending a game that doesn’t give gamers nearly as many options as a virtually identical game that came out less than eight months ago is tough, but people who missed out on EA’s yearly title, or those of you who only dabble in soccer titles every few years, will find plenty of charm and great gameplay in 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

Some little issues, like players getting hurt during training, which you have no control over, and slight frame drops during the occasional replay, crop up from time to time, but don’t really ruin the overall experience.

No matter how much variety is in each level, or how shiny the graphics are, the simplicity of the gameplay can become a bit redundant after about half an hour or so.

There are plenty of games on the Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network that feel like quick ports. Double Impact goes far beyond that, and features an awesome amount of content for only $10.

Not that the other games in the series were slouches when it came to their style, but the new season blows them all out of the water, with enhanced graphics and gameplay improvements that move the series in a wonderful direction.

Not that the other games in the series were slouches when it came to their style, but the new season blows them all out of the water, with enhanced graphics and gameplay improvements that move the series in a wonderful direction.

Features an awesome amount of content for only $10.

Many will enjoy it for what it is, and others will hate what Ubisoft did to their stealth series. There's no doubt about it: Conviction is a massive divergence from the normal formula. Stealth takes a back seat, and the trial-and-error gameplay has been replaced with something much more akin to the recent Batman: Arkham Asylum.

No matter the reasoning, "Stolen Memory" is something every Mass Effect junkie should own, if not just to justify popping the disk in again.

No matter the reasoning, "Stolen Memory" is something every Mass Effect junkie should own, if not just to justify popping the disk in again.

The combat's hectic nature has a certain rhythm to it that's easy to appreciate, and the style, while simplistic, is worth commending.

For the price, it can't be beat, and is likely one of the best games available for DSiWare.

All in all, WarioWare D.I.Y. is a worthy investment for anyone even remotely interested in the promise of level creation. For fans of more traditional WarioWare gameplay, there's... well... there's no such thing.

It's a sandbox, filled with exciting possibilities, and might feel more "next-gen" than anything else out there.

It doesn't have better shooting than Far Cry 2, better destruction than Red Faction, a better story than Grand Theft Auto, or better graphics than inFamous. What it does have, however, is fun, and what Just Cause 2 does, it does well.

Just Cause 2 doesn't have better shooting than Far Cry 2, better destruction than Red Faction, a better story than Grand Theft Auto, or better graphics than inFamous. What it does have, however, is fun, and what Just Cause 2 does, it does well.

Red Steel 2 isn't just the game everyone wished Red Steel was, it's better than that. It single handedly proves the Wii MotionPlus's value for adventure games, while providing one of the best action experiences on the system. That said, it's almost a tech demo for the hardware, lacking in terms of story and gameplay variety.

Strange Journey is easily one of the best RPGs to come out this year, which should come as no surprise to the SMT faithful.