An immensely satisfying and infinitely fun racing title.

The gameplay is tighter, the franchise is deeper, and the online and Be a Pro modes more than match anything Pro Evo puts on the table.

There is no doubt that it is on the short side, and even though plenty of downloadable content is on the way, I really think there should have been more songs on the disc. Also, despite the additions and changes, this isn’t quite the “built from the ground up” gaming experience that was originally described. The Beatles: Rock Band is exactly what the title says: Rock Band infused by the music of The Beatles. In the end, it is a terrific game that Beatles fans, regardless of gaming experience, will want to play ceaselessly.

Skate 2 may not have the jaw-dropping impact of its predecessor. It can’t. It is, however, a far more polished, robust and fulfilling experience than the original.

While not for everyone, Dragon Age: Origins is absolute bliss for fans of the genre.

While not the best of the chapters, The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood's story progression and cliffhanger ending have me more excited for the next episode than I have been for any of the previous ones.

There’s enough content to consider it a true sequel, and not an incremental upgrade, and it’s an overall better game. The expanded story and new multiplayer modes confirm the purchase, and for fans there’s no way to avoid something this good during the holiday season.

Valkyria Chronicles is an absolute gem that owners of the system are lucky to have. Even in this crowded holiday season of triple-A titles, this one somehow snuck in and stole my heart, and I found myself putting other games on the back burner to spend more time with Valkyria Chronicles.

The few complaints I had were pretty nitpicky, and the issues are outweighed by the number of good qualities. Obviously, fans of point-and-click games check this out, but even if you weren't a fan of the genre in the past, this might help to change your mind. Machinarium may not have gotten the attention it deserved earlier in the year, but it's never too late to play a fantastic game.

As any addicting game goes, you can lose hours in its flashy presentation or just play a few songs before going to bed at night. Either way you will get your moneys worth.

Even when compared to other titles in the Summer of Arcade line-up, it’s more than worth the money, proving, once again, how much is possible within the limitations of digital distribution. It’s a must-buy for fans of the genre, and still worth investing time in for anyone else.

Prototype is the very definition of an action game. Getting through the arduous campaign requires quick reflexes, laser-like concentration, constant movement, nimble fingers, and a little memorization, but the game makes sure to make the player always feel like the baddest man on the block.

A must-have for any Tom Clancy fan. Although not a quantum leap forward from the original R6V, it still delivers enough of what made that first title great, while adding some elements that make it a more complete and robust gaming experience.

This game is nearly perfect.

It's a step in the right direction for the series and the point-and-click adventure, and a method of development that I'd like to see Telltale continue with the two remaining episodes. Best episode yet? I'm not too sure about that, but there's no doubt that each new story is more polished than the last, something that will hopefully continue throughout the year.

There hasn’t been a hockey game this impressive since the days of the Sega Genesis.

So far, the story is great, the puzzles are wonderful, and the script represents some of the best writing in the industry.

Fable II is a game that should be enjoyed by gamers, no matter when they get a chance to play it, and it shouldn’t be taken for granted. There’s plenty of content, and even though the actual story is only ten to twelve hours long, there are dozens of more hours of content in the game on each play.

It's remarkable how well Red Faction: Guerrilla holds together. Even in the most hectic of battles, with buildings crumbling on all sides, dozens of characters engaged in combat, and massive explosions sending debris flying through the air, there's rarely a graphical hitch or frame-rate drop. It's an exemplary title, displaying the power of the current generation in ways no other game has yet.

Luckily, the plethora of new additions makes the nagging issues less offensive. It just misses being the football messiah many Maddenites are claiming it to be, but Tiburon has found a way to take their successful formula to the next level, creating a football experience that’s not only incredibly satisfying now, but has me looking forward to where they go from here.

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.

As long as EA Canada remains in charge of this title, I don’t think there’s a chance any other game can knock FIFA from the top spot.

Just as was the case with the episode before it, Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 2: The Siege of Spinner Cay's puzzles represent excellence on Telltale's part. Not only are they consistently intuitive and well developed, but are generally accompanied with hilarious dialogue that should make any fan of Monkey Island chuckle from beginning to end.

Unlike some past episodes, I didn’t find myself lost or confused at any time. It appears that Telltale has found its stride and hopefully keeps everything moving well towards an inane and cataclysmic end.

Dead Space is genuinely frightening, and should keep most gamers on the edge of their seat for at least eight to ten hours of gameplay time. After completing the game, a New Game + option is unlocked, allowing players to restart the game with all of their upgrades and equipment. This feature could be extremely fun, but the option to change the difficulty setting is absent, which makes it a little too easy, and misses the point of New Game +.

It’s fantastic, fun, beautiful, creative, and unique—pretty much everything you would want from any game and everything you would expect from a game that came with so many months of hype and excitement. With unlimited replay value and potential, you will probably be playing it for months—if not years—to come.

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

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.

The graphics are solid, the game plays incredibly well, and the story is reminiscent of the best summer action flicks. Add in robust online options and you have a title that belongs in anyone’s library.

Far Cry 2’s gameplay is solid, and it works as both an open world game and a shooter. Its plot is light, but dense, and will make you rethink the way you look at real world conflicts like the ones represented in the game. As with most sandbox titles, there is a huge amount of content, and there is at least twenty hours of gameplay in the single player alone.

Highly recommended for anyone even remotely interested in the sport, sports games in general, or even games in general. It’s that good.

The World Ends With You is definitely not a game for everyone. It takes chances, it's bizarre, it's different, and it's difficult to even explain. However, it's also one of the best new RPG experiences I’ve had in the last few years.

Ultimately, Civilization Revolution gives back as much as you put into it. It’s a wholly satisfying experience whether you play alone or online.

The game looks great, there are a ton of little nuances football fans everywhere will love, and most of all, it’s fun to play. Despite some issues with the AI, I think this is the first must-buy Madden for next-gen consoles.

Even taking the shortcomings into account, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better game than Yakuza 2 on the PS2 this year. I’m impressed with Sega being able to churn out a game of this quality, and wish they would do it more often.

There are a ton of new additions in this sequel making it more than worth the 800 MS Points, but somehow the game still felt like an add-on, and not a new game.

Challenging, intelligent, whimsical - Little King's Story is a wonderful game, and one that should be mentioned in the same breath as nearly any other game of quality on the Wii.

It just misses being the football messiah many Maddenites are claiming it to be, but Tiburon has found a way to take their successful formula to the next level, creating a football experience that’s not only incredibly satisfying now, but has me looking forward to where they go from here.

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.

Without a doubt, it’s one of the best games on the PSP and possibly the best-looking.

Additions fix some of the notorious flaws of the game, while others solved problems that most likely didn't even know it had. It's charming, simple, deep, and addictive, just like all of the games in the series before.

While it may not be the game of the year, it arrives just in time to at least contend for it. Who would’ve thought a fresh start on a new console was what this series needed?

A dream come true for many gamers of the 1990s, this is a remake done right, with the care and attention this property deserves. In fact, if other adventure games get the same treatment, I would likely re-buy all of them just to experience the new graphics and sounds.

This is the absolute pinnacle of baseball video gaming, and I dare someone to do better.

FIFA 10 also comes complete with an overhauled AI for the rest of the computer players, making them more reflexive and aggressive.

There’s no two ways about it, Muramasa: The Demon Blade is the most rewarding game to hit the Wii this year.

Ninjatown’s gameplay is solid and addictive, its style is wonderful and adorable, and its faults are negligible. It’s obvious that a lot of heart went into this game, and it shows by being one of the best titles on the Nintendo DS. That’s right, you didn’t misread that, Ninjatown is one of the best titles on the Nintendo DS. It’s perfectly suited for the system, the controls are impeccable, and it’s loaded with enough content to justify a purchase for anyone who owns the handheld.

The Beatles: Rock Band is definitely a fantastic journey through the career of what is possibly the world’s most beloved music group of all time.

Even though there’s not much different or new about this sequel when compared to the last game, Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time manages to be one of the most enjoyable titles released this year.

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is without a doubt one of the year’s finest games, and is another example of a well made third-party game for the Wii.

To put it plainly, UFC 2009 Undisputed is not only the game that fans have been waiting for, but it’s also the game that the sport deserves. UFC 2009 is intense, addictive, and acts as a great showcase of how MMA is much more than the brutal bloodsport many detractors claim it to be.

BioShock 2 may not be BioShock, but it doesn’t have to be. The world of Rapture is one I could revisit again and again, as long as there is some new wrinkle to the story to uncover.

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.

While not my favorite in the season, is wonderful in its own right, and does not, by any means, disappoint. It's a hilarious, outrageous conclusion, and one that any fan of the series will appreciate completely.

When it comes down to it, there's no denying that Shooter is over too soon. Far too soon. Even for completionists, there's likely less than five hours' worth of play in the singleplayer, with the only real replayability in the local co-op. If there was online multiplayer this wouldn't be an issue, but it is. Not a huge issue, not a deal breaking issue, not something worth complaining about too much, but an issue.

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.

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.

A fantastic expansion to an already wonderful game. It shares all of the things that made the original great, and while it doesn't work towards fixing the problems in the formula, it isn't really that big of an issue.

A unique, refreshing, and strategic battle system unlike any other; it just takes too long to gain total control.

BioShock 2 had a huge mountain of unrealistic expectations to overcome the moment it was announced. Even though it's not quite as excellent as the first game was, BioShock 2 is one of the most enjoyable games I've played in a long time.

Whether you’re a casual button masher who wants to kill a weekend on the couch with a buddy, or a hardcore twitch-warrior looking to spend the next year and a half digging into the guts of a fighter, Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom doesn’t disappoint.

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.

LittleBigPlanet PSP may have taken the ambitious title and scaled it down, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have just as much fun playing it. It may not look as gorgeous as the PS3 version, and you might miss playing with your friends, but before long you will find yourself replaying level after level, trying to collect every last item.

Half-Minute Hero is, simply put, brilliant.

Another great entry in one of gaming’s most prolific series. It’s not without flaws, but it also offers some of the most fun handheld gameplay this year.

Already it’s better than both the Wallace & Gromit and Strongbad series, and makes a move on some episodes of Sam & Max.

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.

"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.

Despite having one less episode than the previous season, Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space seemed to improve upon Save the World in almost every aspect. The storytelling in the game is top notch, and Telltale has really delivered a unique gaming experience with their episodic model.

Trials HD manages to seamlessly combine elements from racing, puzzle, and platform games to make one of the most surprising gaming experiences of the summer. It’s everything you would want in a downloadable title: fun, challenge, replayability, and though it’s at the high end of the XBLA pricing spectrum at $15, it still feels like a great deal.

This tenth entry in the core series stands toe-to-toe with its predecessors in terms of gameplay and charm, and provides more content than pretty much any of them.

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, World Adventures adds an almost overwhelming amount of new content, which justifies the $40 price tag, though that still seems a tad high for an expansion pack.

Already it’s better than both the Wallace & Gromit and Strongbad series, and makes a move on some episodes of Sam & Max.

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.

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.

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

If you’re looking for a game to curb that racing fix you so desperately crave, or just looking for something new to give you a break from the endless array of shooters on shelves, MX vs. ATV Reflex will more than answer the call.

Scribblenauts is a masterpiece. A flawed, frustrating, brilliant, masterpiece.

For fans of Wii Sports, there’s no reason not to pick up Wii Sports Resort. It comes bundled with the Wii MotionPlus, contains several addictive offerings, and should provide some variety at your parents next Wii Sports party.

It's charming, innovative, and although flawed, simply brilliant.

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.

Nothing is strikingly different, and nothing is really any better. It's just more, and for some, that's more than enough. It's an expansion in the truest sense of the word, literally expanding on the experience of the first game without stepping on any toes and cheapening what the first accomplished.

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.

It may be unfair to compare the first game in a series to titles that came much later, but in a post-Persona 4 world such comparisons are inevitable. That being said, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona is a great game in its own right, and worthy of being in the collection of any RPG fan.

One of the more exciting things to happen to the genre. DJ Hero explores the one avenue left vacant since Beatmania, and not only provides a game that breathes a bit of life into a genre that had started growing stale, but one that’s also a hell of a lot of fun to play, in spite of the steep price tag.

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.

Though it’s not without its issues, and the elements inspired by classic adventure titles don’t always hit their mark, there’s actually quite a bit to like about the game. From the solid story and non-stop action, to the impressive character and level design, the combined aspects present an impressive package.

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box is certainly more of the same, but I don't think anyone is going to complain.

The racing is simple, yet intense.

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.

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.

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.

Although on the surface H.A.W.X. seems like an Ace Combat 6 clone, a deeper examination reveals that it has taken the Ace formula, and improved upon it. The incorporation of satellite imagery, a leveling system, and new control mechanics are enough to make this most recent Tom Clancy title soar over the competition. As a huge fan of the flight action genre, I can say that H.A.W.X. is this generation’s true ace.

When it comes to actually playing the game, something that's obviously very important, LoL provides an addictive experience that should feel reminiscent of any other game in the genre.

Sam & Max Save the World will give you about 10-12 hours of enjoyment the first time through, and the addition of achievements is good motivation to hunt for some extra tidbits you may not have known were in the game otherwise.

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.

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.